Love in Red Dust - Chapter 65

Chapter 65

The person on the other side must have been startled, for before Dingyi could get a clear look, they hurriedly blocked the probe-hole in the wall.

Terrified, she panted, clutching her chest to calm herself. Her mind raced like a windmill, worried that their whereabouts had been discovered. Her father’s case had originally implicated other court officials; could it be that people loyal to Prince Zhuang had tracked them down? Was that person wearing the red ribbon she saw the other day one of their lackeys?

No, she had to notify Rujian. They couldn’t stay in Datong; they had to leave immediately. She lifted her skirts and ran back to her room to pack, but halfway through, she felt something was wrong. If they were truly people of Prince Zhuang, they would have burst through the door to take their lives long ago. Would they really have the leisure to play such devious, roundabout games?

She steadied her mind, but the more she thought, the more chaotic her thoughts became. It was a pity she hadn't seen the person's face clearly. What should she do now? She couldn't report it to the authorities and walk into a trap, and with Rujian away, she had to rely on herself. She went to the kitchen, grabbed a vegetable knife, and held it. Not daring to go to their door, she carried a ladder, leaned it against the wall, and climbed up, intending to have a confrontation from atop the wall.

The foot of the wall was already empty; the person must have been guilty and fled. Furious, she grabbed a roof tile and shouted at the two servants standing guard: "Tell your master to come out and speak! It’s pitch black, yet someone in your courtyard is drilling holes to spy on people—is there anyone in charge here or not? If no one is, I’m reporting you to the authorities! Bring your master out, and he can accompany me to the Datong Prefect’s office!"

She was just posturing—she would be just as terrified if she actually had to go to the magistrate's office. Regardless, she decided to be fierce and intimidating, knocking on the wall and cursing in the street.

The two servants didn't dare to make a scene and shook their heads with innocent faces. "There’s no such thing. Who’s spying? Our master isn't home; he’s out at a feast with friends."

Still daring to deny it? Furious, she threw two tiles into their courtyard. Since the opponent refused to show themselves, it felt like punching a cotton bag—if the other party refused to engage, what could she do? Gritting her teeth, she climbed down the ladder, used a shovel to mix some mud and water, and found small bricks to fill the hole, sealing it up completely.

Just as she finished and sat down, she heard a knock on the door. It was most likely Rujian returning. She got up to pull the bolt, eager to tell him about what had just happened. But when she opened the door, the person standing outside left her dumbstruck. That tall, upright posture and those calm brows were unmistakably the man she had been missing for so long!

She was stunned, unable to distinguish reality from a dream. She had imagined this reunion scene more than once—just like this, opening the door to find him standing outside, looking at her with a smile.

The wind stirred her hair, scattering it to block her view. She narrowed her eyes, and just like the poem said, she feared the encounter was but a dream. She didn't even dare to step forward, only murmuring a prayer, "Buddha, protect me from waking up; at least let me speak a few words..."

She stood foolishly, and he smiled, though a hint of bitterness lingered at the corners of his lips. "I thought it over and decided that I was afraid you’d tell Rujian, so I wanted to see you before he came back." He stepped inside, hesitated for a moment, and unable to resist any longer, pulled her into his arms. He stroked every strand of hair and every inch of skin, like a traveler in the desert who suddenly finds an oasis. The longing he had suppressed for so long flooded him instantly. He held her tightly, as if wishing to embed her into his own body. "Guess how I’ve spent these last nine months? It was like dying once over... Do you even have a heart? How can you be so heartless?"

She still found it hard to believe. Only when she could truly touch him did she realize it wasn't a dream—the Twelfth Prince had found her. Her whole body shook uncontrollably. She wanted to sob aloud but forced herself to endure, burying her face in his shoulder to weep softly.

A crescent moon hung overhead, casting flickering shadows. There were no lamps here, only the dim candlelight filtering from the window of the main room. They embraced tightly, so reluctant to part that they didn't want to let go even for an instant. But they couldn't stay like this; she was afraid Rujian might return and catch them, which would only lead to conflict.

She loosened her grip, turned to bolt the door, and took his hand to lead him into her room. Only then did she feel the embarrassment. Leaving without a word was too unrighteous, and after he had traveled over mountains and rivers to find her, she felt she had no face to see him. She scraped the floor with her toes and glanced at him timidly. "Why are you here?"

In the lamplight, she appeared delicate and fragile, enough to make one’s heart ache. She must have had a good life with her brother, and her daily life seemed relaxed; he had observed her for several days in secret and saw no signs of hardship. This was good, yet it also felt bad. He was being petty, feeling that she had found a support system and forgotten about him. He had worried himself sick, but did she miss him at all?

