Chapter 94 A Storm Begins: A Devoted Heart Entangled in Past Karmic Bonds, An Arrow Shoots Through the Heavens of Love. ...
The season has entered early winter, and the north wind is getting stronger, but today we are fortunate to have a sunny and pleasant day.
The warm sunshine spread across the sky and earth, dispelling most of the desolate chill between heaven and earth, and there was even a hint of the warmth of early spring.
Su Jinxiu and Wen Shiqin had agreed to sweep her grandmother's grave today. When the carriage arrived outside Zuichunfang, she remembered that the new clothes she had made for Ningzhu were ready, so she thought she would deliver them on the way and settle this small matter.
The innermost courtyard of Zuichunfang is Ningzhu's residence. Pavilions stand on both sides, and upon entering the courtyard, one is greeted by the sweet fragrance of osmanthus blossoms.
Upon entering the inner hall, one sees fine agarwood burning in a brazier, its smoke curling upwards, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Su Jinxiu settled down on the pear wood chair by the window, sipped half a cup of tea, and Ningzhu finally lifted the curtain and appeared.
Ningzhu accepted the brocade robe and thanked him, but her gaze turned to the outside of the courtyard. She asked softly, "I saw a spacious carriage parked at the gate. I suppose it was Young Master Feng who came with you?"
Su Jinxiu nodded in agreement, stood up, straightened her skirt, and was about to take her leave when Ningzhu suddenly grabbed her wrist with a strong grip.
She turned around, puzzled: "What's wrong? Is there something else?"
Ningzhu's fingertips were icy cold, yet her grip was firm. Her eyes were filled with earnestness and a desperate resolve. She whispered her plea, revealing that she was three months pregnant and wanted to see Cui Cheng to get some information. Finally, she pleaded, "I only ask to see Cui Cheng once, to get half a sentence from him. If you happen to be a colleague of his, and if you would be willing to mediate, then my wish can be fulfilled."
Su Jinxiu's heart sank; she was torn. She didn't want to use her relationship with Wen Shiqin to involve him in this romantic entanglement. Besides, she had already heard about Cui Cheng's shrewish attitude towards Ningzhu; this would most likely only bring her humiliation.
She pondered how to politely decline.
Just then, whether Wen Shiqin was impatient or simply wanted to enjoy the scenery of the courtyard, he stepped into the courtyard, climbed to the second-floor corridor, and waved to her from afar.
Su Jinxiu felt a warmth in her heart and raised her hand in response. As soon as she took a step, her wrist was gripped tightly by Ningzhu again. Then her shoulder sank and a bone-chilling coldness pressed against her neck.
Before he could even lower his head, he knew it was the sharpness of a dagger.
"Ningzhu, what are you doing?"
Before she finished speaking, Ningzhu pushed the dagger slightly further in, the blade pressing even closer to her neck.
Su Jinxiu instinctively tried to back away, but ultimately there was no way to avoid it; a thin, hair-like bloodstain had been cut across her neck.
A chill ran through her as she realized that Ningzhu was not joking.
The two stood at the entrance of the courtyard, facing Wen Shiqin from the second-floor corridor.
Wen Shiqin had clearly noticed this turn of events as well, and was instantly both shocked and furious: "Miss, let's talk this out! Whether you're after money or have other demands, just say so, and I'll grant them your request. Release her first!"
Su Jinxiu heard Ningzhu's trembling voice, choked with sobs, calling out loudly to the second floor, "Summon Cui Cheng to come here and see me!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Wen Shiqin immediately ordered Mo Ci to quickly invite Cui Cheng over. He then descended the steps, his gaze fixed on the dagger at Su Jinxiu's neck, not daring to be careless in the slightest.
Su Jinxiu quickly advised, "Ningzhu, put down the dagger. He has already sent someone to invite Cui Cheng."
