Snowfall (Revised)
In the pitch-black darkness, Dou Yanxun looked down at the face of the person beneath him and suddenly felt a tightness in his chest.
The two were very close, and he could clearly see her eyelashes tremble slightly, and the teardrops at the corners of her eyes shimmered faintly as they rolled down her soft, creamy cheeks, where extremely fine downy hairs still clung.
He had never looked closely at her face before, but now, with the night stretching between them, it was the first time he had ever stood quietly facing that face, and for no reason at all, he felt a strange, inexplicable restlessness.
He didn't even know what he was upset about.
The person beneath him, however, slept even more soundly due to the alcohol, so he had to get up and call the maids outside the door to attend to him. The maids dared not disturb the sleeping Lin Xu, and carefully helped her to the bed before bowing their heads and quickly retreating.
He hadn't eaten much for dinner, and after all that commotion, he naturally lost his appetite. So he quickly washed up and lay down fully clothed.
The night was quiet, with only the soft breathing and occasional murmurs of the person sleeping soundly beside me.
He lay on the outside, slowly closing his eyes in the darkness, trying to calm his mind and not think about the soft body of the person in his arms just now, or her broken and helpless cries.
He didn't know how long it had been before he finally fell into a deep sleep. For some reason, he slept quite soundly, without any dreams.
Dou Yanxun always gets up early, and when he finally opened his eyes groggily, he saw that the surroundings were already bathed in a clear light, and the outside world was bright. It was rare for him to get up late.
Looking back, all that remained was an empty space.
Dou Yanxun rubbed his temples, casually put on an outer garment, and sat up from the bed.
The table full of food and wine left over from last night had been completely cleaned up by the servants at some point. Now, a few sticks of incense were burning in the hall, their smoke curling upwards. He casually pushed open the door.
What suddenly came into view was the endless, slow-falling snow. The sky was covered in silver, and the snowflakes swirled around like cotton wool. It must have started snowing at midnight, and now the entire courtyard was piled up, almost reaching above the ankles.
Amidst the vast expanse of white snow, a graceful figure stood serenely in the courtyard. Lin Xu wore a red silk cloak with intertwined branches and magpies. It was unclear how long she had been in the snow; the cloak was covered in snow, and although she was shivering slightly from the cold, she kept reaching out her hands, as if trying to gather the falling snow into her palms.
As if sensing the movement behind them, the figure slowly turned around amidst the shimmering white fragments of jade.
Upon seeing that it was him, Lin Xu snapped out of her reverie and smiled. A few snowflakes clung to the corners of her eyes and brows, making her already serene and otherworldly appearance even more captivating against the backdrop of the snow-covered world.
Dou Yanxun remained silent for a long time, staring blankly at himself.
Lin Xu's smile deepened slightly, and she waved to him:
"My lord, it's snowing! Look, this is the first snow of the year, and the snowflakes are so big, it looks like it's been snowing all night!"
He stood under the veranda, gazing at the smiling faces in the courtyard. The strange feeling that had gripped his chest the night before resurfaced. In the desolate darkness, that strange and unfamiliar feeling descended like a fine net, enveloping him completely, from which he could no longer escape.
Dou Yanxun tightened his throat awkwardly. He had only intended to return her smile, but for some reason, he found himself walking into the snow as if possessed.
The soft, thick snow left a trail of footprints underfoot in no time. Lin Xu smiled and looked at him with a curved smile.
As he approached, she lightly leaped up and unexpectedly splashed all the snow in her hand onto him, her smile full of slyness.
The instigator couldn't hide her smugness. The little girl was being silly. Dou Yanxun, who was usually indifferent, showed a few traces of helplessness on his face. Then he bent down and scooped up a handful of snow.
When Lin Xu saw him start to make snowballs, he hurriedly started to run, but he couldn't outrun him. The two of them ran and chased each other, which turned into laughing and joking.
When Granny Qin and Zhu Ling arrived at the scene, they were stunned to see that the two men's clothes were covered in snow.
In the month or so since they entered the manor, I have never seen the two of them so harmonious and intimate.
Fortunately, he had a day off today and had plenty of free time, so he could have breakfast with her. Lin Xu's smile remained unchanged; she was overjoyed. Both of them were covered in snow, and Lin Xu was panting heavily from running, her face now flushed. She took shelter under the eaves to rest, repeatedly calling for a truce while carefully brushing the snow off him.
