Clouds and smoke swirling
As soon as Xu realized this, everything around him turned into smoke and dust, and in the void and chaos, there was nothing but a bamboo-green figure.
Smoke swirled around, the milky white smoke passing through Sui Zhixu's hand, elusive to catch.
Zhou Changyuan's guidance in her dream was to let her know about her past life...
As he walked step by step through the clouds, he had no direction and no path.
She didn't want to wander aimlessly like this, so she simply sat down cross-legged. Gradually, the clouds changed drastically, as if they were very dissatisfied with Sui Zhixu's actions.
Sui Zhixu remained unmoved, her expression indifferent. Tears welled up in her clear, peach-blossom eyes due to weariness, and the swirling mist around her swayed even more violently.
The clouds and mist slowed down and gradually subsided. The next second, Zhi Xu was suddenly thrown off the clouds and fell straight down.
Sui Zhixu: "..."
When she opened her eyes again, she met Cong Lan's captivating eyes.
“A-Ling, he is a child from the Immortal Abode in Jingzhou, and he is Father’s disciple. His name is Puyang Kai, and he is a few months older than you. You can call him Brother Kai from now on.”
Sui Zhixu sat on the couch, expressionless, and said, "You're so vulgar."
Cong Lan stared wide-eyed in disbelief as the tiny figure uttered those cold words. He pointed at himself, "Me, vulgar?"
"Or vulgar? Only you and your mother would use such strange words."
Cong Lan: "..."
"No, this is different." Cong Lan sighed, wondering where he had gone wrong with his teaching.
And when did she hear him talking to his wife?
“Why not? How many disciples do you have? Cheng Zhijie is one, Xie Yu is another, and now Puyang Kai is another, plus the students of Shanhai Academy. Do I have to call them all ‘brother’? I can accept calling them ‘sister’ and ‘brother’, but I can’t accept calling them ‘brother’ and ‘brother’. My mother only gave birth to me.”
Cong Lan: "Xiao Kai is different."
"What's different?"
Cong Lan choked. How was he supposed to tell his five- or six-year-old daughter that this was the child husband he wanted to raise for her?
Many of his disciples started teaching him from a young age, but their family backgrounds were complicated. For example, the Marquis of Wu'an's mansion was so infighting that even their own children were neglected. The couple were cold-hearted and self-interested, and it was unknown what they would ask Cheng Zhijie for in the future.
Cong Lan stated that he regarded Cheng Zhijie as his own son and would never allow him to harm his young wife.
Therefore, Professor Cong Lan often taught his wife alone when he knew her well, but now, where did his teaching go wrong?
Sui Zhixu didn't want to pay attention to him. She walked past him with the vase on the table in her arms. When she passed Puyang Kai, who was sitting below her, she glanced at him twice. Puyang Kai gave her a gentle smile and looked like an older brother.
She paused for a moment, then said, "So-so, I guess. He doesn't seem very smart."
"Ah Xu, you can't talk to Xiao Kai like that."
"Oh." Sui Zhixu grabbed the vase and ran straight out, disappearing in a flash.
"Slow down! Someone hurry up and follow the lady!"
After instructing the servants, Cong Lan turned to Pu Yangkai and said, "Ah Xu has been intelligent since childhood, but she is also very arrogant. It's my fault for not teaching her properly."
Pu Yangkai shook his head, "Junior sister is still young. Compared to other children who are mischievous, junior sister is already exceptionally intelligent."
No one would be unhappy to hear their child being praised, and Cong Lan was no exception.
“A-Ling was in the wrong, and I apologize on her behalf.”
"Teacher, you flatter me."
Cong Lan carefully examined him. He was neither arrogant nor humble, and seemed like a promising talent. No wonder he had carefully selected him.
Sui Zhixu went to find Sui He carrying flowers. She buried her head in the blossoms; had she said something wrong? All of them were less interesting than her plants.
"Mother, Mother, where are you?" Sui Zhixu ran to Sui He's study, but when she opened the door, there was no one there. She placed the vase on the desk and wandered around the study. The books in the study were not like those in a corner of the library; most of them were books that Sui He used frequently.
