Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Beginning of Autumn and Wedding Cranes Know the Midnight, Cicadas Do Not…
Lu Xianglan first met Yuan Shenji at Taolin Temple in spring. It was a warm spring day, swallows filled the sky, and peach blossoms were in full bloom. Several wives of officials agreed to burn incense together, but they met a group of thugs on the way.
She was carried by the criminals through the woods, her heart filled with despair, but she heard a "whoosh" sound in her ears, and a sharp arrow flew out from the bow, passing through the lush woods like lightning. The villain heard the sound and wanted to escape, but it was too late. The arrow hit his chest with incredible accuracy. The villain paused, then fell down with a look of shock on his face.
The Jinwu Guards came rushing over, led by Yuan Shenji, who was riding a tall horse, holding a black bow. He frowned, looked at the criminals, then looked at her who was lying on the ground shivering, then turned around and left.
Several servants and maids ran over to look for her. The wet nurse supported her while cursing the Jinwu guard for being unkind. She took a quick look and left. She didn't even bother to support her own wife. She would definitely go back to the master to complain and report him.
Lu Xianglan ignored her. The feeling of spring had already blossomed in the girl's heart.
She soon found out that the other party was a descendant of the Yuan family of Runan, and the nephew of the Minister of the Central Secretariat.
So Lu Xianglan started to befriend Du Yourong, and Du Yourong also seemed to be concerned about this cousin. Whenever she followed her, she always had the opportunity to talk to Yuan Shenji.
Yuan Shenji always treated the wives of officials with courtesy but distance. On the Ba Bridge, the ladies held willow branches and looked forward to seeing him, but he rode away without even glancing at them. On the contrary, he was closer to the common people. If someone saluted him, he would return the salute politely.
Most of the children of wealthy families are frivolous, but he is the only one who is proud and arrogant, not attracted by women, and does not cling to the powerful. Lu Xianglan just feels intoxicated.
She even spent a lot of money to go to the engagement shop. Yue Lao was in charge of the marriages in the world. The witch burned three incense sticks to the netherworld, and after checking the book to the moon, she said: "There is still no red string wrapped around this person's feet."
Lu Xianglan felt lost, but also a little relieved, because the man she couldn't get, no one else could get him either.
As a result, after returning from Liangzhou, the witch once again checked the books under the bright moon, but Yuan Shenji had already hung the red string.
The gap between the noble and the humble is huge, and the officials are scattered all over the world, but once you are tied by this rope, there is no way to escape it.
The resentment in Lu Xianglan's heart grew like weeds, making her extremely miserable. The witch gave her a poison and a love poison, the price was ten years of her life.
Du Yourong was about to get engaged to the Pei family, but at the same time she was desperately pursuing Yuan Shenji, which was really abominable. So he "accidentally" met her in the temple and invited her to sit in the side room with him. When she was not paying attention, he put the poisonous insect in her teacup.
Unfortunately, Du Yourong had an extremely powerful amulet on her, and the curse rebounded onto her maid.
That's all.
Another day, when Lu Xianglan accompanied Du Yourong out of the Ba Zi Niang Niang Temple, they saw Yuan Shenji on duty patrolling the streets. He seemed to have discovered someone and deliberately straightened his armor.
Then she watched him carefully walk to the lowly merchant, lower his head and speak to her, a slight smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and his serious face became softened.
She pretended to comfort Du Yourong: "Captain Yuan is a fourth-rank military commander. He must have a bright future. There is no way he would be involved with a merchant."
Her heart was already in turmoil, and Lu Xianglan thought of the witch's words:
"The distance between the noble and the humble is huge, the distance between the officials is huge, but once you are tied by this rope, you can never escape it."
Almost all the guests in the tavern had already run out, with only a few people left standing still.
Lu Xianglan was the first to put on a pitiful expression that looked like she was about to cry: "Poisoning is a crime of treason. If I am convicted, my entire family will be implicated. How dare Xianglan admit this crime vaguely? The captain said that I was poisoned. Do you have any evidence?"
Duan Zhiwei also quietly asked Qingyin beside him: "How do you know it was her?"
Qingyin said: "Pei Yuan just said that in order to express sincerity to the Du family, Pei's cousin was sent out of Chang'an a few days ago." Although this further proved that Pei Yuan was a good person, he could not hide his disappointment on his face.
It turns out that it is the process of elimination. Qingyin stood up and said to Lu Xianglan, "Did the person who gave you the poison ever tell you that you would be poisoned."
Lu Xianglan was standing there quietly, tears dripping like broken beads, and she suddenly paused when she heard this.
He went on to say: "People who are poisoned will have black scars on their arms that are like spider webs. You can tell at a glance. Besides, I also know the seven-star insects used to make the poison. You can find them by investigating the source."
Yuan Shenji hated people who used unorthodox methods and sorcery, and his face was even more furious at the moment: "If the Dali Temple investigates the source of this poison, do you think you can deny it?"