A double-eared, diamond-patterned bronze mirror hung by the window. Lin Xu looked at her face in the mirror, and when she turned to the side, she saw that there were still many snowflakes on the wisps of hair on her forehead.
Dou Yanxun reached out his hand, but before his palm could fall, Lin Xu stopped him with a shout.
"Don't take pictures—"
She rarely showed such urgency; the words she uttered to him were barely out of her mouth before she revealed a hint of embarrassment.
Dou Yanxun looked at her with a puzzled expression, and Lin Xu pointed forward, where the two people in the mirror had completely white hair.
The southern snow falls suddenly, may we grow old together.
That was the sweetest thought of a young girl. Dou Yanxun suddenly realized, feeling his heart and soul stirred in an instant, and even the sound of falling snow behind him was completely drowned out in the boundless silence.
He opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say, or what else he could say. He just stood there, stunned, while the person beside him blushed, seemingly unable to hold back any longer. He hurriedly turned around, lowered his head, and ran into the hall.
.
Snowflakes have been falling for two days in a row. This year has been quite turbulent, with famine and disasters occurring in various places. However, the heavy snowfall also brings some hope for a bountiful harvest next year.
Because of the slippery roads due to the snow, Lin Xu and Dou Zhen set off in a carriage early in the morning. As expected, the journey was congested. By the time they finally arrived at the gate of Princess Duanhe's residence, the banquet was about to begin.
Because it was a banquet, she dressed particularly elegantly, her bright eyes and brows accentuated by a dark blue brocade dress with cloud patterns. She wore a light blue mink coat over it, while Dou Zhen wore a bamboo green cloak. Against the backdrop of the white snow, they were two bright and beautiful women.
The two followed the leading nanny and passed through several courtyards before finally arriving at the hall where the banquet was being held. They were late, as the hall was already filled with elegantly dressed guests. Princess Kunrou was originally talking with several noble ladies in the main hall when she caught sight of Lin Xu out of the corner of her eye and quickly walked towards the two of them.
"I thought you accepted the invitation, but you're going to stand me up today."
It had been a long time since I had seen Liao Yan. She was dressed in a lake-blue silk phoenix-tail dress, and she walked over gracefully, looking exceptionally elegant.
Lin Xu quickly smiled and bowed, "Your Highness is too kind. It's just that the roads are slippery due to the snow. We should have left home earlier."
Since she was now married and wore a married woman's hairstyle, Liao Yan couldn't help but find it strange. She took a closer look, then joked with Lin Xu for a few moments before noticing Dou Zhen standing next to Lin Xu. She exclaimed in surprise:
"Why are you here today?"
Originally, only Lin Xu from the manor received an invitation to the banquet from the Princess's residence. However, since Madam Bai was determined to place her daughter in the family, she sent Lin Xu and Dou Zhen together. Presumably, in Madam Bai's mind, Dou Zhen, now studying alongside Liao Yan, held a higher status than ordinary noble ladies, and was naturally closer to Lin Xu, her former classmate. It was simply unreasonable that she was not on the invited list.
Liao Yan asked this question, and Lin Xu, worried that Dou Zhen might overthink it, quickly spoke up to defuse the situation:
"This is my first time being invited. I haven't seen much of the world, so I thought I'd bring Zhenxiaomei along. Now that we're all family, we can look after each other."
Liao Yan nodded without saying anything more. She casually told the head maid to add a seat next to Lin Xu. As the hostess today, she was busy entertaining guests and hurriedly went to socialize and catch up with other acquaintances.
The banquet soon began after everyone took their seats. Today, the Princess wore a brocade robe with phoenix feather and gold patterns, and a phoenix crown inlaid with pearls. Her brows and eyes exuded royal majesty. Compared to when she was last seen in Changchun Palace, she was much more elegant and noble today.
She sat calmly at the head of the table, her expression serene. She would nod slightly at times, and sometimes raise her cup to sip her tea. Though she did not speak, her every move exuded an aura of authority, befitting one of the most distinguished women in Dayu today.
The princess's husband, Liao Qian, sat below her, his expression gentle, occasionally conversing quietly with the scholar beside him. Liao Qian wore a simple, dark-colored round-necked casual robe, which, though simple, exuded a composed and dignified air.
