Chapter 150 Pride Abounds (Part Twelve) She knows how to cross boundaries...
On Wei Yuanzhan's birthday, Zhirou gave him a fox.
Lan Ye was the first to see this congratulatory gift. As she presented it to Wei Yuanzhan, she muttered to herself, "What does Fourth Miss mean by this? Is she wishing the master... to be as cunning as a fox?"
Upon hearing this, Chang Huai's mind went blank for a moment. He quickly snatched the congratulatory gift, closed the door, and kept him outside.
Inside the room, Wei Yuanzhan was sitting by the window reading General Gao's reply when he slightly raised his eyebrow and glanced at the red fox that was moving closer to him.
Its fur is glossy, and its eyes are alert.
He watched for a while, then suddenly remembered the conversation inside the carriage.
That day, he was holding a farewell banquet for Sheng Xingyun's elder brother at Qiyun Garden. He drank too much wine and happened to be invited by Lan Ye and Zhi Rou, who then gave him half a ridiculous dream.
Once inside the car, Zhi Rou turned to him and asked, "What gift do you want for my birthday this year? I plan to make up for the gift I owed you before."
He thought for a moment, then a slight smile appeared on his lips: "I am truly flattered that Fourth Miss has deigned to come and offer her congratulations."
This is a playful jab at how she used to always follow the Song siblings' lead and refused to set foot in the Marquis's mansion.
A moment later, a bright, mischievous glint appeared in Zhi Rou's eyes: "Then I'll hunt a fox for you, to match you."
My thoughts return to the present.
Wei Yuanzhan chuckled, then cheerfully granted Lan Ye's request: "Let him in."
...
The coming-of-age ceremony was held on the fifteenth of June.
The sky was high and the clouds were light, and the air was filled with the vibrant fragrance of flowers.
Zhi Rou got up early and went to Xixiang Garden. She saw Ling Xi waiting at the door, her face radiant and her expression gentle: "Come in quickly."
The osmanthus leaves outside the window were a deep, vibrant color, casting dappled sunlight onto the windowsill. Ling Xi bent down towards the headboard, but spoke to the person behind her, asking, "Haven't you had breakfast yet? There are some of your favorite pastries on the table..."
Zhi Rou remained rooted to the spot, glancing at the pastries on the table and then peering into the inner room. When footsteps approached, she immediately stood up straight and saw Ling Xi holding a wooden box in her hand.
Soon, the wooden box was handed to her: "This is from Chen'er to celebrate your nineteenth birthday."
She paused, then took it and asked, puzzled, "Why didn't he give it to me himself?"
After saying that, she realized that Su Du probably felt awkward. At the Feng residence, he suddenly said something like "I hope you grow up quickly," which made her pause for a while.
Ling Xi seemed to understand something, but did not speak.
Zhi Rou opened the wooden box, revealing a pair of dangling beaded earrings. Her gaze was drawn to them, and a voice whispered in her ear, "Would you like to try them on?"
Although Zhi Rou loved beautiful things, she rarely paid attention to hairpins and jewelry. Now, she picked up an earring, fumbled to put it on her earlobe, and frowned.
Seeing this, Ling Xi quickly stopped her: "It seems you have to put it on again. Never mind, you can wear it later."
He helped her put her jewelry back into the box and then said, "Zhou Ling and the others said they want to cook some Qinyang dishes for you and ask you to come over for lunch. You also have to attend a ceremony at the Wei family this afternoon. Do you have enough time?"
Zhi Rou stared silently at the wooden box for a long time before finally raising her eyes: "There's still time."
Female guests are rarely present at a man's coming-of-age ceremony. Wei Yuanzhan's birthday and coming-of-age ceremony are only five days apart. He did not host a banquet for relatives and friends the day before, so this event is a way of making up for it. Even Sheng Xingyun received an invitation from the Marquis, not to mention the Song family, who are related to the Marquis's family.
When Zhi Rou entered the banquet hall, she first saw Marquis Yining, Wei Jingfan, dressed in magnificent robes.
She rarely had the chance to see the Marquis. In previous years, she would go with her sister to pay her respects during festivals. The Marquis would always greet people with a smile, but when he looked at her, his eyes would reveal a different kind of confusion.
