4
Wei Qingping said she wanted him dead, but she didn’t dare to let him truly die. Because his injuries were too severe, he had passed out, and she had to stay by his side to tend to his wounds. Every bit of his pain resonated with her, making her, someone who had barely eaten anything all her life, unbearably angry. She wished she could kill him with a single needle.
She gritted her teeth, cleaned his wounds, and administered medicine. The pain finally eased a bit, allowing her to sit back and catch her breath. She secretly persuaded herself to keep him alive for now. Once the issue with the Zi-Mu Gu was resolved, she would disable him!
Qin Shiyue slept for three days straight, but Wei Yun woke up first. This time, Wei Qingping had learned her lesson and didn’t dare let Wei Yun get close easily. She took a shackle and locked Wei Yun to the bed, sitting beside him to confront the awakened Wei Yun. Wei Yun looked at the shackles on his body, then glanced up at Wei Qingping, and finally couldn’t hold back, asking, “What is your intention, Miss?”
“You need to ask your brother.”
These words stunned Wei Yun. After all, he had escaped with Qin Shiyue, so when she mentioned “brother,” she naturally meant Qin Shiyue. He quickly asked, “How is my brother doing?”
“He’s doing just fine,” Wei Qingping responded with a hint of anger in her expression. “I saved both of you, but he fed me the Zi-Mu Gu. Do you think he could be doing anything but well?”
Qin Shiyue’s demeanor didn’t surprise Wei Yun. He took a good look at Wei Qingping and smiled, “But, Princess Qingping?”
“You two,” Wei Qingping sneered coldly, “your eyes are quite sharp. You are Wei Yun, right?”
Wei Yun smiled without replying. If she truly was Wei Qingping, a princess well-versed in court protocols would recognize him upon seeing the seal in his arms, which was not surprising.
Seeing Wei Yun’s silence, Wei Qingping recalled Qin Shiyue’s mannerisms. She snorted coldly and stood up, saying, “For the sake of Great Chu, I will heal you. But! Don’t cause me any more trouble. You and your friend, stop playing those tricks.”
“Of course,” Wei Yun replied earnestly. “Acting in a critical moment was necessary. I apologize for any offense.”
Wei Qingping ignored him and walked away.
Two days after Wei Yun woke up, Qin Shiyue also regained consciousness. When he awoke, Wei Yun was sitting beside him. Opening his eyes and seeing Wei Yun, he quickly got up and said, “Marquis…”
“Stay lying down,” Wei Yun pressed him back gently. “Don’t disturb your wounds.”
Qin Shiyue acknowledged with a nod and lay back down, asking, “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” Wei Yun smiled, though his face was somewhat pale. Wei Qingping emerged holding a medicine box and said coldly, “External injuries are fine, but I must clarify, if your poisonous medicine isn’t handled properly, and you die, I won’t take responsibility.”
These words turned Qin Shiyue’s face even paler. Wei Yun quickly added, “Don’t worry, I’ll have Shen Wushuang take a look.”
Wei Qingping scoffed and ignored him, approaching Qin Shiyue and stating coldly, “Apply the medicine.”
Qin Shiyue glanced at her, noticing her pale complexion and realizing the effects of the Zi-Mu Gu. After a moment of silence, he said to Wei Qingping, “Princess, may I have a prescription? Please provide it to me.”
“Give it here.”
Regarding prescriptions, Wei Qingping was very interested. Even though she disliked him, she wouldn’t refuse. Qin Shiyue recited a prescription, and as Wei Qingping listened to the ingredients, she frowned and asked, “What are these medicines for?”
“Gu insects are nourished with medicine,” Qin Shiyue calmly explained. “These medicines are to put the gu insects to sleep, a temporary method to sever the connection.”
“Then why don’t you remove the insects?!”
Qin Shiyue fell silent. Wei Yun awkwardly laughed, “Once the Zi-Mu Gu enters the body… it takes at least five months to remove it.”
Hearing this, Wei Qingping’s face immediately darkened. She couldn’t hold back and slapped him. Qin Shiyue swiftly raised his hand, grabbing her hand. He frowned and said, “Princess, if you slap me, you’ll feel pain too.”
