Chapter 88 (1/2)

Glossary

儿 | er | (lit. child) diminutive marker used as a form of endearment

When Yun Shi Yi received the news that his wife was returning home, he had immediately boarded a ship and followed the Lan River downstream. He anxiously waited every day, hoping that his beautiful woman would suddenly appear before his eyes. The longing that he felt increased with the passing of each night.

On the day that he approached the Chang Jiang River, a thousand white sails emerged from the horizon, becoming more obvious as the distance between him and them shortened.

His heartstrings immediately became taut as he stared unblinkingly at the scene before him.

But right at this moment, emergency measures were imposed. A bailiff of the yamen sailed in a small boat, continuously going back and forth, as he drove the other vessels away, requesting them to make way for the Emperor’s large fleet of ships.

Yun Shi Yi was forced to land, but his eyes remained glued on the river as before.

The first to appear was the squadron of ships belonging to Xuanyuan Zong Zhi’s troops that served as bodyguards for the imperial clan. Their brocade banner fluttered in a majestic way that seized the eyes of every person. Yun Shi Yi saw a Xuanyuan Zong Zhi covered head to toe in shining silver armor standing at the bow of the ship. His heart shook for a moment as he hastily looked next to the man in search……The result was disappointment. The figure of the person printed in his heart was clearly not here. But among the thousands of white sails, which vessel was she aboard?

The feeling of wanting to meet her was unexpectedly that pressing–to the point where he couldn’t even wait a single moment.

He raised his head towards the soaring mast beside him. To someone who practiced martial arts, this sort of height didn’t mean anything. The elevating qinggong technique that he had learned before was much more difficult in comparison. Lifting the hem of his long gown, he secured it at his waist before gripping the mast with both hands and climbing up in an extremely nimble manner. There was an inner voice: Since he cannot find her, he would let her find him.

It was as if Ruan Zhu had telepathy. The closer she was to her hometown, the more excited she became, and she so dearly wished Yun Shi Yi could appear in front of her at this moment in some random ship by the banks of the Lan River or perhaps among the commoners who had gathered to watch the bustle in the coastal area.

Ruan Zhu stepped out of the ship’s cabin. A vast crowd was on the riverbanks–they were all commoners who had come to watch the awe-inspiring Emperor. Various kinds of vessels were also stopped by the banks and each person had their head tilted to watch the crowd of ships go by.

“Ma, bird……big bird fly fly……” Little Zhi Xi pulled at his mother’s skirt while his other hand pointed at another ship.

“What problems are you causing? Quickly, go find your uncle to play. Don’t cause trouble here.” How could Ruan Zhu have the patience to deal with her son? She lifted a hand to call out to Yun Shi Wei: “Second Cousin, come quickly to take your Yun family member away.”

Zhi Xi bounced on his toes while pointing towards their own ship’s mast and cutely babbled: “Fly fly, me also want fly fly.”

Yun Shi Wei strode over and picked up Zhi Xi: “The mast is too tall and too dangerous for Zhi Xi to go up there. Wait until we have reached the shore and Uncle will take you to climb some trees.”

Ruan Zhu searched in all four directions for a while but it only left a fleeting and nameless melancholy in her heart. She turned around, intending to head back inside the cabin, when she felt a burning gaze that made her feel incredibly uncomfortable. Her eyes roved around for the source when suddenly, the figure of a tall man standing atop a mast on a vessel several dozen meters away from her caught her entire attention.

She rubbed her eyes. It was him, it was him–there was no way she could be wrong! It was the man who, from the very moment she crossed over, gave her infinite happiness with a heart full of gentle feelings and would always instantly console and encourage her every time she frowned.

Ruan Zhu felt a wave of dizziness and then rushed towards the ship’s railing, looking all the while at the Yun Shi Yi who was not too far off.

“Zhu’er, I have something I want to ask you.” Xuanyuan Min Zhi had just chatted with his subordinates and happened to talk about matters between men and women. When his men had told him it was impossible for a woman’s monthlies to be that long plus the fact that for the majority of women who were breastfeeding, their monthlies would not arrive too soon, that was when he realized he had been tricked.

“Stop the boat, I want to get off!” Ruan Zhu hit the sides of the boat with her hands.

“Zhu’er, what’s with you? What are you wanting to get off the boat for without any reason? I want to ask you, that……that thing about your monthlies was false, right?”

“Hurry and stop the ship!” Ruan Zhu was impatient and lifted her arm to wave at Yun Shi Yi. Even though they were separated by several tens of meters, she could still feel the gaze that was packed deep with emotions. As for what Xuanyuan Min Zhi had said–none of it had entered her ears.

“Eh? It is Head Yun. My Heavens, Eldest Master has come to pick us up.” Nuan Chun carried a basin of laundry water to pour into Lan River and saw the man atop the mast on the banks of the river with a lift of his head: “Eldest Miss, look, it’s Eldest Son-in-law. I saw Eldest Master.”

“Yes, yes.” Ruan Zhu’s eyes were filled with happiness. In a split second, her throat became choked from emotion and the rims of her eyes couldn’t help but become moist. She hastily took Zhi Xi into her arms and lifted him up as high as she could for Yun Shi Yi to see: “Zhi Xi, your Pa has come. Quickly look at the person up there–he’s your father!”

Yun Shi Wei had also seen his older brother and happily said: “Spouse, don’t be so rushed. I’ll have someone halt the ship over there and it’ll be done in just a moment.”

“En, hurry, hurry.”

The ship finally reached the shore and Ruan Zhu rushed to climb aboard her Lord Husband’s ship.

Yun Shi Yi had also long come down from the mast. Seeing the incoming beautiful figure, he opened his arms wide to greet her: “Wife, welcome home.”

Ruan Zhu didn’t care how many pairs of eyes were watching and ran over to throw herself into her husband’s arms. It was only at this moment that she felt this place was so incredibly warm. She was locked inside those powerful arms, and just like how cottonwood fluff drift in the spring breeze, her body was completely relaxed and without any strength.

“Eldest Cousin, I’m back.”