SWHCBB 107

Chapter 107: A Match Made in Heaven

While passing through Beijun, Jiang Chuang stayed with Wen Jue for three days. During that time, they paid their respects to the head of the Li family, that is, Li Qingci’s parents, Wen Jue’s maternal grandparents. And they met a long string of relatives.

Though the Lis were merchants, they were well-mannered. Even if they were curious about Wen Jue, they only observed him quietly without being overly obsequious or drawing attention.

Over the years, the Li family had avoided doing business under the imperial name in Beijun, for fear of bringing trouble upon Wen Yan and Wen Jue. Since Li Qingci’s passing, the siblings had remained distant from the Lis, only occasionally exchanging gifts and letters, offering support for any promising talents within the family.

Li Qingci, in her maiden years, had been a quiet and well-mannered girl, gifted in the four arts, zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She was composed, respectful, and a true noble lady, deeply loved by her parents. After she passed away in the palace, the family still preserved her portrait and memorial tablet, offering daily incense.

Wen Jue and Jiang Chuang sincerely paid their respects to her memorial, shared a meal with the grandparents, and strolled around Beijun. They resolved all lingering regrets, ands resumed their journey toward the frontier.

___

Two years later, in Liangzhou.

As the March market opened, it was already bustling with townsfolk and vibrant activity. All kinds of goods filled the stalls in dazzling array.

Jiang Chuang stood before one stall, stroking his chin and staring at the variety of accessories, unable to decide. The vendor, an older woman, was about to lose patience.

“Young man, if you’re not buying, step aside! Look at you, standing there like a wall, blocking my business!”

Jiang Chuang smiled awkwardly, he then decisively rolled up his sleeves. “Forget it, Auntie, just wrap all of these up for me. The headbands, belts, and silver chains, each one in a different color and embroidery pattern. I want them all.”

Such generosity made the vendor beam with joy. “Aye, sure, sure! Take your time, no rush!”

Behind him, Chen Lin kicked him without expression. Jiang Chuang turned and saw Chen Lin raising both arms, hands full of packages. “Brother, we’ve already bought tons. You really want to buy more?”

Jiang Chuang looked entirely justified. “This is different. What we bought earlier was all food and toys. Look at how the folks here in Liangzhou dress, so colorful, so unique. If Zhiyu wears these patterns, he’ll look even better! Since we’re here, of course we should buy them all. Wouldn’t it be a shame not to?”

Chen Lin: “…Then you carry it yourself.”

Jiang Chuang waved it off without concern. “Fine!”

Zhuge Qing, fanning himself lazily, raised an eyebrow and knocked Jiang Chuang on the back of the head. “Don’t forget why we’re here.”

They had returned to the capital because of the emperor’s death. It wasn’t a time for fanfare or prolonged delays.

But both Wen Jue and Zhuge Qing knew that if Wen Yan hadn’t secured the political situation, she would never have made the emperor’s death public. The fact it was now known meant there was little to worry about.

So their return trip was leisurely, like a spring outing, taking three days to reach Liangzhou before stopping to enjoy themselves.

Under the blazing sun, the region was dry and hot. Wen Jue didn’t enjoy sweating, it was sticky and uncomfortable, so he stayed at the post station practicing calligraphy. Ever since regaining his sight, he felt like an illiterate. He barely recognized large characters in books, and his handwriting had once been no better than a child’s awkward scrawl.

In the past two years, whenever he had time, he studied reading and writing. Fortunately, he was gifted. His writing now looked presentable, but he remained determined to master it fully. If he wasn’t practicing calligraphy, he was reading, as if to make up for a decade of unread books. He even paid less attention to Jiang Chuang.

So Jiang Chuang roamed the streets with Zhuge Qing and Chen Lin, buying novelties he’d never seen before.

The vendor, seeing their foreign appearance and lavish spending, was delighted. As she wrapped Jiang Chuang’s purchases, she said, “You folks must be new here! Did you know today is our once-every-five-years Chasing Moon Festival? Tonight there’s a hundred-family banquet in town, with lots of fun and prayers for blessings. Doesn’t matter if you’re not from Liangzhou, our Moon Goddess will bless everyone!”

“Sounds fun!” Jiang Chuang’s interest piqued. “Then I’ll bring my wife out to enjoy it.”

The old lady asked casually, “Not bringing your kid?”

Jiang Chuang shook his head with a laugh. “No kid. Just me and my wife.”

“No kid at your age?” She was surprised. “How old are you? You look like you should’ve had one or two by now.”

Jiang Chuang leaned in mysteriously. “Sigh, I’d love to have kids, but… I just can’t!”

The old lady instantly stopped herself, giving him a sympathetic look. She picked up a pair of intricately patterned silver bracelets. “Sorry for speaking out of turn. Here, these are for your wife. The girls around here all wear these. They carry blessings and good fortune.”

