Climbing
Climbing high, one can witness the magnificent view of heaven and earth.
Although Sui County is remote and unsophisticated, its green mountains are tinged with rosy clouds and its streams are clear and beautiful, which is truly delightful.
Xie Lingxi carried a cream-colored satchel with lotus leaf trim, walked around the wild trees where green and yellow met, singing gracefully, drinking from the stream, and then climbed up to the top of the mountain again.
The rosy dawn filled the sky, making the woman's heart seem even broader and her mind even more profound.
She had originally planned to stay here for a few days to recover from her injuries before returning to Chang'an, but she was surrounded by hungry children and had no paper, pen, or loom.
He also said that the border checkpoints have been rather unsettled lately, which is why he is stranded in Jingzhou and is looking for a place to settle down.
"Father sent several letters from home."
Liu Xu moved the stone, polished it until it shone brightly, and then, holding a snow-white blade, carved early autumn poems. "What did it say?"
"All is well in Chang'an, do not long for or return."
For reasons unknown, Xie Lingxi did not tell her father everything about what happened in Jing, but only briefly mentioned the collapse of Langtaotai, which prompted Minister Xie to sigh several times.
She spotted a clump of wild raspberries, climbed the soft branches, picked a few, casually wiped them with her sleeve, and tasted their sweet flavor.
After Liu finished carving the characters, he peered over and said, "This is called palm-leaved raspberry. Its flowers bloom like shooting stars in broad daylight, and now is the perfect time for it to bear fruit."
"Delicious," Xie Lingxi held the bright red berry to Liu Xu's lips, her delicate hand glistening with dew. "Try it, does it taste the same as it did when you were a child?"
Liu Xuzao unconsciously swallowed the fruit with his mouth, savoring the memory upon hearing this.
...it seems even sweeter.
He said leisurely, "Not bad."
“This mountain is called ‘East is White’. When I was young and didn’t know any better, I would get a beating from my parents and would always run up here so that no one could find me.”
"Is the east already dawning?"
At this moment, birds chirped, mist rose, and flowers awakened, completely reversing the saying that "autumn has always been desolate."
The mountain mist and wild dew dampened Xie Lingxi's clothes, which were as pale as a lone crane and withered lotus leaves. She asked, "Is it taken from Su Shi's excursion to the Red Cliff with his guests?"
No.
Liu Xu did not explain, but instead broke off a bunch of flowers and pretended to give them to Xie Lingxi: "This is Man Ting Fang."
This young man spoke eloquently and incoherently, rambling on and on. His dark hair hung smoothly against his moon-white robe, as if cut and carved.
A white stream cascades down through the mist, and Xie Lingxi is suddenly inspired:
"This is……"
"Linjiangxian"
Descending slowly, one comes to a grove of tallow trees, where flowing water and snow-covered ground create a vibrant tapestry of red, orange, yellow, and green hues.
The grass and trees grow lushly in the heart of the lake, adding vitality to the mountains with their clear ripples. The mist clings to Xie Lingxi's clothes, reflecting the withered lotus blossoms into the seamless blend of water and sky.
A lone boat floats on the still water of the lake.
Xie Lingxi watched as the old man in the straw hat approached, his oars stirring ripples across the clear, misty lake. Urged on by the fog, she called out, "Boatman!"
Where to go?
The old man replied, "Go to the Wind and Rain Bridge!"
Wind and rain bridge?
Where is this?
Liu Xu followed, placing his hand lightly on Xie Lingxi's shoulder and gently rubbing away the fuzzy hairs.
"I heard that a doctor provides free medical services at the Wind and Rain Bridge on the first and fifteenth of each lunar month. Is that what the boatman is doing?"
"Indeed!"
That's exactly right.
The old man walked further and further away, his figure disappearing into the misty green mountains, exuding a serene and elegant air.
Liu Xu pondered, his eyes as clear and cold as the bright moon. He smoothed Xie Lingxi's wind-blown hair, gesturing towards her eyes:
"We've heard that doctor has superb medical skills and can bring the dead back to life. Shall we go and have a look?"
Several months have passed since Xie Lingxi regained her sight. She is usually fine, but when it rains in the cold, she can hardly see anything and her head aches more.
Inside the bridge pavilion.
