Snow

Snow

"ah?!"

Zhou Chuan was terrified, pointing at you and me with trembling hands: "This...you..."

Xie Lingxi walked straight forward, placed the newly revised scroll on the table, and grabbed Zhou Chuan's finger, asking, "Can you recite the text you learned today?"

Zhou Chuan shook his head repeatedly.

"Then what are we still doing, exchanging pleasantries?"

If this were any other day, Zhou Chuan would have looked worried and distressed. But today, upon receiving this order, he felt as if he had been granted a pardon and disappeared without a trace.

Only then did Xie Lingxi look at the three people drinking soup at the table.

Liu Xu wore the clothes she embroidered, his face covered in snow, his hair loose and cold, which made him look even more disheveled, yet still handsome and dashing.

This man is so unserious, always talking nonsense. Thinking about it, he said, "Ah Xu, are you done eating?"

Liu Xu smiled, a hint of amusement in his eyes: "Not yet."

He picked up a bowl of lotus-root-colored soup, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Come and have a taste?"

Xie Lingxi glanced at the soup on the table, her eyes shimmering like autumn water, and stared at Liu Xu without saying a word.

Seeing that things were not going well, Madam Zhou never expected that the rumored fierce and ruthless noblewoman was actually the gentle lady she had spent several days with. She quickly laughed it off, saying, "This, it turns out it was all a misunderstanding, hahaha..."

Xie Lingxi: "This is not a misunderstanding."

At that moment, she looked at General Pei, who was engrossed in drinking his soup, walked over and stood two meters away, calling out to him, "Young Master Pei, may I have a moment to speak with you?"

Pei Zhao glanced at Liu Xu and replied, "Okay."

A flock of crows flew by, and Madam Zhou watched the two walk away before finally speaking after a long while: "Oh no... Chengzhi, I'm afraid I've done something wrong with good intentions."

Liu Xu swallowed the last mouthful of rice, finding it tasteless and tasteless.

...

What Xie Lingxi talked to Pei Zhao about was another bizarre and chilling matter.

Ever since she learned that Pei Zhao was also hiding here, she felt that something was wrong.

So they sought out Mr. Wu as an excuse, and when the two met and talked, they learned that the army sent by the emperor to suppress the bandits had been inexplicably intercepted on the border of Jing, right outside Sui County.

Pei Zhao frowned: "Yes, I was originally in Yunmeng. I sent someone to deliver a letter, but after three days without receiving a reply, I came to investigate in person."

"Has anything been discovered?"

Obviously not.

"The bandits who had been causing trouble disappeared one after another, as if the whole thing had never happened."

Xie Lingxi rubbed her forehead, pondering, "Could it be that you were intercepted by someone with ulterior motives, and they're setting a trap for you?"

She thought of Yan Ji, who seemed to have disappeared since their parting at the governor's mansion that day, and asked, "Where is His Highness Prince Jin now?"

It would have been better if he hadn't mentioned it, because once the Prince of Jin was brought up, Pei Zhao was in a difficult position and didn't know how to start the conversation: "His Highness is currently in Yunmeng Prefecture, enjoying banquets every day and having no complaints."

The Prince of Jin was known for his virtue, and this behavior of indulging in pleasure and wine was completely out of step with his reputation.

Moreover, on that day, Yan Ji deliberately shot a wolf up a tree, making her and Liu Xu's feelings obvious.

The table between the two was extremely simple, with only a few withered dried flowers. A map was half-open beside it. Xie Lingxi picked up a brush and drew circles in a few places on the map, then made some connections. "This is Yunmeng."

Yunmeng was the capital of Jingzhou, and to its southwest lay Sui County.

The two places are connected by the Jing River, accessible by both water and land. Pei Zhao clenched his fist: "Does Third Sister mean that there is collusion between these two places? But Sui County is remote and unknown, and it is more than a month's journey from Yunmeng."

Xie Lingxi shook her head: "No."

When she escaped from that dark room that day, she had already arrived in Sui County. Even if she were riding a fast horse, how could she have arrived so quickly?

"Among these mountains, there must be a shortcut hidden somewhere, which can be traveled in no more than ten days."

"As for those who are unknown, it is even easier to carry out their plans."

Beyond the map, where mountains and water meet, lies Chang'an.

