Chapter 27

Seeing Xiao Changyuan's head hit the doorframe, Yun Pianpian was horrified and rushed over to help him up.
“Husband, are you okay? Does your head hurt? Should we call a doctor?”
Xiao Changyuan held his head, feeling as though it were about to split open, filled with chaotic and noisy scenes.
Countless cries and screams surged toward his ears like a tidal wave.
The sounds of armored horses and icy rivers, the grandeur of war drums and horns, the roar of tigers, the clamor of slaughter, the splatter of blood.
It seemed there was also a child, screaming desperately.
Xiao Changyuan opened his eyes and saw Yun Pianpian's anxious, worried face.
Her red lips moved before him, as if she were saying something, but he couldn't hear her voice.
His head throbbed with pain, and he desperately wanted to make out Yun Pianpian's words.
“Wife, what were you saying just now?”
Hearing this, Yun Pianpian's face instantly turned deathly pale, her frightened almond, shaped eyes glistening with tears.
“Husband, don't scare me.”
Yun Pianpian's mind went blank from fear.
She thought she had deafened Xiao Changyuan by pushing him.
Fear and regret washed over her, and she clutched his arm helplessly, her eyes brimming with tears.
Yun Pianpian's tears fell like broken strings of pearls, one after another.
A single, glistening tear traced her cheek and landed on the back of Xiao Changyuan's hand.
With a soft plop, it made a faint sound.
Her tears were so fragile, yet scalding hot, causing his fingertips to tremble slightly.
Plop.
That faint sound was like a drop of thick ink falling into the lake of his heart, sending ripples spreading endlessly, roaring like a tidal wave.
The sounds of armored horses, grand horns, war, and slaughter all receded like a tide, gradually fading away.
All the noise that had filled Xiao Changyuan's mind vanished because of it.
The primordial universe, the starry river, the clouds and moon, everything in the world ceased to exist.
He could only hear the sound of Yun Pianpian's tears falling on his hand.
He could only see her eyes, red and swollen from crying.
He could only feel his wife.
His wife was crying, and he didn't want her to cry.
Xiao Changyuan frowned slightly, his gaze fixed on her tears.
Slowly, he raised his hand and reached toward her tear, streaked face.
His cold, pale, and bony fingers gently curved as he wiped away the scalding tears at the corner of her eye.
“Wife, don't cry.”
Yun Pianpian froze, lifting her gaze to look at him with red, rimmed eyes.
“Can you hear me now?”
Xiao Changyuan pressed his thin lips together and gave a slight nod.
He cared not for the past, nor for the future, only for the woman before him.
The tears in her eyes were his entire past and future.
“I heard you.”
Hearing his reply, Yun Pianpian immediately threw herself into Xiao Changyuan's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
“You scared me to death! I thought I'd made you deaf!”
Xiao Changyuan braced himself with one hand against the floor, catching Yun Pianpian's delicate, slender body. He nearly toppled back against the threshold from the force of her impact. Feeling the warmth and fragility in his arms, a sense of helplessness stirred within him.
But more than that, there was an emotion even softer than helplessness.
So soft it bordered on sweetness.
How strange.
He had always despised sweets, yet now, this sweet sensation didn't seem to bother him at all.
Xiao Changyuan slowly raised his arms and embraced the weeping Yun Pianpian.
“I'm fine, wife. Please don't cry.”
They sat on the floor, holding each other for a long time before Yun Pianpian finally stopped crying and remembered to check Xiao Changyuan's injury.
What she saw shocked her, Xiao Changyuan's head had been struck so hard that a bloody gash had formed, staining his hair crimson.
The tears she had just managed to hold back surged forth once more.
“It's all my fault…”
She never meant to hurt Xiao Changyuan. She had only wanted to push him away. She never expected such an accident to happen…
Yun Pianpian was consumed by guilt, feeling she had wronged him.
Hearing her words, Xiao Changyuan frowned slightly.
“It's not your fault, wife.”
His gaze remained fixed on the glistening tears at the corner of her eyes.
Her tears were the one thing he feared most.
Xiao Changyuan slowly raised his hand, his pale, slender fingers gently curving as he wiped away the tears from the corner of her eye.
His touch was as delicate as if he were polishing a precious piece of porcelain.
Unbelievably tender.
And his voice was hundreds of times gentler than his touch.
“I'll be fine, wife. Please don't cry…”
Yun Pianpian rubbed her reddened eyes and, remembering the severity of Xiao Changyuan's injury, quickly pushed aside her tears. She hurriedly took his hand and led him to find a physician.
“I'll take you to see a doctor!”
Yun Pianpian had no trust in Zhou, the doctor from Jiangjia Village, believing only in the doctors from the county town.
