Amidst the white-haired flowers, the young girl once wore a pale yellow silk robe...
Inside the house, relatives reunite, but ten years have passed since they last met.
Qin Weixi recounted all that had happened over the years to Zhu Ruo. When she mentioned Xiaoxing's early death, Zhu Ruo sighed and then gently stroked her hair that fell over her shoulders again and again.
She said, "We are afraid we can never repay the kindness of the Luo family in this lifetime. But my mother-in-law and father-in-law will be gratified to know that you are still alive." She smiled again, "Qingyun was thoughtful even when she was young, like a young lady. Now that I have nothing, how can I thank him?"
Qin Weixi smiled faintly, "My third brother and I don't care about these things." She then asked, "So it was my fourth brother who tampered with Qingpai's carriage back then, and took the opportunity to exchange a stillborn baby born to a woman at the clinic?" She frowned, "According to the dates at that time, my sister-in-law should not have given birth yet, but did she have a miscarriage and go into premature labor? Because my brother told me back then that you would definitely give birth to the child safely after he returned to the capital."
Zhu Ruo nodded: "The roads were slippery due to the snow that year, and Qingpai didn't think much of it. Ye Ning said that if it was a girl, it would be fine, but if it was a boy, our Qin family would be the target of everyone's criticism. So, the Chu family searched everywhere in the city's traditional Chinese medicine clinics to prevent future troubles."
She sighed, "Later, it turned out to be a boy. Then Ye Ning suggested that my father resign from his post. He said that for the sake of my child and A Shuo's, the Zhu family had to be removed from the family so that they could have hope." She looked at the empty walls around her, "Later, the Crown Prince built this nunnery to protect my child and me, so I went up the mountain. Ye Ning sent Uncle Zhong to take Jiu Bao, who had just been born, out of the capital. They found a woman who had just given birth and took good care of her with great care, until two years later when the storm had passed and Uncle Zhong sent him back."
“But I didn’t intend to acknowledge him. I just thought he was an orphan left behind by the Zeng family, whose ancestors had committed a crime, and someone had sent him to the nunnery. But there are many worshippers in this nunnery, so as long as he remembers the master’s dying words, that he must hide the fact that he is a man, it will be good if he can live a carefree life. If he gets old and his voice becomes obvious, then he will have to pretend to be mute.” Zhu Ruo gave a bitter smile.
Qin Weixi looked surprised and shocked: "Sister-in-law... she... he is a man?" She remembered hearing from Juechen that eight years ago he was taken in by a kind old nun in a temple, and that for the previous two years, Chu Yening, who was far away in the northwest, had been protecting this infant who did not know joy or sorrow.
Back then, weren't they all teenagers?
A few years ago, the Qin family's scandal had died down, and she wanted her brother to tell Zhu Ruo that she was still alive, but Zhu Ruo refused to see her. Later, she thought that she would wait until the Qin family was exonerated and she could stand with her sister-in-law under the clear sky. However, this delay has lasted for ten years.
She couldn't help but think of Xia, who was far away in Jiangnan. She said to Zhu Ruo, "Fourth Brother has never changed."
Zhu Ruo smiled and said, "Silly girl, Ye Ning has always protected you since you were little. The two of you always get along well. How can this be changed overnight? Back then, your brother and I even joked that if we saw that you were interested, our families should exchange betrothal gifts and arrange the marriage early on. But somehow your mother-in-law found out about it, and guess what? She even mentioned it to Uncle Chu."
"Huh? When?" Qin Weixi blurted out. She blinked, remembering Zhu Ruo's earlier mention of Jiu Bao, and asked Zhu Ruo about it, changing the subject.
Zhu Ruo said, "It was a nickname that your brother specially chose before he left home. He said that our child's life would definitely be long and prosperous."
Mentioning her brother, Qin Weixi recalled the encounter with the wooden boy at Jingyun Temple that day, and Zhu Ruo's eyes widened in surprise. Then, she seemed lost in thought, her mind wandering elsewhere. Qin Weixi grasped her cold hands, his gaze filled with sorrow.
