Chapter 271 Extra Three: (Yan Xiu) Everlasting Longing (Part One)
Xia Chengxiu first met Yan He during a spring banquet outing with her cousin.
Though called a spring banquet outing, it was essentially an opportunity for eligible young nobles to meet and size each other up. At the time, Xia Chengxiu was only sixteen. While some young ladies in the capital were already married by that age, Lord Xia doted on his daughter dearly and had no intention of marrying her off early.
Thus, Xia Chengxiu was merely accompanying her cousin for some leisure and amusement.
It was the fourth month of spring, with lush grass and singing orioles. Along the Si River Bank, the tender grass was soft and fuzzy. Xia Chengxiu followed her cousin Xia Qianqian out of the carriage, where some familiar young ladies were already flying kites.
Seeing this, Xia Qianqian immediately had her maid bring out the prepared kite and headed toward her friends.
Xia Qianqian was eighteen this year, and among the group of young ladies, her appearance was particularly outstanding—exceptionally sweet and charming. She was well aware of her own beauty, dressed in a thin, crimson gauze embroidered narrow-collar gown that accentuated her graceful figure. In the crowd, she stood out at a glance.
Her family background was also the most distinguished among the young ladies present. In no time, she was surrounded by others, showered with flattery and praise.
At that time, Xia Chengxiu was still a sixteen-year-old girl, at best described as delicate and refined, let alone compared to her cousin Xia Qianqian. Lord Xia was often called a bookworm, and Xia Chengxiu was secretly nicknamed the little bookworm. She adhered strictly to etiquette, which made her appear somewhat dull and reticent among her peers or sisters, not particularly likable.
The relationship between Xia Qianqian and Xia Chengxiu was not particularly close; they were merely ordinary cousins. However, with Xia Chengxiu, the dull and uninteresting bookworm, by her side, Xia Qianqian appeared even more charming, lively, clever, and eloquent.
Xia Chengxiu herself didn’t mind. Seeing her cousin chatting animatedly with friends, she picked up a book and sat aside to read. Xia Qianqian paid her no mind either. After a while, everyone began setting up long mats along the Si River Bank, placing snacks and delicacies brought from their respective households. By noon, they would dine there.
Some time later, Xia Chengxiu overheard the young ladies beside her shift their conversation from discussing which family’s newly released rouge had the prettiest color to “Young Master Yan will be here today.”
“Young Master Yan” referred to Yan Nanguang, the young master of the current Left and Right Vanguard Battalion Commander’s household. He was only eighteen this year, said to be brave and skilled in battle, handsome and talented, with a promising future at such a young age. Xia Qianqian’s father intended to form a marriage alliance with the Yan family. Today’s outing was also an unspoken agreement with Lord and Lady Yan to see if the two young people might have a connection.
Xia Chengxiu had heard about this, but it was her cousin’s affair. She was merely here today as a prop to highlight her cousin, basking in the sun and reading her book.
Just as she was thinking this, someone beside her suddenly whispered, “They’re here!”
Xia Chengxiu looked up and saw a group of young men approaching from the distant willow-lined bank of the Si River. The youth at the forefront wore a silver robe—a color so striking it was almost garish. Yet, he was so handsome and tall that it didn’t seem odd at all. His hair was tied high in a ponytail, and his eyes and brows were filled with an unruly arrogance. He seemed somewhat impatient and irritable, yet this only made him stand out even more among the group of young men.Everyone in Shuojing City speaks of three beauties: the eldest son of the Xiao family, gentle as a spring breeze; the second son of the Xiao family, serene as autumn waters; and the fourth son of the Chu family, elegant as a secluded orchid. Yet this youth resembled a silver spear—somewhat exaggerated, excessively ornate, yet carrying a straightforward impulsiveness.
Handsome young men emerging in spring always seem particularly delightful. Even Xia Chengxiu, who usually showed little interest in such matters, couldn’t help but glance a few more times, thinking to herself that with such looks, this person could indeed be considered the fourth beauty.
Just as she was thinking this, a young lady sitting beside Xia Qianqian nudged her and whispered, “Qianqian, that’s Young Master Yan. He looks so well-matched with you!”
Xia Qianqian inexplicably blushed.
