Love in Red Dust

The person on the other side must have been startled too. Before Dingyi could get a clear look, they hurriedly blocked the peephole in the wall.

She gasped in fright, clutching her chest as she tried to calm herself. Her mind raced like a windmill—had their whereabouts been discovered? Her father’s case had already implicated other officials in the court. Could it be Prince Zhuang’s men coming after them? Was that Red Belt from the other day one of their lackeys?

No, she had to warn Rujian. They couldn’t stay in Datong any longer; they needed to leave immediately. She lifted her skirt and ran back inside to pack, but halfway through, she paused. If it really were Prince Zhuang’s men, wouldn’t they have barged in to kill them already? Why bother with such roundabout tricks?

She steadied herself, but the more she thought, the more confused she became. It was a pity she hadn’t seen the person’s face clearly. What should she do now? Reporting to the authorities would be like walking into a trap, and Rujian wasn’t here—she had to rely on herself. She went to the kitchen, grabbed a cleaver, and hesitated before deciding against barging in. Instead, she propped a ladder against the wall, climbed up, and prepared to confront the person from above.

But there was no one at the base of the wall anymore—they must have fled out of guilt. Furious, she clung to the roof tiles and shouted at the two attendants standing below, “Call your master out here! Sneaking around in the dark, peeping through walls—does anyone care about this? If not, I’ll report it to the authorities! Get your master out here and come with me to the Datong magistrate’s office!”

Of course, this was just bluster—she was too afraid to actually go to the authorities. But she had to put on a fierce front. So she kept pounding the wall and yelling.

The two attendants didn’t dare make a sound, shaking their heads innocently. “Nothing like that happened. Who was peeping? Our master isn’t home—he’s out dining with friends.”

Still denying it? Enraged, she hurled two roof tiles into their courtyard. But if the other side refused to engage, it was like punching a sack of cotton—what could she do? Gritting her teeth, she climbed down, grabbed a shovel, mixed some mud with water, and used small bricks to seal the hole completely.

Just as she sat down after finishing, she heard a knock at the door—probably Rujian returning. She got up to lift the latch, eager to tell him what had happened. But when she opened the door, the person standing outside left her utterly stunned. That tall, straight posture, those calm eyes—it was unmistakably the person she had longed for all this time!

She was dazed, unable to distinguish reality from dreams. She had imagined their reunion countless times—just like this, opening the door to find him standing on the threshold, smiling at her.

The wind blew her hair, strands fluttering and obscuring her vision. Squinting hard, she murmured a prayer, just as the poem said: Afraid this meeting is but a dream. She didn’t dare step forward, only whispering, “Buddha, please don’t let me wake up yet… at least let me say a few words…”

She stood there foolishly, while he smiled, though his lips couldn’t hide the bitterness. “I thought it over and was afraid you’d tell Rujian, so I came to see you before he returned.” He stepped inside, pausing briefly before finally giving in—pulling her into a tight embrace. His hands traced every strand of her hair, every inch of her skin, like a man in the desert suddenly spotting an oasis. The longing he had suppressed for so long overwhelmed him in an instant. He held her fiercely, as if trying to press her into his very being. “Guess how I’ve lived these past nine months—like I died once already… Do you even have a heart? How could you be so cruel?”She still couldn't believe it was real until she actually touched him, only then realizing this truly wasn't a dream—the Twelfth Master had found her. Her entire body trembled uncontrollably. She wanted to cry out loud but barely restrained herself, burying her face in his shoulder as sobs wracked her frame.

A crescent moon hung overhead, casting swaying shadows. There were no lanterns here, only the faint candlelight seeping from the main house's window. The two clung to each other tightly, too reluctant to part even for a moment. But this wouldn't do—if Rujian returned and stumbled upon them, it might lead to an unfortunate confrontation.

Releasing him, she turned to bolt the door before leading him by hand into her room. Only now did embarrassment dawn on her. Her sudden departure without word had been utterly dishonorable, forcing him to search mountains and rivers for her. Now that he'd found her, she couldn't even face him properly. Scuffing her toes against the floor, she stole a timid glance at him. "How did you get here?"

Under the lamplight, her delicate features appeared heartbreakingly fragile. She seemed to be living well by her brother's side—he'd observed her daily life for several days and found no apparent hardships. This should have pleased him, yet somehow it didn't. Perhaps he was being petty, resenting that she'd found new support and might have forgotten him. After all his heartache, did she ever spare him a single thought?