Although she had only recently begun learning, she was intelligent and had inherited Cong Lan's photographic memory very well.
Unable to find Sui He in the study, Sui Zhixu had no choice but to give up. She glanced at the vase on the desk; in such an obvious spot, her mother would surely see it when she returned.
She lifted her skirt and left the study, intending to sneak to the Pei residence next door. Just as she stepped out of the main gate of the Sui residence, a crimson official robe blocked her way.
Sui Zhixu took a few steps back, looked up, and a look of amazement flashed in her eyes.
He asked cautiously, "Who are you? What brings you to my house?"
"Just passing by."
Sui Zhixu frowned. "Although I'm not old, I'm not stupid. Why would someone just walk past someone's house?"
She chuckled, took out a candied hawthorn from behind her back, and handed it to her, "I came to see your mother, do you want some?"
At this moment, Sui Zhixu was still a child and could not resist the temptation of candied hawthorn. She swallowed unconsciously, and her eyes never left the candied hawthorn.
She shook her head. "You've come at an inopportune time. My mother isn't home. I won't eat your candied hawthorns. If you want to see my mother, you should send me a formal invitation first."
"You know this too?" Her voice was slightly surprised. In her mind, Sui Zhixu silently categorized her as someone who thought that just because she was young, she didn't know anything. Even if she was pretty, it didn't matter.
She took a few steps back, her face falling. The person opposite her laughed when she saw this, squatted down to look her in the eye, and said, "They're praising you for being so capable."
Sui Zhixu glanced around, her tone nonchalant, "It's so-so."
"Is there anything else? You can tell me your name. I have a good memory, and I'll tell my mother when she gets back."
"My name is... I won't tell you my name." She changed the subject, a smile hiding in her eyes.
Sui Zhixu said, "If you don't tell me, how can I tell my mother?"
"Because I suddenly don't want to look for your mother anymore. I want to look for you more than her. If you don't tell your mother that I've been here, I'll tell you my name."
As Xu looked into her eyes, her gaze calm and gentle, she pursed her lips, suppressing the upward curve of her mouth. "Alright, I won't tell Mother, but you have to hurry, I was originally planning to go find A-Lian."
“They all call me Imperial Tutor.” Fu Mingguang thought for a moment and realized that A-Lian must be a lady from the Pei State Duke’s mansion.
"Imperial tutor?" Sui Zhixu thought for a moment. The emperor's teacher seemed to be more powerful than his father's teacher.
"Yes, I am now ordered to teach Princess Chaoyang. You will see her when you are a little older."
As Fu Mingguang said, during the New Year's banquet the following year, Sui Zhixu followed Sui He into the palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager and met Fu Mingguang and Princess Chaoyang beside him.
Xu An sat quietly next to Sui He, being fed by the various aunts from time to time, her mouth stuffed full, and her chubby face successfully withstood the ravages of the rising sun.
"Wow, your face is so soft. I'll give you all the sparkly things, come with me."
Sui He: "..."
The whole room burst into laughter. The Empress Dowager, sitting at the head of the table, tried to smooth things over. Sui He naturally chimed in, glancing at Ah Xu, who blended in naturally with his good looks, and gradually felt relieved.
Until she reached marriageable age, she enjoyed smooth sailing in Chang'an. Everyone in the city knew that she was the apple of the eye of the Sui family head and Lord Cong. Especially after Cong Lan was appointed prime minister, the Sui family's door was almost worn out by visitors.
Upon hearing the news, Puyang Kai, unlike his usual mild-mannered self, hurriedly ran to Sui Zhixu's Jianjia Pavilion.
As usual, Xu ignored everything outside the window and stayed in the tree in the yard, drinking and sleeping.
"Lady Danhong, Kai has something to discuss with you. May I inform him?"
"No, my wife is still resting. Please come back later, my lord."
Just then, Xu woke up and said loudly, "Dan Hong, let him in."
Puyang Kai's face lit up with joy. He straightened his clothes and stepped into Jianjia Pavilion.
