standoff
The moon hung low, the courtyard was shrouded in night, and the gauze lanterns cast a warm glow.
After a simple dinner, Lin Xu leaned against the couch and read a book. Perhaps because she had been busy with various chores these days and hadn't read for a long time, she was only halfway through reading "Essentials of Governance from Various Books" when drowsiness overwhelmed her. She didn't even bother to put the book away and fell into a deep sleep leaning against the small table. She didn't even know when Dou Yanxun came back and entered the room.
These days, he would always come to see her whenever he finished his official duties.
Sometimes he would just hug and kiss Mianxue repeatedly, and other times he couldn't bear to leave and would stay there all night. Lin Xu knew his temperament well, and if she insisted on refusing, she didn't know what Dou Yanxun would do next, so she silently agreed.
Upon closer reflection, the two of them had never actually lived such a peaceful and tranquil life. Even back in Laining, when Dou Yanxun was just beginning to show his talent, he focused more on how to defeat the local gentry and diligently attend to government affairs. But now, no matter how busy he is, he can only feel at ease when he sees Lin Xu safe and sound with his own eyes.
He deliberately shuffled his feet, not wanting to disturb the sleeping Lin Xu. The candlelight was soft; her slender figure leaned against the table, her breathing long and even, her eyelashes casting a faint shadow in the light. How could she sleep comfortably like this? A mother already, yet still like a child.
Dou Yanxun shook his head indulgently, then bent down and scooped Lin Xu up in his arms. The person in his arms was slightly curled up, her hair brushing against his neck, carrying a very faint floral fragrance—the scent of crabapple blossoms wafting from the courtyard.
He placed her on the bed, carefully tucked the blankets in, and then stood in front of the bed, quietly watching her, his gaze almost unwilling to leave her.
Since finding her again, seeing her so unguarded and peacefully sleeping was more moving than any scenery in the world. He only wished he could etch her image in his heart forever.
He walked slowly to the window and saw the night sky pouring in like ink, while the soft moonlight fell on the table.
When was the last time they were alone in such tranquility? It was when he had a persistent high fever, and she foolishly stayed by his bedside, caring for him all night long. It was also during that time in Laining that she secretly sewed a cloak for him, stitch by stitch. She scented that thick cloak with incense again and again, so that whenever he wore it, he would be filled with fragrance.
He glanced down at the ink stains on the table that were not yet dry, spread out paper, ground ink, and quickly frowned as he picked up a brush.
First, he sketched the arch of her eyebrows, then outlined her eyes, and finally added the barely perceptible curve to the corner of her lips. That was her image, already deeply etched in his heart. He even remembered clearly the way her eyes widened slightly when she was angry.
He was intelligent from a young age, but he lost his mother, Xia, at a young age and lived a life of quiet desperation in the Dou family. This naturally caused him to neglect his studies over the years. However, painting seemed to be a talent he was born with, but he was good at hiding it and it remained unknown to others.
Throughout his life, he has only painted two people. One is Xia Shi, smiling in his memory, holding his younger brother who was still an infant in his arms. At that time, he braved the bitter cold alone along the river, but could never find the remains of his loved ones. Only by painting could he commemorate his mother's face.
And one of them was Lin Xu, who had only recently married him.
He considered himself cold-hearted, indifferent to countless women who tried to get close to him over the years, and at that time he didn't care much for Lin Xu either. She was just another woman who had fantasies about him and was relentlessly pursuing him. Even though she had saved his life on the brink of death, he couldn't refuse the imperial decree. They all wanted him to marry her, so he would marry her and raise her well, at worst.
Even in the first few months after they became husband and wife, he was somewhat annoyed by her.
He was annoyed that she seemed not to understand him, always looking at him with pleading eyes. He was annoyed that she was weak-willed, silently enduring all the open and hidden attacks in the mansion with a gentle demeanor. She was completely unaware of Feng Daizhu's tests, Bai Shi's punishments, and even the fear and wariness of others—these foolish and childish tactics—she was only devoted to him, her heart and eyes filled with nothing but him.
