When I was taken on a fast - galloping horse by the Right General to a certain town, I felt even more that this was a total rip - off.
Why didn't anyone tell me that the desolate outskirts where I had stayed before were actually far from the town ahead? Why did I feel that it was becoming more and more impossible for me to return to the imperial city the further I went?
After riding all night, I had no idea what time it was when I was brought to the town. My head was completely dizzy from the oncoming gale during the journey. It wasn't until my aunt gently called my name that I realized I had already arrived at the post station.
After my aunt and uncle heard about my experience, they were quite helpless. While writing a letter to my parents, they were discussing what to do with me.
My aunt said, "How about waiting in place until the army of the Great Yong comes to pick her up?"
My uncle shook his head. "But if we do that, our schedule will be very tight. It will take time for our letter to reach them, and we can't miss the hunting competition in the Red Desert."
My aunt said, "Then we can send a detachment to take Xihe back?"
Hearing this, Yu Chi Cheng frowned. "I don't think this is appropriate. The number of people we brought this time is already small. After sending a part of them to protect those jade wares, we don't have enough people left to send another detachment to take Xihe back. If we insist on splitting up, it's very likely that neither the jade wares nor Xihe will be safe. Moreover, if a detachment is sent to take Xihe back, I will surely go with them. Making a round - trip like this will also delay our time to the Red Desert."
"That's a problem. We can't just take her to the North Cold, can we?" My aunt frowned, looking a bit troubled.
Yu Chi Cheng hesitated for a moment, then tentatively said, "It's not impossible. Xihe can first go with us to the North Cold and the Red Desert to have fun for a while. Then after our autumn hunting, when I follow the army to escort fur materials to the Great Yong, I'll take her back together. If Uncle is not at ease, he can send one or two imperial masters to come with us to the North Cold."
My uncle was writing a letter. Hearing this, he slightly raised his eyes and then smiled gently. "Then why don't we go to the big city ahead? The local garrison can report and escort her back."
"I can't trust anyone who is not the emperor's personal guard! What if we entrust her to the wrong person..." Just as someone finished speaking, he realized he had said something inappropriate. He stole a glance at me and then quickly lowered his eyes, saying nothing more.
My uncle immediately understood. He raised his lips and asked, "What's your opinion, Xihe?"
I looked at my uncle's meaningful look and suddenly felt a bit embarrassed. I was about to say, "Of course I..." want to go back.
But just as the words were on my lips, I noticed someone looking extremely dejected. For some reason, I suddenly changed my words to, "Of course I... want to go to the North Cold with aunt and uncle!"
Yu Chi Cheng looked up in disbelief, and my aunt was also surprised. Only my uncle smiled faintly. "Alright, I'll tell your father that you want to go and see the place where your mother used to live."
"Okay." As soon as I made this decision, my heart started pounding.
My life had always been regular and well - ordered, without any mistakes. But this time, for some unknown reason, I just wanted to be a bit wild. I really wanted to go and see the North Cold, to see the place where my mother used to live, to see what other interesting things there were in that magical place besides the firefly butterflies, and to feel the vastness my mother had described. Of course, I also wanted to see the scenery along the way and see what other parts of the country I lived in were like.
My previous fear was completely dispelled in the soft candlelight of the room. The tenderness in my aunt and uncle's eyes gave me the reason to take a risk.
At that time, I didn't know why I made such a decision. It wasn't until many years later that I remembered that I was only thirteen years old then, still an inexperienced child. I liked all new and interesting things, had no defense against people, and didn't have a particularly deep attachment to my family who I lived with day and night. Because their love for me was my confidence. No matter where I was or what decision I made, they would always be there where I could see them as soon as I turned around. Moreover, I had been taught to be independent since childhood, so I wasn't afraid to go to a new and unfamiliar environment.
"Xihe, you should go to bed early today. We still have a long journey tomorrow." While writing the letter, my uncle asked my aunt to take me out. Yu Chi Cheng glanced at me but stayed beside my uncle.
I held my aunt's soft hand and walked out of the room. It felt just like holding my mother's hand. I asked, "Aunt, will Father scold me for going to the North Cold with you like this?"
My aunt smiled. "Maybe he will, maybe not. I had the same doubts as you when I was in the Great Yong. Later, I found that rules are just nothing. Just follow your heart."
I looked up. "Aunt, did you ever secretly leave the palace when you were a princess?"
My aunt nodded. "Yes, but at that time, I was traveling with your parents across the mountains and rivers."
"Traveling across the mountains and rivers?" I was immediately filled with anticipation but vaguely felt something was wrong.
My aunt nodded and stroked my head. "Xihe, are you brave enough to sleep alone tonight? If not, you can sleep with aunt."
I looked at the long, dark corridor of the post station that extended in both directions. There were only a few lanterns far apart, swaying in the wind with the candlelight flickering. I smiled shyly and hugged my aunt. "Xihe wants to sleep with aunt."
My aunt laughed and took me to her room.
That night, I wasn't used to the bed. It felt too hard. In her sleep, my aunt whispered to me, "You'll get used to it after staying outside for a long time."
At that time, hearing these words, I felt a bit sad for some reason. I thought that my aunt and mother must be women with stories.
...
The next day, before dawn, I was woken up. My aunt dressed and groomed me and then stuffed me into a spacious carriage.
"Xihe, if you're sleepy, you can sleep in the carriage." My aunt said gently. I nodded sleepily and rested my head on her lap and continued to sleep.
When I woke up again, I felt as if my whole body was falling apart.
I suddenly understood a bit of the hardship they had endured traveling all the way from the North Cold to the Great Yong. But I didn't understand what had motivated them to come to the Great Yong once every three years for decades.
At first, I was weak and drowsy in the carriage. Later, when I lifted the curtain of the window to look at the scenery, I found that Yu Chi Cheng had been riding around the carriage.
"Xihe, do you want to come out and ride with me?" Whenever we were in the deserted wilderness, Yu Chi Cheng would ask me this.
I always shook my head. Later, I got annoyed by his repeated questions and said, "Okay, let's switch places. You sit in the carriage with your mother, and I'll ride the horse outside..."
"Ah?" Before Yu Chi Cheng could react, I shouted, "Stop the carriage, stop the carriage."