Wei Jingfan must have sensed that she was looking at him, because he soon turned around and returned the greetings to the people who came to offer their congratulations.
Song Hanjin touched Zhirou's arm: "Fourth sister, let's sit down."
When the coming-of-age ceremony began, Wei Yuanzhan entered the hall, dressed in a plain-colored robe, his demeanor reserved.
On the first day of their reunion in Lancheng, Zhirou clearly felt that he had grown up. His eyes were still bright, but his figure had matured a lot and he looked particularly strong.
At this moment, with his crown adorned three times and his robes growing increasingly darker, his solemn and dignified bearing became even more apparent. Zhi Rou watched from afar, her gaze lingering on him for a long time.
Only after the ceremony was completed and the Marquis hosted a banquet in the pavilion did the two finally see each other up close.
Zhi Rou stood under the eaves, dressed in a blue robe, her hands slightly behind her upright back. The closer you got, the more you could see the jade ornaments hanging from her ears, swaying slowly.
"Changqian," she murmured, the two words tracing a unique flavor as they passed from her lips.
She smiled for a moment, "Calling me that makes me sound like a different person."
Wei Yuanzhan stared at the glistening beads on her cheeks for a long time without moving an inch.
Zhi Rou noticed something: "What are you looking at?"
Before she could finish speaking, her wrist was suddenly pressed against a hot palm, imbued with a gentle force, pulling her away from the banquet.
Chang Huai and Lan Ye were guarding the side gate. Zhi Rou was not surprised to see the two of them, but when she came out, Sheng Xingyun's carriage came into view, and she couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.
"Did you... plan this all along?" she asked after standing there for a moment. "Where are you going?"
Yesterday, Sheng Xingyun, having been asked by Wei Yuanzhan, agreed to leave with Chang Huai outside the mansion after watching the ceremony.
The setting sun lingered, reluctantly brushing against the eaves. He exchanged a brief glance with Wei Yuanzhan, then said to Zhirou, "Would you like to try the wine that Mr. Xuenan buried for you?"
Passing through the bustling streets to Qiyun Garden, the fragrance of lotus blossoms wafts in the breeze, bathed in the full moonlight.
The wealthy servants in the garden led the way with silk lanterns, and we walked along a corridor to the courtyard, where the pomegranates were in full bloom, their flowers as red as flames.
Zhi Rou walked quickly, as if she were about to unwrap a gift that should have belonged to her many years ago, and she seemed quite excited. Wei Yuanzhan followed not too far behind, a slight smile playing on his lips.
Under the pomegranate tree, servants were already wielding shovels and drills.
Zhi Rou felt that such a private matter did not need to be done by others. She didn't know what she said to someone, but she saw the servants step back and hand her the drill shovel.
Sheng Xingyun was about to go and help when Wei Yuanzhan stopped him, saying, "Let her come."
He looked at Zhi Rou, his eyes filled with a hint of delight at what she liked. Seeing his seriousness, Sheng Xingyun obeyed him as usual.
Fortunately, this "standing idly by" did not last long.
She dug a foot or so deep, and suddenly a clear sound reverberated from the shovel. Her hand paused slightly, and she brushed away the wet mud, revealing a corner of celadon glaze.
Sheng Xingyun breathed a sigh of relief and then spoke to her, "I remember when my cousin got married, my uncle took out more than a dozen jars of Daughter's Red wine from the cellar." After thinking for a moment, he added, "When I first met you, I thought you were Mr. Xue Nan's daughter."
Zhi Rou curled her lips upon hearing this, taking out the wine jar as she glanced at him occasionally: "No wonder you wanted to talk to me, was it to become my apprentice?"
Wei Yuanzhan went up and took the wine from her arms, then handed her the prepared handkerchief.
Sheng Xingyun gestured for someone to bring over wine vessels and walked to the stone table: "I can't remember exactly, but I guess I thought you were interesting."
Although she looked fragile at the time, her bright, ever-moving eyes darted around under her eyelids, each movement radiating wit.
Wei Yuanzhan chuckled softly upon hearing this, but said nothing.