"Is there something you need, Senior Brother?"
Layers of bamboo-green clothing swayed in the wind as the woman landed steadily on her toes.
Still half-asleep, with an unconsciously sweet and innocent tone in her voice, she couldn't help but yawn, then turned and sat down on the wicker chair under the tree.
Years have passed, and the once proud little girl has grown into a graceful young woman. She is no longer as spoiled as she was in her childhood, and her temperament has become increasingly aloof and gentle. She grew up under the protection and love of the family patriarch and her teacher, possessing both the gentleness and steadfastness of the young master of the family, as well as the strategic wisdom of her teacher.
He didn't know when she had already taken up an indispensable place in his heart.
For many years, he silently stayed by her side. Perhaps it was because of his years of companionship, or perhaps it was because he cleaned up her messes, or perhaps it was because she had grown up. She was no longer so resistant to him, and even occasionally took the initiative to talk to him.
He couldn't accept that she was with another man.
So he asked, "Junior Sister, do you have someone you love?"
Su Zhixu's eyes flashed with surprise. Although she wondered why he would ask her such a strange question, she shook her head, adhering to the etiquette she had learned over the years.
Pu Yangkai's eyes held a mixture of surprise and melancholy. He smiled, but the only reflection in his eyes was the bamboo-green figure on the rattan chair as he gazed at her silently.
“If you don’t have someone you like, junior sister, why not consider me? I have no relatives; I’m an orphan adopted by the Immortal Clan. I’ve studied under a teacher since I was little and am familiar with the family’s affairs. You know me well, and if you’re willing, I’ll marry into your family and help you secure your position as head of the clan. You don’t need to worry about mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationships, nor do you need to worry about me having wives or concubines. You don’t need to agree immediately; just wait until I pass the next imperial examination and then give me your reply.”
Love breeds fear, and Puyang Kai laid bare everything he had, letting her judge him.
Seeing that she didn't speak, he quickly said, "If you find someone you love in the future, I will not stop you. You are free, and I will not be an obstacle for you."
Sui Zhixu was taken aback by his words. "Why are you telling me all this, Senior Brother?"
Seeing this, Dan Hong whispered to Sui Zhixu about the scene outside, a hint of annoyance flashing in her eyes.
She waved her hand, "That's fine too."
This will save a lot of people from worrying about her marriage.
"If there's nothing else, Senior Brother, I'll go and rest now."
I drank too much alcohol and my body aches a bit after sleeping in the tree.
That despicable Xie Xian came over and played cards with her all night, and even took over her bed in the middle of the night, what a scoundrel!
Fine, I'll take her, but then I kicked her out of bed in the middle of the night.
Ignoring the stunned Puyang Kai, Sui Zhixu stretched and walked into the house. Sui Chengyu skipped in from outside the courtyard, her voice full of enthusiasm.
"Cousin, cousin! I'm here!"
As Cheng Yu entered the courtyard, she abruptly stopped, looked at Pu Yangkai with a strange expression, and her tone instantly turned somber, "What are you doing here?"
"It's nothing, it's nothing." Puyang Kai couldn't hide his smile. Sui Chengyu felt that something was wrong, but she didn't know what to say, so she could only watch him leave in a daze.
"Dan Hong, what's wrong with him?"
Dan Hong smiled, pursing her lips. "It's alright, Second Mistress. Perhaps the Puyang gentleman is just daydreaming."
Pu Yangkai was confident. He could have participated this time, but his teacher said he was too inexperienced and that he could achieve better results after three more years of experience.
With Sui Zhixu's verbal agreement, Puyang Kai secretly informed the people of Chang'an that he and Sui Zhixu were childhood sweethearts and engaged. Over the next three years, fewer and fewer people came to propose marriage.
Over the course of three years, Puyang Kai changed his ways and became the center of attention. Whether it was poetry gatherings, banquets, or academy competitions, he was always present and ranked at the front.