But this was Ningzhu's only lifeline, and she was unwilling to let go of the dagger easily. Her breathing became rapid, and the blade was almost touching Su Jinxiu's neck, with a fine pain seeping into her skin.
No one can guarantee she won't lose control.
Su Jinxiu closed her eyes and concentrated, forcibly suppressing her surging emotions. When she opened her eyes again, Wen Shiqin had already walked downstairs and was about to step forward.
Ningzhu immediately shouted, "Back off! Take another step forward, and I'll slit her throat right now!"
Wen Shiqin immediately stopped, slowly raised his hands to show that he meant no harm, and said in a calm but firm voice: "Alright. Cui Cheng is already on his way and will be here soon. Calm down and don't be impulsive."
Wen Shiqin retreated further as Ningzhu had requested, but suddenly several guards appeared behind him, each holding a bow and arrow, the arrowheads gleaming coldly as they were aimed at them.
Su Jinxiu knew at a glance that if Ningzhu dared to let go, she would be shot through the heart. She quickly advised, "Ningzhu, let's talk this out properly, it's better than this stalemate."
No sooner had he finished speaking than Cui Cheng arrived. He had been accompanying Song Xianhui to select jewelry in a shop on a neighboring street, but after Mo Ci found him, he immediately entered the shop through a side door and slowly walked up the connecting corridor on the second floor.
Yu Sheng also rushed to the second floor upon hearing the news. Seeing the scene, she couldn't help but shout, "Ningzhu! What are you doing? Jinxiu has treated you well in the past and has given you earnest advice countless times. How can you treat her like this?"
Ningzhu ignored Yusheng, her gaze fixed on Cui Cheng on the second floor, her eyes still bloodshot: "Sanlang, come downstairs and come inside with me. I will release her immediately."
Cui Cheng had already told Song Xianhui that he would return shortly. Now, standing on the connecting corridor, his expression was as cold as frost, devoid of any of his former warmth. He parted his thin lips slightly, his voice icy: "Say what you have to say here. There's no need to come inside. If you dare to harm Miss Su in the slightest, the one downstairs won't let you off easily."
Ningzhu looked at Cui Cheng's appearance and then glanced downstairs at Wen Shiqin's barely concealed anxiety and worry for Su Jinxiu. The contrast between the two was like heaven and earth.
She suddenly let out a low, cold laugh, a surge of intense jealousy welling up inside her. It turned out that human life and the human heart truly were worlds apart.
Su Jinxiu clearly noticed that the dagger that had loosened slightly around her neck when Cui Cheng appeared had somehow gotten closer again, the blade pressing against her skin with a sharp pain, as if even the blood vessels under her skin were being choked.
With just a slight flick of her wrist and a little effort, Ningzhu would collapse to the ground like a tattered rag. At that point, she might not even be able to see Wen Shiqin's anxious expression.
Cui Cheng grew even more impatient, feeling that this messy affair was endless, and turned to leave in a huff.
Seeing his cold-hearted and indifferent attitude, completely disregarding human life, Wen Shiqin felt a surge of anger rising within him. He immediately wanted to lead his guards upstairs to force him into the room to clarify the matter.
As Cui Cheng turned around, his gaze inadvertently swept across the distance and he saw Song Xianhui walking gracefully towards him, her skirt trailing on the ground like flowing clouds, still carrying the languid air of someone strolling leisurely through the market. Yet, her clear eyes had already landed on the tense and chaotic scene in the courtyard.
His brows furrowed instantly. Song Xianhui was always arrogant and haughty. If she saw such an embarrassing scene and learned about his past entanglement with Ningzhu, given her temperament, she would definitely make a huge scene and even threaten to annul the marriage. Wouldn't this carefully maintained match of equal social standing be ruined?
