CHAPTER 104: CHAPTER 104: OLD LOVE

That year, she was fourteen, he was sixteen.

It was the beautiful age when love first blossoms.

The emotions of young people are the purest and the most passionate. On the day she came of age, he gave her the cherished steed, Red Cloud, and his most sincere feelings.

Unfortunately, the loving couple could not become a pair; Empress Dowager Zheng forcibly separated them. One married into the Wang Family, and the other married into the Fan noble family, ultimately becoming pawns in political marriages. The cherished steed, Red Cloud, was left neglected in the stable until its death...

The dust of past events never truly disappears, usually pressed deep in the heart. But now they surge up to the surface.

Jiang Shaohua’s nose stung with intense sourness.

Luckily, the most shocking moment had passed.

The moment she heard the name Peng Sihai, she already had the most absurd speculation. Seeing Red Cloud now, her speculation was confirmed, and it became an undeniable truth.

Zheng Chen, like her, was reborn with regret and unwillingness from the past life.

He had no reason to see her personally, so he sent Peng Sihai to deliver Red Cloud. He intended this act to tell her that his feelings for her had never changed.

But what about her?

In her past life, after her husband Wang Jin died unexpectedly, she refused him for the sake of raising her son to adulthood.

This time, she chose another path. This path did not intersect with his, and eventually, they would still part ways.

"No reward without merit," Jiang Shaohua clearly heard her own calm voice: "I, the Commandery Princess, have never met Young Master Zheng; there is neither friendship nor connection. I, the Commandery Princess, will not accept this generous gift."

"Take the steed back and relay my words word-for-word to Young Master Zheng."

The Commandery Princess’s indifferent and firm attitude made Peng Sihai somewhat uncomfortable.

The Zheng Family had been a noble family in Da Liang for over twenty years, gaining more influence in the court. After the late Emperor passed, Empress Zheng became the Empress Dowager, and the Zheng Family became increasingly prestigious and wealthy.

Our Young Master had entered the palace at six years old, accompanying the Crown Prince to study. He was talented in both academics and martial arts, exceptionally handsome, and many noble young ladies in the Capital City secretly admired him.

Yet, this Commandery Princess remained indifferent to our Young Master’s kindness and generous gift. Such cold and indifferent words!

The bright gaze of the Commandery Princess swept over: "I, the Commandery Princess, have made myself so clear, do you not understand?"

Peng Sihai’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly replied, "I have remembered everything."

"Since you remembered, don’t waste time. Set off immediately to return to the Capital City and relay your mission. Take this steed with you," Jiang Shaohua’s face turned cold, devoid of any warmth: "Also, tell Zheng Chen not to have people disturbing me, the Commandery Princess, in the future."

Peng Sihai left with a stuffy nose, holding back his anger, responded with a sound, reached out to grab Red Cloud’s reins, and stepped away.

Red Cloud seemed somewhat reluctant, neighing and whinnying as the reins pulled painfully at its nose, having no choice but to trot away.

Jiang Shaohua watched intently, tears glistening faintly in her eyes.

Until Red Cloud completely disappeared from sight, Jiang Shaohua finally withdrew her gaze, and aside from Song Yuan, who was closest to her, no one could see the sadness in her eyes.

"Uncle, don’t ask anything," Jiang Shaohua’s voice wavered, there’s an indescribable feeling of fatigue and helplessness, "I want to be alone for a while."

Song Yuan did indeed ask nothing, escorting the Commandery Princess back to the military tent and standing guard outside.

Yin Zhu and Tu Bai also left the tent.

The two maids huddled together, whispering to each other, "This Young Master Zheng is really ridiculous, sending a horse for no reason. Our Commandery Princess possesses Nanyang County, with dozens of fine steeds in the Prince Mansion, what good horse does she lack?"

"Isn’t that the truth? To think he could win the Commandery Princess over with a horse is really laughable."

"The Commandery Princess didn’t accept this gift and drove them all away. However, why do I feel that our Commandery Princess seems burdened with concerns..."

Song Yuan, not wanting to eavesdrop on the two maids’ conversation, subtly moved a few meters away, continuing his watch outside the tent from another side.

Yin Zhu and Tu Bai were already accustomed to Commander Song’s manner and continued to whisper.

"Anyway, the Commandery Princess is indeed not in a good mood. She even drove us two out."

"The cook in the kitchen is mediocre and can’t make pastries. Later, I’ll brew a pot of flower tea and make some good food to cheer up the Commandery Princess."

...

Jiang Shaohua lay on the bed, covering her face with her sleeve.

The warm liquid at the corner of her eye had not yet had time to slide down, soaking into the soft sleeve. Quickly, a small patch was dampened.

This position, she didn’t know how long she maintained it. Later, Jiang Shaohua actually fell asleep in a daze.

In the dream, the eighteen-year-old Zheng Chen had flushed red eyes, gripping her hand tightly: "Cousin Shao Hua, let’s leave the Capital City together and never look back."

She endured her grief and sorrow, withdrawing her hand with a hardened heart: "The decree of marriage has been issued. In a month, I will be the daughter-in-law of the Wang Family. You will also marry the girl from the Fan Family. This is the last time we meet alone. In the future, do not seek me out again. To avoid inappropriate rumors, it would harm both our reputations."

The scene shifted to four years later.

She was dressed in funeral clothes, kneeling at her husband’s shrine, with her two-year-old son beside her.

Zheng Chen came to pay his respects at the shrine, disregarding the shocked gazes of others, bending down to speak to her: "Cousin Shao Hua, you are still young, and you have a long life ahead. Are you really going to remain a widow forever for Wang Jin? Come with me!"

Her trembling hands grasped her son’s chubby little hand: "I still have Yu’er, I will not leave the Wang Family. I will raise Yu’er to adulthood."

Zheng Chen’s face, filled with anger and disappointment, gradually faded, then once again became clear.

This time they met, it was many years later. By then, Zheng Chen was already the new Duke An, a powerful minister in court. The Wang Family had declined after Wang Rong’s death, suffering under the suppression of the Zheng Family’s faction.

He stood before her, carrying the power and brilliance of a powerful minister in his demeanor: "Cousin Shao Hua, you have been a widow in the Wang Family for over ten years, Wang Yu has grown up, you have fulfilled your duty to your deceased husband and your son. Now, will you consider marrying me?"

She remained silent for a long while before speaking: "Zheng Zixian, tell me, was it really you who had a hand in Wang Jin’s accidental fall from the horse?"

He, no longer the youth whose emotions were written on his face, upon hearing such heart-wrenching words, actually laughed: "Does it still matter whether it was or wasn’t? You have already decided in your heart that it was me, what more can I argue?"

"I only ask you, do you wish to marry me as my wife?"

The last meeting happened after she had drunk the poison. The pain in her abdomen was unbearable, black blood spilling from her mouth, vision turning blurry. He rushed to her side, held her in his arms, crying bitterly, calling her by her maiden name: "Shao Hua! Shao Hua!"

Zheng Chen, you and I have been entangled for half our lives; love or hate, it is all in the past now.

She let out her final breath, closing her eyes as she descended to the Yellow Springs.

"Commandery Princess!"

A familiar voice sounded outside the military tent, startling her from her long dream.