Zhu Ruo smiled and squeezed her hand back, comforting her, "Little sister, they didn't want Ashu to live. This is a trap, a net of inescapable traps everywhere."
She looked at the girl in front of her and pondered for a while: "My little sister's birthday is coming soon. After this birthday, she will be eighteen years old."
The girl with rosy cheeks and a gentle smile, whose white jade hairpin swayed in her hair as she walked, is no longer as carefree as she was in her youth, even after ten years of life's ups and downs.
She and Ashuo were childhood sweethearts, fell in love, and got married. Her parents-in-law were kind and gentle, treating her like their own daughter. Everything was perfect.
She remembered feeling a little awkward when she first married into the Qin family, transforming from a daughter of the Zhu family into a wife of the Qin family. She didn't know when it started, but her husband and younger sister noticed her shyness. Her younger sister often came to her living room to chat and cheer her up. Her husband would also return home early from work, always bringing her fresh fruit or freshly baked snacks. Although her in-laws weren't very talkative, they always included her favorite dishes in every meal.
I remember that day when we were hunting in Xiangshan, my horse was ambushed by the Li family and suffered a seizure. My husband fell down the hillside and almost lost a leg. After my husband recovered, she was still shaken by the shock. My younger sister saw this and suggested that we go to the Jokhang Temple outside the city to relax and offer incense.
That day, the younger sister beamed with joy: "Let's go find Mother and see if she wants to bring back any food." Then she winked at her. Later, she learned from her mother-in-law that Mother had been longing for a child for a long time. The younger sister realized that she was going to the Jokhang Temple to pray to the compassionate Bodhisattva.
She remembered her husband once saying to Rong Youyan, "My sister-in-law has always been incredibly meticulous."
Under a clear blue sky, the summer breeze gently swayed the leaves of the trees in the courtyard. The servants were no longer there; it seemed that the parents-in-law were having a heart-to-heart talk inside the house.
Just as she was about to cough lightly to make some noise, her younger sister immediately stopped her, tiptoed forward, bent over, tilted her head, and pressed her ear against the slightly ajar window.
She found it amusing but had no choice but to stand quietly in place.
The old woman's voice, neither loud nor soft and containing a hint of anger, faintly drifted out from the crack in the window.
"...Whether the young couple's life is good or bad after they've started their own family is their own business. Don't bother them unnecessarily. Husband and wife, what is husband and wife? They are people who will be together for life, sharing the same bed in life and the same grave in death. As long as they are doing well, we are doing well. If we expect them to put the greater good first after they start their own family, then their own family will fall apart sooner or later." "A-Shuo is a tough and resilient man, but A-Ruo is a young girl. Her parents have cherished her for over ten years. The more we say, the more mistakes we make. We must not let the burden of filial piety weigh on their heads. It's true that I raised you in vain, and now I can't keep them by my side. But children aren't born to be filial or owe us anything. They are a gift from heaven when we were most in love, with our blood and flesh, carrying our blessings, so that they can see this beautiful world."
“We are not a vulgar family. Daughters should also be pampered. Her parents have raised her for more than ten years. Now, when it comes to her marriage, they ask for nothing but a loving and caring husband. In these past ten years, she has also been the apple of her parents' eye, growing up under their loving care. We must not take advantage of our age to bully the young. We must also get along peacefully with the Zhu family.”
Zhu Ruojing stood outside the door, never expecting to hear her own name called.
"Quickly! Go and fetch the female doctor. My height is similar to Xiaoxing's. Also, fetch another set of clothes that the weaving and dyeing bureau sent over the other day for Xiaoxing to change into."
Zi Shu hurriedly agreed.
She looked at Qin Weixi: "Would you like to come to my palace? I'll go with you."
Qin Weixi smiled and politely declined, saying, "There are still many women in the pavilion attending the banquet. Sixth Sister, you must make sure the banquet is well-organized. I can go by myself."