Wei Qingping panted heavily. She had never met someone like him in her life, someone who hadn’t suffered such grievances. She endured for a moment before finally sitting down, angrily saying, “Proceed with the needle!”
5
Following Qin Shiyue’s prescription, Wei Qingping prepared the medicine, boiled it into a decoction, and drank it as instructed. Shortly after ingesting it, she felt everything returning to normal, while Qin Shiyue’s complexion grew even paler. She stood up, moved around, and found no obstacles. She rushed to Qin Shiyue’s side and slapped him sharply.
“Remember this slap,” she said coldly. “I indeed saved someone, but I won’t let you be bullied without boundaries!”
“I’m sorry…” Qin Shiyue’s face turned pale. He closed his eyes in pain and slowly said, “Acting in a critical moment was truly unavoidable. I hope the princess can forgive me.”
“And if I don’t forgive you?”
“What the princess wants, happens.”
“Do you want to die to make amends?”
Qin Shiyue remained silent for a moment. Wei Qingping was about to retort when he slowly spoke, “Once the war settles and the Wei family is secure, Shiyue will return to repay the princess with his life.”
These words left Wei Qingping stunned for a moment. After a while, she muttered, “Never mind, it’s not a big deal. Are you called Wei Shiyue?”
“Qin Shiyue.”
“Qin Shimingyue from the Han Dynasty, marching a thousand miles with no return.” Wei Qingping replied smoothly, nodded, and said, “Good name.”
She then bent down, lowered her head, and said, “Let me check your wounds.”
Qin Shiyue responded with a nod. She opened his clothes, and her hair cascaded over him. Her hair was cool and soft, carrying an indescribable fragrance. Qin Shiyue was momentarily stunned, feeling an unusual emotion infiltrate his heart. He couldn’t quite identify it; he simply stared blankly at the young woman. As she looked up, it was as if something startled him abruptly, causing him to dodge backward hastily, crashing his head against the bed rail. Wei Qingping was taken aback by his sudden movement and frowned after a long moment. “If you don’t want me to look, just say so. Why act so pretentiously?”
“N-no… it’s not…”
Qin Shiyue didn’t know how to explain his panicked avoidance. His face flushed, and he hastily said, “I… I… I don’t know…”
Wei Qingping saw that he seemed bewildered and felt somewhat helpless. She sighed, “Never mind. Your wounds are starting to scab. It will take a few more days before you can get them wet. In the meantime, you can wipe them with water…”
“When can we set off?” Qin Shiyue asked. Wei Qingping frowned, “You should rest a bit longer…”
“It might be too late.”
Qin Shiyue spoke honestly, “I must at least protect the Marquis on our return. We’ve been delayed in Hexi for too long and need to hurry back to Baicheng.”
Although Wei Qingping wandered the Jianghu, she wasn’t completely indifferent to court affairs. She understood Qin Shiyue’s meaning—this time Wei Yun had secretly come out and couldn’t be delayed for too long. After a moment of silence, Wei Qingping suggested, “How about this: I’ll escort you both back. You and the Marquis can rest and recover in the carriage.”
“That would be,” Qin Shiyue said formally, “much appreciated.”
“Qin Shiyue,” Wei Qingping raised an eyebrow, “you’re quite bold.”
“Today, the princess saved my life. I will repay this kindness in the future.”
“Repay? With what?” Wei Qingping sneered. She didn’t know why, perhaps because she had suffered too much under this man and couldn’t do anything to him, she felt pent-up anger and wanted to confront him. So she ridiculed him, “A mere retainer, what can you repay me with?”
Qin Shiyue fell silent, seemingly starting to think seriously. Wei Qingping felt as though she had punched soft cotton—with no force at all.
She snorted coldly, turned around to pack the medicine box, stood up, and walked out.
6
Due to the haste of their journey, the same afternoon Qin Shiyue woke up, Wei Qingping was already leading the two men back. The two men sat in the carriage recovering, while Wei Qingping and the maid rode on horses outside. Feng Er was somewhat resentful, continuously cursing along the way, “A princess like you, toiling for them, these thieves are truly audacious…”
Wei Qingping hadn’t revealed Wei Yun’s identity to Feng Er. Hearing these remarks, she didn’t say much and allowed her little maid to tease the two men.
