Remembering his deceased wife
Sui Zhixu rolled onto the bed that Sui He had made, hugging the quilt in her arms. The quilt was very soft, and Sui He's rich, peach-like scent wafted over her. Sui Zhixu then rolled around on the bed.
"I'm here, cousin."
"Get out of the way."
"I don't want to."
"Stop taking my blanket..."
After watching the Sui sisters play around for a while, Sui He turned around and went to his desk to handle family affairs.
As she waited, Sui Zhixu watched the candlelight on Sui He's desk flicker, and as the next candle wax dripped down, Sui Zhixu drifted into a deep sleep.
During the day, Sui Zhixu waited for a long time but didn't hear Yueling's voice. She didn't call out to her either, and quietly read books alone in the library.
The two knocks caught Sui Zhixu's attention.
It seemed to be a bird pecking at something. Xu opened the window and indeed saw Fan Lingzhang's carrier pigeon with a small bamboo tube at its feet.
After opening the letter, Sui Zhixu tossed it aside. She had thought Fan Lingzhang had something important to say, but it turned out he was just asking how she was doing lately and spouting a bunch of nonsense. Sui Zhixu closed her eyes. They hadn't just met yesterday, so why was he talking so much?
As Sui Zhixu walked by, the wind lifted the paper strips that had fallen to the ground. The thin paper swirled in the air, and when it finally landed, Sui Zhixu picked it up again.
Sui Zhixu picked up the brush and then put it down again. A drop of ink the size of a bean fell onto the rice paper, staining a large area. Sui Zhixu's gaze fell on it, and finally he put down the brush, turned around and left the table.
Unexpected yet reasonable, Fan Lingzhang wrote letters for seven days in a row, saying that a new Hu Ji tavern had opened in the West Market, that the peach blossoms at the temple outside the city had not yet bloomed, and that there was more moss in the corner of the wall... He asked her if the carrier pigeon had gotten fat from his feeding, as it had been unable to fly recently. He suspected that the pigeon had stolen the letters she had given him, or that it was too fat and could not fly halfway, so it rested and lost the letters.
Actually, she didn't write it at all; she didn't believe Fan Lingzhang didn't know.
After reading the note, Sui Zhixu threw it into the compartment and poked the pigeon's round little belly. "You do seem to be a little chubby."
"Cluck cluck," the carrier pigeon tilted its head to look at her, and Sui Zhixu put down her pen and stroked its fluffy head with her fingertips.
I still won't write a letter today. Instead, I'll let it fly away. I'll rest my arm on the windowsill and let it soar through the four corners of the sky to the distance.
She thought she'd reply to him tomorrow; Fan Lingzhang was a bit annoying.
Tomorrow, Sui Zhixu did not receive Fan Lingzhang's note. She sat at the corner of the third floor of the library. The book in front of her had simple and clear diagrams of mechanisms. Sui Zhixu did not mean to be distracted, but kept looking out the window.
As darkness fell, Sui Zhixu got up and left the library, leaving the diagrams and the small notes behind in the empty library in the afterglow of the setting sun.
"Young Master, why didn't you bring any books back today? Well, you should rest well today." Dan Hong was setting out the meal in Jianjia Pavilion. "Young Master and Liu Lü have returned just in time. Let's eat quickly."
Sui Zhixu sat in the chair, placing his hands on the back of his sore head. Dan Hong stepped forward and gently massaged Sui Zhixu's head. "Is this pressure okay?"
"Let's eat first, or the food will get cold."
"If it gets cold, we can warm it up below. The young master is the most important."
As long as Xu lets Danhong massage her, she should be mindful of the time next time and not keep her head down for so long.
On the other side, yesterday evening, the driver drove back to the Fan family. Fan Lingzhang had only taken a few steps when he suddenly fell straight down. The jasmine sachet hanging from his waist was covered in dirt, and the sachet balls were deformed from being squeezed. The strong jasmine fragrance wafted out and lingered around Fan Lingzhang.
"My son? What happened?" Fan Lingzhang's mother had just returned from her trip and saw her son lying unconscious on the ground as soon as she got out of the car. She was immediately panicked and quickly called for people to carry Fan Lingzhang into the mansion.
"Quickly, call a doctor!"
After a period of chaos in the Fan family, Fan's mother took a damp cloth from a maid and wiped Fan Lingzhang's forehead, finding it all quite amusing.
"Why did Ah Lang suddenly fall ill?" Madam Fan glanced at A Fu, who was putting on an act. "Alright, I know you all too well. You're always trying to be cunning and lazy, and your husband is such a lovesick fool. Humph, the doctor said he suffered a heart attack from overwork and lack of rest. If you don't take good care of Ah Lang, I'll make sure you get a good spanking, ten real spankings!"
