Chapter 205: The Faint Resemblance Of Youth

Along the way, Jiang Xuening couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to see the young man from her past again. After two years of hardship and obscurity, stripped of his noble status as the heir to the Marquis of Yongyi, would he be bitter, sorrowful, and how much would he have changed?  

This life was undoubtedly better than the previous one.  

Yet, no matter how she tried to picture him in her mind, she couldn’t quite imagine what he looked like now. Instead, the face of the young general who had returned triumphant in her past life kept surfacing from the depths of her memory, sending chills down her spine.  

That was a man steeped in worldly suffering and hatred.  

Back then, he had escorted Shen Zhiyi’s coffin back to the capital, walking along the long road in plain mourning clothes, yet there was no trace of the grief one would expect. His entire being was suffused with the harsh aura of battle. His eyes were calm yet cold, icy and heavy, and even when he looked at someone without speaking, it felt as though thorns were piercing through them, sharp and cutting. So, even though his features were familiar, Jiang Xuening could no longer recall what the vibrant, spirited young man from their youth had looked like.  

But now, it seemed as though nothing had changed.  

Even though he had grown taller, his once fair, noble complexion had been darkened by the sun, and the corners of his eyes and brows bore the marks of the trials and landscapes he had endured over the past two years, those bright, star-like eyes of his remained as warm and radiant as the midday sun, as open and sincere as the moon in the high sky. Just hearing that familiar yet slightly unfamiliar, deep voice made her heart burn with emotion.  

The fabric of his clothes was coarser now, rough against her skin.  

But he had once been the young lord of the capital, living in luxury, with every wish granted.  

Jiang Xuening raised her head and gazed at him for a long time, her throat tight. When she finally managed to call out “Yan Lin,” her eyes welled up with tears, and she choked back a sob.  

Two years had passed, and the young girl had grown even more beautiful.  

Her figure was graceful, her skin as fair as snow, her hair dark as ink.  

Yet, when she looked at him with those moist eyes, it still softened his heart, reminding him of a fawn shrouded in the mist of the forest. Yan Lin wanted to carefully cradle her, coax a smile onto her face, play with her, and make her face light up with a heart-stopping smile.  

The moment he embraced her was the most comforting moment he had experienced in the past two years.  

When the Marquis’s estate fell into ruin, his family was exiled.  

He and his family had traveled all the way from the capital to Huangzhou, encountering several assassination attempts along the way, though there were always people secretly protecting them. Once in Huangzhou, as a convicted criminal, he faced heavy labor duties. His father, who had never been in good health, caught a cold during the journey and had not recovered for a long time.  

Bribing officials and hiring doctors all required money.  

It was only then that he realized how heavy and significant the chest Jiang Xuening had secretly sent him truly was.  

Not long after, a letter from Master Xie arrived.  

And later, assistance from the so-called “Ren Family Saltworks” came as well.  

The distance was vast, and it took many days for each letter to arrive.

But in those days in Huangzhou, where time seemed to crawl by, it was like a pot of strong liquor heated in the depths of winter, keeping that faint glimmer of hope alive until it took root in the barren soil, growing deeper and stronger. Even in the face of adversity—wind, snow, thunder, and rain—it slowly sprouted and branched out, like a pine tree growing from a crack in the rocks, embodying a particularly tenacious and resilient strength.  

He did not wallow in despair.  

Every day was filled with hope for the next.  

And today, she had finally come.  

Heaven knew how overjoyed he had been when he received the news that she would be coming with Xie Wei.  

He had even been looking forward to it for the past two days.  

Even while handling military affairs, he had found himself unusually distracted.  

Until this moment, when he saw her.  

Only then did all his anticipation settle, transforming into a warm, comforting feeling. Yet, he couldn’t contain his joy and held her tightly in his arms, only realizing afterward that he had been impolite.  

The young man had indeed grown up.  

When he caught the surprised glances of the soldiers around him, though his actions had been entirely sincere, he was no longer the reckless youth of the past. His face flushed, and he coughed lightly before letting her go.  

It was then that he finally noticed Xie Wei, who had been watching them from the carriage for some time.  

The moment was quiet.  

Only then did Yan Lin realize that Jiang Xuening had just stepped out of that carriage—the same carriage Xie Wei had been in. They had traveled here together. A strange feeling stirred in his heart, but given the circumstances, he didn’t dwell on it.  

After a pause, he turned to Xie Wei, his earlier boldness replaced with respect, and bowed formally. “Greetings, Master Xie.”  

Xie Wei lowered his gaze slightly and said calmly, “Let’s enter the city first.”  

Yan Lin knew this wasn’t the place for conversation, so he nodded and ordered a squad of soldiers to escort the carriage, clearing the way as they headed into the city. Riding high on his horse, he even asked Jiang Xuening if she wanted to ride as well.  

Jiang Xuening, ever carefree, agreed without hesitation.  

Ever since Xie Wei had received the imperial decree, they had been traveling nonstop by carriage, day and night, to reach Xinzhou. Her bones felt like they were falling apart, and she had barely had a chance to step out for fresh air.  

Now, suddenly finding herself in this unfamiliar place, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of playfulness.  

She carefully mounted a small horse brought over by a soldier and rode alongside Yan Lin as they entered the city.  

Xie Wei watched from the carriage but made no move to stop her.

Xinzhou City was not large, and its architecture lacked the grandeur of the capital or the refinement of the Jiangnan region. Instead, it exuded a rugged simplicity, with thick, sturdy walls that gave the city a robust appearance.  

Within the city, soldiers seemed to outnumber ordinary civilians.  

Yet, the local residents appeared accustomed to this, showing no signs of discomfort. Vendors continued to set up their stalls, and hawkers called out their wares as usual.  

This kind of place wasn’t particularly nurturing in terms of climate or environment.  

The local women often had rough skin.  

Jiang Xuening, however, had been raised in the opulence of the capital and had spent the past two years immersed in the delicate charm of Jiangnan. Her radiant, delicate beauty stood out starkly among the rough-and-tumble soldiers. As she rode on horseback, everyone who saw her was struck by her beauty. Even a naive child, holding a steamed bun, chased after her, shouting, “Fairy sister!” It was impossible not to laugh.  

Yan Lin, just like in the old days when he had taken her around the capital, pointed out various things along the roadside to her. However, his voice now carried a deeper tone, and he no longer exuded the carefree air of a privileged young nobleman.  

He had experienced the ups and downs of life and gained a deeper understanding of the world.  

Even when talking about the simple porridge and food sold by the roadside, there was a newfound compassion in his words, different from the past. He knew the routines of the common folk—when they worked, when they rested, how much rice could be harvested from a field of grain, and whether there was a lame old woman in the blacksmith’s shop on East Street…  

Jiang Xuening listened, then turned her head to look at him.  

The profile of the young general was deep and resolute.  

For the first time, she felt that the relentless passage of time had also carried a touch of gentleness, sculpting the young man from her memories into such a striking figure. She couldn’t help but smile.  

The soldiers escorting them, however, were both astonished and puzzled.  

General Yan had only recently arrived, and his methods were swift and decisive. Although he often ate and lodged with the soldiers while studying defense layouts—showing none of the airs of a former young nobleman and being very approachable—no one had ever seen him act like this toward anyone before.  

Who exactly was this beautiful girl?

Previous

Next