Their external injuries gradually healed, but Qin Shiyue’s complexion remained pale. He always looked listless. Wei Qingping checked his pulse several times, finding nothing unusual except that the mother gu was somewhat agitated. The matter of the Zi-Mu Gu was something she couldn’t overcome emotionally. She knew the mother gu was restless and didn’t attempt to find a solution, letting it fester.
On the eve before reaching Baicheng, Zhao Yue’s men caught up with them once more. Wei Yun and Qin Shiyue showed no reluctance to fight, leading the two women, each on a horse, charging forward.
Wei Qingping was a bit slow to mount and fell behind. All the assassins rushed towards her, surrounding her.
Qin Shiyue turned back and shouted, “Marquis, go first!”
He then grabbed his sword and started running back furiously.
Wei Yun, injured and carrying confidential documents, bit his lip and grits his teeth, leading the maid to flee first.
That day, heavy rain poured down. As soon as Wei Qingping looked back, she saw the young man like a bolt of lightning, wielding a cold, lonely sword, breaking through the crowd and heading straight toward her.
He fought his way through the assassins, pulling her along as they battled their way forward and then retreated. Amid the fighting, he unleashed an astonishing vitality, turning himself into a walking sword, slashing through the world.
He treated himself as both a weapon and a shield. Every time she was about to be injured, he would violently pull her into his arms, using his flesh and blood to cover all her wounds.
They fled through the dense forest. Due to the terrain, he finally slew all the attackers, but by then, he looked as if he had been dredged from floodwaters. His blood stained her white clothes completely. Wei Qingping watched him quietly, her expression complex.
He panted, leaning against a tree with his sword supporting him, and gazed at her. “Princess, are you unharmed?”
“Qin Shiyue…” Wei Qingping murmured, “Are you… afraid of death?”
Hearing this, Qin Shiyue forced a difficult smile. “Of course I am afraid.”
“Then why are you still protecting me?!”
Wei Qingping suddenly raised her voice. Qin Shiyue fell silent. Wei Qingping, angered, demanded, “Speak up!”
“I merely felt that this matter shouldn’t involve Your Highness, nor should you be harmed.” He finally spoke. Wei Qingping was about to scold him further when she heard him lower his head, covering his wound, and softly said, “Moreover, for a girl, scars are not desirable.”
Wei Qingping was taken aback. In that moment, she felt something flow through her heart—warm and tender, making her heart soften involuntarily.
7
That day, it was Wei Qingping who carried him back to Baicheng. Qin Shiyue’s injuries were too severe, and his consciousness was fading. Wei Qingping struggled for a long time, carrying him on her back until they finally encountered the Wei family’s soldiers who had come searching for them. By then, they were nearly approaching Baicheng.
Wei Qingping felt that all her misfortunes in this life were because of Qin Shiyue. Upon arriving in Baicheng, Feng Er was bathing her while crying, “Princess, ever since you met them, nothing good has happened. Let’s leave quickly.”
Wei Qingping remained silent. Feng Er continued to weep, “Princess, we…”
“Don’t speak,” Wei Qingping interrupted. “Let me be quiet.”
Feng Er’s sobs choked off, and she held back her tears. The room was filled only with the sound of running water. Wei Qingping couldn’t explain why her mind was consumed with scenes of Qin Shiyue holding her in his arms and shielding her from blades. Her thoughts inadvertently drifted to the kiss when she was administered the Zi-Mu Gu. After much contemplation, her cheeks slowly turned red.
After bathing, Wei Qingping dressed anew and went to Qin Shiyue’s room. Shen Wushuang was attending Qin Shiyue’s examination. Despite his numerous wounds, they were all external injuries and nothing serious. Seeing Wei Qingping enter, Shen Wushuang smiled and called out, “Junior Master.” He then hurriedly slipped out of the room.
Left alone with Qin Shiyue, both were typically not talkative, creating an eerie silence in the room. After a long time, it was Qin Shiyue who broke the silence. “Princess, what brings you here?”
“Oh,” Wei Qingping lowered her eyes, “I just came to see you. If you were to die, it would be my downfall.”