The doctor was dressed in a wide robe with broad sleeves, holding a book in his left hand and boiling medicine in his right. His black hair hung down smoothly, and his eyes were as black as lacquer. He was tall and handsome.
He picked up a silver needle, pried open Xie Lingxi's eyes, and looked at her seriously for a long time. His hand unconsciously tapped the table. After a long while, he said calmly, "My wife's illness is not serious."
The doctor looked very young, barely in his twenties, with strong, powerful hands gripping Xie Lingxi's head, the veins on the back of his hands bulging.
The man pressed down hard—
"!"
Xie Lingxi felt a gust of wind on her head, and a surge of heat rose from her breasts on both sides, making her feel as if she were bathing in hot soup.
"alright."
Indeed, things became a little clearer.
Liu Xu's clothes seemed to have been embroidered with a few more subtle patterns, and a wisp of grass swayed gently under the bright moonlight, chasing the clear radiance.
The doctor, head bowed, continued writing the prescription. Upon seeing this, he explained gently, "I was once like you, madam, and accidentally blinded myself. Although I am much better now, you must be careful to protect yourself and avoid catching a cold."
He handed over a prescription worth a thousand pieces of gold, saying, "Take it every other day; it can replenish qi and blood, and prolong life."
The woman before him was as graceful as a mirror reflecting autumn frost, every movement exuding composure and elegance; the man standing beside him was like a willow branch reaching its zenith, his pure spirit soaring like distant snowflakes.
Doctor Lu dared not say, though she was beautiful, she looked thin and frail, as if she were destined to die young.
He delivered a few more doses of medicine, gave them detailed instructions, and watched them leave.
...
As soon as she stepped out of the house, a cold wind blew down the fallen red leaves, which clung to Xie Lingxi's temples.
She spent some time taking out a few leaves that had fallen into her clothes, examining the various autumn leaves, some soft and round, others sharp as the cold wind. "I looked at that doctor, and it seemed like I'd seen him somewhere before."
"Um?"
Liu Xu, who was carrying several bundles of medicine, stopped and placed the medicine and prescription on the railing. "Have you run into someone from your youthful dreams again?"
This sound was light and faint, seemingly devoid of emotion.
Xie Lingxi quickly noticed that Liu Xu's eyes were half red, whether from anger or jealousy, and said helplessly, "Let's get serious."
The character “经” was not pronounced in a light tone, but rather drawn out slowly.
Liu Xu stopped teasing her and, after thinking it over, agreed with his wife's words.
"The doctor's surname is Lu, and he's from Zhu County. As for why he came here to build a hut and practice medicine, I've only heard a little about it..."
Xie Lingxi: "What?"
"I heard that he started dating a girl, but they had a fight, and in a fit of anger, he left for another place."
The plot was rather bland, like a low-grade legendary tale hidden away in a Chang'an bookstore. Xie Lingxi frowned, her face full of disbelief: "Ah Xu, did you write this yourself?"
Could it be that Liu Xu was implying something, using this matter to deceive and give her pointers?
Liu Xu naturally didn't respond, but smiled without saying a word.
Although Zhu County and Sui County belong to two different places, they are neighbors. In terms of food and daily life, there is little difference between them, and their temperaments are also very similar. However, the people of Chu are more reserved and introverted, lacking in openness but possessing more elegance and composure.
The doctor examined him and determined that he had grown up eating fish from Shuanghu Lake.
Xie Lingxi listened, but her gaze drifted to the reflections of the reeds and rushes in the water. The lone boatman in his straw raincoat seemed to have never been there; he fished alone in the cold autumn.
...
Noon.
Inside the house, lotus root and pork rib soup was simmering on a steamer. Lake fish, water chestnuts, and water bamboo were laid out in a porcelain bowl, their bodies gleaming with colorful glaze. Several bright red ripe persimmons peeked out from the edge of the bowl.
Liu Xu sat down next to Xie Lingxi, constantly serving her food. The host teased him, "Wife, your husband is really good to you."
Xie Lingxi lowered her eyes and ate her food, "Mmm."
Seeing her children's affectionate behavior, Aunt Huang's eyebrows curved into a smile, and she chuckled, "How did you sleep last night?"
What was supposed to be a casual conversation, in the warm daylight, turned Xie Lingxi's thoughts into something else, and she felt a little embarrassed. Liu Xu, on the other hand, maintained a refined and elegant demeanor, saying, "Quite good."
