Chapter 36 A relentless pursuit of the wolf and the lamb, a cat chasing a mouse

Shen Chun's heart pounded like a drum; he couldn't believe that he would actually break ties with a dignified governor for the sake of a woman.

Fortunately, the person was not at his residence, otherwise he would have had a hard time getting rid of this large Buddha statue.

He gestured inwards, calmly saying, "Lord Pei says that I, Shen, have stolen your men. You are welcome to dismount and come to my residence for a chat. Let's see if there is anyone you are looking for here."

"Your adopted son stole my people from under my control. How do you explain this?" Pei Xiaoyun wiped the sword in his hand. Snowflakes fell, making his voice cold.

This Shen Mingshu, seeing that this man was brave and skilled in battle, and loyal and devoted, felt that he was different from the old fox Shen Chun, and promoted him to the position of Tongzhi.

Unexpectedly, he disappointed him by colluding with Shen Chun and kidnapping his people.

He will never let him go.

A bead of cold sweat trickled down Shen Chun's forehead. He calmly wiped it away with his hand and then smiled, saying, "I, Shen, have long severed all ties with that rebellious son. What he did has nothing to do with me. If Lord Pei wants to settle accounts, he should go to the Northwest to find him. Even if His Majesty himself came, there would be no reason for him to forcibly surround the Governor-General's Mansion on trumped-up charges."

Pei Xiaoyun's expression shifted slightly. Besides feeling resentful that Shen Chun was mocking him for his illegitimate status, he couldn't help but twitch when he heard the words "Northwest".

The veins on his hand gripping the sword hilt bulged, and he squeezed out a few words through clenched teeth: "He took the people to the Northwest?"

"What? Lord Pei is so wise and resourceful, yet you still don't know?"

Shen Chun took two steps forward and, seeing his unpleasant expression, felt a surge of satisfaction. "Young Master Lin's wife has a long-lost brother, Shen Mingshu. After their reunion, they were eager to sever ties with my governor's mansion and the whole family went to the northwest."

Pei Xiaoyun gritted her teeth, her forehead throbbing.

She had mentioned it to him briefly before; she had been separated from her brother, and he remembered it.

From the moment he was drugged by her wine to the moment she followed Shen Mingshu and Lin Xian north, everything in between was completely unfamiliar to him.

The damned effects of the drug didn't seem to have completely worn off; his vision was sometimes blurry and sometimes unsteady.

It's all her fault. She treated him like a fool and played him for a fool. He's determined to skin her alive. He wants his family to reunite in the Northwest and live a peaceful and prosperous life. Dream on!

"If Lord Pei is reluctant to part with his beloved, he should head north to find her as soon as possible!" Shen Chun did not believe that he would launch a forceful attack on the governor's mansion, but was simply blinded by anger over a woman.

He has already sent messengers by carrier pigeon to contact the private soldiers in the north, setting up an inescapable trap so that none of them will ever return.

Pei Xiaoyun was already furious, wishing she could cut off Shen Chun's head right now. She drew her bow and arrow with a cold smile, slowly aiming at Shen Chun's head, as if saying to him, or perhaps to herself: "A lowly servant who betrayed me, you can send someone to kill her, but is it worth me going to find her and kill her myself?"

"How dare you! I am a high-ranking official of the imperial court!" Shen Chun shouted, seeing him nock his bow and arrow, his clothes soaked with sweat.

But Pei Xiaoyun was decisive and efficient, so why would he be afraid of him?

In the blink of an eye, the arrow flew through the air and pierced the man's right arm, instantly sending flesh and blood flying.

Shen Chun clutched her arm and wailed, only to see Pei Xiaoyun turn his horse around, withdraw his troops, and ride away.

At the city gate, heavy snow was falling, covering the ground in a blanket of white.

Pei Xiaoyun stroked the mane of the horse beneath him, gripped the reins tightly, and waited for the scouts ahead to report.

"My lord, at midnight the night before last, a group of people indeed left the city and headed north. There were two men and one woman in the carriage, followed by five or six servants. They said they were going to the capital to discuss business."

Did they really go to the Northwest?

Pei Xiaoyun's eyes were cold yet burning red, as if he wanted to swallow her whole across mountains and rivers.

"Send a message to all fortresses: if you encounter this group, intercept them immediately. If they dare to resist, kill them without mercy."

The scout clasped his hands in acceptance of the order, but was stopped by him again, "Wait, no matter what, spare that woman's life. I want to capture her myself."