Hearing this, Qin Shiyue’s eyes filled with guilt. He hurriedly said, “Princess, rest assured. Once the fifth month passes, I will immediately remove the Zi Gu for you.”
“Mm…” Wei Qingping nodded, naturally placing her hand to feel Qin Shiyue’s pulse. After a moment, she nodded again, “Not bad.”
“I need your care,” Qin Shiyue smiled. Wei Qingping responded with a soft acknowledgment. Qin Shiyue sensed something different about Wei Qingping but couldn’t quite pinpoint it. They sat quietly for a while until Wei Qingping stood up and asked, “Shall I leave?”
Qin Shiyue nodded, “Take your leave, Princess.”
Wei Qingping hesitated for a moment, unsure of what she was waiting for, but eventually rose and left. As the room was left with only a fragrant breeze, Qin Shiyue felt an inexplicable sense of loss.
8
Wei Qingping found herself idle in Baicheng. Every day, aside from her duty as a physician, she returned to check on Qin Shiyue under the pretense of caring for the mother gu. When they were together, Wei Qingping would often read books while Qin Shiyue would space out. Whenever she called out “Qin Shiyue,” he would respond immediately.
After more than half a month, Qin Shiyue’s condition had significantly improved. However, Wei Yun’s previously suppressed poison from the Zi-Mu Gu had reactivated. Wei Qingping and Shen Wushuang jointly examined him and finally confirmed that to completely eradicate the poison, they needed to obtain Tianshan Snow Lotus and incorporate it into the medicine. However, Tianshan was treacherous and difficult to climb, the whereabouts of the Snow Lotus were unknown, and the task required swift action to retrieve it. At the moment, they couldn’t find anyone suitable to undertake the mission.
This news reached Qin Shiyue’s ears. After a moment of silence, he bathed, changed clothes, and then sought out the military strategist Tao Quan, gathering a group of people to head to Tianshan.
Upon hearing this, Wei Yun, struggling to rise due to his injuries and clutching the confidential documents, gasped, “Nonsense! The mother gu is inside him. What can he possibly do?!”
“What’s wrong with the mother gu?” Wei Qingping was slightly taken aback. She didn’t know much about gu. Shen Wushuang sighed a hint of helplessness in his voice, “Princess, he has used medicine to seal the connection between the Zi Gu and the mother gu. The mother gu is restless and has been wreaking havoc in his body. Therefore, he is currently enduring the pain caused by his mother gu. It’s extremely dangerous for him to go to Tianshan in this condition.”
As he spoke, Shen Wushuang added, somewhat helplessly, “We don’t even know who was given the Zi Gu…”
Before he could finish, Wei Qingping saw him rush back to the backyard. Qin Shiyue was tidying his things, and as Wei Qingping entered, she saw him bending over. This was the first time since they met that he had properly prepared himself. He was handsome, his features sharp and clear, exuding a cold demeanor that kept others at bay. Although he wasn’t as strikingly beautiful as Wei Yun, he was still very appealing.
Upon hearing her enter, he straightened up and quietly watched her, pressing his lips together before saying, “Princess, I am going to Tianshan.”
“I know,” Wei Qingping replied through gritted teeth. Qin Shiyue hesitated for a moment before finally saying, “You don’t need to worry. Regarding the Zi-Mu Gu, I’ve already sealed the connection between the Zi Gu and the mother gu. Even if I die…”
“Shut up!”
Wei Qingping cursed loudly, clenching her fist. After holding back for a long time, she finally demanded, “You must go to Tianshan?”
“No one is more suitable than me.”
“Fine,” Wei Qingping nodded, “I will accompany you.”
“You don’t need to—”
“I want to!” Wei Qingping frowned, “What business does the princess have in being overly polite? I am going to Tianshan, so just accompany me!”
Qin Shiyue was momentarily taken aback. After a moment, he finally said, “Rest assured,” he said, “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Wei Qingping snorted coldly. She walked up to him, placed her hand on his chest, and her voice softened, “Does it hurt?”
Qin Shiyue was somewhat confused. Wei Qingping looked up at him, “I heard the mother gu makes you feel a lot of pain.”