Jiang Chuang smiled and accepted them. “Thank you, Auntie! And thank you on behalf of my wife!”

The vendor sighed, “Your wife’s a good one. Doesn’t mind your… situation. You better treat her well!”

Back at the post station, Jiang Chuang recounted the little episode to Wen Jue, who laughed until he collapsed in his arms.

“You’re that happy I’m ‘not working’?” Jiang Chuang pinched his nose, feigning annoyance. “If I really couldn’t, wouldn’t you be the one suffering?”

Wen Jue sat up, then hooked Jiang Chuang’s chin with a finger, eyes gleaming playfully as he lazily drawled, “If you can’t, I still can. Why don’t I… try being on top?”

Jiang Chuang grabbed his wandering hand, pulled him in by the back of the head, and pinned him down. As they tussled, a certain touch made Wen Jue’s playful expression freeze.

Jiang Chuang grinned, “Wen Xiao Yu! Weren’t you just full of bravado? Want another round? You on top? You’ve been on top before, haven’t you?”

Wen Jue looked down, face flushed, and said nothing.

They messed around in the post station for quite some time until the sun finally set, the heat faded, and night fell. Yet the city didn’t darken. Lanterns lit up one by one, and the Chasing Moon Festival began in earnest.

Once the whole city glowed with light, Wen Jue and Jiang Chuang finally went out to enjoy the streets. As the vendor said, it was lively beyond compare. Every household had their doors wide open, displaying homemade delicacies, welcoming all passersby to join in the feast.

Still, out of caution, Jiang Chuang and Wen Jue didn’t touch any of the food. If someone wanted to tamper with it, it would be all too easy.

As for the others, changing loved the festivities. With Wen Jue not needing protection, he dragged Chen Lin and Zhuge Qing into town, darting this way and that. Wen Jue had always indulged his playful, mischievous nature, though Chen Lin was beginning to consider whether they needed to buy a leash.

Bai Yuan didn’t like crowds, so he stayed behind at the post station.

Perhaps it was the atmosphere that influenced him, but the smile on Wen Jue face never once faded. His eyes were wide open, full of curiosity as he looked here and there.

He wore local clothing, his long hair wrapped in a headscarf, fully revealing his exquisite face, an unignorable beauty. On his wrists were those silver bangles, and around his waist hung a silver net chain. As he walked, the accessories jingled melodiously. He looked like one of the Buddha’s attendant children. No one else could make traditional attire appear so otherworldly.

Jiang Chuang suddenly regretted not buying a matching outfit for himself. Now, standing beside Zhiyu, he didn’t look worthy at all.

Wen Jue, too absorbed in his surroundings, had no mind for Jiang Chuang’s moment of insecurity. He held tightly to his hand and, upon spotting something unfamiliar, turned with surprise to Jiang Chuang and asked, “They eat this here? Is this really edible?”

He was pointing at a wine jar filled with centipedes, the wine aroma strong and pungent. Jiang Chuang nodded. “Liangzhou is remote and mountainous. In harsher times, anything that moved could be caught and eaten. Life is better now, but the customs have stayed.”

Wen Jue sighed, “Each land raises its own people. The world is vast, and there’s so much I’ve never seen or known. My knowledge truly is limited.”

“Then let’s see more together.” Jiang Chuang looked down at him with a trace of affection even he didn’t notice. “You promised me, once your sister secures her position and the realm is stable, you’d leave it all behind and travel the world with me.”

Wen Jue’s brows curved into a gentle smile, and he nodded heavily. “Alright!”

Jiang Chuang had every reason to believe it. With Wen Jue around, the war had lasted only a year before Xige forces no longer dared to invade. They even ceded land and sent tributes, trying to curry favor.

That was because the King of Xige had suddenly died, and the succession battle among his sons had split the kingdom into three. Whoever Daling supported would deal a fatal blow to the others.

Wen Jue simply showed favor to a few princes and offered help in their time of need, fracturing the fragile balance and plunging them into in-fighting. With no time to wage external war, they could only consume each other.

As the two strolled through the festival, the crowd suddenly began moving in one direction, shouting, “They’re choosing the Divine Envoy! Hurry!”

Wen Jue and Jiang Chuang exchanged a look and followed the tide, hand in hand.

They didn’t know how far they had gone when a flower wreath suddenly flew toward Wen Jue’s head. Jiang Chuang’s quick reflexes caught it just in time before it hit.

Wen Jue shrank slightly into Jiang Chuang’s arms. When the danger passed, he looked up at the wreath, woven from local flowers and wrapped in silk ribbons, the white gauze fluttering like a celestial ornament.

Then they noticed everyone around them had stopped and was staring.