It was already late, and if they delayed any longer, the city gates might close. Yun Pianpian immediately rushed to Xie Yu's house to borrow his ox cart. Fortunately, Xie Yu had not gone to the county town that morning. Upon learning that Xiao Changyuan was injured, Xie Yu was greatly shocked.
He quickly comforted Yun Pianpian, handed over his tasks to Mu Bai, and drove the ox cart to take Yun Pianpian and the others to the county town.
Throughout the journey, Yun Pianpian's eyes were red. She tightly gripped Xiao Changyuan's arm, unable to hold back her soft sobs.
Xiao Changyuan kept comforting her: “Wife, I'm fine. Please don't cry.”
His attempts to soothe her only made her feel worse, and her tears fell uncontrollably.
“I'm sorry, my husband. It's all my fault.”
Hearing the conversation between the two behind him, Xie Yu clenched the reins in his hands tightly.
His eyes were filled with struggle and hesitation.
To repay kindness or seek revenge, it all rested on a single thought of his.
Now that Xiao Changyuan was seriously injured, his condition unclear, it was the perfect opportunity for him to strike.
Should he take this chance to kill Xiao Changyuan?
Xie Yu did not know what choice he should make.
The reins in his hands were a lethal weapon. At any moment, he could use them to strangle Xiao Changyuan's neck and end his life.
But with his strength, could he really kill Xiao Changyuan?
This terrifying man had unified five kingdoms in less than two years.
With his own power, could he truly kill this legendary human weapon whose fame shook the world?
Xie Yu felt a trace of doubt.
Just as he was lost in struggle and hesitation,
He heard Yun Pianpian's soft sobs from behind.
Each cry seemed to pierce straight into his heart.
To Xie Yu, Yun Pianpian's weeping was like the hesitant, struggling voice within his own heart.
That voice kept crying, retreating, and venting fear.
Deep down, he feared Xiao Changyuan.
Even though Xiao Changyuan was seriously injured, bleeding from his head, defenseless behind him like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.
He still lacked the courage to strike.
Because this man was like a god of war, capable of killing anyone with ease.
Xie Yu felt an instinctive fear.
He did not want to die.
Unless he was absolutely certain, he could not recklessly attack Xiao Changyuan.
This was the fear of the weak toward the strong.
Even though Xiao Changyuan had lost his memory, this fear remained deeply rooted in the heart of every weakling.
Time passed bit by bit.
Xie Yu's hesitation gradually faded away amid Yun Pianpian's sobs.
In the end, he made his decision.
Revenge or repayment, today, he chose to repay kindness.
Xie Yu tightened his grip on the reins and urged the ox cart toward the county town.
When they arrived, Yun Pianpian took Xiao Changyuan straight to the clinic. The doctor examined Xiao Changyuan carefully and looked up to announce to everyone, “The young master is not seriously injured. He has only suffered a head wound. I will prescribe some topical medicine for him. With two weeks of rest, he will recover completely.”
Hearing the doctor's words, Xie Yu felt dazed for a moment.
An overwhelming sense of hindsight fear washed over him.
Thankfully, he had not acted rashly and attacked Xiao Changyuan earlier.
Otherwise, today would have been his last day.
Upon hearing the doctor's words, Yun Pianpian felt the heavy stone in her heart finally drop.
It was such a relief that he was not seriously injured.
The doctor bandaged Xiao Changyuan's wound and prescribed several doses of medicine. Yun Pianpian paid the bill and went to the pharmacy to have the medicine prepared.
After getting the medicine, Xie Yu escorted the two of them back to Jiangjia Village.
Sitting on the ox cart, Yun Pianpian finally remembered to thank Xie Yu.
“A Yu, thank you so much for today.”
If Xie Yu hadn't taken them, they probably wouldn't have made it to the county town before the city gates closed.
Xie Yu said softly, “Sister Pianpian, you're too polite. It's just a small matter. In my eyes, you're like my own sister. A younger brother helping his sister is only natural, so there's no need for you to keep it in mind.”
Though Xie Yu had been somewhat insincere before, today's events had genuinely made him grateful to Yun Pianpian.
If it weren't for this woman, he might have lost his life today.
Hearing Xie Yu's words, Xiao Changyuan's dark eyes gradually darkened.
The three of them returned to Jiangjia Village. After Yun Pianpian expressed her thanks, Xie Yu drove the ox cart and slowly departed from her home.
In the evening, Yun Pianpian prepared braised pork, pine nut corn, and chestnut chicken to make up for the injury Xiao Changyuan had suffered because of her.
After washing up, Yun Pianpian even offered to massage Xiao Changyuan's shoulders and back.
When Xiao Changyuan wanted to drink tea, Yun Pianpian hurriedly poured it for him.