Hearing this, Qin Shiyue couldn’t quite explain why he found himself awkwardly smiling. The concern made him feel glad, though he wasn’t sure what to say. He simply said, “It doesn’t hurt.”
He gently added, “This little pain, I can bear it.”
Wei Qingping was speechless. She stared blankly at the man before her, wanting to ask, if he now feels no pain, how much did he suffer before?
9
Finding the necessary medicine was a matter of urgency. That very night, the two set off by light cavalry, racing toward Tianshan with the sun and moon as their guides.
Throughout the journey, Qin Shiyue took care of her diligently. Although they were traveling quickly, he remained meticulous, even cautiously warming her drinking water.
In the beginning, they would set up tents to sleep in, with Qin Shiyue keeping watch at night. Gradually, she began to sleep leaning against him. She enjoyed asking him about his childhood, and he shared his stories.
For instance, his family originally lived in Baicheng, but during the invasion by the Northern Barbarians, his home was destroyed and his family perished, leaving him as the sole survivor. He was then taken in by the Wei family and became a retainer. Another story was how he had been with the military since he was twelve, journeying to today.
His tone was always very calm. Wei Qingping, leaning against his shoulder, heard immense waves of emotion beneath his most tranquil words.
He never dared to refuse her requests. Almost whatever she asked him to do, he did without hesitation. When she was too tired to walk, he carried her. During their trek to Tianshan, he bore almost half the distance on her back.
She loved the feeling of leaning against his back—a sense of security she had never felt before, loyal and reliable. However, she always calculated his stamina, stepping down at just the right moments to carry his belongings and continue walking.
Tianshan was vast. They stayed in the snowy mountains for nearly seven days. The nights were unbearably cold, forcing them to huddle together. He remained stiff, avoiding any physical contact. At first, she was very nervous, but after two days, one night while he was deep in sleep, she looked at his lips, and, driven by an inexplicable impulse, she gently kissed him.
Qin Shiyue froze entirely. Such a perceptive person wouldn’t have been unaware of being touched even in his sleep. Yet, he didn’t dare move. Wei Qingping realized he was awake and reached out, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“Princess…”
Qin Shiyue struggled, frowning, “Thi-this…”
“Don’t speak,” Wei Qingping insisted, holding him closer and kissing his lips, her voice both nervous and assertive. “If you don’t kiss me, I’ll get angry.”
Qin Shiyue remained silent, clearly struggling. However, Wei Qingping teased his every nerve until, finally, he closed his eyes, rolled over, and pressed her down.
His kiss was both clumsy and gentle, much like himself.
After finishing, Wei Qingping opened her eyes and asked, “Do you want to marry me?”
Qin Shiyue lowered his eyes, his voice hoarse, “Yes.”
“Do you like me?”
This time, Qin Shiyue didn’t respond immediately. Wei Qingping frowned, “Be honest.”
After a long pause, Qin Shiyue softly said, “I like you.”
“Hmm?”
Qin Shiyue closed his eyes, seemingly resigned, “I like you.”
Wei Qingping giggled softly. She embraced his neck and said tenderly, “I like you too.”
Qin Shiyue’s face turned deeply red. Although they were atop the snowy mountains, his entire body felt as if it were on fire.
“Stop teasing,” he whispered, “Get some rest. We’ll find the medicine tomorrow.”
Wei Qingping understood he intended to find the medicine and didn’t push him further. She held him close and said, “After we descend the mountain, why don’t you come to my house to propose?”
“Mm.”
“Qin Shiyue,” Wei Qingping couldn’t help but laugh, “Is it because whatever I ask you to do, you always do it?”
“Mm.”
“Why are you so obedient?”
Qin Shiyue remained silent. Wei Qingping looked up at him, a hint of dissatisfaction in her voice, “Can you say a few sweet words?”
Qin Shiyue’s face flushed red, unable to utter a single word. Seeing his struggle, Wei Qingping waved her hand helplessly, “Forget it. I’m not going to make it difficult for you. Go to sleep.”
She then nestled closer to him. Qin Shiyue was deep in thought when suddenly he asked, “Qingping, why do you call yourself Qingping?”
