A Single Tie Of Long Hair Seals A Lifelong Commitment - Chapter 36

On the day Xie Yuan and Xun Shuheng left Yongdu, Chen Liangyu saw them off outside the city.

The Xun household members only escorted them to the city gate; going further would have been against the rules.

Xun Xian was absent from the crowd. As Xun Shuheng bid farewell to her mother, elder brother, and sisters, seeing her family about to turn back and leave, she appeared extremely uneasy.

The farthest she had ever traveled in her life was to the Yueyang Tower, about an hour’s carriage ride from home. Madam Xun, the Chancellor’s wife, treasured her as the apple of her eye, keeping her company almost constantly. Now, after leaving her parents, she was heading to a place six hundred li away.

What’s more, she was still unfamiliar with her new husband.

Although Xianyu and several maids who had served her since childhood were with her, this was far from enough to alleviate her dread.

She clung tightly to her mother’s sleeve, her eyes filled with helplessness and a plea for help. Madam Xun also held her hand, reluctant to let go for a long time.

The eunuch sent from the palace to see them off began to urge them along.

They were said to be seeing them off, but were in fact supervising.

They had been sent by Emperor Xuanyuan to confirm that Xie Yuan and his wife had left Yongdu, so they could return to the palace and report their mission complete once the couple departed.

Madam Xun hardened her heart, pulled her hand free from her daughter’s grip, and, as if having made a massive decision, turned and walked back without looking.

“Mother.”

Xun Shuheng’s voice was tinged with a sob.

Madam Xun pressed a handkerchief to the corners of her eyes. Unable to bear it any longer, she finally turned back. “Heng’er, if you truly miss home, send a letter back.”

It was fortunate that Xun Xian was not present, which allowed her, a woman, to utter such words. Xie Yuan was already expelled from Yongdu because of his association with the Xun family; now that he was leaving, how could they possibly correspond with Yongdu? Qiu Renshan, the Minister of Personnel, was also demoted again because of this, falling from a high official of the Six Boards to a County Magistrate in a county near Dongbaiyue.

With Xun Shuheng’s departure, the day the mother and daughter would meet again became a distant uncertainty.

Chen Liangyu said, “Madam, I will see Ah-Heng off.”

Madam Xun was relieved and grateful, grasping her hand. “Good child, thank you.”

Chen Liangyu handed Hongzong (Crimson Mane) over to one of Xie Yuan’s personal attendants, and she rode in the carriage with Xun Shuhang, while Xie Yuan rode ahead on horseback. Initially, Hongzong was reluctant to let a stranger touch its reins; it only stopped its loud neighing and reluctantly followed the carriage after Chen Liangyu delivered a solid slap to its head.

After traveling several tens of li, the terrain gradually rose, and turning back, the city of Yongdu was no longer visible.

Xun Shuheng remained silent the entire way, merely clutching Chen Liangyu’s wrist like a last lifeline, holding it for the whole journey.

Only when the setting sun in the west slowly sank below the horizon did she release her grip, leaving a distinct red mark on Chen Liangyu’s wrist.

“Liangyu, it’s getting late. Though you travel faster on horseback, the roads are difficult to navigate after dark. Please stop here.”

Chen Liangyu nodded and said, “Then I’ll head back. Take care. You must be well.”

“You too.”

The convoy stopped. Chen Liangyu stepped out of the carriage, took Hongzong, and rode to the front of the line to bid farewell to Xie Yuan.

“Your Highness, please take care on your journey. I will not escort you any further.”

Xie Yuan wanted to say something more to her, but she cut him off. There were undoubtedly several pairs of eyes from the palace within the feudal delegation.

“Your Highness needs not say more. Since nothing can be done now, let us do nothing and wait for a future day.”

Chen Liangyu rode back.

Xie Yuan and Xun Shuheng’s convoy also moved on, winding forward.

She traveled alone back along the identical path she had come. Passing a small town they had traveled through earlier, she jumped to a high vantage point, watching the procession of several hundred people vanish with the last sliver of sunset, dwindling into sight like creeping insects.

Darkness swallowed the final light.

A lantern was lit outside an inn in the town.

This small town, a few tens of li from Yongdu, had no curfew; travelers were still on the road around 7:00 PM.

A temporary tavern, built with wooden stakes, stood outside the inn, selling its own brewed liquor. The tables and chairs were old, with chipped paint on the corners and legs, and a layer of greasy grime on the tabletop.

Business was slow, and she was the only customer in the tavern.

The liquor was cloudy, its taste incomparable to the fine wines of the Marquis’s Residence. Drinking it down, one could discern the residual grain flavor in the alcohol, lending it a unique character.

She did not like this distilled liquor; the drink coursed through her, burning her insides.

She poured and drank cup after cup, until scattered tears welled up in her eyes from the burning sensation.

She recalled saying to someone: the person who can be used is the one in one’s heart.

Now, was there anyone left who could be used?

Earthenware jugs, the size of bowls, were lined up in front of her. She couldn’t tell if the liquor at this inn wasn’t strong enough, or if drinking Xun Shuheng’s fruit wine had built up her tolerance, but she wasn’t very drunk.

