Longing for Love (Twice Reborn) - Chapter 38

In the seventeenth year of Jiahe, Princess Heshuo was married off.

Dressed in a phoenix crown and ceremonial robes, the multiple layers of formal attire made every step arduous for Yong’an. After bidding farewell to the emperor and empress dowager at the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager specially permitted her to visit Shuyi Palace to say goodbye to her birth mother.

Shuyi Palace was the new residence of Yong’an’s mother, Consort Yu. Having risen five ranks from the lowest eighth grade palace lady to a third grade consort, her dwelling had also moved from a remote courtyard in Baoguang Temple back to the opulent rear palace quarters.

No longer needing to wash clothes in icy water during harsh winters or huddle together for warmth at night, Consort Yu showed no joy at this sudden wealth.

From the moment Yong’an entered, her tears flowed like a breached riverbank, impossible to wipe dry.

Yong’an’s eyes were red rimmed, but fearing her makeup would run and further sadden her mother, she held back her tears. Smiling, she took her mother’s hand and asked, “Mother, do I look beautiful today?”

Consort Yu kept wiping her tears, nodding repeatedly. After finally composing herself momentarily, their eyes met, and she opened her arms to embrace Yong’an tightly.

As the chief lady in waiting overseeing the bridal procession, Juchen had been by Yong’an’s side since the princess began her morning preparations. She dismissed all the accompanying palace maids and eunuchs to wait outside the courtyard, granting mother and daughter as much private time as possible before parting.

Standing quietly outside the door, Juchen watched them weep in each other’s arms. Having never married herself, she did not understand a bride’s feelings. As she observed them, she found herself unable to superimpose this scene onto her relationship with Lady Wen.

She merely thought that if she could marry into a noble family, Lady Wen would probably be very happy regardless of whether that noble house was thousands of miles away.

The procession awaited outside the palace gates, and the auspicious hour for departure was approaching. Though Juchen wished to give them more time, the clock waited for no one. Emerging from Shuyi Palace, Yong’an was assisted into her carriage. As the curtains fell, the procession began its journey.

The bridal party stretched for miles in magnificent display hundreds of guards at the front, followed by attendants overseeing hundreds of dowry chests and accompanying palace maids. Yet amidst the capital’s bustling crowds, particularly the young women spectators, nearly all eyes were drawn to the Prince of Pengshan riding a white horse before the princess’s carriage, behind eight red silk fans embroidered with gold not the bridegroom, yet more striking than one.

Were it not for his purple robes and jade crown instead of red wedding attire, one might mistake this peerlessly handsome man for the day’s true protagonist.

Juchen rode beside Yong’an’s carriage, watching his flirtatious display with tightened reins. She rolled her eyes silently at his back, only for him to suddenly turn as if inspecting the procession, catching her disdainful expression.

Startled, Juchen quickly averted her gaze, pretending to merely look around, though a faint blush had already risen to her jade like cheeks.

Song Mi couldn’t help but smile. Lu Feng, who had joined the escort out of interest in Tibetan customs, noticed his companion’s backward glance and the resulting chorus of feminine gasps. Following Song Mi’s gaze, he asked, “What’s so interesting over there?”

Song Mi withdrew his gaze, the amusement lingering in his eyes. “Nothing. Just saw a cat.”

Lu Feng looked baffled. “What’s so special about a cat?”

Song Mi glanced at him with a hint of regret that he didn’t understand.

“What’s not to love about cats? They’re so adorable yet so tsundere just one look makes you want to grab them and pet them until all their fur falls out.”

“…”

Lu Feng suddenly realized his friend’s tastes were becoming increasingly peculiar.

Once they left the capital, the convoy began traveling nonstop along the official road toward Shu. As they neared the Shu roads, the mountain paths grew increasingly rugged.

Juchen happened to be on her period these past few days, too weak to ride a horse, so she had to stay in the carriage. The constant jolting and winding roads made her stomach churn. By noon, when they stopped to rest, her delicate face had turned completely pale.

They wouldn’t reach the next post station until evening, so they took a break to eat. Yong’an handed Juchen a bowl of hot soup. “Still feeling unwell?”

Juchen shook her head, but the slight sway as she stood up betrayed her condition.

