c44 (2/2)

She was cold to every single person. And it was a coldness that didn’t come from being arrogant or lofty. It was a coldness that came from being guarded.

San Yue remembered her innocent and pure smile from before and it made her heart ache. She finally could understand a bit of what her young master must be feeling. She was a bystander and it already made her heart hurt to see Yun Ge this way. Someone in the middle of this situation must be feeling more than heartache.

The sun set early in the Winter so dinner was served earlier. After San Yue finished serving Yun Ge dinner, she cleared the plates and walked outside. In the dusky light she saw two people standing in the courtyard. One was a black robed girl in a black veil. Another was a man standing with his back to her. San Yue’s martial arts wasn’t weak, yet she didn’t even sense when these two people entered the courtyard, or how long they had been standing there.

This was Yun Ge’s residence, and was well protected by guards, yet these two people managed to enter without alerting anyone. She cautiously took a step back and then smashed the plates on the ground and screamed “Help!”

The man appeared to be vastly annoyed and took big steps and entered the residence. San Yue wanted to stop him but a whip suddenly blocked her path. She saw the man enter the residence and heard Yun Ge cry out in shock. San Yue was so anxious she was almost in tears. If anything else happened to Yun Ge, how could she face her young master? The black robed girl saw her expression and softly said “From when you came with dinner, I was already following you. I can see that you have treated my lady with such care. Thank you!”

After she said that, she lowered her whip and San Yue realized what the girl said “Yun Ge is the lady of your household?” Ba Yue and Jiu Yue rushed inside and thought San Yue was being attacked and moved to strike the black robed girl. San Yue was alarmed and warned the black robed girl “Be careful!” Meng Jue stepped into the courtyard and yelled “Ms. Zhu, please halt.”

Ah Zhu pulled her whip back, San Yue helped deflect Ba Yue’s sword thrust, and Meng Jue tossed a jade pendant and blocked Jiu Yue’s knife attack. Ah Zhu bowed to Meng Jue “Greetings, Mr. Meng.”

Meng Jue bowed back “It’s been a few years. Have you been well? When did you arrive in Chang An?”

“All is well. We arrived around noon.”

Meng Jue looked towards the residence “Is Yao here as well?”

Ah Zhu explained “When notice of Yun Ge’s execution reached Dun Huang, those in the know immediately reported it to Third young master. Its not that we don’t believe in Mr. Meng. Its just that siblings are connected at the heart, and there was no way he wouldn’t be worried about her. Will Mr. Meng please not be offended.” Meng Jue appeared casual and he said “Who would take offense? Back then I promised Yun Ge’s parents that I would take care of her. Yet my taking care of her landed her in this situation. I am the one who ought to be asking forgiveness from you all.”

Ah Zhu avoided his bow and kindly said “I believe young master you have done your best. It’s just……….you know my young master’s personality. I hope you see that it’s because of Yun Ge and don’t let it bother you.” Meng Jue nodded.

“We just arrived in Chang An so we still don’t know what happened. What did Yun Ge do that would result in her getting executed?”

Meng Jue didn’t answer, and after some time he said “If Yun Ge wants to explain, she’ll tell you herself.” He hesitated and then walked towards the residence. When he arrived at the doorway, he stopped and didn’t take another step. These past few days Yun Ge was like a wooden statue, but now she appeared to have gotten some life back. She sat with her head lowered and her tears fell on the blanket. The man sitting on the pallet stared at Yun Ge with his brows furrowed. He appeared quite angry. The siblings, one sitting quietly, the other crying, neither of them saying anything to each other.

The man was normally of few words, but finally even he couldn’t take it any more. “Yun Ge Er, are you mute? I asked you who mistreated you? Why don’t you answer? How come you have so many tears?” Yun Ge continued to silently cry.

Yun Ge was a chatterbox since she was a kid. Even when no one paid her any attention she could talk all day long to herself. When had she ever been at loss for words. The man’s heart hurt and he was also frustrated. For the first time in his life, he softened and said gently “Who mistreated you, you tell your big brother. I will go avenge any wrongs done to you. After I deal with them, I’ll take you home. Whatever you want, I’ll go find it for you. Wherever you want to go play, I’ll accompany you.”

Who knew that instead of stopping her crying, Yun Ge suddenly flew into his arms and started sobbing even more loudly.

