Golden peacock in front of the Vermilion Bird Gate
The summer sun was so scorching that it seemed to crack the gray city bricks.
The heat distorted the air, and cicadas screeched at the top of their lungs in the old locust trees by the roadside, making people restless. The soldiers guarding the city wore leather armor, and beads of sweat dripped down their chins, hitting the scorching stone slabs with a "sizzle" and disappearing.
The checks were much stricter than usual, and the air was thick with tension.
A slightly worn-out northern-style carriage, followed by two guards, rolled across the sun-baked, smoky official road and creaked to a stop in the narrow shadow cast by the Zhuque Gate. The horses pulling the carriage were soaked to the bone, snorting and panting.
Whoosh!
The indigo-blue coarse cloth curtain was suddenly lifted, and a hand with distinct knuckles rested on the window frame.
Her nails were neatly trimmed, and a few light scars on her honey-colored skin added a touch of rugged tension.
A face peeked out.
At the city gate, the annoying chirping of cicadas, the clinking of weapons, and the buzzing of the crowd all seemed to be strangely silenced for a moment.
It was a face that could make even the scorching sun pale in comparison.
His eyebrows slanted sharply, his nose was sharply defined, and his jawline was as clean as if cut by a knife. He vaguely resembled the deceased crown prince hidden deep within the palace. But what truly captivated him were his eyes—naturally alluring peach blossom eyes, slightly upturned at the corners, their dark, jade-like pupils shimmering in the scorching light, exuding a languid yet alluring, bewitching charm. The half-smile playing at the corners of his mouth completely shattered any potential pressure, revealing an unrestrained, breathtaking arrogance.
He was wearing the most prized fabric of the summer—the rosy silk.
The base color is a pure peacock blue, and when sunlight flows over it, it subtly reveals varying shades of turquoise and scattered gold, like the feathers of a living peacock. The wide sleeves and the edges of the hem are embroidered with intricate lotus patterns using finely twisted silver thread mixed with gold thread, and the brilliance is understated yet omnipresent as you move.
A three-finger-wide black leather belt with cloud patterns cinched her slender waist, from which hung a white jade pendant and a delicate gilded sachet, tinkling softly. A few strands of black hair fell unruly across her forehead and temples, framing her face, making her look exactly like a golden peacock spreading its tail feathers, having strayed into the mortal world.
Sweat trickled down his elegant chin.
Bathed in the shimmering, iridescent light of the sunset, she was not disheveled at all; instead, her magnificent attire was reflected in the sunlight, making her appear like a deep pool shimmering under the blazing sun.
His gaze casually swept over the guarded soldiers and spotted a carriage exuding an official air parked in the distance under the shade of a tree.
Peach Blossom's eyes were immediately overwhelmed by an overflowing cynicism.
Ling Zhan jumped out of the car right after him.
She wore a black, sheer silk outfit, with a matching short-sleeved top that accentuated her sleek and upright figure. Her face was expressionless, but her sharp eyes calmly scanned her surroundings. She seemed to emanate an invisible chill, causing the approaching soldiers to feel a strange unease.
She naturally stood half a step to the side and in front of Chen Yan, her gaze calm, like an invisible barrier.
Little Bull and Little Stone jumped down as well. One of the boys, a teenager, looked up at the towering city wall, his face sweaty and nervous about entering a big city for the first time. The other was still a child, but his face was as calm and expressionless as Ling Zhan's.
The young bull, barely out of his teens, was almost touching the pure white snow wolf Frostblade lying nearby.
The giant wolf panted restlessly, its scarlet tongue lolling out to cool itself in the sweltering heat. Its massive body was listless, with only its half-closed, icy blue eyes occasionally opening and closing, revealing a chilling aura.
The defending team was forcing themselves forward, sweat dripping into their eyes and making them blink repeatedly.
He forced himself to remain calm, his voice dry and trembling with tension and fever: "Routine check! Travel permit! Who is on board? What... what is this enormous beast? This is a restricted area of the capital; wild beasts are not allowed inside!"
The soldier's gaze was fixed on Frostblade, his palms sweating as he gripped the blade.
Shen Yan raised an exaggerated eyebrow, her peach blossom eyes shimmering, as if she had heard the biggest joke, and sneered.
His voice was clear with a hint of laziness at the end: "A beast? Sir, have your eyes been sunburned?" He stretched out his well-defined hand, the jade bracelet with excellent clarity on his wrist dangling, and casually pointed to Frostblade, "This is our guard dog, Frostblade. He's gentle and easy to care for, much less troublesome than those little tail-wagging dogs in the alley."
The tone was relaxed, with a hint of sarcasm implying that the speaker was ignorant.
The captain panicked, his face turning bright red: "A dog? Sir, you mustn't be joking! This is clearly a wolf! Such a huge wolf, its ferocity is unimaginable..."
"Oh dear, sir, you've wronged me terribly!"
Shen Yan immediately interrupted, dramatically rubbing his forehead as if he had suffered a great injustice, and then hissed as he gasped for breath, swaying slightly. "Little savage! Quick! Let our Frostblade show the soldiers whether he's docile or not!"
The little bull took a deep breath upon receiving the order.
