Chapter 158: Returning to Court

Chapter 158: Chapter 158: Returning to Court

"Have you ever thought that people who’ve struggled in the depths of the palace for years, who managed to survive and climb to such a position, have long since become as cunning as foxes? Why would they so easily tell you these things?"

This was what Ji Huan was truly worried about.

She was afraid that Zhen Jili, in his single-minded pursuit of connections, would become a tool in someone else’s hands without even realizing it.

"I’m not an idiot. Of course, he told me because he wants me to spread the word, preferably so the General finds out. But it doesn’t matter. We’re each just getting what we need. The powerful have their games, and we pawns have our own ways of moving."

Zhen Jili patted her head. "Don’t you worry about me."

Ji Huan dodged his hand, her brow furrowed slightly.

"Do you really have to do this?"

She wanted to ask, ’Are power, fame, and fortune really that important?’

Zhen Jili answered without a moment’s hesitation.

"Isn’t the point of living to climb higher? Not only do I want to climb, but I want to reach the very top. That’s my purpose in life. If I can’t achieve that, what’s the point of even being alive?"

Ji Huan didn’t know where he got such a deep obsession.

From the first moment she met Zhen Jili, she knew what kind of person he was.

His eyes constantly told Ji Huan that he would stop at nothing to succeed.

A person like that could easily become dangerous.

And the path he ultimately took would largely depend on which ladder he chose to climb.

Before, it was Kou Changqing, so he could still maintain his true nature without being tainted by too many complications.

Now that it was Eunuch Feng, Ji Huan could no longer be so optimistic.

Not wanting to see her friend go down the wrong path, she offered a serious warning, "Zhen Jili, ambition is fine, but don’t let it consume you. Always look back as you move forward."

Zhen Jili scoffed. "You tell me, with my family gone, what is there to look back to?"

Ji Huan didn’t know much about Zhen Jili; only today did she learn that his family was...

"If you’re willing, you can consider this your home, too. You can come back and visit whenever you want."

She could feel that Zhen Jili genuinely cared for her like a sister. She didn’t want to probe into the reasons why; as long as this "kindness" was real, that was enough.

Zhen Jili’s eyes lit up. "What, are you finally admitting I’m your big brother?"

Ji Huan neither confirmed nor denied it.

"We’re kindred spirits in this world; we don’t need to be related by blood."

"Oh, my dear little sister! All my doting on you wasn’t for nothing!"

Zhen Jili opened his arms to hug her, but Ji Huan held out a hand, keeping him at arm’s length.

Just as she was about to tell him to control himself, her gaze fell downward, and she noticed something unusual.

There were dirt stains on Zhen Jili’s knees.

"Did you go visit a grave?"

Zhen Jili followed her line of sight and noticed it too.

He bent down and tried to pat it off, but since it was damp mud, he couldn’t get it clean. In fact, he only made it dirtier.

He laughed. "I’m the only one left in my family. If I didn’t visit their graves before leaving, can you imagine how desolate they’d be after I’m gone?"

’So, all that talk about meeting someone from his hometown and having already eaten... it was all a lie.’

’Visiting the graves alone, leaning against a desolate tombstone drinking by himself.’

For some reason, Ji Huan suddenly felt a pang in her heart.

She bit her lip and said, "Why don’t you tell me where your family’s graves are? In the future, during the holidays, I can go..."

Before she could finish, Zhen Jili cut her off with a wave of his hand.

"Don’t worry about it! What’s the point of visiting graves? It’s just a comfort for the living. When you’re dead, you’re dead. There’s nothing left. The living create these rituals to make themselves feel better, but it’s all useless. If you really care about me, then someday, when I’m gone, just say my name during the holidays and pour a cup of wine on the ground for me. That’ll be enough."

His words made Ji Huan frown. "You’re going to seek fame and fortune, not walk into a den of tigers and wolves. Why do you make it sound like you’re never coming back?"

Zhen Jili reverted to his cheerful grin. "The world of fame and fortune... isn’t that just another den of tigers and wolves?"

"So you understand all that, yet you still..."

"A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do! It’s like they say, ’Charge the mountain, even knowing it has tigers.’ Don’t you worry, little sister. If I can make it through this alive, I’ll definitely come back to see you. You still owe your big brother a grand meal, after all!"