It took two more bowls before she realized she was indeed intoxicated.

Drunkenness easily breeds illusions, and the face of Xie Wenjun appeared before her.

She closed her eyes to clear her head for a moment, and when she opened them again, the person was still there.

She didn’t even wait for an invitation, simply sitting down on the bench across from her. She seemed unaccustomed to the seat, shifting slightly to adjust her posture.

Chen Liangyu glanced around. The inn was surrounded by Eastern Palace Guards, clad in black iron armor, carrying horn bows and ring-pommel sabers.

The innkeeper and his wife seemed to realize that a person of great importance had arrived, and they conscientiously stood in an inconspicuous corner, praying only that this group wouldn’t start a fight in their small tavern.

“The usable person…” Chen Liangyu muttered to herself, picking up a jug and taking a large gulp.

Xie Wenjun matched her pace, opening a jug of liquor and drinking with her.

Yuan Rong attempted to stop her, “Your Highness, things outside are not clean. Please be cautious.”

“She’s drunk that much and hasn’t died, it’s fine,” Xie Wenjun replied.

Chen Liangyu didn’t ask why she was here at this hour. Chen Liangyu was hiding here, trying to drown her sorrows with alcohol, and the person opposite her also seemed to be troubled, looking quite unhappy.

“It’s bad for your health, drink less,” Chen Liangyu warned.

Xie Wenjun countered, “Then what are you doing? If I hadn’t come, would you have planned to drink all of this?” There were at least five or six unopened jugs left on the table.

“I merely bought this much; I wasn’t obligated to drink it all,” Chen Liangyu said.

Her head was spinning, yet her thoughts were still clear.

“Then drink as much as you want. I’ll drink with you.”

Xie Wenjun ordered the remaining jugs to be opened. The two drank as if in a competition, finishing one jug before opening the next.

After two more jugs were empty, Chen Liangyu worried that Xie Wenjun’s delicate stomach couldn’t handle it and that she might fall ill. She signaled a halt, asked the innkeeper to prepare two of the best rooms, and commented, “Your liquor isn’t strong enough.”

In this remote, poor town, even the best room might not be suitable for Xie Wenjun.

Just as she stood up, a wave of dizziness washed over her, and her body uncontrollably pitched forward.

Seeing that she was about to face-plant into the dust, she quickly reached for the table. However, all her limbs refused to obey. Her hand grasped at nothing, and with a thud, she landed on both knees, completing the grand courtesy she should have performed for Xie Wenjun.

Yuan Rong and Dai Qing bit their lips, trying hard to suppress the curve of their mouths and keep from laughing out loud. They busied themselves helping Xie Wenjun lift her up, supporting her arms on either side.

“Your Highness, do you wish to stay here?” Dai Qing was hesitant, finding the inn dilapidated.

But the night was late, and it was unsuitable to continue traveling.

“Give her to me!”

Xie Wenjun took Chen Liangyu, slinging one of her arms over her own shoulder and wrapping an arm around her waist to steady her.

“Your Highness, we should assist General Chen upstairs,” Yuan Rong suggested.

“I don’t need your help.”

Chen Liangyu was dead drunk, her entire weight resting haphazardly on Xie Wenjun, making it difficult for her. The better rooms were upstairs, requiring them to climb stairs. Xie Wenjun carried Chen Liangyu up the stairs in an awkward position, neither a complete piggyback nor a full embrace.

The “best” room was still extremely simple and cramped: just a table, four chairs, and a rudimentary wooden bed with curtains against the wall.

Xie Wenjun helped Chen Liangyu onto the bed, carefully placing a pillow behind her lower back and guiding her to sit. She then ordered Yuan Rong and Dai Qing to prepare warm water, before dismissing them to stand guard outside the door.

She was unwilling to entrust the task of cleaning Chen Liangyu’s face and undressing her to anyone else.

Chen Liangyu was drowsy and dizzy, lying down and refusing to move.

A pair of hands supported her shoulders, helping her sit up against the headboard, followed by a warm wipe across her face. She opened her eyes slightly. Just like the day she applied ointment to her, Xie Wenjun’s movements were delicate and meticulous.

She raised her hand, intending to grab the damp silk cloth for wiping her face. Such tasks of servitude were not what a princess should be doing.

However, her head was spinning, and her arms and legs seemed to be spinning along with it. When she reached out, the object in her palm did not feel like a silk cloth.

After the dizziness subsided, she realized that what she was grasping tightly was Xie Wenjun’s hand.

Xie Wenjun had been close to her while washing her face, and with this grab and pull, Chen Liangyu placed that hand right over the position of her heart.

Even through the clothes, she could feel the vibration of the heartbeat.

Her eyes were half-closed and blurry with intoxication; anyone who saw her would assume she was dead drunk.

She felt she should let go.

As she thought this, the grip of her hand naturally loosened.

Afraid that her disobedient hand might grab something inappropriate again, she dared not move, thinking: Forget it, let her do as she pleases.

Chen Liangyu leaned crookedly on her elbows, closing her eyes to relieve the dryness.