"I am looking for my runaway wife. Even though she doesn't care for me, now that I’ve found her, I still want to take her back and live a good life." He placed his hand on her shoulder, struggling to control his emotions, though his voice trembled. "I have not had a good day during this time; I haven’t been able to sleep. From Ningguta to Beijing, and from Beijing to Shanxi, I’ve been drained until I am almost bone-dry. Do you know that?"

His words whipped her heart painfully. She nodded through her tears. "I know, I’m sorry. I didn't want it to be this way... Who said I don't care about you? I followed Rujian to so many places, always feeling like I was drifting. My roots are in Beijing, in you. Only with you do I have a home. I wanted to return to Beijing too, but if I went back, what would happen to Rujian? Actually, if I had to choose again, I would still choose to be with my brother. You have everything except me, but Rujian is the opposite; he has nothing left but me. I couldn't just pursue my own happiness and abandon him."

His heart felt bitter, filled with both joy and disappointment. He tilted his head back to stop his tears from falling, not wanting her to see, and spoke slowly: "You have your reasons, and I have my persistence. Sometimes I grow weary in my desperation, hating you for leaving without a word, wanting to let go and never look for you again. But inquiring about your whereabouts every day has become a habit—one I cannot change."

Finding her still left him feeling so sad; Dingyi felt she was truly unforgivable. Why did she have to be so cautious? Since the Heavens allowed him to reappear, she couldn't let him go again.

She stood on tiptoe and wrapped her arms around his neck. "We are destined to be entangled for a lifetime. Your appearance today proves that our bond is not broken."

Her face was so close to his, with her round eyes and soft, full lips. His heart was restless; he lingered on those lips with a sweet, lingering lick, and whispered that she was right. "I also have to thank your master. It was the old gentleman who suggested I come to Datong to find you."

As the saying goes, ginger is still the spiciest when it’s old. Her master understood her; he would never want to see her drifting in displacement. He always hoped for her well-being. Her master was of age and saw through everything; he must have felt she belonged with the Twelfth Prince, or else he wouldn't have led him to her.

She was a bit shy. Between lovers, such small, intimate gestures were constant. Recalling the earlier incident outside, she felt embarrassed. She blushed but enjoyed it; she traced his neck with light, feathery licks, and he, ticklish, laughed softly.

Just as they were flirting, another knock came at the door. She hurriedly pushed him away. "Rujian is back. You must go; don't let him see you. Since we live so close, we can talk again tomorrow."

She smoothed her hair and turned back to look as she walked. He stood with his hands behind his back, bathed in a warm halo of light. She let out a long sigh of relief; as long as he was there, her heart was at peace.

The door opened, and Rujian was ushered in by two servants, one on each side. The business deal must have gone very well, as he was quite tipsy. He laughed upon seeing her, slurring his words as he described the battle of the day: "Old Liu Qu tried to play tricks on me... he’s still too naive! When he couldn't outdo me in business, he... force-fed me alcohol. Come now, I have an endless capacity! So... he lost his wife... and his troops. Now he’s finally honest..."

The scent of alcohol on him was overpowering. She hummed in agreement, like coaxing a child. "Third Brother, your methods are superior; no one is your match. Are you tired? It’s late, so go rest early. When you wake up, tomorrow you can just sit back and count the silver, okay?" She quickly gestured to the servants. "Take care of your master and get him back to his room; he looks like a drunken cat, it’s a disgrace."

The servants answered in the affirmative and helped him into the main room. She had to watch over the courtyard, wandering around to make sure everything was settled, before finally returning to her room. Upon entering, she was slightly surprised to find him still in the room, but her heart secretly rejoiced. She looked back at the outside, fearing he might be seen, and hurriedly closed the door and drew the window curtains. The room was suddenly quiet. The two sat facing each other in silence, both feeling awkward.

She spoke first. "Since you knew I was here, why didn't you come to see me? You even rented a room next door—was it fun playing such a long game?"

He hesitated before saying, "Your father’s case hasn't been concluded, and I felt I had no face to see you. I didn't dare to hope for anything else; just being able to see you from afar was enough. If I hadn't been exposed today, I would still be hiding from you, fearing that one mistake would make you run off again. I couldn't endure going through that once more. I’ve been working on that case all along, and I should have waited until the ringleaders were brought to justice before meeting you, but I couldn't wait. This constant longing and worrying is no way to live. Actually, investigating the case and being with you don't conflict."

Was this really the elegant and refined Twelfth Prince she knew? She found it laughable to think of all the things he had done. "That still doesn't explain why you had to drill a hole in the wall. That’s like drawing your wages before you’ve even done any real work; you sure know how to do business."

He narrowed his eyes slightly, appearing somewhat embarrassed, a red glow rising on his face until even his neck was flushed. He whispered, "Wasn't my 'wages' already drawn back in Suifenhe? What I'm doing now is nothing compared to that..."

She knew he was referring to the night before they left. It was too embarrassing to talk about; she had only wanted to leave a memory, fully prepared never to see him again, never expecting him to be so quick as to find her in nine months.

