The Third Scholar of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 40

After the crystal-clear tide recedes, it flows down to the south of the Yangtze River.

As evening fell, the group arrived at a small town outside Anxi City and rested at a small inn called Ping'an. Li Yuxuan changed back into men's clothing and took the antidote. That evening, Li Xinyun taught her some incantations for controlling and cultivating internal energy. When Li Yuxuan asked about Xiaolei, Li Xinyun said she didn't know either. Xiaolei was a Han Chinese woman she had rescued while hunting on the grasslands a year ago. Seeing that she was clever and had nowhere to go, she took her in.

"Xiaolei's voice is delicate and soft, somewhat like the accent of the Wu and Yue regions in the Central Plains. Haven't you asked about her background?"

“I asked her, and she only said that her whole family was killed by bandits, and she barely escaped. She wouldn’t say anything else.” Li Xinyun finished speaking and looked at her strangely: “Why did you ask her?”

Li Yuxuan touched her nose: "I was just curious because her Chinese is so good, so I was just asking." Why was she looking at her and Xiao Feng like that? Did she know them?

That night, Li Xinyun asked to sleep with her. Li Yuxuan, who was used to sleeping alone, had to give her half of the bed. Unexpectedly, Li Xinyun was just like a little girl. After falling asleep, she used her hands and feet to shoo her to the edge of the bed. Finally, she put her feet on Li Xinyun's stomach before she stopped making a fuss.

There was no brazier in the small inn, and the air was so cold it felt like it would freeze everything. Li Yuxuan was wide awake from Li Xinyun's antics, her mind filled with memories of her passing the imperial examination, her time with Xu Qingzhi, and her time with Prince Xin. Memories are always warm. At first, her heart was with Su Shi, but later Xu Qingzhi attracted her attention with his equally dashing charm. Prince Xin, when did he begin to enter her heart?

She didn't like him at first. She thought it was incredible and unacceptable for a man to have a missing arm. But as they spent more time together, she began to doubt his feelings about his missing arm. Such a strong man, or rather, everything that Prince Xin did in front of her, didn't seem like someone who would pick flowers and admire chrysanthemums.

And then there's Zhan Zhao, the legendary hero who appeared out of nowhere in her mind, so wise and magnanimous, so iron-willed yet tender-hearted. They all existed in her life in an undeniable way, like a spring breeze blowing through her life. In the near future, or perhaps tomorrow, they too will be blown away from her life like the wind, leaving her all alone.

She suddenly lacked the courage to face tomorrow, the courage to face the end of everything, and the courage to imagine them all leaving her life.

The north wind blew sharply outside the window, and Li Yuxuan felt desolate and empty, not knowing how to cope. All the way, she had been deliberately cold to Xu Qingzhi and Zhan Zhao. They seemed to have lost their previous closeness to her and were also deliberately distancing themselves from her. Yes, her current status was as awkward as that of an ugly duckling in a flock of swans. She could offer nothing but shame and disaster to those who approached her.

Rather than making others feel awkward, it's better to just disappear.

When this thought came to her, Li Yuxuan was startled. But once it came to her, it occupied her entire mind. She began to regret that she had clung to that little bit of hope and warmth and had not left with Xiao Feng.

With that thought in mind, she couldn't fall back asleep, so she got dressed and sat up.

Leave, leave, leave this place. Where should she go? How could she leave? She swallowed hard. How could she bring herself to leave these people who were closest to her, who were like family to her?

She glanced at Li Xinyun, who was fast asleep.

She opened the door, and a howling north wind rushed in, making her shiver. She quickly closed the door. If she went out like this, she'd probably freeze to death.

She was afraid of being abandoned by them all, and she was afraid of dying. Let's see how things go tomorrow during the day.

Li Yuxuan climbed back into bed and saw Li Xinyun looking at her with her eyes open. She smiled guiltily and asked, "Why are you awake?"

Li Xinyun chuckled: "I'm keeping an eye on you, afraid you'll run away."

...

The next day, they continued their journey. With Li Xinyun's words from the previous night in mind, Li Yuxuan dared not easily decide to slip away. Torn between moving forward or retreating, she drew ever closer to Qingzhou.

She became increasingly hesitant.

