“Chapter 58”

"Chapter 58"

"The creek babbled, sunlight flickering."

"The sound of the distant waterfall carried by the wind over the Nan Mountain Horse Field, which was emptied in advance. Zhou's troops were scattered outside the horse field, across the vast grassland, occasionally with wild birds flying low."

"Xiao Luolan looked at Master Zhou, noticing the trace of blood on his lips. Her heart skipped a beat, and she retreated a few steps to the willow tree, clenching her hands hidden in her wide sleeves."

"Xiao Luolan forced herself to stand still, the towering figure of Master Zhou casting a shadow over her."

"'Madam is learning to ride horses?' Zhou Xu glanced at the two horses tied under the tree."

"'Hmm,' Xiao Luolan responded."

"The atmosphere between the two was somewhat tense."

"Zhou Xu, seemingly oblivious to the tension, said, 'Then let me teach you to ride. I remember you wanted to learn during the era of Tai Yang.'"

"'No need,' Xiao Luolan replied with an uneasy premonition in her heart, 'I've almost mastered it with Master Li’s guidance.'"

"'The journey back to Hui Yi is long, and some stretches require horseback travel. Madam’s riding skills need more practice,' Zhou Xu suggested."

"The mention of returning to Hui Yi struck a chord in Xiao Luolan; this man had not given up on his plans."

"Although she knew she couldn't influence Master Zhou’s decision, Xiao Luolan still felt saddened in that moment."

"Xiao Luolan took a deep breath and turned to leave."

"Zhou Xu grabbed his wife's hand, preventing her from leaving, gently caressing her wrist. Dressed in a light purple round-neck robe, her hair bound up with a jade crown like a gentleman, her lotus-jade face exposed, with long, delicate brows, her usually gentle, water-like eyes now rippling, her bright red lips tightly pursed, everything about her resisted him."

"She did not like him."

"The soft wrist in his palm struggled more intensely, soon turning slightly red. The lady’s cheeks flushed with annoyance, her hair slightly damp. She was so eager to leave, not wanting to stay with him for a moment longer."

"Unable to free herself, Xiao Luolan couldn't help but angrily say, 'Let go.'"

"Zhou Xu released his wife’s hand."

"Xiao Luolan turned to leave and unexpectedly saw her daughter returning from picking peaches. She subconsciously tidied her hair."

"Xiao Qingxue ran over, her robe fashioned into a pouch. Seeing both Master Zhou and her mother, she blinked, slowing down her steps, becoming a bit more ladylike: 'Mother, Father, I’ve picked some peaches, would you like some?'"

"The peaches were already washed with upstream creek water, clean and juicy."

"Xiao Luolan took two peaches: 'I'll have one,' and then asked her daughter to stand still."

"As Xiao Luolan handed her daughter the socks and shoes to put on, she noticed Master Zhou was still facing away from them, looking at the water."

"Xiao Luolan paused for a moment."

"After Xiao Qingxue put on her shoes, she washed the peaches again: 'Father, would you like a peach?'"

"Zhou Xu glanced at his wife: 'It's enough if you eat.'"

"Xiao Qingxue, unable to find a topic to talk about with her stepfather and seeing both her mother and Master Zhou there, took a bite of her peach. After a while, she stole a glance at Master Zhou."

"'Father?'"

"Zhou Xu smiled towards Xiao Qingxue: 'What is it?'"

"'Can you not take mother to Hui Yi?' Xiao Qingxue asked bravely."

"Xiao Luolan was startled by her daughter's boldness and then looked at Master Zhou, who still wore a smile, sending a chill through her heart."

"Xiao Qingxue looked at Master Zhou with hope."

"Zhou Xu pondered for a while, as if seriously considering it: 'I'll think about it.'"

"'He's changing his mind?' Xiao Luolan, hearing Master Zhou's words, felt a mix of disbelief and a tinge of joy."

"Xiao Qingxue, hearing that Master Zhou might not insist on taking her mother, planned to find more time to visit him and bring him small gifts, hoping he would completely abandon the idea of taking her mother to Hui Yi!"

"'Madam doesn't know how to ride a horse; I'll teach you later,' Zhou Xu said gently: 'Knowing how to ride is always a good thing.'"

"Xiao Luolan began to waver, wondering if he really would change his mind."

"After eating her peach, Xiao Qingxue, seeing that Master Zhou was going to teach her mother to ride, and not wanting to be a third wheel, left the Nan Mountain Horse Field with a dozen of her guards to shop in the town below."

"At Nan Mountain Horse Field."

"Xiao Luolan was seated on a chestnut horse, with Master Zhou teaching her how to ride right behind her."

"Zhou Xu wrapped his arms around his wife's waist, teaching her how to use the reins to control the horse's direction."

"Xiao Luolan bowed her head and learned for a while."

"Zhou Xu, sitting on the horse, looked at his wife, from her snow-white neck down to her slender waist cinched by a leather belt."

"Feeling Master Zhou embracing her, Xiao Luolan turned her head, wanting to understand his true intentions."

"'Were you just deceiving Qingxue earlier?'"

"Zhou Xu kissed his wife but did not speak."

"Seeing this, Xiao Luolan felt ashamed of her earlier naivety, realizing she shouldn’t have believed he would change his mind."

"'I want to get off the horse,' Xiao Luolan pulled the reins, stopping the horse, but couldn't dismount."

"Zhou Xu’s large hand held his wife's waist, keeping her on the horseback."

"Xiao Luolan’s cheeks flushed red with anger at this man’s shamelessness."

"Zhou Xu's other hand supported her neck from behind, then he kissed her, dominantly, leaving no room for refusal."

"Afterward."

"Xiao Luolan sat by the creek, blowing in the cool evening breeze."

