A Single Tie Of Long Hair Seals A Lifelong Commitment - Chapter 61

Chen Liangyu was half-reclining in the lotus leaf pool, the spring water covering her chest, with only a towel draped over her body.

The steaming heat was intoxicating. As she closed her eyes, she fell into an unconscious slumber.

Warm underground water flowed over her body, making a gurgling sound.

A splashing noise woke her.

Chen Liangyu narrowed her eyes into a slit, catching sight of a pair of clean, delicate ankles stepping onto the dark-blue brick channel, slightly lower than the ground, heading towards her.

The hem of a skirt was slightly lifted, yet it still inevitably got wet.

Just as she thought to sit up, she suddenly realized all her clothes were on the clothes rack behind the screen.

“It’s not convenient.”

She meant it was inconvenient to perform a salutation, so she excused herself from the custom and lay back down, pulling the towel a little higher.

Xie Wenjun carelessly scooped up some water and splashed it over from a distance. More water droplets immediately appeared on Chen Liangyu’s exposed skin. “I came because I was worried you might have fainted in the pool.”

Chen Liangyu had been asleep for nearly two shichen (four hours) after closing her eyes.

This was the Rear Quarters, separated from the Guanju Tower by a single wall, which featured a warm room housing a few spring sources to form a hot spring pool. The surrounding trees and flowers, unaware of the cold, grew luxuriantly, with new flower buds already forming in the planters.

The place where Chen Liangyu was lying was a small pool, modeled after the “Beauty’s Couch” in the Yanzhi Mountain traveling palace. It was shaped like a broad lotus leaf, slightly slanted, with a long jade pillow built into the higher end, suitable for lying or sitting.

The jade was not soft jade, but a type of gemstone.

It only grew in the Southern Continent where lingqi (spiritual energy) converged and medicinal herbs flourished. It warmed to the touch and was beneficial for treating cold-related ailments if worn often, commonly known as warm jade stone.

Chen Liangyu said, “I didn’t know Your Highness would be staying overnight at the residence today. There wasn’t enough time to tidy the Guanju Tower.”

The Guanju Tower bore marks of axe and blade everywhere; half of the long railing had collapsed. Since no one typically lived there, it was only propped up with supports. Difficult to repair quickly, Chen Liangyu had instructed the servants to clean up the guest rooms in the East Wing.

Xie Wenjun said, “Liangyuan has more than one bedroom.”

Chen Liangyu was silent for a moment.

Xie Wenjun, thinking she was reluctant, said, “What exactly is so precious about your courtyard?”

Years ago, during her stay at the Residence of the Marquis of Xuanping, she was never allowed to step into that small courtyard. The gate wasn’t wide, but it was tightly shut, as if it could never be opened for her.

“No,” Chen Liangyu said, “That courtyard truly only has one bedroom.”

“It’s only for one night.”

“If Your Highness doesn’t mind the crowding, then naturally, you can.”

After walking the three chi (one meter) long channel, Xie Wenjun stepped down the stone steps into the lotus leaf pool, sitting on the edge of the Beauty’s Couch.

Her dress was soaked.

Mist enveloped the entire warm room.

Now, Xie Wenjun seemed like a changed person in her dress and appearance. She no longer favored hairpins, earrings, silk, or pearls; her former opulent gowns were also put away. Except for important occasions like banquets and grand ceremonies, her clothing leaned towards simple and elegant. Her hair ornaments were utterly plain; her black hair was only styled with the willow wooden hairpin that Chen Liangyu had carved.

She’s been wearing it all this time? That ugly hairpin.

Seeing her at such close range, Chen Liangyu’s cheeks began to feel slightly warm.

It was definitely not the heat from the steam.

For some unknown reason, when Xie Wenjun suggested staying overnight in Liangyuan, a burst of inexplicable joy welled up inside her. That tiny bit of happiness was arguably the only sweetness she had tasted in recent days. Since returning the coffin of Chen Linjun after the expulsion from the East, she had begun to fear the loneliness that descended after nightfall, a fear that grew daily.