He wanted to catch her himself and avenge the humiliation he had suffered today.

Shen Mingshu's influence in the Northwest is not to be underestimated. If they are allowed to go to the Northwest, they can easily capture her again.

He spurred his horse hard, its hooves kicking up dust as they made their way out of the city.

—

On the outskirts of the city, a dilapidated thatched hut, battered by wind and snow, seemed on the verge of collapse.

He Lianqing woke up rubbing his forehead. He had slept for five days. The bright sunlight shone into his eyes, making him dizzy. He subconsciously reached out to shield his eyes, only to find that his hands were tied.

He and Xingwei were tied together, and she was still unconscious.

A wisp of alcohol wafted into the thatched hut on the wind, followed by the sound of two men talking freely outside.

"It's been several days already, why haven't they woken up yet? Are we really going to follow the young master's instructions and stay with them until they wake up before letting them go?"

Another man put down his wine bowl: "It's freezing cold, I don't have the patience for that! That woman is a bodyguard, not a good person. Let's kill her. As for the other one, just leave him here and see what fate has in store for him."

"Alright, let's get started."

He Lianqing caught his breath as he listened to the conversation, and unconsciously glanced at the woman beside him who had fallen into a deep sleep.

Actually, everything was as expected.

He was a doctor who only wanted to save people and not harm them. Shen Mingshu was a good person who had promised to spare his and Xingwei's lives. He woke up before her and could have run away first, so she would never be able to find him again.

From then on, he broke away from Pei Xiaoyun and roamed freely to the ends of the earth.

But because of what those two people said just now, he was slightly shaken.

They said they wanted to kill her.

His gaze fell on her face. He usually dared not approach her because of her aloofness, but this was the first time he had seen her face clearly.

While unconscious, his features lost their imposing coldness, becoming serene and gentle. His eyebrows and eyes relaxed completely, and there was a small, unnoticeable light brown mole under his eyelid, just like many of the women he had seen, yet he also felt that there was something different about him.

She was the most cold and ruthless woman he had ever met.

He opened his palm, a hint of helplessness in his expression.

She always drew her sword at him, saying she would kill him, but now she has been drugged by him and is about to die here without knowing why.

Hesitating, he wondered if he remembered his master's words that a doctor cannot stand by and watch someone die, or if he had gone mad and felt pity for her.

Suddenly, a force of gravity struck, interrupting his thoughts.

Xingwei was drowsy and unconscious, her body unsteady, and she fell onto his shoulder.

He sighed and could only try his best to push her, saying, "Wake up."

After he kept calling out to her, Xingwei suddenly frowned, showing some signs of waking up, but it was as if she was still having a nightmare and couldn't open her eyes for a long time.

Her forehead was covered in cold sweat, her expression was extremely painful and desperate, and her lips murmured intermittently.

"Miss Xing, wake up quickly."

The increasingly clear shouts reached Xingwei's ears. She suddenly opened her eyes, the fear from her dream gripping her mind. She gasped for breath, completely unaware that a few tears were rolling down her cheeks.

He Lianqing stared wide-eyed at her uneasy expression.

What did she dream about? How could someone like her cry?

The moment she opened her eyes, the door swung open, and two men in black, wielding long knives, burst through the door.

Seeing that He Lianqing was still relatively conscious, while the woman was in a daze, unsure whether she was awake or asleep, they didn't bother with any more words and swung their knives at the woman.

The white shadow emanating from the long sword gradually magnified before He Lianqing's eyes. He was stunned and had no other choice but to raise his arm to block. The blade struck his elbow, and blood immediately gushed out.

The strong smell of blood jolted Xing Wei awake. She clearly saw He Lianqing standing in front of her, being struck by a weapon, with a pool of blood on the ground.

The man wielding the knife was also shocked. He said to He Lianqing, "You practice medicine and save lives, so you're a good person. We were willing to spare your life, but since you're seeking death, don't blame us for being impolite."

"How could you take advantage of someone in distress?" He Lianqing covered her wound, her face pale, and deliberately tried to evade their questions.

By blocking his way, he had essentially tied himself to Xingwei again. If he angered them, they would never let him go alone.

For some reason, Xingwei felt a strange unease in his heart, as if water that had been forcibly poured down his throat was about to flow back out.

While He Lianqing was talking and maneuvering, she painstakingly picked up a piece of broken tile and quietly cut the knot in the rope.

"Since you feel sorry for her, why don't you go down and keep her company?"

