Can't I just struggle and give in this once...?
Yan Huanyue let down her half-tied long hair and sat cross-legged on the small couch by the window in the main room. A few simple green plums were placed in a vase on the table next to the couch, filling the room with a faint fragrance.
She turned around and opened the window, then asked Pei Xuanzhi, who had seen the Xue brothers out of the courtyard and back to the eaves of the east wing, "When will the welcoming banquet begin?"
Pei Xuanzhi stood by the bamboo grove bathed in the warm golden sunlight, looking at her long hair falling loosely in the window, and said, "It must be dusk. Senior Sister, are you hungry? I'll go prepare some for you. We..."
Yan Huanyue said, "No need for that trouble. The east wing is very warm. You can rest for a while. I'll borrow your main room for a bit. Don't let anyone in. If you need anything, just call me with a sound transmission talisman."
The boy stood where sunlight and shadow mingled, his expression remaining calm and gentle, and softly replied, "Oh, okay..."
These days, with Pei Xuanzhi by my side, I haven't had a chance to visit Fu Yinhuan. How rude of me!
Yan Huanyue conjured a barrier to cover the main room, took out a small black box covered with talismans, chanted an incantation, and stepped inside.
The fat mouse, as usual, huddled in the corner, leisurely chewing on the wooden board, its teeth grinding, with no amount of food around it tempting it anymore.
This year has been so bountiful!
As soon as Yan Huanyue entered, it politely raised its head to the "servant" who was serving it, and then continued grinding its teeth.
Fu Yinhuan was nailed for a long time, and the blood beneath her body pooled together, seeping into the runes inside the box.
Yan Huanyue remembered that it used to only take three steps to get to his location, but now it seemed like there was an extra half step.
She stepped back and leaned against the wall, measuring with her hand; it seemed to be about half a turn too far.
She was somewhat surprised, and casually removed the nails from Fu Yinhuan's body and the restraints on her neck, saying with a smile, "What an unexpected gain."
Fu Yinhuan coughed up all the remaining blood that had accumulated in his chest. He coughed and said hoarsely, "You are much more ruthless than I thought. Ha, is this what you call the righteous way? Using such methods, aren't you afraid of your own cold-bloodedness and have a guilty conscience?"
Yan Huanyue took out a thin, slender, sharp knife and gently pressed it against his chest, saying casually:
"People always have high expectations for kindness. Evil people can become Buddhas by shedding tears, while good people can be doomed by a single wrongdoing. What is right? What is wrong? People cannot sever their selfish desires. In order to prevent selfish desires from running rampant and neighbors from fighting and killing each other, people need to establish an order that conforms to the needs of most people for survival."
“Fu Yinhuan, anyone can kill someone like you, and I won’t feel guilty.”
Fu Yinhuan pursed her chapped lips, looked up at her calm eyes, and suddenly laughed: "Heaven and earth are thieves of all things; man is a thief of all things; all things are thieves of man.① I follow my way, taking all things to nourish man, and ascend to the highest realm. What is wrong with that?"
Yan Huanyue said, "You forgot a saying: 'A virtuous person who obtains it will remain steadfast; a petty person who obtains it will disregard his life.'"②
After saying that, she lifted her skirt and squatted down in front of him, cutting off a piece of flesh from his chest with a sharp blade in her hand. Fu Yinhuan suddenly lowered her head and bit her earlobe, taking the jade earring off her ear and putting it between her lips and tongue.
Yan Huanyue, expressionless, plunged a knife into his lower abdomen. Fu Yinhuan, in excruciating pain, turned ashen-faced and trembled all over, yet still managed a weak, silent laugh:
"You're the first person to encounter me, but unfortunately... in my past life, I shouldn't have planted the seed of medicine in you; I should have planted mine instead..."
Yan Huanyue's blood-stained knife mercilessly pierced his mouth, and half of his tongue was spat out with blood.
Fu Yinhuan was drenched in cold sweat and fainted from the pain.
She made a hand seal to block it. Fu Yinhuan actually had memories of her past life. Could it be because she experienced life and death during that faked death that she remembered them?
He definitely knows more about what happened after that than she does.
Yan Huanyue thought for a moment, then took out a pill and fed it to him, hoping to keep him alive and try to get some information.
After exiting the small black box, she cleaned her ears, continued to sit cross-legged, and circulated her spiritual energy, training herself to integrate her innate spiritual energy with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth more quickly.
