CHAPTER 1
What is the only thing that cannot be hidden in the world?
It is the rumors.
The news that the Emperor and Empress Dowager would like to grant Feng Nuan a marriage proposal quickly spread across the capital, and people at the border naturally knew over time.
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She was sitting in an old wagon on her way back to the Imperial City when Feng Nuan heard such news.
The old wagon walked slowly and was swaying along, each step of the cattle pulling it caused three shakes, and it was as if the cart would collapse anytime soon, but she was not worried at all. Casually holding a scroll of book as she read while leaning inside the wagon’s shed which shields the scorching heat of the sun, her legs slightly crossed.
Sitting with her is a handsome young man of the same age, about 16 or 17 years old. The boy is sitting in front of the wagon, swinging a broken whip woven from a shabby rope, and is bored with driving the old wagon.
The mountain road was clear of travelers, only the old cattle cart creaking along its wheels can be heard echoing.
Near noon, the old cow was tired and couldn't walk anymore. After the young man waved a few whips, he glanced back and muttered, “What a useless book, yet you read it with so much interest.”
Su Feng Nuan raised her eyebrows as she looked up at him with a smile, stretching her hand and knocking the books in her hands. She pointed to a part of a text in the book smiling. “To read poetry and books in vain is to lose talent, be merry in the pile of beauty. This poem is so accurate!”
The young man sneered, and rolled his eyes, "Sure enough, you are reading a useless book.”
Feng Nuan shook her head, “This book is not useless, I think its writings are really interesting.”
The young man sneered again, “So what if they’re interesting? They’re only ridiculous rumors from the marketplace and some random writings. There’s nothing significant about it at all.”
This time, it’s Feng Nuan’s turn to roll her eyes, “In the eyes of Third brother, only the Four Books and Five Classics are good materials.”
The boy was Feng Nuan’s third brother, Su Qing.
“Of course!” Su Qing exclaimed happily, “My little sister knows me well.”
Feng Nuan laughed softly. “You’re so fussy at such a young age. Let’s see what kind of wife you’ll find in the future.”
“Are you worried about me not being able to find a wife?” Su Qing looked at her, “You’re the one who should be worrying for yourself since you may not be able to marry someone. Running around all day long everyday, we can’t even see a shadow of you all year long. A wild girl that no one wants.”
Su Feng Nuan was just about to retort when a crow flew in and landed on her shoulder. She reached out and loosened the tie of the note on the bird's leg. She opened it and her face lit up, saying to Su Qing, "Brother, you don't have to worry about me not getting married. I’m afraid that all men in the world would be for my choosing."
Upon hearing her remarks, Su Qing’s eyes widened in disbelief. He grabbed the piece of note from her, reading it, and said, “What kind of wind has blown the Emperor and Empress Dowager? Don't they know what a wild girl you are? They actually want to bestow you with a marriage?”
Feng Nuan shrugged.
Su Qing crushed the piece of note, “I don't know if there's an unlucky guy who would agree to marry you. ”
Su Feng Nuan raised her foot and kicked him.
But Su Qing noticed it and quickly jumped off the wagon. He stood outside with his hand on his waist, “Stinky girl! Kick me again, do you want a fight?”
Feng Nuan poked her head out and looked at him, “Can you beat me and win?”
Su Qing choked momentarily and said, “I’m your third brother! An older brother is like a father to their sister! So, if you kick me, it’s like kicking our father!”
Su Feng Nuan chuckled, “ If an elder brother is like a father, then you’re not an older brother of mine!”
Su Qing glared at her, “Father asked me to accompany you just to take care of you! Although I’m the third of us, your brothers, when they’re not around, I’m the eldest, so you should not be rude to me!”
Feng Nuan pouted, “I don’t even have to lift a finger to beat you. Humph!” After saying so, she gazed at the burning sun and rode back again into the old wagon pulled by the cattle.
“Stinky girl,” Su Qing murmured and impatiently asked, “We’ve been riding this old wagon for half a month now, yet we’ve only gone for 200 miles so far, if this continues, when can we reach the Imperial City?”
“What’s so good about the Imperial City? It doesn’t matter if I go or not.” Su Feng Nuan with not much interest.
Su Qing suddenly realized, “Aha! Now, I understand. I thought you insisted on using this shabby old wagon because you want to enjoy the scenery along the way, but you just don't want to go to the capital!”
“What scenery is there to see, which scenery I haven't seen through the years?” Su Feng Nuan scoffed.
