Luo Yuan stared blankly at Hui Niang, who was playing the zither with her head bowed.
Her slightly furrowed brow as she looked down was so like that woman.
The woman who used to cook for him in a flustered rush.
"Little one, you must be hungry. Hold on a bit longer," he remembered seeing the woman, her head bowed, her brow furrowed, fine beads of sweat on her forehead. She puffed out her cheeks, desperately blowing air at a pile of wood.
After fussing for a long time, the pile of wood still only emitted wisps of black smoke, showing no sign of catching fire.
She looked up, wiping sweat from her face, not realizing her actions left dark smudges, marring her face. He was amused by her painted face and shouted, pointing at her, "Hahaha, big painted face cat, big painted face cat."
Unexpectedly, while he was off guard, she quickly raised her hand and wiped his face. Then she burst out laughing, "Hahaha, you're a little painted face cat!"
He was startled by her sudden action and suddenly felt very wronged, bursting into tears.
She was also startled by his sudden crying and frantically used her sleeve to wipe the marks from his face, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, sister didn't mean to scare you. You just finished bathing, and I shouldn't have joked like that. Don't cry, little one. Here, have a candy, okay?" As she spoke, she pulled out a candy, unwrapped it, and put it in his mouth.
The candy had a strange sweetness, a flavor he had never tasted before. He stopped crying, sniffling, and asked, "What flavor is this?"
She picked up the wrapper, glanced at it, and said, "Ah, it's cappuccino."
"What is cappuccino?"
"A sweet and bitter drink."
What a strange drink, why could it be both sweet and bitter? He persisted, wanting to try it.
The woman gave him a mischievous smile and asked, "Are you sure?"
He nodded firmly.
As soon as he took a sip of the brown liquid she had in her cup, he gagged and spat it out. It was truly bitter. Why would this woman like to drink this dreadful thing?
But seeing his face contorted by the bitterness, the woman burst into laughter, "Hahahaha, look at your little expression, hahahaha…"
He remembered that their dinner that day took a long time to prepare. He remembered that she made him everything from her magic backpack. He remembered that after he was full, he lay in her arms, and she said, I hope you will be brave. Bravery is knowing the road ahead is difficult, yet still walking forward with determination.
Then, she left. Before leaving, she told him she would return in a few days. kuAiδugg
But thirteen years have passed, and Sister, you have never reappeared, yet I am still waiting for you to come back.
Suddenly, with a *ding*, the music stopped abruptly. Luo Yuan looked up. The zither string had broken.
Hui Niang looked flustered and apologized repeatedly, "I'm sorry, sir. It's all my fault. I'll have someone fetch another zither right away."
She had played for almost the entire night, and her fingers were bleeding. Luo Yuan glanced at her bloody fingertips and said faintly, "That's enough. Turn off the lights and go to bed."
That woman would not come back.
He told himself before entering the capital.
News had arrived from Wang Wei Yuan that more than half of the officials in the capital had secretly accepted his summons and sworn allegiance to the Crown Prince. At the decisive moment of overthrowing Zhao Yun and Jiang Qi's rule, they would stand with the Crown Prince.
The time was ripe. After years of effort, he had finally reached this moment.
Thousands of elite soldiers, personally trained by him, had already infiltrated Bianliang. And he, finally, had accepted the Emperor's imperial summons to become an official in the capital.
He was twenty-two years old that year.
Before attending the morning court and formally entering the government, he went to see Hui Niang again.
Years ago, he had secretly bought Fan Lou and made it a meeting point, with Hui Niang in charge of the Fan Lou outpost. Over the years, Hui Niang had matured and become even more enchanting. Countless officials and wealthy merchants would spend a fortune just for a night with her, but Hui Niang had refused them all.
He naturally knew Hui Niang's feelings for him. Over the years, whenever he came, he would seek a night of warmth from Hui Niang. He no longer spent every night in brothels; Hui Niang was his only woman.
He thought that if he were given enough time, he would slowly fall in love with Hui Niang.
He had tried hard for this, but he was powerless. He could no longer be moved by anyone. He began to think that perhaps he was born heartless, incapable of deep affection.
He arrived in Bianliang in the evening. He did not return to his mansion but went directly to Hui Niang's place.
After some intimate moments, Hui Niang put on her clothes and asked, "Sir must be hungry. I've already asked the kitchen to prepare food."
He got up and casually threw on a robe. "Just have them bring more wine."
The kitchen delivered a large table of food. The table was set on a stone table in the courtyard. Luo Yuan had no appetite; he ate a few mouthfuls and then stopped.
"Sir, you need to take care of your health. You can't just drink; please eat a few more bites," Hui Niang gently advised.
He stood up impatiently, picked up the wine pot, and went into the room.
Hui Niang sighed softly. After years of being together, she knew his temper. She took some tea and followed him into the room.
She glanced at the man reclining on the couch, drinking wine, and felt a pang of bitterness in her heart. So intelligent and discerning as she was, how could she not know his feelings?
Everyone said that General Luo doted on Hui Niang of Fan Lou. But they didn't know that no matter what, she could never truly enter that man's heart. That man's heart had long been unable to hold anyone else.
Ai Wei? That woman's name, the name he called out in countless dreams.
No one had ever seen that woman. She guessed that perhaps that woman was already dead.
Hui Niang knew that the deceased woman named Ai Wei was the one forever etched in his heart, the one no one could ever surpass.
Thinking of this, her eyes welled up with tears again. Not wanting him to see her embarrassment, she turned and opened the door to leave.
The moment Hui Niang opened the door, he saw that woman.
She was still wearing the coarse cloth clothes usually worn by men, her long hair tied up with chopsticks at the back of her head. Her cheeks were slightly puffed out as she chewed her food. She always stuffed her mouth full before chewing slowly, a habit that made her look like a greedy marmot. She always ate like this.
Behind her, a hazy halo was formed by the spill of lamplight.
She saw someone coming out of the room and turned her head. When her eyes met his, she smiled faintly at him.
It was only for a moment before the door was closed. Holding his wine cup, he was completely stunned. After a while, he blinked, thinking he must be drunk and having hallucinations again. He gave a wry smile and put down the wine cup.
But why was this hallucination so real?
Outside the house, someone was calling out something. He heard a voice from outside respond, "Oh, I know. I'll be right there."
That was the voice that echoed in his dreams countless times, the voice that drove him mad with longing!
It was her voice!
He abruptly stood up and rushed out.