The evening sun is boundlessly beautiful.
“You want to rob me? You’re not nearly capable enough!” Chen Yage said smugly, “Do you admit defeat?”
“Yes, yes!”
“Spare us, hero...”
“We won’t dare again...”
...
For a moment, the beggars all pleaded for mercy. Chen Yage, merciful by nature, didn’t wish to pursue the matter further. After all, every trade has its hardships, and being a beggar was no easy life.
Yet, she was reluctant to let them go so easily. Clearing her throat, she put on the air of a boss and said, “Let me warn you—never bully the weak again. Every profession has its own rules; even beggars should have a code. If I ever see you picking on the vulnerable again, I’ll...”
Chen Yage clenched her fist and stepped toward the beggars. They were so frightened that they prostrated themselves, crying, “Spare us, hero! We’ll never dare again!”
Chen Yage withdrew her fist and said solemnly, “That’s good.”
“Where’s the river?” Chen Yage looked down and sniffed her clothes. Judging by the odor, they’d never been washed, or perhaps had been fished out of a cesspit.
“River? Why do you ask? Don’t tell me you...” Yi Hu looked at Chen Yage, perplexed.
Chen Yage rolled her eyes in exasperation. “I am a young woman in the prime of my life—though not a peerless beauty, I can still turn heads like a peony in bloom. Life is so wonderful, and I have yet to enjoy it fully. How could I think of ending it so lightly?” She paused and asked, “What’s your name?”
“Yi Hu,” he replied, not too loudly, but just right.
Yi Hu hesitated for a moment, then looked at Chen Yage with a complex expression and smiled. “I know where the river is. I’ll take you.”
So, Chen Yage followed Yi Hu out the city gates, winding left and right through endless paths.
Throughout the journey, Yi Hu remained silent. Chen Yage felt suffocated—no matter what she asked, his answers were always just a few words. To call it concise was generous; otherwise, he was simply a dull gourd.
“How much further?” Chen Yage asked impatiently. They’d walked for more than an hour; the river was certainly far.
“Almost there, just ahead,” Yi Hu replied coolly, striding ahead with long steps. Chen Yage had to hurry to keep up, but facing such beauty, she couldn’t help but pause, admiring nature’s exquisite grace.
On the riverbank, ancient trees dripped with lush green, wildflowers competed in bloom, their fragrance wafting in all directions. Across the river, green hills encircled the water, the setting sun nestled between two peaks, its golden afterglow spilling across the river—soft as gauze, like the veil of a bride.
“How beautiful!” Chen Yage exclaimed. This was untouched, unpolluted nature. Compared to the fast-paced, hectic, and ultimately unfulfilled life of the twenty-first century, such scenery deserved to be ranked among the top five tourist spots.
“Yi Hu, how did you find this place?”
“Once, I wandered here by chance. Since then, whenever I have free time, I come for a walk. What do you think? Isn’t it lovely?” Yi Hu said with a hint of pride, so different from his earlier silent self.
Chen Yage was speechless. Who said women were quick to change moods? Clearly they’d never seen a man switch faces!
The river was like a warm spring, flowing straight into Chen Yage’s heart, quenching her long-parched soul. Without further ado, she plunged into the water, swam beneath the surface, and finally popped her head up.
Yi Hu stood on the bank, worried as Chen Yage disappeared beneath the water for so long. Only when she surfaced did he relax. Chen Yage waved to him and said, “Yi Hu, you can go back now!”
Yi Hu was confused. Why did she want him to leave? He asked, “If I go, what will you do?”
“What do you mean, what will I do? Mind your manners! I’m going to bathe—aren’t you going to leave?” Chen Yage’s tone grew serious. Yi Hu’s face flushed bright red at her words.
Why were people in this era so shy? So easily embarrassed? Or had her own skin grown so thick that none could rival it? Think of those twenty-first-century models—none of them wore much. If they were in this ancient time, all the men would be nosebleed machines; they wouldn’t need vampires to suck blood, they’d turn into dried corpses themselves.
But then again, wasn’t the Tang Dynasty known for its inclusiveness and openness? Court ladies were all flirtatious, their delicate chests half exposed.
No matter, first a good bath—live for today and let tomorrow’s worries wait. With that thought, Chen Yage dove back into the water, swimming like a happy little fish.
Love in the Tang Dynasty: Poet Immortal, Please Stay! 004_Love in the Tang Dynasty: Poet Immortal, Please Stay! Full Free Reading_004 The Infinite Beauty of the Sunset has been updated!