"After washing in the creek and ridding himself of the faint scent of blood, Zhou Xu put on his robe and then tied up his wife's hair. Men's hairstyles were much simpler than women's, and he adeptly gathered up her long hair, revealing red marks on her snow-white neck. Zhou Xu adjusted her collar to cover the marks."

"'Madam, let’s go,' Zhou Xu said, kissing his wife."

"Xiao Luolan stood on the grass, stumbling a bit, and Zhou Xu steadied her, walking alongside her."

"Xiao Luolan didn't look at him throughout the journey, seated on the cushioned seat of the carriage, while her daughter and that man rode horses outside."

"'What did you buy? Let me see.'"

"'Just some hairpins and animal wood carvings.'"

"'You like these? There are jade carvings of the twelve zodiac animals in the storeroom. You can take some and put them in your study as decorations.'"

"'No need, Father.'"

"'Why be formal with your father? You can pick anything you like from the storeroom.'"

"'Tomorrow, I'll have the embroideresses in the mansion make several autumn and winter robes for you in advance.'"

……

"Xiao Luolan listened as their voices drifted further away, probably moving to the front of the procession. She looked down at the golden dagger in her hand, its ruby glistening with a cold hue. She had seen this dagger before; Master Zhou had once given it to her during the Tai Yang era. She was frightened and threw it away then, but now, it had somehow returned to her."

"Xiao Luolan closed her eyes, her mind filled with the afternoon's events, her eyelashes trembling."

"Under the blue sky and white clouds, she lay on Master Zhou's robe, turning her head to see the green grass bent under his Jiu Jin whip. Master Zhou's personal weapons were scattered around her, the golden dagger, a short sword with a silver sheath, all within reach."

"Eventually, she tremblingly picked up the golden dagger."

"Master Zhou kissed her without even glancing at the dagger in her hand, as if completely unaware."

"Xiao Luolan bit her lip hard, her body heaving intensely. She hadn't intended to hurt him; she just wanted to hold it, thinking it would make her feel safer. But Master Zhou's actions were too much, and in her intolerable frustration, she pressed the dagger against his chest."

"She even told him not to come any closer."

"Xiao Luolan recalled the calm manner in which Master Zhou pulled her back, her scream as the dagger pierced his chest, blood flowing. Terrified, she dropped the dagger, but Master Zhou picked it up and forced it back into her hand."

"She was covered in his blood."

"Xiao Luolan deeply realized that she couldn't escape this man."

"Back at Zhou's mansion, Xiao Luolan took another bath and placed the golden dagger under her pillow."

"At night, after Zhou Xu had finished washing up and went to bed, he, as usual, sought to be intimate with his wife."

"Xiao Luolan resisted, saying, 'Doctor Li advised that you should restrain yourself.'"

"Zhou Xu embraced his wife, stopping his actions upon hearing her words, looking at her, more voluptuous and beautiful under the candlelight."

"Xiao Luolan lowered her head."

"'Has Doctor Li Fán examined you?' Zhou Xu asked, kissing his wife's hand."

"'Yes,' Xiao Luolan replied softly."

"'Are you in much discomfort? Or is it an injury?' Zhou Xu asked softly, 'Have you used the ointment?'"

"Xiao Luolan's face flushed red with embarrassment and annoyance: 'Stop asking.' He had a habit of prying too much. She pulled the blanket over herself, ready to sleep, while Zhou Xu gently patted her with an irregular rhythm."

"Facing Master Zhou, Xiao Luolan smelled the strong scent of medicinal herbs. She could see his wound, which seemed to have been treated and wrapped in white gauze."

"'Which maid do you wish to bring on the trip to Hui Yi?' Zhou Xu, not getting a response, decided himself, 'Let's take Dongxue, her skills are adequate.'"

"'And about Qingxue,' Zhou Xu pondered."

"Xiao Luolan resisted the urge to look at him."

"'I'll assign her a personal force of five hundred men,' he decided."

"Xiao Luolan closed her eyes, while Zhou Xu looked at her face, his hand resting over her heart."

"Xiao Luolan shivered slightly."

"'Let me check,' Zhou Xu's voice was muffled, while Xiao Luolan stared at the patterns on the canopy, her cheeks flushed like blooming flowers."

"Six days later."

"Three thousand light cavalry left Langge in the vast night."

"Twelve hundred Tabgach cavalry and eight hundred foreign riders led the way, followed by the iron cavalry of Youzhou's Xuanjia camp, with several dozen attendants and clients closely behind."

"Xiao Luolan sat in the carriage, looking ahead as dawn was about to break."

"This long night was finally coming to an end."

"She looked back one last time, no longer seeing Langge, feeling as if her heart was left behind, dazed and confused."

"'Amitabha, this humble monk greets the Madam.'"

"'This old servant greets the Madam.'"

"Xiao Luolan looked at a monk and a hunchbacked old man who had initiated the conversation, both bowing their heads in respect."

"They seemed to be clients of Master Zhou. Doctor Li was also in this troop. Xiao Luolan barely recalled this information, but she didn't want to speak to anyone, simply replying 'hello' before lowering the curtain."

"The lady listlessly let the curtain fall, her figure and features faintly obscured behind the thin veil."

"Yet, almost everyone who had seen the Madam couldn't forget her face, the epitome of mature, exquisite beauty."

"'No wonder the lord insisted on bringing the lady,' the monk muttered, then chanted 'Amitabha' again."

"When he looked up, his eyes were like golden, serpentine pupils."

"The hunchbacked old man raised his deformed left hand, holding the 'You' banner high, it flapped wildly in the wind, his whistling voice sounding through his gap-toothed mouth."

"'The wind is rising!'"