Before coming, she had heard of Yan He’s name but had never met him in person, unaware of what he looked like. Seeing him today, she realized he was so strikingly handsome. For a moment, her heart stirred.
The group of youths didn’t approach closely. From a distance, several young men laughed and joked, taking out their prepared kites to play in the east wind.
In the vast sky above the Si River, many kites soared—sand swallows, magpies, and two dragons playing with a pearl. The silver-robed youth, surrounded and jostled by others, finally took a “Black Vajra” kite handed to him with an impatient expression.
The “Black Vajra” flew swiftly. The youth was skilled at flying kites, and the young ladies watching from afar couldn’t help but silently applaud, though it was unclear whether they were cheering for the highest-flying kite or the youth flying it.
Xia Qianqian watched for a while, then suddenly stood up and said with a smile, “Let’s go fly ours too.”
Actually, the young ladies had already been flying kites for some time, but these wealthy young misses, delicate in physique, grew tired after a while and sat down to rest, leaving the task to their servants. Xia Qianqian stood up and walked over to the maid flying her “Hundred Butterflies” kite, saying, “Let me take over.”
The young ladies sitting by the long mat immediately burst into laughter. Someone whispered, “It seems Qianqian has taken a liking to him.”
Hearing this, Xia Chengxiu felt puzzled but didn’t speak up. She was never one to talk much. However, as she watched Xia Qianqian tugging the kite string and walking toward the riverbank, and saw the two kites in the sky drawing closer and closer, she hesitated whether to speak up. The next moment, she heard her cousin exclaim, “Oh no!” The strings of the “Hundred Butterflies” and the “Black Vajra” had tangled together, twisting and colliding into a mess before crashing toward the woods.
The noble young ladies beside her laughed even louder, accompanied by hushed discussions: “Qianqian is quite clever.”
Xia Qianqian still held the kite string reel in her hand, her expression a flustered panic, yet her eyes held a smug, secret delight.
She had complete confidence in her appearance. If she wanted to capture a young man’s heart, it shouldn’t be difficult. Today, her rouge was beautifully applied, and her dress was lovely. She glanced back at the silver-robed youth, who was frowning at the tangled kites, then turned and ran toward the woods where the kite had fallen.
At the same time, Xia Chengxiu, sitting nearby, put down her book and stood up.
A noble young lady beside her asked, “Miss Chengxiu, what are you doing?”
“My cousin’s kite fell. I’m going to help,” Xia Chengxiu replied."What kind of help are you even offering?" The noblewoman speaking covered her mouth with a laugh, looking at her as if she were a fool, yet with a hint of complex envy. "Qianqian doesn’t need your help right now."
Xia Chengxiu pursed her lips, still uneasy about leaving Xia Qianqian alone, so she lifted her skirt and hurried after her.
The noblewomen called out to her a few times, but seeing she paid no heed, they let it go.
The grove where the kite had fallen wasn’t far from the riverbank, but it was thick with shrubs. Girls walking through had to be careful not to let the thorny branches tear their skirts. Xia Chengxiu struggled to push aside the foliage and caught a glimpse of her cousin’s crimson dress not far ahead. Relieved, she was about to approach when she suddenly heard Xia Qianqian speak: "Young Master Yan."
Xia Chengxiu froze, only then noticing that Xia Qianqian was standing before someone—the very center of today’s matchmaking, Young Master Yan.
Xia Qianqian’s voice was gentle and sweet, tinged with a hint of fluster and apology. "Young Master Yan, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to."
Yan He merely frowned at her.
His gaze was bright and sharp, making Xia Qianqian inexplicably uneasy. She nervously clutched the hem of her dress. "Young Master Yan, the kites are all tangled now. What should we do?"
Xia Qianqian’s eyes held a shy charm, her voice honeyed. Xia Chengxiu finally realized, belatedly, that her cousin was likely trying to "seduce" this Young Master Yan. But it was too late for her to leave now. Afraid of startling the two, she was forced to watch the scene unfold, thinking to herself: Next, this Young Master Yan would probably say something like "It’s all right" or "It’s not your fault," then comfort her gently, escort Xia Qianqian home, and after that, the marriage arrangement would be settled. That’s how it should go, right?
"It’s all right." Just as she thought this, the young man’s voice came from ahead. Xia Chengxiu thought, Just as expected, and looked up to see Yan He suddenly flash a careless smile. In one swift motion, he drew a small knife from his waist and cleanly sliced through the tangled strings connecting the two kites.