"I came searching for my runaway wife," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder while struggling to steady his trembling voice. "Though she cares nothing for me, having found her, I still wish to take her home for a proper life together. These days have been unbearable—sleepless night after night. From Ningguta to Beijing, then Beijing to Shanxi... I've nearly exhausted myself to the point of collapse. Do you understand?"

His words lashed at her heart. Nodding through tears, she choked out, "I know... I'm so sorry. I never meant for this... Who says I don't care for you? Following Rujian across all these places, I've always felt adrift. My roots are in Beijing—with you. Only with you do I have a home. I long to return too, but what would become of Rujian? If forced to choose again... I'd still stay with my brother. You have everything except me, while Rujian is your opposite—he has nothing left but me. I can't abandon him just for my own happiness."

His heart ached with mingled joy and disappointment. Tilting his face upward to hide welling tears, he murmured, "You have your reasons, and I have my persistence. In moments of desperation, I resented your disappearance—vowed to forget you and cease searching. Yet tracking your whereabouts became daily habit... one I cannot break."

That finding her still brought him such pain made Dingyi feel utterly reprehensible. Why should she hesitate? Since heaven had brought him back to her, she couldn't let go again.

Rising on tiptoes to embrace his neck, she whispered, "We're fated to be entangled for life. Your coming here proves our bond remains unbroken."

Her face hovered so close—those round eyes, those full lips. Overcome, he caught her lower lip in a fleeting caress before murmuring, "We should thank your master. It was his suggestion that led me to Datong to find you."

As the saying goes, ginger grows spicier with age. Her master understood her well—her wandering life pained him most. He'd always wished her happiness. Advanced in years and wisdom, perhaps the master believed she belonged with the Twelfth Master, hence guiding him here.She felt a bit shy, as lovers often do, with these sweet little gestures between them. Thinking back to the day Ke Suiyun came, she was rather embarrassed. Her face flushed, but she liked it—lightly licking his neck, making him laugh because he was ticklish.

Just as they were playing around, there came another knock at the door. Flustered, she pushed him away. "Rujian is back. You should go—don’t let him see you. Anyway, you live nearby. We can talk tomorrow."

She smoothed her hair, took a few steps, then glanced back. He stood with his hands behind his back, bathed in a warm glow of light. She let out a long sigh of relief. As long as he was there, her heart was at peace.

The door opened, and Rujian was half-carried in by two attendants, one on each side. It seemed the business negotiations had gone well—he was quite drunk. Seeing her, he grinned and slurred his account of the day’s events. "Old Qu Six tried to outsmart me… what a joke! Couldn’t compete in business, so… tried to drown me in liquor. Come on, I can hold my drink! How about that… lost his wife and his army too. Serves him right…"

The stench of alcohol was overwhelming. She humored him like a child, saying, "Third Prince’s methods are unmatched—no one stands a chance against you. Aren’t you tired? It’s late now. Go rest early, and when you wake up tomorrow, you’ll have your silver weighed and ready, alright?" She quickly gestured to the attendants. "Take your master back to his room. He’s a mess, like a drunken cat."

The attendants obeyed and helped him to the main quarters. She had to check the courtyard, making sure everything was in order before returning to her room. Entering, she was surprised to see him still there, though secretly pleased. Glancing outside, worried he might be seen, she hurriedly closed the door and drew the curtains. The room fell silent as they sat facing each other, both feeling awkward.

She spoke first. "Since you knew I was here, why didn’t you come see me? Renting a room next door, going through all this trouble—was it fun?"

Hesitating, he replied, "Your father’s case isn’t resolved yet. I couldn’t face you, nor dare I ask for anything more. Just seeing you from afar was enough. If I hadn’t been exposed today, I’d still be avoiding you—afraid you’d run away again. I couldn’t bear that a second time. I’ve been working on the case, meant to wait until the main culprits were punished before seeing you, but I couldn’t wait. This constant longing was unbearable. Honestly, handling the case and being with you don’t have to conflict."

Was this still the noble and upright Twelfth Master? Thinking of what he’d done, she found it laughable. "You didn’t have to drill a hole in the wall, though. That’s like taking your wages before doing the work—quite the businessman, aren’t you?"

He half-closed his eyes, seemingly embarrassed, his face and even his neck turning red. Softly, he said, "The wages were already taken in Suifenhe. This now… isn’t much in comparison."

