Chapter 3, Remembering My Hometown

You... how do you know! The beautiful face of Luoxia almost seemed as if she had seen a ghost, nearly letting out a startled scream.

He did not mention nuclear explosions, did not speak of honor, did not talk about perseverance, nor did he refer to the seven soldiers who trekked over 8,000 miles, facing a dire situation with no water and no food, yet discovered the legend of two springs, one salty and one sweet.

After humming that little-known song, Yue Qianqiu on the bed felt a soreness in his eyes and couldn't help but murmur to himself: "The bright moonlight before my bed, I suspect it is frost on the ground. I raise my head to gaze at the bright moon, and lower it to think of my hometown"

Yue Qianqiu enjoys daydreaming and is not fond of speaking, yet whenever she does speak, she often leaves them, and even the old master, in fits of laughter or speechless. Just like the farcical scene at the back door today, which was unexpected from beginning to end. However, what frightens her the most is that the Ninth Young Master sometimes does not resemble a child at all

In this vast Vietnamese capital, they are all strangers. Has she not also forgotten her own home, forgotten her own parents?

One can recall the time when they traversed the vast yellow sands and arrived at that outpost, hearing a young soldier sing "The Soldier and the Spring". Even though he had completely forgotten the lyrics, he could not help but softly hum the melody.

The setting sun could not help but be amused by Yue Qianqiu: "You must have misheard, how could there be anyone in the world named Singel"

He still does not mention the terrifying escape from the fire scene

I am willing to serve you for a lifetime

Is the Ninth Young Master perhaps thinking of home? Could it be that his home is from that place called Lop Nur, Singgel? ... However, the Ninth Young Master was clearly taken into the manor by the old master when he was very young, and he doesn't even remember his name

Upon hearing these final words, Luoxia could no longer contain herself and suddenly bent down, weeping uncontrollably. After crying, she finally became aware of her situation and hurriedly wiped away her tears with great effort

She forced a smile and said, "It is so late, my lord, do you not wish to sleep yet?"

Yue Qianqiu half sat up and gently shrugged, saying: "I guessed."

He stayed in the Yue Prefecture for seven years. Although he was not particularly close to his peers, they at least maintained a semblance of cordiality, and the servants did not openly reveal certain thoughts.

At this moment, Luo Xia's face suddenly turned pale. She anxiously looked back and saw that there was no third person in the room. Remembering the strange rule set by Yue Qianqiu before, which prohibited anyone other than herself from entering the room, she let out a slight sigh of relief and asked nervously, "What do you mean by that, young master?"

The setting sun pondered over the brief twenty or so words, and in that moment, she felt as if she understood why the Ninth Young Master had shown her leniency

This time, a total of eight maidens were sent out to be married, among which four belong to the same family in the residence. It is said that either someone from above has already chosen suitable matches for them, or their parents and brothers-in-law have long since selected suitors for them. The other two have ten-year contracts; once they leave the Yue family gate, they will no longer be servants.

Yue Qianqiu let out a sigh, thinking that there was truly nothing new about it. She then said lightly, "Did she tell you that as long as you inform me about someone in the back street inquiring about me, and bring me to meet that Ding Youcai at the back door, she would find you another good match?"

Although she has been following Yue Qianqiu for three years and is the only one who can serve him closely, she has never been able to see through this young Ninth Prince.

Due to today's "robbery incident," Luo Xia and the two young girls were summoned by Old Master Yue and received a stern reprimand. Subsequently, they brought back Yue Qianqiu, who had dined with the old master.

Luoxia did not expect to be asked this by Yue Qianqiu, and after a long while, she managed to squeeze out a faint smile: "Why does the young master ask this..."

He originally did not intend to concern himself with whom Luoxia would marry. Since she had never regarded him as a support, nor had she ever uttered a word of help to him, why should he meddle in her affairs?

Why is there none? The book states that far, far to the west, there is a lake that was once magnificent but has since dried up into a desert, called Lop Nur. In this desert, there is a small oasis, the only place with spring water, where a outpost was later established, named Singel. Legend has it that these three characters mean majestic and masculine in another language

But now people are openly filled with envy and hatred, elders and peers are deliberately distancing themselves, leading to today's farce

Listening to this, Yue Qianqiu yawned again and then casually said: "I won't pursue today's matter, but there won't be a next time. You don't have to go to extremes; I just want to keep you for another two years. You won't hold it against me, will you?"

