Chapter 83: The Past
“When I entered the pass that day, I went to visit the official treated by the old doctor. The moment he saw me, he called out my name,” Qiu Henian said slowly.
On the bed, both of them draped in outer robes, sitting cross-legged facing each other.
Qingyan looked at him and asked, “He recognized you.”
Qiu Henian nodded. “Five or six years ago, he was my colleague. His surname is Huang, a kind and honest man. Back then, we all called him Old Huang.”
Qingyan asked, “Do you remember everything from the past?”
Qiu Henian replied, “No, when I saw him, I only recalled some things from my time in the army. The old doctor said I still need time to recover. He suggested I visit familiar places and meet old acquaintances to help speed up my memory recovery.”
“When I could still move around, I wandered around inside the pass and looked around. Old Huang wrote me a letter, saying that as long as it wasn’t a military area, no one would stop me. However, many people I knew at that time had either been transferred or retired and were no longer at the pass.”
“When youI could still move around?” Qingyan asked perceptively.
Qiu Henian smiled bitterly and said, “Because we couldn’t determine the exact type of poison in my body, during the first few days at Fengyu Pass, I had frequent changes of medicines. Around seven or eight days later, one of the doses was too strong, and I couldn’t get out of bed again.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Qingyan’s eyes reddened.
“I felt something was wrong. You wrote letters repeatedly mentioning that magnolia tree.”
Qiu Henian reached out and held Qingyan’s wrist on his knee.
“I didn’t want to tell you all this, but I didn’t want you to overthink it either. So I decided to tell you everything. But you don’t have to be upset about it. It’s all in the past. I’m back safely now.”
Qingyan nodded, wiped his eyes, and continued to listen attentively.
Qiu Henian continued, “At that time, my condition worsened, and I gradually became less conscious. Every time I woke up, I would ask someone for ink and paper to write to you. I was afraid you would worry, but I couldn’t go on without writing.”
“One time, when I woke up and wanted to write to you, I asked the servant boy to bring me a pen. He panicked and ran out, fetching the old doctor. When he came, I learned that I had been unconscious for more than ten days. When I woke up this time, I was too weak. I forced myself to finish the letter, had the servant boy send it out, ate something, and fell asleep again.”
“When I woke up again that time, the old doctor joyfully told me that all the poison in my body had been completely eliminated. That day, I wrote you a letter saying I was planning to return, but unfortunately, I encountered a sandstorm, which arrived later than I did.”
Listening to this, Qingyan sensed something was off and asked, “The second time you woke up, you had been unconscious for more than ten days again. How did you leave the next day?”
Qiu Henian smiled, “Both the old doctor and Old Huang advised me to rest for a few more days, but I missed home too much. So I braced myself and set off. At first, I walked slowly and rested when tired. Later, I gradually recovered and increased my speed, rushing back.”
Qiu Henian spoke lightly, but Qingyan could imagine the difficulties involved. He tightened his robe in heartache.
Qiu Henian’s gaze fell on the single garment and sachet placed at the head of the bed.
Then he continued, “When I was at Fengyu Pass, these two items were placed beside my pillow by the servant boy who took care of me. He knew not to touch them until I woke up. Sometimes when Old Huang visited and saw them, he would tease me for being too sentimental, saying I had lost the demeanor of being a man after marrying someone and constantly being concerned about him.”
Qiu Henian chuckled at the reminiscence, not taking offense.
Old Huang’s parents were still alive, and he had many siblings. Although he had spent over ten years at the border, he returned home every year to visit. His wife and children lived in a town near the border.
Old Huang couldn’t understand Qiu Henian’s feeling of being alone in the world, with only one person he cared deeply about.
Qiu Henian hugged Qingyan, who was trying to hold back his tears, bringing two lonely hearts together.
Qiu Henian held him close, his chin resting against Qingyan’s cheek.
“My home is in the south, not far from Nanhui County where Uncle Qin is. I was originally an orphan wandering the streets. When I was seven or eight, the Qiu family took me in. They recognized me as their righteous son, nominally the younger brother of the young master of the Qiu family, but in fact he was only half a year older than me, and I was equivalent to his little servant and companion.”
“In the Qiu family, I learned to read and write, and practiced some basic martial arts. When we turned eighteen, the Qiu family sent us to the military for training. Initially, we didn’t go far from home, but when the north started fighting, and the local militia couldn’t hold on, our battalion of forbidden troops was sent over.”
“We had people from all over in our troop. The pickled vegetables I often made were learned from the locals.”
“After two years of fighting, we won. We also made significant contributions. I even jumped three ranks and became a Zhonglang*. As for him…” Qiu Henian paused, his brow furrowing.
*T/N: Not sure what this position is equivalent to in official terms :<, comment down below if you know.
Qingyan looked up at him, “You don’t remember?”
Qiu Henian covered his forehead with his hand, “After the battle, I can’t remember much. Old Huang told me he jumped nine ranks and became a senior officer at the pass.”
“Did you see him at Fengyu Pass this time?” Qingyan asked.
Qiu Henian shook his head, “No.”
Qingyan didn’t understand it, “Did he go back to visit his family?”
Qiu Henian shook his head again, “My adoptive parents passed away before the war started.”
His gaze lowered, “Old Huang said my brother died in my second year of disappearance.”
“How did he die?” Qingyan asked, surprised.
Qiu Henian explained, “He was bitten by a poisonous snake while hunting in the wilderness outside the pass. The antidote was available at the pass, but they had gone too far and couldn’t make it back in time.”
There was silence between them for a while. Qingyan moved out from Qiu Henian’s embrace, leaned against the bedhead, and gently guided him to lie down, resting his head on his thigh.
With soft fingertips, Qingyan gently massaged Qiu Henian’s temples, soothingly, gradually causing his eyelids to close and the furrows on his brow to smooth out.
The faint fragrance on Qingyan’s body warmed up from his body temperature, drifting to Qiu Henian’s nose nearby.
Turning over, Qiu Henian lay on his side, facing Qingyan, and buried his face in Qingyan’s soft abdomen, planting a kiss there.
He said softly, “Old Huang said that after the war, everyone celebrated for days and nights. They didn’t realize when I went missing. During that time, they searched the nearby wilderness and town every day but couldn’t find me.”
“I don’t remember how I ended up appearing by the riverbank in this village, amidst the ice and snow. It’s like my heart is telling me not to remember this.”
Qingyan ran his fingers through his hair and said, “If you don’t want to remember, then don’t.”
Qiu Henian had faint dark circles under his eyes. Exhausted, he sighed deeply.
The sporadic touch of Qingyan’s hand and the familiar fragrance relaxed him completely. His breathing gradually became steady, about to fall asleep.
Before drifting off, Qiu Henian, still mindful of Qingyan’s unease, murmured, “I won’t go anywhere.”
Qingyan leaned down and kissed his forehead, determination gleaming in his eyes.
“It’s okay. Wherever you go, I’ll go too.”
Spoiler for the Next Chapter:
Qingyan blushed on his cheeks and said, “Why are you laughing? You’re my husband. What can’t I see from head to toe? I’ll look as much as I want!”
