The Innocent Heart - Chapter 37

When the others dispersed, only Wei Qing and Guan Yueyao were left in the hall.

“Dignity only exists at the point of the sword; truth lies only within the range of the arrow’s flight…” Liu Che continued to pace back and forth in the hall with his hands behind his back, repeatedly savoring the phrase.

“Good, Yueyao, that phrase of yours was truly excellent!” After reciting it once more, Liu Che looked at Guan Yueyao standing below and couldn’t help but praise him again.

Then he probably recalled General Han Anguo’s livid face when he left, and Guan Yueyao’s powerful statement: “Your subject Guan Yueyao requests to marry General Han’s daughter to the Xiongnu in a Heqin marriage!”

“Puff,” Liu Che, sitting in the main seat, laughed openly, unable to suppress his amusement, and almost clapped his hands in praise for Guan Yueyao’s outburst.

He looked at the Emperor, who was sitting above and laughing without much regard for his image, and blinked. Although he had seen Liu Che’s approachable side in private, his current appearance still brought a peculiar thought to Guan Yueyao’s mind.

“So, the Emperor is just a person, too; he can also laugh uncontrollably over something funny,” Guan Yueyao thought, suddenly feeling a light poke on his back. He turned his head to see Wei Qing’s slightly anxious look, softly reminding him: “His Majesty is asking you a question.”

“Oh…” Guan Yueyao snapped back to reality, trying hard to recall, What did the Emperor just ask me?

“Reporting to Your Majesty, Your subject was simply infuriated. General Han spoke so lightly and indifferently. He would only be soliciting beautiful women from the populace, not from his own daughter. To be so generous with others’ feelings—only when the matter is imminent will he understand the deep pain of the common people.”

Thinking of Han Anguo’s nonchalant words earlier, Guan Yueyao still wore an indignant expression. Having spent a long time in the military camp, he gained a deeper understanding of the ordinary people living in this era and society. The arrogance of the nobles and their indifference to the people’s livelihoods made him feel very uncomfortable, often reminding him of the stares he received from the adults and some well-off classmates in Japan. He never felt superior just because he was currently in favor with powerful families like the Weis and had gained the Emperor’s notice.

Liu Che listened to Guan Yueyao’s words with some surprise. He thought Guan Yueyao was angry because of Han Anguo’s endless compromise with the Xiongnu, but he hadn’t expected the youth’s emotions to stem from this.

Liu Che’s good mood slightly faded; he was not satisfied with Guan Yueyao’s answer. Fortunately, although Guan Yueyao had left an impression on him due to his outstanding swordsmanship, he was still vastly different from immediate confidants like Wei Qing and Huo Qubing. He did not place too high an expectation on Guan Yueyao, so after hearing his words, he left him aside without comment, turning instead to Wei Qing to discuss the arrangements for the campaign beyond the Great Wall next year.

Guan Yueyao was completely unaware that he had unintentionally displeased the Emperor. On the contrary, he was quite happy with Liu Che’s action of dismissing him and then summoning several military generals to discuss important matters. He wasn’t discouraged because he felt unqualified to participate in such a high-level meeting.

On the contrary, as he strolled down the sun-drenched streets of Chang’an, he felt a unique sense of leisure. He was not in a hurry to return to the military camp, nor did he immediately want to go back to the Wei residence to train with Huo Qubing. He suddenly thought he hadn’t visited the old man who ran the small mutton stall in the sheep market for some time.

Since he had been to court, Guan Yueyao was currently wearing a solemn black robe, with a finely crafted sword at his side, and he was riding the white horse Chizhou gifted to him by Huo Qubing, moving slowly down the street. The gazes of the pedestrians began to become evasive; the contempt in their eyes had vanished completely, replaced by a fear of authority.

This kind of fearful gaze might have been what Guan Yueyao longed for in Japan. But now, it made him feel completely ill at ease.

“When I get to the stall, will the old man treat me this way too?” Affected by this thought, Guan Yueyao began to feel uneasy. But what needed to be faced always had to be faced. Guan Yueyao stood in front of the mutton stall, watching the old man respectfully bow to him, and his heart still felt incomparably lost.

Ordinary citizens at this time were still very much afraid of court officials. Although curious about the identity and purpose of the youth appearing at the mutton stall, most of the passing vendors only dared to watch from a distance and did not dare to approach.

“Elder, you helped me before. I came to thank you, not to have you act so distantly by bowing to me.” Guan Yueyao ignored the onlookers in the distance, rushed forward, and quickly supported the elder, speaking urgently.

“No, no, absolutely not. Now you are an official, and I am a commoner. Bowing to you is my duty and custom,” The elder ignored Guan Yueyao’s attempt to stop him and insisted on completing his bow.

Guan Yueyao turned his body away, refusing the gesture. His eyes were slightly red as he looked at the elderly man and asked in confusion: “Why? You were willing to show me kindness when I was down on my luck. But now that I have gained an official position, you are distancing yourself from me… I am not someone who forgets kindness and seeks no repayment.”

