parting
Xin Tan handed her two thick gift lists to look at, but Lin Xu was taken aback after only glancing at them.
She had only known that the Gao family had a long and distinguished history, with many noble ancestors and considerable wealth. Even so, she was still taken aback by the extravagant gifts listed on the gift list. She couldn't help but say softly:
"It's just a regular birthday. Even though it's my coming-of-age ceremony, I'm already extremely grateful to my mother for taking care of everything for me. Besides, all the elders have come from afar, which is already a small favor to me. How could I possibly accept such a valuable gift?"
Upon hearing this, Gao Youyi waved her hand casually and said, "These are just some things I prepared for Xu'er. My family's gift list is prepared separately and hasn't been fully counted yet." She laughed loudly and said, "Besides, my sister-in-law is coming as the main guest this time. Her dowry caused quite a stir in half of Dayu back then. Xu'er, just wait and see. I'm worried about whether I'll have to find someone to clean out the storeroom in advance so that it can hold all these things."
Lin Xu ate half a spoonful of crispy mountain pastry and was taken aback for a moment by her stepmother, who had the air of someone who was all rich and powerful. It took her a while to recover. She picked up a handkerchief and wiped the corner of her mouth before saying softly, "No matter what, with my mother's heartfelt consideration and care for me, Xu'er always feels very happy."
Gao Youyi looked at the little figure in front of her with a determined expression. The little face, no bigger than a palm, was radiant and the hair was jet black. The more she looked at the little figure, the more she liked him.
She spent half her life recuperating in the mountains, and although she liked her brothers' children, she rarely saw them. Now, she finally had a daughter of her own, in name only. Moreover, this stepdaughter was well-behaved and sensible, and extremely intelligent. Thinking that such a lovely girl had experienced the pain of losing her mother at such a young age, perhaps that was why she had such a delicate and insightful mind. No matter how she thought about it, she couldn't help but want to be more considerate and caring towards her.
Thinking of this, Gao Youyi leaned forward and firmly grasped Lin Xu's hands in her own, her usually loud voice softening slightly as she said:
“What nonsense are you talking about, child? I have been your mother since I married into this family. You are the child I, Gao Youyi, cherish and love. No matter what happens in the future, that will never change.”
After several hours of slumber, Little Gray on top of the head finally awoke. Little Red's round, dark eyes darted around, and it stretched its neck, mimicking the words it had just heard: "Silly talk—silly talk—," looking quite smug. Little Gray seemed to find it utterly unbearable, and its eyes, which had just opened, closed even tighter, burying its head completely in its soft, glossy feathers. The two birds, usually so endearing, brought much joy and vitality to Luoya Residence.
Xin Tan chuckled and said, "These two birds are about the same size, but their personalities are completely different. From what I can tell, Little Gray seems quite unhappy with Little Red's talkativeness. It's really quite amusing."
Little Red and Little Gray have both grown quite a bit, their feathers now fully developed. Little Red's feathers are particularly vibrant, with white and green feathers all over her body, except for a bright crimson patch on her head. Compared to the always quiet Little Gray, she is very lively and loves to interact with people. Little Gray, on the other hand, is quite picky. She loves to eat red beans but likes to use her long, curved beak to pick out all the skins before she eats them with her eyes half-closed.
Gao glanced out the window; the evening breeze was picking up. She then carefully explained the procedures for Lin Xu's coming-of-age ceremony before taking Xin Tan back home.
.
Lin Xu and her stepmother talked for a while, and after sitting on the couch for a long time, her back started to ache. Calculating the time, Liang Zhengyuan should be back from the martial arts arena by now. She let Zhu Ling bring her a copper basin to wash her hands, and then wiped them clean with a soft, plain silk handkerchief before strolling to Liang Zhengyuan's villa.
Two crape myrtle trees in the courtyard were covered in fallen petals, towering high and blocking out the sun. A gentle breeze caused light rain of petals to fall, making the bright and beautiful flowers even more striking against the backdrop of green grass. She rarely came to this courtyard, and even the guards and servants felt a little unfamiliar with her, so they sat on the stone bench under the trees and waited for a while.
She rested her hand on her forehead, unaware of how long she had waited. Amidst the fragrant air, a wave of drowsiness washed over her, and she drifted off to sleep. When she opened her eyes, she was startled to find Liang Zhengyuan sitting opposite her, his clear eyes fixed on her.
He had already changed out of his armor and was now wearing a white silk undergarment. Compared to the cold and menacing armor he wore all day, his face was softer, making him appear even more handsome and refined. Fine petals had fallen all over his broad shoulders and neck, and when viewed through the hazy rain of petals, he looked as beautiful as a figure from a painting.
Seeing that she finally opened her eyes, Liang Zhengyuan smiled:
“I think Xu’er will sleep under this tree all night.”
He always loved to tease, and Lin Xu never wasted her energy arguing with him, rubbing her aching arms as she did so. Just then, a maid from the other courtyard brought the two of them steaming hot tea and snacks, replacing the still full but now cold white tea in front of him.
Lin Xu has always loved tea. He picked up the celadon cup and took small sips. He then picked up a piece of steamed cheese and dipped it in the iced cherry on the small plate. It was soft, sweet and juicy, and tasted especially pleasant with the fragrant tea. Before he knew it, he had eaten a few more pieces.
Liang Zhengyuan slowly sipped his hot tea. Seeing how much she enjoyed it, his expression softened, and he smiled at the little girl, saying:
"It's rare that Miss loves your cooking so much. Hua Chang, please make more of these dishes and send them to Miss later."
The pretty young maidservant replied happily, "I understand."
She glanced at the maid named Huashang, whose cheeks were faintly flushed and whose eyes held a shy glint when she looked at Liang Zhengyuan. She understood a thing or two. She gently brushed away the floating tea leaves with the lid, her smile gentle.