Under the lamplight, the beauty was as flawless as jade.
Xiao Changyuan couldn't take his eyes off Yun Pianpian.
The candle flame flickered, casting a warm and gentle glow.
The faint candlelight enveloped the girl's face in a soft radiance, making her delicate features appear even more ethereal and serene.
Her beauty was just right.
Xiao Changyuan had never seen his wife so gentle and considerate before.
She had always been wild, erratic, unreasonable, and alarmist.
Like a little cat that had yet to be tamed.
Xiao Changyuan suddenly felt that if she remained this docile and gentle, he wouldn't mind if she knocked a few more bloody holes in his head.
Yun Pianpian handed the poured tea to Xiao Changyuan, her clear and bright almond, shaped eyes gazing at him.
“Husband, have some tea.”
Xiao Changyuan took the teacup from her hand. Yun Pianpian continued to massage his shoulders and back. Feeling the pressure of her massage gradually lessen, Xiao Changyuan's heart softened, and he eventually set down the teacup.
“Wife, I am tired. Let us rest early.”
Yun Pianpian had long grown weary from the massage, but she hadn't stopped because she wanted to make it up to Xiao Changyuan.
Hearing Xiao Changyuan's words, Yun Pianpian immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
“Alright.”
Late at night, the two lay down on the bed.
Xiao Changyuan couldn't lie flat on his back, as it would press on his wound, so tonight he could only sleep on his side.
He dared not face Yun Pianpian directly.
Just the thought of it made his heart tighten and his breathing grow difficult.
Xiao Changyuan could only turn his back to Yun Pianpian.
Yun Pianpian fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.
Hearing her steady breathing, Xiao Changyuan soon sank into darkness.
This time, he had a nightmare.
In the dream, a crimson mist of blood swirled and intertwined.
The blood mist surged and danced wildly, sweeping toward him like a tidal wave.
In the blood mist, he saw the origin of it all.
That birthday banquet filled with slaughter and blood, despair and fear.
Everywhere, there were roars, wails, and screams.
Everything before his eyes was stained in blood, red.
Xiao Changyuan saw a man in imperial robes, holding a cold, long blade, his expression twisted as he beheaded a young man.
Splatters of fresh blood sprayed onto Xiao Changyuan's face.
He felt immense sorrow, overwhelming despair, and a rage that threatened to burst from his body.
Xiao Changyuan heard a cry. He turned his head and saw a child, as sorrowful, despairing, and enraged as he was.
The child was pinned to the ground by guards, struggling desperately, crying out sharply, wailing in agony, and roaring in despair.
“Father! I beg you, spare Mother! She is Yuan'er's mother!”
Xiao Changyuan's head buzzed.
Mother.
Xiao Changyuan instinctively followed the child's gaze.
The man in imperial robes, raising his long blade high, his expression frenzied, brought it down upon a woman in splendid robes who was weeping incessantly.
“No!”
Xiao Changyuan's heart felt as if it had been gouged out.
He lunged forward, trying to stop the bloody slaughter, but grasped only empty air.
Xiao Changyuan jolted awake from the nightmare.
His pupils contracted, his heart raced wildly, and a cold sweat broke out on his back.
The room was silent, save for his ragged breaths.
His vision was dim, his entire body felt cold, devoid of any warmth.
Yun Pianpian slept beside him, so quiet, so soft, so radiant.
He yearned for her radiance, her softness, her calm, for her to pull him out of the nightmare.
Xiao Changyuan gripped Yun Pianpian's shoulders and shook her awake, his voice low and hoarse.
“Wife, I had a nightmare.”
Yun Pianpian was still somewhat groggy, waking with bleary eyes to look at him.
“It's just a nightmare, husband. Go back to sleep.”
Xiao Changyuan said, “I dreamed of a man in imperial robes, slaughtering wildly in the palace. He killed a woman.”
Hearing this, Yun Pianpian's drowsiness vanished instantly, and she snapped awake.
“What imperial robes? What palace?”
“I don't know either.”
In the darkness, she couldn't see the expression on Xiao Changyuan's face.
Yun Pianpian only heard his low, cool voice.
“Wife, do I know them?”
“Of course not.”
Yun Pianpian immediately denied it. “We are common folk. How could we know the nobles in the palace?”
Xiao Changyuan felt a flicker of doubt. “Then why did I dream of them?”
Yun Pianpian hastily fabricated a lie, “It must be because you think about something during the day and dream about it at night. Since I bumped your head during the day, you ended up seeing someone bleeding in your dream. The noble person you dreamed of might very well be someone you saw at the clinic earlier.”
Xiao Changyuan recalled that he had indeed seen many bleeding people at the clinic that day.
“Wife, how can I tell the difference between dreams and reality?”
