Spring Killing

The veins under her fingertips throbbed very slowly against the skin and flesh; if she pressed any lighter, they would be difficult to detect.

After thinking it over, Yan Ying rubbed it hard, which made Xie Lingxi's phoenix eyes widen again—"Murder?!"

The two fought fiercely, and in the blink of an eye, the door was suddenly pushed open, and another beautiful and charming woman barged in, barging in with a sharp tongue and shouting—

"Royal elder sister!"

Xie Lingxi turned her head and stared intently: "Yan Yun?!"

"this……"

Yan Ying lowered her hand from around Xie Lingxi's neck, slowly smoothing her sleeves. Without that sensitive caress, Xie Lingxi leaned back, slumping against the pillow. "This…Your Highness Yan Yun…? Your presence graces my humble abode…"

Startled by the series of frights, Xie Lingxi was so flustered that she could not speak clearly.

Yan Ying: "..."

She could no longer bear it: "Shut up."

After a moment of silence, Xie Lingxi finally came to her senses and smiled gently at Yan Yunrou: "It is truly an honor for Lingxi to have Your Highness come to visit me."

Yan Yun has changed out of her strong-fitting clothes and into an exquisite dress, which makes her look even more fair and beautiful.

She glanced at Yan Ying disapprovingly, then said to Xie Lingxi, "Third Sister, you flatter me. It is Third Sister's kindness that I, Yan Yun, have no way to repay."

"What favor? Your Highness is too kind..."

"..."

The two of them were showering each other with praise and talking about repaying the favor. Yan Ying couldn't stand it anymore and gave a heavy snort.

He instructed both of them to look at her at the same time.

After exchanging pleasantries, Xie Lingxi felt weak and could no longer smile. She cut to the chase and said, "Your Highnesses didn't come to my house just to fulfill this pretense of 'sworn brotherhood,' did you?"

Moreover, where did this "sworn brotherhood" come from? It's more likely a tragic fate.

Yan Ying then brought up something unrelated to the story: "When A-Yun was in the north of the mountain, she met a witch doctor and learned some witchcraft from him."

Such old stories, how could they possibly concern her, unless—

Xie Lingxi suddenly realized: "So, my illness might be caused by an evil spell?"

"It's not evil magic."

Yan Yun wasn't annoyed. Ignorance is no excuse. She carefully explained to Xie Lingxi, "'Wu' is two 'Ren' characters intersecting, which can communicate with heaven and earth and the four directions. 'Gu' is composed of 'insect' and 'vessel,' meaning an insect in the abdomen."

"The reasons behind this are naturally traceable and logical."

Such strange and ingenious skills are not found in the Four Books and Five Classics, and Xie Lingxi had never read them before. After Yan Yun finished speaking, she understood: "So you mean if I am really under the influence of the Gu, there is definitely a way to break it."

Yan Yun nodded: "Indeed."

As she spoke, she grasped Xie Lingxi's wrist and quietly felt her faint pulse. Then, she felt her neck, and then her face.

From morning till dusk, Xie Lingxi slept for a long time, her face flushed, as if she had been dyed with pomegranate flower juice.

Yan Yun unbuttoned her clothes and tied up her sleeves, then saw that the patient's whole body was flushed red like a sunset, which was truly unusual.

Upon touching his forehead, it was indeed alarmingly hot.

— Burning it like this will damage its brain!

Yan Yun anxiously nudged Xie Lingxi's head, only to be met with her clear-eyed question: "Your Highness, have you noticed anything?"

The latter shook his head and blurted out, "Why are you so hot?"

"hot?"

Xie Lingxi was completely unaware. She had just been thinking that it was a bit chilly in early spring when a drizzle mixed with wind came and pattered against her face, making her feel cold.

"This morning Chengzhi didn't mention that I felt hot."

Yan Yun keenly grasped Xie Lingxi's meaning: "So you're saying that this fever only started now?"

"Yeah. And I also feel a little cold."

"Your Highness," Xie Lingxi felt something was wrong. She rolled up her left sleeve above her arm and opened it to see that it was indeed bright red, like blood. "Is there no cure for this symptom?"

"……No."

Yan Yun sat by her bedside, gently took her hand, and comforted her, "Don't worry. I need to send a letter to my teacher; he will surely have a way."

Since things have come to this, life goes on regardless of what can be done.

Spring blossoms, green bridges and flowing water, majestic mountains... Xie Lingxi hadn't had enough of the sights yet. If she were to die young in both her past and present lives, it would truly be a cause for lament.

She thought to herself that she should get a wheelchair so that the two princesses could push her out the door and let her enjoy the view.

...

--"how?"

Yan Ying couldn't understand how Xie Lingxi could so brazenly order her around, and how she, under Xie San Niang's "tyranny," had to find a luxurious wheelchair.

Although it wasn't Xie Lingxi's usual style, she still gracefully helped herself to a seat and nodded, "Excellent."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

"You're welcome." Yan Ying pushed him with all her might. "There's no need for such formalities—where are you going?"

"Lord Cui's study."

A plain face tilted slightly towards her, its gaze as gentle as moonlight. A casually draped outer garment was draped over Xie Lingxi, as beautiful as a flowing dress.

What's with all this urging and not urging...

Yan Ying wondered if she had misheard, and lowered her head, asking, "What?"

Xie Lingxi smiled radiantly and repeated what she had said to Liu Xu that morning: "Prime Minister Cui's study—I admired Lord Cui's demeanor so much that it felt like an eternity, and I longed to be close to him and serve him… Would Your Highness be willing to take me there?"

"..."

You're really crazy.

Yan Ying, expressionless, pushed the person down the steps in front of the door. She was already drenched in sweat. She then instructed General Yan Yun beside her to take over. After the person was settled in the carriage, she instructed the coachman, "Go to Zuiyan Lane."