When I opened my eyes again, it was already dusk, and snow had started falling sometime earlier.
She opened the window, knelt on the couch, and looked out the window.
Only then did I notice a small lightbox covered with drawing paper standing next to a small bamboo grove under the eaves of the courtyard.
Xuanzhi was lighting the lampbox with a tinderbox. As soon as the lampbox lit up, a little golden raccoon, with its front paws raised, majestically went to catch a butterfly and immediately pounced on it.
As the lamplight cast a dim yellow glow, snowflakes drifted down from the sky, rustling softly through the bamboo grove, creating a scene of refreshing elegance.
Hearing the sound of her opening the window, Pei Xuanzhi straightened up and stood by the bamboo grove under the snow, quietly watching her, and gently blew out the tinderbox.
"Senior Sister Yan, Madam Sun's illness seems to be quite serious. The welcoming banquet has been postponed for the time being. The food is set in the east wing, so please go and eat there. I'll go out and take a look now."
Yan Huanyue said, "I'll go too, I..."
Pei Xuanzhi, somewhat puzzled, tried to see her ears hidden by her long hair, and said with a smile, "No need, Senior Sister. Madam Sun's illness is most aggravated by seeing strangers. Let's not upset her, okay?"
Yan Huanyue, unaware of the other person's illness, could only listen to his opinion first, and said, "Then so be it."
Pei Xuanzhi, pulling his cloak tighter, stepped onto the roof, looked at her through the window, and asked, "How did you lose an earring?"
Yan Huanyue said, "I forgot to take it off when I took a shower, so it probably fell off."
"Then I'll go buy some more."
"No need."
Pei Xuanzhi said, "Senior Sister, remember to eat. I'll go out now."
.
In the bustling old East Market of Chang'an, in a secluded corner, lies the backyard of an abandoned shop.
A pair of cloud-patterned shoes stepped down the old wooden steps, stirring up a wisp of dust.
He stepped into the cellar with the candlestick in his hand and used the talisman to push aside a pile of clutter against the wall.
After opening the clutter, he saw an old wooden door covered in dust. He coughed twice from the dust, then covered his nose with a plain handkerchief and walked into the narrow passage.
After walking for a long time through the winding passage with several forks, we finally arrived at an unremarkable iron gate.
The talisman rolled up a few old copper coins under the door, and the iron door made a soft sound as it slowly opened.
Inside the dimly lit room, a woman was carefully cutting yellow paper into copper coin shapes at a table.
He approached with a faint candlelight, and the woman, without looking up, said, "You've arrived right on time, knowing I'm in a hurry to spend the New Year with my sister at her grave."
Pei Xuanzhi coughed twice, covering his mouth with a plain handkerchief, then put the handkerchief away and said calmly, "Congratulations on Senior Liao's completion of seclusion."
Liao Yunu, who was cutting yellow paper, laughed and said, "Why bother with all this useless pleasantries? Did that old geezer take my money?"
Pei Xuanzhi placed a jade box on the table, gently opened it, and inside was a copper coin half-wrapped with red string.
Liao Yunu sneered, "Want to go have some fun over there? That old geezer is quite stingy."
Pei Xuanzhi said unhurriedly, "The master told you not to cause trouble after you came out of seclusion. The person who started the problem with the previous list has been found and will be gradually cleared up for you."
Liao Yunu said nonchalantly, "Do you think I care about that little bit of reputation? Just like would you care about keeping the entire Lu family alive?"
Pei Xuanzhi couldn't stand the damp and cold atmosphere and couldn't help but cover his nose with his sleeve and sneeze. He said in a muffled voice, "Compared to someone with a normal background, I still have the tolerance for such trivial matters."
Liao Yunu laughed and said, "You forcibly altered their memories of the period after you left. It's only a matter of time before they go crazy, but you've gotten away with it all."
Pei Xuanzhi calmly said, "There are many benefits to doing things peacefully, and I have no way to refuse."
Liao Yunu put down the scissors in her hand, got up and walked to his side, gently sniffing, "I was wondering where that faint fragrance came from. Ah, it's spreading? Who did you see just now? The lingering fragrance brought on by this heart palpitation is really sweet."
Pei Xuanzhi glanced at her. "This is a private matter."