The snow-white blade slashed down again, and Xingwei just happened to cut the knot. He struck the man's hand with a palm and kicked another man in the abdomen, causing them to retreat. He then dragged the injured He Lianqing out of the thatched hut.

"Hurry up."

The two men were weak in martial arts and were no match for her, but she was distracted and the effects of the medicine had not completely worn off, leaving her feeling weak and powerless. She was caught up with after only a few steps.

He Lianqing doesn't know martial arts, so she has to support the whole family on her own.

Ke Xingwei was hampered and outnumbered; during the fight, the two were forced to the edge of a cliff and fell together into the ravine...

—

Leaving the south of the Yangtze River, the further north you go, the colder the wind becomes.

Even after spring arrives, the north wind still blows snow everywhere, and when the wind blows, it still carries up dust.

Having lived in Suzhou for three years, Mingying was no longer accustomed to the northern climate.

Her body was weak, like a tender flower that had been removed from a greenhouse, and she suddenly found it difficult to adapt.

"Cough cough..." The carriage sped along, kicking up a cloud of yellow sand. She was caught off guard and inhaled the sand, coughing violently.

"Here, Aying, have some water to soothe your throat." Lin Xian gently patted her back and poured her a glass of warm water. Because he was missing a finger, he was a little unsteady when holding things, and the teacup wobbled. He let the spilled water fall on himself.

Mingying saw this, drank the water he handed her, her lips became moist and red, and her eyes also turned red, with something faintly flashing in them.

Although they survived the ordeal, they were finally reunited.

But she and Lin Xian kept their conversation to themselves and neither mentioned the past.

But whenever she saw his hands, she couldn't stop the turmoil in her heart. The shameless and despicable expression of that man would always appear in her mind. She wished she could take a knife and stab him into a sieve from all over the world.

She nestled into Lin Xian's arms, listening to his calm and powerful heartbeat, without saying a word.

Lin Xian probably knew what she was thinking. He held her increasingly frail body in his arms, his eyes filled with unbearable heartache. All he could do was hold her hand and continuously convey a reassuring warmth.

Through the thick carriage curtain, Shen Mingshu heard Mingying coughing. Worried that she was not feeling well, he said, "The wind and sand are strong here. I will drive slowly. It will be fine when we reach Xiangzhou tomorrow."

"We can't stop!" Mingying left Lin Xian's embrace, her lower lip reddening from nervousness. "Brother, let's go quickly. It would be best if we reached Xiangzhou tonight. I'm really scared."

After Xiangzhou, there were also Guanzhou and Xuzhou.

Xiangzhou is separated from the northwest by a natural barrier.

She couldn't rest easy until she arrived.

These past few days have been hectic; she's been dreaming about Pei Xiaoyun coming to capture her.

To punish her, he shot an arrow through her thigh, or piece by piece, and pulled off her fingernails. He then smiled sinisterly at her and asked if she would still run away and if she would obey him.

She often wakes up screaming and has difficulty falling back asleep.

As Shen Mingshu listened to her fearful voice, it was as if someone had dug a spring in his heart, from which a bitter feeling welled up continuously.

With a forceful pull, he broke the riding whip.

Suddenly, he remembered that he had seen Ah Ying at the Governor's birthday banquet.

But how did Pei Xiaoyun treat her that day? He treated her like a maid, ordering her to move heavy objects.

Even if Aying intentionally didn't tell him those things, he could still guess that Pei Xiaoyun treated her very badly.

Otherwise, she wouldn't be so paranoid, seeing threats everywhere, and not daring to get a good night's sleep.

He hated his own incompetence for not recognizing her in time, and at the same time wished he could tear Pei Xiaoyun to pieces.

He'll settle this score with him sooner or later.

After a day's journey, the long, winding mountain range turned a gray haze.

The mountain roads were rugged and slippery at night, so for safety reasons, the group had no choice but to stay at the home of a hunter in the mountains.

This family was not wealthy; they made a living by hunting. The three members of the family were simple, kind, and honest people. They warmly welcomed them and even found some wild grass for them to feed their horses.

Mingying was very grateful and, not wanting to trouble the hostess, took the initiative to help her pick and wash the vegetables.

The host's daughter, who was three years old, had two little braids tied with red ribbons in her hair. She wasn't shy at all and insisted on snuggling into Mingying's arms, pleading in a sweet, childish voice, "Sister, hug me!"

