Qi Buyan lightly blinked, then gazed at He Sui’an in a daze.
He Sui’an sensed it, turned to look at him, her eyes filled with him, as if asking what was wrong. Her expression was as lively as ever. Qi Buyan withdrew his gaze.
Su Yang knew tomorrow would not be easy. After finalizing the plan, she left a bamboo tube for signaling with Qi Buyan and left with her people.
He Sui’an did not see them off.
Yesterday, she had already been refused.
Su Yang probably wouldn’t want her to see them off today either, because they believed Qi Buyan’s words that He Sui’an couldn’t see the snow. Besides, the distance from the front hall to the main gate was just a few steps; they didn’t need an escort.
He Sui’an picked up the bamboo tube Su Yang left behind and said, “Remember to bring this tomorrow.”
The words were directed at Qi Buyan.
Even though she knew Qi Buyan had a good memory, she couldn’t help but nag a bit.
Qi Buyan ate a piece of purple pastry that had a small bite taken out of it. The pastry was what He Sui’an had left behind. She had brought some pastries to the front hall, worried that Su Yang and her people hadn’t had breakfast.
In fact, she guessed right.
They hadn’t eaten breakfast before coming. When Shen Jianhe saw the pastries, his eyes lit up and he ate several pieces in a row. He Sui’an also ate a bit out of greed but left half a piece on the plate.
Now, Qi Buyan ate what she left: “You can hold onto it.”
He Sui’an pondered the meaning of his words and stood up abruptly: “You want me to hold onto the bamboo tube? Are you planning to take me with you tomorrow?”
Qi Buyan, still seated, looked up at her.
“Yes.”
He Sui’an shoved the bamboo tube back to him: “Aren’t you afraid I’ll hurt you?”
Qi Buyan absentmindedly turned the bamboo tube: “Afraid of what? Whatever you do to me, I would only feel joy.”
“But I’m afraid,” she said.
He maintained his position, looking up at her: “I want you to accompany me… If you’re afraid of hurting me, you can hide nearby when the time comes.”
He Sui’an understood Qi Buyan’s character. Once he decided on something, he rarely changed his mind, just like when he refused to let her leave him. Even if she left secretly, he would find a way to bring her back.
If it always comes full circle, it’s better not to make such a fuss.
He Sui’an gradually fell silent.
She quietly sat back down.
After thinking for a while, He Sui’an shook Qi Buyan’s hand. “Then hide me well.”
He wasn’t wearing his wrist guard, and with her sudden shake, a piece of animal hide paper fell from his indigo sleeve. He Sui’an bent down to pick it up and inadvertently glanced at it. It was a sheet of music.
She picked it up and handed it back to Qi Buyan, curiously asking, “Is this a music score?”
He took it, rolled up the paper, and put it away without much change in his tone. “It’s a tune passed down by the ancestors of Miaojiang.”
“Have you learned it?”
She asked again.
He Sui’an couldn’t understand the music score and had no knowledge of music.
Qi Buyan met her eyes. “I learned it by chance a long time ago, but I haven’t used it on anyone yet.” In the isolated Tianshui Village of Miaojiang, apart from refining gu, he learned tunes.
She then touched the bone flute at his waist.
The front end of the bone flute was carved with the character “砚” (Yan), and the tail end had a short indigo tassel. The body of the flute had intricate carvings, similar to the embroidery patterns on Qi Buyan’s clothes.
This bone flute was undoubtedly beautiful.
But the sound it produced was not pleasant and would make people feel very uncomfortable.
He Sui’an held Qi Buyan’s slender hand, making his fingertips tremble. She touched the scar on his wrist and the delicate silver butterfly chain, and suddenly said, “Do you know what my current wish is?”
“What is it?”
She sincerely said, “My current wish is for you to live well.”
Qi Buyan murmured softly, “You said your current wish is for me to live well?” Wasn’t it to return to her parents?
He Sui’an nodded.
He smiled, his slightly curved eyes seeming to contain stars. “I understand.”
He Sui’an tightened her grip on Qi Buyan’s hand and spoke slowly. “Then can you help me fulfill this wish?”
He held the back of her neck and kissed her.
*
In the blink of an eye, it was late.
The snowy night was cold, and the wind howled.
While Qi Buyan was bathing behind the screen, He Sui’an sat on the bed, hugging her knees and staring at the tightly closed window. As soon as he came out, he saw this scene: the girl looked conflicted, her fingers moving restlessly.
He Sui’an heard footsteps, turned her head to look at Qi Buyan, and stood up to go to him. But as she stood on the ground, she felt an inexplicable sensation of floating, even though she was clearly stepping on the wooden floor.
She looked down at her feet.
Not sure if she was mistaken, He Sui’an saw the wooden boards under her feet suddenly turn into the concrete pavement of a modern road.
Quickly, it flashed by.
She rubbed her eyes, and when she looked again, it was wooden boards again, as if it had been an illusion. But she felt it wasn’t; she hadn’t been mistaken.
Could it be that regardless of whether she saw snow or not, she was destined to return before this snow ended? Perhaps seeing the snow would only speed up the time of return.
Thinking of this possibility, she looked sharply at Qi Buyan not far away.
His face, steamed from the bath, had a touch of blush. As the steam dissipated, it gradually returned to its original pale color. With his red lips and white teeth, Qi Buyan from the Tianshui Village of Miaojiang was inherently like a gu capable of enchanting people.