Then he pointed to the dishes and said to Zhirou, "They're all from Yufeng Pavilion. Don't you love fish? I'll leave them all for you."
Zhi Rou wiped her hands clean and sat opposite him, the lamplight casting a golden glow on her features.
"I'm finally back. The Marquis's mansion is not a place for me..." He continued to ramble, "Zhirou, drink less of this wine. After you finish eating, I'll have someone send you back. As for Yuanzhan, if you get drunk, you might as well stay and clean up the mess to pay off your debt. It's not like I can't let you stay for the night."
In a joking tone, Wei Yuanzhan only glanced at him for a moment and said, "Go." He sat down to Zhi Rou's right and corrected her, "I'll see her off."
Sheng Xingyun smiled and glanced at him for a moment, then stopped dwelling on the topic and personally poured wine for the three of them.
The moonlight was bright and clear, and the courtyard was filled with the fragrance of flowers and wine, creating a sense of tranquility and peace.
Wei Yuanzhan took a sip from his cup, his gaze lingering on Zhi Rou's ear: "I've never seen you wear that before."
"It was given to me by my family," she replied with a smile in front of Sheng Xingyun.
Upon hearing this, Sheng Xingyun turned her gaze, her eyes following her: "The color and design of this piece are beyond the capabilities of ordinary craftsmen. You look absolutely stunning wearing it."
He has always been outspoken and straightforward, and he accepts things with gentleness and composure.
Wei Yuanzhan placed his hands on his thighs, his fingers long and slender, bent at the first joint. He wondered, "Why is Sheng Xingyun talking so much today?"
Without showing any emotion, he took Zhi Rou's bowl, picked out a few dishes from a slightly distant location for her, and then spoke.
I also have something for you.
As he spoke, he took it out from his sleeve, and a short sheath lay quietly in his broad palm. The hilt was wrapped with silver thread, and the pattern resembled swirling clouds.
Zhi Rou had just tasted the wine when her brow furrowed slightly. Turning to look at the black leather bag in his palm, she suddenly understood something, her lips curving into a smile as she reached out to take it.
Then Sheng Xingyun asked in a suspicious tone, "Yuanzhan, today is your coming-of-age ceremony, why are you giving gifts to others? Zhi Rou has them, but what about mine?"
Wei Yuanzhan scoffed, "What do you know?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a strong wind rose up in front of him, and the candle on the table was extinguished, plunging the courtyard into darkness.
Sheng Xingyun turned around and called to his servants.
Wei Yuanzhan turned to the side, casting a shadow over Zhi Rou's shoulder, and said something that only she could hear.
"May your birthday be auspicious and joyful, and may you be gentle and kind."
...
Within ten days, the war in the north intensified, and urgent memorials were sent to the palace overnight, with the lights in front of the emperor burning all night long.
Before Wei Yuanzhan could submit his memorial, the imperial edict was issued, ordering him to return to Lancheng and resume his former post.
Upon learning of this, Zhi Rou got up before dawn the next day, harnessed a horse in the stable, and strode out.
It had rained the night before, and the thin mist hadn't dissipated. Passing through Qufei Lane, I saw a white horse tethered to a tree, its hooves gently digging into the cracks in the stones.
Zhi Rou tightened her grip and looked down at the horse. A young man in black robes stood by the saddle, and their eyes met, never looking away.
She dismounted, took the reins, and walked up to him. Perhaps she had been waiting for a long time, for there were damp marks on his clothes.
"Were you waiting for me?" Zhi Rou asked.
On her birthday, however, she did not see Su Du; on other occasions, she always arrived at the Feng residence around 7 AM. According to this custom, he should not be waiting there.
Su Du's gaze fixed on Zhi Rou's face: "When will you return to the capital?"
She paused for a moment, her fingers tightening slightly.
"Wei Yuanzhan has been transferred to Lancheng. I'm going to see him off. It will probably be in about seven days."
Su met her gaze, his eyes deep and unfathomable.
Seeing this, Zhi Rou was afraid he might misunderstand something: "I wrote you a letter. You should receive it by dawn. Seven days... that's not too long. You'll wait for me, won't you?"
