Chapter 30: Arrival

◎If life is unbearable, write to me.◎

Beyond the Dark Gate Pass, a vast plain stretched out, now bustling with spring plowing and farming activities. Along the way, they saw farmers working diligently in their fields, and a steady flow of travelers and merchants on the road – a stark contrast to the desolation of the pass.

Upon entering Jingan Town, the scent of everyday life enveloped them. Street vendors called out their wares, and though there were no grand inns or restaurants, numerous small guesthouses dotted the area. The Hua family breathed a collective sigh of relief upon entering the town.

The twins, unable to contain their excitement, clamored for delicious food. The family, too weary to rest, stopped at a roadside stall for a bowl of noodles. These were locally-made, hand-pulled noodles, thin yet chewy, served with a distinctive mutton topping and broth. As the warm flavors coursed through their bodies, the fatigue from their journey dissipated.

The noodle seller was generous, serving each portion in a large bowl. Yu Lian was satisfied after half a bowl, but the twins, despite their small stature, had insatiable appetites. They truly embodied the saying "teenage sons can impoverish their fathers," each finishing a huge bowl and still eyeing hers.

The matriarch joked, "We lost all our luggage on the way, so if you want more, you'll have to stay here and wash dishes for the owner."

The twins were astonished.

The younger one, Hua Xing, being more astute, asked his elder sister if she wanted more. Yu Lian said she was full, so the two boys happily shared her remaining noodles, finally satiated.

Mrs. Chen watched with a pang of sorrow. Since birth, these two youngest sons had grown up amid the height of the family's power and privilege. What delicacies hadn't they tasted or seen? Once picky eaters, they would refuse everything unless coaxed gently by their mother. Now, after enduring hardship along the journey, they were content with the simplest white noodles and even eager to finish their sister's leftovers. She wiped away a tear discreetly, her heart aching more as she thought about their lost belongings.

After the ransacking, she didn't have much left, save for a few silver banknotes she had casually stashed away in the past. Now, they would come in handy. Along with some jewelry and makeup, they could fetch a considerable sum, providing a foundation for her future livelihood. It was devastating to realize that even these were lost.

Li Xiang was utterly astonished, never imagining that they had fallen so low that they had even lost the knowledge of how to pay respects, let alone their silver.

"What can be done about it?"

He reached for some silver, "I brought a few banknotes when I left, Lian'er..."

Yu Lian stopped him, saying, "Not all of it is lost; I kept some on me, enough to sustain our living."

Li Xiang was an outsider, so Yu Lian did not go into detail. She simply made it clear that his money could not be accepted. If Li Xiang were her friend and she were living alone, facing hardships, it would be acceptable to accept his help. But this was the entire Hu family; from any perspective, they should not take silver from someone outside their kinship.

This was not just a matter of principle in dealing with others; more importantly, it was about preserving the integrity of the Hu family.

She was convinced that her father-in-law would rather starve than accept money from others.

When Li Xiang insisted on paying for the meal, Yu Lian did not refuse this time.

After finishing their noodles, the family found an inn in town to settle down. Hearing about the previous incident at the inn in Salt City, Li Xiang and the two martial heroes remained vigilant. Upon entering the inn, they conducted a thorough investigation, summoning the waiter and the manager for questioning. They even inspected every corner of the establishment before finally feeling reassured enough to let them stay.

Though the inn in this town was small, it was affordable. The cost of accommodating so many people was comparable to a top-notch room in Yanzhou City. Yu Lian decided to treat herself to a separate room and instructed the waiter to prepare hot water for her to take a bath and wash her hair, planning to rest well.

With the hurried journey, she barely had any opportunities to bathe properly. Not to mention nights spent camping in the wilderness, even when they had the chance to stay at an inn, their stays were fleeting, leaving her with little more than a quick wipe-down using warm water.

Listening from the side, Li Xiang's ears subtly turned red, as if she was lost in some secretive thought.

The two heroes promptly whisked the young lad away; did he truly dare to attempt to steal their master's affection?

