Chapter 1035: Hold on, catch a turtle in a jar (2/2)

Gu Beiyue would always be wearing his snow-white robes, his every move quiet yet elegant like a hermit removed from the world. Long Feiye had white brocade robes on the inside and a rare violet fox-fur robe over it, making him seem noble, mysterious, and luxuriously dominant.

Han Yunxi suddenly felt that these two were equals despite being lord and vassal. Gu Beiyue was enough to sit and rise together with Long Feiye, while Long Feiye was accepting of Gu Beiyue! With Gu Beiyue’s talents and disposition, he could definitely claim a piece of the world for himself if so desired. Anyone in lofty positions would fear and guard against him. Yet Long Feiye did not and held no such reservations.

After their argument the other day, Long Feiye ended up backtracking to her side soon afterwards. She didn’t sleep either, but sat there fuming until he walked inside and began to brew tea at the table to drink. She didn’t argue with him, but sat far away from him spacing out until she finally fell asleep. Then Tang Li knocked on the door, setting into motion events for the rest of the night.

Since then, she hadn’t gone out of her way to pay Long Feiye any attention, nor had he moved to speak to her. However, every night he’d come to their room and hug her to sleep. Many people were wondering whether Long Feiye had delayed the meeting with the Di Clan delegation because Baili Yuanlong’s faction had yet to show up. Yet for Han Yunxi who knew the truth, she understood that Long Feiye had already made his choice. He agreed with Gu Beiyue’s views and wanted to delay the expedition, or else he’d never let Baili Yuanlong’s group go just like that. Right now, Long Feiye wasn’t thinking about the time to head north, but his agreement to Tang Li.

The choices of a sovereign could be right or wrong, with ruthlessness being a matter of course between the options. Yet whatever the case, someone would be treated coldly in the end anyways. Long Feiye was figuring out how to be cruel to Tang Li, who hadn’t gone anywhere at all. He loitered in East Origin Hall, whiling away the days until his big brother came to give him the final say in person.

Han Yunxi was waiting too.

In the middle of spacing out, she heard Gu Beiyue laugh. “Your Highness, my generosity!”[2]

Han Yunxi turned to see Gu Beiyue had won the game. He and Long Feiye had played five bouts in the past few days. Although Gu Beiyue won this round, Long Feiye was still a notch better. It was still early, so Han Yunxi assumed they’d go another round, but Long Feiye actually rose to bid his farewell. Han Yunxi’s heart grew alarmed as she stood up to watch Long Feiye walk through the door. He’s leaving so early? Is he going to find Tang Li?

Han Yunxi watched on in silence, but Long Feiye stopped at the door to turn towards her. He stood for awhile before striding her way, taking her hand, and leading her away. Han Yunxi could only follow him blankly, but quickly broke into a grin.

Men of action even mend their arguments with physical gestures.

Long Feiye led Han Yunxi to Tang Li’s courtyard, where they saw him staring dully at a small booklet in his hand. Han Yunxi knew that these were Tang Li’s collection of notes and reminders for a pregnant woman and the first month after her birth. He had gotten the information after grilling Gu Beiyue for answers.

Supposedly, he had gone back to the Tang Clan both to oversee the sharpening ceremony for the military weapons and to make preparations for Ning Jing after childbirth. Now it seemed that those efforts would be for naught. Han Yunxi always thought she was glib-tongued, but now her heart felt nothing but tangled. Instead, it was Long Feiye who didn’t hesitate as he strode inside.

Tang Li recovered just in time to quickly put away the book and chuckle at them cheerfully. “Big bro, did you find me to drink tea?”

This brat’s still pretending? He was clearly waiting the entire time.

Long Feiye patted him on the shoulder and said with all earnesty, “I came to tell you that the punitive expedition for the north has been delayed until summer. You should make preparations.” He then paused, before adding, “And also…”

“Big bro, don’t worry,” Tang Li cut him off. “I won’t run off to Tiger’s Den on my own. I promise I’ll keep to my word!”

Long Feiye’s hand stiffened. He didn’t say anything beyond pulling Tang Li close for a hug, then letting him go. Neither he nor Han Yunxi hung back, but soon left. Perhaps Tang Li would be able to relax then instead of trying so hard to look alright. Long Feiye’s steps on the road back were extremely slow. Han Yunxi finally spoke up with a sigh. “Long Feiye, when will this world find true peace?”

When will the wars stop? When will the separations end? When will all of these difficult choices disappear?

Long Feiye peered up at the floating clouds in the sky, his gaze filled with determination. “Soon, very soon…”

After being gloomy all these days, Long Feiye had finally given Tang Li his answer. Now feeling lighter, he instructed Xu Donglin to rearrange a meeting time with the Di Clan delegation before retiring early to bed. Long Feiye had a bad habit: when he was working overnight, Han Yunxi could sleep early, but when he slept early, Han Yunxi couldn’t work overnight. She was just planning to cultivate her poison storage space when he wrapped his arms around her and pulled him down into his embrace.

Knowing he was exhausted, Han Yunxi didn’t thrash about because it’d wake him up. Yet she wasn’t sleepy and soon recalled something important in the midst of her boredom…

1. Hao San (郝三) - literally “Hao the Third.”

2. my generosity - 承让了 chengrangle, a phrase addressed to one’s opponent after winning a game. Think the Chinese version of “checkmate!”