Jiang Yuanfu took her arm, about to say something more, when she heard Qin Weixi say again, "Keep warm in spring and cool in autumn. Although lychees are warm, don't eat too many."
Jiang Yuanfu looked up at her.
Qin Weixi and Liang Xi brushed past each other. In the early years of the Kang Le reign, after the new emperor ascended the throne and Jiang Yuanjun entered the Eastern Palace, the group gathered in Penglai one day. Liang Xi also came with A Fu. She was flying kites in the peach garden with Xiao Xing, and the place was filled with laughter. Her elder brother, Luo Ling, stood quietly to the side, watching with a smile.
The kite fell and landed on a peach branch. Her brother climbed the tree to retrieve it, and she inadvertently saw where he had been standing. Behind a large rock, Liang Xi stood there, stunned, for an unknown amount of time. Liang Xi's gaze was unfocused, fixed on the peach tree where the kite had fallen, as if she had lost her soul.
Luo Ling? She couldn't help but ponder.
That was the only time she witnessed Liang Xi lose his composure.
Zi Shu took her to the palace where the princess lived to find a female physician, and also found clean clothes for her to change into.
Over the years, no noble family in the capital, or even a court official, has been able to marry the princess. Having lived in Jiangnan for so many years, she once asked her brother, who told her that, in A-Fu's opinion, she did not want to marry.
She had no intention of finding a suitable husband yet, implying that it wasn't the right time yet. However, the Emperor and Empress doted on this straightforward eldest daughter, and before she even came of age, they allowed her to reside in a palace and become its mistress.
The female doctor carefully removed Qin Weixi's inner garment, revealing a warm blush on her snow-white skin, extending from her right arm all the way down her back.
Zi Shu exclaimed "Ah!"
The female doctor remained calm and composed, though a fleeting look of surprise crossed her face. She then quickly applied the medicine to her.
Zi Shu asked cautiously, "Should we invite the princess to come down?"
Qin Weixi said calmly, "If we were to find the princess now, everyone at the waterside pavilion would know. It would probably alarm the Empress and even the small garden."
The small garden was filled with princes and nobles today, adhering to the principle of "better to avoid trouble than cause it." Zi Shu listened, thought it made sense, and nodded.
"Then shall I go and fetch some ice?"
Qin Weixi nodded.
After the female physician left, Zi Shu asked her, "Miss, should this soaked dress be washed in the palace and sent to your residence another day?"
Qin Weixi thought for a moment and said, "I'll trouble Miss Zishu to put it in the box and I'll take it back and wash it myself."
Zi Shu hesitated for a moment, but having learned of her decisiveness over the past few days, she agreed.
So Qin Weixi left, carrying the box in one hand. At this point, she could no longer return to the waterside pavilion, nor could she go to the small garden to find her brother Tao Qingyun and the others. As for the ladies-in-waiting, it would be inappropriate for her to go there at this time, and she had no desire to linger there. So she thought it best to go around to the Jinshui River, watch the fish swimming in the pond, and gaze at the birds soaring in the sky to pass the time before leaving the palace.
On the narrow path, someone came towards us, dressed in a light green ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), followed by a young man in brocade robes.
It was Zhao Shuhan. And the young man, if she remembered correctly, should be her younger brother from the same mother—Zhao Ziqi.
His childhood name was Ping An.
He was born weak, just like Xiao Xing when he was young. When Ping An was six years old, he started to be a little slow to speak, often unable to speak, and disliked strangers, gradually becoming somewhat withdrawn. His grandmother sent imperial physicians to his mother's home many times to treat him, but the results were not very good.
In her youth, Zhao Shuhan had met these girls several times between Kunning Palace and Cining Palace. Her father would address her grandmother as "Aunt." Among the fragmented memories from her childhood, she remembered that her grandmother seemed to be murmuring to herself as she watched Zhao Shuhan walk away, holding her father's large hand.
"This poor child has been dragged down by my Zhao family."
At that time, she was still young and confused, unaware of the implications. It wasn't until she returned to the capital, trying to connect everyone in the city and the myriad gates, piece by piece, to find even the slightest clue, that she learned that this young lady was still unmarried, raising her younger brother alone.