Song Mi leaned against a tree in the shade, accepting a water flask from Lu Feng. His gaze fell on the faint, dizzy figure in the distance her slender frame like a fragile willow, as if a gust of wind could carry her away.

When they set off again, Song Mi no longer rode in the middle of the group.

He mounted his horse, spurred it forward, and his white steed swiftly took the lead, matching pace with the officer at the front.

The officer immediately straightened with respect, carefully controlling his horse’s steps to avoid overtaking the white stallion.

Song Mi let the reins hang loose, occasionally pointing out scenery and chatting idly with them. His leisurely pace made it seem less like an official mission and more like a sightseeing trip through Bashu, slowing the entire convoy down.

Juchen drowsily leaned against the carriage wall, vaguely noticing that the jolting had lessened considerably.

After a nap, she felt much more alive.

Just as they arrived at the post station, Juchen lifted her skirt and stepped down, leaning on Yong’an as they entered. Only when seated at the dining table did she hear them discussing how the convoy had encountered bandits on the mountain road.

Many sections of the Shu roads were treacherous, perfect for outlaws to claim as their territory. In recent years, bandit groups of all sizes had multiplied, seemingly gathering momentum.

Juchen was stunned she had slept so soundly she had not noticed a thing.

Lu Feng chuckled at her reaction. “You should thank Zhengzhi for that.”

During their journey, they had passed a narrow defile where Song Mi was the first to notice the sudden absence of birdsong and insect chirps. His eyes narrowed in suspicion of an ambush.

Before the convoy fully entered the defile, he quietly ordered the rear wagons to turn back and take an alternate path.

Meanwhile, he led the soldiers forward, luring the bandits deeper to eliminate a problem for the local officials.

With no hindrances from behind, the Liang soldiers easily overpowered the bandits. However, a few seasoned outlaws quickly realized the ruse and turned to intercept the rear.

Just as Song Mi rode back, one bandit swung his blade toward Juchen’s carriage. Song Mi spurred his horse forward to block the attack, accidentally grazing his sleeve on the bandit’s knife.

With only a handful of bandits left, the soldiers swiftly subdued them without much commotion.

The cut was minor barely a scratch and Song Mi paid it no mind.
Upon hearing this, Juchen hurried back to the carriage for the first-aid kit and went to his room.

Song Mizhen thought the matter was trivial, but Juchen looked serious and insisted on treating his wound.

With a resigned sigh, Song Mizhen extended his arm and glanced at her, his voice low. “If you really want to repay me, why not come tonight?”

During the month-long journey of the marriage procession to Shu, she had barely spoken to him. Even Lu Feng seemed more human in her eyes he was nothing more than a passing cloud to her, and a dark one at that, one she instinctively avoided wherever it drifted.

Song Mizhen found it all too obvious. Even Lu Feng had privately asked him about their relationship. After all, they had danced together on stage that night and had worked together many times since, yet they still acted like strangers.

The corner of Song Mizhen’s mouth twitched as he scoffed, “She doesn’t want to get close to me.”

So, when he told her to come tonight, it was merely a sarcastic jab born from days of pent up frustration. Juchen lowered her head, seemingly giving his words serious consideration before firmly rejecting the idea. “No. This place is crowded, the rooms are too close together, and yours is especially conspicuous. We’d be caught easily.”

Song Mizhen let out a derisive laugh. Juchen met his gaze, her small face solemn as she said, “Don’t you care about your reputation?”

“Do I even have one left? Aren’t I just a cut sleeve? What are you afraid of?”

His words carried the weight of someone whose reputation had been ruined by her long ago.

Juchen’s face flushed slightly as she coughed lightly. “Those are just rumors. No one really believes them. But if someone were to catch us.”

She had meant to say “catch us in the act,” but the moment the words formed, they felt wrong. Neither of them was involved with anyone, nor were they betraying anyone. There wasn’t even anyone to catch them.

Song Mizhen, as if anticipating her choice of words, raised an eyebrow, waiting with amusement for her to finish.

Juchen averted her gaze and concluded, “In any case, it’s not happening.”

Song Mizhen shrugged and let her tend to his wound.