He leaned close to Frostblade's massive head, vigorously ruffled the thick fur on its neck, and shouted, "Frostblade! Frostblade! They insist you're a wolf! Tell them you're our big dog! Our most obedient big dog!"
The team leader and his soldiers nervously pointed their spears at it, repeatedly shouting, "Wolf! It's a wolf!"
Frostblade merely let out a low, threatening growl from deep in its throat, lifted its eyelids, and gave them a cold, disdainful glance before turning its head sharply away and scratching its ears with its massive forepaws, as if annoyed by the noise of these foolish two-legged creatures.
When the little bull shouted "Frostblade" at the top of its lungs, the giant wolf's usually motionless, thick tail, as thick as a child's arm, actually swayed slowly and clearly from side to side! It even made a series of low, almost satisfied purrs from its throat!
"Frostblade, be good! I'll give you a big chunk of chilled venison when we get home!"
The little bull persisted. Frostblade's tail seemed to wag even more merrily, and it extended its rough, barbed tongue—enough to scrape off a layer of skin—and gave the little bull's sweaty arm a perfunctory lick, as if completing a task. The little bull shuddered at the lick; its arm burned, but it stubbornly kept its mouth shut and didn't dare move.
The onlookers and the city guards were utterly astonished. A profound sense of absurdity overwhelmed everyone's understanding.
The captain pointed at Frostblade, his finger trembling like a leaf in the wind: "It...it...it's called Frostblade? It..."
Shen Yan spread his hands, his peach blossom eyes full of innocent smugness, as if to say, "See, I told you so."
"Sir, do you believe me now? Frostblade sounds intimidating, but his personality is just that of a big, dumb guy. If you still don't believe me..."
A wicked yet alluring smile curved his lips as he drawled, "Why don't you come over and pet its head yourself? Feel its 'honest' nature?"
As the captain looked at Frostblade's menacing head with its fangs slightly exposed and its cold blue eyes, he gasped sharply, his face turning deathly pale as he stumbled back two steps, nearly tripping.
The curtain of the official carriage under the shade of the tree moved, and a middle-aged official wearing a seventh-rank official robe with egret embroidered patches and covered in sweat hurried over. He forced a respectful smile and bowed deeply to Shen Yan: "Your humble servant, Qian Zhong, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites, is here to respectfully welcome Your Excellency by imperial decree. The sun is scorching, please follow me to the post station to rest. His Majesty will summon you soon."
His tone was respectful, but his eyes were sharp as needles.
Shen Yan immediately cried out "Ouch!", her peach blossom eyes instantly filled with pain, and she collapsed weakly into Ling Zhan's arms. Ling Zhan reacted quickly, reaching out her arm to catch him steadily, letting him lean most of his weight on her. Shen Yan tilted his head towards her neck, as if his "injured leg" could no longer support him, large beads of sweat rolling down his cheeks.
"Lord Qian...oh dear...I'm so...so sorry! Look at my leg..."
He pointed painfully to his right leg, where the bandages were soaked with sweat, and the swollen, red skin was faintly visible beneath his trousers.
“The other day in the mountains, I took this kid to raid wild beehives for a treat,” he pointed to the little bull with its neck tucked in, “and he slipped and fell! He even got chased and stung by several poisonous bees! It hurt like hell! The old doctor in the mountains said that bee venom is most aggravated by hot and dry weather, and he absolutely cannot move. He needs to find a very cool and quiet place to rest! The inn? That place is bustling with noise, like a steamer. You're trying to kill me!”
His voice was weak, carrying a petty, street-smart complaint, and coupled with his face, which looked even more sinister due to pain, it evoked a sense of pity in one's heart.
Ling Zhan's gaze pierced Qian Zhong coldly, his voice low but resolute: "He needs to rest. The post station is not suitable."
The chill emanating from her froze all of Qian Zhong's words of persuasion, and sweat poured down his forehead.
"Father! Mother!!"
A clear, melodious female voice, filled with deep worry and urgency, pierced through the noisy cicada chirping.
A small carriage with painted walls and blue silk, pulled by two sturdy blue horses, came to a smooth stop. The curtain was lifted, and a young woman stepped out gracefully. She was about twenty years old, with a slender figure. She wore a lotus-colored silk jacket and a matching moon-colored skirt. Her hair was neatly styled, adorned with a kingfisher feather hairpin, and a pair of small pearl earrings. She exuded a refined and gentle elegance, with the delicate beauty of the Jiangnan water towns in her eyes. This was Su Wan.
She quickly opened a plain blue silk parasol.
Immediately afterward, a young girl dressed in a pale yellow brocade dress with a dark lotus pattern stepped out of the carriage with graceful movements, supported by Su Wan. She was about fifteen or sixteen years old, with delicate features, especially her eyes, which were calm and bright yet showed a maturity beyond her years. She was none other than Shen Yan's adopted eldest daughter, Da Niu Shen Wansu.
She held a plain white silk handkerchief in her hand.
As soon as he got off the carriage, his eyes were immediately fixed on Shen Yan and Ling Zhan beside the carriage.