Third Brother was completely clueless as to what to do. Yun Ge only ever wanted coddling and comfort from Second Brother. In front of him, she was always tart tongued and teasing. His body stiffened, like he had no idea what to do next. After some time, he copied what Second Brother would do and lightly patted Yun Ge on the back. It was a movement he was completely unfamiliar with, so the expression on his face was extremely awkward. He turned to look at Meng Jue standing in the doorway. Meng Jue bowed to him but Third Brother’s mouth just tilted up in a mocking slight smile, his eyes full of derision.

Meng Jue smiled casually but in truth he was completely on guard. If Yun Ge pointed her finger at him, the next second her Third Brother’s sword would follow. Yun Ge cried for some time and finally stopped. She rested on her Third Brother’s shoulder and asked “I thought you all didn’t want me anymore! Where’s dad? And mom? And Second Brother? How come none of you came to see me?”

If Third Brother had arrived earlier, perhaps this all……………Yun Ge was talking and suddenly her eyes filled with tears again.

Did this little chit think her execution was a reason for a family reunion? Third Brother furrowed his brows but said nothing. Ah Zhu responded “Master and Madam don’t know yet. Last year they were coming back from a trip to Turkey when they pa.s.sed through Da Ban Mountain and ran into an avalanche……..”

“What?” Yun Ge shot up like a startled bird, her face turning stark white. Ah Zhu quickly followed “Master and Madam are fine, they are just stuck in the mountain caves until the snow melts in the Spring and they can leave.”

“Then, then…….” “My lady please don’t fret, Third young master prepared food and necessities and had the condors fly it up to the mountains to them.”

Third Brother furrowed his brows and said “Stop worrying! I think dad believes he’s in some paradise. He had me send ink brushes and plush rugs up to him, the ink brushes made with the fur from a sheep’s neck, the rug in the design of crysanthemums.”

“Where’s Second Brother?”

Third Brother’s face turned dark. Ah Zhu wanted to say something but Third Brother interjected impatiently “You’re the stupidest one in the entire family! Second Brother can handle his own situation. And in the worst case scenario, he has me to help so you don’t need to worry. But your situation? What the heck happened? If it’s nothing important, then let’s return to Xi Yu right now.”

Ah Zhu asked with concern “My lady, your complexion looks terrible, did you fall ill?” Yun Ge was silent for a moment and then she said “Third Brother, I can handle my own situation. I know there are lots of things at home you need to take care of. You go home with Ah Zhu first.”

“You’re not coming home with me?” Yun Ge’s eyes misted with tears “Not right now. Wait until I……….take care of some matters. Then I will go home.” Third Brother stared at Yun Ge, and then nodded. Even though they were siblings, but each had to live their own life. No one can live a life for another person. Third Brother coldly said “Then don’t let me receive another notice that you’re getting your head chopped off!”

Ah Zhu softly said “When young master received notice of your execution, he immediately set off. Since receiving the notice, we barely stopped to rest.”

To travel from Xi Yu to here within three days, even on a Blood Sweat Horse it would be exhausting! Plus her Third Brother’s const.i.tution was always weak. Since Yun Ge lost the baby, she felt like her entire body was frozen in ice. Even the blood in her veins was cold. Right now she felt like no matter what she went through, a corner of her heart felt warm. She wanted to retreat into that corner right now, but thinking about her baby…………if the baby lived, he would have an uncle who pampered him; he would have powerful Ah Zhu to play with him; he would have a mom who was a master chef; she would cook him the most delicious foods in the world; she would take him to climb Sky Mountain; to eat grapes in Turkey…….but its all gone! Nothing was left. He never got to experience anything before he was cruelly taken away.

Yun Gr raised her head and stared at Meng Ju. Meng Jue calmly smiled at her, obscuring all his emotions. Yun Ge’s eyes were filled with piercing coldness, stabbing into his eyes, getting sucked into the vortex and not even making a ripple.

Third Brother suddenly said “Yun Ge Er, I’ll arrange another place for you to stay.” Yun Ge didn’t understand, how did her Third Brother’s connections reach all the way to Chang An? Didn’t their dad forbid them from ever stepping foot in the Han dynasty? But leaving the Meng Estate was not a bad thing, so Yun Ge nodded her head. Third Brother wordlessly picked Yun Ge up and walked outside. Meng Jue moved aside, and when San Yue wanted to speak up, she was shushed by the look in his eyes.