Truthfully, Juchen had also wanted an excuse to spend some time alone with him. She carefully dabbed medicinal wine onto his injury, relieved to see it was indeed shallow far better than the scars that had covered him in their past life.

The first time they had reunited in their previous life was in Shu.

During the period when Song Mizhen was invited to Tibet, Juchen had clashed with the Ministry of Personnel and was demoted by the Empress Dowager. She went from the opulent splendor of the capital’s Phoenix Pavilion to serving as a minor county official in the remote town of Jiangyang in Shu.

Bandits ran rampant in Shu, and Jiangyang, nestled between mountains and rivers, was known for its skilled brewers and reputation as the “City of Wine.” Many merchants and travelers drawn to its famed liquors frequented the area, making it a prime target for bandits who increasingly terrorized the region, disrupting the lives of the locals.

As the local magistrate, Juchen couldn’t bear to watch her people suffer. She led a group of constables into the mountains surrounding Jiangyang to root out the bandits. In the midst of outwitting the outlaws, she was captured and thrown into a dungeon.

Locked in the cell with her was another unfortunate soul a man who had been ambushed on his way home.

Dressed in foreign attire and a felt hat, he lay unconscious in the adjacent cell, drugged by the bandits, half his face buried in the fur collar of his coat.

Yet, in that fleeting glance, Juchen recognized him.

It felt like years since they had last met. Even after Juchen was selected for the Phoenix Pavilion, she had only caught distant glimpses of his majestic palanquin.

When Song Mi woke up, Juchen fed him some water through the bars. He did not seem to recognize her perhaps out of wariness and she did not reveal her identity either.

They exchanged few words before the dungeon door abruptly swung open from outside. The bandit leader’s excited laughter echoed through the dim cell, sending chills down their spines.

The man leered greedily at Juchen, sneering that he never imagined their county magistrate could be so beautiful. He joked that he should have raided the government office sooner and announced that, according to his calculations, dawn the next day would be an auspicious hour for taking her as his bride.

As he reached to touch her face, Juchen’s expression turned icy. She yanked a hairpin from her bun and stabbed the back of his hand.

The man recoiled, his laughter turning sinister. “Oho, a feisty one! Don’t worry I’ve always had a soft spot for beauties. I won’t hurt you.”

The cell door slammed shut again. Song Mi glanced at her. “You’re the county magistrate?”

Juchen, sitting with her knees drawn up on the other side of the bars, nodded.

“How did you end up here?”

She truthfully recounted how she had overestimated her abilities and led a team to suppress the bandits.

Song Mi said nothing for a moment before finally remarking, “Well, at least you’re still alive for now.”

Juchen gave a quiet hum. Seeing her dejected, he tried to console her at least her beauty would spare her life, though he couldn’t say the same for himself.

He chuckled. “Though if we both die here, it’d be quite the tale for them to boast about.”

After all, they were both imperial officials an eighth rank magistrate and a first rank prince.

Facing death, he still had the leisure to joke.

Juchen suddenly lost the energy to engage. She lowered her head, and two teardrops splashed onto the back of her hand the first time she had ever cried in front of a man.

It stunned him.

Song Mi assumed she was scared, but then she turned and handed him the hairpin through the bars. “If they break in later, please use this to kill me first.”

He frowned. “Why?”

Juchen sniffled. “I can’t do it myself. I’m afraid of pain.”

Song Mi stared at her for a long moment before bursting into laughter. He took the hairpin and nodded. “Then why not sleep first? You might still have pleasant dreams.”

“A scholar would rather die than suffer humiliation.” Juchen had truly resolved to die, but his words did not anger her they made sense. She decided to get one last good sleep.

When she groggily awoke, she found herself on his back.

He had carried her out unscathed. The dark dungeon was gone, replaced by towering trees.

In the early morning, the first rays of sunlight filtered through the dense forest. Song Mi, gripping a long blade of unknown origin as a walking stick, carried her toward the mountains’ edge.

Two streaks of bl00d marked his face. Resting against his shoulder, Juchen realized for the first time that there existed men who could still look handsome even when wounded and bloodied.

Feeling her breath against his neck, he turned casually, realizing she was awake.

“What’s that look for, Magistrate Li? Disappointed you didn’t become a bandit’s bride?”