A palace maid from Lingjiu Palace came to report that Xuzhu and Prince Xin were waiting for their arrival at the post station in Qingzhou.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that Prince Xin was safe and sound.

Riding at breakneck speed, they saw the city gates of Qingzhou in the afternoon. Li Yuxuan could no longer sit still in the carriage. He knew that slipping away under the watchful eyes of everyone was impossible at this point, and his heart ached as if it were being squeezed by a cat. He watched helplessly as the carriage drove through the city gates, past the Qingzhou government office, and headed towards the post station.

Upon arriving at the post station, Xu Zhu and Prince Xin, who had received a prior notice from their subordinates, were waiting for them outside. Upon seeing Xu Zhu, Li Xinyun was the first to jump out of the carriage and into his arms. Xu Qingzhi parked the carriage, and Xiao Lei helped Zhan Zhao down. Li Yuxuan huddled inside, hesitating about how to get out, how to avoid getting hurt further, and how to appear calm and indifferent.

"Where is Lord Li?" It was Prince Xin's voice, loud and clear, not like someone who had been mistreated.

"I'm feeling awkward in the car!" It was Li Xinyun's chuckle.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Prince Xin's smiling face appeared before him: "Lord Li, shall I carry you down?"

Li Yuxuan glared at him, patted his clothes, and stood up: "Are we there already? I was lost in thought and forgot the time. I'm sorry to have kept Your Highness waiting."

Prince Xin smiled, ignoring her awkwardness, and reached out to pull her down from the carriage: "Yes, I've been waiting for you so long that my hair has turned white, and you still refuse to see me."

Li Yuxuan shook off his hand and forced a smile: "Your Highness still loves to tease me."

The messenger came out to greet them, saying that the prince's instructions had been fulfilled and invited them to the backyard for tea and refreshments.

Prince Xin flicked his sleeve and once again took Li Yuxuan's hand in an irresistible manner: "Let's go!"

Once they had all reached the front, Li Yuxuan sighed, "Your Highness, times have changed. Please spare me."

"What is today? What was yesterday?" Prince Xin suddenly pulled her hand and walked into the post station. Instead of going to the backyard, he went straight into the guest room. As soon as he entered the room, he hugged her tightly, as if he wanted to meld her into his body. He rested his chin on her hairline and said softly, "I'm sorry you suffered while I was away."

Li Yuxuan twitched his nose: "Thank goodness, I'm not going to die."

"You!" Prince Xin flicked her head with his free hand: "Did you miss me?"

Li Yuxuan never expected that Prince Xin would not care about her status at all, and would still be so self-righteous and passionate. The little bit of pretense of strength and arrogance in her heart instantly turned into a pool of spring water, and she burst into tears in Prince Xin's arms.

Prince Xin embraced her with one arm and gently wiped away her tears with the other: "I know everything. It's not a big deal. It's just an identity. It's not the person who's changed. It's the person who's changed that's scary, isn't it? Okay, stop crying. I'm here. It's not a big deal!"

"Aren't you afraid that my identity will implicate you?" This is a knot in my heart.

"As long as you're willing to be with me, I'm willing to be dragged down by you."

"This is no joke."

"I'm not joking."

"The Song Dynasty court will not allow you to be with a Khitan woman."

"I'll wander the world with you."

"You will lose everything you have now."

"I have never truly possessed anything. What I truly wish to possess is something that can warm my life, which is you and your heart."

"You will regret it." A man who gives up his career for a woman will eventually regret it, let alone Prince Xin, who gave up not only his career, but also his family, country, and the world.

"Don't you believe me?" Prince Xin cupped her face in his hands, his deep eyes captivating her. He slowly pressed his lips to her face, finally covering her lips with his own. His warmth mingled with her coldness, along with the salty tears at the corners of her mouth.

Li Yuxuan closed her eyes, reached out and grabbed his neck, responding to his passion for the first time, like a drowning person grasping at a straw.

Feeling her response, Prince Xin explored and bit her even more excitedly. Li Yuxuan stuck her whole body to Prince Xin until they were both out of breath.