Liao Yunu sat back down at the table, cutting yellow paper, and said with a smile:
"The fragrance is almost overflowing. You're almost ripe now. If you keep holding back, the sweet juice will burst out when someone touches you with their fingertips. That would be even more embarrassing. Hahahaha, little enchantress, it's better to guide than to block."
Pei Xuanzhi remained standing there calmly and said indifferently, "Senior Liao, we are not close enough for you to say such things."
Liao Yunu paused, then smiled and said, "When your passion overwhelms you and you lose your reason, you'll wish every woman would talk to you like that."
"I got married and changed my heart."
Liao Yunu continued cutting paper, sighing, "Sigh, she's kept you like this even after you got married, which shows that the woman doesn't really want you. You'll just have to bear with it."
"That's not the case..."
Liao Yunu packed up the paper money and casually said, "Heh, what do you know? Women are lustful too, that's normal. If she doesn't even touch her handsome husband, it means you're nothing to her. Let me guess, could it be that your father did her a favor?"
Pei Xuanzhi said calmly, "Senior Liao, if you can't even get revenge for something, it's better not to waste your energy on other people's affairs."
Liao Yunu's face instantly darkened.
Pei Xuanzhi bowed respectfully, then turned and slowly left.
.
In Shuiyun Courtyard, Chan Juanjuan, the gatekeeper, had just woken up when she heard a soft knocking at the gate.
The person knocking on the courtyard gate said, "Young Master Pei is back."
Chan Juanjuan rubbed her eyes, got out of bed, and rushed into the cold wind to open the door.
She saw a faint, shimmering light gradually seeping out from under the trees not far from the door, and someone carrying a lantern was coming from that direction.
Pei Xuanzhi entered the courtyard and told the person who knocked on the door to go back and rest first.
He handed the lamp to Chan Juanjuan and casually asked, "Juanjuan, are you on duty tonight? Where's my wife? Has she gone out?"
Chan Juanjuan blinked her big, round eyes and replied, "Hmm... When I arrived, Madam Yan was still in her room. I didn't see her come out. I wonder what she was doing."
In fact, she had already been sleeping for a while after Pei Xiaolang left at dusk, but she didn't want Xiaolang to know that she was slacking off and relaxing here.
In the past, working in the West Courtyard kept me so busy that I never had a moment to myself. Pei Xiaolang was always easygoing and had few rules, so he never made things difficult for anyone. Chan Juanjuan came for a day and did almost nothing.
The only thing Juanjuan did today was open the door for Xiaolang and answer a few words. At dusk, Xiaolang even gave her a welcome-back gift and made up for the wedding gift she received. Juanjuan felt that this day was really too good.
As for what Madam Yan was doing, she thought that Madam Yan was probably like her, preparing to hide in her room and sleep for a day and a night.
It seems that Madam Yan has been staying in her room since she left the hospital.
Pei Xuanzhi, his cloak slightly dusty, slowly strolled toward Xiaobeixuan, where he was to bathe.
Chan Juanjuan watched his retreating figure and suddenly said with a smile, "Young Master Pei, Zhang Ershazi was furious when he saw your wife today. He's telling everyone that you brought back a fake wife from outside to deceive people."
Zhang Ershazi's real name was Zhang Tianyi. He was originally an extremely intelligent man who could recite a book from memory.
After meeting the Lu family in Chang'an, he enjoyed bullying Pei Xiaolang along with the two Lu brothers, and later inexplicably became mentally impaired.
Juanjuan had seen Zhang Tianyi instigate Young Master Lu to block Pei Xiaolang and try to tear off his clothes in order to verify whether he was a real demon and how he was different from a human.
Fortunately, Pei Xiaolang was weak and vomited blood when he got excited. Fearing something bad would happen, they coaxed him to rinse his mouth and not to let the news spread.
But Juanjuan saw that Pei Xiaolang, despite spitting blood, could still walk back to his residence as if nothing had happened.
Pei Xuanzhi turned around, looking particularly thin and desolate in the dim and lonely lamplight.
He seemed to have thought for a long time before recalling the old friend from his memories, and asked with concern in a still slightly weak tone, "Zhang Tianyi, are you still stupid?"
After the cold wind passes, the bamboo shadows are dense and sparse.
Chan Juanjuan felt inexplicably uneasy about the person in the swaying lamplight; a chill ran down her spine. But it was Pei Xiaolang. Suppressing her unease, she said:
"Yes, he's always talking nonsense, and several kids in the neighborhood like to chase after him and bully him."
