Третий учёный династии Сун

Глава 32

"Ah? Jinling... Hehehe, Young Master Lin, look at all the beauties in my Drunken Brothel, there are many better than Jinling, sir..." Lin Suyang dodged the women who were about to surround him and looked at the madam, saying, "I only want Jinling."

The madam knew that Lin Suyang had only requested Jinling the last few times he came, and now that Jinling was gone, this wealthy man was probably going to turn back. However, she had also heard that this young master Lin was the Grand Tutor of the court, someone she couldn't afford to offend. Therefore, she didn't dare to be negligent and dismissed the girls who came running around, replying obsequiously, "Young Master Lin, it's not that I don't want you to see Jinling, it's just that Jinling is no longer in my Drunken Brothel. Even if I told you, I wouldn't be able to call her by name."

"Not here anymore?" Lin Suyang frowned. Wasn't her purpose to stay here and wait for an opportunity to take revenge? Why would she leave? Did she know Si Junxing was coming and intercept him on the way?

Thinking of this, Lin Suyang hurriedly asked, "When did she leave? Do you know where she went?"

The madam shook her head, puzzled: "Jinling left last month. I tried to persuade her to stay, but she wouldn't. I don't know where she went, but I heard her say that she found her lost relatives and was going to go and seek refuge with them."

"Didn't she sign a contract of servitude when she came here?" Generally speaking, people who make a living in this line of work have to sign a contract of servitude at the brothel. Otherwise, if she takes advantage of a loophole and runs off with the money, where will the brothel madams find her?

The madam blushed. She stammered, "Young Master Lin, to be honest, Jinling came here voluntarily. She said she would give me every penny she earned, as long as I provided her with food and lodging. I saw her and thought she was a rare find, so I agreed." In the end, it was all about money. Lin Suyang sighed. He thought back carefully. It had only been a few days since he received Chen Xiao's message by carrier pigeon. Considering the distance, she used a very fast carrier pigeon. It should have only taken a few days at most. It seemed that Kong Ling must have had other matters to attend to, which was why she left so early. Moreover, Lin Suyang believed that Kong Ling wouldn't truly be heartless enough to hurt Si Junxing. For no other reason than love.

Because they needed to leave before Si Junxing arrived in Yundu, Lin Suyang made preparations in a hurry. She recruited many maids and servants to the manor specifically to take care of Qin Yu, who was "pregnant." She then repeatedly instructed Qiao Sheng to carefully stay by the princess's side. Before the princess returned, she was not to be allowed to leave the house or receive any visitors. To the outside world, they should only say that the princess was unwell and needed to rest, and therefore should not receive guests. Qiao Sheng nodded repeatedly in agreement.

After everything was settled, Lin Suyang, accompanied by an attendant, went to the official road outside the city to meet the other two ministers. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lin Ziyan sent someone to bring them several horses. Although they were all civil officials, none of them were unfamiliar with riding horses. Moreover, this was a long journey, and traveling by sedan chair would waste a great deal of time. Therefore, only one carriage was prepared for later. Each person chose a suitable horse and prepared to set off.

Li Kuangjin tightened the reins. Just as he was about to mount the horse and climb up, he suddenly noticed the person sitting beside him on horseback, dressed in a dark blue robe. The person was petite, with delicate features. Long hair was tied in a bun at the back of his head with a black net, the rest hanging straight down. After thinking for a moment, he realized the person might be a close attendant brought by Grand Tutor Lin. He couldn't help but ask Lin Suyang curiously, "Grand Tutor Lin, is this young man your attendant? He looks quite unfamiliar."

Lin Suyang followed his gaze and looked at the man. He smiled and replied, "Yes. His name is Yu Qian. He's a personal attendant I just took in. Lord Li is probably too busy to get to know him."

Li Kuang nodded in agreement: "That's right. The Ministry of Personnel has been quite busy lately. Fortunately, His Majesty granted us this assignment, otherwise we would have been exhausted for who knows how long. By the way, is this Lord Feng's first time on a long-distance mission?" He then looked at Feng Shu, who was waiting on horseback on the other side.