When Zhu Ying's letter arrived, revealing that this young man intended to contend with the Master for his lady, none could have foreseen that during their return to their ancestral hometown, the Master's family would encounter an assassination attempt and would need to rely on this very youth's name for protection.

Yet, regardless of the circumstances, they couldn't allow this young man to delve deeper under their watch and actually try to poach their master's wife. They had to help their master protect their young lady.

Yu Lian soaked in her chamber for a good half-hour, shampooing her long tresses and cleansing herself thoroughly. She sighed contentedly, feeling a measure of her weariness fade away. Though drowsy, she couldn't sleep with her damp hair, so she sat by the window, gently towel-drying her mane, waiting for it to air-dry as she felt the breeze.

As she dried her hair, she pondered over the events that had transpired and imagined how life would be in Yuzhou if they managed to overcome this challenge.

According to Li Xiang, the emperor intended to kill them three times. The first attempt was at the Salt City Inn, then the Black Gate Pass. The final attempt would likely take place before they reached Yuzhou. Now that Yang Chou knew they were being followed by two skilled masters like the Two Heroes, would he return with more reinforcements to ensure a successful strike?

If that were the case, the third assault might prove even more perilous than the previous two.

Outside the inn, two wandering heroes were enjoying drinks at a street-side stall, discussing this very issue.

Since ancient times, there were two places where skilled individuals thrived: the imperial palace and the martial world. However, since the previous dynasty, the power of the court had grown, leading to the decline of the martial world. Nowadays, many skilled warriors had either withdrawn from society or disappeared altogether. Only a few remained, while the palace was teeming with them. If a few more were to join the pursuit, they might not be able to handle it.

"You shouldn't worry too much. How far is this place from the capital? Even if he sends a message from here to the capital, then dispatches troops back, it would take top-notch experts several days to return. By then, everything will be over, and our master's family would have long reached their hometown in Yuzhou. Didn't that 'dog emperor' say he'd give up the chase once they reach Yuzhou?"

"Can we trust the words of that dog emperor? His statement probably stems from extreme arrogance, not considering the possibility of failure. I'm afraid he'll disregard his reputation and insist on silencing them."

"He's already sacrificed his reputation once; he won't do it again. Zhu Qing has already spread the news in the capital that the emperor is sending assassins after the Hu family. The emperor must now be in a hurry to refute these claims. Not only will he not dare to send more killers, but he'll also have to ensure the safety of Master's family to prove his supposed 'benevolence.'"

"If we're lucky, we just need to wait a few days, and those people will withdraw on their own. They might even cancel the third attempt."

"In that case, let's delay for a while. Let Madam stay in this town for a few days until the situation cools down. Then, we'll escort them to Yuzhou."

"That's right, no need to rush. Keep an eye on that Li boy, he's got guts and thick skin. If he manages to run off with Madam, our master will be left without a wife, and both of us will have to face the consequences."

As they spoke, Li Xiang approached them. They waved him over to join them for a drink.

Li Xiang sat down and took a couple of sips. His face flushed, and a rosy glow appeared. His gaze seemed distant as if lost in thought. He asked, "Heroes, you've traveled far and wide, experienced much in the world. Please teach me, how can I win a girl's heart and make Lian'er forget about that man from the Hu family and accept me?"

The two heroes: "..."

One of them commented, "Forget it. She wouldn't even give you a second glance. What do you have besides your background? Your martial arts skills are mediocre; you can't defeat villains nor scale walls. And as for your literary talent, could you have been a top scholar in the imperial exams?" Their master was not only a master of martial arts but had also achieved the rare feat of winning six consecutive championships in his youth, making him the top among top scholars. How could this kid compare?

Li Xiang took a swig of wine and defended himself, "Although my martial arts are not impressive, I'm skilled in horseback riding and archery. I've even ranked in competitions of the Six Arts at the National Academy before. Moreover, my literary talent is not weak. Can't I compose poetry or write essays? I've even been praised as a charming and talented man."

In the past, he was always overshadowed by Hua Ji, but now that Hua Ji was gone, he was no less than anyone else!

"I have looks, family background, and literary charm. Why doesn't she like me?" He frowned, taking another sip of wine, utterly perplexed.