Zhao Shuhan's father, Muna, was nearly swindled out of the entire family fortune left by their ancestors. Zhao Shuhan's mother spent her days arguing with him in tears, eventually withdrawing from the world and confining herself to the courtyard, devoting herself to Buddhist practice. From then on, Zhao Shuhan shouldered the heavy burden of the Zhao family alone.
The Zhao family's glory began when Grandmother Zhao ascended to the summit of Xiaguang Peak. However, with the passing of her brother, the once-glorious imperial uncle, the entire family began to decline.
She and Zhao Shuhan nodded to each other in greeting, while Ping An tilted his head and stared intently at her.
She asked with a smile, "You remember me?"
She remembered that he was two years younger than her, and was only sixteen years old this year.
"Sister?" Ping An murmured to herself.
Qin Weixi nodded.
With a helpless smile, Zhao Shuhan gently reminded, "It's Xiaoxing, sister."
A pang of sadness welled up in Qin Weixi's heart. After thinking for a moment, she took off the purse from her waist, then opened her palm and poured all the Tongling crisp candy inside into her hand.
She said, "Little brother Ping An, have some candy..."
Before she could finish speaking, Ping An suddenly interrupted her, mumbling indistinctly, "No, it's not."
Zhao Shuhan asked, "What?"
However, Qin Weixi could still hear it clearly even though they were only inches apart. Her hand, which was suspended in mid-air, almost dropped a few of the candies.
She bent down to pick it up.
Ping An gently pushed her away with one hand and said urgently, "No, you can't eat it, it's dirty."
She met a pair of innocent and bewildered eyes, suppressed her doubts, and smiled, "I know, I threw it into the river to feed the fish?"
"Mm." Ping An pursed her lips and nodded.
Zhao Shuhan smiled and approached her, saying, "Thank you for earlier. I think you were burned. Is it serious?" She paused, then asked with a slightly hesitant expression, "It's been many years since we last met. Xiaoxing, have you been happy in Jiangnan all these years?"
Qin Weixi was taken aback.
Are you happy? Instead of politely saying "It's been a long time" or asking her, "What's in Jiangnan? Is it a land of blooming flowers, or is it truly known as a land of fish and rice?"
How many people know that this is the tenth year of her inner turmoil?
Qin Weixi looked at Zhao Ziqi, who was throwing small stones into the Jinshui River, and smiled slightly: "Everything is fine."
"Sometimes, if you don't want to attend these banquets, you might as well find another way. Enjoying flowers at home and basking in the sun under the eaves is much more fun than this."
Zhao Shuhan seemed to sense something and said gently, "Over the years, Ajun often invited me and Ping'an to the palace. Ajun would often talk to him for a whole morning. Gradually, in the last two years, Ping'an has started to get better and has become more talkative. He has also started to be willing to go out with me for a walk."
Qin Weixi turned his gaze to her, somewhat surprised.
Sometimes, when I look at A-Jun, I suddenly feel a daze, as if I'm seeing my grandfather. When my grandfather was about to leave, Ping'an and I sat by the small window in his study. My grandfather's eyes reddened, and he said to me, "Little Shu, you must eat well, grow up well, and live to be a hundred years old with Ping'an. If one day you really can't stay in the Zhao family anymore, then leave the capital and settle down somewhere else. If all else fails... if there's really no other way, then you can take Ping'an and go find your great-aunt."
"If you don't want to get married, then don't get married. It's not easy being a woman in this world, but our little Shu will definitely grow strong."
Qin Weixi lowered her eyelids. Her mother, who had once braided her hair when she was young, had said to her, "Xiaoxi, you must eat well, sleep well, and grow up well."
Even the most ordinary words contain the most heartfelt expectations.
Zhao Shuhan told her without reservation, "You could say that my grandfather raised us. I was young at the time and didn't know that his words were somewhat of a promise to entrust us with his care."
Suddenly, her cheeks flushed red, as if she realized she had talked too much that day.
