Chapter 80: Reunion
Zhong Yao took advantage of the night to bring Gao Yunqu back to her own residence, avoiding prying eyes. A'lan had brought her Fang Jian's decision, and she knew she had to prepare. Gao Yunqu was of the utmost importance and could not be compromised; keeping her by her side was the best choice. Gao Yunqu was finally able to leave that old house. The night was dark and heavy. They hugged the walls, skirting the patrols, and only after entering the house and closing the door did Zhong Yao finally breathe a sigh of relief.
She invited Gao Yunqu to sit and poured her a cup of tea. The little girl in the inner room, hearing the noise, walked out sleepily to find her mother, but stopped short in surprise upon seeing a stranger. Zhong Yao picked her up, cooed softly, and carried her back to the inner room, coaxing her back to sleep before coming out again.
Gao Yunqu held the teacup and looked at her. "Is that your daughter?"
"Yes." Zhong Yao nodded lightly and poured herself a cup of tea as well. The two of them sat opposite each other across the square table, keeping watch over the bean-sized flame of the lamp. "I don't know what the situation will be then. I must trouble you, my lord, to look after my daughter for me."
"Alright." Gao Yunqu nodded. Recalling some of the things Zhong Yao had said before, she asked, "It seems you also have an eldest son?"
Zhong Yao let out a sigh. "A boy, once grown, trusts his father more."
Gao Yunqu started to speak but stopped, just looking at her. But Zhong Yao understood her unspoken words—have you thought about how you will treat that child? She raised her eyes to meet Gao Yunqu's scrutinizing gaze, unflinching and resolute. "Fate played a trick on me once, but I want to let fate choose for me again. If he chooses me, then he is still my son, and I will certainly protect him. But if he chooses his father, then I can only choose myself. Do you think I'm selfish, my lord?"
Gao Yunqu was silent for a moment before speaking slowly. "No. You are the only one qualified to choose your path. Others have no right to interfere."
Zhong Yao laughed softly. From the age of twenty to thirty-three, she had endured for thirteen years, playing the part of a simple yet feisty village woman for thirteen years. The unspoken suffering of those thirteen years melted away in this determined laugh. She didn't actually need anyone else's approval. Her path was difficult, but she had walked it to this day with her head held high, never once bowing to fate. Tomorrow and in the days to come, she would continue to walk with her spine straight. No one could hold her back. No one.
Fate had always loved to play tricks on people, but Fang Jian always felt she ought to be one of fate's favorites. Her life had always been a series of seemingly insurmountable obstacles, only to find a new path forward when all hope seemed lost.
The mountain forest was silent at night. The sound of leaves crunching underfoot was startlingly loud, making one's heart pound with every step. The soldiers had entered the mountains in batches during the day, leaving a group behind in the camp to feign activity, with cooking fires lit as usual to blur the lines between truth and deception. Fang Jian, following Wei Licheng, was in the last group to ascend the mountain that night. Wei Licheng was in her thirties and had spent over a decade on the southwestern border, fighting countless battles, large and small. She specialized in mountain warfare. Though the mountains of Chuzhou were treacherous, how could the Chuzhou troops compare to the cunning southern barbarians on the Quzhou border? Even with a direct assault, she was extremely confident of her success.
By the time they reached their designated position, it was already dawn. Xie Min and Cheng Zhaoyang should have already begun their operation. Wei Licheng hid with Fang Jian and, seeing her nervousness, smiled. "This must be Lord Fang's first time participating in military affairs?"
"Yes." Although Fang Jian held a post in the Ministry of War, she was a civil official at heart. "The general's command of her troops is exemplary, her orders are strictly followed. I am filled with the utmost admiration."
Wei Licheng waved her hand; she had heard plenty of compliments. She was more curious about Fang Jian. "Why isn't Lord Fang waiting in the camp? Why risk the danger?"
"Planning on the battlefield is the general's duty, but planning for Chuzhou's future is our duty. I must rendezvous with Lord Gao as soon as possible to know what to do next," Fang Jian replied. That was the official reason. Privately, she just wanted to see Gao Yunqu as soon as possible.
"General, the flag has been changed! They've succeeded inside!"
The two exchanged a look, their hearts filled with joy. Wei Licheng stepped out from her hiding place and shouted to her soldiers, "Form up! Attack!"
The stronghold gate opened slowly. Fang Jian followed behind Wei Licheng, charging into the Wazhai Stronghold with the army. The sky was gradually whitening, and the silence of the mountain village was shattered by the invading soldiers. Wei Licheng had her own arrangements for taking the stronghold. Fang Jian joined up with Xie Min and asked urgently, "Where is Lord Gao?"
"A'lan said she is with the stronghold master's wife, likely at the highest point."
"Good, let's go!"
Gao Yunqu stood at the door of the residence, holding A'chu's hand and watching the dust and smoke billow within the stronghold.
A'chu looked up at her. "What's happening? Where did Mother go?"
Gao Yunqu looked down into her eyes and said earnestly, "It's alright. Mother is busy. She'll be here soon." This was a battle coordinated from within and without. Wei Licheng was the commander on the outside, while Zhong Yao was the commander on the inside. Her people had guided Xie Min in, showed them the way to open the various gates, and once the main army entered, they had to coordinate with Wei Licheng to seize control of the stronghold as quickly as possible. Zhong Yao also had many things to attend to.