He withdrew his gaze and glanced at her side of the saddle: "Is this all the clothes you brought?"
Zhi Rou lived in Bei Li for three years, and every winter she would wrap herself in a thick fur coat, feeling even more afraid of the cold than others.
She smiled and said, "We still have important matters to attend to. I'm not leaving for good."
A ray of light fell from the sky, hitting the corner of her eye, making her pupils shine brightly.
Su remained silent for a while, his face devoid of any smile, and it was difficult to discern any other emotions, but rather he seemed like a taciturn older brother beginning to give instructions.
"The border region is harsh and cold, so please take good care of yourself."
Zhi Rou raised her eyebrows.
The word "take care" sounds too gentle, carrying a hint of sorrow, as if saying, "I will miss you."
These subtle emotions surged within her, and she furrowed her brow, gazing at him for a long time. Finally, she loosened the reins and made a gesture in response to him.
She knew how to cross boundaries, just like now. Unexpectedly, the moment she approached, Sue unconsciously steadied herself, letting her embrace him.
She was very light-footed and relaxed. He was taken aback at first, then raised his arm slightly and pulled her into his arms, gradually tightening his grip.
Su Du's embrace was warm, and he carried the scent of grass, trees, and the wind.
Zhi Rou had intended to give him a brief hug and then let go immediately, but his sudden action surprised her.
After an unknown amount of time, he released her. The dawn was gradually approaching, generously staining his robes.
Zhi Rou straightened up and looked at Su Du: "Don't forget what you told me. Spend more time with Mother for me."
After saying that, he glanced at the sky, remounted his horse, and the sound of hooves echoed across the ground as the horse impatiently tossed its head to the side.
"I'm leaving, you can go back now."
"good."
With a soft shout, she spurred her horse onto the street corner. After traveling a short distance, she suddenly reined in her horse and looked back.
The same alley, dimly lit and silent. I inexplicably recalled the last time Su Du went to Qinyang, leaving immediately after speaking.
At that moment, he stood still, motionless.
Zhi Rou tried to discern something from his face, but the distance between them made it impossible to see his expression clearly.
A gust of wind swept across her clothes; she turned her horse around, whipped it, and galloped away.
The rain started falling again at dusk, pattering against the eaves.
A lamp was lit inside the room, and the windows were not closed tightly. A string of raindrops drifted in and landed on the incense sticks, causing the fragrant mist to dissipate like a dream.
Sun Siren sat under the lamp, a seal-carving knife in his hand, gently carving the fan ribs of his promised young son. He stopped carving when his eyes ached, brushed away the silk shavings from the table, wiped his hands with a damp cloth, and leaned back in his seat.
"Why has there been no movement from Song Lang's side all this time?" he asked with his eyes closed.
The attendant standing beside him poured him another cup of tea: "I heard that his mother is seriously ill, and some people say that he may soon ask for leave from court to return home to mourn her."
Sun Siren frowned slightly and murmured, "He really died at the worst possible time." He opened his eyes, brought over a cup of hot tea, and sipped it slowly for a while.
"Where are the Wanyuan Merchant Guild members? They said they were being followed last time, have you taken care of them?"
Just as the attendant was about to reply, a strange noise suddenly came from outside, and then it entered the room along with the sound of rain.
Sun Siren's eyelids twitched, and he couldn't help but shout, "What's going on?"
There was no response from outside.
His attendant strode toward the door, but just as his hand grasped the edge, the door was kicked open from the outside, and a tall figure appeared beneath it.
Rain kept blowing in from outside, and the misty air was tinged with the metallic smell.
Sun Siren grabbed the handrail and stood up, about to roar, when he saw his attendant steady himself and draw his sword.
The cold light clashed, and the window paper was instantly stained red. The attendant staggered back two steps and collapsed.
Sun Siren's heart leaped into his throat, his legs trembled, and he slumped back into his chair, his voice tense, as if he were forcibly steadying himself, yet still revealing his fear.
"Who are you! I am from the maternal family of the Crown Prince, and a high-ranking official in the court. If you dare to touch me, you will all..."
The footsteps drew ever closer, and the firelight illuminated the face of the person in the lead. He lost his voice, as if struck by lightning.