Lu Xianglan subconsciously touched her left arm, and there was indeed a spider-web-like black scar there. She had tried countless ointments and perfumes, and had also consulted a doctor, but the scar would not go away. Was it a backlash?
She felt dizzy and collapsed to the ground, then looked at Yuan Shenji sadly: "On the Shangsi Festival, in Taolin Temple, the captain saved my life, and I have fallen in love with you since then."
She paused and said, "The witch said that the captain's heart was filled with desolate snow and wind. I was possessed, so I used my life to exchange for the love poison."
Then the sorrowful look on Lu Xianglan's face disappeared, and it was slightly twisted with anger. Her lips were tightly pursed, her teeth were clenched, and she smiled while holding the corners of her clothes tightly with both hands: "Then you will accompany me into the underworld."
She turned to Duan Zhiwei angrily: "Especially you."
Duan Zhiwei was surprised: "Ah, me?"
Lu Xianglan threw a piece of yellow paper from her sleeve, and instantly a raging fire broke out all around. Flames shot up into the sky, and the flames spread wildly, burning all the way above the curtains, and thick smoke continued to rise.
It was the first time that Duan Zhiwei saw such a horrific scene. When she turned around, she was tripped by a stool and was dazzled by the thick smoke. She opened her mouth, but could not shout out and instead swallowed a lot of smoke. She suddenly felt her head go dark and she wanted to fall asleep.
Someone rushed towards her.
Yuan Shenji put his outer robe on her, poured a pot of cold tea on the robe, said "I'm sorry", hugged Duan Zhiwei in his arms, broke through the barrier of fire, and ran to a bamboo window on the second floor.
Without hesitation, he hugged Duan Zhiwei and jumped out of the bamboo window. Fortunately, the tavern was not high and he served as a human cushion, so Duan Zhiwei did not feel any pain.
She coughed loudly a few times, exhaled some thick smoke, and then hurried over to look at Yuan Shenji. There were a few patches of black smoke on his face and his temples were also singed.
Duan Zhiwei raised his hand to wipe his hands: "Captain, are you injured?"
Yuan Shenji seemed to be dazzled by the thick smoke. He took her hand and put it against his face, but then he quickly reacted and let go.
Duan Zhiwei blushed, then turned pale: "Where are they?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Du Yourong also came down from the window. There seemed to be a layer of protective film similar to green bubbles on her side, gently wrapping her up as she slowly floated down from the upstairs.
Duan Zhiwei: “…” I almost forgot there was a monster among them.
Duan Zhiwei wanted to help Du Yourong, but she rushed in again as soon as she landed: "Qingyin is still in there, I want to go in."
She was incredibly strong, and Duan Zhiwei was completely unable to stop her. Yuan Shenji was reluctant to touch her, so it was her fiancé Pei Yuan who stepped out of the crowd and forcefully stopped her.
She cried so hard and beat Pei Yuan like crazy: "Let me go, I want to go in."
As the saying goes, worry makes one confused. Duan Zhiwei really wanted to tell her that Qingyin was a powerful monster and a fire would not cause any harm to him.
A childish voice came from behind: "Don't cry, I'm fine."
Qingyin still looked calm, not even a trace of black dust on his body. He looked deeply at Du Yourong in Pei Yuan's arms.
She cried so hard that her hairpin was askew. She stopped struggling and just stared at him blankly.
The setting sun rose, like the flames of a tavern in front of them burning a large patch of clouds. The two people were not far apart, one was alone, and the other was about to get married, like the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl separated by the Milky Way.
Fortunately, he still transformed into the appearance of a rambutan. If he was in the form of an ordinary man, Pei would probably become suspicious.
Duan Zhiwei did not pay attention to the follow-up of this matter. She was more concerned about Du Yourong.
No one knew what Du Yourong said to Qingyin that day, but she was already heartbroken and stayed in her embroidery tower all day waiting to get married.
From an outsider's perspective, Pei Yuan has a good family background, is handsome, elegant, and seems to be very loyal. He is simply a perfect match that is hard to find even with a lantern. If you are not satisfied with this, you must be crazy.
But Duan Zhiwei knew that her love for a monster could not be reaped, and she had lost the maid who grew up with her. Her true friends wanted to harm her, so she must be exhausted.
But she didn't know the solution, so she had to make more sweets and fruits as the beginning of autumn was approaching, and asked Yuan Shenji to deliver them to the Du Mansion, hoping that the sweets could comfort her a little.
There is a saying about "watching autumn" and "drying autumn" at the beginning of autumn. The backyard of Duan's restaurant is covered with oil paper, on which all kinds of crops are dried. While Duan Zhiwei is working, Qingyin sits cross-legged on the osmanthus tree, and his face becomes paler day by day.
