It Won’t Bring Retribution, Right?
Xuan Tian Ming and Feng Yu Heng’s first night was concluded in this unique manner. Feng Yu Heng thought that this should be the most unique first night in the world, right?
The two found a quiet place next to the lake and sat down. From a distance, they could see the soldiers continue with tidying up the crops that had been planted in the oasis. Gradually, more and more citizens joined in. They chatted and laughed, and it did not feel as though a battle had just ended, nor did it feel as though this city had just changed owners.
The people were careful to avoid where they were sitting, giving the two plenty of space to speak. As for Feng Yu Heng, she did indeed have plenty that she wanted to say to Xuan Tian Ming. For example, there had been something that had been bothering over the past few days: “Normally speaking, when both parents die, as a child, I should need to remain in mourning for three years. Even if they were not close to me, there was still a blood relation. You came too suddenly that day, and it definitely would not have been fine if I did not get in that wedding sedan in that situation. After reaching Sha Ping City, I found that there were so many people that had specifically come for this, thus it was difficult to bring this matter up. But this remains a knot in my heart… Xuan Tian Ming, say, will this incur retribution?”
Xuan Tian Ming shook his head and said with certainty: “It won’t. Because having you get married on the day of your coming of age was Feng Jin Yuan’s last wish. Before you came, he spoke to me about this matter. Since he himself said it, we should honor our elder’s wishes! Don’t think about it too much.”
Falling silent, Feng Yu Heng nodded and curled up in his embrace. It was just that she did not fully believe Xuan Tian Ming’s words, but since he had said this, she would listen. Either way, they had already gotten married, and ever since she had come to this world, she had never even come close to being filial. Regardless of whether or not Feng Jin Yuan wanted it, she was the daughter that was most-disliked in the Feng family. Thinking about it more broadly, she was not the original owner of this body. Why bother with annoying herself?
Feng Yu Heng’s guess was correct. What part of it was Feng Jin Yuan’s last wish? It was all just made up. In truth, Feng Jin Yuan had indeed changed at that time, but he was only focused on lamenting what could have been if he had not been foolish. How great the Feng family would have been; however, he never mentioned Feng Yu Heng’s wedding. As for the reason that he had said this, most of them were selfish. Ever since this girl had met him, she had never enjoyed a day of happiness. Not to mention the intrigue that had occurred, but the situation in the court was also not easy. He had been thinking that he would take care of the situation in the South on his own; however, in the end, she was still dragged onto the battlefield. He hoped that this girl would marry him sooner and marry into the Yu Palace. He would only feel at ease once he could see her every day.
Reaching out, he pulled her tight and gently said: “When this area has settled down a bit, we will return to Sha Ping City to offer sacrifices. No matter how it’s said, we’ve gotten married. We should go and greet them.”
Feng Yu Heng grunted then thought for a bit before saying: “Let’s also bring along Zi Rui! I still haven’t told him about Yao shi’s matter. That child was a bit closer with mother than I. Although Yao shi did not recognize me, she still recognized him.” It was said like this, but the meaning was that she was not the original soul in this body, but Zi Rui was the proper son. The son needed to go and visit the grave to burn some joss paper. Did the ancient people not pay extra attention to these things? Who knew if joss paper burned by a stand-in daughter like her would truly reach the person?
Xuan Tian Ming did not have any objections to this. The two discussed it and decided that they would leave in three days time. They would first return to Jue Ping City. After all, Xuan Tian Ge and the others also needed to return to the capital. They also needed to go over to visit them.
In Yue Ping City, with a prefect like Gu Ya, there was no need for Xuan Tian Ming to worry too much. As for the soldiers in the military camp to the South, the situation of being assaulted by heatstroke continued, but with Feng Yu Heng present, relieving that heatstroke was not difficult.
The two remained in Yue Ping City for three days. On the morning of the third day, they brought their maidservants and attendants, along with a small group, back to Jue Ping City.
In Jue Ping City, the liveliness brought about by the wedding had not dissipated much. The people continued to chat, and there were even some that celebrated because Yue Ping City had also been captured like them. Xuan Tian Ge’s group had increased their world views. Palace Princess Wu Yang, who had never left the capital before, had finally come to the distant desert. To her, it was an experience that was very unique. She kept in mind that she was a palace princess, and her own marriage would not be left to herself to decide. When she got married, it would be very difficult for her to go here and there like she did now. Perhaps this would be her first and final time coming to the desert.
Xuan Tian Ming and his wife did not remain there for too long. The next day, they set out, and all of the people that had traveled a great distance also left with them. Zi Rui was hugged by Feng Yu Heng from behind. The two rode on the same camel, as he gloomily listened to his elder sister speak about the deaths of their father and mother…
The child was calmer than Feng Yu Heng had imagined. It was natural that Feng Jin Yuan’s death would not cause much of an emotional response, after all, that father had caused him to lose a finger. Ever since that time, their relationship as father and son had already disappeared. As for Yao shi, this child just lowered his head and remained silent for a short while. When he looked back up, he said: “Elder sister said it before that life and death is up to fate. Each person has their own fate. Thinking about it, this ending was just mother’s fate! Elder sister-” He turned around and asked Feng Yu Heng: “In the past, I could not understand why mother would want a fake and would not want us. Thinking about it now, it seems as though she was living based on her past impressions. She lived while thinking about her time in the Feng manor before we had been sent to the Northwest. She was thinking about the times when elder sister was meek and subservient, and she was thinking about the times when Zi Rui did not understand anything. Later on, we both grew up and came to understand the world. We understood what sort of person was good and what sort of person was bad. We also gained the ability to fight back; however, we were no longer the children that existed in her thoughts. Mother definitely thought that we no longer needed her protection and felt a little lost, right?!” This child deeply analyzed the situation surrounding Yao shi, but after he finished speaking, he shook his head and refuted his own words: “In truth… when had she ever protected us? During the three years in the Northwest, it was elder sister that protected her.”