She knew he was referring to the day before his departure. The memory was too embarrassing. She had only wanted to leave something to remember him by, prepared never to meet again. Yet he had found her in just nine months.He noticed her unease and hesitated before saying, "What worries me isn't just that. Several times I've dreamed of you pregnant, running around with a big belly. I'd wake up frantic, then start calculating—if it were true, you'd be due by now..." He looked up as he spoke, but seeing her flustered embarrassment, he reluctantly trailed off.

Blushing, she twisted her sash and murmured with a quiet laugh, "Thinking back now... it wasn't proper. But I don't regret it. After we parted at Suifen River, I'd already decided never to marry anyone else. If I really had been with child, it would've been good—even without you, I'd have had company."

Stealing a child from him to raise alone, leaving him behind—what would that make him? Unwilling to accept this, he shifted closer to her side. "Raising a child is fine, but not behind my back. How would he feel, having only a mother and no father? My son must be legitimate. That's why after returning to the capital, I went to the palace and reported our relationship."

She stared at him in shock. "You really told them?"

He nodded. "This year's selection kept twenty court ladies for arranged marriages. If I hadn't acted first, once an imperial decree was issued, no one could have reversed it. Better to confess myself and let them know." He smiled. "I praised you to the skies. The Emperor softened somewhat—he originally intended to summon you to court regardless of your background, to facilitate a future marriage arrangement. But then you vanished without a trace, and when the Emperor learned of it, his fury was boundless—"

"Did he punish you?" she asked urgently. "You're too honest-hearted! My departure was indefinite—even if they'd granted me a Princess Consort's title, I couldn't have accepted it. But you, angering them like this—what if they mistreat you later? How could I rest easy?"

Seeing her distress, he quickly reassured her. "Don't worry. The Empress knows about us. With her there, no marriage edict can be issued. Our priority now is to resolve this case quickly—it'll bring peace to your parents' spirits, and our relationship can be openly acknowledged."

This was good news, but far from simple. Right now, she didn't want to discuss anything else. They'd just reunited—when would national grievances and personal vendettas ever end? Nestling into his embrace, she looked up and said, "You've suffered. The case is hard to investigate after over a decade—so much has changed. Don't push yourself too hard. Knowing you care this much is enough for me."

After some intimate murmurs, since they were already sitting on the heated brick bed, she kicked off her shoes and settled comfortably with her head in his lap. He gazed at her fondly as her jet-black hair cascaded like water around them. Twirling a lock around his finger, he said leisurely, "I've already sent men south. We can still track down some officials from the old salt administration. Even if the bureaucracy yields nothing, the salt merchants will talk when tempted by benefits. I used to be uncompromising, but now it's time to adapt—this is our family's case, after all. Some unorthodox methods are justified. Officialdom is dark—being too upright just creates deadlock. Maybe if we stir things up thoroughly, make everyone uneasy, then produce a scapegoat... the case might break open."He spoke of his own family's case, and these words touched her heart more than any grand vows ever could. She had suffered in the past, with no one to rely on. If only she had someone like him back then, she wouldn’t have fallen to such a state! But it wasn’t too late—he had come to her now, in the prime of her youth, standing by her side. What did she have to fear anymore?

She spread her arms and called to him sweetly, "Hongce..."

He hummed in response, bending down to kiss her crimson lips. "I’ll stay in the courtyard next door for now, keeping small visits hidden from Rujian. It’s not that I fear him, but I want to spare his feelings. He’s your only brother, and what matters to you matters to me. Once the case is resolved and he lets go of his grudge against the Yuwen family, entrusting you to me, my mission will be complete."

Whatever he said, she would accept. Like a pampered cat, she basked in his affection, her eyes half-lidded with drowsiness. Watching her, he truly found her a marvel—fierce enough to climb walls with a blade, yet so soft she seemed to melt at his touch.

He still remembered how he felt the day he learned of her whereabouts. It was as if all the most extreme emotions of his twenty-four years had been poured into a leaden bucket, churned violently with a pestle until everything shattered. All that remained was an inexpressible ache in his chest... But that was in the past now. Everything had returned to its rightful place, and a treasure once lost and found again was all the more precious. He cradled her in his hands, even fearing that a breath too strong might blow her away, so he treaded carefully, not daring to be reckless.

Yet, in the end, he couldn’t resist. He pinched her earlobe and whispered, "I won’t leave tonight, alright?"

She didn’t open her eyes, but her cheeks slowly flushed. With an ambiguous murmur of "As you wish," she twisted away, curling up against the inner side of the kang.