"It is a great honor for me to be able to travel with you two gentlemen. I would be grateful if you could give me some guidance."

"Not at all, we're all colleagues, there's no need for advice, we should just look after each other," Li Kuangjin waved his hand.

Lin Suyang didn't know much about Feng Shu. She only knew that although he was a student of her father, Lin Cheng, she had never seen him have any close interactions with Lin Cheng. When they met in court, he would only respectfully call him "Teacher." However, she heard that his position as Right Censor of the Censorate was bestowed by the late emperor, which showed that he was quite capable. After the late emperor passed away, Emperor Hong entrusted him with the responsibility of the Northern Liang Road. The Great Yang Kingdom was divided into ten roads, and each road had a Right Censor who supervised and governed a region. The Northern Liang Road was the route from Yundu, the center of the Great Yang Kingdom, to Hedan. This inspection was exactly what he was supposed to do, so it was no wonder that Emperor Hong asked him to go with him.

As early spring approached, the ice and snow melted, and the mountains and forests became less cold and desolate, and more vibrant with tender greenery and colorful flowers. As the carriage moved forward, Lin Suyang intentionally or unintentionally moved closer to "Yu Qian," and then they gradually fell behind.

Yu Qian, who had been riding his horse properly, suddenly widened his eyes as Lin Suyang approached, and finally couldn't help but burst out laughing. Lin Suyang glanced at Li Kuangjin and Feng Shu, who were chatting happily ahead, then turned to Yu Qian, who was still laughing, and said, "What kind of attendant dares to be so presumptuous in front of his master?"

"Yu Qian" clutched her stomach, still fuming, before finally replying in a low voice, "I never imagined Lin Ziyan's mask would be so effective. Even that old fox Li couldn't show himself." The voice was very familiar; it was the kind of gentle person one would expect, yet it carried a hint of playfulness. Who else could it be but her "wife," Princess Jingyang, who was so close to Lin Suyang? Her mannerisms and speech were truly unrecognizable without close observation, and with that perfect leather mask, even Li Kuangjin, with his excellent eyesight, wouldn't recognize her.

"Nonsense, Lord Li didn't offend you, so why are you calling him an old fox?" Lin Suyang asked with a smile.

"He didn't offend me, but his daughter did. A father pays for his daughter's debts, and I always seek revenge." Qin Yu pouted. In that instant, Lin Suyang seemed to see the scene of their first meeting again. Back then, she was just as lively and lovely as she is now, but she carried a sorrow that others wouldn't notice. After marrying her, she became dignified and virtuous, yet she often had genuine joy from the bottom of her heart. This made Lin Suyang very conflicted. Was it better for her to hide her true happiness and give others a false impression before, or for her to hide the false impression and find true happiness after marriage?

"You're spacing out again," Qin Yu said, waving at Lin Suyang as if feigning anger.

Lin Suyang composed herself, a slight smile playing on her lips. She was certain that Qin Yu was happiest at this moment, whether his feelings were genuine or not.

Volume Three, Heartbreak, Chapter Seventy-Six: Where to Go Again (Part Two)

To understand why Qin Yu was here, we need to go back two days. When she learned that Lin Suyang was leaving again, she was heartbroken but didn't want him to know. She sent Qiao Sheng to buy some necessities for the journey, then hid in her room, sadly packing her things.

Lin Suyang returned late that day because she had attended a farewell banquet hosted by court officials. Her slightly tipsy laughter and conversation quickly drew Qin Yu back to her bedroom. While the maid was tidying the bed, Qin Yu brought her a bowl of hangover soup. Lin Suyang frowned and gulped it down in a few mouthfuls. Then, she whispered mysteriously in Qin Yu's ear, "I have some good news."

Qin Yu took the bowl she handed him and looked at her with a puzzled expression, asking, "What good news?"

Lin Suyang turned to watch the maid leave and close the door before saying to her, "I want to take you there."

