Fate Trading System – Chapter 383
by Little PandaPlan B
Mandarin Ducks 13
It wasn’t that Xiao Lanqian didn’t struggle with his feelings, but sometimes love just arrives inexplicably. Perhaps it’s because of a single sentence, a single gesture, or even just a single glance.
Xiao Lanqian had been shocked, and he had tried to run from it. He never thought that even someone like him, who prided himself on his intelligence, would be burdened by his own emotions.
He thought that if Lin Suhuai had shown even the slightest hint of reciprocating, he would have tried to fight for it.
But Lin Suhuai hadn’t. She still treated him like a brother.
He had a faint feeling that Lin Suhuai might have known.
Not spelling it out was Lin Suhuai’s way of being gentle.
Xiao Lanqian splashed his face with water, staring blankly into the void.
Hadn’t he once told himself that he would give up on these feelings once the General was married? The time had come.
Tsk, how could a grown man be so indecisive.
First, Lin Suhuai gathered the soldiers to discuss a few matters, stabilizing the army’s morale. She also announced that she would be conducting an inspection the next day, which drew groans from the troops.
Of course, it was all in jest. From the bottom of their hearts, the soldiers were happy that their general was unharmed.
The lights in the main tent1 were lit, and the soldiers on duty diligently stood watch through the night.
Lin Suhuai first gathered all the lieutenants to eat, drink, and chat about recent events, checking to see if there was anything unusual. Everyone acted normally, seemingly happy about her return.
Lin Suhuai’s gaze swept inconspicuously over everyone present. These all appeared to be his familiar old subordinates, but among them hid a traitor. Or perhaps two.
She couldn’t quite understand why they would betray her, but then again, it wasn’t that hard to comprehend. What she thought was the best she could give them wasn’t what they wanted, so naturally, they would use their own methods to pursue their own interests.
It was quite laughable, but wasn’t that how most people and matters in the world were?
After all the officers had dispersed, Lin Suhuai had Xiao Lanqian stay behind alone.
They still had other secret matters to discuss. The others knew, but few were overly curious.
In the beginning, they hadn’t really respected this military strategist who looked like a weak chicken2. But he had later proven himself with his abilities, so he held a high level of prestige in the army. Moreover, he was very good at dealing with people and was extremely well-liked.
“Lanqian, did you notice anyone acting strangely?”
Xiao Lanqian shook his head. To be honest, it was quite shameful. He had always been very confident in his ability to judge people, but this time, he hadn’t seen any flaws in any of the officers present.
All he could say was that the person was exceptionally good at hiding.
Meanwhile, Su Xin, who was watching the broadcast, immediately got busy. The group that had just gathered were all of Lin Suhuai’s heart and belly subordinates3, which meant one of them was definitely the spy.
As long as she investigated them one by one, she would definitely find a clue.
“Master Fourteen, send me all of their files.”
【Okay.】
“Help me keep an eye on what those two are saying and give me the main points of their conversation later. On second thought, never mind. I’ll watch their broadcast after I finish reading these files. There’s plenty of time anyway.”
Su Xin figured that since she was just idling at this border pass with nothing else to do, there was no need to rush.
【Okay.】
“General, why don’t you tell me about how you and sister-in-law met? I’m quite interested.”
“There’s not much to tell, really. I escaped to a place once, very seriously injured. I thought I would never wake up again, but when I did, I found her by my side, taking meticulous care of me. I originally thought I would never fall for any woman in this world, but the more I got to know her, the more I realized how wonderful she is. So, I couldn’t wait to marry her and bring her home, lest someone else marry her first.”
Whenever Lin Suhuai mentioned Su Xin, her expression would involuntarily soften. As she spoke the last few sentences, her tone was even tinged with pride, as if she was extremely pleased with her own actions.
Xiao Lanqian’s hand, holding the wine cup, trembled slightly. He knew full well that hearing these things would make him miserable. But right now, he wanted to feel that heartache. The more it hurt, the better. It would be best if he just died from it, then he wouldn’t have any other thoughts, wouldn’t have any other sadness. Seeing Lin Suhuai so happy, knowing that Lin Suhuai’s choice was the right one—that was enough.