The young master in Chang'an hated him so much he wanted to grind his teeth. He secretly despised him for showing off in front of Sui Zhixu, but he couldn't help feeling sad because Puyang Kai was indeed outstanding.
Three years later, Puyang Kai emerged victorious, his name appearing on the list of successful candidates. Overnight, numerous poems denigrating Puyang Kai appeared in Chang'an. Even in Chang'an teahouses, people described him as having a blue face and fangs, being utterly vulgar, while pitying his wife, who was pure and virtuous, a goddess...
Puyang Kai and Sui Zhixu's reputations were worlds apart.
Unfortunately, none of this could affect his current success and glory, as the top scholar rode his horse through the imperial street.
He wore a scarlet official robe and a jade belt, riding a tall horse at the front, the horse's hooves making a crisp sound on the bluestone slabs. His young face was handsome and gentle, his brows revealing a scholarly air, yet also an undisguised air of high spirits.
Sui Zhixu stood by the window of the restaurant, took the flowers from Dan Hong's hand, and casually tossed them to him.
She had been practicing martial arts with Chu Feixuan for many years, but she hadn't controlled her strength well and the blow landed directly on his face. At that moment, Sui Zhixu straightened up, feeling a little apologetic.
Puyang Kai grabbed the flower, the outer petals falling off in a flurry from the impact. Red marks even appeared on his face. He held the flower up to look at her, a smile playing on his lips.
"Aaaaaah! He smiled! He smiled! Heavens and earth, may this betrothed couple, whose love is stronger than gold, be together!"
"They're such a perfect match! The top scholar and the young master of the family, childhood sweethearts—they're practically a carbon copy of the prime minister and the head of the family back in the day!"
Danhong secretly mocked him, "Look at his worthless face, he looks so stupid, how did he become the top scholar in the imperial examination?"
Liu Lü noticed that Sui Zhixu was distracted and tugged at Dan Hong's sleeve, "Be careful what you say."
Dan Hong pursed her lips and remained silent.
Xu had just seen a figure that seemed familiar, but upon closer inspection, he realized he shouldn't have seen it before.
She was certain that he wasn't in her memory.
That's strange.
Suppressing the pounding in her heart, Sui Zhixu said, "Liu Lü, follow the corner of Zhuque Street and see who it is!"
"yes."
When Xi Yushao, the third-ranked scholar, had not yet met the fiancée of the top scholar Puyang Kai, he felt that Puyang Kai's words were full of tenderness.
For some reason, Xi Yushao vaguely sketched her figure in his mind.
A fleeting glimpse in front of the academy, and in the dead of night, he dreamt of that figure in blue. The thought of seeing her soon from afar stirred his heart even more.
The night rain fell incessantly, its lingering drizzle disturbing Xi Yushao's mind and gradually eroding his reason. Desire overcame propriety, dragging him into an endless sea of sin.
He covered his face, trying to calm his rapidly heaving chest.
"Do you know?"
Late at night, he kept repeating three words to himself until dawn broke.
In the study, Sui Zhixu finished dealing with piles of family affairs and the accounts of the entire household, then rested his head with his hands and closed his eyes to relax.
"My lady, I saw that man enter General Weiyuan's residence."
"The Zhou family?"
With his legs disabled and confined to a wheelchair, wouldn't that be just like General Zhou Changyuan himself?
Does he know her?
Before Xu could even wonder, a long cry of a gyrfalcon suddenly rang out from outside the window.
Liu Lü opened the window, "My lady, it's Master Xia's gyrfalcon!"
Her heart skipped a beat. Xia Wan had returned to Jingzhou a while ago, and now she was sending an urgent message via a gyrfalcon. Could it be that something had happened in Jingzhou?
Sui Zhixu beckoned the gyrfalcon over, and it landed on her arm. The gyrfalcon kept craning its neck, and with each word it spoke, Sui Zhixu's expression grew more unpleasant.
"Something has happened in Jingzhou."
When trouble struck Jingzhou, she, as the young master, had to return. After a long investigation, she finally learned that the culprit was a Gu worm. She followed the leads and sent people to Zao Village, but to no avail.
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