"Oh, my dear old lady, I know I was wrong, and I will never dare to do it again. My husband not only punished me for not protecting my wife's old belongings, but also deducted several months' salary from my pay. I truly know I was wrong, and I will never dare to be lazy again. I will definitely take good care of my husband and not cause you any trouble, my lady. I know I am not as clever as A-Lu, but I will never be careless in serving my husband. Please forgive me this once, my lady."
"Alright, alright. Considering you've been with Ah-lang since you were little and haven't made a mistake all these years, I'll let you off this time. From now on, you must keep an eye on your husband and make sure he doesn't overwork himself. You must supervise him to make sure he rests early at all times. If your husband falls ill again, I will hold you responsible." Madam Fan didn't want to argue with A-Fu any further. She was always lenient with her servants. As long as they didn't betray their master's honor or harm the Fan family, she could turn a blind eye to minor matters.
In particular, she knew her own son quite well.
She's too old to control him anymore. Her children and grandchildren have their own blessings; he can only rely on his father in the afterlife to protect him.
After giving a few more instructions, Fan's mother left.
Afu was left alone to take care of Fan Lingzhang.
Fan Lingzhang was a picky man; no one but Afu and Alu could get close to him, let alone maids.
At times like this, Afu misses his wife especially. It's true that everyone has their match. Only his wife, who is so picky and arrogant like a dog, can subdue him.
However, only a wife would dare to act like this in front of her husband. If you offend a ruthless merchant, he will find every way to punish you.
Afu rubbed his backside, which had been slapped three times. "Well," he thought, "my master may be a dog, but he's a good master. He won't beat or kill me. Don't be fooled by the law; once you're in the inner quarters, especially if the master has some power, circumventing the law is incredibly easy for them. Those with cunning won't beat or kill their servants, but they'll find all sorts of ways to make their lives miserable."
Thinking about it carefully, my husband is a really good person, no, a really good dog. Ah Fu really thinks Fan Lingzhang is a dog, the kind that wags its tail and runs around happily whenever it sees its wife.
Afu took good care of Fan Lingzhang, changing the handkerchief on his forehead every now and then.
"Oh dear, my love, what's wrong?"
He was punished with a cane and didn't go with Fan Lingzhang to inspect the shops today. He only heard from the people at Yunlailou that the new manager insisted on competing with the Huji Tavern in the West Market, trying to figure out the wine recipe himself. Not only did he fail to do it well, he also wasted several bushels of rice.
But my lord shouldn't get sick from this.
Afu wrung out a handkerchief and placed it on Fan Lingzhang's forehead. "Have you gone mad from missing your wife?"
He knew Fan Lingzhang; after his wife passed away, he would often go to her old residence and weep while holding her belongings.
Ah Fu sighed, "There's nothing we can do about it; the dead cannot be brought back to life."
Fan Lingzhang was trapped in a dream, a dream so beautiful that he didn't want to escape it.
He dreamed of his wedding to Aling five years ago.
Red silk banners hung high throughout the room, and guests filled the hall.
"By sharing a cup of nuptial wine, we pledge our eternal love and commitment; a match made in heaven, may our union last forever."
The faces of those around me were unclear, and I had long forgotten the details of them from my memory.
Hearing auspicious words, Fan Lingzhang suppressed the excitement in his heart and shouted, "Reward!"
Fan Lingzhang held one half of the gourd in his hand and handed the other half to A Ling. As he took it, the young lady's long shawl draped naturally from her shoulders, the red shawl flowing gracefully and gracefully, wrapping around the jade pendant at Fan Lingzhang's waist.
"Wow!"
Amidst the constant teasing, Fan Lingzhang blushed, a blush rising from behind her ears and spreading across her cheeks.
As the red candles flickered, Fan Lingzhang's hand trembled slightly as he picked up the gourd, his burning knuckles leaving bluish-white marks on the warm wooden ladle.
He caught a glimpse of his wife's dangling hairpin swaying gently, the tiny pearls lightly brushing against the tip of his ear. Almost instantly, his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily, and a fine blush rose to the back of his neck, making him feel as if he were immersed in scalding hot wine.
In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, his face flushed twice. Fan Lingzhang cursed himself for being so weak-willed.
When the two ladles of nuptial wine clinked together, Fan Lingzhang dared not look directly into her indifferent eyes.
As he tilted his head back and drank it all, the wine slid down his chin. Whether it was because the wine was too strong or because the fragrance of his wife lingered around his nose, causing his blood to rush to his head, the tips of his ears burned bright red, like cinnabar licked by candlelight.