“How would I know?” Wei Qingping replied, somewhat sleepy, “You should ask my father.”
“I know.”
Qin Shiyue felt a bit happy. Wei Qingping was puzzled, “Why?”
“Because,” Qin Shiyue blushed, “you look beautiful.”
Wei Qingping didn’t understand immediately. Then she heard Qin Shiyue softly recite:
“Clouds longing for garments, flowers yearning for beauty,
Spring breezes brush the gates, dew glistens intensively.
Had I not met you atop the jade mountain,
I would have met you under the moon of the Yao Terrace.”
Wei Qingping listened to these words, watching Qin Shiyue awkwardly lift his eyes to look at her cautiously. She asked, “Does this count as sweet words?”
This was more than just sweet words. At that moment, Wei Qingping felt that these words were like spring sunshine after a long winter, the cool breeze in summer—completely eroding one’s will, making her heart yearn to give her entire heart to him.
10
They found the medicine in Tianshan and returned to Baicheng. After that period, Wei Qingping stayed in Baicheng. Qin Shiyue accompanied her in shopping, reading, practicing swordsmanship, and doing everything she enjoyed.
He came from a humble background, so she taught him etiquette and writing. When they went out shopping and she felt lazy, he would carry her. When he went off to battle, she would wait behind him. Once, after a battle, he was exhausted and lay on the battlefield. He heard her voice; it was her raising a sword, tying white cloth to her forehead, and searching through each corpse for him. When she found him, her eyes were filled with tears. He looked at her and smiled, asking, “Why did you tie a white cloth to your head?”
She replied, “I was afraid you would die, and someone would be faster than me.”
He lay on the ground, laughing loudly, and reached out to embrace her. She bit her lip and tried to push him away.
On the day he returned, she was applying medicine to his wounds, and he kept smiling. He held her hand gently and said, “Our matter—should I come to propose, or should you speak to your parents first?”
Wei Qingping hesitated for a moment, then said, “I’ll go speak to my mother first.”
So, she wrote a letter.
A month later, Qin Shiyue was on his way home when he encountered an old man. The old man was accompanied by a group of servants who respectfully awaited him. Smiling, he said, “Are you, General Qin?”
“You are?” Qin Shiyue looked puzzled.
The old man smiled again, “I am Fan, the manager of Baicao Pavilion.”
This old man was an underling of Jiang Huarong and had come solely for one purpose.
“You and the princess are worlds apart. Being with her would ruin her. Neither the pavilion master nor the prince would approve of this marriage. If you truly care for the princess, can you avoid making things difficult for the pavilion master and the prince?”
His words were straightforward persuasion. Qin Shiyue was stunned, but in that instant, he understood clearly—the old man was right. He didn’t know what to say, and after a long while, he finally nodded and said, “I understand.”
Upon returning, Wei Qingping practiced calligraphy. She greeted him, “Shiyue, come and see. I wrote this poem for you.”
Qin Shiyue approached the desk. Wei Qingping praised the poem, but he didn’t quite understand it. He stared blankly at her, a person of noble birth, beauty, and intelligence who admired him—he was truly ruining his prospects.
He remained silent for a long time before finally saying, “Princess…”
“Hmm?” she responded.
“I think perhaps you should go to other places to continue your medical practice.”
Wei Qingping was stunned by his words. After a long moment, she realized, “What do you mean by that?”
“My意思是……” Qin Shiyue struggled to speak, “I feel that we are not very compatible…”
Wei Qingping remained silent. After a long while, she spoke up, “I understand.”
She put down her pen and walked out directly. He watched her figure for a moment, feeling like he wanted to cry.
He had always been awkward in such matters and didn’t know how to vent his feelings. So, he went to find Shen Wushuang to buy himself a drink.
He came home drunk, lying on the bed. In the quiet of the night, sensing the lingering scent she had left in the room, he didn’t know how it happened, but a man in his early twenties couldn’t help but cry out loud.
He curled up on the bed, crying softly. Wei Qingping sat quietly on the beam, watching him as he repeatedly called her “Qingping.” After a moment, she closed her eyes, sprinkled some medicinal powder, and then gracefully descended, leaving Qin Shiyue dumbfounded.