Prince Xin sat down, holding Li Yuxuan as she straddled his lap. Li Yuxuan put her fingers in her mouth… One was in the throes of passion, having endured months of pent-up desire, while the other was deeply disillusioned, desperately hoping for a miracle. Like dry tinder and raging fire, the mature man and woman engaged in a fierce battle, a battle so intense it shook the earth, leaving them routed and a deluge of rain. They lamented the fleeting nature of this spring night, hoping to be together again in the next life. Due to censorship, the rest of the story is replaced with this poem; you can use your imagination. Springtime desires vie with flowers, every inch of skin yearning for embrace. The bright moon, pitying the flowers, casts its empty shadow, the glistening tide recedes, flowing south.

Spring rain in Jiangnan is most poignant for those who yearn for love.

Even the harsh winter of this northern land has turned into a vibrant spring. Long-bound bodies, freed from their shackles, bloom like azaleas covering the mountains and fields, beautiful yet not vying for spring's favor, simply announcing its arrival. When the mountain flowers are in full bloom, it smiles amidst the blossoms.

Prince Xin affectionately pecked Li Yuxuan's forehead and helped her fasten her belt: "Are we going out now?"

Li Yuxuan nodded, avoiding his gaze: "They're waiting outside."

Prince Xin chuckled and pulled her back into his arms: "They won't wait. They still have that much sense. I just want to stay in this room with you forever, until the end of time, and not go anywhere else."

"Forget it!" Li Yuxuan placed his hands on his chest. "You have so many concubines in your Bianliang palace. What am I to you? I'm just a toy for you to pass the time when you're lonely and bored. Once we get back to Bianliang, will you even care about me?"

Prince Xin looked into her eyes with a hurt expression: "Are you jealous? Do you think I'm that kind of person? I've made up my mind. I'll never go back to that palace. I'll stay here and protect you."

Li Yuxuan smiled noncommittally, "What happened today is my own responsibility. You don't need to take any responsibility, and I won't get involved with you. Don't worry."

"Li Yuxuan!" he gritted his teeth. "You have no conscience! I strongly demand that you take responsibility for me."

Li Yuxuan waved his sleeves and opened the door, taking a long breath of fresh air: "I'll just wave my sleeves and leave without taking a single prince with me. Your Highness, please leave. If you're not going out, I'll leave on my own."

Someone continued to grit their teeth and hug her waist: "I'll make sure you have no clothes to wear and no sleeves to wave."

Although Li Yuxuan was thick-skinned, these words still made her blush, and her eyes darkened. After the passion subsided, all that remained was sadness and sorrow.

God will forgive her for her indulgence, won't He?

Upon reaching the backyard, Xu Zhu and the others were listening to Li Xinyun recount the events that had transpired at the First Manor. Seeing Prince Xin carrying Li Yuxuan inside, Xu Qingzhi turned his face away, and Zhan Zhao's smile appeared somewhat forced.

When the courier serving nearby saw Prince Xin swaggering in with Li Yuxuan, who was dressed as a man, his mouth stretched to his ears: "This humble servant greets Your Highness."

Prince Xin ignored his presence and walked straight to Zhan Zhao's side: "Guard Zhan, how badly are you injured? Are you alright?"

Zhan Zhao smiled bitterly: "I wouldn't have died originally, but with Palace Master Xuzhu around, I'm even less likely to die."

"Hehe." Xu Zhu rubbed his head: "Brother Zhan is in good health, so of course he's fine. I only have a little knowledge of medicine, nothing special."

Li Xinyun snatched Li Yuxuan from Prince Xin's arms and sat him down beside him, telling the courier standing nearby to get as far away as possible: "You brat, I know you don't want to go back to the Central Plains now, what are you going to do?"

"What should we do?" Li Yuxuan sighed blankly. "I don't know what to do either. How about I go back to Lingjiu Palace with you? I really have nowhere else to go."

“You will come back to the Central Plains with us!” Prince Xin’s voice was resolute. “However, you will need to assume a different identity. I will write a memorial to the Emperor, saying that the third-ranked scholar Li Yuxuan was killed by bandits while escorting the annual silver, and that you are an orphan girl we rescued on our way home.”