"yes."

The car was as silent as an abyss.

Knowing that her request was too outrageous, Xie Lingxi had no intention of repenting. She simply put on a "gentle and charming" smile, like newly sprouted spring grass gently brushing against her palm.

It might cause a slight flutter of the heart, but it's harmless.

"If I don't want to go, then I won't. Drunken Smoke Alley is fine too."

The brothel, located in the Drunken Smoke Alley, is undoubtedly a place for lovers to roam. Eight or nine out of ten people there indulge in unrestrained singing and dancing, while the remaining ten are heartbroken individuals who use the noise to soothe their wounds.

Xie Lingxi always preferred quiet.

Yan Ying wasn't sure if the woman was forcing a smile or being genuinely sincere. She raised an eyebrow and asked, "Where is it good? Is it the brothel where people seek pleasure, or the pleasure house next door that makes people get drunk?"

Xie Lingxi said, "Both are true."

What is it?

Yan Ying smiled sternly and said, "A-Yun said that you are too worried. Even if you survive this time by chance, there will always be minor injuries or illnesses that could take your life!"

"Today I will take you to drink and sing, to enjoy the ultimate pleasure. Surely you won't blame me for such a considerate gesture?"

Yan Yun saw it clearly; her elder sister's actions clearly carried a hint of malice.

Although she had lived in the deep palace for a long time, she had heard that Lady Xie disliked noise and had never set foot in such a place of pleasure and entertainment.

Yan Ying took advantage of the situation to bully others; if she angered Xie Lingxi, who knows what the consequences would be.

Then Xie Lingxi said, "Lingxi is too grateful to Your Highness, so of course she doesn't blame you."

……hehe.

She closed her eyes, keeping her gaze fixed on her nose and her mind at ease, sitting in a corner of the carriage.

After one incense stick has burned.

A magnificent carriage stopped at the entrance of Drunken Smoke Alley.

As soon as Xie Lingxi got out of the car, she smelled a hundred or so indescribable fragrances, like peach and plum blossoms, and even more like a captivating incense emanating from a bedroom.

Her mind wavered, and she looked up to see the brothel's plaque, which was alluring and seductive, with the words "Springtime passion is too wild, the most intoxicating moment" written on the left and right.

"this……"

She gripped the blanket draped over her legs tightly, and said calmly, "I suddenly remembered that I had left something behind."

Yan Ying wasn't in a hurry to enter, staring at her: "Why are you making excuses? Are you scared?"

What was she trying to cover up?

At this moment, a bell rang loudly between the pavilions and towers, sounding ancient and solemn. Immediately afterwards, countless young men and women in exquisite robes and adorned with flowers flowed out like a stream, their smiles enchanting.

Arriving here in a wheelchair was already conspicuous, not to mention the three of them were blocking the way. The Hundred Flowers Gentleman twisted his body and leaned in front of Yan Ying, shyly hitting her chest with a silk ribbon, and exclaimed, "Your Highness~~ It's been so long, I've missed you terribly!"

As if she had just noticed Yan Yun and Lingxi, her eyes lit up instantly, and she softly clung to Xie Lingxi's shoulder—

"Look at this poor lady... Who is she looking for at this brothel today? May I introduce her to someone?"

"..."

Avoiding the kneading on her shoulder, Xie Lingxi turned her head and smiled, "Please remove your hand."

Upon hearing this, the young man felt both ashamed and indignant.

He was handsome and had a graceful demeanor. Perhaps he had never been rejected like this before. He covered his face with his handkerchief and said, "How heartless... young lady, don't you like Zhu Yu's gentle embrace?"

Xie Lingxi remained unmoved. "Zhu Yu?"

Seeing the man's eyes shining and his repeated nodding, she sighed inwardly.

“Young Master Zhuyu, your makeup is ruined.”

"Uh-huh?!"

Zhu Yu looked around anxiously, but seeing no familiar guests, she kicked off the ground, forgetting even to put away the pearl-adorned ribbon, and floated to the ground, disappearing without a trace.

So she went to find a bronze mirror to touch up her makeup.

After everyone left, Xie Lingxi looked at Yan Ying, who stood with her arms crossed and remained silent. She teased, "Your Highness is a regular at Qilou."

"What's wrong? Is Third Sister envious?"

Yan Ying was naturally unwilling to be inferior to others. She glanced at Xie Lingxi, but instead of explaining whether she was a "regular" or not, she echoed her words.

“If Third Sister hadn’t married so early, she would have come to this brothel quite often.”

"However... last year I heard that your husband abandoned you on your wedding night to come here and seek pleasure. In that case, it seems that the so-called 'admonitions for women and virtues for wives' are nothing but shackles that bind women. What is there that they cannot break free from?"

Yan Ying brought up last year's old grievances at this moment, and Xie Lingxi sighed, "It's just a rumor."

After she said so much, it seems Xie Lingxi only listened to the slanderous words about Liu Chengzhi from last year?

"You've really been bewitched."

Yan Ying took the wheelchair from Yan Yun and gave it a sharp push. Xie Lingxi felt as if she was about to fly out, like a kite with a broken string, sliding into the heavily made-up demons and monsters of the brothel. She cried out urgently, "Stop! Stop!"

The instigator ignored her and even covered her face with a silk handkerchief.

Amidst the sounds of panic and confusion, a wheelchair crashed into a row of glass lanterns, hurtling straight towards a person's face, and the candlelight behind the screen was extinguished by the gust of wind!

"ah--!"

In an instant, everything fell silent.

After the violent impact, the wheelchair was riddled with holes. The person inside lay half-reclined under the blanket, his hands hanging limply at his sides, motionless, like a dead crane.

From the rooftop, someone screamed: "Murder! Murder!"