Seeing her awkwardness, he stammered, "That’s not the only thing I’m worried about. Several times in my dreams, I saw you were pregnant, walking around outside with a large belly, and I was frantic with worry. When I woke up, I would calculate—if that were true, you would be about to give birth by now..." As he said this, he raised his eyes, and she was so embarrassed she didn't know where to look, so he finally stopped.

She blushed and toyed with her sash, smiling softly. "Thinking back... it was disrespectful. But I don't regret it. From the moment we parted in Suifenhe, I had made up my mind never to marry again. If I really had been pregnant, that would have been fine; even if you weren't there, I would have had a companion."

Stealing a child from him to raise on her own, leaving him behind—what would that make him? He was unconvinced, shifted over to sit beside her. "Raising a child is only right, but you can't do it behind my back, leaving him with only a mother and no father. How hurt would he be? My son must have a proper status, which is why I went to the palace after returning to the capital and reported our affair."

She stared at him, stunned. "You really told them?"

He nodded. "There are twenty noble ladies being chosen in the palace for marriage this year. If I didn't act first, once a decree came down, no one could save it. It was better to confess it myself so they would be prepared." He smiled. "I praised you as someone unparalleled in heaven or on earth. The Emperor's attitude softened, and he intended to waive your background and bring you into the palace, making it easier for me to marry you later. Unfortunately, you ran away without a trace, and when the Emperor found out, he was absolutely furious..."

"Did he blame you?" she asked anxiously. "You are too honest. I left without even setting a date for my return; even if he gave me the title of a Fujin, I wouldn't have the fortune to accept it. But you—you’ve angered them, and they might mistreat you later. How could you make me worry like this?"

Seeing her change color, he comforted her quickly. "Don't worry. The Empress knows about us, and with her there, the decree for an arranged marriage won't come down. The current plan is to conclude the case as soon as possible. It will be a comfort to your parents in the afterlife, and our own matters can then be spoken of openly and righteously."

This was naturally a good thing, but it was easier said than done. In truth, she didn't want to talk about anything else right now. They had just reunited—when would the national enmity and family grudges finally end? She nestled into his arms, looked up, and said, "It’s hard on you. The case is difficult to investigate, having been buried for over ten years; people and events have all changed. Don't push yourself too hard. Knowing you have this intention is enough for me."

After some tender whispering, since they were already sitting on the kang, she simply kicked off her shoes, found a comfortable spot, and rested her head on his lap. He looked at her with doting eyes, her long black hair spread out like water. He picked up a lock and twirled it around his fingertip, speaking in a low, gentle voice: "I have already sent people to the South. I can still find a few of the officials who were on the Salt Route back then. Even if I can't dig anything out of officialdom, those salt merchants won't be able to keep their mouths shut if I offer them some benefits. I used to be a stickler for rules, but now it’s time to be flexible. Investigating my own family’s case—it doesn't matter what means I use. The officialdom is already dark; if I’m too righteous, I won't be able to maneuver at all. Perhaps I can stir up the bottom of the pot, leave everyone uneasy, and then push out a scapegoat; that way, the case will have a breakthrough."

He said "my own family's case," and these words touched her heart more than any vow of eternal love. She had suffered so much in the past, without any support. If she had someone like him back then, she would never have fallen to such a state! Fortunately, it wasn't too late. He had come to her in the prime of her youth, standing by her side—what was there left to fear?

She opened her arms and called out to him softly, "Hongce..."

He hummed and leaned down to kiss her red, vibrant lips. "I will move into the house next door, and we can visit each other discreetly behind Rujian's back. It’s not that I fear him, but out of consideration for his feelings. You only have this one brother; what you value, I value too. Once the truth of the case comes to light, and he can eliminate his prejudice against the Yuwen clan and entrust you to me, then my work will be complete."

Whatever he said, she would follow. Like a cat, she was soothed by his petting, her eyes squinting as she drifted toward sleep. Looking at her, he truly felt she was a magical existence—fierce enough to grab a knife and climb a wall when necessary, yet so soft that she could barely be held when she was tender.

He still remembered the day he received news of her whereabouts and what he had felt then. It was a collection of all the most extreme emotions he had experienced in twenty-four years, all poured into a lead bucket and stirred violently until it shattered into pieces, leaving him only with pain he couldn't put into words... Fortunately, it was over, and everything was back on track. A treasure lost and regained made one cherish it all the more. He held her in the palm of his hand, even worrying that a breath of air might blow her away, so he was cautious and dared not be presumptuous.

However, in the end, he couldn't hold back. He rubbed her earlobe and whispered, "I won't leave tonight, alright?"

She didn't open her eyes, her cheeks slowly turning red. With an ambiguous "as you wish," she twisted her waist and drifted toward the inside of the kang.