Qin Weixi smiled at her: "Xiao Shu, I've been away from the capital for ten years, and I've gradually forgotten many things. I'm very willing for you to tell me these things."
Zhao Shuhan was taken aback, then smiled back at her. The handkerchief in her hand twirled between her fingers, her eyes reddening. But Qin Weixi's heart was already churning with turbulent emotions because of her words.
One year on Tao Qingyun's birthday, Chu Yening brought out a jar of strong liquor to celebrate. Young people always want to surpass their elders, and the group secretly drank cup after cup. That was Jiang Yuanjun's first and last time drinking alcohol.
It was always fun for the boys to get together. They still stood head to head and shoulder to shoulder, climbing to the top of the Tao family's roof to look at the stars.
After getting drunk, Tao Qingyun talked nonsense, pointing at stars as the moon and trees as people. Chu Yening's eyes were bright and clear, as if he was not drunk, but Jiang Yuanjun seemed to have become a different person.
He laughed freely, revealing a row of white teeth under the moonlight. He said, "When I die, I will never enter the imperial family again, never be the crown prince again. I will shed these shackles and travel the world with you, Qingyun."
Tao Qingyun hiccuped several times, and upon suddenly hearing his words, she stared wide-eyed, feigning surprise: "Ah, who are you? Who possessed the body of my Great Xia Crown Prince?"
He pointed to his companions beside him, his tone solemn and commanding: "You capable men, why don't you quickly seize this wicked disciple and bring him before your master!" He laughed loudly: "If you're not the crown prince, who will? Your second brother, your third brother? Just look at them and see if they're even cut out for it!"
Jiang Yuanjun remained noncommittal.
Tao Qingyun continued, "From what he said, it sounded like an ordinary family whose child had passed away and they were worried about leaving the child behind, so they sought someone else to entrust the child to." He then pushed Jiang Yuanjun forcefully, "Old blockhead, wake up!"
The night is deep and the moon is bright.
Jiang Yuanjun suddenly said, "This land belongs to the Jiang family, but it can also belong to the Zhao family. When I wish to return someday, the Zhao family will still be there..."
After a few drunken words, the group suddenly sobered up.
Tao Qingyun seemed about to jump up, and hurriedly said, "Old blockhead, what's wrong with you today? You can't say things like that." As he spoke, he kicked Chu Yening beside him and said, "Go, carry him down and give him some hangover soup. Otherwise, we'll all be dead before dawn!"
"Some minor issues arose." Songyang began to recount the events of that day in detail.
Chu Yening's eyes grew increasingly dark.
After a short while, he asked Jiuqu again, "Is Old Tao injured?"
Jiuqu blinked: "It's just a minor scratch."
Chu Yening nodded: "Go and deliver some of the medicine that Doctor Dong developed later."
Jiuqu asked, "What if he throws it out? He looks really angry."
"Then send another one!"
Chu Yening then asked Songyang, "Is there any news about Zhuang Shijun?"
Song Yang shook his head: "Not yet."
Just then, a servant came to report that Luo Ling had brought Luo Yuan into the Jingning Marquis's residence, and Third Aunt of the Chu family had also arrived upon hearing the news. Que She came one after the other and said, "My lord, the young lady has already left the residence. Third Aunt heard that the young lady was injured while protecting you, my lord, and personally gave her medicine. But the young lady insists on returning to the Luo residence."
Chu Yening hesitated for a moment, then smiled and instructed Jiuqu to hand over Dong Langzhong's apprentice to Luo Ling, indicating that he would return after the person recovered from his injuries.
Just as Songyang and Jiuqu were about to leave, Songyang suddenly remembered something and stepped forward to report, "My lord, there is something else. A few days ago, the invitation from Vice Minister Zhou's residence was sent. I prepared generous gifts as you instructed and sent them out this morning." He returned to the main topic, "Today is his wife's birthday. Minister Zhou took leave from the palace and held an art exhibition at his residence. A young man who claimed to be a chivalrous knight-errant wanted to exchange his paintings. Minister Zhou was not very sober and immediately had his servants exchange them for him."
