Yu Chi Cheng's letter gradually woke me up. I couldn't have any estrangement with him, so this matter had to be resolved eventually.
Since it involved the royal secrets such as my mother's resurrection and her true identity, I naturally couldn't write what I wanted to say in a letter and send it to Yu Chi Cheng. After much thought, the only way was to catch up with him before he went too far and ask him clearly in person.
I told my father about my decision and asked him to send people to protect me. I was going to chase after Yu Chi Cheng.
My father sighed. Touched by my persistence, he finally agreed. I borrowed my elder brother's swift horse, took my shadow guards and set off.
Since Yu Chi Cheng was traveling with a large troop carrying goods, he was moving quite slowly. I whipped up my horse and caught up with him in one day.
At that time, he was resting and replenishing supplies at the post station. Just as he was drinking water, he saw me dismount from my horse in a hooded cloak. For a moment, his eyes widened.
"Xi He?" He put down his water cup and rushed towards me. I was also so excited to see him that I ran towards him and threw myself into his arms.
The familiar cedar fragrance on him assailed my nostrils. But I felt so aggrieved that I wanted to cry because of this familiar embrace.
The shadow guards following me quickly averted their eyes when they saw this scene. The other soldiers from the Northern Cold also pretended not to see and went about their own business. For a moment, the large post station emptied out a lot.
Yu Chi Cheng held me for a while and then let me go. He said, "Why did you come? Do you miss me?" He lowered his head and smiled at me. There was indescribable tenderness in his eyes and eyebrows.
I couldn't help but lower my head and bite my lips. Then I slowly said, "Brother Cheng, I have something to tell you. Can we find a place where there's no one?"
Yu Chi Cheng said, "Sure. There are empty rooms on the upper floor of the post station." After saying that, he led me upstairs.
I was led by him and slowly followed behind him. I was clearly very happy to see him, but I frowned a little because I had something weighing on my mind.
After we got to the empty room, Yu Chi Cheng noticed my low mood. He asked, "What happened? Why are you unhappy?"
I then told him the real reason why my father didn't agree to our relationship. As I was speaking, my eyes turned red and I couldn't help shedding tears. He listened attentively, but his eyebrows frowned tighter and tighter. Then he began to clumsily wipe my tears and comforted me, "Alright, Xi He, don't cry."
It should have been him who was more pained. Why was he comforting me instead? I cried even more sadly.
After I finished telling him everything, he understood why I had chased after him even though he had been gone for two or three days. He sighed. I secretly observed his expression, afraid that he would be like the one in my nightmare and would no longer want to talk to me. Who would have thought that after digesting it for a moment, he would say, "Xi He, actually, when they tried to sow discord and make me attack you, I had already hesitated and struggled with this problem. For you, at first you only thought that your father 'might be my father's murderer'. But in my previous hesitation and struggle, I assumed the situation was that 'your father was my father's murderer'. So when you tell me the truth now, there's actually nothing for me to struggle with because I've already struggled through it."
I stared blankly at him. He tried hard to squeeze out a smile, but what finally showed on his face was a bitter smile. He then said, "As for the evil deeds my father did, actually I had found out about them before. I don't approve of his actions and I don't want to avenge him either. I'm actually very helpless. Really, it's just like when you find out you've been deceived, you try hard to find the truth. Finally, when you find the truth, you realize it's better not to know anything."
Hearing this, I sadly hugged him and buried my head in his chest, listening to his powerful heartbeat.
He hugged me tightly and gently stroked my head. He continued, "As for what you said about being afraid that I'll be sad and in pain, actually it's okay now because I've already been sad and in pain before. So you don't have to worry that I'll stop liking you because of this. Because I've already figured it out. Meeting you is the greatest luck in my life. I'm willing to always protect you and make you carefree forever. The grudges of our parents' generation are their business. They shouldn't involve us. So I won't do anything against my true heart! Actually, I also approve of my father's political stance. As long as the two countries are in harmony, what does it matter if we bow down and become vassals? After all, it's just a title. But father exchanged it for the reduction of the annual tribute. People don't understand him, but I understand him too well. Over the years, the Northern Cold has been getting better and better under his governance. The temperaments of the people in the Northern Cold have also become much milder. The exchanges between the Northern Cold and the Great Yong have become more and more frequent and in - depth. The people of both countries live and work in peace and contentment. Isn't it all good?"
Hearing this, I nodded. I really admired his inner strength. The things that had troubled me before were so easily solved by Yu Chi Cheng in just a few words. I immediately felt much better.
So I rubbed against him and said, "Brother Cheng, you're really the most rational person in the world."
Yu Chi Cheng said, "Don't praise me so much. I'm not as great as you said. Since your knot in your heart has been untied, go back early. Remember to write to me in the future."
I nodded and got up from him. He smiled at me. Finally, the worry in his eyes faded and was covered with radiance.
I stared at him intently, then tiptoed and kissed his face. He was stunned for a moment and then smiled more happily. I then pulled his hand and walked out of the room.
"Goodbye, Brother Cheng." I and my shadow guards mounted the horses we had come on. I looked back and waved to Yu Chi Cheng. He also stayed where he was and waved to me. This time, since it was me leaving, I wasn't that sad. But when I looked back on the horse, I clearly saw the reluctance in his eyes.
So this is what it's like to see someone off. The one being sent off is never as sad as the one seeing them off.
After I returned to the palace, I told my father and mother all these things. I told my father that I would persevere through these two years. I definitely would. My father was very helpless and just said, "Alright, let's talk about this again after two years."
Time flies like an arrow. Two years passed in a flash. In these two years, Yu Chi Cheng and I could only pour out our yearning for each other through letters. Because of the expectation of receiving letters, I was happy every day.
Soon it was the day of my coming - of - age ceremony. Just as Yu Chi Cheng had said two years ago, he prepared the betrothal gifts and came to the Great Yong to propose marriage to my father.
On the day he arrived at the imperial city of the Great Yong, I was extremely happy. But when he met my father, my father waved his hand and rejected him again.
Yu Chi Cheng asked in disbelief, "Uncle, what's the reason this time?"