Chapter 12
——At dusk, the east wind complains about the crying birds, and the falling flowers look like people falling from a building.
The rattan bench beneath his palms was cracked from being gripped. Li Shisan fell silent, listening to the gentle breeze and the unclear clouds in the sky.
Nian Qing looked up at the sky and stared at Yun, not saying anything for a long time.
Then he spoke again, but in a calm and nonchalant tone: "I don't understand what you are saying."
All that came was a long sigh from Li Shisan.
After a while, Nian Qing squinted his eyes and asked softly, "Where is she now?"
"I don't know."
Nian Qing sat up and quietly got off the chair. With her head lowered, she said to Li Shisan, "I'm going to look for her." Then she left.
As she walked, she raised dust and kicked up gravel from the road. Her steps should be heavier and her pace should be faster.
The falling leaves in autumn fell into the dust and were stepped on by her feet.
Nianqing saw red lights everywhere again.
The mockery of the world's wishes and the endless high walls have blocked my gaze.
Nianqing had seen too many men and women laughing and playing at red lights. She didn't understand at the time.
It's just a flattering smile and an exposed waist.
She thought that was the love described in the world.
Sometimes you could see prostitutes being wrapped in white cloth and being sent out of the Red House, but Nian Qing didn't care.
Because soon another group of girls put on the old people's clothes, stood upstairs, and covered their faces with their hands and laughed.
Day after day, year after year.
What if the person wrapped in white cloth tomorrow is that person?
Nian Qing was speechless, feeling a sense of gloom in her heart.
Her throat throbbed, and a sour feeling welled up in her eyes. All around her was the world she had imagined a thousand times: dim candles and red lights, a bleak dusk. She had imagined the bustle of the world, but never considered its warmth and coldness.
The elders said that humans are the most dangerous creatures.
The seven emotions and six desires, greed, anger, and ignorance.
Nian Qing thought, what does this have to do with her? She is just a small animal in the mountains and forests, coming and going freely, nothing can trap her.
As long as she doesn't die, she can practice to achieve enlightenment and ascend to heaven.
The world is just a dream, but she is trapped in this dream.
It's nothing but fantasy, money is worthless and the body is worthless.
Recalling what Gu Luoyan told her that day, she would look less like rouge when she saw her again in the future.
Gu Luoyan was still smiling.
Nian Qing couldn't figure out how Gu Luoyan left that day. She smiled so sadly, yet she still had to think about herself and comfort herself.
There are not many people around during the day, and the streets are bustling, but what you see is desolate.
How did she spend that night?
Nian Qing let out a breath of foul air. Er Er's mere imagination broke her heart.
What happened...
It's hard to explain and understand.
Nian Qing sniffed the faint fragrance in the air and walked forward. It was her scent.
She was most disgusted by the evil and cunning nature that belonged only to demons. She had never imagined that the human world was the same, and even worse.
The small building where Gu Luoyan lives is now in front of us.
There was a sense of autumn in the yard.
The wind was rustling, sweeping up the withered leaves in the yard.
Nianqing stood under the railing, in front of the old tree, looked up, and did not take another step.
Nian Qing was a little scared, and didn't know why he was here.
The maid pushed the door open and came out. Seeing Nianqing in the courtyard, she cried out in surprise. She didn't answer when questioned, but remained silent like a statue.
After going back and forth several times, he finally reported to the people in the house, pushed the door open, and walked slowly in with Gu Ji.
Gu Luoyan saw Nian Qing and called out to her across the fence, "Nian Qing."
Then a smile appeared in his eyes: "Since you are here, why don't you come into the house?"
Nian Qing still looked at Gu Luoyan without saying a word.
Gu Luoyan called her again: "Nianqing?"
Nian Qing saw her dismiss the maidservant beside her, and then she looked flirtatious and lazy again. She leaned on the railing and said helplessly, "Now we can talk."
"What do you want from me?"
"Does it hurt?" Nian Qing said.
Gu Luoyan paused, lost in thought for a moment. Then a smile appeared on his face again: "What are you talking about?"
Nian Qing asked again: "Does it hurt?"
"It's all so confusing...please explain it clearly."
"I asked Li Shisan..."
"What a wonderful night and good wine." Nian Qing said in a cold voice.
"Oh, you mean that day?" Gu Luoyan stood up straight, still smiling nonchalantly. "I drank good wine and had beautiful dreams. It was a wonderful night, wasn't it?"
"You are still hiding it from me." Nian Qing looked at her sarcastically, and finally there was some emotion on his face.
She choked, her expression dimmed, and her eyes lost focus.
"In that case, I have indeed overstepped my bounds. I will apologize to you, sir, and I will withdraw now." Nian Qing bowed to Gu Luoyan and turned to leave.
She walked out of the yard and seemed to see a barren river.
Only lonely companion is left.
Suddenly, I heard laughter coming from behind. Gu Luoyan's voice was a little far away, and she said jokingly, "What does a servant know? You believe what he says?"
Nian Qing stopped and turned to look at her, "Then let me ask you, does it hurt?"
Gu Luoyan smiled at Nian Qing, her nails digging into her flesh beneath her large sleeves. She clenched her fists, hiding them behind her gorgeous clothes, and replied casually, "How can it hurt?"
