On a cool summer night, Li Huaiyu sat cross-legged on the soft couch, visibly upset. Jiang Xuanjin sat beside her, adjusting his clothes neatly. With a glance from his dark eyes towards her, he noticed her swiftly averting her gaze and grunting disdainfully.
She was afraid he wouldn’t notice her anger.
Amused, Jiang Xuanjin reached out and hooked his pinky finger with hers, asking softly, “Didn’t have dinner, feeling hungry?”
“Not hungry!”
“Do you want some tea then?”
“Not drinking!”
Her tone was fierce, her expression stern as Li Huaiyu stood up. Looking down at him, she demanded angrily, “You better explain to me. It’s been so long, why haven’t you written me a single letter!”
With that said, she stamped her foot in frustration.
Jiang Xuanjin chuckled, his usually aloof face breaking into a rare smile, blossoming like a sudden flower.
Pausing for a moment, Li Huaiyu gritted her teeth. “Even your charm doesn’t work!”
“It’s not about charm,” he shook his head, his gaze falling on her face. “I just felt… it’s been a while since I’ve seen you like this.”
There was a sparkle in his deep eyes as they reflected her face, which looked like a puffed-up bun, round and adorable.
Feeling defeated, Li Huaiyu slumped her shoulders weakly. “I’m quarreling with you, can’t you argue back with me properly? If you keep staring like this, how can I stay angry?”
Shaking his head, Jiang Xuanjin replied, “In the Jiang family’s teachings, we refrain from speaking ill to our loved ones.”
Raising an eyebrow, Li Huaiyu sat back down beside him, her eyes twinkling. “Your family’s teachings seem to have forgotten shame?”
How could such a fine family teaching forget shame? Jiang Xuanjin felt a bit puzzled, while the person beside him giggled, “Not speaking ill to loved ones, not saying harsh words to one’s beloved wife. Oh, how shameless!”
Jiang Xuanjin: “…”
Beloved, yes, but beloved wife? What was that supposed to mean?
“But I feel so wronged, waiting for you every day, and you can’t even spare a single word for me.” Pouting, Li Huaiyu continued, “I know you’re busy with the war, but can’t you manage to write a single word? Even a simple ‘okay’ would suffice!”
Jiang Xuanjin shook his head. “I can’t.”
“Why?” She glared at him.
“With a major enemy at our gates, even if we win battles, there will be countless casualties. If I were to focus on personal matters in the army, it would destabilize morale.” He pursed his lips, looking at her. “Instead of writing letters, it’s better to return triumphant.”
Li Huaiyu was momentarily stunned.
Considering the time, he had only been gone for a little over three months. At this time, the Western Liang retreated, Liu Yunlie’s forces were defeated and scattered, and the situation in Northern Wei gradually stabilized, which was unexpected by anyone.
Was his haste not to swiftly seize power and land but to come back earlier?
Her throat rolled slightly as Li Huaiyu softened her body, leaning against his leg, and asked softly, “Do you miss me?”
Jiang Xuanjin didn’t answer, only reached out and took the wooden hairpin from her hair.
Feeling a loosening on her head, her long hair cascading down her back, Huaiyu puffed up her cheeks and glared at him, “You call me ‘wife’ when you’re outside. Saying sweet words, but once you’re back, you’re silent again. Don’t you know that girls like to hear nice things?”
“Mm.”
“‘Mm’ what!” Huaiyu ground her teeth, “I’m teaching you! To make your wife happy, it’s not enough to return early, you also need to embrace your wife and say: ‘Separated for three months, feels like three years. My dear, I’ve missed you so much—only then would it suffice!… Wait, what are you doing?”
Sensing a loosening around her waist, the peony-embroidered butterfly robe she wore suddenly opened up. Huaiyu, startled, instinctively reached out to his chest.
The person in front of her approached, hooking her waist and pressing her against the neatly folded brocade quilt behind her. He grabbed her wrists, pinning them above her head, while bending down fiercely to cover her lips.
Actions spoke louder than words when it came to expressing longing.
Huaiyu widened her eyes, feeling his breath enveloping her. She couldn’t help but let out a soft “gulp” in her throat.
She had seen many sides of Jiang Xuanjin, but never this one. Despite restraining himself from causing her discomfort, his actions couldn’t conceal his agitation, as if he needed to hold her tightly to find peace, his breath even carrying a hint of urgency.
Softening a bit, Huaiyu hummed softly, attempting to wrap her arms around his neck to turn the tables. However, Jiang Xuanjin didn’t give her the chance. He stretched one leg over hers, lightly stroking the skin on her waist with his calloused fingertips, his ink-black eyes swirling with emotion.
Blushing under his intense gaze, Huaiyu turned away. “Can we turn off the light?”
“Shy?”
“…Who’s shy! It’s just a bit dazzling.”
“Then just close your eyes.”
“…”
Huaiyu felt, as the former “Street King” of Chang’an, seasoned in the ways of the world, how could she falter in front of Jiang Xuanjin? Determined not to yield to him, she maintained a calm expression and stared back at him.