Seeing the undercurrents upstairs, Su Jinxiu downstairs quickly lowered her voice to persuade Ningzhu: "Ningzhu, why suffer such a heartless and unfaithful man? You should know that even if he were to acknowledge you now, you would still be nothing more than an illegitimate mistress. Your unborn child has me, Yusheng, and the sisters of Zuichunfang to help take care of it. What does it matter if you lose this heartless man? Such a cold-hearted father will only bring shame to my child for the rest of his life."
Ningzhu listened, her brows twitching slightly, a flicker of doubt crossing her heart. The two were silently gazing at each other, neither expecting the sudden turn of events on the second floor.
Earlier, Wen Shiqin had sent a guard upstairs to deliver a message. Just as the guard reached Cui Cheng's side, before he could even speak, Cui Cheng suddenly reached out and snatched the bow and arrow from his hand.
He was a frequent visitor to the world of pleasure, his casual affairs as numerous as the fish in a river, but none had ever been as persistent as Ningzhu. He had already offered a thousand pieces of gold as a way to get rid of her, considering it a youthful folly to be wiped away. Now that he had found a suitable match in Song Xianhui, Ningzhu had become an inescapable leech. A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes; he thought it best to cut her off completely, once and for all. She was just a woman of pleasure, not worth mentioning.
But then he thought again, Ningzhu was holding Fengchen's beloved hostage. If he accidentally hurt her, the consequences would be dire.
Cui Cheng focused his mind and held his breath. Taking advantage of the moment when the two figures in the courtyard slightly separated, his fingertips were already on the bowstring, ready to fire.
Just then, Wen Shiqin stepped onto the corridor. Seeing his ruthless demeanor, he didn't think twice and snatched the bow and arrow from the guard beside him.
Almost at the same instant, Cui Cheng released his grip, and the arrow, carrying the force of breaking the wind, shot straight towards Ningzhu downstairs.
Just as Su Jinxiu was persuading Ningzhu to loosen her grip a little, she suddenly heard the whistling of an arrow and felt a chill rush towards her face. She didn't even have time to close her eyes and escape; she could only open her eyes wide in panic and watch helplessly as the deadly arrow approached.
At the critical moment, another arrow came flying through the air, striking Cui Cheng's arrow like a shooting star. The two arrows collided with a crisp sound, and the fatal arrow was deflected and pinned to a nearby pillar, its fletching still trembling.
Ningzhu was so terrified that she collapsed to the ground. She looked up and saw the figure upstairs who had once made vows of eternal love to her now carrying a deadly arrow, ready to take her life. Overwhelmed with grief, she had no strength left to get up.
Su Jinxiu struggled to steady herself as she saw Yu Sheng stagger down the stairs, her expression panicked. Out of the corner of her eye, even through the scattered flower shadows and half a courtyard, she could see Wen Shiqin standing on the corridor, his hair standing on end in fury. He abruptly threw down his bow and arrows, then strode forward, grabbing Cui Cheng's collar tightly, his entire being radiating a fiery aura.
She hurriedly instructed Yusheng to take good care of Ningzhu, then lifted her skirt and rushed upstairs. As soon as she stepped into the corridor, she saw Wen Shiqin not far away had already pinned Cui Cheng to the ground, his fists flying fiercely, each punch filled with barely suppressed rage.
Su Jinxiu knew that Cui Cheng had completely disregarded her safety in order to get rid of Ningzhu, and his actions truly deserved punishment. However, Cui Cheng had been a weak scholar since childhood, and he was no match for Wen Shiqin's battle-hardened iron fist.
However, after the punch landed, Cui Cheng was bleeding from his mouth and nose, looking like a stray dog, no longer possessing his former elegance.
Su Jinxiu quickly stepped forward, grabbed Wen Shiqin's arm, and pulled him up, saying, "It's alright! I'm fine, I'm not hurt!"
Wen Shiqin was half-carried to his feet by her, his anger still not subsided. He pointed at Cui Cheng on the ground and shouted angrily, "Cui Sanlang! You knew my sister was in front of her, yet you still dared to shoot an arrow recklessly. Are you tired of living?"
