A City Swept by Wind and Snow GL - Chapter 44

◎It’s your fault for earning a reputation for being a playboy. A trafficker actually abducted a girl like that and tried to sell her to you, and it was because of a casual remark from you that the trafficker sold her to a brothel instead.◎

On the desolate, frigid plain, two people rode side-by-side, their horses exhaling white breath, their hooves light and quick. A large, black eagle circled slowly above them. Its giant wings, slightly fatigued from flying a long distance quickly, made a heavy, whooshing sound. Behind the two were only twenty copper-armored guards, looking valiant and maintaining a neat formation, yet they lagged dozens of zhang [a unit of length, roughly 3.3 meters] behind, accompanied only by the soft clatter of hooves.

“Xiaoshu, your brother is sending you off this far, out of the palace late at night in plain clothes. The least you could do is talk to me a little more. What’s with this gloominess?”

He Qishu turned his head to look at the Emperor, who was dressed in resplendent golden plain clothes to leave the palace. A faint smile involuntarily appeared on his melancholic face: “Imperial Brother, if you accompany me any further, you will not be able to rush back to the palace before daybreak.”

He Qirui ignored him and continued to speak his mind: “You’ve just returned from suppressing the rebellion in the Southwest. Is it really necessary to rush to the Water Moon Palace so urgently? My birthday is in five days; you better rush back for it.” He was six years older than He Qishu but did not appear as composed and mature as the latter. His eyes and brows were lively, making him seem like the younger one.

He Qishu said: “The birthday gift has already been prepared. On your birthday, Kongjin will present it on behalf of your subject. I beg your pardon, but in just five days, your subject will not be able to rush back.”

“Party pooper! All I want is to have a drink with my brother by my side.”

“Imperial Brother is still young. If Qishu misses this year’s birthday, there will be a hundred or so more opportunities to make it up.”

“Stop with the slick talk. Who, after turning thirty-seven, can live for another hundred or so years?” He Qirui seemed dissatisfied and sternly said: “Don’t think that easily subduing Kong Tieshan, the King of the Southwest, is such a big deal. He’s not comparable to Xinghai. Investigations into the Water Moon Palace began when Father was still alive. Their intentions and power are unfathomable. The court has held back for so many years. Why must you travel a thousand miles for a frontal confrontation with him now?”

“Xinghai already knows about my relationship with the Free & Easy Divine Cult. Superficially, the Water Moon Palace has issued an invitation for the Martial Arts Debate at Tianyuan, but in reality, it is a challenge to the Imperial Family. Imperial Brother also said that Xinghai aspires to dominate the world. This battle is inevitable, whether sooner or later. Your subject simply does not want to see Xinghai cross the Zhu Ying Mountain and stain the lands of the Central Plains.”

He Qirui sighed and said: “Forget it, stop talking about other things. You are rushing north in a desperate hurry, entirely focused on chasing your runaway Princess Consort.”

He Qishu was instantly flustered and quickly said: “Imperial Brother, why are you teasing your subject with her again?”

Seeing his panic, He Qirui smiled instead: “Saying I’m teasing you is wronging me. You have a large number of concubines in your manor. Have you ever cared for anyone so much? That group of subordinates in the Free & Easy Divine Cult are not your die-hard loyalists. You have remained composed countless times when placed in desperate situations. This time, just because that person is there, you couldn’t restrain yourself and had to go in person. It seems the long-vacant position of Princess Consort finally has an owner.”

“No, Imperial Brother, it’s not like that.” He Qishu quickly denied it, even the spirited horse beneath him seemed uncomfortable.

“Don’t be afraid that I will blame you. Even if she is of humble origin, as long as you genuinely love her, I will be happy. Furthermore, falling into the dusty world is a misfortune for that weak girl. It’s your fault for earning a reputation for being a playboy. A trafficker actually abducted a girl like that and tried to sell her to you, and it was because of a casual remark from you that the trafficker sold her to a brothel instead. Presumably, she was originally a good girl, perhaps even from a reputable family. If you marry her, I will arrange the wedding for you. Let’s see who dares to gossip!”

He Qishu said: “Your subject knows Imperial Brother’s nature best; it hasn’t changed at all even after becoming Emperor. Brother has always indulged his younger brother and disregarded worldly gossip, so Qishu has never worried that Brother would disagree with this marriage.”

“That is natural.” He Qirui raised his eyebrows: “Since you understand my position, why don’t you marry her happily, place her in your manor, and prevent her from running off so far to cause trouble.”

He Qishu was torn between laughter and tears, utterly speechless. Does His Majesty think that person would be as obedient as a kitten or a puppy?

“Why aren’t you speaking again?”

“Imperial Brother, your subject has never had romantic thoughts about her.”

“Lies!” He Qirui said loudly, pausing briefly, then suddenly feigning realization, “—Hey, could it be that you’ve been rejected? I heard that little girl exudes an aura of ‘stay away from me,’ practically arrogant to the point of infuriating both gods and men.”

Hearing this, a smile involuntarily appeared on He Qishu’s serious face: “Who said that?”

“What? Was it wrong?”