These last few days, Yun Ge never got a moment’s peace. So now Yun Ge nestled in her brother’s arms and nodded off to sleep. In her dreamy state she felt the horse climbing a mountain path. When she opened her eyes, she was indeed on the mountain path and after traveling some more, Yun Ge saw that they were surrounded by tombstones. She asked “Third Brother, where is this place?”

“When you were small, didn’t you always ask why you have a Second and a Third Brother, but no Eldest Brother?”

“Yes, but mom and dad always refused to answer. Every time I asked, mom always looked sad and regretful. Second Brother later told me not to ask anymore and make mom sad. When I grew up, he promised to tell me.”

Third Brother halted the horse beside a lavish tombstone. He carried Yun Ge off the horse and calmly said “This is Eldest Brother.”

Yun Ge said “Ah”, her shock was greater than her sadness because she always suspected her Eldest Brother had died. But she was shocked his tomb was in the Han dynasty! She walked forward and read the words on the tomb “In sorrow, Huo Tan.” Underneath was a small row of words, which Yun Ge read and confused her even more. Emperor Wu of Han cried for the pa.s.sing of her Eldest Brother?

Yun Ge wanted to ask but she saw Third Brother kneel down before the tomb and respectfully bow three times. Her always arrogant and cold Third Brother was so respectful and courteous, she quickly knelt down and bowed to the tomb. “Eldest Brother, I’m sorry. I didn’t know your tomb was in Chang An. Its taken me until now to come pay my respects.”

Third Brother finished paying his respects and stood up. Yun Ge asked “So Second Brother’s name of “Huo” isn’t his first name, it’s his last name. Eldest Brother and Second Brother both have the last name Huo, and we both have the last name Huo as well, right? I always thought we were like the Xiong Nu, people without a last name. Duke? Why was Eldest Brother a Duke of the Han dynasty? Why didn’t mom and dad move his tomb away, leaving him all alone here.”

Third Brother didn’t answer and instead looked towards the side of the tomb and coldly said “Lord Huo, you have been listening for some time now. All your questions ought to have been answered.”

Huo Guang stepped out slowly from the copse of trees, his face eerily white. Huo Tan? Huo Guang? Yun Ge’s heart thundered and she appeared to make the connection. She was still weak so her body collapsed on the ground. Ah Zhu rushed forward to support her. Huo Guang carefully studied Third Brother’s visage, and after some time, he appeared to confirm something “What is your name?”

“Huo Yao.”

Huo Guang smiled and nodded “Sun, moon, stars, all put together makes the character Yao, meaning to leap high. Just a name Big Brother would have thought of.” He turned to look at Yun Ge, his smile frozen “Is Yun Ge my Big Brother’s little daughter?”

“My dad’s daughter in his later years.” Huo Yao was a man of few words, but he added one more “She’s the most precious one in our family.”

“Big Brother, he………..he………..” Huo Guang’s face lost all his blood color and he couldn’t get out one complete sentence.

“My mom and dad are fine. Lord Huo must not like me staying in Chang An long and I’m planning to leave immediately. But Yun Ge wants to stay in Chang An and play some more. I’ll entrust her to Lord Huo.” Huo Guang startled and right as he was about to respond, Huo Yao suddenly raised his eyebrow and took steps back. He grabbed Yun Ge and gave a cold smile “Good one, Lord Huo!”

In a few moments, Huo Guang heard rustling around the tomb. Huo Guang hurried to explain “It’s not on my orders.” He yelled out “Who is it? Come out and see me!”

He saw Huo Cheng Jun ride up “Daddy, I saw you leave the city alone and I was worried. I followed you here and I’ve ordered this area surrounded. But why is daddy………….” Huo Cheng Jun couldn’t understand why her normally cautious father was speaking so close with the a.s.sa.s.sin. Wasn’t her dad afraid of being accosted? Huo Guang yelled “Cheng Jun, order everyone to retreat. You come over here, I need to speak with you.”