Su Qing got back into the carriage after hearing her words, “Well, I’ve heard that our mother was already escorted back to the Su Mansion in the capital by the Emperor’s command.”
“Yes, and you heard that from me.” She reminded him.
Su Qing pouted, “The Imperial City is great, I remembered in our younger days when we left, you didn't even want to go, and you’d always sneak back to the Imperial City. How come you’ve become bored of the Imperial City these past two years? That you are not willing to go anymore?”
“I’m tired, I guess.” Su Feng Nuan said.
Su Qing stared at her and studied her countenance for a while, but he couldn’t make anything off of it. “Father asked me to follow you, ‘cause he fears that you’ll run away secretly. And now, you’re saying that you don’t want to go back to Imperial City. I’m afraid that won't work. The note earlier, didn’t it say that the Empress Dowager and Emperor wanted to arrange an engagement just for you? If you don’t hurry back to the Imperial City when the time comes for them to give the Royal Decree, even if they give you a crooked melon, can you say anything about it and refuse the marriage?”
“Well, that is something I didn’t think of.” Su Feng Nuan rubbed her eyebrows and laments, “Northern Zhou have peaceful days but they don’t want it, why did they need to wage a war? They are living in comfort and have enough resources. If not for them, our family would have still been in peace today and the Emperor won’t remember Father. The Prime Minister wouldn’t think of recommending our father, and he won’t need to go back to his post. Then our family shouldn’t have to move back to the capital."
Su Qing doesn’t know what to say for a moment, “You are just looking for fun, so why are you blaming others for what happened with Northern Zhou?” he said. “Didn’t you insist on Father about going to the border to fight? And after Father and big brother were injured, you came up with so many schemes that caused a heavy injury on the second prince of Northern Zhou, Chu Han, defeating their army. Even Father said that your tactics were very cruel. Could it be that you’re taking out your resentment of going to the Capital on Northern Zhou? ”
“I did not kill Chu Han, and I’ve only used cheap tricks on him.” Su Feng Nuan snorted.
Su Qing, speechless for a moment, looked up to the sky, “I’m really worried for my future brother in law, as they say, the most poisonous heart is that of a woman.”
Su Feng Nuan glanced at him, putting her thumb and index on her lips,
and she whistled softly. After the whistling sound, a pair of fine breeds with shiny coat stallions, one was black and the other was red, came from not too far away.
Su Qing’s eyes lit up, “So, you’re agreeing on going back to the Imperial City?”
Su Feng Nuan nodded. When the horses came closer, she grabbed the reins, leaping out of the wagon, and she mounted the horse neatly.
Su Qing was jealous, “Stinky girl, you didn’t bother learning martial arts from Father these years and were just running around, yet you still have good martial arts.”
Feng Nuan sat on the horse, holding the reins, looking at the direction of the Capital, her eyes gradually deepened, “Third brother, how about we race?”
“Sure!” Su Qing also jumped and sat on his horse, “These days of sitting in that shabby wagon was stifling. Racing for 80 or 100 miles is no fun. Why don’t we race all the way to the Capital? How’s that? Let’s see who gets to the Imperial City first.
Su Feng Nuan tilted her head to look at him, “You’re making such a big deal, do you want something out of this bet? Come on, what is it?”
“The Hanxiang-yu that you took from the second Prince of Northern Zhou.” Su Qing said immediately.
(T/N: Hanxiang-yu is a kind of cold jade)
Su Feng Nuan shook her head decisively, “I can’t.”
Su Qing blinked, “Are you afraid of losing?”
Su Feng Nuan rubbed the horse rein, not speaking.
Su Qing glanced at her and spoke triumphantly “For the past few years, 2nd Brother and I have often raced. You may be good and know a lot of tricks in martial arts, but if it’s horse racing —”
Su Feng Nuan cut him off, “If I bet the Hanxiang-yu, what will you bet then?”
Su Qing thought for a while, gritting his teeth and said, “I will bet that thousand-year snow lotus that I’ve been saving for ten years. Its value is equal to that of Hanxiang-yu. Even with ten thousand gold, it would be hard to buy one. How about that?”
“Then it’s a deal!” Su Feng Nuan replied enthusiastically.
The two agreed on their bet and galloped towards the Capital.
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It took me a while to post this chapter ‘coz my internet connection has been a pain these days. If there are errors or mistakes please let me know in the comments.
Thanks for reading🧡🧡
🏵️Eli