Chapter 70 The snow fell and the mattress became wrinkled and wet.
Song Xieqing took Zhu Hao to travel in Kyoto every day, and they rarely repeated their food, accommodation, or places of interest.
By the seventh day, he had taken her to travel all over Kyoto and tasted all kinds of delicacies. Every time they visited a place and ate a meal, Song Xieqing would tell Zhu Hao whether he had ever been to this place when he was a human being, whether he had ever tasted the delicious food here, what the scenery was like when he passed by this place a hundred years ago, and how it was different from today. He spoke carefully and not boringly, like a storyteller telling a story, making Zhu Hao feel as if she was there, as if they were holding hands through the torrent of a hundred years, following his footsteps, and experiencing his life.
That day, the two of them were boating on the lake. Zhu Hao leaned on Song Xieqing's shoulder, gazing at the golden water beneath the sun. Suddenly, a memory came to her mind. She tapped his little finger and asked, "When you were a human, had you ever heard of the name of Doctor Jia? His soul-bewitching acupuncture technique was lost a hundred years ago, leaving only a fragment of a scroll..."
Since it was a hundred years ago, maybe he would recognize it.
"Jia?" Song Xieqing paused. "He sounds familiar. The Imperial Medical Bureau gathers famous doctors from all over the world. He's known as a saintly doctor, so he must be serving the royal family in the palace. However, there's no doctor named Jia in the Imperial Medical Bureau. I guess he's a traveling doctor who's gone into hiding."
"I don't think... he's a traveling doctor," Zhu Hao said seriously. "It's said that the needle marks were burned due to a factional dispute. If it's a factional dispute, it's likely connected to the regime..."
Seeing her seriously analyzing this person, and her analysis was very methodical, Song Xieqing pinched her nose and praised her from the bottom of his heart, "Remarkable!" Then he asked, "Why are you trying to find out about this person?"
Zhu Hao recounted everything about Li Yuan's father. Song Xieqing tapped the edge of the board thoughtfully and said, "There is a man in the court who has some medical experience, but his surname is Gongsun, and he has no experience in acupuncture. I don't think they have any connection."
She nodded slightly, and as she looked towards the dusk sky, she saw geese returning to their nests, so she asked him, "When will we return to Huaicheng?"
"Pianpian." He rubbed Zhu Hao's ear and whispered to her, "Is the clothing store busy? Do you still need your help with everything?"
The two looked at each other, and Zhu Hao actually sensed a hint of pleading in his gaze. She didn't think much about it and just said, "The ceremony has been over for several days now, and Shopkeeper Liu should have returned. Even if he hasn't, there's still Xu Yin in the shop. You don't know, Xu Yin is very capable now, whether it's painting clothes, checking accounts, or embroidering. When A Yuan has free time, she also works odd jobs in the shop. Oh, right! There's a new girl in the shop, and she learns very quickly. She's thin and small, but when she works hard, she can outwork me. And..."
She suddenly paused, her gaze falling on Song Xieqing's eyes staring at her. Seeing that she had stopped talking, he stroked her hair and asked, "Anything else?"
Zhu Hao said nothing and put her arms around Song Xieqing's neck. He had just asked a simple question, but she inexplicably brought up a series of people and things that had nothing to do with the question. He must have found it boring, but he didn't say anything to interrupt her... She really liked and loved him more and more.
She stroked his earlobe and said sullenly, "It's not very busy. There are enough staff."
Song Xieqing smiled and held her to sit on him. The boat swayed, creating ripples. "Pianpian, you were born and raised in Huaicheng. Besides Kyoto, is there any other place you want to go?"
He clasped her fingers and kissed her, "No matter where you are, I will do whatever you want."
…
In early April, half a month had passed since the National Day celebration, but the festivities in Huaicheng were not over yet. Today, the You family was celebrating by marrying Wanqi Yi, the only daughter of a salt merchant from Qizhou. Huai Street was crowded with people, and red wedding gowns stretched for ten miles. Everyone sighed in their hearts, because the last time there was such an extravagant wedding was when Young Master Song married Miss Zhu.
Miss Wanqi was quite generous. She leaned out from behind the sedan chair, holding a dozen invitations. As the crowd gasped, the gold-embellished invitations floated into the crowd like flowers scattered by a fairy. Miss Wanqi not only entertained the tailors of the wedding dress shop, but also the common people passing by. The You family was truly wealthy in Huaicheng, so they had no shortage of delicacies from land and sea for their banquet. Perhaps even unicorn meat would be served!
Everyone was amazed. Miss Wanqi was indeed a noble lady from a high-class family! Only a woman like her could be a good wife!
Fang Xuyin didn't want to get involved in this mess, but there was one thing that couldn't be delayed any longer.
Today Wanqi Yi is hosting a banquet for everyone in Yilou, which is a rare opportunity.
That night, fireworks were set off incessantly over Huaicheng, and candles were flickering in the You Mansion. Fang Xuyin did not join the party, but sat alone in the octagonal pavilion away from the noise and laughter.
She was holding something in her sleeve when she heard footsteps approaching.
Fang Xuyin stood up just as Wanqiyi, draped in a crimson wedding gown, entered the pavilion. The two faced each other, neither willing to give in. Wanqiyi snorted coldly, "You appear disdainful of Ah Heng, yet you accepted my invitation to his wedding banquet today. There must be something fishy going on! Look, you've caught a vixen. Who is she waiting for? I'm telling you the truth. Ah Heng didn't even know you were coming! She certainly wouldn't come to see you! I pretended to be ugly, but Ah Heng insisted on marrying me. We're truly in love. Just how much do you think you weigh?"