Luoxia finally could not help but collapse onto the edge of the bed, her teeth chattering incessantly. After a long while, she spoke in a voice that seemed almost not her own, saying: "She has betrothed me to the son of the steward Lin in the manor"

After three years of extensive reading at Heming Pavilion, he no longer sees the way back. There is no need for him to think of his hometown; it is time for him to consider himself as one of the people here

Gazing at the very pleasing face of the setting sun, he said word by word: "If you are willing to place a fresh flower on cow dung in the future, then consider that I have said nothing. If you have other plans, then speak them clearly. A stepmother is not a biological mother and cannot control you for a lifetime"

However, the one who stabs from behind is different from the mother! Therefore, he needs to ignite the sunset.

Without mentioning any prospects for success, at his advanced age, he must repay the kindness of nurturing he received

I have not yet guessed that someone in the residence said, if you deceive me into going to the back door, I will treat you as a concubine in the future

Listening to this strange melody she had never heard before, and gazing at the light streaming in through the window, Luoxia felt her eyelids gradually drooping. As drowsiness began to set in, she could not help but experience a peculiar sensation.

"A lifetime is too long; it is sufficient to live well in the present moment." Yue Qianqiu burrowed into the bed, turning over and leaving a silhouette for the setting sun.

The setting sun, however, still weighed heavily on her mind. She attended to Yue Qianqiu's washing and grooming, and after preparing his bed, she waited for him to lie down. As she reached to lower the curtain, she suddenly felt someone tugging at her sleeve.

As soon as the words left her mouth, Luoxia regretted it. This was not a good question, nor was it one she should have asked. However, to her surprise, Yue Qianqiu actually responded.

He certainly would not harbor resentment towards the old man who revealed that he was an adopted son. Bringing home a child with no relatives and raising him like a biological grandson is already a tremendous act of kindness

You are getting married, but I see that you are not happy

A poem of quiet night thoughts expresses the longing for home. Compared to those wanderers who still have a day to return home, he has long lost his place to return to

That person who drinks, gambles, and beats his wife all day long, without even a proper job, and has been widowed twice within a year of marriage

Yue Qianqiu released her hand and said earnestly, "Only you and another person were bought in with a dead contract since childhood, and after entering the mansion, both recognized a foster mother. I heard that the foster mother of that girl betrothed her to a pharmacy manager who lost his wife, to serve as a secondary wife, and the betrothal gift was fifteen strings of cash. Your foster mother has also visited Qingfen Pavilion a few times, sharp-tongued and overbearing; her appetite should be even greater, right?"

Luoxia was acutely aware of the gravity of the charge against her for colluding with outsiders to betray her master. If this crime were committed by someone else in the household, a beating would be considered a light punishment, and even death would not be deemed excessive. Yet, to her surprise, Que Qianqiu let her off this time with remarkable ease, not even mentioning how she would be dealt with, but merely stating that she would be allowed to stay for another two years. In that moment, the tears she had just managed to hold back flowed freely once more, prompting her to quickly bow her head twice in apology.

Upon returning to the Qingfen Pavilion on the west side of Heming Pavilion, the two little girls outside finally caught their breath.

As the night deepened, the setting sun lay down on the horizon before the bed as usual. Noticing that the even breathing sounds she used to hear from the bed were absent, she realized that Jiu Gongzi had not fallen asleep. She forgot that this Ninth Young Master usually did not speak much with the maidservants, and suddenly asked, "Ninth Young Master, how did you know that Ding Youcai is not your uncle today?"

Yue Qianqiu spoke uncontrollably of the stories from another world, in a tone reminiscent of a dreamlike murmur

How much betrothal money does your mother-in-law intend to ask for in exchange for you

Singel visited the outpost where he had served after the death of his father in his previous life, in accordance with his father's last wishes

Although I have not turned over for a thousand autumns, my eyes are fixed on that ink wash caterpillar tent: "Grandfather said that when he brought me back, I weighed at most four or five pounds, having been born only a few months prior, and I couldn't even speak, so how could I know what my name was before? That Ding Youcai didn't even think about this; he just came up and randomly called me Singel, expecting me to believe him?"

As for marriage, I would rather die than marry that scoundrel who beats his wife. When I enter the door, I will carry scissors with me; if it comes to it, we can die together

After much deliberation, she finally said resolutely: "Young Master, I know I deserve to die a thousand deaths, but my foster mother said that there is an eighty to ninety percent chance that he is indeed your uncle. I only agreed thinking it was just a matter of letting you meet, but I never expected she had such ulterior motives... Whether to punish or sell me, I will leave it to your discretion, for in any case, I deserve what is coming to me."