Chapter 48

Chapter 48: All Things Helan Outside the tent curtains, Heir Prince Helan remained silent for quite some time. When he spoke again, he merely said softly, “It’s nothing.” Heir Prince Helan’s voice came from outside. “You said you stopped liking him long ago, didn’t you?” Upon hearing those words, the tangled thoughts that had been weighing on Shaoyin’s heart seemed to settle all at once. She did not know what had come over her. It was as though a burden in her heart had suddenly fallen away, landing in some corner at the bottom of her heart where it no longer needed her attention. Her mood lightened considerably. Shaoyin raised her eyes and saw Heir Prince Helan’s figure reflected on the tent curtains. His tall, lean form seemed to hold a silent tenderness and tolerance as deep as the sea. Sunlight streamed down through the tent’s skylight, bright and clear, spilling outside the curtains and over Heir Prince Helan’s body. Where there was such warm light, one could not help yearning to be there. Heir Prince Helan’s gentle voice fell amid the warm sunlight. “The weather is nice today. Would you like to… ride with me to the Qinglan River, feel the breeze, and clear your mind?” Shuobei was no longer in the season of ice and snow. Shaoyin had already been in Shuobei for more than half a year. She had personally witnessed how, at the coldest time of year, Shuobei seemed buried beneath endless ice and snow that could freeze for a thousand or ten thousand years and never melt even a fraction. But she had also watched the snow and ice begin to thaw, the grasslands gradually putting forth green shoots, and the boundless mountains and rivers seemingly draped in a faint green robe. Outside the tent curtains, Heir Prince Helan continued, “There’s a sea of flowers by the Qinglan River. The flowers may all have bloomed by now. Would you like to go there with me and take a look?” His tone was so gentle that it seemed to conjure the beautiful scene before her eyes. Brilliant golden sunlight shone through the pleasant breeze, illuminating the endless emerald ripples of the river. Along the banks of the Qinglan River, great swaths of flowers were in full bloom: blue-violet irises, fiery-red lilies, golden lotuses, and countless gesang flowers stretching as far as the eye could see. It was as though, once one stood amid that sea of flowers, no troubles could exist. When a gentle breeze passed over the Qinglan River, it could carry every worry away. All one needed to do was exchange a smile with the person beside them beneath the bright sun and in the fragrant air filled with birdsong and flowers. Shaoyin gazed at Heir Prince Helan’s slender figure outside the tent, then rose and walked toward him. She lifted a hand and drew back the tent curtains, allowing the warm sunlight to fall over her as well. They rode together to the Qinglan River to let the horses drink and admire the flowers. They gazed up at the stars together beside the bonfire beneath the night sky… Gradually, Shaoyin and Heir Prince Helan did more and more things together. Their interactions were no longer limited to those expected of a married couple in name. It seemed that they grew increasingly close—not merely respectful and courteous toward each other, but genuinely harmonious. At times, the atmosphere between them was so congenial that it seemed no one in the world could insert themselves between the two of them… Under Heir Prince Helan’s personal instruction, Shaoyin’s Shuobei language improved by leaps and bounds. Even her handwriting was no longer crooked and twisted like some hideous scrawl. In return, she agreed to Heir Prince Helan’s request and taught him about the Central Plains in her spare time, as well as how to play the guqin. As County Princess Yongning, Shaoyin’s dowry had come from the palace. When she married into Shuobei, she had brought many Central Plains goods with her in numerous carts. The guqin had been among them. However, during her time in Shuobei, Shaoyin had either been worrying about her family in her homeland or been busy learning about Shuobei. She had possessed neither the mood nor the time to take up that guqin, which was meant to cultivate the body and mind. Only after Heir Prince Helan brought it up did Shaoyin become a female music instructor. In her leisure hours, she taught him by hand how to play the qin—how to pluck and brush the strings. Heir Prince Helan was indeed an exceptionally intelligent man. Although he was occupied with political affairs every day and had very little time to devote to learning the qin, he still learned quickly. Before long, he had mastered the basic techniques and could play a few simple melodies. One evening, when they had some free time, Shaoyin and Heir Prince Helan played