Prince Yi Residence in Beijing
Fine snow fluttered in the air. The heavy snow over the past few days had decorated the world into a silver-white world.
In a small building in the remote backyard of Prince Yi's residence, a little girl about ten years old was squatting beside the bed. Her face was red from the cold air, and she looked anxiously and worriedly at the sickly, pale and haggard woman on the bed.
Apart from the mottled door, the interior of this simple building was filled with crude and old appliances. Even though it was clean, it looked extremely shabby.
The bone-piercing cold wind blew in through the window, and the little girl's thin body trembled slightly. The fabric of her clothes had been sewn and washed for a long time, and it was grayish-white and rough. The size was also a little too small and thin. How could it withstand the cold of the snowy day?
However, she still pulled herself together and carefully guarded the weak and sick woman on the bed.
" Cough…cough…cough…" The woman lying under the thin quilt suddenly coughed violently.
The little girl was shocked and shouted anxiously,"Mother!" Then, he threw a few pieces of wood into the iron paint bucket beside the bed that was used to make a fire to keep warm.
Helplessly, the woman's coughs came one after another, one after another, causing one to be unable to help but tremble in fear. Suddenly, she coughed violently and actually coughed out blood, which simply frightened the little girl.
" Mother, don't scare me!" The little girl sobbed as she shouted. Her crystal clear eyes were already filled with tears. She pulled up her sleeves and wiped the blood from the woman's lips.
The woman slowly opened her eyes. Although her face was pale and haggard, her eyebrows were like clouds and her eyes were like paint. One could still vaguely recognize her peerless beauty!
"Chuqing…don't worry about Mother anymore! Come over and let mother take a closer look." She stretched out her bony hand and called out in a hurried voice.
The little girl hurriedly reached out her hand, and her small face, which was blackened by the smoke, came close to the woman." Mother, your hand is so cold.”
The woman forced out a smile. She knew that she was about to die. She could feel her life slipping away bit by bit. No matter how warm the blanket was, it could not warm the coldness that came from the bottom of her heart!
However, she was unwilling to accept it. She really was unwilling!
The man she thought was the love of her life and swore eternal love with was actually a cowardly man who did not dare to take responsibility. She had been deceived so miserably! Back then, she didn't know that he already had a partner. She, who was originally the head of the Hua Nation, had been reduced to being someone's concubine. She had been bullied, but the person she loved was so weak that she turned a blind eye to it and didn't even care!
Meng Xing, who was heartbroken, finally fell ill and could not stand up. For someone like her, death might be a relief! The only thing she could not let go of was her poor child!
Chuqing, her daughter, although she was born into a noble family, she had never received the slightest bit of love and care. Since she was born, she had suffered with her. Now that she did not have much time left, how could she let go of this only worry?
"Chuqing, I'm sorry." She used her remaining strength to hold her daughter's small body tightly, silently praying to the heavens that her daughter would not repeat her fate. She hoped that after she grew up, there would be a man who was affectionate and loving to protect her for the rest of her life. If that was the case, she was willing to sink into hell forever, as long as her daughter was happy.
The ten-year-old girl was sensitive to the feeling that something was about to happen. Her trembling little body clung to her mother, wanting to use her own body temperature to warm her mother's body.
The woman lovingly raised her hand to wipe the little girl's small, dark face, but tears could not help but fall on her daughter's face. Her precious baby was only ten years old, but he already had a celestial appearance. In a few years, he would be an even more outstanding beauty than her! He hoped that this beauty would not bring disaster and misfortune to his daughter.
"Cough…cough…cough!" The woman coughed out another puddle of blood. The contrast between the glaring red and the pale face was even more shocking!
"Wow!" The little girl couldn't help but burst into tears." Mother, don't scare me. Don't scare me!"”She shouted in panic and suddenly jumped up as if she had thought of something. "I…I'll go and find Ma and ask him to get a doctor. Mother, you must wait for me to come back…"
As she spoke, her petite figure flew out and disappeared into the white snow…In the main hall of the Yi Prince residence, Prince Yi and the Fujin were sitting at the side, entertaining the rare guests who were also future in-laws! The Emperor's younger brother, Prince Li of the First Rank, and his only son, the 15-year-old Xuanyu Baylor.