She used to dislike having people in her courtyard, but now she found the courtyard empty.

People are truly fickle, she thought.

Xie Wenjun rested her chin on her hand, sitting there silently.

Merely sitting there brought her immense comfort. It wouldn’t be bad to keep going like this… if only she weren’t naked.

In fact, she was completely unclothed. The long towel, soaked in the water, clung to her body’s curves, outlining her entire form.

She had never seen it before, nor had anyone else.

For a moment, Xie Wenjun almost felt a misconception that this person belonged to her.

After savoring a trace of secret delight, a greater sense of loss immediately engulfed her.

Distant like the moon in the sky, close like the person before her eyes.

Yet, the person before her eyes was the moon in the sky.

Xie Wenjun quickly looked away. “I won’t disturb your peace…” She was about to stand up from the pool when she suddenly slipped.

Chen Liangyu was startled. She abruptly sat up, supporting Xie Wenjun’s arm. The long towel slipped, and she hastily tried to cover herself again. With one grasp and one pull, she inadvertently dragged the person directly from the edge of the pool into the water.

With a “plop” sound.

The lotus leaf pool wasn’t deep, but water still splashed everywhere.

Fortunately, she managed to pull inward at the critical moment, causing Xie Wenjun to fall onto her, rather than hit the stone surface.

Chen Liangyu dared not move again.

Since returning from the survey trip, Xie Wenjun’s physique seemed to have strengthened, no longer as frail as a tender plant susceptible to the wind.

After a moment, she said, “Your Highness, are you not planning to get up?”

Xie Wenjun said, “You let go first.”

Only then did Chen Liangyu realize one of her hands was still wrapped around and pressing against Xie Wenjun’s waist.

She quickly let go.

Xie Wenjun’s dress was completely soaked, and her hair was half-wet.

“Over there, move a little.” Xie Wenjun simply commandeered half of the warm jade stone pillow, submerging it in the pool and lying down with Chen Liangyu.

They faced each other.

Chen Liangyu said, “Did Your Highness visit for matters concerning Dongyin?”

Xie Wenjun said, “It’s for you.” She paused. “Just consider it that I wanted to come and see you. As for why you won’t return the Dongyin prisoners of war, if you wish to speak of it, then do so. If not, I have already instructed Li Hezhang to proceed according to your wishes. In this peace negotiation, Dongyin will take nothing away.”

“Return?” Chen Liangyu seemed to sneer. “My Sister-in-law wants to keep them; otherwise, they would have been used to fill the Tianqian River long ago. The flooding of the Tianqian River has been a disaster for more than a day. The river course often changes. The terrain of Zhudong is slightly low. Last autumn, floods affected half of the commandery’s people. This spring, the spring flood submerged two counties. Although the Department of Waterways treats the water yearly, burst banks, dam failures, and flooding of fields still happen every year.”

Xie Wenjun said, “Does Madame Yan have a good method for water management?”

Chen Liangyu said, “It may not be the best method, but it’s worth a try. Dongyin’s three border cities are all bordered by the same river, yet they’ve never experienced disaster. Aside from the high terrain, a crucial point is that branches of this river flow into several lakes. The section of the Tianqian River that flows through Zhudong happens to have no lakes to store water during the flood season.”

Xie Wenjun said, “Dig a lake for water storage?”

Chen Liangyu said, “No. The Great Lin and Dongyin are divided by the Tianqian River. Between the main channel of the Tianqian River and the three westernmost border cities of Dongyin, there are sixty thousand mu (about 10,000 acres) of barren land. My Sister-in-law’s idea is to build a weir where the Tianqian River converges, then dig several new river channels to divert the Tianqian River eastward, passing through the three border cities, and joining the Dongyin river. If feasible, the flood disaster would be eliminated, and that sixty thousand mu of barren land might turn into fertile fields.”

Excavating river channels is a project even more labor-intensive and costly than constructing a traveling palace. Every time a corvée is conscripted, there is widespread resentment among the populace.

