Chapter Fifty-Five: Ink-dyed Persimmon Fragrance Fills the Falling Snow
A chill suddenly swept across the table. Zhong Li'an smiled knowingly, raised his brush with his elbow, and wrote a heavy, vertical stroke.
"Lingyu, you've arrived?" Zhong Li'an picked up his pen, looked up, and smiled at Yang Xiao. "Happy New Year!"
Yang Xiao nodded slightly, rubbed her hands together, and then turned back to look at the half-written red paper. "My lord, please continue. Spring Festival couplets should be written in one go."
“You,” Zhong Li’an rolled up his sleeves and tapped Yang Xiao lightly with his pen, “good, done in one go.”
Seeing this, Yang Xiao also went over and helped Zhong Li'an lift up his long sleeves, bending down to watch intently.
Zhong Li'an's elegant and graceful handwriting immediately flowed across the red paper. Cen Xun, who was at the table helping to hold up the outstretched red paper, also glanced at it closely.
“The cranes return, the clouds rise, and the mountains and rivers are secure…” Yang Xiaozong looked at the first line of the couplet lying aside, then returned to Zhong Li’an’s wandering brushstrokes, “Colorful lanes and magnificent streets ensure the stability of Chang’an.”
Zhong Li'an pressed down the last stroke of his pen, then, following Cen Xun's lead, lifted the red paper and let out a soft sigh. "It's finished. What do you all think?"
Before he could finish speaking, the curtain was flung open with a "snap," and Zhongli Shuo, shivering in the cold, squeezed in. He shook his cloak, smiled at Zhongli An, and nodded, "In my opinion, while the meaning of this couplet is good, it ultimately lacks a bit of boldness."
Bai Ming followed Zhong Lishuo into the house, smiled and nodded to everyone, then teased Zhong Lishuo, "The beginning of the new year is supposed to be peaceful and harmonious. If you're like me, always talking about fighting and killing, it will lose its charm."
"I'm relieved to hear Zhaoqing say that," Zhongli'an smiled and nodded to the two of them. "You've come at the right time. Yude, go get some paste and change the Spring Festival couplets."
“Alright, alright,” Zhong Lishuo nodded with a smile, “What Zhao Qing said makes sense, I’ll go put it up.”
Bai Ming smiled and clasped his hands in greeting to Yang Xiao, "Lingyu, Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year! Happy New Year!" Yang Xiao greeted them with a beaming smile. "Let's not just stand there. Since we're already here, let's help post the message."
"Okay, I'll listen to you." Bai Ming nodded and then clasped his hands in a salute to Zhong Li'an.
Zhong Li'an smiled at everyone, gently lifted his robe, and stepped forward to greet them, "Since you're all going to stick them on, I'll go out and help you keep an eye on them to make sure they're straight."
After he finished speaking, everyone laughed and joked as they rushed out the door. Zhong Li'an's eyes were full of smiles as warm as a spring breeze. He took a few steps back and watched the four young people helping and teasing each other as they pasted up the Spring Festival couplets.
Under the newly renovated eaves, four lively figures squeezed together, and the bright red Spring Festival couplets exuded vitality.
Zhong Li'an felt a surge of relief. How wonderful it would be if it could be like this every year.
Suddenly, a white shadow flashed past Zhong Li'an's eyes, startling him. He looked up at the sky and saw snowflakes falling like shards from the misty sky, drifting leisurely in the vast expanse, brushing against his hair and eyes, and then swaying and landing on his raised palm, bringing a touch of coolness.
Looking around, one can see snowflakes fluttering in front of the red paper that has just been covered on the wall, framing the figures of the four people chatting and laughing in the springtime atmosphere between the beams and pillars, just like a vivid New Year picture.
"Brother, look at it, is it crooked or not..." Zhongli Shuo pressed one hand on the top of the Spring Festival couplet, while looking back at Zhongli An inquiringly. As soon as he opened his mouth, his words were completely swallowed by the swirling snowflakes, leaving only the breath he exhaled in the cold wind.
"It's snowing?" Yang Xiao couldn't help but turn around when she saw this. She then excitedly ran out from under the eaves, spreading her arms and spinning around as if she wanted to embrace the snowflakes falling all around her. "Tongxi, come here quickly," Yang Xiao smiled and waved to Cen Xun. "It only snows a few times a year in Jiangnan. Come out and experience it for yourself. Then write a letter to Lingyue Pavilion and brag to them."