In order to entertain Prince Li of the First Rank and Xuanyu Baylor, Prince Yi had ordered people to brew tea with the thousand-year-old ginseng from Changbai Mountain that Medicine Master had given to them not long ago. The entire hall was filled with the rich and sweet smell of ginseng.
King Liqin took a sip of ginseng tea and smiled slowly,""Today is the anniversary of Yu 'er's mother's death. I specially brought him to Merlin to burn incense and pay his respects to his mother. On the way back, I came to your place to let him pay his respects to his future father-in-law.”
Prince Yi's eyes were filled with joy as he turned to the Black Jade Palace Lord. He was extremely satisfied with this future son-in-law! Xuan Yu's facial features were exactly the same as King Liqin's. They were firm and powerful, but with an additional handsomeness. Other than his handsome appearance, his natural bearing, demeanor, and calm demeanor were all very similar to King Liqin's. However…it seemed a little cold, unlike King Liqin's warm smile.
At this moment, Xuan Yu's handsome face was expressionless. Her black eyes were as bright as the stars and were cold. She did not look like a fifteen-year-old child at all.
"Why don't I see your precious children? It shouldn't be a problem for Xuan Yu to see Baoyue, right?”King Liqin asked in a teasing tone.
"It's fine, it's fine. I also have the same intention!”Prince Yi laughed and then turned to call for the servants to bring Little Ge Ge and Little Bei Le in.
After a while, the servant brought in the twelve-year-old Rui Tang Bei Le and the ten-year-old Bao Yue Ge Ge.
"Rui Tang, Bao Yue, greet them." The Fujin held his children in his arms and pushed them towards King Liqin.
"Wang Ye is blessed." The two children curtsied and called out to him obediently while staring at King Liqin.
"Be good." King Liqin pulled the siblings over affectionately. "Prince Yi, you are really blessed! She gave birth to such a pair of beautiful children!”He laughed loudly and looked at Bao Yue's beautiful face for a while. He couldn't help but say,"Fortunately, this girl has already been betrothed to our Yu 'er. Otherwise, when she grows up, how could our Yu' er have the chance to climb up?”
"Haha…King Liqin, you're too polite. It's our Bao Yue who has climbed up the social ladder.”Prince Yi said humbly, but he was overjoyed.
Just as the people in the hall were chatting and drinking tea leisurely, a servant's voice suddenly came from outside the door."Ge Ge Chuqing, His Highness has a guest visiting him, you can't go in!”
When Prince Yi and the Fujin heard this, their expressions changed slightly, and they looked a little uncomfortable. The couple awkwardly squeezed out a smile at Prince Li of the First Rank. Just as they were about to stand up, the door of the hall was suddenly pushed open.
A girl rushed into the hall. When she saw Prince Yi, she grabbed the hem of his clothes and shouted anxiously,""Ama, Mother is vomiting blood again. Please save her!”This girl was the daughter of Prince Yi's concubine! Chu Qing Ge Ge.
Prince Yi was shocked when he heard this. Just as he was about to take a step forward to visit, he suddenly met the Fujin's cold gaze. His body froze and under his wife's sharp gaze, he turned around in a sorry state, ignoring his daughter's pleas.
"Granny Fu." The Fujin called out nonchalantly. "Take this unruly child away.”
Nanny Fu, who was standing at the side, quickly agreed. She grabbed Chuqing's collar and prepared to walk out.
"I'm not leaving!" Chuqing shouted loudly. Her petite body somehow had the strength to shake off Nanny Fu's hand. She staggered back a few steps and landed on the edge of the small coffee table in front of Prince Liqin and Xuanyu Baylor.
"Presumptuous! You're getting more and more unruly!”The Fujin scolded angrily and gave Granny Fu a look.
Chuqing originally wanted to move to Prince Yi's side, but she suddenly smelled a scent that she was very familiar with. It was the thousand-year-old ginseng that she had begged Ma for a long time to stew for Mother's treatment. She turned around abruptly and lifted the Ming Dynasty porcelain on the coffee table. Sure enough, it was the thousand-year-old ginseng that she had been looking forward to for a long time.
Without thinking, she stared at the Mysterious Jade Baylor who was sipping his wine with her beautiful big eyes. "You…So you drank my thousand-year-old ginseng. Give it back to me!”
This sentence frightened Prince Yi and his wife.