As the evening wore on and her wine cup ran deep, she muttered to herself, "What is love in this world but something that compels life and death devotion? Lian'er is willing to pledge her life to Hu, to confront destiny until the very end. If that is so, why can't I do the same?"

The two heroes: "..." Is this kid drunk-talking or is he serious?

At the inn, Yu Lian's hair had dried, and she was preparing to retire for the night. As she changed out of her clothes, she discovered a sum of money hidden within. Laying it out beside her, she counted it carefully, finding that it amounted to a little over five hundred taels.

The two thousand taels of silver notes she had brought from home were tucked inside her clothes, landing within the carriage along with her bundle. However, she always kept some silver on her person while traveling. This amount of over five hundred taels was what remained from previous expenses. Her mother had given her two thousand taels, but she had returned a thousand. When combined with the one thousand tael refund and the hundred-odd taels left from the sale of miscellaneous items and the estate's accounting, she now had nearly two thousand taels in total.

After subtracting the cost of the ship tickets, the expenses with the merchant caravan, the money spent along the journey, and the items purchased in the capital, I am left with a total of over five hundred taels of silver.

With five hundred-tael banknotes safely tucked away close to her body, Yu Lian placed the remaining silver coins and copper coins in her purse, alongside her clothes. She sipped a cup of hot water before climbing into bed, letting go of all her complicated thoughts as she drifted into a deep slumber. It had been a long time since she had slept so comfortably. When she woke up, it was already dark, deep into the night.

Not wanting to disturb others, Yu Lian opened the window for some fresh air. For a moment, she thought she saw a shadow flit across the tree in front of her window, but upon closer inspection, she realized it was merely an illusion caused by the swaying branches in the wind.

Zhu Ying, upon arriving at Jingan Town, rushed to visit the young madam. To his surprise, he nearly got caught by her. He then returned to his two colleagues and conveyed their master's orders: "Yang Chou has been recalled to the capital by the emperor, so the assassination is canceled. You two should return, while I am instructed by the master to stay here and secretly protect the family."

The two knights were taken aback. "Master doesn't have many reliable people around. Wouldn't it be a waste for you to stay here? Master could really use your help right now..."

Zhu Ying chuckled. "Master's revenge and grand plans are crucial, but family is equally important. Isn't the young madam significant? It's an honor for me that Master entrusted me with protecting them. I'll stay here to safeguard them covertly. When Master completes his mission, I will reunite the entire family with him, safe and sound."

That same night, the two knights left a letter for Li Xiang, explaining they had urgent business to attend to and thus departed hastily.

When Li Xiang woke up from his drunken stupor, he was disoriented. How could the knights be so unfaithful? They'd already run off even before the third wave of assassins arrived?

Suddenly on edge, he hurried to inform Hua Zhan of the situation.

Hua Zhan furrowed his brow, sensing something amiss, but upon reflection, he found nothing out of the ordinary. Those two heroes were indeed free spirits of the martial world, coming and going as they pleased. It was only natural for them to leave in a hurry when faced with an urgent matter.

He sighed and said, "Then let us depart sooner rather than later. Yang Chou is injured, and the longer we stay here, the more troublesome it will become. If he sends more men after us, we'll be in deep trouble."

When Yu Lian got up for breakfast, she also heard about the news. She took out a banknote worth a hundred taels of silver and proposed, "Let's see if there are any skilled fighters in town. We should hire a few to escort us to Yuzhou."

"That's a good idea. But, Lian'er, you don't have much money to begin with, and you're unwilling to take mine. Leave the hiring of the fighters to me."

Seeing Yu Lian frown, Li Xiang looked at her pleadingly. "Just consider me a friend. A friend in need is a friend indeed. What's wrong with me helping to hire some fighters for protection? Think of it as my final gesture of care..."

Yu Lian met his gaze, sighed, and nodded.