This was the first time Lin Xu had seen Liao Qian's true face, and he couldn't help but take a few more glances.
I've heard that this now-honored prince consort was not born into a noble family. He came from a poor background, but later passed the imperial examination with flying colors and was chosen by the eldest princess during his compilation work. From then on, his career took off, and his family was showered with honors. Now, decades into their marriage, the prince consort shows no arrogance or conceit. He is refined and gentle in every gesture, and possesses a wealth of literary talent, making him highly sought after by the scholars of this dynasty.
As everyone raised their cups in a toast, graceful palace maids filed in, their skirts trailing on the ground, their steps light as clouds. A beaded curtain and silver screen had already been set up in the hall, and the lithe figures of the dancers could be vaguely seen behind it.
As the sounds of the jade flute and xun gradually rose, melodious as a babbling brook, the guests involuntarily put down their cups and turned their gazes toward the curtain.
Before long, a group of dancers dressed in gorgeous costumes emerged gracefully from behind the curtain, their clothes fluttering, their figures like cranes spreading their wings, their steps light and agile.
Lin Xu lowered his eyes slightly, quietly observing the people at the table, only to find that everyone's expressions were different.
A young scholar on the left occasionally glanced up at the princess, his expression a mixture of awe and admiration. On the right, several ladies conversed in hushed tones, occasionally chuckling, their words carrying a subtle undercurrent of competition. Such occasions were always outwardly harmonious, but beneath the surface, the powerful and influential harbored their own ambitions and engaged in silent power struggles.
Dou Zhen sat upright beside him, looking somewhat reserved. Occasionally, when she heard laughter from others, she would raise her head slightly and reveal a smile.
Just as her thoughts were racing, the dancers emerged from behind the beaded curtain one by one to bow and take their leave of the guests. Indeed, each one of them was an absolute beauty.
As the applause continued, the princess slightly raised her hand, the music gradually stopped, and all the musicians and dancers retreated in small steps.
The eldest princess took a sip of tea, glanced around, her expression naturally dignified, yet her tone was gentle:
"It's a rare treat to have everyone gathered here today. I had originally planned to have a simple family dinner since it's winter, but I've invited you all here to enjoy the snow together. Please don't be shy, and if there's anything you haven't said yet, feel free to speak your mind."
The room fell silent immediately, no one daring to speak. Only Liao Qian smiled slightly and took the lead, saying:
"Since the Princess has given the order, we naturally dare not neglect it. It is a rare sight to see such an outstanding snow scene today. How about we, our guests, gather to exchange literary ideas and compose poems in praise of the snow?"
Upon hearing this, several scholars who were acquainted with the prince consort immediately echoed his sentiments. Da Yu valued elegance and refined tastes, and his banquets were often filled with elegant activities such as reciting poems and essays. These banquets were also a way for powerful figures in the court to secretly compete with each other, and the talented men and women renowned in the capital would certainly not miss this opportunity to showcase their talents.
Liao Qian toyed with a string of red agate bracelets in his hand and chuckled as he spoke, "Then I'll start by throwing out an example to get everyone amused."
His voice was gentle and somewhat humble, but his demeanor was exceptionally composed. With a slight wave of his hand, a servant immediately handed him a scroll of plain paper.
Liao Qian picked up a wolf-hair brush and began to write on the hanging plain paper, then smiled faintly and said:
"This poem is dedicated to all the guests seated here today—the snow scene is beautiful, may the weather be favorable, and may the country be prosperous and the people at peace."
After speaking, he put his hands behind his back and softly recited:
"After the snow, the pine stands tall in the cold, and the green bamboo sways in the wind. I tread the jade steps under the cold moon, and tomorrow night I will rest my head on the flowing rosy clouds."
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone applauded and praised the Prince Consort, saying he was indeed well-versed in poetry and literature, his words were elegant and refined, and his artistic conception was quite lofty. How much genuine praise was mixed in was unknown to anyone. The Princess, holding her wine cup, also nodded slightly.
Lin Xu looked at the myriad aspects of life and couldn't help but smile.
Dou Zhen, who had been sitting silently beside her, looked up at this moment, her eyes sparkling with a gentle light: "Beautiful poem."
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