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The further north she went, the colder it became. The biting wind was like a series of sharp blades, as if it wanted to cut through her skin and pierce her bones.
When the snow fell heavily, blocking Song Ling's path and erasing the way she had come,
Song Ling knew that she had arrived.
The snow was knee-deep, and she walked alone to the bottom of the valley, where all she could see was white.
From near to far, countless snowdrifts are scattered across the valley, stretching as far as the eye can see.
How many? Perhaps hundreds, perhaps thousands, or perhaps more. The pure white snow, like vast expanses of thick cotton, blankets the entire valley and the rolling mountains.
Song Ling stood there, looking as if she had become a snowman. With the slightest movement, chunks of snow slid off her shoulders.
Stunned, I strode forward, and in front of the nearest snowdrift was a back view so familiar it was etched into my very bones.
Snowflakes gently wrapped him up; his white clothes were old but still intact.
She raised her hand and touched it lightly, and the snow piled up and fell onto his knees where he was kneeling with his head down, forming a row of low snow mounds.
Beneath the slightly yellowish white robe was a flawless skeleton, with cracks on the bones of the right arm where it had been broken.
He is Song Shiliu.
He was her master.
It was her...father.
Song Lingyuan was on his right, his entire body buried in the snow as he kowtowed.
The skeleton was facing thousands upon thousands of snow mounds.
The one at the very front is his master.
The master said, "I will go back to Xueyuan to atone for my sins," in front of all the ancestors.
Song Ling's face was pale from the cold. She stood up and bowed to the thousands of snow mounds. Her hands trembled, and she could barely hold the dagger.
I don't know how much time passed, but the snow seemed to never stop falling. And then, another snowdrift appeared at the very front.
Song Ling knelt before it, gazing upon the countless ancestors. Kneeling on the ground, she slowly closed her eyes.
Tears slid down my cheeks and melted in the snow.
The thousands of snow mounds watched silently as the fierce wind whipped at her thin clothes, as the icy chill pierced her fragile neck, as her thin, pale body slowly collapsed onto the soft snow, drops of crimson blood staining the valley floor...
Snowflakes fluttered down, and she vanished into the white expanse.
As darkness fell, the north wind howled and roared for half the night before finally giving a brief respite. The snowflakes were beautiful, one after another, falling onto the tip of the snow mound.
It was as if nothing had happened.
The snowy abyss returned to calm.
-
As the snow and wind subsided into the night, the warm sun shone down on the valley floor for the first time.
The hillsides were covered with tiny, delicate, and gentle white and blue wildflowers.
Amidst the sea of flowers and lush greenery, feeling a soft, downy touch between her brows, the woman's eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes…
***
Three years later
The emperor stood with his hands behind his back on the Star-Picking Tower, looking down and taking in the entire city of Luoyang.
“No wonder His Majesty comes up to this building day after day.” Wang Zhi stood beside him with his hands behind his back, his eyes unfathomable.
"Three years have passed in the blink of an eye. If His Majesty does not hold a selection of consorts soon, those old fogies will probably tear down our mansions."
Three years ago, Yu Baizhou bestowed honors upon Wang Zhiyan, and she was subsequently admitted to the Six Ministries. Now, who doesn't nod and show respect upon seeing her?
"Heh," Yu Baizhou smiled slightly, "Is there anything you can't do?"
Wang Zhiyan remained silent, a smile playing on her lips, but a hint of sadness welled up in her eyes. "Your Majesty, shall we continue to wait?"
"Or could you tell us where she went? You can't keep this from us forever. Lin Qing has always thought you locked A Ling up, and she hates you to death."
Yu Baizhou groped for the brocade pouch at his waist, remaining silent, his eyes fixed on the distance, unsure of where to focus.
"Since Your Majesty intends to wait, it would be better to make plans in advance."
Yu Baizhou took the purse off and held it in his palm, closing his eyes to calm the longing in his heart. "I know."
"She will come back, she definitely will."
"She promised me."
“I heard the internal strife in Uqi has ended, but perhaps things won’t be stable in southern Xinjiang for more than a few days,” Wang Zhiyan suggested. “Send me back.”
"There is no one more suitable than me."
Yu Baizhou paused slightly, then said, "That's exactly what I was thinking."
Wang Zhiyan smiled with relief, put her hands behind her back, turned around, and strode away.
There's a saying that goes, "The road I came from is the road I'm returning to."
She still harbored resentment; if Song Ling weren't in Luoyang, there was no point in her staying. Hadn't Lin Qing already volunteered to go to Yangzhou?
Wang Zhiyan turned around and glanced at it.
Yu Baizhou remained standing in the same spot, gazing at the city tower. He hoped that if A Ling returned, he would know immediately. For the past three years, this had been his daily routine.
