Chapter 71: A Promise to Grow Old Together

As the boat set sail, the summer beauty of the Lan River slowly unfolded before Lu Jin’s eyes. The great river surged with waves, flanked by towering cliffs and steep walls, the calls of birds and cries of monkeys echoing unceasingly. The boat cut through the waves, and standing at its prow, Lu Jin felt his heart stirred, a sense of heroic vigor rising within him, as if he were conquering the currents midstream.

“Husband!”

Lu Jin turned to look. Shen Yanxi smiled sweetly. On the table, ink, brush, paper, and inkstone had already been laid out, and Shen Yanxi seemed to have begun grinding the ink. Several maids nearby watched eagerly, anticipation in their eyes.

Lu Jin chuckled softly, returned to the table, and embraced Shen Yanxi from behind.

Her body trembled ever so slightly, but then she leaned into his arms, yielding to his touch.

Guiding her hand, Lu Jin picked up the brush, while a maid swiftly spread the paper and placed the paperweight.

Nestled in Lu Jin’s arms, Shen Yanxi’s heart surged with emotions. Being held by him brought a profound sense of security. They had embraced before, but never had their hearts been so attuned, never had their feelings been so fierce and sincere as on this day. It was a true love between hearts; she felt Lu Jin’s affection and understood him deeply.

Lu Jin held Shen Yanxi’s hand as they began to write on the blank sheet.

“To my wife, Shen Yanxi,” a small line appeared in the upper left corner. Shen Yanxi’s heart fluttered with joy and gratitude.

Most people love to write literature, but few write so plainly for their wives, gifting them such words. They prefer to compose about country and society, about the melancholy of spring and autumn. But he was different.

“I see the green mountains as charming; I imagine the green mountains see me the same way!” The bold characters flowed across the center of the page, written by the hands of Lu Jin and Shen Yanxi, smooth as drifting clouds and flowing water. The more Shen Yanxi gazed at them, the more she liked them, nestling closer to Lu Jin.

“Jiangzhou, Lu Nanqing!” A few small characters sprang forth in the lower right corner.

Lu Jin felt a bit embarrassed; this seemed to be the first time he consciously gifted something to Shen Yanxi.

“Nanqing, thank you!” Shen Yanxi looked up at him, her voice gentle in his ear.

Lu Jin gazed at her slightly flushed, delicate face and couldn’t help but kiss her. Shen Yanxi didn’t shy away, nor did she lower her head in embarrassment. Her eyes were dreamy as she returned the kiss to the corner of his mouth.

Lu Jin did not press further; he cherished the gradual, step-by-step journey into each other’s hearts. If his previous life was lived in conformity and compromise for the sake of society, in this life he wished to find someone he truly loved, unhurried, to grow old together.

Shen Yanxi felt the same, so she did not evade or shy away, willing to respond to Lu Jin’s affection. In his gentle gaze, she understood his feelings. Life is not long, but having you is enough.

Savoring the sweetness lingering on his lips, Lu Jin asked a maid for another sheet of paper.

Shen Yanxi and the maids watched Lu Jin without blinking, eager to see what new verse he would write.

Lu Jin turned the paper horizontally, lifted his brush, and wrote swiftly:

“I wish to be with you, to live a life without decline.
When the mountains crumble, the river runs dry,
When thunder roars in winter, and snow falls in summer,
When heaven and earth unite, only then will I dare part from you!”

For a moment, everyone was stunned. It was not about fleeting romance, nor about praise and glory, but an invitation and vow of love.

Looking at those words, they felt as if the weight pressed upon their chests. What kind of affection could match such a vow?

As Lu Jin finished writing, Shen Yanxi’s eyes misted over, her heart seeming to pause. Wasn’t the hope for a lifelong companion just this?

Lu Jin solemnly wrote “Jiangzhou, Lu Nanqing” in the lower right corner and turned to Shen Yanxi.

She was already in tears. Her joy and emotion were not because Lu Jin wrote beautiful poetry or spoke sweet words, nor because the scenery was so picturesque. She rejoiced that Lu Jin knew her, understood her, and loved her, touched by his respect and the resoluteness of his love before they reached home.

Shen Yanxi took the brush from Lu Jin’s hand and carefully wrote “Jiangzhou, Shen Yanxi” beside his words.

Turning, she gently nestled into Lu Jin’s arms.

With a beautiful land and a beloved in his embrace, what more could one desire?

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Traveling upstream along the Lan River, the journey for a daughter of a noble family was never so monotonous as merely admiring the scenery.

The family’s entertainers took turns performing, dazzling Lu Jin with their dances and music, embellishing the picturesque landscape and becoming a rare sight on the Lan River, envied by passing boats. But seeing the guards on those boats, they could only abandon inappropriate thoughts and continue their weary journey.

At the center of the boat, Shen Yanxi remained in Lu Jin’s arms, accompanying him as they enjoyed the view. Having pledged themselves to each other, they no longer needed to disguise or worry. Her earlier anxiety faded away because of Lu Jin’s resolute love.

No matter what happened, Lu Jin would always be her husband. The family’s situation was uncertain, but since his heart was set, she would face it together with him.

They arrived at Shangqing County by afternoon. Stepping ashore, they saw that Shangqing could not compare to the grand city of Jianglin.

Having rested on the boat, they did not linger in Shangqing. After the servants inquired about the route, they switched to carriages and headed straight for Xiahe Village.

Lu Jin hadn’t expected that the carriages were also on the last boat. Their journey to Xiahe Village was light and simple, with most of the entourage staying on the boat. Even so, it was still an impressive procession of ten carriages.

As the saying goes, the closer one gets to home, the more anxious one becomes. With each jolt of the carriage, Lu Jin’s heart grew more uneasy—not about his wife, for that matter had long been resolved in his mind. He was Lu Jin, a traveler from another world, and he must live for himself. The rest he could only try to make up, never compromise.

His anxiety lay in the little details: who was at home, what they did, whether their lives were good, how to handle relationships.

“Master, Xiahe Village is near!” called a voice from outside.

A sudden bump nearly sent Lu Jin tumbling out of the carriage. His mind went blank. They were here! Already?

“Nanqing, whatever you wish to do, whatever you wish to say, I am with you,” Shen Yanxi saw his tension and quickly reached out, holding Lu Jin’s hand tightly. He smiled at her and then lowered his head.

“When we reach the village entrance, stop and let me walk in,” Lu Jin instructed hurriedly, for he always dreamed of his mother waiting for him at the village gate.

“Master, we’ve arrived!”

He cursed inwardly. So soon? Couldn’t they give him a moment to prepare! Lu Jin felt like crying.

He sat motionless in the carriage.

“Nanqing, let’s get out,” Shen Yanxi’s voice was gentle.

But Lu Jin didn’t move.

“Nanqing!” Her voice was more urgent.

Lu Jin scrambled out of the carriage, Shen Yanxi following with the help of the maids.

Standing on the ground, Lu Jin gazed at the village entrance in confusion. Was this really the place he had once lived?

Where were the peach blossoms from his dreams? Was it not this gate? Lu Jin looked around, feeling ever more lost.

Where was his mother? Wasn’t she supposed to wait for him?