Someone came galloping on horseback from the distance. Gao Yunqu looked toward the path. In the light of the rising sun, her young woman galloped toward her, as if crossing a thousand mountains and ten thousand waters.
"My lord!" Fang Jian arrived, almost tumbling from her horse. Her feet hit the ground and she staggered a few steps before finding her balance. The wild joy of recovering what was lost nearly burst from her body. She ran happily toward Gao Yunqu, but as she drew near, she remembered something and hesitantly stopped, standing before Gao Yunqu. They were not too close, separated by a distance of about two people, gazing at each other. Fang Jian dared not approach. Their last meeting had not been pleasant, and she was anxious. She feared Gao Yunqu's cold expression, and she feared that Gao Yunqu was utterly disappointed in her. So she stood not far away, greedily drinking in the sight of Gao Yunqu. In her dreams, she hadn't even been able to see Gao Yunqu one last time, but now, Gao Yunqu was alive and real. This is wonderful, truly wonderful. Fang Jian was on the verge of tears, but she remembered where she was, with Xie Min and the soldiers behind her. She raised her hands and bowed to Gao Yunqu. "Lord Gao, it is good that you are safe and sound."
Gao Yunqu was equally unsure how to treat Fang Jian. She had been furious at Fang Jian's extreme actions. When she left the capital, her only thought was to give Fang Jian a good beating upon her return. But every day she was held captive, she thought of Fang Jian ceaselessly. She still hadn't decided how to treat Fang Jian, and for a moment, she was overcome with a hundred different emotions. So she followed Fang Jian's lead and turned to official business. "How many people did you bring?"
Fang Jian briefly explained the situation. Gao Yunqu gently kneaded A'chu's soft palm, pondered for a moment, and said decisively, "Send someone to General Wei. Tell her to take the stronghold as quickly as possible and lock down all information. A'yuan's people will cooperate with her. Once things are settled on her end, have her come here to discuss matters. These are urgent times; we can't wait for orders from the capital."
"Yes, my lord!"
Fang Jian ordered two soldiers to deliver the message, while the rest set up a defensive perimeter around the main residence. She herself followed Gao Yunqu into the house.
"Mother!" A'chu had sharp eyes. The moment she entered, she saw Zhong Yao coming out from an inner room. Everyone's gaze followed hers to Zhong Yao.
"A'yao?" Before Gao Yunqu could make an introduction, the first to react was Xie Min. She called out the long-unheard name, her voice trembling. The warrior who had braved mountains of blades and seas of fire choked up, her eyes reddening, her entire body shaking.
Zhong Yao had never imagined she would see Xie Min in this place, at this time. The sounds of their childhood laughter still echoed in her ears. Reunited now, neither of them was young anymore. The suddenness of it all filled her with a sense of fear. She instinctively took a few steps back, then turned and fled without hesitation, disappearing around the house in a few strides. She needed some time to figure out how to face her past self.
Before Fang Jian could react, Xie Min vanished from her side like the wind. She looked at Gao Yunqu, at a loss. Gao Yunqu chuckled, then squatted down to pick up the bewildered A'chu and gestured for Fang Jian to follow her inside. "It seems to be a reunion of old friends. Fortunately, we have some time. Come in and sit for a while."
"A'yao! Is that you?" Xie Min was a martial artist, after all. She broke into a sprint and caught up to Zhong Yao in a few strides. Zhong Yao didn't answer. Without a second thought, Xie Min leaped forward, tackling Zhong Yao to the ground.
Zhong Yao cried out in pain as she was pinned beneath her, landing hard on the ground. She grimaced, then cursed, "Xie A'min! Get off of me!"
"No! If I let go, you'll disappear!" Xie Min buried her face in Zhong Yao's neck, not letting go but hugging her even tighter. "It's all my fault for not holding on to you tightly enough…"
Her voice was choked with sobs, and warm drops of water fell into the hollow of Zhong Yao's neck. Zhong Yao's eyes reddened as well. She reached out and hugged Xie Min back, stroking the back of her neck. "You're thirty-three. Why do you still cry like a child?"
"Only you can make me cry," Xie Min replied, her voice muffled. "I didn't even cry when I broke my leg on the battlefield."
"I'm sorry." Zhong Yao lay on the ground, looking up at the open sky as she spoke to her long-lost friend. Once upon a time, she had imagined reuniting with her parents and friends, but as more and more time passed, she stopped thinking about it. She was no longer the person she once was. Were they still the same people? Zhong Yao didn't dare to think, didn't want to think. But Xie Min's actions told her, I never forgot you for a single day. No matter what you've become, I can recognize you and hold on to you.
Xie Min lifted her head from the embrace, propped herself up, and looked down at her, a hint of anger in her reddened eyes. "What are you talking about? You did nothing wrong. I should be thanking you. Thank you for being alive, thank you for not giving up. To be able to see you again… it's so good, so very good…"
This time, the tears fell onto Zhong Yao's cheeks, mixing with her own as they rolled down. Zhong Yao embraced Xie Min. The traveler who had walked a solitary path for thirteen years had finally found her way home.
The sky was fully bright.
Get instant access to all chapters now.
Post a Comment