"Qing Er, what nonsense are you talking about? That ginseng was specially ordered by Ma to be boiled to serve the guests.”Prince Yi hurriedly shouted.
Chu Qing stared at him blankly, pouting as she muttered,""Ma…you promised me that this ginseng would cure Mother's illness. How could you lie to Qinger!”As she spoke, her tears rolled down.
Prince Yi was embarrassed. He didn't expect to expose his family's scandal in front of Prince Liqin. He was furious and shouted,""Nanny Fu, bring Ge Ge Chuqing out!”
This time, Chuqing didn't struggle at all. She just kept turning her head to look at the pot of ginseng tea on the coffee table. She had once heard from Chief Uncle Yun that thousand-year-old ginseng could prolong one's life and was very helpful for Mother's illness. But now…Thinking of this, her tears were like broken pearls, unable to stop flowing.
Xuan Yu watched this scene with cold eyes, but her heart was already filled with tears and a pair of crystal clear eyes. That girl must be the daughter of a concubine! That was why his status was so low, and he was not valued or loved.
After Chuqing's ruckus, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly became a little stiff and uncomfortable. King Liqin did not ask what had happened. After all, it was a family matter and it was not his place to ask.
Not long after, he stood up with his son Xuan Yu to bid farewell, ending the visit to Prince Yi's residence.
When Xiao Chuqing returned to the small building in the backyard, the firewood in the metal bucket had long been extinguished, and the entire room was filled with a desolate and cold smell.
The person on the bed lay motionless, her pale and transparent hands hanging lifelessly on the edge of the bed.
Little Chuqing's heart suddenly trembled in panic. She rushed to the bedside and held her mother's hand. The bone-piercing coldness made her shiver again, but she did not retract her hand. She only seriously and forcefully rubbed her mother's hand with her small hand, wanting to warm her up.
"Mother, you're so cold! " But don't be afraid. Qinger will warm you up…" As she rubbed, she pressed her little face against her mother's cold and bloodless face and kept rubbing it.
The cold wind was still whistling in through the window. The person on the bed had already lost her soul, but the little one by the bed did not know. She was still focused on rubbing her hands.
Gradually, her small body was also attacked by a chill. She could not help but tremble, and her lips were frighteningly pale, but she was still muttering to herself! "Mother, don't be afraid. Qinger will definitely think of a way to make you better…"
Eight years later, in the study room of Yuntao Pavilion in Prince Li's residence, Xuan Yu was sitting on a red sandalwood chair reading official documents. Her dark eyes were like the stars in the night sky, her face was like the jade on the moon, and her sword-like eyebrows were like ink. At this moment, she was slightly frowning, as if she was thinking about something. Her entire body was cold and mighty, emitting an extremely noble aura.
After reading the official documents, he put down his pen and closed his eyes to rest. At this moment, there was a knock on the door outside the study.
"Come in!" His deep and mellow voice was naturally dignified, and his eyes were still closed.
Xiao Liuzi, the attendant, pushed open the door and entered respectfully." It's good luck, Lord Baylor!"”
"Get up!" Xuan Yu slowly opened her eyes." What's the matter?”
"Duke Duan of King Duan's Baylor Dexi requests an audience," Xiao Liuzi quickly retreated to the side and reported.”
Xuan Yu slightly raised her thick eyebrows, a smile on her lips as she said in a clear voice,""What do you mean by asking to see him? Let him come to the study!”
"Tsk!" Xiao Liuzi accepted the order and prepared to leave the study.
"Wait!" Xuan Yu suddenly called out to him. "Help us brew a pot of high-quality Biluochun tea.”
"Tsk!"
A moment later, Xiao Liuzi brought a tea tray, a teapot, and a teacup to the study. After he was done, he left.
Dexi sat on the armchair at the side, as if this was his own residence, and his beautiful black eyes lazily swept over Xuan Yu.
"I really have to hand it to you. Aren't you afraid of being bored to death by locking yourself in the study room all day?”His teasing words revealed his straightforward and unruly personality.
Xuan Yu's lips curled into a faint smile. He and Dexi had been best friends for many years, but their personalities were worlds apart.
"You don't come to me for no reason. Don't tell me you're here to mock me!”
"Sigh, you really don't know how to appreciate a good person!”Dexi waved his fan and sighed exaggeratedly." I came here to save you from your misery and provide you with entertainment!”
