"Hey, have you heard? The emperor of the neighboring Dacheng Empire is going to get married!" A man nudged his companion who was eating buckwheat noodles with him. Covering his mouth, he lowered his voice.
The companion, with a mouthful of noodles, raised an eyebrow and said, "It's just a wedding. What's so surprising about that?"
The man frowned and let out a long sigh. "Oh, you really are out of touch with the world, only burying yourself in books. The emperor of Dacheng is going to marry a man!"
"Ah? A man?"
The man nodded, his face showing a look of horror. "It's not just any man. He... he's marrying the eldest son of the Qin family, Qin Huaiqiu!"
"You... you mean the one who seriously injured the chief warrior of Yazeb..." The companion covered his mouth in shock.
The man nodded. "That's right. It is said that the eldest son of the Qin family is brave and good at fighting. He is as beautiful as a celestial being, and he's only eighteen this year!"
The companion was a bit stunned. "Can a man really be that good - looking?"
"If he weren't good - looking, how could he have charmed the emperor of Dacheng? The emperor has three thousand beauties in his harem, but he wants to marry a man instead." The man slapped his companion.
The companion nodded obsequiously. "You're right, you're right. But what exactly does 'as beautiful as a celestial being' mean?"
The man stroked his chin, his eyes darting around. "Who knows... It must be a kind of beauty that can make people bow down at first sight. For example... Hey! That person, yes, it must be someone like that!"
Suddenly, the man pointed at someone on the street. He got a bit excited and stood up slightly. After taking a closer look, he shook his head and sat back down. "No, no. It is said that Qin Huaiqiu has a heroic and valiant appearance. How could he look so dejected like that person? Sigh!"
Following the man's gaze, the companion looked at the handsome man walking past the noodle shop. His eyes were instantly fixed, and he murmured, "He's really good - looking... Maybe he's just like the young master of the Qin family?"
"Don't talk nonsense. Oh, forget it. We've strayed too far from the topic. Come, let's eat noodles... Aren't you going to go trading in Dacheng with your relative later..."
At a corner of the street, a figure in black flashed by and disappeared.
The door of Yazeb's mansion was knocked on. The door opened from the inside. The person who greeted the man was not who he had expected, but Kozel, whom he hadn't seen for more than a year.
Kozel still had a gloomy face as before, but different from the past, he was wearing an eyepatch over his left eye. He used to have no bangs, but now he had grown them, covering a deep, bone - visible scar on his left face that stretched from his forehead to his jaw.
"Is it you?" When Kozel saw the visitor, the corner of his mouth twitched, and the scar on his face became even more hideous. He said in a bad tone, "Qin Huaiqiu, you're not welcome here."
"I'm not here to see you." Qin Huaiqiu said in a deep voice. He looked directly at Kozel. At eighteen, he had grown taller in recent years and was now on a par with Kozel. He raised an eyebrow and asked, "Where's Yazeb?"
"What business is it of yours?" Kozel's voice was cold, and he issued an order to expel the guest.
Seeing that Kozel wouldn't say anything, Qin Huaiqiu didn't want to communicate with him any more. After all, Kozel had been such a cold - hearted person more than a year ago. Now that he had lost an eye and was practically an old enemy of Qin Huaiqiu, communication would be even more difficult.
Qin Huaiqiu pushed him aside and was about to force his way into Yazeb's mansion.
Kozel grabbed Qin Huaiqiu's wrist. "You're not allowed to come in!"
"Then tell me where Yazeb is?" Qin Huaiqiu shouted in a deep voice. He was really too lazy to waste words with him. "Tell me!"
Kozel stared at Qin Huaiqiu. The two of them silently struggled against each other for a while. Finally, Kozel gave in first. He slowly let go of Qin Huaiqiu's hand and gritted his teeth. "A year ago, he was just like this... It's all because of your Qin family!"
Qin Huaiqiu silently looked at him. A look of grief flashed in his eyes, but he said nothing.
Kozel slowly raised his hand and pointed in a direction. "He... is on that mountain over there. Go find him."
Qin Huaiqiu gave him a deep look and finally clasped his fists in salute. "Thank you." As soon as he finished speaking, he turned around and left.
Kozel stood alone at the door, watching Qin Huaiqiu's rapidly receding back. He clenched his teeth several times and finally let out a long sigh. Then he turned around and slammed the mansion door shut.
Qin Huaiqiu rushed all the way and finally saw Yazeb's back on a nearby mountain.
For some reason, Yazeb's back looked very vicissitudinous. Qin Huaiqiu held his breath and quietly walked to stand beside Yazeb.
Yazeb seemed not to notice. In front of him was a short stone tablet on which was engraved a name that Qin Huaiqiu was all too familiar with.