Xia Chengxiu was dumbfounded.
She wasn’t the only one shocked. Xia Qianqian stared blankly for a moment before asking, "What are you doing?"
"Now they’re separated." Yan He sheathed his knife. "Don’t worry, I’m broad-minded. I won’t hold it against you that you deliberately ruined my kite."
Xia Qianqian had been pampered all her life and had never been spoken to like this. Shame washed over her, and she cried out tearfully, "Who deliberately ruined your kite?!" She slapped Yan He across the face, lifted her skirt, and ran off sobbing.
Xia Chengxiu was so startled she hardly dared to breathe, thinking to herself, This Young Master Yan is truly unexpected.
"Hey," an irritated voice rang out. "You over there, the one peeking. Have you seen enough?"
Xia Chengxiu froze. Had she been discovered?
The next moment, the person was already standing before her.
Xia Chengxiu instinctively took a step back.
Up close, this young man named Yan He was indeed quite handsome, though he always seemed to look down on others. Yan He, upon seeing Xia Chengxiu, also paused, frowning as he said, "It’s you."
Among the noblewomen at the banquet earlier, he had noticed Xia Chengxiu long ago. She neither chatted nor laughed with the others, nor did she fly kites. She simply sat beside Xia Qianqian, reading a book, like a piece of furniture.
"The one just now," he asked, "what is she to you?"
Xia Chengxiu replied, "My cousin."Yan He snorted in disgust and said, "How affected." He pushed Xia Chengxiu aside and strode forward.
Xia Chengxiu hadn't expected Yan He to suddenly shove her. As a delicate young lady who had never done any heavy lifting, and with Yan He being a trained martial artist, the push sent her stumbling back several steps. Unwittingly, her hand brushed against a thorny branch, instantly leaving a red scratch on the back of her hand.
The bright red mark stood out starkly against her fair skin. Yan He was also taken aback, not expecting these fragile young ladies to be so easily damaged—how could a mere touch cause injury? He felt a surge of irritation but couldn't simply ignore it. Stepping forward to examine her wound, he didn't anticipate Xia Chengxiu immediately retreating a step.
"You're hurt," Yan He said.
"I know," Xia Chengxiu replied calmly, as if the scratch on her hand was of little concern. Her tone was even. "But men and women should not touch each other."
Yan He was somewhat puzzled. The girl before him was far less radiant than Xia Qianqian. She wore a pale yellow dress, wore no makeup, and seemed too young to understand matters of romance. How could she already be talking about "men and women not touching"?
He said, "You're young, yet quite old-fashioned."
Xia Chengxiu merely turned sideways to avoid him. "I am broad-minded. I won't hold it against you, Young Master Yan, for deliberately pushing me."
Yan He was stunned.
After saying this, Xia Chengxiu turned and walked away. Yan He stroked his chin, realizing she was avenging her cousin. This was the first time a woman had ever spoken to him so sharply. She seemed gentle and refined, but clearly wasn't one to suffer losses in silence.
After Xia Chengxiu left the woods, the noble ladies at the long banquet had already dispersed in twos and threes. Likely because Xia Qianqian had been upset by Yan He, she had tearfully taken a carriage home, and Xia Chengxiu had to hurry after her. By the time Yan He emerged, the group of noble ladies had already boarded their respective carriages.
In the grass beside the earlier banquet area lay a book. Yan He remembered that only Xia Chengxiu had been sitting there reading when he arrived, so the book was probably hers, forgotten in her haste. He bent down to pick it up and flipped through it—it was a travelogue. There were also annotations in the margins, the handwriting exceptionally beautiful, elegant and flowing, reminding him of the girl in the woods who had subtly rebuked him.
Yan He curled his lip and muttered, "Bookworm." Yet, as if guided by some unseen force, he tucked the travelogue into his robe.
The meeting with Xia Qianqian naturally came to nothing. For a time, Xia Qianqian's parents even glared coldly at Commander Yan, who in turn berated Yan He fiercely. Yan He himself remained unfazed.
But this "matchmaking" had no further developments.
Time flew by, and another year passed. Xia Chengxiu turned seventeen, and Lord Xia began to consider arranging suitable matches for her among the promising young talents of Shuojing City.