Nian Qing sneered, then nodded to Gu Luoyan without looking at her again: "Okay, I understand." Nian Qing turned around and walked out of the courtyard step by step.
Gu Luoyan stared at Nian Qing's back until she could no longer see him. Gu Luoyan pursed her lips and murmured, "The autumn rain is late this year."
The maid who was eavesdropping in the corner left, but she still stood there quietly alone.
It's a bit cold and desolate.
Finally, he turned around and walked into the house, his fingers trembling as he held onto the door frame.
The nail marks on the palm of his hand were covered in rows of dirty purple.
She turned around and took one last look at the courtyard, then silently opened her mouth and muttered a word.
"pain".
A smile that moistened his eyes appeared on his face.
Gu Luoyan moved towards the small table. Qiu Niang, who was waiting nearby, brought over a hand warmer just in time.
Qiu Niang said, "Miss, please don't hurt yourself."
She stroked Gu Luoyan's shoulder with her hand and said distressedly, "It will be fine after the autumn rain."
"It will be fine after the autumn rain..." Gu Luoyan repeated. She grabbed Qiu Niang's hand on her shoulder and suddenly smiled again, a sad smile: "Do you think she will blame me?"
Qiu Niang looked at the red leaf flower in the porcelain vase, touched the back of Gu Luoyan's hand with her thumb, and placed her other hand on Gu Luoyan's forehead: "No, no. The girl is sick and has started talking nonsense."
Qiu Niang gestured to Gu Luoyan to look at a letter next to the hand warmer.
Gu Luoyan unfolded the letter, which contained only one line of ink writing:
"The madam immediately got up and went to the palace."
Gu Luoyan was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at Qiu Niang. Qiu Niang remained silent.
She regained her usual expression, then opened the top of the hand warmer and placed the letter into the burning charcoal.
A muffled thunder sounded outside the house, and the autumn rain was coming.
·
The carriage drove through the palace gate, weaving through the twilight rain.
It drove straight through the avenue, ignoring the palace's ban on carriages and horses, and no one stopped it, allowing it to pass smoothly all the way. Finally, it turned through a secret passage and arrived at the side door of a palace.
Maids held umbrellas, and warriors surrounded them. The people in the carriage stepped on the driver's back and fell to the ground.
Silver snakes coiled around her neatly styled bun, her tall figure trailing behind her skirt. Bai Sha's face was covered with eerie red lips, and she waved a folding fan to conceal her features, gouging out the eyes of the maid holding an umbrella beside her. She had to stand on tiptoe and hold the umbrella high to barely conceal her figure.
The woman stopped looking and walked into the hall swaying her body.
A single lamp lit the hall, and the emperor sat high in the room, pouring wine alone. Carved on the beams overhead were eighteen fierce-looking demonic figures. Jia Yuan glared at the newcomers gloomily, then waved his hand to dismiss the crowd.
He paused for a moment and said in a deep voice, "Zu Qianjiao, do you know why I summoned you today?"
The woman curtsied toward Jia Yuan and put away her folding fan. "Of course I know. I've come to apologize to Your Majesty."
"How dare you! He is the crown prince of this dynasty!" Jia Yuan was furious and threw the wine vessels on the table to the ground.
"Your Majesty, I am the one who is at fault in this matter. However, if anyone is to be blamed, it is only I who am to blame... I fell into the trap set by the villain." Murderous intent flashed in the madam's eyes.
"who?"
"Who else could it be? It's just a lowly thing from my humble Red Pavilion." She raised her eyes to look at the emperor at the top of the table and smiled again: "I believe Your Majesty has also heard of her, the leader of the Red Pavilion - Gu Luoyan."
"He's just a stinking rat. He's just had a little success and is now dreaming of becoming the king. He's even using a knife to kill someone, hoping to see if Your Majesty will break off relations with me."
The madam chuckled, and her laughter was extremely creepy.
"Zu Qianjiao! My son is dead, and I'm old. You know he's my only son!" Jia Yuan stood up, propped up the corner of the table, and coughed up a ball of dirty blood. "I don't care what your reasons are. Since you killed the prince, you must pay with your own life!" He was about to call the guards to drag the brothel owner away for execution.
"Your Majesty." Zu Qianjiao stood up straight, tilting her head back to reveal the gap at her neck. "Have you really forgotten your place?"
"I have come here to show Your Majesty a way out."
"If you insist on doing so, I am willing to slaughter the palace."
She twisted her head halfway, then returned to her normal expression. This time, she lifted her skirt and walked up the steps to the palace. With a strange voice and a horrified expression, Zu Qianjiao stopped in front of Jia Yuan and propped up his head with her folding fan. "Now that things have come to this, has Your Majesty never dreamed of immortality?"
Jia Yuan looked at her angrily, but finally stopped his temper and asked, "What do you mean?"
Zu Qianjiao bent down with her tall body, her face now just two inches from the emperor's eyes: "Your Majesty, I wish you long life, may you live forever and stay on earth forever."
"Your Majesty, just wait for my longevity elixir." Zu Qianjiao brushed Jia Yuan's face, her eyes suddenly ferocious:
"As for Gu Luoyan, leave it to me to deal with."
She patted Jia Yuan's face with her folding fan and said, "Your Majesty, please remember your place and do not overstep the bounds."
"I will take my leave."
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