Chapter 55 - 49: Sister, Brother Xiao Has Already Left

Xiao Mo stood up. "Ruxue, I’m sorry... I..."

"It’s alright." Bai Ruxue shook her head, lifting her delicate face with a smile. "I’ve heard of that Mr. Zhang. He’s a highly respected elder, and it seems he is held in high regard by His Majesty. Wasn’t he the one who recommended you for Provincial Scholar, Xiao Mo?"

"That’s right," Xiao Mo nodded.

"Then you should go, Xiao Mo." Bai Ruxue set the washbasin aside and gently squeezed his hand. "I may only be a woman who hasn’t read many books, but isn’t becoming a court official your dream? It’s only half a month earlier than planned. It’s alright."

"Ruxue..."

"Don’t say you’re sorry again," Bai Ruxue said with a smile. "I’m really alright. Aunt Chen said that the most important thing for a wife is to be considerate of her husband."

As she spoke, the blush on her cheeks crept up to the tips of her ears. Her voice was shy and soft. "Although we aren’t married yet... but... but I... I should start learning."

Seeing Ruxue looking so endearingly shy, Xiao Mo’s heart stirred. He gently stroked her hair. "I’ll be back as soon as I can."

"Mm, I’ll wait for you."

Bai Ruxue wanted to spend a few more days with Xiao Mo, but she felt that they had a long future ahead of them.

’He’s only leaving half a month early, it’s nothing...’

’I’ll wait for him to come back.’

That night, Bai Ruxue hurried to finish making a sachet for Xiao Mo.

There was also a new set of clothes that needed its finishing touches tonight.

Bai Ruxue wanted Xiao Mo to be able to wear it when he went to the Capital City.

The candlelight flickered in the room.

Whenever she felt drowsy, Bai Ruxue would chew on a chili pepper or splash cold water on her face.

"Sister... why don’t you finish the clothes tomorrow..." Xiao Qing said, her heart aching as she watched her sister fight off exhaustion.

It was truly agonizing for a member of the Snake Race to fight off drowsiness in winter.

"It’s alright." Bai Ruxue shook her head, her fine needle continuing to weave through the fabric. "These clothes have to be finished tonight. I need to have Xiao Mo try them on tomorrow. If they don’t fit, there will still be time to make adjustments."

Seeing her sister’s expression, Xiao Qing knew that her words would fall on deaf ears.

Whenever it came to anything concerning Brother Xiao, her sister became especially stubborn.

"Then I’ll help you, Sister." Xiao Qing got out of bed and went to her sister’s side.

"You can just go to sleep, Xiao Qing," Bai Ruxue said.

"No. If you’re not sleeping, Sister, then I’m not sleeping either," Xiao Qing insisted. "Sister, is there anything I can help with?"

"Alright..." Bai Ruxue thought for a moment. "Then help me sew these two pieces of cloth together and embroider a stalk of bamboo on it. I want to make an inner pocket for him."

"Okay, Sister!"

Xiao Qing quickly picked up the needle and thread from the table and began to sew diligently.

But in less than an hour, Xiao Qing felt her eyelids growing heavier and heavier.

Two hours later, Xiao Qing was already asleep at the table, a trickle of drool running down her chin.

"I knew you wouldn’t last," Bai Ruxue said gently, her delicate pink lips curling into a slight smile as she softly poked her sister’s nose.

It was now deep winter. Given Xiao Qing’s Realm, she would have to return to the mountains to hibernate in a few days.

Xiao Qing had started getting drowsy seven days ago; there was no way she could pull an all-nighter with her now.

Bai Ruxue carried Xiao Qing back to bed and tucked her in.

Under the candlelight, the woman continued to sew, stitch by stitch, diligently working on the green robe for the man she loved.

The next morning, as the rooster crowed at dawn, Bai Ruxue finally looked up and rubbed her shoulders.

The green robe in her arms was finished.

After Xiao Mo woke up, Bai Ruxue quickly had him try it on.

Seeing how well it fit Xiao Mo, the woman finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Is it comfortable to wear?" Bai Ruxue asked. "Does anything need to be adjusted?"

"It’s very comfortable." Xiao Mo looked at the green robe. "Nothing needs to be adjusted. It fits perfectly."

"Brother Xiao, it’s a good thing it fits. Sister stayed up all night making it. If it didn’t fit, I’m afraid she would have spent another day adjusting it," Xiao Qing said from the side.