At least, Song Ling didn't choose the wrong person.
-
Su Duan half-squatted down and poured a cup of wine in front of the tomb, then stood up with a touch of resignation: "This should be the last time I come to see you."
He stood up and stared for a long time.
For some unknown reason, he hesitated for a moment before performing an awkward and inappropriate gesture of greeting.
Just like when we first met.
Su Duan recalled his first days in Luoyang, when he was just a humble student, powerless against the harassment of the sons of powerful families. A bright red light flashed before his eyes...
At that time, he was so bewildered that he couldn't even perform proper etiquette.
At that time, Zhou Yuanrong was only a teenager, and he laughed boastfully: "You are quite an interesting student."
For many years, in the dead of night, that unrestrained and confident face, and the rare moments of unbridled joy during their correspondence, all transformed into the resolute determination with which she committed suicide in prison.
In the end, it turns out that nothing has changed but people and things have changed.
-
"Why the sudden decision to go to Yangzhou?"
Lin Qing did not hesitate: "Since Miss Song has not returned, there is no point in me staying in Luoyang."
"And you, how did this job of being sent on a diplomatic mission to another country end up in your hands?"
"Me?" Su Duan smiled faintly. "Staying stagnant is not a good thing, just look at the previous dynasty to know. I have petitioned His Majesty to lead people out to see the customs and culture of foreign lands. Knowing yourself and your enemy is the key to victory. Will you come back?"
Lin Qing said calmly, "I don't know, it depends on His Majesty's decision. As for you, you'll be gone for about half a year, maybe even longer."
Su Duan lowered his gaze, his eyes somewhat obscure: "Pretty much, so I have to trick Wei Yan into coming back from the Southern Frontier. Wang Zhiyan is going back to the Southern Frontier, which will be perfect for her to take over Wei Yan's work. If Ji Chang is left alone here, given his personality, he'll probably be driven crazy."
Lin Qing nodded and stopped. After noticing the slight emotion in his eyes, she looked away, turned to the side, clasped her hands in a fist and said, "That's enough for now, Lord Su. Goodbye."
"Very well, General Lin." Su Duan took half a step back and returned the greeting: "Farewell."
*
at the same time
A mountain village in Northwest China
A rosy-cheeked girl was picking flowers with her sleeves rolled up, tucking them into her hair, when suddenly someone called out from behind:
"Little Sister Lin, your parents are looking for you!"
"Here I am!"
Lin Xiaomei rolled up her sleeves and ran home.
But the women and men in the courtyard all stood there somewhat awkwardly. Lin Xiaomei stopped, puzzled: "Father, Mother, what's wrong?"
The woman looked at her reluctantly, covering her mouth, unsure of what to say.
The man sighed and said, "Little sister, come with me. I have something to give you."
...
"So...I'm not your daughter?" Lin Xiaomei asked, her eyes red-rimmed. "Then who am I?"
The man said with a sense of loss, "We didn't actually know that our daughter went missing a few years ago while we were fleeing famine. Your mother... my wife, her condition has been extremely unstable, sometimes good and sometimes bad."
“She found you when she went to the river to wash clothes, and she immediately decided that you were our daughter.”
The woman wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes: "You fainted by the river at that time, and there were no markings on you."
The man paused, then said softly, "Moreover, you were wearing coarse white clothes, and your body had many unhealed wounds, looking bloody. I thought you might also be a refugee, so I followed the lady's wishes and let you stay."
“You woke up with no memory, so I told everyone you were our daughter, Xiaomei.” The man sighed, “Without you, Madam’s illness wouldn’t have improved. I should thank you, child.”
“We truly treat you like our own daughter.”
“But I know I can’t keep these things from you forever. When you were unconscious, you kept calling out Luoyang. I don’t know what that means.”
At this moment, the woman wiped away her tears and came in: "These days I have gradually come to my senses and realized what a foolish thing I did back then. I know I cannot selfishly keep you here for the rest of your life."
"I mended and cleaned your clothes and put them away."
The woman took out a neatly folded white garment from the cabinet and handed it to her, saying, "This is it."
As she spoke, the man beside her handed her a bag of silver: "If you want to stay, we'd be happy. If you want to leave, we support you too."
Lin Xiaomei stared at the dress, some blurry images flashing through her mind, but they quickly faded away.
"No matter what, my parents saved me, and I should remember their kindness."
She hugged the woman, feeling reluctant to part with her.
“I think I should try to find out about my origins,” she said hesitantly. “I will also keep an eye out and try to find out about your daughter.”
The woman stroked her hair and comforted her, "My dear child, we have already prepared for the worst. I have to thank God for bringing you to my side when I was unconscious."
"If you can't find your family, come back. Your parents will take care of you."
Lin Xiaomei replied, "Okay."
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