Fang Xuyin was both angry and amused. Too lazy to waste words with her, she simply fished out a bag of silver ingots from her inner sleeve. Ignoring Wanqiyi's disdainful look, she took her hand and placed it in her palm. Wanqiyi opened it and took a look. Five silver ingots. Her mouth twitched. What was this? Wedding money? So shabby? And... how could she give it to her?
Wanqi Yi threw the silver ingot into the flower bed on the side without thinking, and did not forget to take out the fine brocade handkerchief to wash his hands.
Fang Xuyin wasn't annoyed. She said calmly, "These silver coins represent the debt I owe You Heng. I'm different from Miss Wanqi, who grew up in a luxurious house. For years, I've toiled day and night just to pay off his debt. The five silver ingots you discarded like rags are the final payment I owe him. I know he's unaware of my presence, and I also know that attending this banquet has brought Miss Wanqi with him, and I was waiting for her."
"Since you two are already married, I think the same applies to you." Fang Xuyin exhaled, and she said slowly and seriously, "The debt has been paid. As the mistress of the house, I have no say in how to deal with it. The moment he and I entrusted the debt to you, we were completely clear."
After saying that, Fang Xuyin left without looking back.
Wanqi Yi was stunned on the spot. When her personal maid came to find her, she pointed to the flower pond and ordered, "My purse is missing. Drain the pond."
…
Song Xieqing flicked his sleeves and a sand table appeared that held the whole world. He told Zhu Hao where to throw the flag and that's where he would take her.
He took her to see the ice crystal snow lotus on the cliffs, the coral sea beasts in Yinghai, and the bizarre and colorful light in the far north.
There was no one in the place, with only two people's footprints, deep and shallow, imprinted on the snow field, winding far away. Song Xieqing built a small house for her, with a fire in the stove, warm as spring. Zhu Hao leaned against the window with her fur coat, gazing at the towering snow-capped peaks that seemed out of this world. She saw the glaciers half-frozen, and the thin sun pouring down, like golden floating light.
Suddenly, footsteps came from behind. A bowl of steaming wontons was placed on the empty table. Zhu Hao reached out a hand to grab it, but a solid warmth rested on her neck. Song Xieqing took her hand back and held it close to the belt hook at his waist. "Pianpian, it's a little hot, cool it down."
Zhu Hao pretended to be displeased and said, "Oh, can't you blow it cold and feed it to me?"
Song Xieqing raised her eyebrows. Very good. She was now more adept at commanding him.
He raised his hand and removed the hairpin from Zhu Hao's bun, and her long black hair flowed down like a waterfall. Song Xieqing bent his knuckles slightly, and the hair tangled in his fingertips. "Because right now I want to get close to Pian Pian."
The two have been married for a long time. Since he came back, he has been wishing to stick with her every night. Even though they are familiar with each other, when Song Xieqing says some nonsense or tries to get close to her in various ways, Zhu Hao can't help but blush.
Just like now, she had lost her eloquence and lay woodenly in Song Xieqing's arms, letting him do whatever he wanted.
He knew every inch of her skin.
Countless snowflakes fell outside the window, but the house remained as warm and sticky as ever. The mattress on the low couch was wrinkled and damp, but the wontons on the table were still warm from his magic. The wooden couch creaked faster and faster, shaking the snow off the eaves. His intermittent and lingering breathing startled the crows from the branches. He didn't know when the clouds would clear and the rain would stop. Zhu Hao gathered Song Xieqing's coat and, holding a bowl bigger than her face, buried his head in his food. He was actually very satisfied...
Song Xieqing combed her tangled hair and asked her, "Where do you want to go next?"
"You've taken me to every place I could think of..." Zhu Hao peeked out of the bowl, her face still flushed, and her voice a little hoarse, "Let's throw the small flag."
"Okay." Song Xieqing conjured up a nearly transparent sand table. Zhu Hao took the small flag he handed her and threw it randomly with her eyes closed. At first glance, the small flag appeared diagonally on an island. Zhu Hao asked suspiciously, "Where is this place?"
Song Xieqing replied, "There's a fairy mountain overseas called Penglai. It's said that there are immortals who have retired from the world."
Zhu Hao glanced at the "real immortal" who was tying her hair and said with a smile, "That sounds quite interesting."
Knowing it was just a deserted island, seeing her interest, he asked, "Want to go? Pianpian."
Her mouth was so full of wontons that she couldn't answer, so she could only blink and nod. Seeing her like this, Song Xieqing felt relieved.
…
Time flies, and when Zhu Hao and Song Xieqing were returning home, they caught the first snow in Huaicheng.
Mid-winter is approaching, which is also the time when Zhu Hao is said to have died according to the fate book.
The fallen snow was being shoveled away in the yard. Miaoli came over upon hearing the noise. Seeing the two of them, she threw aside her broom and threw herself into Zhuhao's arms. "Sister! After half a year, you and your brother-in-law finally remembered the way home. I missed you so much every day."
Miaoli glanced at the couple's expressions. She didn't know if she was dazzled, but she felt that their expressions were quite solemn. She was about to ask them something, but Zhu Hao pinched her round face and said gently, "Good Miaoli, sister missed you too."
"Miss me? You're lying, sister!" Miaoli turned around and put the past behind her. She only glanced at Song Xieqing with a venomous look: "If sister really missed me, why did you go out with brother-in-law for half a year? If you missed me, you should come back to see me..."
Zhu Hao and Song Xieqing looked at each other and couldn't help but reflect that they had left the little girl alone in Huaicheng for too long.
Song Xieqing handed the bag to Miaoli, "Your sister collected these rare treasures from all over the world for you."
Miaoli filled her arms with the weight, so heavy that she could barely stand. Song Xieqing then said, "From now on...Pianpian will have to ask Miss Miaoli to take good care of her."
At this moment, she didn't understand what it meant, but when she looked at her sister, tears were obviously welling up in her sister's eyes.
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