Observing this, Hua Zhan spoke to his daughter-in-law, "Count Li Xiang's favor as mine, my dear. Don't burden yourself with it. If there's an opportunity in the future, I will repay it. Back then, I had no relationship with the Ru Yang Marquis, and due to his daughter marrying the Third Prince, we could almost be considered adversaries. Yet now, I owe him a favor because of his youngest son. This boy is quite sincere and straightforward..."

He left the rest unsaid.

Yu Lian gave her father-in-law a closer look, grasping the underlying meaning. He seemed to share the same thoughts as the old lady, praising Li Xiang's character in front of her, perhaps suggesting that she should consider remarrying to Li Xiang. They wanted her to know that they wouldn't mind if she remarried.

Li Xiang hurried outside to search for skilled fighters. In such a small, remote town, there weren't many martial artists. So, he went to a security agency to find help. To his surprise, he managed to gather a dozen men who agreed to escort them to Yuzhou as if on a regular security mission. Li Xiang's generous offer left them with no reason to decline.

That morning, after the entire family finished their meal, they checked out of the inn and set off on a simple journey, escorted by a dozen bodyguards from several renowned escort agencies, heading towards Yuzhou.

Jin Gan Town lies almost halfway across Mu Tang from Yuzhou, a considerable distance. Throughout the journey, the family remained on high alert, constantly wary of any sign of the emperor's agents. Yet, to their surprise, not a single assassin made an appearance as they entered Yuzhou's territory.

Feeling himself the only capable adult male in the group, apart from the bodyguards, Li Xiang didn't have it any easier than the Huas along the journey. He rode alongside the carriage, not mentioning how exhausting it was, the toil was undeniable. His skin had tanned significantly, and he had lost a noticeable amount of weight, causing the matriarch to express her heartfelt concern.

Having observed him along the way, the elderly lady had already taken a liking to the young man, almost viewing him as her own son-in-law. She insisted that once they were settled, she would cook several delicious meals to help him regain his strength.

Yu Lian observed the grandmother's loving gaze upon Li Xiang and felt quite astonished within her heart. It was understandable for the matriarch to show compassion towards her and encourage marriage; however, she was still her granddaughter-in-law at present. The grandmother seemed to have regarded her as a granddaughter and, in turn, viewed her suitor as a potential son-in-law?

If Hua Ji, lying beneath the earth, were to learn of this, even his coffin lid wouldn't be able to contain his rage.

How truly affectionate of a grandmother!

Yet, upon arriving in Yuzhou, before they could even settle down, messengers from the Ru Yang Marquis arrived and promptly escorted Li Xiang back, much to her fury. Her face flushed with anger, she felt that she had lost all dignity in front of the one she loved. Frustrated, she yelled at them, "Let me go! I'll go with you, isn't that enough? Just let me say a few farewell words to Lian'er!"

The men exchanged glances, realizing that the young master's fate was sealed, and reluctantly released their grip on her.

Li Xiang rushed to Yu Lian's side, her eyes reddened as she said, "I have to leave now..."

Yu Lian nodded, offering a slight smile.

Li Xiang lowered his head. "You're... enduring hardships here... Forget it. If you can't take it and want to leave, write to me, and I'll send someone for you. No, I'll come for you myself."

"I know you won't accept my help or my money, but if life becomes unbearable, promise me you'll write. Send the letter to the residence of the Ru Yang Marquis, or to the Spring Breeze Trading Company. That's my uncle's business, and Mu Tang has a branch. I'll give instructions that you only need to mention my name to the manager."

Yu Lian cast her eyes down and replied, "Alright..."

The young man's lips curled into a smile. "Who knows when we'll meet again after today. My father definitely won't allow me out again."

"Can I ask you one last question, Lian'er?"

Yu Lian nodded. He then asked, "If you had met me before Hua Ji, would you have liked someone like me?"

Yu Lian looked at him intently for a moment. The young man's eyes shimmered with hope.

In the next second, however, Yu Lian averted her gaze and shook her head.

He forced a bitter smile. "Then I'll be on my way. Goodbye." With that, he mounted his horse and rode off without looking back. As the horse took a few steps, he tightened his grip on the reins but still couldn't resist turning his head for one last glance.

There, Yu Lian stood her ground, smiling as she waved goodbye to him.