But later, he discovered that her vulnerability was just a mask.
She was clearly extremely intelligent, but she never cared about using underhanded methods. She was always so innocent and aloof, like the purest and most flawless white flower, untouched by any dust. But in reality, she was not only brave and resourceful, but also incredibly ruthless, able to leave him so calmly.
Even... all that so-called unwavering love and admiration for him seemed to be nothing more than a carefully prepared performance. She was never short of men, whether it was the dashing Liang Si, or the nonchalant Zhou Weikan, or even the Crown Prince, who cared most about power and scheming and was the future heir apparent to the throne, all of whom were very interested in her.
He had been driven mad by jealousy, and had even wished he could possess her completely. He had even ruthlessly eliminated those who dared to covet her or disrespect her.
Over the years, first Yao Sha, then Qin Ziyuan... whether they died or went mad, he handled everything cleanly, and no one else knew about it.
Even though Dou Yanzhou was utterly despicable, having used his name to commit countless vile acts for years, he remained unmoved. However, since he noticed Dou Yanzhou's gaze lingering longer and longer on Lin Xu over the years, he could no longer tolerate it. Sending Dou Yanzhou to the remote Wuzhou, where he could never return, was the last shred of mercy he could show his half-brother.
Then one day, for some reason, he suddenly had a breakthrough.
So what if she had so many people around her? Of all those people, she still chose him.
She only chose him.
Even if she approached him only to use him, even if she had ulterior motives, he had nothing to begin with, so what could she possibly take away from him? As long as she was by his side, as long as he still held even a sliver of value for her—
He felt overjoyed.
That's enough.
Before the ink was even dry, Dou Yanxun finally finished the last stroke.
In the flickering candlelight, the figure in the painting had delicate features, like the first snow falling in the forest, and a lingering smile graced his half-curled lips. He lightly traced the outline on the paper with his fingertips, and unconsciously even his expression softened.
Suddenly, in the silence, a very faint sound of wood grain came from the roof beam, as delicate as the chirping of insects.
A moment later, a dark shadow descended from the beam, and Yan Ya, dressed in black, knelt on the ground.
Dou Yanxun narrowed his eyes, and in the blink of an eye, the flickering candlelight on the table was extinguished.
Yan Ya had known him since he was a nobody and had followed him for many years. He was always very prudent in his actions and would never disturb him at this time unless it was an urgent matter.
"Young Master, Prince Mao has made some unusual moves."
His sharply defined face instantly hardened, and he tightened his sleeves, turning his head to look at the bed with its curtains hanging low.
Lin Xu, however, was still sleeping soundly behind the curtain, as if she was dreaming of something happy, with a sweet smile on her lips.
A wave of tenderness washed over him, and he lowered his voice to give a few instructions. Yan Ya then quietly accepted the order and retreated, quickly disappearing again from the roof beams.
Dou Yanxun put on his outer robe. With the court and the country in turmoil, the slightest misstep could lead to utter ruin. There was no time to lose; he could not delay any longer. He turned back and gave her one last, deep look before setting off.
The night breeze, accompanied by the opening and closing of the palace doors, was once again shut out. In the moonlight, Lin Xu slowly opened his tightly closed eyes.
.
The night wind howled. In an abandoned garden on the western outskirts of Beijing, the gate was half-closed, and the cold moon hung high in the sky.
Dou Yanxun pushed open the door and entered, his boots kicking up dust as they trod across the blue bricks. The long-abandoned well in the garden emitted a low hum in the wind, but he did not turn around. Instead, he walked straight to the spot where the moonlight was strongest.
"You really came."
A deep, muffled laugh came from the depths of the shadows, and a tall, imposing figure slowly emerged.
A magnificent black python-patterned robe billowed in the night wind, revealing a menacing shape, with the cold glint of black and gold boot tips faintly visible beneath the hem.