Qin Yu kept his head down and didn't react until he understood what she said, then immediately exclaimed in surprise, "What?"

"Shh..." Lin Suyang quickly covered her mouth, glancing outside. "You said... you'd take me to Hedan?" Qin Yu asked in a low voice. Seeing Lin Suyang nod affirmatively, she was so happy she wanted to shout, but then she remembered something and shook her head, saying, "How could that be? I'm pregnant now, how could I possibly travel all the way to the Northwest with you?"

Lin Suyang laughed and said, "Of course others can't, but you can." As he spoke, he got up, took something out of his pocket, opened it, and spread it out in front of her.

"This is... a human skin mask?" Qin Yu exclaimed in surprise.

"It's not a human skin mask. It's a leather mask that General Xin's friend in the martial arts world made to resemble his appearance. Wearing it can alter a person's facial features, unlike a human skin mask which can completely change one's appearance. General Xin is very fond of Ziyan, so he gave this leather mask to him. I went to great lengths to get it from Ziyan today."

Qin Yu picked up the mask and looked at it from left to right. She was deeply moved by Lin Suyang's concern for her, but despite her excitement, she was still a little worried. "What about the manor?"

Lin Suyang smiled at her, "I have my own plans."

They traveled at a leisurely pace. The group finally arrived at a small town before sunset. Lin Ziyan instructed his two thousand elite guards to find a place to camp outside. Then, he led a dozen or so men and the three ministers into the town for a meal. Although they were from a small town, they were still familiar with the world, having traveled along the official road not far from Yundu. Therefore, their arrival didn't cause much of a stir. Only occasionally did someone glance at Lin Suyang.

After settling in, Lin Suyang led Qin Yu downstairs. They saw Li Kuangjin and Feng Shuzao chatting away. So they found a quiet corner to sit down. Just as they poured tea, they saw Lin Ziyan standing at the shop entrance, looking around before finally walking towards them.

"Have some tea," Lin Suyang said, pushing his teacup towards Lin Ziyan. Lin Ziyan picked up the cup without even looking and drank. "I just inquired around. A section of the road ahead is extremely muddy because the snow on the mountain has melted badly. You'll have to be careful when you ride horses tomorrow," he advised.

Lin Suyang nodded. "It's late winter and early spring. It's only natural that the snow is melting and the roads will be very slippery. Ziyan, go and tell the two adults to be careful."

Lin Ziyan then went out again, having asked someone to carry a considerable amount of items. If the roads were difficult to travel tomorrow and they couldn't reach their next destination by nightfall, they would have to prepare to spend the night away from home.

Nothing was said that night. The next morning, the fog was a bit thicker. Everyone waited at the inn for another half a day before the fog cleared and the clouds parted. They set off on horseback. After traveling for about two hours, they indeed encountered a section of road paved with soft mud. Snowmelt had seeped into the loose soil and slid down the mountain, flooding the road. At a glance, the gravel road was covered with a thick layer of mud. Walking on it would get your shoes completely dirty.

Lin Ziyan ordered two thousand elite soldiers to go first and tread the path, allowing Lin Suyang and the others to follow on horseback. The mud was trampled apart by those in front, making it much easier for those behind.

They traveled slowly for several hours, and finally passed the section of road just as dusk was approaching. They hadn't gone far when the long column of soldiers suddenly stopped. Lin Ziyan reined in his horse and demanded to know what was wrong. A soldier ran up from the front and said that an injured passerby was lying in front of them, blocking their way and refusing to move until they treated his wounds.

Lin Ziyan immediately asked, "How can he block such a wide road?" The soldier stammered and replied that the man had a large flock of sheep behind him.

Upon hearing this, Qin Yu, standing behind Lin Suyang, burst out laughing. Lin Zuyi frowned, wondering if they had encountered some troublesome commoners trying to rob him. He ordered his soldiers to protect the ministers and then spurred his horse forward.