"You talk too much," Bai Ruxue said, patting the back of her sister’s hand.

"Actually, Ruxue, you really don’t have to make clothes yourself anymore. Our family isn’t short on money now," Xiao Mo advised.

"It’s no trouble." Bai Ruxue stepped forward to straighten Xiao Mo’s sleeves, waist, and collar. "Clothes made by others are still made by others. I can’t rest easy."

"..." Xiao Mo’s throat tightened. He wanted to say so much, but a thousand words could only be condensed into one sentence. "Ruxue, you’ve really worked hard."

Bai Ruxue’s eyes curved into crescents. "Between you and me, there’s no need to speak of hardship."

Xiao Mo’s gaze softened as he looked into Bai Ruxue’s eyes.

Xiao Mo knew this was just an experience in the Hundred Generations Book, but what more could a man ask for if he could truly have such a wife?

"When do you leave tomorrow?" Bai Ruxue asked.

"Tomorrow at Chen hour, Magistrate Sun will send a carriage to pick me up."

"The road to the Capital City is said to be long. Will anyone be escorting you?"

"Magistrate Sun said he would make arrangements. You don’t need to worry, Ruxue."

"That’s good, then." Bai Ruxue nodded. "I’ll give you your travel bundle tomorrow. There might be a lot of things, but you’re not allowed to complain. They’re all things you’ll need."

"Alright..."

Every time he left for a long journey, Bai Ruxue would prepare a great many things for Xiao Mo. The assortment was complete, but there was indeed a lot.

She would even pack a sachet to repel mosquitoes for him.

Seeing Xiao Mo agree, Bai Ruxue smiled faintly and pulled Xiao Qing into the kitchen to cook.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Bai Ruxue went about her household chores as usual.

During the meal, Bai Ruxue kept a smile on her face, deliberately trying to hide her reluctance to see him go from Xiao Mo.

But Bai Ruxue was not someone who could easily hide her feelings.

Both Xiao Mo and Xiao Qing could see the disappointment in her heart.

The next morning, Bai Ruxue woke up early to prepare breakfast for Xiao Mo.

Before long, a carriage stopped outside the courtyard, accompanied by several constables on horseback.

These were the people who had come to pick up Xiao Mo.

After breakfast, Bai Ruxue walked with Xiao Mo, step by step, out of the village.

Xiao Mo’s departure was rather sudden this time, so not many people knew. Thus, the village head and the others didn’t come to see him off.

The constables were very tactful, walking far ahead and leaving the two of them some private space.

"After you get to the Capital City, you must eat well. Don’t just make do with whatever."

"I know."

"The weather is getting colder, so be sure to wear more layers."

"Don’t worry, the winter clothes you made are very thick."

"Take these two jars of honey with you. They aren’t worth much, but it’s the thought that counts. You can’t show up empty-handed when you go to see Mr. Zhang."

"Don’t worry."

"Also, no going to brothels."

"I won’t."

"And if you don’t do well on the exam, it’s okay. Don’t lose heart. I’ll always be here at home, waiting for you."

"Okay."

Xiao Mo stopped walking and turned to face the woman before him. "Ruxue, you should stop here."

The woman bit her lip lightly. "I... I’ll walk you a little further..."

Xiao Mo shook his head. "You’ve already walked me for five li."

"..." The woman lowered her head, her fingers clenched tightly, her long, curved eyelashes trembling slightly.

After a long moment, the woman looked up at him. "Leave soon, and come back soon."

Xiao Mo took two steps back, stood before the woman, straightened his robes, and gave a solemn, respectful bow.

Straightening up, Xiao Mo said no more. To say more would only be to show more reluctance to part.

He turned, walked forward, and boarded the carriage.

"Giddy-up!"

Escorted by the few constables, the carriage carrying Xiao Mo gradually drove off into the fields.

Bai Ruxue subconsciously took a step forward, but ultimately stopped herself.

The carriage traveled farther and farther away until it became a black dot and disappeared from the woman’s sight.

"Sister, Brother Xiao is gone now. Let’s go back..." Xiao Qing said to her sister.

"There’s no hurry. I’ll watch a little longer..."

"But you can’t even see a shadow of Brother Xiao anymore..."

"It’s alright..."

The woman clutched the hem of her skirt, her gaze still fixed on the horizon.

"I... I’ll just watch a little longer..."