He secretly gripped the dates scattered under the curtain, not letting go even when the silver scissors for tying his hair were handed to him. When he looked at his wife's delicate and beautiful profile, Fan Lingzhang's heart pounded.
When Prince Xuanping arranged a marriage for him, he thought that since he didn't have anyone he liked, it didn't matter who he married. Although he couldn't be as inseparable as his parents, he could at least treat each other with respect.
When the Prince of Xuanping invited him to his residence for a consultation, at that one glance, the twenty-two-year-old Fan Lingzhang completely forgot about the proper etiquette between them.
Everyone at the Prince of Xuanping's residence teased him, but he just kept laughing foolishly. As he left the residence, he said to Afu beside him, "I think I've fallen in love at first sight."
He didn't want a cold, distant relationship; he wanted to be a loving couple with his wife, growing old together.
Fan Lingzhang calmly cut off the lock of black hair, tied the two of their black hairs together with colorful thread, and put them into a brocade pouch.
We became husband and wife, and our love for each other is unwavering.
Fan Lingzhang grasped A Ling's hand with great joy.
Layers of clothes and accessories fell to the ground, and the indoor temperature rose.
A moment of spring night is worth a thousand pieces of gold. With red candles burning warmly in the tent, Fan Lingzhang was immersed in the affection in the eyes of the person before him, the fragrance of her hair, and their intertwined fingers...
Fan Lingzhang liked the disappearance of the indifference in his wife's eyes, and how her eyes were filled with him.
In the long dream, time passed too quickly. Xuan Bai sketched his wife's voice and appearance with his pen. Gradually, he was left alone at the desk. After dealing with the mountain of account books, he turned to pull in only a phantom image...
The autumn wind rustled the sycamore leaves, and the thin, frail leaves twirled and fell to the ground.
The autumn wind and drizzle brought an unexpected sense of desolation and loneliness.
In his dream, he heard his own voice, "Don't you think the sound of rain falling on the sycamore leaves on the ground is very special?"
He didn't hear Afu reply, and muttered to himself, "It's like someone is talking to me, and the figure outside the window looks a bit like her."
"But my wife has been gone for a long time."
"Yes, it's been a long time."
So long that Fan Lingzhang lost track of the year. Days passed one after another. When A-Ling was critically ill, the business he had fought for in the business world was ultimately taken away by someone else. He didn't care. He was all alone now. If it weren't for his mother having no one to rely on at home, he would have gone with A-Ling long ago.
A year later, on another pleasure boat, he saw a young woman on the opposite pleasure boat of Cong Xiang whose figure resembled A Ling. He looked into her eyes and saw surprise and an indescribable sadness. At that moment, he knew it was her.
Before he could even ponder why she was on the boat or why her face had changed, she leaped off the boat and into the lake, creating ripples.
Fan Lingzhang sent people to search, but a few days later they only found a bloated corpse downstream.
Fan Lingzhang knelt on the ground. Why didn't he recognize her sooner? Why was he so useless? He couldn't even find her. Why couldn't he take care of A-Ling and keep her away from her?
After calming down, he began to investigate, looking into A-Ling's strange behavior last year. His investigation eventually led him to Prince Xuanping and the pleasure boat that Prime Minister Cong had chartered. He wondered what exactly happened that night.
He no longer lived in a daze, but instead, as before, appeared unrestrained and flamboyant. On the surface, he was a hypocrite to the Prince of Xuanping.
For two years, he spent most of his time wandering the martial world, taking the opportunity to train his men, until he returned to Chang'an at the end of the year to save Sui Zhixu.
At first, Fan Lingzhang thought it was a good opportunity. He had been looking for an opportunity for two years, and now it was just the right time.
She was wearing a blood-stained Taoist robe when she spoke to him, her impatient expression and tone of voice were all familiar to him.
He hesitated again...
The dream was sometimes bright and sometimes dark. In the darkness, he kept calling out, and in the end, it was Sui Zhixu who asked him why he hadn't sent a note today.
He suddenly woke up and nudged Afu, who was sleeping against the bed.
"How many days have I been asleep?"
"It's been several days, three days already! My lord, you can really sleep! If you don't wake up soon, I'll start to think you're not going to wake up at all. You scared me to death!"
"I won't deduct your pay. Hurry up and help me get up, undress, and let's go to Yunlai Tower."
As soon as he opened his mouth, Fan Lingzhang knew what he wanted to do, and Fan Lingzhang didn't want to argue with him now.
"How did you know that Young Master Sui was coming today? Even if you're unconscious, can you still hear me?"
Then he was even more determined to go. Fan Lingzhang packed his clothes, grabbed the sachet from Afu's hand, and ran out.
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