Pei Zhao listened to these words and seemed to be deep in thought. He was not a reckless person; as a general, he was well-versed in military strategy and understood the principles of stratagem and cleverness.

Xie Lingxi thought further ahead. She did not tell anyone what she had seen in the dark room, which made her more thoughtful. The person behind the scenes was calm and composed, which made her think that the disaster in Jingzhou was the result of someone's deliberate actions.

Perhaps the Emperor's dispatch of people to investigate this case was also part of that person's calculations.

In this light, those names written in ink on rice paper that were singled out had long been discarded and excluded from the journey. Was she aiming her arrow in the wrong direction?

Pei Zhao said, "I need to report to His Majesty."

Xie Lingxi neither confirmed nor denied it.

She had come to some new conclusions and was about to bid farewell to Pei Zhao and return to her room to deduce further when she reached the door. But then she heard Pei Zhao ask, "Third Sister, did you have a fight with Brother Chengzhi today?"

"ah?"

"Otherwise, why not discuss this matter with him?"

"Yes, you want to be Liu Chengzhi's advocate?"

Seeing that Pei Zhao remained silent, she suddenly smiled, a sly smile playing on her lips: "What does Zizhang think I'm angry about?"

"This rumor about me has been circulating for months, from early autumn to the dead of winter. I was too lazy to defend myself, so Liu Xu pretended not to hear it. But today he brazenly brings it up as a joke. That's going too far."

Pei Zhao nodded.

Xie Lingxi guessed what he was thinking and continued, "If my sister were in this situation, what would Zizhang do?"

Pei Zhao spoke each word with conviction: "I will make those who spread rumors skin them alive."

...

After returning from Pei Zhao's place, Xie Lingxi took out clothes and accessories from the wardrobe and began to pack them away one by one.

This is the scene that Liu Xu saw when he stepped through the door.

This wardrobe is a rare new item in the house. He went up the mountain to find good wood to make it for his wife, and the double doors are carved with Xie Lingxi's favorite floral and grass patterns.

He couldn't care less about anything else now. He grabbed the layers of clothes from Xie Lingxi's arms, and his usually calm voice held a hint of anxiety:

"What are they trying to do?!"

He realized he had angered her at noon that day and reflected on his actions, saying, "This was my fault. If you are angry with me, it is only right that I move out. There is no reason for you to let your wife leave."

The young man before her spoke earnestly, and Xie Lingxi stopped what she was doing, tilting her head slightly. "Where did you go wrong?"

Liu Xu said seriously, "Firstly, it's wrong of me to use such filthy words to tease you with others."

"That's the second point. We shouldn't have failed to vindicate you."

"The third point is that we shouldn't have been so dishonest about our relationship."

"..."

The room was dimly lit. Seeing Liu Xu raise three fingers, seemingly about to launch into a detailed explanation and even swear an oath, Xie Lingxi quickly stopped him, both amused and exasperated.

"You really think you're writing a policy essay?"

If this person were to launch into a long, rambling tirade every time she got angry, it would be too much of a burden.

She was just pretending out of boredom, but the fool believed her and solemnly held his heart, eager to offer all the words of apology.

"Am I really someone who can't take a joke in your eyes?"

Although she claims to be vindictive and hates to suffer losses, in reality, Xie San Niang is tolerant and magnanimous, with a heart that can hold a boat.

Liu Xu said, "You said, 'It's not a misunderstanding.'"

“Oh,” Xie Lingxi said, as the winter clothes piled up like a small mountain on the couch. She then pulled out two more metasequoia wood chests from the corner of the room. “It’s definitely not a misunderstanding. I am just such a willful and domineering wife.”

"If I tell my husband to go east, would you dare go west?"

"Why wouldn't I dare?" Liu Xu quickly picked up the box, pressing down the dust on the ground. "While your husband is still away, let's enjoy a night of ecstasy together."

"Hey!"

Xie Lingxi pretended to hit Liu Xu, "There are my jewelry pieces inside, be gentle!"

Liu Xu then joined in the performance, casually inserting a pomegranate-red hairpin into Xie Lingxi's dark hair, exclaiming in admiration, "It's so beautiful!"

In the blink of an eye, he pulled out the auspicious cloud hairpin with a jade belt from Xie Lingxi's hair. Her hair fell loosely, and the crimson hairpin was not firmly inserted, but was loosely tangled in her hair.

