(a)

At the end of the day's tour of the barracks, I left for home.

Wu Shun escorted me home with 10 guards. You rode me all the way to the intersection of the official road.

I'm riding and following your procession. I rode slower and slower, slower and slower, and you had to stop and wait for me again and again.

The third time you stopped to wait for me, you rode up to me. You say, "Come here." I'll take you with me. ”

You stretched out your arms and lifted me from your horse to your horse. I'm sitting in front of you. Your arms are tightly wrapped around me.

This is the second time you've ridden with me since you came home from Cheongcheon.

I love riding with you. I think any woman would like it too. Because your horse feels so good. All kinds of disobedient horses, horses that like flashes, horses that like to deviate, horses that like to bite, horses that are violent and easily frightened, and others ride with problems and everything is not going well, but as long as you ride on it, you will soon be able to unite people and horses. You are also very attentive and very caring during the ride. I don't like to do "little bumps" with the rhythm of different horses, and when I ride an unfamiliar horse, I am often tossed upside down. I'm also scared of the horse's transition from fast running to galloping, and I always feel terrified by the change in the pace of the horse's stride. But riding with you won't. You will naturally take my body to follow the rhythm of the horse's running, leading me to be calm and relaxed.

I'm in front of you, closing my eyes, enjoying the process.

You whispered in my ear, "Are you tired of riding today?" Is it a worn leg out? ”

I look back at you. I nodded. I said, "But, it's worth it." ”

You say: "This saddle is not very good, it is too wide for a girl and easily wears out the legs." After this time, I'll help you remake a saddle that can be ridden sideways, and it won't be so hard to ride. ”

I nodded and said, "Thank you, brother." ”

(b)

I said, "Are you going to be busy for a long time?" When will I be able to go home again? ”

You say, "It may be the Mid-Autumn Festival." ”

I said, "It's going to be so many days." ”

You say, "If there is anything, write to me." Ask the little maid at home to send it over. ”

I lowered my neck and said, "What if nothing happens." ”

You laugh a little. You say, "It's okay, you can write to us." I'll watch them all. ”

I said, "It's getting colder. It's colder here than at home. You have to be careful with your body. ”

You say, "I know." I'll be careful. ”

We rode silently for a while.

You say, "Qin'er, I may not be able to go back to your ceremony." Being sick has delayed too many things. I'm going to Huaizhou to talk about the construction of a new gunpowder warehouse, and I'm going to Linshui and a few surrounding towns to see the defense there, and I have a plan in mind. There's still a lot to deal with at the camp. ”

I said, "It doesn't matter. I know you're busy. You're supposed to be on business. It's just a small matter for women, you don't have to worry about it. ”

You say, "I may not be able to go back to the Mid-Autumn Festival." There are a lot of people in the barracks who can't go home to be reunited. I can't just enjoy the reunion on my own. ”

I said, "I understand. ”

You say, "However, on the day of Lap, I will go home to worship my ancestors." At that time, it is possible to stay at home for a longer period of time. ”

I said, "Hmm. No matter how long you are home, I am always at home waiting for you. ”

We arrived at the intersection of the official road.

You said to Wu Shun: "She is tired of riding today, you can take her to ride home." ”

I reluctantly left your horse. I'm looking at you.

You say, "Let's go." It's going to be dark any later. ”

Wu Shun took me and stepped on the fine sand approach of the official road. I look back at you. You stand there on horseback. You've been looking at me. We're far away, and you're still standing there looking at me.

I kept looking back and watched as you blurred more and more on the horizon.

That's how life is. Gather less and leave more.

(c)

You're back in the barracks. It was getting dark. You look at the lanterns on the flagpole on the school grounds. They had been rehung up, glowing with a red hazy light.

You feel empty inside.

You go back to the barracks and lie on your back on a plank bed. You feel that the room is very empty, and there is something scratching in your heart.

The guards come in and bring you dinner. You say, "Put it on the table." I'm a little tired, I'll eat later. ”

The guard said, "Yes." However, he stood there and did not leave. You look at him. You say, "What's the matter?" ”

He said, "When the young lady left, she left something here, and she said that when the commander sent her back, she would give it to the commander." ”

You sit up, and you say, "Give it to me." ”

The guard handed you a small cloth bag, lit an oil lamp for you, and then withdrew.

You open the little cloth bag. You take a sachet out of it. You smell a faint smell of benzoin. You see a word embroidered on one side of the sachet: "Eat".

"Eat?" Puzzled, you repeat the word in your mind.

You turn the sachet over and find another word on that side: "Medicine".

"Take your medicine".

Your heart flutters. You hold the sachet tightly in your hand.