Lin Suyang laughed, "I've never seen such an amusing person before. Let's go take a look." He winked at Qin Yu, spurred his horse, and it trotted off with a "clatter" following Lin Ziyan. Before they even got close, they could see a vast expanse of white in the distance. A flock of sheep, bleating incessantly, had completely blocked the road. Some soldiers were already impatiently trying to draw their swords to drive the sheep away, but the sheep were incredibly loyal; they would be driven away on one side only to be surrounded by another. No matter how much they tried to herd them, they couldn't make a path; it was as if the sheep were testing their patience.

Lin Suyang was both amused and exasperated. She looked up and saw Lin Ziyan looking at her with a complicated expression, but he quickly looked away. She composed herself and continued walking forward. When she got closer, she found a small pool of dark red blood on the ground, and the injured person, wearing a loose blue robe, was leisurely resting on a sheep lying on its back.

Because her back was to Lin Suyang, she couldn't see what the person looked like. She looked at the person on the ground, turned her head and asked Lin Ziyan softly, "What happened?" The person on the ground trembled violently when he heard her voice, but slowly sat up and turned around.

Lin Suyang turned around and met a pair of clear eyes. The black pupils shone with an attractive light, so clean and without a trace of impurity. She stared at his eyes quietly for a long time before her gaze shifted slightly. She noticed that his clothes were tattered as if they had been torn by tree branches, and blood was still dripping from his arm. He seemed oblivious to this, staring at Lin Suyang without moving.

Lin Suyang sighed softly, dismounted, took some wound medicine and gauze from the accompanying physician, and then walked towards him.

Lin Ziyan stared at Lin Suyang's retreating figure with a grim expression. Qin Yu, who was later, also saw the "funny" person's face clearly. He seemed to have seen this person somewhere before, but couldn't remember where.

Lin Suyang walked to the man's side, squatted down, and whispered in his ear, "Aren't you going to tell your 'accomplice' to leave?"

The man grinned, put his hand to his mouth, and whistled. As if on command, the sheep all ran to both sides of the road.

Seeing that the area ahead was open, Lin Suyang looked up at Lin Ziyan on horseback and said, "It's getting late. You two find a place to camp ahead. I'll be there shortly."

Lin Ziyan hesitated for a moment, glanced at the still-smiling "wounded" man, and led the group behind him to continue. Qin Yu stood to the side, considering whether to leave. He looked at Lin Suyang, who was intently working on the bandages, and finally followed the group. When Li Kuangjin and Feng Shu passed by them, Li Kuangjin only looked at them with suspicion and asked nothing.

Lin Suyang gently rolled up the man's sleeve and saw that his hand had several cuts. In a fit of anger, he hit him a little harder, causing the man to wince and cry out in pain. After applying ointment and carefully bandaging the wound with gauze, tying a neat knot, Lin Suyang said calmly, "All done."

As Lin Suyang bent down to tidy up the remaining medicine powder, she was suddenly pulled into a tight embrace. Worried about being seen, she struggled to push him away, but he held her tightly. She then heard a voice in her ear say, "No one's here."

The familiar warmth seeped through his clothes, gentle as the sun. Si Junxing rested his head on Lin Suyang's shoulder and said softly, "I missed you so much." Lin Suyang's hands, which were hanging by her sides, trembled slightly, then she slowly wrapped them around his waist and said, "Me too."

A moment later, Lin Suyang pushed him away, looked intently into his eyes once more, raised her hand and began to wipe her fingers along the corner of his eye, tracing a circle around his eye socket. The coolness of her fingertips made Si Junxing feel incredibly comfortable.

“I can finally see you again,” he said.

"I know." In his eyes, she was a complete and real person.

Volume Three, Heartbreak, Chapter Seventy-Seven: Where to Go Again (Part Two)

The campfire crackled softly, its red flames leaping and tangling, sparks landing lightly on the still-damp grass before being extinguished instantly. Qin Yu stared blankly at the blazing firewood before him, while Lin Ziyan, knees bent, leaned against a tree not far away, sipping warm wine. Meanwhile, the cheerful laughter of Li Kuangjin, Feng Shu, and the soldiers drifted over, further emphasizing the quiet desolation of this place.

