"The Xue Family’s trade routes stretch across various countries. I hope, Shuangtao, you can take this item beyond the pass and deliver it to General Yue and Yue. This medicine can relieve General Yue’s poison, enabling him to regain his peak within three years, or even surpass it."
Xue Shuangtao clutched her stomach, which hurt from laughter, wiping away tears of joy from the corners of her eyes, and said, "Alright, alright, I get it!"
"It’s just that, entrusting such a big matter to this girl, you really have a big heart."
"Aren’t you entrusting me with General Yue’s life?"
Li Guanyi replied, "I trust you."
Xue Shuangtao smiled, with both hands clasped behind her back, saying, "Really?"
This was the relationship she hoped for; that young man was venturing into this chaotic world, moving forward in these tumultuous times. Yet, he held enough trust in her to entrust her with such matters.
This heroic era was destined to be blood-soaked.
In the Western Regions, the Regent King slaughtered cities, while famous generals from Chen Country and Ying Country were building cemetery mounds. In such times, how could Li Guanyi indulge in those trivial pursuits with her?
The world was vast, yet he and she were not among those absorbed in love and poetic musings during times of shared sorrow and turmoil, among the rise of heroes and the suffering of the people!
It was just at this moment, Li Guanyi took out a cloth package from his embrace and said, "This is a gift."
Xue Shuangtao blinked as Li Guanyi opened the cloth package, revealing two hairpins. One was a jade hairpin, warm and serene, a centuries-old antique, while the other was a new wooden hairpin made by Li Guanyi himself.
"This one was given to me by General Qin Yulong. It was passed down to you from your great-aunt, the Xue Family’s heirloom jade hairpin, traditionally passed to the eldest daughter; this one, I made myself."
Li Guanyi was somewhat embarrassed, saying, "When you pretended to be that lady from Changfeng Building, didn’t you say you wanted a brand new hairpin?"
"During this period, that’s what I’ve been making."
Xue Shuangtao looked at the two hairpins with a smile, contemplating for a moment.
The young girl reached into her hair, pulling out the gold hairpin, causing her black hair to cascade like clouds. The seventeen-year-old girl, with a smile on her face, her hair dark as ink, said, "Here, if you want me to do something for you, you have to pay me."
"How about Sir helps me with my hair?"
Li Guanyi hesitated, picking up the jade hairpin, only to have it snatched away by Xue Shuangtao.
Xue Shuangtao placed the wooden hairpin in Li Guanyi’s hand, saying, "I want this one."
Li Guanyi responded with a hum, as the girl turned her back, offering only her black hair. Li Guanyi reached out, his fingers brushed Xue Shuangtao’s hair, smooth as satin, as he styled it for her. A faint blush appeared on Xue Shuangtao’s cheeks.
Her fingers unknowingly twisted the hem of her garment.
Feeling somewhat awkward in the atmosphere, she finally couldn’t help but say, "You, you should say something."
Li Guanyi asked, "What should I say?"
Xue Shuangtao seemed amused and said, "Great Minister, just reciting a poem for me would be nice." Li Guanyi’s fingers touched Xue Shuangtao’s black hair, as the light fragrance from the girl wafted to his nose.
The autumn days brought long winds, people came and went, laughter and voices carried far, yet somehow gave rise to a tranquil feeling. The young girl sat on a rock, her legs lightly swinging together. Li Guanyi softly said, "One wish is for the world to be at peace, the second wish is for strength and health."
Chen Chengbi’s mouth twitched, wanting to press this young man’s head into the ground. Yet when he saw Li Guanyi finish styling Xue Shuangtao’s hair, with the hairpin carved by Li Guanyi himself securing her long black hair, he said:
"The third wish is to grow old, always with you in sight."
I hope for peace in the world, and for health and strength.
I wish that when the time comes to age, I can still see you every day.
Xue Shuangtao became quiet, sensing the underlying emotions, with a faint red ear, suddenly springing up, turning around to press Li Guanyi’s shoulders, stammering, "Alright!"
Li Guanyi blinked, being pressed down to sit by the girl, before his hair crown was removed by Xue Shuangtao, causing his own black hair to fall behind him as well. Xue Shuangtao said, "It’s just a give and take!"
She took out the Xue Family’s inherited heirloom from her clothes.
Then she styled Li Guanyi’s hair, her fingers brushing against his black hair, feeling very calm. Suddenly, she laughed and said, "I also have a poem."
Xue Shuangtao’s voice was clear and softly said:
"One wish is for you to live a thousand years, the second wish is for my body to stay healthy."
She used the Xue Family heirloom to style Li Guanyi’s hair and then said:
"The third wish is to be like swallows under the beam, year after year, to meet."
I hope you live long, and I hope my body remains healthy.
I hope we can meet every day.
Singing and responding, Li Guanyi stood up, looked at the girl with her hair styled with the wooden hairpin, and Xue Shuangtao pushed his shoulder, saying, "Alright, now go, go towards your world!"
Xue Shuangtao lowered her head, still smiling to herself, softly saying:
"I’m in Guan Yi City, waiting for your mighty army to come find me."
"I will be waiting for you; if you don’t come, I’ll wait till my hair turns gray, wrinkles on my face, and the swallows no longer circle before the hall."
Marquis Qin Wu eventually bid farewell to this girl from the Xue Family. He deeply looked at Xue Shuangtao, gripping her hand, before turning away. Yet amidst the turbulent world, amidst the sea of blood and suffering of the common folk, one cannot ignore those like you and me; however, it’s fortunate to be like you and me.
The wind rustled the ginkgo leaves, the sound of falling leaves soft and subtle, as if one could still hear the harmonious recitation of poems from the young couple, echoing endlessly.
One wish for the world to be at peace, two wishes for strength and health.
One wish for you to live a thousand years, two wishes for my health to remain.
The third wish is to grow old, always meeting you.
The third wish is to be like swallows under the beam, year after year, to meet.
Marquis Qin Wu, Li Guanyi, arrived at the Central State’s imperial dock, and the next day when the Qilin Army was about to set out, they heard chaotic sounds. The Qilin Army members walked out, stunned and incredulous—
Citizens surged forward, bringing their wives and children.
The world had changed dramatically, famous generals made their marks, either by slaughtering cities to establish power or by building graves to gain fame. Blood flowed profusely, the citizens were like straw dogs, and the heroes gained fame. On that day, Marquis Qin Wu, Li Guanyi, with the Mo Family Mechanism Ship, went down the river, ferrying the people across, not abandoning anyone.
Upon hearing the news, people from both banks along the way came forth.
The great momentum had formed.