"That's good then."
This was a brand new business in Suixian County: cleaning up spare rooms in homes and turning them into places for travelers to rest and relax, just like restaurants and inns.
Aunt Huang was quick-witted and kind-hearted. Her lodging, which provided shelter for the wanderers from the desolate feelings of the ancient road and the west wind, was naturally bustling with activity and very popular.
She took a bite of lotus root and slowly said, "To be honest, these days are not peaceful. On the contrary, there are more people stopping for meals and lodging, and the money earned is several times more than usual."
Are they here to escape disaster?
Aunt Huang nodded.
Xie Lingxi pondered another matter, wondering where General Pei was now and how to deal with the troublesome bandits.
When she left Yunmeng in Jingdi, Pei Zhaofang finally figured out how many gambling dens he had seized. He couldn't help but ask the question.
“Ah, a man from Chang’an,” Aunt Huang exclaimed in realization, “Yes, there is one. Not long ago, a handsome young man came from outside, adorned with jewels, and he’s resting in the eastern suburbs now!”
"Just him alone?"
"Yes, just him alone."
Jing is such a vast land, yet Pei Zhao appeared in this remote county town one after the other. If Xie Lingxi thought there was nothing fishy going on, she would find it hard to believe.
She was coerced into coming here, and the events in the secret room that day are still vivid in her mind. Who was that person? Could there be another secret behind the so-called "becoming an outlaw"?
Xie Lingxi often pondered, and her beautiful brows would furrow slightly. Seeing this, Liu Xu raised his hand to smooth the furrows between her brows and comforted her, saying, "Too much worry is not a good thing."
Thinking about it won't do much good; it will only increase your sorrow.
She understood this principle, but she couldn't reconcile it with herself, and felt uneasy and chilled.
Xie Lingxi picked up a handkerchief and wiped the glistening beads of sweat from her forehead. She raised her pale face, smiled faintly at Liu Xu, and said:
"You're right, but now, we can't just sit here and wait to die."
We must return to Chang'an to investigate the whole story.
For example, the case of Tang Zexue proves that even an ant can shake a tree, and a firefly can try to rival the sun and moon in brilliance.
Liu Xu naturally understood, "However, at least for today, let's talk about things that make people feel comfortable, for example..."
"...My parents want to see you."
"Father and Mother?!"
!
After lingering for several days, the Liu couple finally managed to exchange enough grain for money, and after receiving the letter from Liu Er, who was missing an arm and a leg, they called their brothers and returned home.
Liu Xu's hometown is in Zhuxi in the western suburbs. Because no one has stayed there for many years, the furnishings in the house are covered with a thick layer of dust, obscuring the colors of the brightly colored objects.
Xie Lingxi sat by the window watching him roll up his sleeves and bustle about. He picked up a broom and dustpan to help, but as soon as he stepped into the house, Liu Xu "chased" him out.
"What's wrong?"
Xie Lingxi watched as he wiped the tables, chairs, and benches until they shone, revealing their original weathered green color, and said softly, "I'll help you."
“No need,” Liu Xu turned back and smiled, “There’s no reason for my wife to do chores.”
"It's not about doing work... it's about doing it willingly."
Although we only know from Liu Xu's few words that Liu's parents were gentle and kind-hearted, we can tell that they were gentle and kind-hearted.
In her past life, Xie Lingxi had glimpsed the friendly atmosphere of the two elders and several brothers during her dream. However, she was now feeling uneasy, as if she had unjustly abducted someone else's good husband and had been impolite.
She fiddled with the straw rope hanging from the eaves, her clothes damp with dew. "What kind of things do your parents like..."
Before he could finish speaking, he stood there stunned for a moment, when Liu Xu's voice came out from behind the window, as sharp as a thunderclap: "What I like, they all like."
The young man paused, seemingly realizing that what he had said was inappropriate, and corrected himself, saying, "As long as it's you, we'll like you."
Yes.
Xie Lingxi opened her bright eyes and examined herself—appearance, character, knowledge... not outstanding, but enough to satisfy her senses.
He then nodded reluctantly: "I am excellent."
She covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief to shield herself from the dust, and with her slender, strong hands, she picked up the broom again, saying softly, "Now, your best wife is sincerely helping you clean the house."
"I can't refuse."
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