Ying Chun swiftly changed her young lady into riding-appropriate attire, then pulled her to sit down and swiftly tied up her hair, wiping the traces from her face to make the young lady appear as usual.
She knew why her young lady was distraught—the Regent... was departing for battle today.
Fu Dong entered, the one who usually carried large and small trays now held a bundle and a still-steaming pancake. "Please have this to fill your stomach first. The Medicinal Cuisine can wait until you return. This bundle contains some food—I made it strongly flavored to go well with meals. Please take it to His Highness the Regent."
Hua Zhi's eyes reddened slightly again. She took a deep breath, accepted the pancake, and took a large bite while striding quickly outside. She needed to hurry.
For the first time, everyone in the Hua family saw their eldest young lady—who had remained unflappable when the sky seemed to fall—running with her skirts flying, even disregarding etiquette by eating while walking. She dashed from the rear courtyard to the front courtyard, stuffed the last bite of pancake into her mouth, took the reins from Steward Xu, mounted her horse in one fluid motion, and galloped away at full speed.
Since the main streets were off-limits to non-warhorses, she wound through the alleyways. No matter how many people stared or gaped in astonishment, she paid no heed. She couldn't bear to say nothing today only to regret it later when there might be no chance. She didn't want to part on bad terms, leaving Yan Xi worried. She didn't want to look back on this moment with remorse.
She refused to leave regrets behind.
Outside the eastern city gate, banners fluttered sharply in the wind. Thirty thousand elite soldiers drafted from the capital garrison stood in neat, solemn formations. Gu Yanxi, clad in armor, made his already tall frame appear even more imposing.
Behind a ceremonial table, the young Crown Prince personally poured wine to fill the cups—one handed to the newly appointed General of Might and Valor opposite him, and one raised high himself. "A toast to heaven, to earth, and to our great Qing dynasty."
Gu Yanxi followed suit, toasting heaven and earth, then poured the wine onto the ground before the table.
The second cup was filled.
The Crown Prince raised it high and again poured it onto the ground. "A toast to General Sun."
The third cup was filled.
"This cup is for the indomitable Regent."
Gu Yanxi knelt on one knee in a military salute. "Your subject will spare no effort to protect our great Qing dynasty."
With these words, he raised the cup with both hands and drank it all in one go.
The Crown Prince bent to help him up. "This crown prince awaits the General's triumphant return."
"Your subject will not disappoint the Crown Prince."
The Crown Prince looked up at the man who stood much taller than him, his voice so low only the two could hear. "Nothing is more important than life. Brother Heir, you must return."
Such words should not have come from the Crown Prince, soon to ascend the throne—their implication seemed to offer the departing General an escape route. Yet he spoke them, and with utmost sincerity. The Grand Tutor had taught him that one could die with dignity, but only by living could one explore countless possibilities. If the situation truly became hopeless, he hoped Brother Heir would preserve his life to plan for the future later.
Gu Yanxi was surprised, but more touched. He swallowed the warning he had meant to utter, his usually stern tone softening slightly. "Your subject hopes Your Highness will become a wise ruler in a prosperous era."
"I will." The Crown Prince lifted his chin, confident and bold. "I certainly will!"
Gu Yanxi seemed to smile faintly. He clasped his hands in salute to the civil and military officials who had come to see him off, and they all returned the gesture solemnly. They respected the Regent—at least in this moment.
Chen Qing, also in full armor, led a horse forward and handed the reins to his master. Just as Gu Yanxi took them and prepared to mount, a voice called out from afar, "Gu Yanxi!"His body stiffened for a moment before he immediately turned around. Who else could it be standing beneath the city gate but A Zhi!
Hua Zhi’s hair was no longer as neat as usual. Since horses couldn’t be ridden at full gallop on the main street, and there were no alleys to cut through for the last stretch, she had abandoned her horse and run here, afraid she wouldn’t make it in time.
She knew how disheveled she must look, but she paid it no mind. Her heart was filled only with relief at having caught up. Her eyes saw no one else as she ran straight toward Yan Xi.
Gu Yanxi, both startled and overjoyed, hurried to meet her. Seeing the sweat on her forehead, his heart softened as if steeped in warm springs. He instinctively reached to wipe it with his sleeve, only to find his arm covered in soft armor. Instead, he gently brushed the sweat from her brow with his fingers.
“Why have you come?”
“There are words I fear I’d regret not saying for the rest of my life.” Hua Zhi looked up at the man who stood a head taller than her, his eyes holding only her. “You said you love me.”
“Yes, I love you.”
“Do you intend to marry me?”
“When I return safely, I will marry you with a grand procession in a ten-lift Sedan Chair.”
Hua Zhi smiled. “Then listen carefully. In this lifetime, I will marry only one man—his name is Gu Yanxi. If he lives, I’ll marry him. If he dies, I’ll marry him. If he’s crippled, I’ll marry him. If he’s broken, I’ll marry him. Even if only rotten flesh and bones remain, I’ll marry him! In ancient times, Hua Mulan joined the army and Mu Guiying led troops. I, too, can don armor and avenge my husband. You know my mediocre, half-baked skills—if I truly went to the battlefield, I’d surely meet my end…”
“A Zhi!”
“If you don’t want that fate for me, then come back alive!” Hua Zhi was still smiling, her eyes shining. “I’ll wait for you to return and marry me in a ten-lift Sedan Chair.”
Gu Yanxi was utterly stunned, his mind blank. Driven by instinct, he pulled her into a tight embrace, mindful of his hard armor and afraid to hold her too firmly. He tightened and loosened his hold, again and again, wishing he could tear off this cumbersome gear, carry her away to a place where no one could find them, and forget about The country, familial duties, and all responsibilities—caring only for the person in his arms.
He wanted only her.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the two embraced openly and unashamed. In contrast, the officials who had witnessed this extraordinary scene averted their gazes, unsure how to describe their feelings. Some stared fixedly at the ground, while others glanced teasingly at Minister Zhu—after all, the one causing such a stir was his granddaughter.
Zhu Bowen half-closed his eyes, pretending not to notice. He had no intention of interfering with this granddaughter of his. Even if she had run here in a Wedding Gown to exchange vows on the spot, he would have helped set up the platform.
Fortunately, these two had never been ordinary people.
Hua Zhi gently pulled away, picked up the bundle she had dropped on the ground, and handed it to him. “Fu Dong prepared this for your journey. You should set off now. The sooner you go, the sooner you’ll return.”
But Gu Yanxi couldn’t bear to let go. This A Zhi, who had cast aside all restraint, uttered such earth-shattering words of love, and even discarded the norms of feminine propriety—all for him. How could he bring himself to leave?
“A Zhi…”
“I only want to hear you say you love me. Nothing else.”
“I love you.” Without the slightest hesitation, Gu Yanxi took her hand and pressed it to his chest, repeating again and again, “I love you. Only you. My heart is filled with no one but you.”
Hua Zhi lifted her chin slightly. “At least you have good taste.”
“No one in this world has better taste than I.”
Hua Zhi covered her eyes, lowering her head. “Go now.”Gu Yanxi watched the teardrops forming one by one on the ground, his heart trembling with each falling droplet. He wanted to say "Don't cry," but his throat felt choked, unable to utter a single word. He could only hold her tightly again, kissing her ear as he promised, "I will definitely come back alive. Wait for me."
PS: Empty-headed after squeezing out every last drop of creativity...
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