a simple Qingping Melody together. Heir Prince Helan played the Central Plains guqin, while she slowly played the Shuobei wing-bone flute. Heir Prince Helan himself had taught her how to play the Shuobei wing-bone flute. Shaoyin and Heir Prince Helan gazed at each other as they played the Qingping Melody to its conclusion. The melodious harmony of qin and flute seemed like an evening breeze drifting between them. At this time of year, there was no trace of chill in the Shuobei wind—only gentle warmth and serenity, blending with the tranquil night and the sky full of stars outside the tent. It was a quiet night like any other. When the night grew late, Shaoyin and Heir Prince Helan washed up and went to bed. As usual, they lay down fully clothed, each on their own side. But as Shaoyin climbed onto the bed, her foot caught on something. Just as she was about to fall onto Heir Prince Helan, he caught and supported her with swift hands and eyes. It was no longer the season of ice and snow. Now was the warmest time of year in Shuobei, and they wore relatively light clothing even at night. Thus, Shaoyin’s body nearly pressed against Heir Prince Helan’s. It seemed their heartbeats might burst through their skin and collide with each other. Her face was only an inch from his. Though the awkwardness left them speechless, their breaths had already begun to mingle in secret. The sudden turn of events seemed to leave them both stunned. For a moment, neither spoke nor moved. Their trembling gazes merely met, while their breaths silently entangled with one another. When Shaoyin came back to herself and hurriedly tried to pull away, she let out a pained “Ah.” A few strands of her long hair had caught on the fastening of Heir Prince Helan’s sleeping robe. Heir Prince Helan hurried to free those strands, moving with the utmost care, as though afraid of hurting her. Shaoyin lowered her head and sat silently to one side. Her long hair, loose like a waterfall, nearly concealed her entire face. She kept her eyes lowered and looked at nothing, yet she could feel Heir Prince Helan’s slender fingers passing through her hair again and again, like a gentle breeze crossing the mountain mists before flowing into the river. “…There,” Heir Prince Helan said softly after a while. After a brief silence, he added, “It’s late. Go to sleep.” His low voice seemed somewhat hoarse. Shaoyin gave a soft “Mm,” gathered her hair, and turned inward to sleep. From beginning to end, she kept her eyes lowered, as though at that moment she did not dare look at Heir Prince Helan—not even once more. Heir Prince Helan blew out the lamp. In the boundless darkness, he lay down beside her as usual, though not particularly close. Only, he seemed unable to quiet his heart as he normally did. Before long, he turned onto his side, facing outward with his back to her. Shaoyin remained silent in the darkness, so Heir Prince Helan likely thought she had already fallen asleep. She did not know how much time had passed when Heir Prince Helan gently lifted the thin quilt covering him and quietly slipped out of bed without making a sound. After some more time had passed, he silently returned, carrying what seemed to be the cool, clean scent left after bathing. Shaoyin kept her eyes closed, facing inward, yet she found it difficult to sleep that night. Her thoughts were a tangled mess, and she had no way to sort through those countless threads. It was as though she thought and thought about everything, yet the more she thought, the more confused she became, until she could no longer make sense of anything. In the end, her endless chaotic thoughts surged around a woman’s name, rising all the way to the tip of her heart. Wuqige—a treasure like the bright moon, and the woman in Heir Prince Helan’s heart. After mentioning her to Heir Prince Helan that first time, Shaoyin did not bring up that woman’s name again for many days. But the next morning, after remaining silent for a long while, Shaoyin brought the woman up once more. Once again, she urged Heir Prince Helan to bring Wuqige to his side, saying that she would make proper arrangements for her. Heir Prince Helan remained silent for a long time after hearing her. At last, he said, “Would you like to meet her? I could arrange for the two of you to see each other.” “Of course,” Shaoyin said with a faint smile. “Perhaps we’ll hit it off at first sight.” Then she added, “The woman Heir Prince likes must be a wonderful woman.” Heir Prince Helan’s gaze settled on her face. He smiled faintly and said that once he had finished dealing with the day’s affairs, he would arrange it. Shaoyin watched Heir Prince Helan leave the Golden Tent. Even after his figure had disappeared into the distance, the corners of her lips remained