He Qishu shook his head: “No, it’s appropriate. She was initially thought to be mute, but later we learned she simply disliked talking to people. However, she is quite well-behaved in front of me, and occasionally even shows a smile.” As he spoke, he pulled out a silk cord with an embedded piece of jade. “Not long ago, she even tied a ruyi [as-you-wish] knot for me. No one taught her; she only examined a few finished pieces and could make any style. That’s what you call dexterity.”

He Qirui took the well-preserved knot art and praised: “It’s truly exquisite. I heard she is proficient in the zither, calligraphy, painting, singing, and dancing; including the ‘Great Escape Technique,’ she learns everything instantly. Such an intelligent person, yet she is uniquely terrible at chess.”

“Imperial Brother knows a lot about her. When she plays chess, the corners of her mouth twitch when she is about to win. She can’t hold it back no matter how hard she tries. At that time, just looking at her expression is incredibly interesting.”

“Where would I get to know her? Look, you’re the one who unconsciously told me all this. However, I also feel she is a very lovely woman.”

“Is that so?” He Qishu smiled shyly, with a hint of pride that he himself hadn’t realized. He Qirui saw it and was secretly delighted.

“She is extremely cold towards others, but very special towards you. And she has followed you for so long without a name or status, never demanding anything. Your relationship must be quite good, right?”

He Qishu almost fell off his horse and quickly said: “Imperial Brother, you are deeply mistaken! She is not my woman.”

“Nonsense! I would believe it if you called her aloof or innocent, but you are not some callow youth!” He Qirui said mercilessly.

He Qishu was very awkward and mumbled: “She is indeed a graceful lady when sitting still, but her every move, every frown, and every smile clearly show a child who is not yet mature. Who could have that kind of interest in a little child?”

He Qirui burst out laughing and made an expression of disbelief: “Stop it, stop it! Why pretend to be pure? Your concubine had already given birth to your son at her age. Why didn’t you treat that woman as a child?”

He Qishu had no words to respond, and his face flushed. He Qirui revealed a radiant smile, as if he had gotten his way. This uninhibited, freely expressed look was not seen in court. He Qishu looked at him, feeling as if he had returned to his youth, when big brother was just big brother. Compared to their stern and unfeeling father, the candid and cheerful He Qirui made both younger brothers more dependent.

“Xiaoshu,” He Qirui said in a gentle voice: “The Water Moon Palace, Xinghai—those things are not important. Just see that woman and immediately bring her back. There’s no need to prolong the fight. Even if Xinghai truly has rebellious intentions, come back immediately, and your brother and I will wipe him out together. Right now, what I care about is that woman named Xue Qianxun. She has made my brother smile again. —Bring her to see me!” At this moment, He Qirui was merely a loving older brother, no longer acting as Emperor.

After a moment of silence, He Qishu suddenly asked softly: “Brother, can I still love someone again?”

“Of course you can.” He Qirui was firm. You are already in love, he said in his heart.

Many years ago, He Qishu had loved. It was a love that was profound yet malicious. In the end, only mutual resentment, revenge, and a spiritual shackles that could never be broken remained.

Xue Qianxun’s face appeared in He Qishu’s mind: incomparably beautiful, yet stubborn and unresponsive. He only then realized how much he missed her, but his heart was filled more with unease and uncertainty. He felt this journey was leading him towards an abyss of eternal damnation. This love might be the most vicious curse from that person.

“Imperial Brother, Father even said my demonic nature was too strong. Among the three brothers, Father used me the most, and was also the most distant from me. Someone like me, whom even Father criticized, does not deserve happiness.”

He Qirui said: “When our He family rose, the world was already falling apart. A hundred years of warfare left all living things scarred. Father said that the world needs a benevolent monarch whom the people can trust. If I become a benevolent ruler, it must be because of your making.”

“Imperial Brother’s benevolence comes from your nature, not from anyone else’s making.”

He Qirui gave a bitter smile: “How can a nation be founded without killing? At that time, the Ye family was weak, and there were no less than ten claiming to be king. Some kings died without knowing which faction killed them. I am no Buddha. Whether for self-preservation or ambition, I often had thoughts of killing. However, you always volunteered for tasks related to slaughter first. You are not a born god-slayer, but you willingly transformed into a demon, bearing the hatred of the dead, only because you wanted to save me and Xiaoya from the suffering you endured. Father was the first to see all of this.”

He Qishu was slightly stunned. His impression of his father was always one of solemnity and coldness. It turned out he had paid such attention to him.

He Qirui continued: “Father cared about you the most. You are also the brother who resembles Father the most. I think your destiny will be like his too. Father loved two women in his life: one was my mother, and the other was the mother of you and Xiaoya. He eventually found happiness. Xiaoshu, you will too.”

He Qishu only gave a silent smile. At this moment, with mixed feelings, there was no need for further words.

Just then, He Qirui reined in his horse, turned it around, and said loudly: “These twenty guards will go with you. I am returning to the palace. If you do not return in five days, I will definitely lead the army to meet you.”

He Qishu said: “No need, Imperial Brother!”

“It’s settled.” With the words spoken, He Qirui’s horse was already galloping. That handsome and dashing figure, like a golden, warm breeze, gradually faded away on the vast plains.

The sky met the cloudy waves, the Milky Way seemed to turn, and a trace of dawn was faintly visible in the East. Although there was still a biting chill, spring was approaching after all, and tender green shoots were subtly sprouting beneath the withered grass of the desolate plain.