Duan Zhiwei asked him about it, and he said that cicada monsters need to hibernate in autumn and winter. Duan Zhiwei left half-believing and half-doubting.
Yuan Shenji had to deal with this case of poisoning recently and had to write the files over and over again. His cousin was going to get married on the day of the Beginning of Autumn, and Aunt Cong was helping to arrange things, so she was very busy.
A few days before the beginning of autumn, Duan Zhiwei picked up the red beans that had been dried in the backyard for a few days and cooked a pot of red bean dumplings. The glutinous rice skin was wrapped with sweet red bean and date paste filling, cooked until soft and smooth, and then poured with osmanthus honey, it was sweet but not greasy.
Thanks to Yuan Shenji, she went to the Du Mansion again and gave Du Yourong a bowl of red bean dumplings, hoping that the sweet food could soothe her heart.
On the day of the beginning of autumn, the groom, dressed in a gorgeous scarlet robe, rode a tall horse, and led the wedding procession to the Du Mansion. This marriage could be considered a match made in heaven. Du Yourong, supported by the bridesmaid, bid farewell to her parents, and got into the Pei family's bridal sedan.
Many people were watching along the street. The groom Pei Yuan was handsome and elegant, and the bridal sedan chair was carried by the Du family with a red dress that was ten miles long.
Qingyin stood on a peach tree in Xuanyangfang, looked at the passing sedan chair with deep eyes, and stretched out her hand.
The sedan chair suddenly stopped. The sedan bearers and the bridesmaid standing by looked up in surprise.
It was clearly the beginning of autumn, but the withered peach trees seemed to be cast under a spell. Tiny flower buds began to sprout from the branches, which then slowly expanded and blossomed. The pink peach petals unfolded one by one, revealing the tender yellow stamens.
The tree is full of flowers like clouds and rosy clouds. When the wind blows, the peach blossoms on the tree tremble. The petals fall off the branches one after another, swirling and fluttering down, forming clusters of colorful fallen petals, landing on the sedan chair.
People from all sides cheered in unison and said it was a good omen.
The peach tree is young and thriving, and its flowers are bright and beautiful.
The daughter is married and is suitable for the family.
Duan Zhiwei was standing by and watched him cast a spell on the peach tree: "After going this far, aren't you going to say goodbye?"
Qingyin glanced at the azure sky and said, "Have you ever heard of a cicada not knowing snow?"
Cicadas are born in summer and die in autumn, so they never see snow.
"Today is the beginning of autumn. It's time for me to leave."
Monsters have long lives, but the cicada monster is special. It can live for twenty years, which is considered a long life.
"Is this the reason why you avoid me?" Du Yourong walked out from behind the tree. She was wearing an ordinary green skirt and no ornaments on her hair. She did not look like a bride wearing a phoenix crown at all.
Qingyin looked at her in surprise.
Duan Zhiwei slipped away quietly. That day at the Du Mansion, seeing that Du Yourong looked haggard, Duan Zhiwei wanted to help her, so she asked Pu Tao, Pu Tao asked Zhu Niang, and Zhu Niang found the spider in the tribe who was best at transforming, and asked the spider to take Du Yourong's place in the bridal sedan.
Du Yourong knew that the day she met Pei Yuan, it was Qingyin who invited her to Taolin Temple to date her lover. She was so delighted that she made up her face and drew her eyebrows.
As the carriage was moving through the woods, a strange wind blew up. She looked up in surprise, and Pei Yuan caught a glimpse of the face of Chang'e on the moon.
"It was you who arranged this, wasn't it?" Du Yourong asked crying.
Qingyin said helplessly: "It's me."
He was about to disappear from the world, but he was worried about his lover. He sent the Chan clan to investigate the entire Pei family. Pei Yuan had a strict family education and a bright future. If Du Yourong married him, she would surely live a happy life.
Du Yourong choked up and said, "I know what you are thinking. I will not marry him."
Qingyin asked anxiously: "What are you going to do? Live alone for the rest of your life? I won't be able to protect you anymore."
Duan Zhiwei couldn't stand it any longer and tried to persuade her: "What you said is wrong. Madam Du doesn't like Pei Yuan. No matter how good he is, she won't be happy if she marries him."
The autumn wind blows, ruffling Qingyin's hair.
"I'm leaving." He took one last look at Du Yourong and stretched out his arms: "Would you like to hug me again?"
Du Yourong ran over and threw herself into his arms, Qingyin hugged her, and finally a perfect circle was formed.
His body began to become transparent, as if it was disintegrated by the autumn wind, and turned into countless twinkling points of light, floating in the air like fireflies.
Only Du Yourong was left, crying while holding a green robe.
The fireflies surrounded her, as if to comfort her, or as if they were a solemn farewell ceremony for Qingyin's disappearance.
"Where are the silent peach and plum trees? They smile towards the wind and the sun." I am about to become a monk, and have awakened from a half-life dream. But can I see you again in this life?
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