A brief silence fell over the crowd.

“Divine Envoy!”

“Divine Envoy!”

“Divine Envoy!”

Only then did Jiang Chuang realize he’d caught something rather significant. He couldn’t just throw it away, that would likely enrage the people. So he clutched Wen Jue tightly as the crowd swept them toward a tall central building.

The officials atop the platform looked at each other awkwardly. “Uh… what now?”

“How’d he end up catching it?”

“This is the Moon Goddess’s will. Since it’s so, then this man shall be this year’s Divine Envoy!”

Pushed to the base of the building, Jiang Chuang and Wen Jue finally understood: the flower wreath had been meant for Wen Jue, but Jiang Chuang had caught it, making him the Moon Goddess’s chosen. He was now expected to be dressed, parade through the city, and bless the people in her name.

To the people of Liangzhou, this was a sacred honor, not something just anyone could receive.

But Jiang Chuang refused to let Wen Jue out of his sight and declined repeatedly. Wen Jue also looked around warily but saw no signs of threat. These people truly did seem like simple, sincere folk.

The villagers, unable to force anything, politely asked the two to wait while they consulted inside.

Soon, they returned beaming. “Honored guests! Our clan chief has sought the Moon Goddess’s guidance. She agrees that both of you may serve as her Divine Envoys!”

Jiang Chuang and Wen Jue exchanged a surprised glance. Then Wen Jue’s expression shifted to amusement and curiosity. “Shall we go?”

“Let’s go!” Jiang Chuang smiled. As long as they were together, he had no complaints.

Jiang Chuang’s attire was simple. The temple maidens dressed him in a red vest over his own clothes. His long hair was tied up and wrapped in a headcloth. Red, green, and blue patterns were painted on his face, bone-carved earrings dangled from his ears, and a silver collar was placed around his neck. That was it.

As soon as it was done, he went looking for Wen Jue, who was still behind a curtain. Jiang Chuang could hear every sound of movement inside.

But after a long while with no sign of him, Jiang Chuang lost patience and was about to pull the curtain open when a maiden stopped him.

“No! You can’t look before it’s finished!”

Perhaps sensing Jiang Chuang’s concern, Wen Jue spoke gently, “Yunchuan, just wait a bit longer. I’m almost ready.”

Jiang Chuang exhaled in relief. “Alright.” It felt a bit like a wedding, where the groom couldn’t see the bride before the ceremony. The thought made him chuckle.

After a while, the curtain slowly lifted. Jiang Chuang looked up, and froze.

Wen Jue’s outfit was entirely different from his. He wore flowing white robes, with silver chains draped from his shoulders in a complete circle. His long hair was braided, adorned with flowers, and laid over his right shoulder. A crescent moon was painted on his forehead, and his face bore red and white pigments that somehow enhanced his ethereal beauty.

But what drew Jiang Chuang’s gaze most were his eyes, shimmering black, curved like hooks.

Jiang Chuang had always said Wen Jue had fox-like eyes, seductive and enchanting. This time, he truly felt the weight of those words.

Whether he smiled or didn’t, he was captivating. Jiang Chuang was stunned until Wen Jue called out teasingly, “It’s time to ride the palanquin!”

Jiang Chuang snapped out of it, coughing lightly in embarrassment. He turned to the maiden nearby. “Why are our outfits different?”

She smiled. “He’s dressed as the female envoy, and you’re the male. Naturally they’re not the same!”

“What?” Now it was Wen Jue’s turn to be confused. “But I… I’m a man!”

The maidens exchanged glances and giggled before one explained kindly, “The divine envoys are always a man and a woman, or a single person. Though the Moon Goddess chose both of you, the rules must still be followed. We hope you understand, young master.”

Wen Jue was about to speak again, but Jiang Chuang chuckled, took his hand, and said, “Let’s go, Divine Envoy.”

Hand in hand, the two skipped lightly toward the palanquin in front of the tall building. As soon as they sat, the people erupted in joyous cheers.

“Divine Envoys!”

“They’re so good-looking this year!”

“I heard they’re from out of town!”

“How did outsiders get chosen?”

“The Moon Goddess must really like them!”

“Divine Envoys!”

Wen Jue looked at the smiling faces below, then turned to Jiang Chuang. “This is so nice. I hope we’ll always see smiles like this on the people’s faces.”

“We will,” Jiang Chuang replied with certainty.

As the palanquin carried them around the city, Wen Jue spotted Chang Ning in the distance and waved with a smile.

Changning froze, then quickly swallowed his food and excitedly tugged Chen Lin’s arm. “Look! Look! It’s His Highness!”

Chen Lin followed his gaze and blinked in surprise. “The General?”

Zhuge Qing narrowed his eyes, studying the two from afar. Then he smiled. “A perfect match indeed.”