Chapter 396: A sincere heart (2/2)
How many steps separate us still, in your eyes?
When Long Feiye saw Han Yunxi’s earnest, unbending gaze, he didn’t say a word. But after a while, he slowly drew her into an embrace. Snowflakes fell soundlessly around them, settling to rest on their hair and shoulders. Amidst the sea of flowers, the two of them silenced the entire world.
A sincere heart, and a companion until old age.
Long Feiye, if you have to make a choice one day, what will take precedence in your heart?
—
In the middle of this orchard was a low-lying, symmetrical shaped residence fashioned in the Japanese style. In the center of the building was a tea room, flanked on both sides by separate wings. Out in the back was a natural hot spring. Long Feiye and Han Yunxi settled down here, where the latter found out the true meaning behind ‘we can spend the New Year’s here.’
The two of them were the only people here to celebrate the New Year, with no sign of the Tang Clan anywhere.
This seemed…even better!
On the night of New Year’s Eve, fine wine and delicacies were placed on the table. Long Feiye and Han Yunxi sat facing each other as they drank together. Only three servants stood on the side to serve them. Meanwhile, snow fell upon the landscape outside while the hot springs bubbled in the back, sending steam into the air. The entire scene was as quiet as a picture, peaceful without being cold.
Long Feiye wasn’t an alcohol addict, and drank wine like he drank tea, his movements noble and elegant. Han Yunxi wasn’t interested in wine either, but she took careful note of the taste today. For the first time, she realized that wine drinking was a type of pleasure as well.
In the distance, a tolling bell heralded the advent of midnight. Han Yunxi stood up and made a grand, formal bow.
“Your Highness, chenqie wishes you a Happy New Year. I hope that this year will be filled with smooth sailing and good health for Your Highness.” He was the master of the house and her husband, so a courtesy like this was both appropriate and mandatory.
“This year…” Long Feiye muttered to himself, his tone half caught between thoughtfulness and expectation. He awarded Han Yunxi with a large red packet and said, “Forget about the formalities.” Then he left the wine table to sit by the door, staring blankly at the snowy scene outside.
“Your Highness, is there something on your mind?” Han Yunxi asked in concern. Instead of speaking, Long Feiye gestured for her to join him. Han Yunxi sat down next to him, assuming that he’d talk, but all he did was remain silent.
After sitting for awhile, Han Yunxi grew weary. Moreover, she’d been spending so much time in the detox system over the past few days that she was easily tired and couldn’t manage late nights. As she sat and waited, she slowly slipped into drowsiness until she was leaning on Long Feiye’s shoulder. He glanced at her, but allowed her to stay. Soon enough, Han Yunxi really did fall asleep, resting her entire weight against him.
“Bring over wangfei’s fox-fur cloak,” Long Feiye ordered in a low voice. Then he carefully pulled the sleeping figure into his lap and draped the cloak over her so she could sleep more comfortably.
“Your Highness, it’s cold. Perhaps it’d be better to sleep in the rooms?” the servant girl murmured.
Long Feiye only gestured for them all to withdraw. The servants didn’t dare to persuade him any further, and left the rooms. The snow outside fell faster and thicker, but all was as still as before. Long Feiye’s hooded eyes stared at the icy landscape before him as he sank into thought.
In the New Year’s Eve of years past, Grand Concubine Yi would always fall asleep after midnight. Then his real mother would appear in the back courtyard of the Peaceful Palace, standing beneath the plum blossom trees as she waited for him to perform his traditional New Year’s greetings.
Every year, his mufei would only ask him one question: “Ye’er, it’s another year. Are you ready?”
Ever since his mother passed away, he’d never stayed up late to greet the new year.
“Another year has come… Someone who treats you with a sincere heart, and stays with you until your hairs turn white with old age…”
“Han Yunxi, when the time comes for you to make your choice, what will take precedence in your heart?” Long Feiye muttered to himself as he took the Perplexing Butterfly Illusion from Han Yunxi’s sleeve and toyed with it in his fingers.
Han Yunxi spent the night in blissful slumber on Long Feiye’s lap, completely oblivious to the thousands of thoughts running through his head. She had a beautiful dream, where spring came in winter’s wake to send the plum blossoms flying through the air. Long Feiye was standing amongst the blossoms, and he turned around to beckon her over.
When Han Yunxi woke up the next morning, she found herself back in her room. As soon as she came out, it was to see a guard reporting news to Long Feiye. They’d hardly spent a few days in peace before Emperor Tianhui had come to cause trouble again.
“Your Highness, this morning the county magistrates from all three disaster regions were kneeling in front of the provincial official’s estate. They say they won’t go back until they see you personally,” the guard said.
“Then let them keep kneeling!” Han Yunxi said unhappily. The only reason such small fry could to be so audacious was because Emperor Tianhui instigated them. It wasn’t likely that grain was their true motive for hanging around. Even though supplies were still lacking, the people wouldn’t starve for grain during the New Year’s. What was Emperor Tianhui trying to do now? Long Feiye might have won the people’s hearts, but he was also maintaining social stability for Tianning’s disaster regions!
If Long Feiye hadn’t been able to take the imperial uncle’s grain in the first place, Emperor Tianhui wouldn’t have an easy New Year’s, either! The guard was left in a tight spot. There were a dozen or so total county magistrates from the three disaster regions, so it was really an inappropriate sight to leave them kneeling there on the first day of the New Year’s.
Unexpectedly, Long Feiye agreed with Han Yunxi. “Let them kneel. Your lordship won’t be back until the 15th.”
The 15th… Han Yunxi narrowly avoided laughing out loud. If those county magistrates heard him now, they’d probably give up before the day was done and run back in fear.
“Your Highness, are we going to look for grain?” Han Yunxi asked curiously. She knew that Long Feiye had a handle on things, but she really couldn’t fathom the fine details of his plans!
“Make preparations, we’ll set out this afternoon,” Long Feiye replied simply. Since they had already celebrated the new year, it was about time for Emperor Tianhui to beg them back…
1. zhang (丈) – Chinese unit of measurement equal to ~3.3 meters.