"You...you are...Chang Yu?"
After saying this, he shook his head tremblingly, his body shaking uncontrollably. "No, he's already dead... Who are you?"
The person in front of me wore a red robe, as if the bloodstains covered the entire sky. His face was young and handsome, but his face was marked with red marks, making him look like a demon.
He approached him, his wrist flicking slightly, the sword tilting, blood dripping down the blade and onto the ground.
When the man was three steps away from him, he stopped, bent down and grabbed the man's hair. His eyes were cold and fierce, but his tone was gentle.
Look closely, who am I?
Sun Siren had witnessed Chang Yu's death firsthand. Now, looking at this face that concealed the blood of a different race, his back was already soaked with cold sweat, and fear flashed in his eyes.
"...Impossible. The youngest son of the Chang family was sentenced to exile long ago and died on the way. This is obvious."
Su Du scoffed and tossed him aside: "Minister Sun's ability to investigate matters is nothing more than this."
Sun Siren's bulky body was pulled against the back of the chair by the force of his hair, making a muffled thud.
He seemed oblivious to the pain, his gaze fixed on Su Du as he urgently asked, "What do you want? I can give you anything..."
"Don't you know what I want?" Su looked down at him, her fingers clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
An intense sense of oppression loomed above him. Sun Siren's breathing became disordered, and he said slowly, "I didn't do it. It was the Empress."
He paused for a moment, "...Back then, your father repeatedly submitted memorials, saying that the amount of military pay was incorrect, and further delays might miss the opportunity to fight. I was afraid that the matter would be exposed, so I went to ask the Empress for help..."
He had assumed the Empress would be furious upon hearing this, but the reality was quite different.
As my elder sister said, the Sun family is closely related to the Second Prince. If his mistakes are exposed, it will also implicate the Second Prince and prevent him from becoming the Crown Prince. During the previous autumn hunt, Chang Yu acted on the orders of the Third Prince, which already indicated the faction to which the Chang family belonged.
“That letter, yes… that letter about conspiring with Bei Li, was forged on the Empress’s orders, not by me, not…”
Before he could finish speaking, the faint sound of a child crying drifted through the dense rain. Sun Siren recognized the voice as that of his youngest son, and a sharp pain shot through his heart. He suddenly crawled to the ground.
"Young Master Chang, I beg you, I beg you to show mercy... All the sins are mine alone... What has this child done? What has this child done?!"
The last sentence, almost a shout, struck Su Du with even greater irony.
He murmured, "What has this child done wrong?"
Back then, he was not yet eight years old, and his younger sister was still an infant. At that time, who thought they were innocent?
Looking at the pair of pitiful yet resentful eyes on the ground, Su Du laughed, his voice dripping with sarcasm: "So you have a family too?"
After a long while, his smile faded, the excruciating pain suppressed beneath his skin, tears welling in his eyes, and the way he looked at Sun Siren had become chilling.
“My Chang family, a total of 132 people, were all buried to cover up your embezzlement of funds. Weren’t they wronged? You falsely accused the loyal of being traitors, causing my father’s remains to be disfigured and left unburied… You should also taste this injustice and pain yourself.”
No sooner had he finished speaking than Sun Siren's heavy body suddenly leaped up, turned around and grabbed the seal knife on the table, and thrust it fiercely towards Su Du's heart!
With a clang, the seal knife was knocked away, spinning into the corner of the wall, while Su Du's long sword had already slashed across Sun Siren's throat.
Warm liquid splashed all over Su Du. Sun Siren stared wide-eyed and opened his mouth, clutching his neck with both hands. Blood gushed from between his fingers and flowed into his clothes.
Soon after, his knees buckled and he collapsed, his cloudy eyes still wide open in terror, as if he suddenly understood that he was going to die, yet he couldn't believe it.
Su Du watched as his breath ceased, tears welling in her eyes, and she staggered back half a step, her face filled with sorrow.
Zhao Xun stepped forward to support him from behind: "Young Master..."
After waiting for a long time, Su wiped the blood and tears from his face, his sense of loss had dissipated, and his voice was extremely calm.
"I'm fine."
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