Yun Pianpian took Xiao Changyuan's hand. “Look, my hand is warm, but in dreams, there is no warmth. Anything without warmth is false; only things with warmth are real.”
Xiao Changyuan clasped her hand in return.
Her hand was soft and warm, like solidified sunlight, making him feel comforted.
Though his vision was pitch black and he couldn't see Yun Pianpian's expression, he knew she must be looking very gentle at that moment.
He gazed intently at her.
“I understand.”
Hearing his words, Yun Pianpian finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Xiao Changyuan, like a frozen wolf desperately seeking warmth, tightened his grip on her wrist.
“Wife, tell me stories about our past.”
Yun Pianpian asked, “Why do you want to know about the past?”
Xiao Changyuan replied, “I don't want to have nightmares.”
So, Yun Pianpian racked her brains to weave a story, crafting a warm tale of childhood sweethearts for Xiao Changyuan.
“My husband has been obsessed with sweets since he was little. When he was seven, all his teeth fell out, and he couldn't even speak properly.”
“Really?”
“Of course it's true. I'm your wife, why would I lie to you?”
“...”
Xiao Changyuan thought seriously: Could it be that he dislikes sweets now because losing all his teeth at seven was too embarrassing?
“And there's more! When you were eight, you saw a candy figure at the market that looked just like me, so you bought it to show me. But by the time you gave it to me, it had melted into an ugly mess. I got so angry that I threw it at you, and you burst into tears.”
“You're lying. How could I possibly cry?”
“Husband, you were just a child back then, and all children cry a lot.”
Xiao Changyuan believed her words, lost in thought as he realized he had been such a crybaby in his youth.
“And there's more…”
Yun Pianpian spun a web of nonsense, spinning tale after tale, their hands remaining clasped together all the while.
As Xiao Changyuan listened to Yun Pianpian's rambling stories, his once cold and tense body gradually relaxed.
He even began to feel drowsy.
Holding Yun Pianpian's wrist, Xiao Changyuan drifted into a heavy, dream, filled sleep.
His vision plunged into darkness.
In his dream, he saw that swirling crimson mist once again.
It surged like a monstrous beast, roaring, howling, and baring its fangs as it lunged toward him.
At the same time, countless chaotic and disordered sounds gradually filled his ears.
Voices shouting, wailing, screaming.
Like the cries of malevolent ghosts, they twisted around his ears.
The monstrous entity, seething with crimson mist, let out a maniacal laugh, its bloody maw gaping wide as if to devour his insignificant self.
Xiao Changyuan no longer felt anger.
Nor did he feel fear.
Calmly, he raised his right hand.
In his once, empty palm, a three, foot, long sword suddenly appeared, gleaming with a soft, milky, white light.
Expressionless, Xiao Changyuan lifted the sword and swung it toward the roaring crimson mist beast.
The blade flashed like lightning, cleaving the scarlet mist in two.
The chaotic sounds, clashing weapons, gleaming blades, faded away like a receding tide.
His world returned to tranquility.
The sword in his hand suddenly transformed into a small sugar figurine.
This sugar figurine looked exactly like Yun Pianpian.
Xiao Changyuan lowered his head to gaze at the tiny candy.
“My wife didn’t lie to me.”
He had truly found a sugar figurine that looked just like her.
The little sugar figurine had two small buns for hair, willow, leaf eyebrows, almond, shaped eyes, and a petite cherry, like mouth, utterly adorable.
Xiao Changyuan suddenly remembered Yun Pianpian’s words.
When he was a child, he had given her a sugar figurine, but it melted.
His wife never got to see the sugar figurine that looked just like her.
She had been angry and threw it back at him.
A faint smile touched Xiao Changyuan’s eyes. He wanted his wife to see this sugar figurine.
He needed to prove to her that he hadn’t lied as a child.
Carefully, he gripped the stick of the sugar figurine.
Only one resolute thought filled his mind.
He had to find his wife.
This time, the sugar figurine must not melt.
Holding his little sugar figurine, Xiao Changyuan stepped toward the light.
Dreams are cold.
But his wife is warm.
Where there is light, his wife is there.
A year later, Xiao Changyuan would come to understand.
The crimson mist he had severed in his dream was not a nightmare, it was his memories of the past twenty years.
He himself had cut away his own memories, delaying the recovery of those memories by a year.
But that was a story for later.
At this moment, Xiao Changyuan only wanted to find his wife to place that sugar figurine, so like her, into Yun Pianpian’s hands.
After waking, Xiao Changyuan told Yun Pianpian, “Wife, I gave you a sugar figurine in my dream. Did you receive it?”
Yun Pianpian looked at him, baffled. “That was your dream. How could I receive it?”
Hearing this, Xiao Changyuan felt a pang of disappointment