Cui Cheng lay sprawled on the ground, his face a mixture of red and blue, blood trickling from the corner of his lips, when suddenly a strange smile appeared on his face.
Just then, Song Xianhui climbed the steps and stepped into the connecting corridor. Although she and Cui Cheng didn't have a deep affection for each other, seeing her husband beaten to such a state, she ultimately considered their marital status and the family's reputation, and stepped forward to ask indifferently, "How are you? Are you badly hurt?"
A glint flashed in Cui Cheng's eyes. He had deliberately provoked Wen Shiqin, so that he would appear as a complete victim in front of Song Xianhui, and no one would bother to investigate his previous entanglement with Ningzhu.
He immediately adopted a pitiful posture, clutching his chest and coughing violently several times, his voice weak as a candle flickering in the wind: "Sixth Sister, I... I only lost my composure in a moment of panic, but I was beaten so badly by Brother Feng, and I almost lost my life..."
Seeing his hypocritical act, Wen Shiqin was so angry that the veins on his forehead bulged. He was about to step forward and scold him again, but Su Jinxiu held his wrist tightly. She shook her head at Wen Shiqin and whispered, "Don't bother with him. Let's go downstairs first."
They retreated into the carriage, shutting out the romantic entanglements and worldly chaos of the courtyard. The moment the curtain fell, Wen Shiqin tightly embraced Su Jinxiu, burying his head deeply in her warm chest, and burst into tears like a child who had suffered a great injustice.
Su Jinxiu raised her hand and gently patted his back, soothing him with soft words.
Wen Shiqin sobbed and raised himself slightly, his gaze falling on the faint bloodstain on her fair neck. The wound had scabbed over, like a plum blossom dotted with snow, yet it was still glaringly obvious.
His heart skipped a beat, a surge of pain and lingering fear washing over him like a tidal wave. A lump formed in his throat, and he buried his face in her arms, pulling her closer. His sobs escaped intermittently: "I should have chopped their heads off!...I should have wiped out these monsters! That woman of the night, and Cui Cheng, a bunch of lunatics! Almost...almost..."
“It’s alright…it’s alright…” Su Jinxiu raised her hand to stroke his face, her forehead touching his. “Ningzhu just told me that no matter whether she sees Cui Cheng today or not, she won’t hurt me. She was desperate and had no other choice but to do this.”
She knew that if she hadn't held him back, with Wen Shiqin's burning rage, he would have turned back and turned the courtyard into a battlefield, with blood splattering everywhere.
The carriage wheels rolled over the bluestone slabs, gradually disappearing into the distance. Su Jinxiu remained nestled in his arms, her palms pressed against his back, gently patting him to soothe him. The bloodstains on her own neck had not yet faded, yet she had to first calm his turbulent emotions.
Wen Shiqin's crying gradually subsided, and his breathing slowly calmed down, but the lingering fear had not yet dissipated. He tightened his arms around her, holding her close, his voice hoarse and trembling: "Sister... if that arrow had missed by even a fraction of an inch, and something had truly happened to you, I would have followed you on the spot, and would never have lived alone."
He vaguely recalled his previous life, when he returned to the Embroidery Alley alone and ended his life with a short sword, committing suicide. There was nothing to be afraid of.
Upon hearing this, Su Jinxiu's heart tightened. She raised her hand and gently patted him, scolding, "Don't talk nonsense! We must stay together for the rest of our lives, year after year. You must not mention such ominous words again."
"Hmm, let's not talk about it anymore." Wen Shiqin buried his face in her hair, inhaling her scent, his voice softening, "I want to spend my whole life with my elder sister."
His frightened and uneasy heart gradually calmed down.
Su Jinxiu wanted to advise him not to speak lightly of life and death, but seeing his heartfelt concern for her, she swallowed back the words that were on the tip of her tongue and instead whispered a gentle comfort in his ear.
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