After he finished saying this, the child fell silent. The group passed around Sha Ping City and did not go through it, heading straight toward the burial site to the East.
Xuan Tian Ming personally helped Zi Rui off of the camel then reached out to help Feng Yu Heng. The oasis to the East only had Yao shi’s grave, as Feng Jin Yuan’s grave was not there. Because people knew that Imperial Daughter Ji An’s mother had been buried there, the ones that kept an eye on the graves in Sha Ping City were very careful.
When the three arrived, the group had that been sent ahead had already placed the incense burner, and they had purchased joss paper. Feng Yu heng did not walk over first. Instead, she pushed Zi Rui forward, and the child understood his elder sister’s intentions. Thus he quickly stepped forward and kowtowed three times to the grave. He then lit three sticks of incense and burned some joss paper. Only after all of this had been completed did Feng Yu Heng see that there were a couple tear streaks on his little face.
Zi Rui quietly returned then performed a salute to Xuan Tian Ming, saying very properly: “Zi Rui knows that Mother’s funeral was handled by brother-in-law. Zi Rui thanks brother-in-law.”
Xuan Tian Ming patted the child’s head and felt that this child really was related to his wife. He matured early and understood matters. He lowered his hand and went forward with Feng Yu Heng to Yao shi’s grave. This was their first time visiting as a married couple. They lit incense and burned joss paper but did not kowtow. Feng Yu Heng said: “In the end, she was lacking in fortune and could not see her daughter get married, nor could she hear her son-in-law call her mother. Xuan Tian Ming, if I said that I was not particularly saddened by this, would you believe it? The feelings that I had for her were just that much. Even if I said it, you might not understand it. But to me, the thing that caused me to feel nostalgic was her face, not the person.”
Xuan Tian Ming could not understand it, but he had become accustomed to this. It was not just limited to occasionally not understanding what she was saying, but when had he ever understood the things that she did? This included that mysterious space. There were divine things that fell into her hands. Could it be that this girl really was a deity?
He shook his head and did not think about these wild ideas. They had taken three of Gu Shu’s cities. When Yue Ping City had been taken by Da Shun, he knew that Gu Shu’s ruler would quickly express himself.
The three had finished lighting incense. Next, it was time for the three aunts of the Yao family to make their offerings. They wiped away tears and simply said that Yao shi had been muddled. They hoped that she would be able to forget about this life in her next life and enjoy a good life.
Everyone stayed in Sha Ping City for a night. The next time, they set out and returned to Lan Zhou. From Lan Zhou, they would return to the capital. Right before leaving, Xu shi grabbed Feng Yu Heng’s hand and said: “Going to Ji An Prefecture, it was originally to take care of you, but then you came to the South. There is a battle here, so it’s not good for us women to remain here. Your two aunts and I thought about it, and we will return to Ji An Prefecture. There are still things there that need to be taken care of. When your army makes a triumphant return, write a letter to us. We will also return to the capital.”
Miao shi told Feng Yu Heng: “I will be going to Xiao Zhou to take care of Zi Rui. You can be at ease. Xiao Zhou has Yun Lu Academy, and it’s extremely peaceful. As for the capital…”
Feng Yu Heng knew what she meant by the capital. Although she had not reported Yao shi’s death when she had sent Feng Jin Yuan’s ashes to Feng Fen Dai, it had been quite a long time. It was also impossible that the Yao family would be unable to hear any news. After all, that was the Yao family’s daughter. She was not worried about Yao Xian being heartbroken because that was her grandfather’s soul, and he did not have many feelings for Yao shi. It was just that those uncles loved their younger sister. Hearing about it, it was inevitable that they would be saddened.
“Third aunt, if there is no rush to return to Xiao Zhou, bring Zi Rui back to the capital for a few days! Pass along my condolences to the Yao family. It was all my fault for not being able to take care of mother.”
Qin shi quickly cut her off: “How can this be blamed on you? The Yao family favors reason. A-Heng, you must not blame yourself.”
Xu shi also said: “The Yao family has seen everything that happened. When younger sister-in-law was sent to that other courtyard, it was father that spoke up. Nobody would blame you. We just hope that the Yao manor can be peaceful in the future. Most importantly, we hope that you and His Highness the ninth prince can live a good life, sharing goals and putting your efforts into the same thing. It would be best if you could have a daughter in the coming year.”
Feng Yu Heng laughed. This part of the Yao family was the most entertaining. Everyone else earnestly hoped for the birth of a chubby baby boy, yet the Yao family disliked sons. They only liked daughters. No matter who it was, they hoped that they would have daughters.
Feng Yu Heng hugged them, and it was as though she was hugging her closest family members in the world.
Finally, the group left the desert and passed through the South. Feng Yu Heng and Xuan Tian Ming escorted the group until they reached the city gate. They then watched Bai Fu Rong and Bai Ze act as though “they would never meet again.” Only then were they sent into Lan Zhou City through the southern gate.
When the gate was closed, she saw that Xuan Tian Ming did not turn around and only waved behind him. Before she could sigh, a soldier came forward with a report: “General! Imperial Daughter! Gu Shu’s capital sent a letter!”