Moonlight over the River - Chapter 2

Chapter 4

It was September, and the autumn rain had yet to clear.

Early that morning, before breakfast had even been served, a young servant came to report that the party returning to the capital was nearly at the city gates.

My heart began to pound in secret. I hurriedly had Chuntao pin my hair into a proper style, then rushed to my mother-in-law’s rooms.

An hour later, everyone in the General’s Mansion was waiting outside the front gate.

For once, the sun had risen, and rosy clouds spread across the eastern sky.

The wind blowing toward us carried a chill. In my morning haste, I had forgotten to add another layer, and just as I was about to send Dongmei to fetch me a cloak, the sound of hoofbeats came thundering over.

There was no grand, imposing procession returning to the capital, nor did I see the banner of the Xie Family Army. There was only a black horse galloping at full speed and a cloak billowing high in the wind.

The moment I saw the rider, the heavy stone in my heart finally dropped.

Thank goodness. Thank goodness. His arms and legs were all still there.

Mist blurred my vision at once, and I twisted the handkerchief in my hands tight.

Xie Dao’an pulled hard on the reins, and the fine horse beneath him reared up with a long neigh.

He swung down from the saddle, his face full of joy as he strode toward us.

I followed behind my mother-in-law to meet him, taking the chance to dab away the wetness at the corners of my eyes.

Damn him. If Xie Dao’an saw, he would definitely laugh at me.

The two sides met, and for a moment, all that could be heard was sobbing.

Before he even had the chance to speak, he raised his hand and pulled off that deep crimson cloak, gently wrapping it around my shoulders.

I froze, staring at him. His black hair was tied high, his features clear and bright, and by the edge of his upturned phoenix eyes was a new, faint scar.

Xie Dao’an stepped back a few paces, bent his knees, knelt before his mother, and kowtowed.

“Mother, your son has returned!”

My mother-in-law was already streaming with tears. She took Xie Dao’an by the arm, looking him over again and again as if she could never see enough, murmuring nonstop, “My son… As long as you’re safe! As long as you’re safe!”

Then she turned and took my hand as well, pulling Xie Dao’an and me into her embrace, one on either side. Another string of tears fell as she said, “The princess has been thinking of you too. Our family is finally reunited.”

“Your son has been thinking of you as well.”

Xie Dao’an’s gaze burned bright, and the warmth of his palm scalded the back of my hand.

“Mother, your son was anxious to see you, so I rode ahead of the carriage and horses. Later, I must still enter the palace with Deputy General Zhou to report on our duties. Mother need not wait for me. Once I return, I will come pay my respects.”

“When you return from this tiring journey, bathe and change first, and spend some time with the princess. There is no rush to come pay respects. Supper will be soon enough.”

Xie Dao’an nodded and agreed. Then he tightened the sable cloak around my mother-in-law and supported her as they walked back through the mansion gates.

“The weather is cold. Mother, don’t stand in the wind. Return to your rooms and wait for me there.”

“Good, good. Go quickly and come back soon.”

After my mother-in-law left, I tried to pull my hand free and said, “General, go quickly and come back soon.”

I used some strength, but failed to pull away. Who would have thought he would only hold me tighter? He leaned in, nearly pressing against me, and asked, “Did you miss me?”

My face heated.

We had not seen each other for three years. How had he become so shameless?

There were still maids and servants waiting by the gate, yet he said such a thing without the slightest change in expression.

I answered him in a low voice, “No.”

He pretended to be angry and squeezed my hand with a bit of force.

“I knew you were a heartless little darling. When I left, you still called me ‘husband.’ Now that I’m back, you’ve gone right back to calling me ‘General.’

“And it’s so cold, yet you didn’t even put on a cloak. Your hands are this cold-what if you fall ill?

“Did you read the letters I sent only to you? Why didn’t I ever see a single reply from you? Every time you wrote back in the family letters, it was all formal words. You never once said you missed me. Do you have any idea how terribly I missed you?”

This man! How was he getting more and more carried away the longer he spoke?

With every sentence he said, I lowered my face a little more. In the end, I truly could not listen any longer, so I pushed him and urged him away.

“Stop dawdling. My father, the emperor, is still waiting for you!”

Hearing that, he finally released my hand. At the corner of his curved lips was a tiny dimple.

“I know you’re thin-skinned. I won’t tease you anymore.”

A young servant led over his horse. Xie Dao’an swung himself up, then leaned down and quietly reminded me, “It’s still early. I imagine you must not have slept well either. I won’t be gone long. Go back and nap for an hour, and I’ll be back.

“Hurry inside. I’ll go and return soon.”

Only after he saw me nod did he urge his horse away, soon disappearing from sight.

“The general has gone far away, Princess. Stop looking!

“You said you weren’t happy that the general was coming back, but from what this servant sees, you look overjoyed.”

Chuntao had followed me since childhood, and now she had grown more and more unruly.

Only after hearing her teasing did I come back to my senses. My hand unconsciously rose to touch my burning cheek.

“Where do I look happy?”

“Yes, yes, yes! The princess isn’t happy. Then the one smiling just now, more beautifully than a flower, must have been me, Chuntao~”

This little girl was growing far too bold, daring to make fun of this princess. I pretended to be angry and threatened her.

“Say one more word, and I’ll dock half a month’s wages!”

Chuntao was a little money-grubber, and at the mention of her wages, she finally fell silent. But my own heart would not calm. Even after I lay down on the couch, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

I could not quite explain why. I only felt my chest beating like a drum.

The thought that from now on, I would be able to see Xie Dao’an every day filled my heart with joy.