"Who is he?" Qin Yu asked softly, hugging his legs and resting his head on his knees.

"Who?" Lin Ziyan paused for a moment, then answered, "Si Junxing." He continued to pour the wine into his hand.

Si Junxing, that name sounds so familiar. Qin Yu suddenly remembered the year Shenzhou was flooded. He had chased after Lin Suyang to that place and happened to find that the grain supplies had been stolen. It seemed that this was the man who helped retrieve them. No wonder he looked familiar. But what exactly was the relationship between Lin Suyang and him? Today, he was clearly waiting specifically for Lin Suyang.

“He likes her,” Lin Ziyan said.

"Who likes whom?" Qin Yu raised his head.

Lin Ziyan turned to look at her and said, "Si Junxing likes my sister, and my sister likes him too. They are in love."

"You knew all along?" Qin Yu lowered her head again, not wanting him to see the pain in her eyes.

"Yes, I already knew before returning to Yundu. The 'brother' I've admired and adored since childhood is actually a woman." And this woman is in love with someone else. When did this fragrant and mellow wine become so bitter?

So she already had someone she loved. So that's why she took so long to return to Yundu. Could it be because of me that she had to leave him and come back? Qin Yu stared wide-eyed at the bottom of the fire. Was the smoke too thick? Why did it make her eyes feel like they were about to tear up?

That's life. Fate's cruel tricks often rob people of the courage to continue. Even the initial grand ambitions and unwavering beliefs to fight to the death can wither away when the outcome is known. Liking someone isn't wrong, but liking the wrong person is. For Lin Suyang, whether it's Qin Yu or Lin Ziyan, there's an insurmountable chasm between them, no matter how sincere their hearts may be, destined for an ending that can never be fulfilled.

Li Kuangjin, sipping his wine and shaking his head, said to Feng Shu beside him, "I wonder what Grand Tutor Lin owes that person. He still hasn't returned."

Feng Shu asked curiously, "How does Lord Li know that Grand Tutor Lin owes someone a debt?"

Li Kuangjin said in a low voice, "That man was obviously waiting for Grand Tutor Lin today. He must have something to ask of him. Otherwise, what else could it be? Sigh. Grand Tutor Lin is usually such a calm person. This time, he's probably been outmaneuvered. Look at that man's scheme. He actually came up with the idea of leading a flock of sheep to block the road. If you ask me, he's quite clever." Just then, Lin Suyang walked out of the dark forest, followed by the man who had blocked the road that afternoon.

The story of Si Junxing using a sheep to block the official's carriage quickly spread throughout the ranks. Seeing him actually following Grand Tutor Lin, everyone from high-ranking officials like Li Kuangjin and Feng Shu to soldiers on patrol and rest all turned to look at him. Those who hadn't previously paid attention to his appearance stared intently. However, if it weren't for his particularly eye-catching, wide-brimmed blue robe, no one would believe that this handsome and dashing figure was the same "troublemaker" who had been lying on a sheep and refusing to leave that evening.

Ignoring the stares from those around him and those behind him, Lin Suyang walked straight to Li Kuangjin and said, "Lord Li, this young master Si Junxing is a friend of mine. He also has business to attend to in Hedan. May he accompany us?"

Li Kuangjin hurriedly said, "Since he is a friend of the Grand Tutor, there is no harm in him accompanying me. The Grand Tutor need not inform me."

Lin Suyang smiled slightly: "Not at all, it's always good to have one more person. We'll head over now, please continue your conversation, gentlemen."

Qin Yu and Lin Ziyan heard the noise and looked over. Lin Suyang walked over and asked, "Why is it so quiet?" She made room for Qin Yu and sat down, and Si Junxing followed suit and sat down next to Lin Suyang.

Qin Yu turned her head to look at Si Junxing, who was nodding and smiling at her, and then said to Lin Suyang, "I've been waiting for you."

"Really? By the way, this is Si Junxing. I think you all know him, right?" Lin Suyang said, pointing to Si Junxing.