Huo Cheng Jun startled for a moment, and then jumped off her horse. She slowly walked up to Huo Guang, staring at him and then turning to stare at Yun Ge’s group. Huo Guang pointed at Huo Yao and Yun Ge and his voice cracked with emotion”That is your older cousins, go call them older brother and older sister and pay your respects.”

Huo Cheng Jun’s eyes widened and her mouth opened into a O, her face gaping in shock. Yun Ge jerked her face away and bit down on her lips, her body quaking. Huo Guang said to Huo Yao “The ancestral temple is close by. Since you are here, go light an incense for the ancestors. Who knows if there will be a next time.” Huo Yao thought for a moment and then nodded.

Huo Yao brought Yun Ge to the Huo family ancestral temple to light incense and kneel and bow to the ancestors. When he got to the plaque for “Huo Qu Bing”, Huo Yao saw that the incense holder was spotlessly clean. Some of the coldness in his eyes dissipated. Yun Ge stared at the “Huo Qu Bing” plaque and murmured “So this is daddy’s real name. I’ve heard of this name before.”

Huo Guang said to Huo Yao “You can return to Xi Yu without worrying. For every day Yun Ge is in Chang An, I will take care of her.” Huo Yao bowed and finally said “Thank you, Uncle.”

Huo Guang looked at the face that was so similar to his Big Brother’s face and his eyes misted and his heart ached. All his fighting, rage, injustice, worry, none of that seemed important anymore. All these years, wasn’t he was angry because his Big Brother died so pointlessly and his sister-in-law committed suicide. Wasn’t he so furious that his Big Brother had no progeny?

After paying respects to the ancestors, Huo Guang asked Huo Yao to sit beside him and tell him about his Big Brother and sister-in-law’s life all this time. Huo Guang was so overcome with emotion and was desperate for Huo Yao to tell him everything. But Huo Yao didn’t like to talk and he was also not sentimental, so for every ten questions from Huo Guang, he answered with a few phrases. Huo Guang was so anxious but there was nothing he could do. Ah Zhu saw this and said “Lord Huo, whatever you want to know, you can ask Yun Ge Er in the future. She’s a chatterbox and any little thing she can talk about it in detail for the entire day.”

Huo Guang looked at Yun Ge sitting in the corner all withdrawn, and then he looked at Huo Cheng Jun sitting in the other corner all withdrawn, and his smile froze awkwardly on his face. He coughed a few times and glossed it over. Huo Guang thought of Huo Yao living and traveling in Xi Yu and his heart shook. He wanted to ask but couldn’t bring himself to open his mouth. He thought of that name, and it was a heavy as a thousand tons of gold, pressed on his tongue so he couldn’t speak. Huo Yao saw that he wasn’t asking anymore questions so he got up to leave.

Huo Guang was frantic so he blurted out “Yao Er, have you heard of Feng Liao.” Huo Yao’s was expressionless but he slightly nodded his head, but didn’t continue. Huo Guang wanted to ask but didn’t know where to start. Time pa.s.sed so fast, how many years had pa.s.sed? He startled and then sighed, waving his hand “You siblings must have a lot to discuss, I won’t take up anymore of your time. Go say goodbye to Yun Ge!” Huo Yao nodded and walked towards Yun Ge.

Huo Guang pushed all his emotions into the depths of his heart and arranged his expression into the normal calm look. Ah Zhu standing to the side heard this exchange and she suddenly spoke up “How could anyone in Xi Yu not know Madam Feng’s name? Princess Xie Yo came when the Han dynasty was at its weak point and brought Han culture to the Xi Yu and even Xiong Nu people. She pa.s.sed on medical knowledge to the various kingdoms in Xi Yu. She used kindness to earn the respect of the Xi Yu people for the Han dynasty. All of these doings, everyone in Xi Yu knows about. And half of all the things she accomplished was due to the a.s.sistance of Madam Feng.”

Huo Guang said nothing but his expression shaded. After some time, he looked carefully at Ah Zhu and asked “What you said wasn’t something that an average Xi Yu person could say.” Ah Zhu’s face was covered by her veil so it wasn’t clear what her expression was, but she replied “I remember years ago, Master and Madam had a chance encounter with Madam Feng. the three of them conversed in happiness and drank to kindred spirits. My Master rarely compliments people, but he complimented Princess Xie Yo and Madam Feng as a “female warrior of the dynasty.”