Lin Suhuai knew that the man in front of her was not a good audience for showcasing affection4, nor was this a good time for it. The words she spoke would not bring Xiao Lanqian any happiness; they would only turn into sharp knives stabbing at his heart.
However, right now, Xiao Lanqian wanted exactly those kinds of knives to clear his mind.
Lin Suhuai’s expression remained unchanged as she continued to recount the little details of her time with Su Xin.
Since she could use a sharp knife to cut tangled hemp5, there was no need to let a dull blade slowly carve away the rotten flesh. She naturally hoped that this best brother of hers could find happiness, so it was for the best that he leave the shade of her tree sooner rather than later.
“Do the Old General6 and Madam know?”
“They do. I specifically invited them over that day. My mother is especially fond of her. She was very reluctant to leave when it was time to go.”
“That’s wonderful…”
Feelings are complicated; they are never a simple one-way or two-way street. A person’s red thread of marriage7 is not limited to a single strand.
In a lifetime, a person is bound to meet more than just one person. People will have many they like; the lucky ones have only one.
Even luckier are those whose beloved happens to love them back. But for the unlucky, the red thread tied to their wrist might have already snapped, or perhaps it has become tangled with another’s, impossible to separate.
Everything Lin Suhuai said tonight was meant to make Xiao Lanqian understand that there was absolutely no possibility between them. They could only be brothers. She still didn’t spell it out; she simply spoke of how happy she was. Her tone wasn’t particularly excited, but calm and soothing, bit by bit expressing the joy and bliss in her heart.
“Is sister-in-law that amazing? She dared to marry you without knowing your identity, and after learning your identity, she came to the border with you so calmly.”
“She is. She sees things very simply. If she likes something, she likes it; if she doesn’t, she doesn’t. Her personality can seem a bit mild-mannered, but at other times she can feel very impulsive and rash. But it’s very cute. When you meet someone you like in the future, you’ll understand how I feel.”
“Is that so? I hope so.”
Xiao Lanqian found that he could actually force the corners of his mouth into a smile. The spot in his chest no longer seemed to ache; instead, as he listened to Lin Suhuai’s story, it slowly began to heal.
“It’s getting late. You should go back and rest. I have to properly test that bunch tomorrow and see if they’ve been slacking off.”
“Alright. Your injuries should be fully healed by now, right?”
“Completely healed. You don’t need to worry about me.”
That’s right, I don’t need to worry about you anymore. After all, there is now someone who can stand in that position and care for you openly.
Xiao Lanqian exited the main tent. He should have been sad, but for some reason, as he walked, he suddenly broke into a smile.
Lin Suhuai trimmed the candlewick, making the flame brighter. She looked at the items on her desk, her brow furrowed in thought.
The night was deep, the dew heavy.
Su Xin had tired herself out reading the files and was planning to rest.
But she hadn’t closed her eyes for long when she heard a faint sound by the window.
Su Xin’s eyes snapped open alertly, but she kept her breathing steady. She had no martial arts, but she didn’t know if the person outside did. Although her body had regained its normal senses and her physical fitness had even been enhanced, to someone with a high force value8, she was still just a weak woman.
【Host, it’s Lin Suhuai.】
The moment Fourteen spoke, Su Xin relaxed.
So it was Lin Suhuai. What was she doing running to her window in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?
Lin Suhuai climbed into Su Xin’s room as lightly as she could and, guided by the faint moonlight, slowly approached the bed.
She just wanted to come and see her; otherwise, she couldn’t sleep soundly.
Even though they had only been apart for a short while, not even a full afternoon, the longing was a persistent, winding thing that made her unconsciously walk here, following her heart’s desire.
She would just take a few glances here and not disturb her sleep.
Although the night was quite dark, with Suhuai’s level of cultivation, she could see clearly.