He looked at the young lady as if she were a deity. She directly lifted his curtain, and after a moment, she took off her shoes and got onto the bed.
Qin Shiyue was completely stunned until she undressed him.
“Am I dreaming?”
She gently coaxed him, “Shiyue, you’ve awakened from the dream. I’m leaving now.”
Upon hearing these words, Qin Shiyue reached out and tightly embraced her.
For the first time, she saw Qin Shiyue in such a strong manner. He held her, tears falling into the hollows of her shoulders, repeating her name and begging, “Don’t go.”
“Qingping, don’t despise me. I will earn military merit. I will be worthy of you…”
“Qingping…”
He closed his eyes, “Why are you so kind?”
“Why do you have to be so kind?”
11
Alcohol always needs to be sobered up.
The next day, when Qin Shiyue woke up, he was completely groggy. Wei Qingping, on the other hand, was sitting on the bed, yawning boldly, “Why wake up so early? Just sleep more.”
“I… you… I…” Qin Shiyue was incoherent.
Wei Qingping looked up at him, “You, you what? It’s just a nap. Don’t take it too seriously. If I were to marry, who would dare despise me like this?”
Qin Shiyue’s face flushed red. Wei Qingping sat up straight, gently tapped his face, and whispered, “After being with you for so long without any sweetness, you want me to leave? That’s too much of a favor for you.”
Qin Shiyue didn’t dare speak, his eyes fixed on the bedboard. Wei Qingping pushed him playfully, “What are you staring at? I’m going to take a shower.”
Hearing this, Qin Shiyue quickly got out of bed. He didn’t dare call for help, so he went to get water for himself. He then stood guard outside the screen, feeling completely stunned. After Wei Qingping finished bathing and changed clothes, she walked out from behind the screen. She appeared composed and calmly said, “I need to continue my medical practice elsewhere. I’ll leave Baicheng tomorrow.”
“Oh…”
“Don’t take it too hard. Everyone has their own needs, and next time, I’ll come back to find you.”
Wei Qingping spoke with a frank demeanor, but she couldn’t help but blush. Fortunately, Qin Shiyue didn’t dare to look up and, after holding back for a long time, only asked, “Will you… look for someone else?”
These words made Wei Qingping laugh angrily. She turned her head and started to walk out, but Qin Shiyue grabbed her, whispering, “I will earn military merit properly.”
“No need.” Wei Qingping shook him off, “Do you know what a noble family is? Even Lü Bu, despite being a genius, was just a rugged individual from the grasslands!”
Qin Shiyue didn’t respond, bowing his head. He simply said, “Then don’t look for someone else.”
“What if I do?” Wei Qingping raised an eyebrow, and Qin Shiyue suddenly looked up angrily. His eyes met hers in mid-air, clashing in silence for a long moment. Eventually, he relented, turning his head and muttering, “If you choose someone else, don’t bother me anymore.”
Hearing this, Wei Qingping couldn’t help but laugh. She didn’t say anything more and turned to leave. Halfway through her walk, she suddenly stopped, “Qin Shiyue,” she said gently, “Be a good general. A young man like you, no one should insult you, nor my family.”
No one should—not even her family.
12
They began to separate, yet they always met again.
She would travel thousands of miles through the night rain to meet him, sitting on his window sill and saying only, “I miss you a bit.”
And what he did most often was waiting.
He never refused her requests, always waiting for her, accompanying her by her side.
Once, Wei Yun asked him, “If the princess were to leave the Wei family, would you go with her?”
Qin Shiyue was slightly stunned. After a long moment, he said, “I have fulfilled my duty. No matter where she goes, I will follow her.”
“What if you can’t marry her in your lifetime?”
“Then I will guard her for my entire life.”
He didn’t dare to be too close to her in public because he feared others would notice their relationship, dragging her into gossip and slander. However, in private, he was exclusively her Qin Shiyue.
They continued like this, seemingly together yet seemingly apart, until in the sixth year of Yuanhe, she was trapped in an epidemic area.
Upon receiving the news, he instinctively wanted to find her, but she knew his temper too well. She told him that everyone has their responsibilities. If he came, she would look down on him.