Light taxes and few corvée labors are the signs of a prosperous age. Heavy taxes and onerous corvée duties have always been viewed as the prelude to the collapse of a nation. Therefore, the Department of Waterways knows that digging lakes and rivers might permanently eliminate floods, but no one dares to be the first to propose such a widely resented idea.

Chen Liangyu said, “Since Dongyin sent over a hundred thousand laborers, there is no need to conscript more.” She paused. “Keep that incompetent Crown Prince of Dongyin for now. Tell them that the Great Lin can afford the food for one more person. Once the floods are eliminated, we will return him to them.”

Xie Wenjun listened intently, raising her hand to wipe a droplet of water from Chen Liangyu’s forehead.

The moment their skin touched, Chen Liangyu felt an unusual sensation, a tingling that passed from her brow bone through her spine, spreading to her limbs. She turned her head, wanting to avoid this sensation of being nibbled by ants, but Xie Wenjun’s finger moved lower, tracing a faint scar on her shoulder.

Chen Liangyu lowered her gaze, also looking at the two-finger-long scar, and recounted its origin to Xie Wenjun. “To join the Eagle Head Army back in the Northern Border, I fought successive rounds in a fighting ring. I forgot who cut me, leaving a scar.” Her eyes rolled upwards slightly, as if she remembered. “The last round was Jing Ming defending the ring. It must have been him.”

Xie Wenjun rubbed her fingertip across the scar. Chen Liangyu immediately seized her finger.

“Don’t touch, it’s very itchy.”

Then, she pulled the hand close to her lips and left a soft imprint on the knuckles. Feeling it wasn’t enough, she lightly nibbled it again.

She noticed the hand suddenly curl, and she mischievously said, “You bit a row of teeth marks on me for no reason. This is just to repay you.”

Xie Wenjun, startled, retracted her hand and sat up.

Turning back to look, Chen Liangyu’s cheeks were flushed crimson, appearing half-dead and disoriented. Xie Wenjun touched her forehead with the back of her hand and confirmed she had a high fever.

Before she could take her hand away from the forehead, Chen Liangyu grasped it tightly, pulling it down. Her lips left a close, soft imprint on the back of the hand, then stuck there again. She mumbled, “Your Highness, don’t go.”

Her lips were scalding hot.

She must be so hot that her mind was fuzzy to do such a thing.

“Yongrong, summon the imperial physician,” Xie Wenjun called out to the outside. A response came in a moment.

Xie Wenjun tried to withdraw her hand again, but Chen Liangyu held it even more firmly, forcing her to give up. “I will get your clothes. Do you want to meet the imperial physician like this?”

“No need to summon the imperial physician. Zhu Ying is already at the residence.”

Chen Liangyu finally released her hand, wrapping the long towel around herself. She rose from the water, her wet hair clinging to her chest and back. “It’s just a fever, not to the point where I can’t walk or get dressed.”

This time, it was Xie Wenjun whose head felt hot. “Then just now…”

Chen Liangyu: “Just now?”

Xie Wenjun: “Were you conscious?”

Chen Liangyu was quite bewildered, saying, “You truly underestimate me.”

A fever of this magnitude only caused slightly scorching breaths from her nasal cavity and a headache. How could it make her unconscious? If she were truly this weak, how could she command armies and fight battles? She would have died countless times already.

Zhu Ying came to examine her, prescribed a few doses of medicine, left a formula for reducing fever and calming the nerves on the table, and then took her leave for Lian and Linxia. “Any doctor can treat a headache and fever. There are widespread epidemics among the populace; you don’t need me here. Princess Royal, does your offer of a reward from last time still stand? If it does, I want these things.”

She then spread out a list.

They were all common medicinal herbs, readily available at any pharmacy, but the quantity Zhu Ying requested was huge.

“I want one carriage of each.”

Although they were common herbs, they were hard to gather right now. Most of the medicinal materials in all the pharmacies in Yongdu had already been purchased by the court and sent to the two affected commanderies.

Xie Wenjun ordered people to do their best to procure them.