Before the footsteps arrived, the man's face was already outlined by the moonlight—
Those were extremely stern faces. High-set brow bones, deep-set and sharp eyes, thin lips, exuding an unapproachable aura of power. Even in the dim moonlight, standing in the dilapidated garden, he still possessed a calm and arrogant air that looked down upon all living beings.
Dou Yanxun's eyes were cold and deep as he said in a low voice, "On such a moonlit night, Your Highness did not invite me here to reminisce about the past."
Prince Mao gazed at the tall, slender figure under the moonlight, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
The slender figure from many years ago has grown into a magnificent and aloof figure.
In my memory, it was a winter day many years ago. He was guarding the border, leading his trusted men to personally escort a batch of finely crafted iron weapons from the Central Plains deep into the enemy camp. The snorts of the warhorses were steaming. It was a vast expanse of ice and snow, silent all around. But just as the wheels rolled over the ice, a thin young man appeared out of nowhere. He was dressed in rags, but his swordsmanship was sharp and fierce.
In a moment of carelessness, he watched helplessly as the young man, with a mere flip, unleashed a hidden weapon, striking several of his personal guards in vital points, causing them to fall to the ground unconscious.
And this boy, who only had a broken knife in his hand, actually tried to take away his box of fine weapons!
Prince Mao defended himself for a few moves, but the boy, seeing the situation was unfavorable, turned and ran away. Prince Mao chased him all the way to the dilapidated temple, and effortlessly subdued the boy, holding a long sword to his neck.
Bathed in moonlight, a pair of delicate peach blossom eyes clearly held an air of defiance and defiance as they coldly gazed at him.
The usually arrogant Prince Mao suddenly burst into laughter.
Where did this brat come from, so absurdly trying to steal my goods with just a broken knife and a few sharp pebbles! But this foolishness aroused his curiosity—if this sharpness could be used for his own good, he might be able to accomplish something great.
"What do you want to do?" he sneered.
The thin boy wiped the blood from his face, but his expression was fearless:
"Steal, sell for money, go home." A fearless attitude that says, "I have no money, but I'd rather die."
Prince Mao burst into laughter again. At that moment, he was invincible and full of high spirits. This was the first time he had been so cheerful since he began guarding the border. He laughed and scolded, "You petty thief, aren't you afraid I'll hand you over to the authorities and throw you into jail?"
The boy shook his head, his expression colder than the wind and snow.
"You're a traitor. You wouldn't dare."
Prince Mao's heart stirred. He loosened the long knife that was held against Dou Yanxun's neck a little and began to re-examine the beggar-like boy in front of him.
An abandoned child, alone and destitute, with a proud and aloof nature, could still be used by him. After months of testing, he finally made up his mind to help the boy return to the Central Plains, as the boy wished, but on the condition that the boy pay with his life, forcing him to act only for his own benefit.
Under the deep moonlight, Prince Mao pulled himself out of his jumbled thoughts and simply looked coldly at Dou Yanxun before him. Dou Yanxun was now the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, a close advisor to the heir apparent.
"We were originally in the same boat. But now... it seems your boat is about to cross to the other side."
Dou Yanxun's fingers tightened slightly, and the night wind lifted a corner of his robe. The two were only a few steps apart, and there was no one around, only the sound of the wind passing through the dilapidated pillars.
His eyes darkened slightly, and a chilling murderous intent emanated from the brows and eyes of the man before him who bore a resemblance to the crown prince.
Over the years, he has managed to remain alive while navigating the powerful and almost regent Prince Mao's side, solely because of his past mastery of a secret that could have overturned his life.
After all, who would have thought that this man, who had repeatedly defeated enemy states and was invincible, the younger brother of Emperor Su, the personally appointed Assistant General, and the number one contributor to the recovery of lost territory of Dayu, was actually colluding with the enemy state of Yanchao behind the scenes and even privately selling military supplies?
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