He laughed, revealing eight perfect pearly whites, his eyebrows carrying a proud and uninhibited air, just like the charming young tyrant of old.

Yu Lian watched him depart until his figure vanished from sight, only then climbing into her carriage.

From the depths of her heart, if she had not encountered such troubles and dire circumstances upon crossing through time, and if she had met Li Xiang earlier on, there was a possibility that she might have chosen to be with him—a simple soul as he was.

Yet, at a time like this, she wouldn't offer him any hope. Children were innocent but also impulsive and headstrong. A mere glimmer of a rainbow could ignite their spirits, making them capable of acting without regard for consequences. It might be better to let him have no illusions.

The young tyrant continued his opulent life, while she led her modest peasant existence; their paths never crossed.

After the Hua family bid farewell to Li Xiang, they spent a day resting in Yuzhou's provincial capital before embarking on their journey to their ancestral home.

The Hua family's roots were in a mountain village within one of Yuzhou's subordinate counties.

The village was called Shangyi Village.

Upon arrival, the group first went to the county office to complete the necessary procedures. Upon finishing the paperwork, they received an official seal, which allowed them to settle and register as residents. Without this document, purchasing property or land would be forbidden, and they risked being treated as vagrants and expelled if discovered.

With their credentials in hand, the family hired a local coachman familiar with the area to guide them on their journey from the county seat to their ancestral village, Yu Village.

Yu Village was an insignificant hamlet nestled in the corners of Yuzhou, surrounded by mountains and water. The villagers spent their days toiling in the fields, leading a life almost disconnected from the outside world. Their primary interaction with the broader society occurred during the monthly market day when they would sell produce, grains, or fresh vegetables in the nearby town or purchase essential items.

This was an exceptionally backward rural village, where a legend persisted that generations ago, one of its inhabitants had risen to become a high-ranking official. The village also boasted a clan school established by that official, which continued to operate even today, albeit with skepticism from the villagers who suspected it was merely an old tale spun by the clan elders.

Recently, the clan school had been demolished by the village chief and the elders, who declared that reading was no longer allowed, and future generations of children would be prohibited from studying. What was the point, they argued, if education ultimately led to disappointment and burdened others?

This decision piqued the curiosity of the village's youth. Was there truly such a prominent official? Had something happened to him, prompting this reaction from the clan elders?

Little did the people of Yu Village expect that, in a place where even ox carts were scarce, two horse-drawn carriages would arrive on this day, nor did they anticipate that these visitors would be descendants of that great official...

The village was still some distance from the town, and the roads connecting them were barely developed, mostly carved out by generations of footsteps. The uneven, muddy terrain tested both the bodies and buttocks of those riding in the carriages, causing a jarring, bumpy ride.

Halfway through the journey, Yu Lian found the conditions unbearable, and the elderly woman sighed repeatedly. Eventually, they decided to alternate walking and resting. Upon reaching a halfway point, they stumbled upon a tea stall along the road, where they stopped to quench their thirst with hot tea and savor a couple of steamed buns and dumplings.

The three children, holding their buns, gazed around in disbelief, wondering if this would be the place they would call home in the future.

The twins scrunched up their noses in disdain and remarked, "Isn't this place too shabby? There isn't even a proper road, and these buns are mixed with coarse flour. They're hard to bite into and not soft at all. They don't taste good!"

The tea sellers, a middle-aged couple, chuckled upon hearing this and said, "Young guests, you must be outsiders, right? You probably don't know that our entire vicinity is quite poor. The people who pass through here aren't wealthy. Everyone is reluctant to eat refined flour, so these buns mixed with coarse flour are cheaper and more popular. We used to sell plain white flour buns, but they were a penny more expensive, and hardly anyone bought them. Eventually, we switched to this kind of bun; it's affordable and practical!"

"The way you two behave shows that you're accustomed to a life of luxury. I wonder why you've come to a humble place like ours?"

The twins were about to respond, but when their father shot them a glance, they dared not speak. Instead, they sipped their tea and munched on the buns, their cheeks puffing up with each bite.