slightly curved, the smile seeming frozen there. Her lips even began to ache faintly. Shaoyin did not know what was wrong with her. During the time she spent waiting, she could not do anything at all. She could not calm her mind enough to read or write, nor could she play the qin or flute. She simply sat there, unwilling to move even a finger, as though her mood had sunk to the very bottom. Though she neither spoke nor moved, her eyes could still take in the many things inside the tent. The guqin on the table—she had once taught Heir Prince Helan to play it by guiding his hands herself. The small wooden rabbit on the desk—Heir Prince Helan had carved it for her to play with. The sachet hanging from the tent—she had embroidered it and given it to Heir Prince Helan. The longbow hanging on the rack—Heir Prince Helan had used it to teach her how to draw a bow and nock an arrow. He had held her in his arms and taught her to aim at her prey… Every casual glance seemed capable of summoning countless memories. But… but… Shaoyin thought that she had been thinking too much. There were many things she should not think about, nor should she remember. She had once been stubborn and willful to an extreme over the matter of Xiao Heng and Jiang Ningyan. She could not step into the same wrong river twice. Besides, her status was no longer what it had been. The Shaoyin of today no longer had any right to be spoiled or willful. She could not make a single mistake. She had to become a virtuous and gentle Heir Princess of Shuobei. When Heir Prince Helan returned, Shaoyin had once again assumed her usual gentle and virtuous demeanor. She had even prepared gifts for the woman named Wuqige: fine rouge, cosmetics, silks, satins, and other excellent goods from the Central Plains. Heir Prince Helan glanced at the gifts she had prepared and said that he had arranged to meet the woman by the Qinglan River. Shaoyin rode with Heir Prince Helan toward the Qinglan River. Along the way, she could not help wondering what the woman she was about to meet—the woman Heir Prince Helan liked—would be like… She must be extraordinarily beautiful, with a wonderful disposition and many talents, as radiant as the bright moon. Shaoyin thought that only a woman like that could make Heir Prince Helan fall so deeply in love. She could not help recalling Xiao Heng’s assessment of her: jealous by nature, frivolous, and lacking in propriety. Shaoyin let out a faint sigh in the wind, but the rushing gale could not carry away the thoughts she should not have had. The pounding hooves of their galloping horses continued to stamp restlessly upon her heart. When they reached the Qinglan River, Shaoyin and Heir Prince Helan dismounted together. There was no one by the river. The woman named Wuqige did not seem to have arrived yet. Shaoyin waited by the Qinglan River, silently waiting as she twisted the whip in her hand over and over. Shaoyin forcefully suppressed those thoughts she should not have had and kept thinking about what she, as the woman’s “wife,” ought to do once she arrived. She thought she should behave with perfect gentleness and magnanimity, offering her blessing to the woman and Heir Prince Helan. If the woman became jealous of her and complained to Heir Prince Helan because of it, Shaoyin could even tell her that she and Heir Prince Helan merely had the name of husband and wife. Shaoyin wanted to cut through the tangle quickly, finish this matter as soon as possible, and put an end to the chaos in her heart. Yet she waited for a long time, and the woman still did not arrive. Shaoyin was already restless and agitated. Unable to hold back any longer, she asked Heir Prince Helan, “Why hasn’t she come yet?” Heir Prince Helan replied, “She’s already here.” “…Where?” Shaoyin looked around. There was only she and Heir Prince Helan by the Qinglan River. Where was the third person? “Here.” Heir Prince Helan raised his arm and pointed. Shaoyin followed the direction of his arm. She looked toward the rippling waters of the Qinglan River and saw the reflection of a woman on its surface, along with the reflection of the young man standing beside her. After a moment of stunned confusion, Shaoyin suddenly understood. It was as though a powerful gale had abruptly blown through her heart, sweeping away every last trace of her restless, chaotic thoughts. Her heart seemed as clear and boundless as a cloudless sky. On the surface of the river, the reflection of the man beside her smiled. His reflection moved closer to hers, one arm gently encircling her shoulders. As the wind passed, the reflections of the young man and woman rippled across the green water, as though merging the two of them into one. Author’s Note: There is one more Helan-related extra chapter. Close