Under the dim light, a slender figure sighed softly, "What a pity, he could have been a talented person if put to good use."
Chan Juanjuan, holding a lantern, said, "Young man, you found the sect leader's father and got married. Is your illness cured? Aren't you very proud? Even the young master of the Xue family wants to come and play chess with you."
The thin figure smiled and said, "I'm not that honorable. You should go back and rest. Go collect your money tomorrow and go home early to celebrate the New Year with your family. Come back after the fifteenth. Remember to tell the steward that everyone assigned here should go home for the New Year as early as you, and no one needs to come here during the rest of the year."
Chan Juanjuan said happily, "Ah! Thank you so much, young man!"
Pei Xuanzhi turned around, walked across the eaves and through the path, heading towards the North Pavilion.
As soon as he reached the door, he saw that the light was on inside. Another maid was about to close the door, but when she saw him, she stopped and stood aside to wait for him to go in.
In the past, if he returned from the outer room, or finally stepped out of his room at night, someone would immediately come here to light the lamp.
He wasn't surprised and said in a low voice, "Go back and rest."
"yes."
He stepped inside, passing a small hut where incense burners and charcoal stoves were kept.
As soon as he entered the small room filled with steam, he saw water droplets forming beads. Behind the winding glass screen, Yan Huanyue was facing away from him, taking out an outer robe and putting it on.
But her outer garment was always just a thin layer of gauze; beneath the misty pink gauze was a soft, white body…
He was lost in thought for a moment, then suddenly turned his back, his tone clearly tense, "I'm sorry, Senior Sister, you had already taken a bath when you came back, I thought..."
Inside the glass screen, Yan Huanyue saw that the outer garment she had grabbed in her haste was rather unseemly, so she put on the inner garment instead.
She had just finished meditating and noticed that she still had some blood on her body, so she wanted to wash herself. However, as soon as she took off her clothes and stepped into the water, she heard him talking by the door.
Now that she had calmed down, she realized it wasn't a big deal that he had seen her, so she forced herself to remain calm and said, "Well, I sweated a bit while meditating today, and you came right after I took off my clothes. Why don't you take a shower first?"
Pei Xuanzhi forcibly pulled back the golden mist that had crawled out of his back and was twisting and tearing as it struggled to climb toward the screen, and said in a low voice, "I'll go back and wait for you."
“Xuan Zhi…”
A slender, snow-white foot, bathed in candlelight and dripping with water droplets, peeked out from behind the screen.
A wisp of golden mist, which had severed itself from his body and was gradually dissipating, was still clinging desperately to her ankle as it lingered.
"Get it away, it's almost gone."
Pei Xuanzhi slowly turned around, his pale face flushed pink from the heat of the room.
He gazed at the pristine white spot, his thin lips pressed tightly together. After a long silence, he whispered, "Senior sister... it came out on its own, I..."
Yan Huanyue understood that it was only natural for a young man to be a little agitated by what had happened today, and she casually said, "Yes, I know. Sometimes the aura of the enchanting spirit is not entirely under your control."
Pei Xuanzhi completely ignored the dying golden mist, turned around and left with stiff legs.
Rather than be forcibly taken back, it would probably rather die on her body. Can't you grant its wish just this once...?
He suppressed the countless strands of golden mist churning within his body, which clamored against his injustice and clamored to pull back that shameless thing.
They only wanted to cling to her, completely disregarding his life or death.
He spat out a mouthful of blood under the tree, smiled coldly, and realized that greedy creatures only know how to satisfy shallow desires and don't even understand the most precious and terrifying things.
Ironically, this is part of him, and no matter how much others hate it, he can only tolerate these selfish and shallow things.
He suppressed the intense turmoil in his mind and thought to himself, "What does a little pity matter right now? Wouldn't it be better if she fell in love with you, thought about you every day, and wanted to hold and caress you every day?"
Within his soul, countless wisps of golden mist trembled with a sense of comfort, and Pei Xuanzhi also shivered in the cold wind because of this anticipation.
"Then listen to me, and don't let her feel... disgusted."
But there are always a few stubborn ones who, when they try to stir up trouble, are torn off and beaten by the other golden mist.
Pei Xuanzhi turned and glanced at the brightly lit window before walking towards the main room.
-----------------------
Author's Note: ①② are taken from the *Yin Fu Jing* (陰符經).
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