"Of course I know him. I remember he was quite 'interesting' back then. I didn't expect him to still be like this after all these years." Qin Yu glared at Si Junxing as if she was very angry.

"Oh dear, this young man is really wronging me. I've done a lot for you guys, so why is it so hard to be a good person?" Si Junxing looked at Qin Yu with a mournful expression, and his tone made Qin Yu chuckle.

Lin Suyang smiled and looked up, seeing Lin Ziyan hiding in the shadows without speaking, so she asked, "Ziyan, what's wrong?" Si Junxing lowered his head, instinctively knowing that a slightly hostile gaze was falling on him, just an intuition, a man's intuition.

"It's nothing, I'm very tired. You guys chat, I'm going to rest first." Lin Ziyan got up, kicked away an empty wine bottle, and lay down on the open ground next to another bonfire in the distance.

"What's wrong with him?" Lin Suyang asked Qin Yu, puzzled.

Qin Yu withdrew his gaze, shook his head, and said, "He's probably just too tired. He's been very busy today." He smiled easily, stood up, and patted the grass clippings off his clothes. "I'll go ask those soldiers about the customs and culture of the Northwest. Otherwise, I'll be laughed at for not knowing anything." Before Lin Suyang could speak, he walked away in a few steps.

"You're just like a little kid." Lin Suyang turned around with a smile, only to find Si Junxing looking at her affectionately. She panicked and quickly lowered her head, saying, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Si Junxing quietly took her hand and said, "I was thinking, could I take you away and travel all over the mountains and rivers, and see all the seas of fog and clouds? If you don't like it, we can find a place to live quietly, just like we did in Ji'ao."

"You know it's impossible," Lin Suyang said with a wry smile.

"Yes, it's impossible now, but it might be in the future. Didn't your Emperor Hong say that he would let you retire and live in seclusion in two years? Two years will pass quickly, and we'll have plenty of free time to squander..."

"I can tolerate you having someone else in your heart, I can even tolerate you being together, but I cannot tolerate you leaving my sight forever." Qin Hao's words suddenly appeared in Lin Suyang's ears like a curse, startling her so much that she trembled and forcefully pulled her hand away from Si Junxing's grasp. Si Junxing was puzzled by her sudden panic and reached out to pull her closer again, asking softly, "What's wrong?"

Lin Suyang struggled for a while, then stopped when she saw he wouldn't let go, still trembling as she leaned against him. Because there was a huge boulder behind them, Li Kuangjin and the others couldn't see what was happening.

Si Junxing wrapped his arms around her and hugged her gently. "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

Lin Suyang remained silent, trying her best to suppress her sorrow, but she couldn't stop the wildflowers quietly blooming in the woods. Si Junxing watched as the tiny, green stems at his feet instantly grew and blossomed into a dazzling pink flower. He shifted his leg, stepping on the fresh yet increasingly heavy wildflower.

Gently cupping Lin Suyang's face, he whispered, "No matter what happens, I'll be with you. Whether you like it or not, I'm sticking with you." He leaned down, kissed the tip of her nose, and caressed the corner of her lips, uttering, "You promised me, you can't break your promise." He tilted his head slightly and kissed the one he had longed for for so long. Lin Suyang closed her eyes, but a tear rolled down her cheek.

Qin Yu stood blankly to the side, clutching the quilt, staring in disbelief at the two people embracing in front of him. His fragile heart felt hollowed out, leaving only a sandy shell, swaying precariously, ready to crumble in the wind.

"Hey, Yuqian, why are you still standing here? Where is Grand Tutor Lin?" Li Kuangjin's voice came from afar. Qin Yu wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes and turned to reply, "Grand Tutor Lin has already rested. Lord Li, please remember to tell everyone to keep their voices down."

"Hey, hey, go to sleep, we have to travel tomorrow. Don't be all listless, even Lord Feng is asleep..." The voice gradually faded away. The night wind was particularly chilly, and Qin Yu stood there shivering, but his eyes were fixed on Lin Suyang in Si Junxing's arms.