Chen Liangyu said, “The Imperial Medical Bureau will also send people to Linxia soon, escorted by a guard detachment. You can travel with them.”

Zhu Ying said, “I’m not going to Linxia, I’m going to Lian. This plague is fierce, infecting two major commanderies at once. Linxia is the Emperor’s former residence, so the court pays more attention, and medicine is prioritized there. The plague in Lian is milder, but no one is looking after it, and I fear it will get out of hand.”

Xie Wenjun gave her another official document. “If it’s difficult to manage, take this Princess Royal’s official order to the local authorities.”

Zhu Ying: “Thank you, Princess Royal.”

As she gave her thanks, she reached out to touch Chen Liangyu’s face. “Your face is so scalding hot. It doesn’t seem to be caused by a simple fever.”

Chen Liangyu dodged her. “I am fine.”

Zhu Ying scoffed, “You both claim to be perfectly fine. Then why did you call me here? Keep the medicine brewing. Judging by your condition, you will definitely have a high fever tonight.”

Chen Liangyu said, “Even if you didn’t come, the fever would have subsided by tonight.”

She had an extraordinary confidence in her physique, completely dismissing this minor ailment.

Speak too soon, and retribution is certain.

At midnight, Chen Liangyu was indeed burning like a red-hot iron, scalding hot all over.

Zhu Ying was dragged out of bed by an urgent knock on the door. She squatted in the small kitchen of Liangyuan, staring at the clay pot boiling the medicine, sleepy-eyed. She forced herself to stay awake and chatted with the busy little maidservant, “What did I say? Is she the doctor, or am I the doctor? See? If you don’t listen to the doctor’s words, you end up like your General.”

The little maidservant dutifully worked and also paid attention to encouraging Zhu Ying. “I see, Doctor Ying.”

Zhu Ying watched the fire, lifted the lid of the clay pot to check the medicinal soup, and then threw in two handfuls of forsythia and kudzu root. “This fever of hers starts from the heart; it’s not the usual headache and fever caused by a common cold. It looks like a minor illness, but it won’t get better easily.”

The little maidservant asked, “What should we do then?”

Zhu Ying said, “Make the medicine a bit more bitter.”

The little maidservant was confused and hesitant.

Zhu Ying coaxed her, “Am I deceiving you? There’s a saying: good medicine tastes bitter, isn’t there?”

The little maidservant nodded. “Yes.”

Zhu Ying said, “The more bitter the medicine is, the faster your General will recover.” After tricking the girl, she muttered to herself, “I hate dealing with patients who don’t follow medical advice the most. Let her suffer a bit to learn her lesson.”

Inside the curtains, Chen Liangyu’s breaths were hot. This time, she was genuinely somewhat disoriented, groggily burrowing into the person’s embrace.

Her undergarment was slightly thin, and the heat quickly transferred through the fabric. Xie Wenjun genuinely felt the scorching heat coming from her body, brushed aside her sweat-dampened hair roots, and tucked the corner of the quilt.

The maidservant had added an extra thick blanket, yet Chen Liangyu still felt cold and nestled closer to the warm place beside her.

She occasionally let out soft moans.

Xie Wenjun’s fingertips traced over her prominent brow bone, to her eyes, then to her nose bridge. It was the first time she had looked at her so closely; her facial contours were distinct and perfectly sculpted.

Chen Liangyu’s eyelashes fluttered.

Before long, the narrow eyes beneath the lashes opened, then closed again with a slight flutter, as she rubbed against Xie Wenjun’s neck.

Xie Wenjun desperately tried to compose herself. “If you continue like this, I don’t know what I might do to you.”

Chen Liangyu made a short, brief nasal sound, an expression of discomfort or perhaps a response.

Xie Wenjun asked, “Is it true that no matter what I do right now, you would be unable to resist?”

“Mm.”

This time, Xie Wenjun clearly heard a proper, articulate answer. “In that case, wouldn’t I be considered a despicable person for taking advantage of someone in need?”

A moment of silence.

“No.”