Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 603 Promise
Mother Yu lowered the curtain and closed the door tightly, then stood guard outside.

She was in charge, yet she possessed an aura of unyielding strength, like a single man guarding a pass against ten thousand. At this moment, she especially missed that dark-skinned boy; with him here, at least standing on either side, they would appear more imposing.

……

house.

Wang Yan pressed his forehead against Xie Yuyan's. Tonight, she was being exceptionally indulgent towards him. Wang Yan gazed at her quietly, his eyes sweeping over her eyebrows and down to her rosy lips.

Such tenderness seemed to fill his heart to the brim, to the point of overflowing.

He wanted it to stay like this forever, but he couldn't look at her any longer, otherwise he would lose control and completely melt her in his arms.

"Why are you being so nice to me tonight?" Wang Yan asked in a low voice.

Xie Yuyan reached out and stroked his cheek, gently pressing the corner of his eye, just smiling as she looked at him.

A wave of emotion washed over Wang Yan. He tightened his arms around her, holding her even closer: "You haven't answered my question yet."

Xie Yuyan remained silent.

A pang of sorrow welled up in Wang Yan's heart: "Does it mean you don't want to marry me, or you don't want to marry Wang Yan? If it's the latter... it doesn't matter, as long as you're willing to take me away..."

“Fool,” Xie Yuyan began, “If I didn’t want to marry you, why would I be entangled with you like this? It’s just that I…”

Wang Yan gently covered Xie Yuyan's mouth: "I know you don't want to be tied down here."

The two stared at each other for a long time. When Wang Yan removed his hand, Xie Yuyan still smiled and said, "I know you wouldn't do that." Trying to confine her to a small space, even if it's to protect her.

He wanted to know her feelings, and she was trying to talk to him about it.

Xie Yuyan said, "I have something I want to do."

She has her own obsessions and grudges she wants to settle herself.

Xie Yuyan couldn't say, but Wang Yan could guess a bit, so he was busy in the government office all day long, in order to sort everything out so that he could be more confident in capturing those people. The more he did, the less trouble she would have to worry about.

If he could, he would prefer to help her solve all her problems.

But clearly, given her personality, she would never blindly rely on others, much less hide under someone else's wing for safety.

“Just do it,” Wang Yan said. “I will never stop you, no matter what.”

Xie Yuyan's smile deepened, and finally she uttered a single word: "Okay."

Wang Yan's eyes lit up: "What... what did you agree to?"

Xie Yuyan's cheeks flushed slightly as she looked at him with her bright eyes.

"What did you promise?" His gaze was earnest, his eyes surging as if they were about to engulf them both. "Ayan, tell me."

Xie Yuyan reached out and hooked her arm around Wang Yan's neck.

Life is so long, long enough that she was deposed twice and ascended to the throne twice. Confined within palace walls and Taoist temples, all she could see when she looked up was the square sky above her head.

Too many rules, too many formalities. Gratitude, affection, and grudges all became strings binding her, leaving her with no control over her every move.

These days seem endless.

Life is so short, there are so many things we want to do, there are countless roads in the world, and the people and scenery we meet along the way are all different. If we wanted to experience them all, how could a few decades be enough?
Although it's all about life, the people you meet and the people you spend your time with can lead to vastly different outcomes.

“Hechun,” Xie Yuyan said clearly, “I agree to your request.”

"I said... I'm willing to marry you."

"I want to spend my life with you. I will bring you joy, and I will also bring you sorrow," Xie Yuyan said. "Can you accept both?"

“Yes,” Wang Yan hugged Xie Yuyan tightly, his heart pounding. “Ayan, I also have my flaws. You can be angry, you can blame me, but you must tell me and give me a chance to correct them. Never abandon me.”

What he feared most was a silent separation.

“My temperament will cause you a lot of trouble,” Xie Yuyan said, “and will also affect your career.”

Wang Yan said, "Didn't you used to look down on the Wang family?"

Wang Yan loosened his grip slightly, and the two looked at each other again. Wang Yan restrained the urge to kiss her again. He didn't know if he could leave this place if they did it again tonight.

After a long pause, Wang Yan finally asked, "Are you planning to leave Bianjing?"

Xie Yuyan nodded: "Some things are more satisfying to do yourself." Whether it was the betrayal in her past life or the framing of this body in this life, these hatreds and secrets are things she must unravel. She will not force them on others, nor will she be willing to let others do them for her.

Wang Yan frowned.

Xie Yuyan said, "You have to stay in Bianjing. Ultimately, the court will have to mobilize troops." When the court can take action depends on which official. Xie Yizhi, the Privy Councilor, could easily make a move.

Wang Yan lowered his head again and nestled close to her: "Be extra careful and bring more people with you."

Xie Yuyan stroked his back with his palm, as if to comfort him: "I'm going to kill someone, not to die. I've planned for so long, there won't be any mistakes."

Wang Yan nodded: "Okay."

With no one to disturb them, the two took the opportunity to spend more time together. Wang Yan held Xie Yuyan on his lap to make it easier to talk to her.

“The local militias are difficult to mobilize, but there are a few generals who can be used in critical moments.” As he spoke, Wang Yan took out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Xie Yuyan. It contained many names.

“You should wear the jade pendant I gave you, and this seal as well.”

It was a small bronze seal with no words on it, only a chain pattern of wheat ears.

"Two things can mobilize manpower."

Xie Yuyan stared at the bronze seal, momentarily ignoring Wang Yan's words. She was very familiar with this seal; in her previous life, Yang Qin had used it to mobilize troops. She had asked Yang Qin about it, and he had said that it was a secret alliance between several of his generals...

Xie Yuyan looked up after a long while and asked, "Did you carve this seal?"

Wang Yan nodded: "There aren't many troops we can muster right now... in the future..."

Before he could finish speaking, his arms went limp, and Xie Yuyan snuggled up to him, reaching out to hug his waist again.

Wang Yan was taken aback, his body tensing up instinctively. The surprises tonight had been too many for him to handle.

"how?"

Upon hearing Wang Yan's voice, Xie Yuyan shook her head slightly: "It's nothing, I just wanted to thank you." She was simply thinking that this bronze seal originated from Wang Yan's words... so in her past life, she had been taken care of by Wang Yan.

Whether it was by chance or coincidence, she should thank Wang Yan.

Wang Yan said, "Returning safely is your way of thanking me."

After the two finished speaking, Xie Yuyan put away the bronze seal, and Yang Qin's voice could be heard from outside.

They had been in the same room for a long time, and he had to go out and show his face to avoid arousing suspicion, even though they would find out sooner or later.

“Last time, Jiulang asked me to teach him martial arts,” Wang Yan said. “I happen to have some time today, so I’ll go out and take a look.”

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