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墨書 Inktalez
Yama's Wedding
If Jun Ruo had known that her youthful infatuation would ruin the Bandit Hideout, she would have never entertained such feelings from the start. Indeed, tales of talented scholars and beautiful maidens are merely stories spun by others.
Yi Mo had been at the Bandit Hideout for several months, and the people there had grown increasingly fond of him. Jun Ruo was especially smitten, dedicating all her thoughts to Yi Mo. Yi Mo, however, disapproved of Jun Ruo engaging in the banditry that surrounded them. Consequently, she refrained from participating and even learned needlework from the Aunt in the village. Yi Mo enjoyed poetry and painting, so Jun Ruo picked up those challenging pursuits for his sake. Yi Mo once told Jun Ruo that there was no need for her to go to such lengths for him. Jun Ruo merely smiled; it was partly for Yi Mo, but she also contemplated her own feelings. Perhaps it was because of Yi Mo that she sometimes looked at the children in the Bandit Hideout and wondered if they were destined to follow the same violent path—living on the edge, with their lives hanging by a thread, unable to sleep soundly for fear of being hunted down by officials.
Now, women in the Bandit Hideout engaged in embroidery while men tended to the fields. In their leisure time, they hunted in the mountains. Such a stable and joyful life was not something to be dismissed.
When her father passed away, he entrusted the Bandit Hideout to her with hopes that those who had followed them could live their lives well. If she did not make a decision, even if they wished to lead their own lives, they would not dare speak against Jun Ruo. She felt it would be selfish of her; her grandfather and father had already delayed their freedom for generations. It was time for her to help them reclaim their independence.
That evening, Jun Ruo gathered everyone in the main hall to announce her decision. Initially, there was silence among them.
Seeing their expressions, Jun Ruo understood that they were feeling uneasy and smiled reassuringly. "Now that we have peace, I am just a woman with no desire to restore the glory of past dynasties or any interest in such matters. Everyone here has been living happily together; since that's the case, why not lighten our burdens and live as ordinary people? From now on, you are all free. Those who wish to stay may do so; those who want to leave can leave without any hindrance from me."
"Jun Ruo,"
"Head of the Family."
Hearing Jun Ruo's words stirred emotions within everyone. They had long grown weary of the burdens imposed by their ancestors. In this newfound peace, being together as a family was what mattered most. Out of respect for Jun Ruo, they had hesitated to voice their true feelings. Since Jun Ruo had never expressed a desire to restore their former state, they had continued to play along with this charade. Now, hearing her speak like this eased much of their guilt towards her.
"Alright, everyone, let's not be so melancholic; this is something worth celebrating." Noticing some wiping away tears discreetly, Jun Ruo spoke again. It was selfish of her to have allowed everyone to bear such heavy responsibilities for so long; thankfully, it wasn't too late now.
"Head of the Family, we want to stay here forever! We won't leave!" Wiping away tears from their faces, everyone declared earnestly that this place felt like home; how could they bear to leave it behind?
Jun Ruo looked at the brothers before her with deep emotion. They had stood by her and the Xiao Family through life and death, enduring the destruction of their home, yet they remained steadfast.
"Alright, we will always be together," Jun Ruo said, her heart swelling as she gazed at everyone.
"Always together!"
"Always together!"
The resounding voices echoed above the Bandit Hideout.
"Yi Mo, you might blame me for keeping this from you."
Later that night, when everyone had dispersed, Jun Ruo anxiously approached Yi Mo. Today was the day she revealed to him that she was a descendant of the former royal family. She wondered if he would mind; after all, her identity could lead to a death sentence in this world. Jun Ruo had always feared that Yi Mo would take issue with her background and that she might bring him trouble. It was only after much deliberation that she decided to share this part of herself with him. She was anxious about how he would react.
"Jun Ruo, just knowing your identity today makes me very happy. How could I blame you?" Yi Mo replied.
Hearing Yi Mo's words, Jun Ruo felt her worries dissipate.
"Even though my identity is tied to a fallen royal family, everything from that time is in the past. Now, all I want is to live well with you," Jun Ruo said shyly. She had truly let go of those matters; what mattered most to her now was building a life with Yi Mo.
"Yes, I understand. Meeting you in this life is my fortune," Yi Mo said as he wrapped his arms around Jun Ruo and gently stroked her hair.
"Get some rest," Yi Mo said as he closed Jun Ruo's door, turning back to her with a smile.
"Yes, you should rest early too." Jun Ruo looked outside at Yi Mo, who was truly stunning. Especially today, with a heavy burden lifted from her heart, Jun Ruo felt an overwhelming joy. From this day forward, she was no longer the Xiao Junru burdened by deep-seated grudges; she could live freely and happily. She could spend her life with the one she loved, surrounded by loyal friends and kind family members, and in the future, she would have adorable children of her own. Just thinking about all this made Jun Ruo giddy with excitement as she rolled around on her bed, unable to sleep.
Gently closing the door behind him, Yi Mo's originally gentle expression quickly faded when he could no longer see Jun Ruo.
Inside Yi Mo's heart, turbulent waves had already begun to rise. Although he had vaguely guessed Jun Ruo's identity before coming here, hearing it confirmed with his own ears was still a significant shock. Jun Ruo was of royal blood from the previous dynasty, which meant that every villager here was not ordinary; they were remnants of the fallen regime!
It seemed that these people could not be allowed to remain. However, each of them possessed exceptional skills and were particularly wary. He needed to come up with a solid plan to capture them all. It had been a while since he returned to the capital, and his elder brother had been rather restless lately.
Yi Mo stood in front of Jun Ruo's door for a while, contemplating various matters before slowly leaving her room.
The Bandit Hideout at night appeared serene and gentle under the moonlight. How long would this tranquility last? (To be continued.)
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