Although Qi Buyan didn’t know exactly what He Sui’an had seen, he noticed her strange behavior. “What’s wrong with you?”
He Sui’an tried to take a few steps.
Finally, everything returned to normal.
She lifted her skirt and ran to Qi Buyan. Without hiding anything from him, she told him her new hypothesis with a complex feeling.
Qi Buyan patiently listened to He Sui’an, lifted the stray hair falling on her cheek, tucking it behind her delicate ear. He didn’t say much else, just remarked, “Tomorrow, cover your eyes and come with me.”
He had guessed this possibility last night when He Sui’an mentioned it, and it turned out to be true.
Qi Buyan was very calm.
He Sui’an agreed.
Qi Buyan skillfully untied He Sui’an’s sash; he was so practiced that he could do it with his eyes closed. “Alright, rest now.”
She climbed back into bed.
He also got into bed, tucking his knees.
He Sui’an lay on her side, facing Qi Buyan. “I can’t sleep.”
“Then talk to me.” Qi Buyan also lay on his side, his long hair spilling over the soft pillow and bedding, propping up half his face with one hand.
She scooted closer to Qi Buyan and hugged him. “No, you need to get a good rest tonight.”
Qi Buyan chuckled softly.
He Sui’an inhaled his warm scent, listened to his heartbeat, and felt a bit more at ease. She then closed her eyes, her hands never moving from Qi Buyan’s waist, like a lock, and he was willing to be locked.
But Qi Buyan had one request: He Sui’an, this lock, must not loosen.
*
Early the next morning, they woke up much earlier than usual because today was the day Princess Luoyan was marrying far away to the Nanliang Kingdom. Qi Buyan wasn’t in a hurry, but He Sui’an was.
She was too afraid that something might go wrong today.
Qi Buyan leisurely tied He Sui’an’s small silver bell ornament into his hair.
One braid was tied with hers, another with his, repeatedly until all the small braids were tied. When he let go, these braids scattered into the rest of his loose hair.
He Sui’an didn’t wait for Qi Buyan to call her and picked up the indigo silk ribbon to tie over her eyes. Like the previous days, he led He Sui’an out.
They both stepped across the courtyard snow, much like they had stepped over the red cloth on their wedding day.
After last night’s events, Qi Buyan was more determined than ever to kill Liu Yan today and end both his and He Sui’an’s lives. She was unaware of this, and he would never tell her.
Because he was a selfish person.
As long as he got what he wanted, Qi Buyan was willing to use any means necessary.
He Sui’an, unaware of his true intentions for the day, continued to chatter about how they should have stuffed buns when they returned tonight. She seemed convinced they would both make it back alive.
She kept talking.
In truth, she was just too anxious, trying to ease her nerves by talking continuously.
Qi Buyan stopped, looking at He Sui’an, who was blindfolded. She only showed her forehead and the lower half of her face, but he could vividly and accurately picture her entire face in his mind.
He raised his hand, pretending to touch her from a distance.
“Why did you stop?” He Sui’an noticed Qi Buyan wasn’t moving forward and asked aloud.
“You have some snow here. I want to brush it off.” Qi Buyan brushed the snow from her hair, then closed her slightly open collar to keep the cold wind out. She was very afraid of the cold.
*
On the day of the princess’s wedding, all of Chang’an was in high spirits, decorated with lanterns and banners, bustling with excitement. Many people had lined the streets leading to the city gates early in the morning, hoping to witness the princess’s departure.
Coincidentally, Emperor Duan Jing was unwell, so Prince Qing, Liu Yan, was to send the princess out of the city in his place.
Princess Luoyan was departing from the imperial palace and had not yet reached the main streets of Chang’an. At that moment, she was still in the palace. The palace gates were wide open today, and officials in red robes stood on either side outside the hall to see her off.
The dignified and elegant Empress stood on the steps, holding Luoyan’s hand tightly, unwilling to let go. She gave her a few careful instructions and asked Zhi Mo to take good care of the princess, ensuring she would not be wronged.
Next to them stood Liu Yan.
Liu Yan watched them calmly.
Luoyan felt his gaze but remained indifferent, smiling at the Empress. “Mother, don’t worry. How could Ah Yan be the kind of person to be easily bullied? I always repay my grudges.”
Previously, the Empress had been worried that Luoyan would be unhappy with this marriage and feel that the Great Zhou was sacrificing her for peace, harboring resentment.
Seeing Luoyan speak to her in a playful tone, the Empress felt somewhat relieved.
She truly loved this daughter.
Even though they were not biological mother and daughter, after so many years of upbringing, the bond between them was strong. The Empress was very fond of Princess Luoyan and was genuinely reluctant to part with her.
However, the marriage alliance was crucial for the friendly relations between the Great Zhou and the Nanliang Kingdom. As the Empress, she had to prioritize state affairs. Despite her reluctance, she agreed with Emperor Duan Jing’s proposal to marry Luoyan to Nanliang.
Nanliang specifically requested Luoyan, not a newly titled princess.
The princess who had been raised under the care of Emperor Duan Jing and the Empress for many years was naturally more desirable than a newly titled one created just for the alliance. Nanliang did not want to be treated perfunctorily.
The Empress gently touched Luoyan’s face and softly said, “Be careful in all things.”
Liu Yan looked towards the boundless sky.
Luoyan nodded.
She said, “Mother, you must take care of your health. Your legs are not well, and they hurt when it’s cold. It’s been snowing continuously; you must be careful.”