Upon hearing this, Cen Xun chuckled and shook her head. "You really have a lot of clever ideas." With that, she stepped out and looked up as the snowflakes fell one by one onto her cheek, leaving a cool sensation.
“A timely snow promises a good harvest,” Zhong Li’an lowered his raised hand, looked up at the snowflakes with a carefree smile, and said, “Next year will surely be a good year.”
“Yes,” Bai Ming said with a smile, brushing aside the newly pasted Spring Festival couplets. “Ever since our lord took office as governor, the people’s lives have improved year by year, and our morale has also increased year by year.”
Zhong Li'an smiled and put his arm around Bai Ming's shoulder. "You're good at saying nice things." He looked up at everyone and laughed. "Alright, it's already cold outside, and it's snowing. Go back inside and warm up, don't catch a cold."
Upon hearing this, Yang Xiao stood in the slightly white snow and waved to Zhong Li'an with a smile, "I won't be going back, my lord. I'm going to learn how to cook the New Year's Eve dinner with Mu Fei tonight, so I'll be leaving now!"
"You're making New Year's Eve dinner?" Zhong Li'an looked at him in disbelief, then chuckled and shook his head. "Just do whatever comes to mind, as long as you don't cause trouble for Mu Fei."
"How could that be?" Yang Xiao crossed her arms reproachfully, then smiled and tossed her head at Zhong Li'an. "Just you wait and see, my lord."
Seeing Yang Xiao's lively and spirited expression, Bai Ming's heart couldn't help but stir. He took a small step forward and looked at Yang Xiao with a smile, "Does Mu Fei need any help? Do you want me to come along?"
"You're going too?" Yang Xiao's eyes shone with even more joy. She smiled and took two quick steps, grabbing Bai Ming's arm as if afraid he would run away.
She turned around and waved to the three of them, "Then we'll head out first, wait for our good news!"
Seeing this, Zhong Lishuo couldn't help but smile and exchange a glance with Zhong Li'an, then turned to tease, "With Zhao Qing here, this meal is probably still edible." He pointed at Yang Xiao, "Don't blow up the kitchen."
"Just you wait and see." Yang Xiao confidently tossed her head at Zhong Lishuo, then looked up at Bai Ming. "Let's go!"
"Please wait a moment," Zhong Li'an said helplessly, drawing out his voice as he looked at the two eager people. He then shook his head with a smile. "You're leaving so soon after you arrived. You're not giving me any face."
Upon hearing this, Yang Xiao hurriedly ran to Zhong Li'an's side, "Oh dear, my lord, what are you saying? What are your orders, my lord?"
"You two," Zhong Li'an said with a smile, gesturing to the two who had come to greet him, "come in quickly and have a couple of persimmon cakes before you leave."
"Dried persimmons?" Yang Xiao's curiosity was immediately piqued again. She followed Zhong Li'an with great interest, lifted the curtain, and entered the room. The familiar warmth rushed towards her once more.
Before she knew it, a sweet fragrance that she hadn't noticed before wafted into her nostrils. She looked at the table and saw a plate full of bright red persimmons. The plump, round surface was covered with a thin layer of sugar frost, making the fiery red look like it was shrouded in a thin mist, just like the red lanterns hanging from the eaves reflected in the falling snow.
"Zhaoqing, come here quickly," Yang Xiao waved to Bai Ming behind her with delight, then bent down to gently sniff the plate of persimmon cakes, and looked up at Zhong Li'an, "Hey, my lord, haven't you eaten any?"
Zhongli An smiled and pushed the plate towards the two of them. "These are persimmon cakes from Sizhou, specially sent by the envoy from Nanyang to try and get closer to us. Don't just smell them, try them and see if they're good!"
Yang Xiao nodded, picked up a persimmon and took a bite. The sweet but not cloying soft and glutinous texture burst on her tongue. "Delicious!" she exclaimed, looking at Zhong Li'an with delight. She then picked up another persimmon and offered it to Bai Ming. "It's very sweet. Why don't you try some?"
Bai Ming was slightly taken aback when he saw this. With a smile in his eyes, he took the persimmon cake, nodded and said, "Okay, thank you."
This heartwarming and natural scene immediately caught Zhong Lishuo's eye. He gently nudged Cen Xun's arm, "Tongxi, look at them..."
"Shh..." Cen Xun smiled and gestured for Zhong Lishuo to be quiet, whispering, "Lingyu is rarely so carefree, so don't tease her today."