He slowly bent down and then gently squatted on the ground, reaching out his hand to rest on the stone tablet.
Time seemed to stand still. Many years ago, the person in the tomb was still alive and full of vitality, often jumping into his arms and calling him brother. This name had always been a warm memory for Qin Huaiqiu, but now it had become so cold.
"You're going to get married?" Yazeb glanced at him. They hadn't seen each other for more than half a year, but he had no mood to greet him.
"Yeah." Qin Huaiqiu gave a bitter smile. "Let's not talk about this in front of her tomb."
"So what?" Yazeb's voice was hard. "Even if she hears it, she's not going to jump out of the grave in a rage and scold us."
Qin Huaiqiu was taken aback and smiled softly. "Do you usually talk to Lian'er like this?"
"I can talk to her however I want." Yazeb said. "At most, I'll dream of her chasing me with a sword. It's no big deal. Anyway, she can't beat me in my dreams."
"Pfft." Qin Huaiqiu covered his mouth and laughed. "Lian'er would probably be hopping mad. She was always like this when she was a kid."
Yazeb pursed his lips and was silent for a while. "You've been doing well this past year or so."
Qin Huaiqiu took out a lot of snacks from his bosom. They were all the ones that Qin Huailian liked to eat, which he had specially brought from the Protectorate General's Mansion. He placed the snacks one by one in front of the stele and then reached out to wipe off the almost invisible dust on the stele.
Qin Huaiqiu traced the words on the tombstone with his fingers. He had forgotten what he was like when he first heard the news of Qin Huailian's death. He only remembered that when he had just returned to the Protectorate General's Mansion and saw the head of Huyelu sent by Yazeb and a blood - stained note, he had fainted on the spot from anger and grief.
When he woke up, the Loulan army had all withdrawn. Sikong Ting had accompanied him on horseback all the way to Loulan, where he saw Qin Huailian, who had been dead for a long time.
At that moment, Qin Huaiqiu felt dizzy and in great pain.
Now looking at Qin Huailian's cold tombstone, his eyes were filled with tears. He forced a smile and said, "I've been fine. I'm getting married next month. Will you come?"
"Will your fiancé allow me to go?" Yazeb snorted.
"Of course not." Qin Huaiqiu said. "But you can't skip the wedding gift."
"Tsk." Yazeb said. "Go to my mansion and get it yourself!"
"Kozel won't let me in."
"Damn it." Yazeb cursed. "You're just here to mooch off me, aren't you? Shit! Wait!" With that, he turned around and walked towards his mansion.
When Yazeb was far away, Qin Huaiqiu knelt down in front of the tomb and hugged the cold tombstone tightly in his arms. He hugged it so tightly as if he could make this cold thing feel warm.
"Lian'er, brother is going to marry Sikong Ting. Don't blame brother." Qin Huaiqiu sighed and stroked the tombstone. "Don't be willful. Don't play tricks on him in your dreams. Brother loves him very much, just as much as he loves you."
"You shouldn't be lonely here, right? I heard from the servants that Yazeb comes to see you every day. He has a really sharp tongue. Remember to practice your eloquence. Chasing him with a sword in your dreams is not the way. You have to scold him until he can't reply. That's the best strategy. Do you understand?"
"I haven't told father about you. I'm afraid it will make him sad. He always thinks you're hiding in Loulan and don't want to go home. So don't be stubborn. Go to see father more often in his dreams, okay? Be a good girl..."
It was getting dark. Yazeb cursed and returned to the hill. He grabbed Qin Huaiqiu by the collar and threw him into the carriage where the gifts were arranged. He scolded, "Don't come here again!"
Qin Huaiqiu straightened his collar and said with a laugh, "I haven't finished yet! After I get married in a month, I'll bring Lian'er pastries from the capital. Remember to tell her."
"I won't tell her!"
"And her favorite peach cakes!"
"Get out of here quickly! After taking so many gifts from me, can't you shut up?" Yazeb scolded, although he knew that Qin Huaiqiu would definitely come again.
"Are you really not coming?" Qin Huaiqiu asked, but the question was directed at Yazeb.
Yazeb was a bit stunned. After a moment of silence, he said, "I'm not going. What's there to see about two men getting married?"
"Tsk..." Qin Huaiqiu snorted. "I'm leaving!"
"Get out quickly."
"Giddy - up!" Qin Huaiqiu whipped his horse and left Loulan with three full carriages of gifts. When he reached the Gobi Desert, he saw the figure sitting on a horse.
Qin Huaiqiu felt a warm feeling in his heart and spurred his horse forward.
"Didn't I tell you to wait for me at the Protectorate General's Mansion? How long have you been waiting here?"
"Not long." Sikong Ting gently stroked his hair.
Qin Huaiqiu turned his head and kissed the palm of his hand. "Let's go back."