Su Xin deliberately changed her breathing rhythm to let Lin Suhuai know she was awake and just pretending to be asleep.
“Did I wake you?”
“So it was you.”
Su Xin opened her eyes, feigning a look of relief.
“I thought some scoundrel was sneaking into my room. You gave me a scare. Why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to be in the military camp?”
“I snuck out. I missed you.”
Lin Suhuai took off her outer robe and pulled Su Xin into her arms.
“Is this okay?”
“It’s fine. I’ll leave before dawn.”
“This feels even more like we’re having an affair.”
They were clearly in a marriage by parents’ command and matchmaker’s word9, through a proper matchmaker and a formal wedding10, yet the two of them always made it seem like a clandestine affair.
“You, you should get some sleep.”
“I can’t really fall asleep right now. Maybe it’s because I’m just having arrived, I have some trouble with the new bed.”
Lin Suhuai gently patted Su Xin’s back and circulated her internal energy to warm her own body. The temperature at the border was quite low at night, and this would help Su Xin sleep more comfortably.
“What did you and he talk about?”
Su Xin squinted her eyes in comfort, speaking lazily.
“Just some random things. He was asking about us.”
“You told him?”
“Mhm. I told him how important you are to me.”
“Won’t that be a bit harsh?”
“Some things need to be made clear, but without being too blunt. I was very indirect and didn’t touch upon anything between him and me. I only talked about you and me. Lanqian is a very smart person; he’ll understand what I mean.”
This was what it meant to be responsible. Since you have a lover, you should be self-aware, maintain a relative distance from others, and let people know you are taken, rather than hesitating for fear of hurting someone’s feelings.
Footnotes
- Hanzi: 主帐. Pinyin: zhǔ zhàng. The literal meaning is “main tent,” referring to the command tent or headquarters in a military camp.
- Hanzi: 弱鸡. Pinyin: ruò jī. Literally “weak chicken.” A popular modern slang term used to describe someone who is very weak, physically inept, or a novice (a “noob”).
- Hanzi: 心腹. Pinyin: xīnfù. Literally “heart and belly.” A metaphor for one’s most trusted confidants or loyal subordinates, implying they are as vital and close as one’s own internal organs.
- Hanzi: 秀恩爱. Pinyin: xiù ēn’ài. A modern slang term. 秀 (xiù) is a transliteration of the English word “show,” while 恩爱 (ēn’ài) means “the love between a husband and wife.” The phrase means to “show off” one’s loving relationship, equivalent to a “public display of affection” (PDA).
- Hanzi: 快刀斩乱麻. Pinyin: kuàidāo zhǎn luànmá. A chengyu (idiom) that literally means “a sharp knife cuts tangled hemp.” It is a metaphor for taking swift, decisive action to solve a complex problem.
- Hanzi: 老将军. Pinyin: lǎo jiāngjūn. Literally “Old General.” It’s a respectful form of address for an older or retired general, likely referring to Lin Suhuai’s father.
- Hanzi: 姻缘线 / 红线. Pinyin: yīnyuán xiàn / hóngxiàn. Refers to the “Red Thread of Fate,” a belief from Chinese mythology. The god of marriage, Yue Lao, ties an invisible red thread around the ankles of those who are destined to meet and marry one another, regardless of time, place, or circumstances.
- Hanzi: 武力值. Pinyin: wǔlì zhí. Literally “martial force value.” A term common in web novels and games to quantify a character’s combat power or strength level.
- Hanzi: 父母之命，媒妁之言. Pinyin: fùmǔ zhī mìng, méishuò zhī yán. A traditional idiom describing a marriage that has been formally arranged by one’s parents and a matchmaker, which was the standard for legitimacy in ancient China.
- Hanzi: 明媒正娶. Pinyin: míngméizhèngqǔ. A traditional idiom meaning to marry a woman through formal, socially-approved channels (a visible matchmaker and a proper wedding ceremony), as opposed to eloping or having a clandestine affair. It denotes a legitimate and respectable marriage.
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