Seeing Shen Yan's pained expression and injured leg, her clear eyes instantly welled up with tears. Lifting her skirt, she ran over despite the scorching sun.
"Father! Mother!"
She rushed to Shen Yan's side, carefully avoiding his injuries, and gently wiped the sweat from his forehead with a silk handkerchief that exuded a faint fragrance of orchids. Her voice was choked with emotion as she said, "How is your leg? I received a letter saying that you fell and were stung by bees. Your daughter in Linzhou was so worried that she couldn't stop thinking about it day and night! Sister Su has prepared the detoxifying and heat-clearing medicine and the chilled ointment! The doctor from the clinic is also waiting at home."
She was sincere and affectionate, with the dependence of a young girl.
Holding an umbrella, Su Wan quickly followed, then curtsied slightly to the somewhat bewildered Qian Yuanwailang, her posture elegant and graceful, her voice gentle and clear yet carrying a distinct sense of distance: "Greetings, Lord Qian. I am Su Wan, the manager of 'Yunshangji,' 'Baicaotang,' and 'Jiaheyuan' on Zhuque Street."
She clearly stated the names of the cloth shop, the pharmacy, and the seed shop.
"Mr. Zhou has prepared a cool and refreshing residence with running water for the master and his wife on Zhuque Street. All the necessary doctors, medicines, and ice chests are readily available, making it the perfect place for recuperation and detoxification. The inn is crowded and chaotic, which may be detrimental to the master's injuries. So, we will not trouble you with your arrangements."
At this moment, an elderly man with half-white hair and beard, dressed in a slightly worn but extremely clean, high-quality dark blue robe, walked over calmly. He first bowed deeply to Shen Yan and Ling Zhan, then turned to Qian Zhong and the team leader, and respectfully cupped his hands in greeting.
"I am Zhou Wenqing. My master's injuries are serious, and the heat is unbearable. He is eager to return home. Here are the travel permit, vehicle registration, and land deed for the house. Please examine them, sir."
He gestured to the servant behind him to bring out the opened brocade box.
Zhou Wenqing glanced at Frostblade, who was panting with its tongue lolling out and the tip of its tail still wagging, and said in a calm tone: "As for this dog 'Frostblade,' although its size is different from the norm, it is indeed a domesticated guard dog with a gentle temperament. It is registered and under the care of a dedicated person, so it will not be disturbed. Please do me the favor."
As soon as Zhou Wenqing finished speaking, and Qian Zhongzheng was choking back tears, Xiao Shitou immediately interrupted with a childish complaint.
"Dad, Mom, Shen Xing wrote that if you don't come back to pick them up soon, Xiao Douzi is afraid she'll cry the roof off! Er Ya is also complaining that Dad promised her a butterfly net made of gold thread, but there's still no sign of it! Those mischievous kids at home are practically climbing on the roof and tearing the tiles off!"
"As soon as Father's leg injury heals, he will go to Linzhou to pick them up."
Looking at the scene before him, Qian Yuanwailang was helpless.
A "crippled nobleman" who is in so much pain that his face turns pale, dressed in dazzling finery, and whose identity is sensitive, yet spouts fallacies.
Another fierce and protective young wife.
In addition to a few other people, a giant dog named "Frostblade" that wagged its tail, and a box full of flawless documents and land deeds.
All the grand welcoming speeches, lodging arrangements, and lukewarm surveillance plans he had prepared... collapsed in an instant!
He could only watch helplessly as, with gasps of disgust rising and falling, a group of people, carefully supported by Shen Wansu and Su Wan on either side, marched through the majestic Vermilion Bird Gate in an extremely strange yet inexplicably harmonious manner, merging into the bustling streets of the capital and heading towards Vermilion Bird Avenue.
Standing there, under the scorching sun, a surge of anger burned within him, making his vision blur. His prepared rhetoric and meticulously planned agenda seemed like a colossal joke in the face of these unpredictable people! He wanted to lash out, but looking at the menacing Ling Zhan and the 'giant dog,' he swallowed his words, feeling a sweet taste in his throat.
He stomped his foot and growled at the clerk behind him, "Quick! Go back and report! Say that the person has been picked up! But... he went straight back to his residence on Zhuque Street to recuperate!"
How am I supposed to write this report?!
Qian Yuanwailang felt as if his official hat and brain were both steaming.
In the shadows, countless eyes are watching: information is silently flying to all parts of the capital.
"They look remarkably alike, yet their peach blossom eyes are alluring, their rosy clouds dazzling, making them utterly enchanting!"
"He carried a giant wolf named 'Frostblade' and actually called it a dog in public! This wolf is intelligent and wagged its tail in response, which is unbelievable!"
"With a fierce wife by his side, a gentle eldest daughter to assist him, and a young son saying there are more than twenty children in the family waiting to be fed!"
"He is accompanied by a seasoned elder with the bearing of a veteran official, and by a young and promising businesswoman; the business is well-established!"
"The leg injury seems to be genuine, possibly caused by bee venom; we refuse entry to the inn!"
"It has been returned to its private residence on Zhuque Street!"
"Judging from their behavior, they seem superficial and vulgar, attached to their families and protective of their own, perhaps... not worth worrying about?"
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