After picking the vegetables, Mingying washed her hands, gently rubbed the little girl's chubby cheeks, and sat by the stove with her in her arms to warm herself by the fire. As she rocked her, the little girl fell asleep in her arms.

A single lamp flickered, smoke curled around it, and the warm charcoal fire melted away the frost that had settled in her heart.

She gazed at the swirling snow outside, listening to the sizzling of hot oil in the pan, and felt a warmth spreading through her entire body.

In this wooden cabin, she felt a peace she had never known before.

"Come, young lady, give me the child." The hostess finished preparing the meal, took off her apron, and reached out to take the child. "Judging from your young age, you've never had children. My child is so naughty and restless, you must be exhausted."

Mingying paused, pursed her lips, and smiled faintly.

As if she had thought of something, a hint of turbidity appeared in her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it: "I'm not tired, she's very well-behaved."

The woman smiled kindly and said, "The food is ready, come and eat."

After dinner, due to the limited number of rooms, we could only manage to vacate one room for them.

Shen Mingshu then slept in the woodshed with several of his subordinates, leaving the empty room for Mingying and Lin Xian.

Mingying was covered in dust, and her skin was covered in red rashes. She became itchy at night and only felt better after taking a hot bath. After changing into the mistress's plain, old clothes, she finally felt much more comfortable.

She came in, twisting her hair, and saw that the room was lit. Lin Xian found a piece of parchment with torn corners and was drawing something with her head down.

"Why aren't you asleep yet? The candlelight is too dim; be careful of your eyes," she said, walking up to him.

Lin Xian looked up and met her bright eyes, which seemed to have been washed by rain and dew, and said gently, "I'm painting you, painting you so I can see you anytime."

He cherished her like a precious treasure, always keeping her close to his heart, never wanting to be separated from her again.

Mingying's cheeks burned, and she blushed deeply: "Why did you draw me? Aren't I right here?"

But as soon as she finished speaking, it was as if a giant hand reached out from afar, pulling away all the hopes in her heart, leaving her feeling empty and uneasy.

She stopped trying to stop him and sat quietly beside him. Seeing needles and thread in a bamboo basket, she wanted to embroider a new purse for him.

The wind stopped and the snow ceased late into the night.

Lin Xian put down her pen, and she also put down her needle and thread.

Looking at herself in the painting, she smiled gently; he always painted her so beautifully.

"It's getting late, let's rest. We have to travel tomorrow morning."

As she stood up, she tripped over the corner of the table and stumbled, landing against his chest.

Lin Xian smelled the fragrance in her hair, felt a slight heat, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he couldn't help but move closer to her.

"Ah Ying..."

Mingying's mind was filled with fog, and her vision was blurry.

The scorching heat made her tense, and she could almost hear the sounds of coercion and threats in her ears. She felt like she was submerged in water and couldn't breathe.

Their lips drew closer, but she closed her eyes tightly and pushed him away.

She realized what she had done.

She was willing, but she really couldn't control her fear.

"I'm sorry, Ziming..."

Lin Xian saw her crying and her heart was broken. She hugged her and whispered comforting words: "It's okay, Aying, I'm here."

The two of them shared one quilt, lay peacefully, and slept soundly through the night.

At dawn, the wind and snow finally stopped, bringing a sliver of sunlight.

The group bid farewell to the family, and as they left, Shen Mingshu secretly slipped some silver into the woodshed as a token of his gratitude.

The horse-drawn carriage waded through ditches, heading north.

—

Pei Xiaoyun found the hunter three days later.

His scouts discovered that she had stayed here, and his heart burned with desire. He dismounted and went to knock on the door himself.

The woman invited him into the house. Seeing that he was dressed in fine clothes but had cold eyes, she dared not lie. “...There were many people. The leaders were a young couple and another man who had stayed here for one night.”

“The couple lived in this room.” The woman nervously folded a piece of clothing that Mingying had left behind. “They left in such a hurry that the girl even forgot to take her clothes.”

The pale purple vest-style jacket was folded at the head of the bed, piercing Pei Xiaoyun's eyes like needles. It was her clothes; he remembered.

He picked up the clothes haphazardly, as if he could smell her scent, that alluring yet annoyingly sweet fragrance. When his palm touched the soft cotton fabric, he rubbed and kneaded it roughly, as if caressing her skin, trying to scrape a hole in it.

He could imagine her slowly removing her clothes, revealing her snow-white body...

If she dares, if she dares to have an affair with Lin Xian, he will kill Lin Xian in front of her and then send her to her death.