“Okay, okay,” Zhong Lishuo nodded obediently, then smiled and tugged at Cen Xun’s sleeve, looking at Yang Xiao who was munching on persimmons beside him, “You see, she always says I’m childish, but now it seems she’s quite childish herself.”
Cen Xun smiled and gently pinched Zhong Lishuo's nose. "You're just like that by nature, but Lingyu is different." She looked at Yang Xiao with emotion. "She's always been cautious, but now she's so carefree. She really treats us like family."
Yang Xiao seemed not to have heard the words of the two people behind her at all. She looked at the remaining persimmon stem in Bai Ming's hand and stuffed another persimmon into his hand, saying, "Good things come in pairs."
Before Bai Ming could say anything, Zhong Li'an smiled and pointed at Yang Xiao, "You, it's fine if Zhao Qing eats a couple more pieces, but you can't eat any more."
Upon hearing this, Yang Xiao looked up and smiled at Zhong Li'an, "I only ate two more pieces than him."
“Eating too many persimmons can cause internal heat. With all the different foods we eat during the New Year, it’s easy to have trouble digesting them.” Zhong Li’an chuckled and shook his head. “Your master and Tongxi are both skilled in medicine, how could they forget such common sense?”
"The last piece." Yang Xiao held up one hand to Zhong Li'an, then put the last small piece of persimmon in her mouth, stood up with a smile, and said, "Thank you for reminding me, my lord." After speaking, she turned to look at Bai Ming, who was still eating persimmon beside her.
Bai Ming also felt her smiling gaze, and his movements became a little flustered. He quickly chewed the persimmon a couple of times and swallowed it. He turned around and met Yang Xiao's gaze. Seeing that she was still looking at him so warmly, he couldn't help but look away and wipe the corner of his mouth. He then looked at Yang Xiao again with a slightly evasive look, scratching his head helplessly, "Could it be... that I ate it on my face again?"
Yang Xiao then came to her senses and looked at Bai Ming's affectionate yet slightly flustered expression. She couldn't help but shake her head and chuckle, "Of course not. I was just thinking that the usually calm, reliable, and majestic General Zhao Qing would be so adorable when he eats sweets."
Upon hearing this, Bai Ming shook his head with a helpless smile. "Lingyu, you're one to talk about me," he said, pointing at Yang Xiao with a smile. "I wonder who was it that was just now, munching on a persimmon like a cat?"
Zhong Li'an, watching the two laughing and joking, couldn't help but laugh too, "You two are really something..."
“My lord, it’s the New Year, you shouldn’t tease your subordinates.” Before Zhong Li’an could finish speaking, Yang Xiao crossed her arms and looked at him with a slightly arrogant smile.
Zhong Li'an was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and shook his head, "Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore. Just have fun these next few days, and don't worry about anything except the New Year."
"Alright, thank you, my lord," Yang Xiao said with a smile, cupping his fists at Zhong Li'an. "Then we'll go find Mu Fei to learn how to cook. You can look forward to a delicious meal tonight."
Zhong Li'an smiled and nodded at the two of them, "Okay, go ahead." Then, he looked up at Bai Ming and instructed, "By the way, Zhao Qing, take good care of Ling Yu, and don't let her cause any trouble for Mu Fei."
"Alright, my lord, rest assured." Bai Ming chuckled upon hearing this and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zhong Li'an.
Yang Xiao looked at Zhong Li'an and couldn't help but laugh and sigh, "My lord, you don't trust me at all." She laughed and leaned towards the door while urging Bai Ming, "We have to hurry, Mu Fei should be unable to hold on much longer. You have no idea how miserable he was today."
Sunlight streamed down through the gaps in the curtains, making Yang Xiao's lively figure sparkle. Her eyes, full of laughter and romance, twinkled like stars. Bai Ming looked up and was immediately captivated.
The warm sunlight streamed through Yang Xiao's figure and shone on Bai Ming. He couldn't help but meet Yang Xiao's joyful and cheerful gaze, and took two light steps forward. In an instant, the two smiled side by side. Bai Ming reached out and parted the curtains, and the gentle sunlight, along with the falling snow, enveloped them tightly.
The two men smiled at each other, then each took their warhorse from the soldiers, leaped onto it, and whipped it towards the camp.
On the thin blanket of snow that had just covered the ground, two sets of hoofprints slowly flowed out, along with the clear and incomparable sound of bells fading into the distance.
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