I accidentally poked Xie Lingxi's cheek.

Her phoenix eyes narrowed slightly: "What are you doing?"

Liu Xu half-pressed her down, stroking the neck of the woman beneath him, "When you're with me, you're not allowed to wear the hairpin your husband bought for you."

The position was really awkward. Xie Lingxi was just clearing things out, but now she was pinned down and couldn't move. As she struggled, a few streaks of blush appeared on her snow-white face.

"Let go."

Liu Xu hugged her tightly, even picking up the pomegranate hairpin and slowly moving it to her slender neck, saying, "If I let go, you'll run away."

Suddenly feeling a sharp pain in her neck, Xie Lingxi panicked: "Are you trying to murder my wife?"

Looking down, she saw Liu Xu kissing her, gently nibbling at her tender flesh.

"What wife? My wife is in Chang'an. Wanwan, have you heard of her... she's that fierce and ruthless one."

This commotion was truly outrageous. Xie Lingxi, emboldened by her own strength, yanked her husband off and shouted, "I want to go back to Chang'an!"

"I will return to Chang'an tomorrow."

They were serious.

Liu Xu, having shed his previous alluring demeanor, became solemn and hurriedly asked, "Has something gone wrong in Chang'an?"

Speaking of Chang'an, Xie Lingxi felt that the city had completely shed its bright and beautiful facade, revealing its stark white bones. This return home held a gruesome and treacherous future, like a raging torrent, and she wondered where it would take them.

"No." Xie Lingxi sat up, slowly adjusting the hem of her lotus-colored skirt, and pulled a delicate little box from beside the couch, handing it to Liu Xu with feigned surprise:

"Why would you think that? It's just that this decision was made too quickly. It's a pity we can't spend the New Year here."

Liu Xu glanced at it, packed the box, and said, "It's all the same as having someone to accompany you."

...

The two of them spoke with the Liu family members, saying that they would be returning to Chang'an the next day. Although Liu's parents were reluctant to part with them, they still told them, "It's cold, so wear more clothes and don't catch a cold."

Upon hearing this, Liu Run immediately dragged his second brother into the room to pack their luggage, patting his chest and saying, "With me, Doctor Liu, here, what's there to fear about getting typhoid fever and damaging my brain?"

On Liu's side, the eldest son was crying and sobbing. Li Qinniang rubbed her frozen red hands and repeatedly urged him that when Liu Shen went to Chang'an, he must study hard with his teacher and learn the ways of the sages.

"If that's the case..."

Xie Lingxi looked helplessly at the red tiles and snow-covered ground in front of her, and the chaos inside and outside the window. She suggested, "Why don't you come to Chang'an with us, Father, Mother, Brother, and Sister-in-law?"

"If you are comfortable living here, then let Ah Xu buy a new house so that you can settle down here."

"this……"

Liu Congzhong hadn't thought about this matter before, but Xie Lingxi's mention of it gave rise to some other thoughts—

Since he was used to traveling as a merchant, he could go anywhere. Previously, he had to go to Danzhou and Qingzhou because the prices were not high and he was struggling financially.

Now that our youngest son has passed the imperial examination and has a place to live in Chang'an, why don't we move the whole family to the beautiful capital? Perhaps he can find a job as a schoolteacher again.

Chen San Niang also laughed: "Then I must go and try the pastries from Babaozhai that Lingxi mentioned."

So the whole family happily went inside and rummaged through drawers and cabinets.

Xie Lingxi went to the school to collect his belongings and invited a new teacher for both civil and military affairs. When he was about to return home, he saw Liu Xu sheltering from the snow under the eaves, so he opened his umbrella and walked with him in the daylight.

"What are you thinking about?"

She suddenly remembered something and explained, "You don't need to worry. Chang'an is the capital of the emperor. Ordinary people can only benefit from its bright and beautiful light."

Liu Xu said, "That's not what I meant."

He reached out and took a handful of snow, which melted instantly, leaving behind a pool of glistening water. The Liu family's house was brightly lit, and their joyful voices could be heard from a distance.

The man's voice was not drowned out, like a mirror-like lake: "Tell me, does this count as sharing the snow together, and growing old together?"

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