And with that, Zhen Jili left. Just one man and one horse, carrying his secrets and his ambition, heading toward the bustling, magnificent Capital City.

The next day, Ji Huan went into town to ask around and indeed heard news about General Kou returning to the Capital City.

They said he left before dawn with a small, simple escort, not alerting many people.

Normally, after a victorious battle, a general would lead a handpicked elite unit into the Capital City for an audience with the Emperor and to receive rewards.

And when leaving their station, the local people would surely pour into the streets to line the roads, giving their hero the highest honor and respect.

But this time, in the eyes of the world, the battle at the Northern Pass was a draw that felt like a defeat. And so, Kou Changqing left in silence.

Whether hero or sinner, those who were meant to leave were gone.

After the initial uproar, any talk related to Kou Changqing gradually faded away in the cold winds of the Northern Pass.

As for Kou Changqing’s situation after returning to the Capital City, who cared? Everyone was too busy with their own lives.

The recent conflict hadn’t left too many scars on the lives of the common people, so the Northern Pass quickly returned to its former tranquility.

Everything proceeded in an orderly fashion.

In the blink of an eye, it was the third month. Nearly a month had passed since Zhen Jili left for the Capital City and General Kou returned to court.

As far as Ji Huan was concerned, the third month in the Northern Pass wasn’t much different from the dead of winter; it was still freezing cold.

She adhered to her principle of not going out unless absolutely necessary, staying home to tutor Dabao and copy books on the side.

After the Hu Family returned from their stall, Hu Ximei and Hu Dacheng would often bring Xiao’an and Hua over for a visit. If Ji Huan herself got bored, she would occasionally go to the stall and help out.

Speaking of helping, the Hu Family’s hot and spicy soup stall had indeed gained a new helper.

It was none other than Hu Liang’s fiancée, Cao Yunyun.

Ji Huan hadn’t been to the stall in the last few days, so it was Hu Ximei who ran over to tell her the news.

The little girl couldn’t have been happier.

She had always been worried that her future sister-in-law would be a difficult person.

Their house was small. What if her sister-in-law couldn’t stand her and wanted to marry her off as soon as possible?

But upon meeting the shy and introverted Cao Yunyun, she was instantly relieved.

"My mom said my future sister-in-law is even shyer than I am. I think she’ll be easy to get along with... But I still like you the best, Wan."

Ji Huan teased her, "You only like me because you don’t know me. Once you do, you’ll absolutely adore me."

Hu Ximei froze for a second, and once she got the joke, she collapsed onto the kang, roaring with laughter.

Later, Widow Xie came over and told Ji Huan the full story.

About a week ago, they had gone to set up their stall as usual. When they arrived, they found two people standing at their spot.

Their cotton coats were thick, and they were both wearing hats and headscarves, so at first, they didn’t recognize who they were.

Hu Liang thought they were just people who had taken their spot and went forward to talk to them. Only when he got closer did he realize it was Cao Yunyun and her older brother, Cao Fugui.

It was the first time the two had met since their engagement. The moment their eyes met, both of them blushed.

Cao Fugui walked over with his hands tucked in his sleeves, grinning at Widow Xie. "I heard your family’s business is busy. So, my parents sent me to bring Yunyun over to lend a hand."

Hearing this, Hu Liang looked at Cao Yunyun with delight, but she had already lowered her head in shyness.

Widow Xie had been put off by the Cao Family before and still held a grudge about the betrothal gift and the new house, so she wasn’t too pleased.

"On such a cold day, and having to wake up so early... Yunyun is a young lady. We can’t let her suffer like this. It’s better not to."

Cao Fugui grinned.

"Auntie, you’re being too formal! Yunyun is the Hu Family’s future daughter-in-law. Sooner or later, she’ll be part of your family. It’s only right and proper for her to help out her future husband and mother-in-law."

"But she’d have to get up before dawn and walk in the dark..."

"That’s nothing! I’ve been working in town recently, so I can just bring Yunyun along on my way. It saves Hu Liang the trip to pick her up. What a coincidence, right?"

Since he had put it that way, and with Cao Yunyun still standing there, Widow Xie had no choice but to agree.