"Later, when someone asked about the painting, the servants of the Zhou family presented it to them. It turned out to be a painting of the old Duke of Qin looking into the distance, which was said to depict the four great families riding horses and looking at the distant mountains together."
"Call them—the Four Musketeers!"
Chu Yening suddenly stood up.
Jiuqu asked in surprise, "Could it be that there are still people in the Qin family?"
Hearing those words, her heart warmed. Looking at her younger sister who was smiling at her, her eyes instantly reddened.
Then she heard her father-in-law laugh and say, "Oh dear, how could I not know! I'm really hoping my youngest daughter can marry a good husband!" At this point, the room suddenly fell silent. Then she heard her father-in-law say coldly, "Madam, did you suffer some injustice at that old hag's place in the Liang family?" Her father-in-law chuckled again, "Are you perhaps referring to that old hag? Smiling in public, but gossiping behind people's backs. Everyone in the capital knows that old hag thinks her son is a treasure, the best of all. No girl in the world is good enough for him."
The mother-in-law sighed, "Today she even went to the Empress Dowager to ask for her eldest son to marry Luo Luo."
"What!" The father-in-law's angry voice immediately came from inside the house: "I'm going to meet that old bastard Liang Shuwen. I'm going to see His Majesty."
His mother-in-law immediately stopped him: "I was just talking to you, and you got so angry that the Empress Dowager immediately refused."
While she was still meditating, her younger sister, bent over, retreated from under the windowsill, grabbed her, and slipped out. Once in the garden, her anger gradually turned to laughter.
She remembered her younger sister laughing and saying, "I won't marry into the Liang or Li families! The person I'm going to marry in the future..."
She listened intently.
Amidst the blooming flowers, the young girl, dressed in a pale yellow silk dress, with bright eyes and white teeth, said with a grin, "This future handsome husband! I haven't decided yet!"
Not long after, her mother-in-law spoke privately with her, then handed her a wooden box, saying, "Aruo, your father-in-law and I have bought a house for you two. Although it's not as big as the Duke's mansion, it's enough for you two to live comfortably. You young people can't possibly live comfortably with us. Everyone has their own life to live, and we're not the kind of family that torments others. Go! Go and live your own life!" Looking at the box, she added, "This contains my personal savings. Take the change and use it to buy the furniture and items you like. The rest will be enough for you two to live a long and peaceful life."
She declined repeatedly, but her mother-in-law smiled and said, "Aruo, I am also a mother with a daughter. I know best what a mother wants to see in her child. Oh dear, the child is all grown up now. Actually, I want to spend some time alone with your father-in-law."
She thought that was eternity, and that she and Ashu would grow old together like her parents-in-law.
However, her husband died young on the summit of Penglai Mountain, his death so tragic! She was filled with hatred! Every single day and night she was consumed by it!
Qin Weixi looked at Zhu Ruojing, who remained silent, and asked, "Sister-in-law, what's wrong?"
Zhu Ruo snapped out of her reverie, a smile in her eyes, and said gently, "I'm tired, little sister. It's getting late, you should go home soon."
Qin Weixi looked up and saw that her eyes were indeed tired. Now that the family had been reunited, there would be many more days to see each other in the future, so she quickly stood up and said, "Sister-in-law, please rest. I will not see you again until the Qin family's affairs are settled."
Zhu Ruo nodded upon hearing this, smiling as she looked at her, her eyes seemingly containing a hint of reluctance: "Do you want to acknowledge Jiu Bao as your father?"
Qin Weixi shook his head: "If the Qin family really never gets justice, he can still retain his pure and kind nature and his true nature."
These people have survived ten years of suffering.
Zhu Ruo smiled: "Sister, I believe in you, and your brother believes in you too."
She nodded, got up, and was about to push open the door to leave. In her heart, she thought that Zhu Ruo, who used to be completely open about her joys and sorrows, was far too calm today, simply smiling at her.
No, that's not right!
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