Xie Wenjun made no further move. A moment later, Chen Liangyu felt the warmth of a palm on her cheek.

The soft skin of the palm rubbed against her right cheek, and she heard Xie Wenjun’s voice.

“Why can’t the usable person be me?”

“Even if my third brother ascends the throne, can he truly accomplish what he promised you? After he becomes the sovereign, what reason would he have to fulfill your wish at the cost of the realm’s instability? Will he then turn against his court officials just to realize the world you envision, or will he betray you to secure his empire?”

When had she not considered these points? Yet, throughout history, there was no precedent for her to reference or deliberate upon.

She could not precisely foresee the outcome of every step, and she was not even sure if she could make it to the next step.

“Ah-Li, look at me!”

Chen Liangyu did open her eyes, looking at the person before her.

A sliver of clarity broke through her cloudy consciousness.

It was as if she were lost alone in a boundless mist of yellow sand, uncertain of the path ahead, and at that moment, someone had plucked a star and held it in their hand to guide her.

Her intoxicated eyes, reflecting the candlelight, met Xie Wenjun’s gaze for a long time.

Just as she was about to speak, the stinging sensation in her eyes returned, and she quickly closed them again to alleviate it.

Xie Wenjun turned her face. Before Chen Liangyu could figure out what was happening, Xie Wenjun leaned in close, her thin lips brushing lightly over the corner of her mouth, and then kissing her nose.

Chen Liangyu’s mind exploded with a sudden roar; all traces of intoxication vanished, and her consciousness instantly restored itself.

Yet she kept her eyes closed, afraid to open them.

Her thoughts raced, unable to find any way to deal with the awkward and… seemingly irregular situation that would follow if she opened her eyes.

After thinking for a long time, she decided to sleep and forget about the matter.

So, relying on the residual strength of the alcohol, she collapsed into sleep.

The liquor’s after-effect was slow to start but fierce.

Before her body fully fell down, Xie Wenjun, who seemed to have a lower tolerance than her, suddenly succumbed to the alcohol. Her arm supporting herself on the bed gave way, and she slumped onto Chen Liangyu.

The hand that had been resting on Chen Liangyu’s right cheek also went soft and powerless, sliding down to rest by her neck and shoulder.

Having failed at feigning sleep, Chen Liangyu wanted to call out for Yuan Rong and Dai Qing outside the door to come in and help Xie Wenjun to rest, but the words were stuck in her throat; she didn’t know how to make a sound.

The position the two of them were in now was exceedingly abnormal.

Chen Liangyu calculated the dates. Recently, it should have been Empress Huixian’s Memorial Day, suggesting Xie Wenjun left the palace to go to the Imperial Tomb and then appeared here.

But this explanation seemed a bit far-fetched; the Imperial Tomb and this small town were in different directions. The only possibility was that she was traveling from the Imperial Tomb to the Grand Imperial Temple to transcribe sutras and pray for Empress Huixian.

Yet, this still didn’t quite make sense.

If she were traveling from the Imperial Tomb to the Grand Imperial Temple, requiring a night’s stay outside, she would surely take the nearest official road, and officials would accompany her to receive her and arrange for food and lodging according to the Princess’s travel standards.

Considering all this, Xie Wenjun should not have brought the Eastern Palace Guards to this remote little town.

Unless she had come specifically looking for her.

There was still the lingering sensation of the touch on her mouth and nose.

The contact was too light, like the tip of a feather gently brushing her skin; it might have been an unintentional graze.

Perhaps I’m overthinking it, she thought.

She tried to push Xie Wenjun away, but the person draped on her seemed to be sleeping very restlessly; with just a little force from Chen Liangyu’s hand, Xie Wenjun’s brows furrowed, and her breathing grew heavier.

Fine, she thought, first I’ll take off her cape; she won’t be able to sleep well with that on.

Chen Liangyu felt for the knot on the cape, pulled it, and removed the heavy garment, holding it in her hand. But there was nowhere to put it; the only wooden clothes rack in the room was by the door, a distance she couldn’t reach.

Just as she was in a quandary, Yuan Rong, having borrowed the innkeeper’s kitchen, brewed some sobering tea and entered, carrying a tray with two bowls. Seeing the scene before her, she quickly turned her back, placed the tray on the round table in the middle of the room, and then, with her gaze lowered, asked, “Your Highness, General Chen, would you like some sobering tea?”.

The most important thing when working in the palace was composure; never lose propriety, regardless of the time, place, or what one saw or heard. This was what the palace governess had taught her when she first entered the palace.

Embracing, leaning close.

Chen Liangyu still held the cape she had just removed from Xie Wenjun.

A huge misunderstanding.

In a situation like this, it was best not to offer any explanation, as it would only make things worse.

“No need. Have someone come in and attend to the Princess.”

She put her arm around Xie Wenjun’s shoulder, rose, and gently laid the person flat in the center of the bed, then hastily escaped.

Although her consciousness was awake, the intoxication remained, and her steps were unsteady. Dai Qing gave her a helping hand, escorting her to the next room.

Her mind was in turmoil, and she spent a sleepless night.