"I believe you," Yu Mingyue said, her eyes sparkling with trust as she looked at Xie Jiayan.
She believed her Brother Jiayan was omnipotent, capable of turning any misfortune into good fortune.
Yu Mingyue raised the book in her hand: "Brother Jiayan, do you still remember this passage: 'What is sought, is obtained; what is abandoned, is lost; what is sought is beneficial to obtaining, and what is sought is within oneself. If sought with a proper way, it is obtained by fate; if sought without a proper way, it is sought from without.' I read it for a long time and couldn't understand it. It was Brother Jiayan who explained it to me, and even lent me his own books."
Xie Jiayan nodded, "I remember."
Yu Mingyue continued, "Brother Jiayan said, 'What is sought is in the heart, and the Way is also in the heart. With the Way in the heart, there is endless life. We are all adhering to the Way in our hearts. Perhaps our methods are different, but what we seek is peace and stability for the realm. Now that the four seas are pacified, has the Way in our hearts been realized?"
At that time, he had said resolutely, "I will go even if it means facing ten thousand men." He had achieved it.
"Naturally, it has," Great Wei would usher in an era of peace and prosperity, with all nations paying homage.
The two looked at each other and smiled, a smile that reflected their fearlessness in the face of the current difficulties and their yearning for the future.
That good era was coming soon, and the present was like the darkness before dawn, which would soon pass.
Xie Jiayan waited until Yu Mingyue fell asleep before rising to leave. As soon as Xie Jiayan entered Mingyue Garden, the wet nurse by Cui Shi's side informed Cui Shi.
Worried about her daughter, she had not been sleeping soundly. She woke up as soon as the wet nurse called her.
The wet nurse was concerned about a man and a woman alone in such a situation; what if something happened...
Cui Shi, however, had no such worries: "They are both good children who abide by the rules. If even one of them were a little selfish, they wouldn't be in this situation today."
As expected, not long after, Cui Shi's maid came to report that Xie Jiayan had already left, leaving a message that it was too late to disturb them and he would visit another day.
After returning to the capital, Xie Jiayan lived in the courtyard next to the Duke’s Mansion. This was the residence his father had bought earlier, and it had been vacant since he left the capital.
Although it had been empty for a long time, the pine and bamboo in the courtyard were still upright, clearly indicating that someone had been cleaning it regularly. He had few old acquaintances in the capital, and it was probably only her who would do such a thing.
When he returned, Hua Chaofei was lounging on a chair, nonchalantly polishing his sword: "Have you seen her?"
Xie Jiayan grunted and said no more. Hua Chaofei was impatient: "I waited for you all night, and this is all you tell me?"
Hua Chaofei wanted to hear something else, like a man and a woman, dry wood and fierce fire, and so on.
However, judging by his demeanor, nothing seemed to have happened.
That was true; these two were too proper. It would be strange if anything did happen.
"What else?" Xie Jiayan picked up his tea and took a sip. "I have to go to the palace tomorrow. You don't need to accompany me."
Hua Chaofei slammed his sword into its sheath: "You know better than anyone what a dangerous place that is. I came to the capital to accompany you through thick and thin. If you don't let me go, then what's the point of my trip!"
His life was his, and dying for him would be a worthy death.
"Perhaps he doesn't intend to take my life. Otherwise, he would have had many opportunities along the way. Moreover, if he truly wanted my life, even with our high martial arts skills, two fists are no match for four hands. You going would only be sacrificing your life. Besides, if you stay here, I will still have a retreat." Xie Jiayan said.
"What do you want to do?"
The sky was a dark gray, without a single star. Tomorrow should not be a good day. Xie Jiayan's gaze finally withdrew from the window.
"I want to live for myself."