So, he could only grit his teeth on the battlefield, wanting to end the war quickly. At the very moment the war ended, he raced thousands of miles to the epidemic area. When he saw her, he disregarded public opinion and fiercely embraced her.
He suddenly understood the feelings Wei Qingping had when she searched through the dead for him. He realized that the person before him could disappear at any moment, and he wasn’t as steadfast as he claimed, believing guarding her for a lifetime would be enough. If he couldn’t marry her as his wife, his life would always hold regrets.
So, the next day, he counted all his belongings and personally went to the Wei Manor.
Upon entering, he made his request but was immediately expelled by Wei King’s men. However, he refused to leave, stubbornly kneeling at the gate of Wei Manor, motionless.
He had always been tongue-tied and didn’t know what to say, so he could only kneel like this.
By the time Wei Qingping arrived, he had been kneeling for nearly ten days. Wei Qingping rushed to his side, her entire body trembling with anger.
“Get up,” she said, “This Wei Manor isn’t a place for you to kneel.”
He gave a bitter smile, “It’s alright,” he said, “I want to marry you. I’m willing to endure hardships.”
“Get up,” Wei Qingping’s eyes reddened as she trembled, “I don’t want to see you kneel.”
He shook his head, not saying anything further. Wei Qingping sniffled, “You want me to kneel too? Fine, then I’ll kneel with you!”
Saying this, she directly knelt on the ground. He hurried to help her up, but she stubbornly stayed kneeling. At this moment, Wei King walked out. Seeing Wei Qingping kneeling at the gate, he couldn’t help but ask, “My dear daughter, what are you doing?”
“He wants to marry me, so he’s kneeling here. I want to marry him too. How can I let him kneel alone?”
“My dear daughter,” Wei King said with a troubled face, “Stop acting foolishly. When you marry, your father will be happy, but you should choose someone with status. Even if they’re not high-ranking officials, at least they should come from a prestigious family…”
“So what if he doesn’t come from a prestigious family?” Wei Qingping’s face suddenly darkened. She stood up, her voice trembling, “Do you know who guards the borderlands and protects the people? Do you know who has fought bloodily for so many years? While the noble sons of aristocratic families are indulging in literature at home, who is protecting the Great Chu dynasty with their blood and bones on the frontlines?! What’s wrong with him not being from a prestigious family? What part of his integrity is any less than that of a noble family?!”
Her words stunned everyone. Wei Qingping looked at Wei King, tears welling in her eyes, “He has given more than others, he has struggled harder than others, just because he’s not from a prestigious family. Even if he truly loves and cherishes me, treating me like a pearl or a treasure, and risking his life, he still isn’t worthy to marry me, is that so?”
“So such a person isn’t worthy of marrying me, then who is?”
“Dad,” Wei Qingping cried out, “I just want to marry someone I like. Is that so difficult?”
Wei Qingping had rarely cried in her life. This outburst made both men stunned. After a long while, it was Qin Shiyue who spoke first.
“Forget it…” His voice was hoarse, “I… I can do it. It doesn’t have to be formal. I won’t make things difficult for you, Qingping. We can still be like we were before…”
“I want to marry someone I like. He should be a hero of this country, but if he’s not from a prestigious family, is that not allowed?!”
Wei Qingping raised her voice, and Wei King remained silent. After a long moment, he finally said, “It’s not that it’s not allowed…”
Changing the subject, he continued, “But he has vowed to love only you for his entire life.”
“That’s natural.” Qin Shiyue immediately added, sincerely, “Throughout my life, I will only love Qingping.”
He spoke earnestly and seriously, with a hint of childlike innocence. Wei Qingping couldn’t help but laugh softly.
“Silly.”
She gently pushed his head, “You’re a silly person.”
13
Their wedding was held at the Wei Manor. People jealous of Qin Shiyue laughed at him for being the son-in-law, but he didn’t care.
On the night of their marriage, Qin Shiyue lifted Wei Qingping’s veiling cap, looking at her with a bright smile.
“Everyone says you’re the son-in-law. Are you angry?”
She asked him, and he was momentarily stunned before smiling again.
“As long as I’m with you,” he answered gently, “Anything is fine.”
“As long as I’m with you, anything is fine.”