"I feel like my cousin is preoccupied with something but hesitant to speak today. Is there something he wants to say to Xu'er?"
It turned out that she couldn't be fooled.
Liang Zhengyuan's eyes trembled slightly as he looked at her. After a moment, he gently put down the cup in his hand and stared at her intently.
"Do you know—I will soon be stationed in Huidong with the army?"
The situation in eastern Huizhou is currently turbulent. Since the beginning of the year, there have been frequent disturbances by bandits, as well as flood victims fleeing the area. Natural disasters and man-made calamities have been continuous. Mountain bandits and outlaws are colluding, and the imperial court urgently needs to send troops to garrison the area. It has been previously reported that the former subordinates of Prince Mao and the renowned and highly valiant Fourteenth Division will soon depart from the capital to march south and suppress the outlaws.
The person leading the troops was He Qijiang, who had won many battles in recent years, and was also the elder brother of He Miaoyi, the noble lady who had tea with Princess Kunrou that day.
The martial arts training grounds recently posted a notice calling on all students to volunteer. Huidong is far from Mujing, but it's a good place for training. If they can achieve good results this time, they will naturally rise to prominence. It is said that many students from the training grounds are eager to try, but in the end, apart from Liang Zhengyuan, who was personally selected by Princess Kunrou, only a third-year student named Qin Ziyuan was chosen.
After her private conversation with Liao Yan deep in the bamboo forest that day, although she knew Liao Yan would carefully consider her words, she didn't expect the princess to act so quickly, selecting Liang Zhengyuan for the army camp in just a few days. It seems she has been planning and enduring for a long time, waiting for the day when everything is ready.
Lin Xu smiled gently and said, "The bandits in Huidong are causing trouble. Although this trip is dangerous, it is a good opportunity for you to gain experience. Moreover, He Qijiang has recently won many military merits. If you follow him, you will surely become a capable general in no time."
Liang Zhengyuan's gaze, however, held a hint of melancholy. Before she could ponder the reason, she heard his voice, which drifted down slowly along with the falling roses:
“I understand all of this. But the journey ahead is long and arduous. I’m afraid I’ll not only miss your coming-of-age ceremony, but I also don’t know when I’ll be able to return.” His gaze never left her. After a moment, he smiled again, his eyes mischievous, and said, “By then, I wonder where Xu’er will be, and whether she will still recognize me?”
Upon hearing this, she couldn't help but laugh heartily, "Don't worry, no matter when or where, my cousin's face has stirred the hearts of countless young girls. How could I forget you and my cousin?"
Liang Zhengyuan looked at her, a smile as usual on his lips. In the leisurely and idyllic scene of the wind blowing and flowers falling, he simply lowered his head, sipped his tea, and said nothing more.
.
On the day Liang Zhengyuan left, a torrential downpour caused many of the pampered flowers in the backyard to wither and fall to the ground overnight, creating a bleak scene.
He should have returned to Hecheng again to pay his respects to his maternal grandfather before setting off, but due to the strict military discipline and the worsening disaster, he had to leave several days earlier than planned. Gao Youyi held several family banquets to bid him farewell, and everyone saw him off again and again, reluctant to part.
Lin Xu couldn't bear to watch him smile as he said goodbye, so she hid in the warm pavilion to feed the parrot. Little Red had developed a habit of biting people's fingers while being fed. After finishing the small handful of millet in her palm, it would peck at her fingers incessantly with its sharp beak.
Her mind was in turmoil, and she didn't come to her senses until her index finger was pecked painfully. Zhu Ling lifted the beaded curtain and quickly went into the room to check on her injury, while carefully observing her expression and saying:
“Miss, Master and Madam saw Young Master off on his horse. He knelt down to say goodbye in the rain and looked around in the crowd for a while. It seemed like he was looking for you. He has probably already ridden away by now.”
Her brows furrowed slightly, her mind a jumble of emotions. Though she felt a pang of melancholy, she knew this was a hard-won, golden opportunity for Liang Zhengyuan, and that after this ordeal, his future would be bright. She forced herself to suppress her anxieties and force a smile.
.
Throughout the night, she heard the sound of rain outside her window, which continued without ceasing. Upon waking, she changed her clothes as usual, washed briefly, and then went to the courtyard for a short rest. There, she saw two guards who had previously served Liang Zhengyuan every day standing outside her bedchamber. Upon seeing her, the two guards quickly bowed in greeting. Not far away, beneath the window frame, a large, intricately carved, three-tiered lacquered rosewood box sat safely, untouched by the rain.
She carefully opened it. Inside the first layer, she found two thick calligraphy copybooks: one was Yu Gong's famous copybook, "Yan Lian Zhu," and the other was the "Taishan Stele," a work that had been passed down through generations. She had been practicing seal script diligently recently, searching far and wide for famous copybooks to study. Now, she had actually found such precious copybooks. She wondered when he had memorized them and how much effort he had put into them.
The second layer was covered with bright yellow satin, upon which rested an exquisitely crafted purple jade ruyi scepter adorned with bats. Engraved with intricate phoenix patterns, its surface was crystal clear, clearly a rare and exquisite piece from Mujing, gleaming brilliantly in the morning light.
When the third floor was opened, only a small piece of animal bone was placed in the middle, making it seem quite empty.
She recognized the bone.
When she first tried to polish the whistling arrow, she couldn't get the hang of it and specifically sought advice from Liang Zhengyuan. He, however, looked relaxed and mocked her clumsiness, saying she still wanted to master this incredibly difficult-to-make arrow. She sulked and stubbornly refused to speak to him. He took the animal bone from her and polished it all night long, finally achieving its rare and smooth luster.
But now he didn't take it with him; he returned it to her.
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