After chasing for several days and killing two horses, he was exhausted and only kept going with a fit of anger. He irritably threw the garment into the carriage and continued the chase along the tracks.

It rained in the afternoon, and a cold wind blew through the trees and rustled the leaves.

The group rested briefly at the post station, warming themselves by the stove.

Mingying held a cup of hot tea, sipping it slowly, the steam making her face flushed.

"We'll be arriving in Guanzhou tomorrow, not far from the Northwest." Shen Mingshu was roasting wild rabbit meat, and he gave her the fattest rabbit leg first.

Mingying held a clean twig, seemingly starving. She lowered her head and took a bite, the oil from the roasting sticking to the corner of her mouth. "Brother, are there grasslands and lots of horses in the Northwest? Is it very big?"

Shen Mingshu smiled and said, "Yes, it's boundless. I'll teach you how to ride a horse and take you to roast lamb, which is much tastier than this rabbit meat."

Just hearing him talk about it would stir up a burning passion in Mingying's heart. This journey had been tumultuous and hurried, leaving her no time to catch up with her brother or to cherish moments with her husband.

Once we get through this period and reach the Northwest, everything will be better.

They started a family and never came back.

After she finished eating the rabbit meat, she drew something on the ground with a twig, propped her chin up, and said, "I can also make incense, but I wonder if the women there will like my incense?"

"You'll definitely like it." Knowing that she was afraid of the cold, Lin Xian took off her thick coat and draped it over her. "When the time comes, you can open an incense shop, and I'll open a calligraphy and painting shop."

As Mingying drank the hot tea, she felt a warm current flowing through her chest.

After resting for a while, we continued on our way as usual.

Ahead lay a valley, surrounded by mountains on all sides, with crows cawing and forests blocking out the sun.

As the carriage moved in, gusts of cold wind swept through, making people feel particularly uneasy.

Shen Mingshu explained to them, "This place is a masterpiece of nature; it is naturally like this, and it is always very cool, no matter the season. Once we pass this valley, we will reach Guanzhou. Guanzhou is a major official road, so we will no longer have to endure the elements like this."

Hearing him say that, Mingying felt a little relieved.

By this time, they had traveled all afternoon and everyone was starving. Shen Mingshu took two people to hunt wild rabbits and pick wild fruits in the bamboo forest ahead, and told the people who stayed behind to rest under the trees.

Lin Xian lit a fire under the tree where Mingying was sitting. Looking at her pale and lifeless face, he tried to cheer her up: "When we get to the Northwest, I will use the experiences along the way as inspiration to compose a pipa piece."

Mingying finally smiled: "Great, then your reputation as the great musician Lin is about to resound throughout the Northwest."

"Without a discerning eye, even the finest mountains and flowing waters will lose their melody," Lin Xian said.

Only she could perfectly perform the music he composed.

It's like they were born to be together.

He saw Mingying blush and quickly avoid his gaze, just like that night.

He couldn't help but feel both heartbroken and helpless.

It's okay, he will heal her and make it up to her. He took three years before, and this time he will take the rest of his life.

He deliberately changed the subject, picked up the empty water bottle, and said, "Are you thirsty? There's a stream ahead, I'll go get you some water."

“Let’s go together.” Even though there were other people beside her, Mingying was still worried about him.

Lin Xian smiled and pointed to the clear river ahead: "Just sit and rest. It's right in front of you. You can see me. There are so many people here, nothing will happen. Don't worry."

Mingying nodded, her gaze following his figure as she watched him squat down, open the kettle spout, and slowly draw water.

Suddenly, a sharp arrow pierced the sky, passing through the leaves floating in the air, and firmly embedded itself in the tree trunk just a step away from her brow.

"Something's up! Be on alert!"

Shen Mingshu's remaining subordinates became alert upon seeing the arrow.

Mingying paused for a moment, staring blankly at the arrow above her head, where she saw a purple hibiscus earring hanging from its tail.

Even inanimate objects are more terrifying than ghosts.

This arrow was clearly a blatant threat.

Her blood seemed to freeze, as if someone had stepped on her tail, and she felt as if her heart would jump out if she opened her mouth.

On the horse ahead, the man in black robes had sharp, deep eyes, and he held a bow in one hand, seemingly quite satisfied with the arrow he had just shot.

When he caught sight of her flustered expression, he was like a wolf pack catching a lamb or a cat catching a mouse; he curled his lips and gave her a chilling smile.

-----------------------

Author's note: I didn't get to catch up here [doge emoji]