"Won't this work?" Zhan Zhao frowned. "You can only hide it for a while, not forever. If it gets exposed, you and she will both be executed. It's better to cut the Gordian knot now and do what she said: let her stay in Lingjiu Palace. If you truly love her, you can go back to the capital and find a way to give up your high position and wealth to come find her. If you can't let go of your empire, taking her back won't help; it will only put her in danger."

Zhan Zhao, you truly understand people's hearts!

Xu Qingzhi's deep voice came through: "Brother Zhan is right. She can't go back to the capital with you. I can't let her be in danger. You're taking too much of a risk."

“She can change her clothes, change her identity. Besides, her dream is to return to Jiangnan, to see its red lotus, green leaves, and flowing streams. Even if she stays in Lingjiu Palace now, she will eventually return to the Central Plains. Does that mean there won't be any danger when she goes back? Without us protecting her, she will be in even greater danger. We can't always solve problems with force, like this time.” Prince Xin was somewhat agitated.

This is the truth, and no one disagrees. Even Li Yuxuan doesn't have the confidence to say that she can live in Lingjiu Palace for the rest of her life and never go to Jiangnan, which is the place she remembers from her previous life.

Jiangnan has always been in her dreams, lingering and recurring.

A delicate voice, as melodious as heavenly music, rang out: "If Your Highness insists, this servant can help you."

How can I help?

"This servant knows a little about disguise. I can help Lord Li disguise himself as someone else and then go back to Bianliang with you."

Prince Xin immediately pulled Xiaolei out from behind Li Xinyun: "That's great, Zhao Yunxian thanks you!"

Xiaolei covered her mouth and smiled: "Your Highness, please don't get excited. We don't even know who to disguise Lord Li as yet. Besides, my princess hasn't said anything yet."

Li Xinyun rolled her eyes at her: "You've already done all the good work, and I'm not a bad person either. How come I didn't know you had this trick up your sleeve?"

Xiao Lei smiled faintly: "A mere trick, how dare I show it off in front of the princess? I only thought of this trick today because I saw that Lord Li was really out of options, and I don't know if it will work." She smiled again: "Actually, what I want to say is that the safest thing is to disguise Lord Li as the princess, then Lord Li can run rampant in Bianliang just like you. Even if he marries Prince Xin, the Emperor of the Song Dynasty would be more than happy to have him."

Li Xinyun grabbed Xiaolei's ear: "No way, I was just about to go to Bianliang with them. Last time I sneaked out of Bianliang but didn't make it. I ran into that unlucky Li Yuxuan and he sent me all the way back to Xixia. This time I'm going to the Central Plains and Jiangnan. I'll see everything before I come back."

Xu Zhu looked at Li Xinyun with a smile: "If my wife says so, I'll go with you. That's perfect. Lord Li can disguise himself as your cousin, and no one will suspect anything."

"Hmm!" The rest of the people nodded in unison: "That's a good idea."

Li Xinyun looked at Xiaolei: "While it's still early, go and get your things ready. We'll set off tomorrow, and you can help the brat with his modifications."

“Yes, Princess!” Xiaolei smiled at Li Yuxuan and prepared to leave. Prince Xin stopped her and handed her a silver note: “Go ahead, find the best things to buy.”

With the matter settled, Li Xinyun beamed, "You brat, from now on you'll have to call me 'sister.' Luckily, I also have the surname Li, so you don't need to change it. Just call me Li San or Li Si."

"Your name is Li Xinyun, and hers is Li Qingyun. Let's add my name to both. I like that." Prince Xin was overjoyed that things were going so smoothly. No one objected to his suggestion, and Li Yuxuan herself didn't mind. She felt that it was a stroke of good luck that things could be resolved so easily.

Before setting off the next day, Xiaolei and Li Xinyun arrived at her room early. Li Yuxuan let her do all the makeup on his face, and then changed into clothes similar to Li Xinyun's. Only then did he look at himself in the bronze mirror amidst Li Xinyun's endless exclamations of surprise.

You wouldn't believe it until you see it, and what you find is astonishing! This isn't Li Yuxuan at all; it's clearly a taller version of Li Xinyun. The two Li Xinyuns stood together, looked at each other, and burst into laughter.

Li Xinyun pinched Xiaolei's face: "You little rascal, your dream has come true. You're going to Jiangnan with us."