Who knew that upon hearing this, the old man merely waved his hand, smiling: “This commoner has been setting up a stall here for many years and has provided relief to countless starving people, never seeking repayment. When you were in a predicament, this commoner merely extended a helping hand out of pity. Even if it hadn’t been you, but any other person in need of help who appeared at my stall that day, this commoner would have treated them the same way I treated you. Which of the ancient Xiá (chivalrous heroes) was not like this?”

The old man’s words stunned Guan Yueyao. Xiá? During his childhood, TV dramas based on Jin Yong’s Wuxia novels were still very popular across the country, and he had certainly watched them. Furthermore, as someone who practiced martial arts, he also yearned for the heroic, carefree life of roaming the martial arts world, as depicted in the stories. But hearing the four characters “ancient Xiá” suddenly from the mouth of a white-haired old man who made a living selling mutton still greatly surprised him.

“Elder, could it be… you also possess martial arts skills?” Guan Yueyao looked at the elder in astonishment, voicing the confusion in his heart.

“Haha, why do you say that? This commoner believes that as long as one harbors Xiá (chivalry/righteousness) in their heart, they are a Xiá. Moreover, in these times of peace, many things are not solved by force alone.”

Guan Yueyao listened, puzzled. So, you don’t need to know martial arts to be a great hero in ancient times?

“Elder, what constitutes a great Xiá then?” Guan Yueyao asked curiously, looking at the elder.

“As long as one is true to their word, ensures their actions are completed without giving up halfway, and when others are in distress, they go all out to lend a helping hand without seeking repayment—this can be considered Xiá,” the old man replied, smiling good-naturedly.

Guan Yueyao looked at his clean but not fine clothes, knowing that the elder’s family situation was likely not well-off. Yet, despite this, the elder insisted on practicing the righteousness he believed in. That was his Dào (Way).

Guan Yueyao looked at the elder and was filled with sudden respect. He seriously bowed to the old man and solemnly said: “Elder, Yueyao has been educated today.” This bow was more sincere than any formality he had performed before Liu Che.

“You do not need to do this. This commoner helped you only to practice the Way in my own heart. Seeing your life back on track now is the repayment I seek. From now on, we owe each other nothing,” Guan Yueyao felt a warmth on his arm as the elder helped him up and said with a smile.

“Elder, then in the future, can I still come to your stall to eat mutton?” Guan Yueyao looked up, anxiously asking the question that concerned him the most.

“Hahahaha, what are you thinking? He’s a merchant, and you’re a customer, and an official at that. How would he dare refuse to serve you?”

That night, when Guan Yueyao recounted his afternoon encounter to Huo Qubing after he returned from training, he was met with his friend’s unrestrained teasing.

Guan Yueyao looked at Huo Qubing, who was laughing gleefully on the side, and frowned: “But I saw the old man’s expression; he seemed somewhat unwilling to interact with me anymore. Besides, he has shown me kindness. If he doesn’t want to serve me, I naturally won’t force him.” Guan Yueyao spoke, lowering his head. Since returning from the sheep market, that feeling of loneliness had persisted.

“Hey, Huo Qubing, like now, with everyone being completely respectful to you—does it really not bother you?” Guan Yueyao tilted his head and looked at his friend sitting beside him.

Both of them had their legs stretched out, sitting quite informally on the steps in front of the side room. This posture was extremely impolite in the Han Dynasty, but for Guan Yueyao, a modern person, kneeling was no different from being tortured. Therefore, when the two were alone, Huo Qubing gradually became accustomed to and tolerant of his friend’s impolite sitting posture. In fact, in the end, even he liked this seemingly uncultured posture.

“No, why would it? Isn’t this just the way things should be?”

Clearly, Huo Qubing could not understand Guan Yueyao’s current mood. The two had similarities in their upbringings, but the differences in social class had led to vastly different perspectives.

“What if one day I started being completely respectful to you too?” Guan Yueyao looked at Huo Qubing and felt quite annoyed, so he insisted on making him experience his own feelings.

Who knew that as soon as his words fell, Huo Qubing suddenly stopped his playful grin and fell silent.

“What are you doing?” Guan Yueyao looked at Huo Qubing strangely, only to see the other person staring blankly at him.

“Ah Yao, you are My only friend… I can’t imagine what My reaction would be if one day you treated Me the way the servants in My house treat their master. But it seems, just imagining it makes Me uncomfortable.”

Huo Qubing spoke frankly, which in turn made Guan Yueyao feel awkward.

“Get out of here! You’re dreaming! Treating you like a servant treats their master!” Guan Yueyao pushed Huo Qubing, who was leaning against him, and retorted loudly.

The atmosphere became lively again. The happy laughter of the youths filled the courtyard, causing Wei Qing, who was passing outside the courtyard, to smile knowingly upon hearing it.

“Let them be; let them continue their fun,” he said with a smile to a dark figure next to him, whose appearance was indistinguishable in the night.