Huo Guang’s froze and his eyes were filled with happiness and sorrow. He had a bit of a young man’s hesitation as he asked “My Big Brother, he really praised them as such?” Ah Zhu nodded. Huo Guang thought of another worry and asked “Years ago Big Brother was world renowned, and she is so smart and perceptive. Did she guess Big Brother’s real ident.i.ty?” Ah Zhu replied “I don’t know. Madam Feng may have guessed, or may not have.” Huo Guang lowered his head and grew silent.

Ah Zhu bowed to Huo Guang and then retreated. Huo Yao sat next to Yun Ge and looked at her exhausted and haggard face. His heart ached with worry. For a man who rarely spoke even once, he repeated again “Yun Ge Er, are you sure you don’t want to come home with me?”

Yun Ge stared dumbly at her Third Brother. Huo Cheng Jun was her younger cousin! She had to call the person she hated the most in this world little sister? What will she do?

……………

Huo Yao took something out of his robe and placed it in Yun Ge’s hand. It was soft and Yun Ge lowered her head and immediately tears sprang to her eyes and fell like rain. A dark black hair braid, with a woman’s earring hanging on it. Since the day she made her promise under the stars, it’s finally returned to her hands.

Huo Yao wanted to use this to cheer Yun Ge up, who knew he would instead make his little sister cry again. He was frustrated and said “I remember when you were small, you would cry and beg for this thing. On my way out of the house, since mom and dad weren’t around, I stole it out for you. If I knew it would make you cry……I wouldn’t……..” Yun Ge tightly gripped the hair rope and said with her voice cracking “Thank you, Third Brother. Really, thank you!” The hair rope in her hand was soft, but Yun Ge felt like sharp daggers were piercing her heart, the pain making her bleed inside. She rested on her brother’s shoulder and softly said with conviction “I want to stay in Chang An.”

Huo Yao glanced at Huo Cheng Jun and asked “Do you want to stay in the Huo Estate? If you don’t like it, I can find you another place.” Yun Ge rested her chin on her brother’s shoulder, her eyes staring at Huo Cheng Jun, and she enunciated each word carefully “I’ll live at the Huo Estate.”

Huo Yao stroked Yun Ge’s head and tenderly said “As long as it makes you happy, do whatever you want to do. If you need any help, have someone come find me. In this entire world, all I know is that you are my little sister. Other people, I don’t know and don’t care about. But remember, when you feel better, forget Chang An and come home to Xi Yu. Let’s get Second Brother and go climb Sky Mountain together.”

Third Brother’s rare display of gentleness appeared to encompa.s.s a full understanding of everything, causing Yun Ge to cry again as she nodded her head. Her heart knew the Sky Mountain was still there, but the people had gone. When Yun Ge stopped crying, Huo Yao led her over to Huo Guang “Uncle, nephew I will be going now.”

Huo Guang stood up “Be careful on the way. When you see your dad, just……just………” The two brothers would never have a chance to meet again in this lifetime. During these years, everything he did, his brother likely knew all about it. Right now there was nothing more he could say. Huo Guang smilled bitterly and said “You can go home with your heart at ease! I will take good care of Yun Ge.”

Huo Yao bowed to Huo Guang and then turned and left. Yun Ge walked him to the doorway and saw Third Brother and Ah Zhu swing on their horses and set off. In the dark Winter night, her Third Brother’s back grew smaller and smaller in the distance. The sole bit of warmth in Yun Ge’s heart also disappeared. Until the end, all that was left was the earring she was tightly gripping in her hand.

Huo Guang coughed a few times and cleared his throat “Yun Ge, be careful and don’t face the wind directly. In a bit, the servants will have the carriage ready and we can all go home.” Yun Ge carefully draped the hair rope around her neck and stroked the earring once before quietly walking back into the room.

Huo Cheng Jun, who was silent this entire time, suddenly smashed the hand warmer on the ground and ran out of the room. Huo Guang yelled “Cheng Jun!” and in his voice was warning and censure. Huo Cheng Jun stopped in the doorway with her back to the room, her expression unseen. The wind blew her robe around her, and some moments later, Huo Cheng Jun turned around and stared at Yun Ge and then curtsied “Big sister please forgive me, little sister I was rude.”

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