Passion surged, breaths heavy, as they tangled beneath the silk quilt. Huaiyu still felt she hadn’t lost.
However, the person behind her wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her back, and whispered hoarsely in her ear, “Separated for three months, feels like three autumns; though swords may divide us, my thoughts linger on.”
I miss you, so much.
Huaiyu stiffened, feeling something in her heart crumbling.
“You…” Her nose tingled, and with a stiff neck, she said, “Why are you suddenly saying this?”
Jiang Xuanjin held her, closing his eyes. “When my wife instructs, how could I not learn?”
To make his wife happy, actions alone weren’t enough. Sweet words were necessary too.
Her face, just recovered from blush, reddened again slightly. Huaiyu was speechless, a mixture of anger and amusement. Rolling over, she looked at him for a while, then hugged him tightly, giving him a couple of squeezes.
How could someone be so adorable…
After the long journey, Jiang Xuanjin was quite tired and soon fell asleep while holding her. Huaiyu blinked, gazing from his eyebrows to his thin lips, repeatedly, feeling like she couldn’t look enough. She reached out to touch, feeling a slight stubble on his chin. Tilting her head up, she kissed him.
The man was stirred from his slumber by her teasing, half-awake, he pulled the blanket over her shoulders and wrapped her snugly before holding her close again, then slipped back into a deep sleep.
Huaiyu grinned, a smile that couldn’t be contained on her face. Even in his drowsy state, she was still his treasure. This feeling was truly indescribably heartwarming.
Early the next morning, Huaiyu was still half asleep when she was lifted by someone. They wiped her face with a cloth, helped her change clothes, and put on shoes. When everything was ready, the person whispered, “There’s someone you need to meet.”
Yawning, Huaiyu lazily hooked her arms around his neck, mumbling in response.
Jiang Xuanjin smiled, carrying her straight to the main hall and placing her in a sandalwood chair.
Cheng Xu and Yu Feng entered the room and bowed, “My Lord, My Lady.”
Resting her chin on her hand, Huaiyu asked, “Who is it that I must see?”
Cheng Xu and Yu Feng exchanged a glance, and then they each moved aside, revealing the figure standing behind them.
In a slightly worn dragon robe, with a pale complexion, Li Huailin frowned at her, his expression complex.
Huaiyu was taken aback, slowly sitting up straight. Gripping the armrest, she pursed her lips, “How… could it be you.”
“Lord Ziyang’s military tactics are divine. He defeated Liu Yunlie and captured me. I am powerless to resist and am willing to surrender,” Li Huailin’s voice was stiff, tinged with a hint of unease. He avoided eye contact and continued, “If you want to kill or punish me, it’s up to you.”
Huaiyu fell silent.
How could she be happy? The person before her was her beloved brother, whom she had cherished for many years, but also her enemy who had tried to kill her several times, looking to disrupt the peace. She wasn’t happy, but seeing him in such a sorry state made her even more unhappy.
“Have you ever thought about why you ended up in this situation today?” she asked.
Li Huailin sneered, “At this point, you still want to lecture me?”
Her heart sank a little, and Huaiyu tried to hold back. But she couldn’t bear it, slamming the table, she stood up, walked to him, and grabbed his clothes, her eyes red as she shouted, “A ruler should understand his loyal subjects. You, on the other hand, are a villain! How many times does Lord Ziyang have to teach you the strategy of a wise ruler for you to understand? Can’t you see the consequences of my fate before meeting me?”
Li Huailin trembled, instinctively taking a step back.
Huaiyu grabbed his clothes and pulled him back forcefully, “I’ll accuse you of the crime of murdering Prime Minister Sima, who bled to death from seven wounds. How dare you scheme against the loyal and virtuous Jiang family? Who are Liu Yunlie and Qi Han? Yet you dare to employ them! How important are Bai Dezhong and Xu Xian? Yet you dare to abandon them! I paved the way for you for so many years, was it all just to see you bring about your destruction today?!”
“…Sister…”
“You still have the nerve to call me ‘sister’!” Huaiyu roared, “As an emperor, have you ever considered the world? Have you ever considered the people? How did the men of the Li family turn into such selfish and narrow-minded individuals!”
Feeling overwhelmed by the scolding, Li Huailin’s eyes were vacant, and his hands tightly clenched his sleeves.
“I wanted you to see him, to hear your thoughts,” Jiang Xuanjin whispered, moving forward and taking her hand, pulling her back into his embrace.
“How am I supposed to stay calm?” Huaiyu choked back tears, pointing at Li Huailin, “If he had told me earlier that Li Shan was his biological father, I would never have laid a hand on Li Shan! He said nothing, stabbing me from behind with a knife, do you know how painful that is!”
Gently patting her back, Jiang Xuanjin glanced at Li Huailin, who stood stiffly in the center of the hall, his hands tightly clutching his sleeves.
“I wanted you to see him, to hear your thoughts,” Jiang Xuanjin repeated in a low voice, “He once held your fate in his hands, now you have the power to decide his fate.”
Huaiyu was taken aback.
Li Huailin looked at them both, his eyes filled with struggle. He sneered, “Are you planning to assassinate the emperor too?”