When Yan He returned home, he overheard his mother discussing with his aunt about matching his cousin with Xia Chengxiu.
"Xia Chengxiu?" Yan He paused mid-step as he entered the room and turned to ask, "The daughter of the Imperial Academy Chancellor's household?"
"How do you know?" his mother asked in surprise. "Aren't you the one who never remembers these young ladies' names?"
Yan He didn't answer his mother's question, only frowned and asked, "Cousin is two years older than me, and Miss Xia is still young, isn't she? In terms of age, wouldn't I be more suitable?"Commander Yan scolded him: "Miss Xia comes from a scholarly family, well-educated and reasonable. Didn't you say you hated those who flaunt their literary talents the most? Weren't you the one who despised bookworms the most? If we arranged a match, would you even be willing?"
Yan He said nothing. Returning to his room, he stared blankly at the pond outside his window for half a day, then pulled out a book from the very bottom of his desk drawer.
It was a travelogue.
Late that night, when even the dogs in the Yan residence were asleep, Yan He threw on an outer robe and knocked on his parents' bedroom door.
"Yan Nanguang, you're scaring people to death in the middle of the night! What on earth do you want?" Commander Yan roared furiously.
Yan He said, "I'm willing."
After that began the long days of pursuit.
Yan He exhausted all his efforts to win the beauty's favor. Lord Xia was fierce and rigid, and Yan He felt somewhat afraid every time he saw him. Even more terrifying than Lord Xia was Xia Chengxiu. Though clearly a frail little bookworm with no strength to tie up a chicken, whenever she merely glanced at him with those calm eyes, Yan He would become utterly flustered.
Commander Yan berated him at home: "Usually you're as aggressive as a fighting cock, so why can't you even properly court a girl? Can't you think carefully about why she doesn't fancy you?"
Yan He couldn't figure it out. He thought he was quite good—handsome appearance, agile skills, decent family background, ranking among the top young talents in Shuojing City. If Xia Chengxiu hadn't taken a liking to him, it must be because that little bookworm simply didn't know how to appreciate men, blind to true worth. But he didn't dare say this to Xia Chengxiu's face.
Seeing her son troubled all day, Lady Yan felt both pleased and helpless, and could only subtly advise him: "Since you like her, treat her better. Show more care and consideration for the young lady. Miss Xia will eventually see your good qualities."
Yan He thought his mother made sense too. However, he didn't know how to treat someone well. The jewelry and fine silks he sent were all returned, and the love poems he wrote found their way back to his own servant the next day. Sometimes he would regret that perhaps he shouldn't have acted so crude and arrogant when he first met Xia Chengxiu. It would have been better than desperately trying to make up for it now, still feeling ineffective.
A favored son of heaven finally experienced the taste of love's anxiety, tossing and turning sleeplessly.
And no matter how he treated Xia Chengxiu, this young lady remained consistently lukewarm toward him from beginning to end. So when Commander Yan went to the Xia residence to propose marriage, Yan He initially went with an expectation of failure. But he was about to lead troops into battle, where life and death were uncertain on the battlefield. If he didn't propose, he feared he might never have another chance. Disappointment after trying was still better than disappointment without ever trying.
That's what he thought, but unexpectedly, Lord Xia actually agreed to the Yan family's marriage proposal.
He couldn't believe it.
This should have been a joyous matter, but when it came down to it, Yan He himself hesitated instead. If he were to die in battle, wouldn't Xia Chengxiu, as his betrothed, bear the stigma of being a husband-killer?
He walked out of the Xia residence with a heavy heart. Just as he was about to leave, someone called from behind him: "Young Master Yan."
Yan He turned around to see Xia Chengxiu standing behind him, quietly gazing at him.
"I—" Yan He was momentarily speechless.
"Young Master Yan." This quiet, reserved young lady smiled at him for the first time—gentle, graceful, like spring willows along the Si River Bank, filled with soft warmth."Come back early," she said.
He was taken aback for a moment, inexplicably blushing. Under the sunlight, he stared straight at the girl, until the maid beside Xia Chengxiu had already taken out a broom, ready to shoo him away. Only then did he clear his throat softly and whisper, "I will."
After walking a few steps, he turned back and added nonchalantly, "Wait for me."
(End of Chapter)
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