Xuan Yu's calm black eyes glanced at him and laughed disapprovingly." You must have taken a fancy to some girl from a brothel again. Thank you for your kindness, but I'm not in the mood to go to Flower Street to have fun today."”
"Hey, don't put it so harshly. This is called widening one's horizons.”Dexi said with a mischievous smile. "In three months, it will be your big day. Don't you want to make good use of this free time and enjoy yourself?”
Xuan Yu smiled but didn't say anything. He wasn't Liu Xiahui and had the normal needs of a man. However, he had always been very restrained. In addition, in the past few years, he had been valued by the Emperor because of his decisiveness and outstanding wisdom. He had become the Emperor's indispensable right-hand man. Therefore, he was even busier, not to mention having any leisure time to seek pleasure.
"I admit that your unmarried wife, Gege Baoyue, is indeed a first-class beauty, but are you so willing to give up on other beauties?”Dexi did not give up.
Xuan Yu laughed wildly."What kind of beauty have I not seen before? After a long time, I have only become a tasteless and vulgar powder. I don't feel sorry at all."”
"Do you love Gege Baoyue?" Dexi suddenly asked.
Xuan Yu raised her right eyebrow and raised the corner of her lips. She smiled lazily and carelessly,""Love? Of course not! This marriage is an agreement between Ama and Prince Yi. The two families are well-matched, and Gege Baoyue is indeed worthy of your future Fujin title. This is enough.”
" Tsk tsk…" Dexi shook his head and sighed." You're such a heartless person!" No wonder the people in the capital called you the "Cold Beiluo". It's true.”
Xuan Yu shrugged her shoulders and took a sip of tea.
" But…" Dexi changed the topic and continued,""I believe that even a cold and emotionless Baylor like you, who is as hard as an ice stone, would not be able to resist the courtesan of 'Spring in the Red Chamber'! Lady Liu Lianxin's charm!"
"Oh?" Xuan Yu replied noncommittally. "Is she really that capable to be praised and favored by you?”
"That's right!" Dexi's eyes lit up."I heard that Miss Lian Xin is extremely beautiful and has a pair of watery eyes that can steal one's soul. Anyone who has seen her would be scared out of their wits. They would hold a large amount of silver and wait outside the Spring Gate of the Red Chamber every day just to see her again.”
"Heard?" Xuan Yu raised her eyebrows in confusion and asked,""You mean you haven't met this Lady Lian Xin?”He had a sarcastic smile on his face, clearly showing that he didn't believe what Dexi said at all.
"What's with that expression?" "There are very few people in Beijing who have seen Miss Lian Xin, so what's so strange about me not seeing her?" Dexi shouted indignantly.”
Xuan Yu curled her lips and smiled casually." Since you haven't seen her, how do you know that she has a beautiful face?”
" Uh…" Dexi hesitated for a moment before saying,""People who have seen her say so, Prince Yi's residence's Rui Tang Baylor! He has already met your future brother-in-law! Moreover, ever since he saw her, he had been absent-minded all day and did not want to eat or drink. This had caused Prince Yi a headache!”
Xuan Yu was still indifferent." The rumors may be exaggerated, but this might just be Spring in the Dream of the Red Chamber's way of attracting business!"”
"Well said!" Dexi put away his fan and suddenly knocked on the table." Today, I came here specially to ask you to go to the Spring of the Red Chamber to meet Miss Lian Xin. We'll soon know whether I'm exaggerating or not."”
"I'm not free!" Xuan Yu replied without thinking. "Tomorrow is the anniversary of my mother's death, so I must rest early. I'll leave for 'Merlin' early tomorrow morning.”
"I see!" Dexi's entire body was instantly deflated. He knew that Xuan Yu had always been filial. Every year, on the anniversary of the death of the Fujin, he would definitely stay in the plum forest all day long.
"Then I won't force you. I'll ask you out another day!”he said with waning interest.
Looking at Dexi's dejected appearance, Xuan Yu couldn't help but smile. She couldn't bear to see him like this. "I promise you, after Mother's death anniversary, I will find another day to accompany you to see this Lady Lian Xin, okay?”
When Dexi heard this, he immediately became energetic again. "Good brother, I knew you wouldn't spoil my mood.”
It was March, and the air was chilly. Hundreds of flowers bloomed in the slight cold, swaying to announce the return of spring.
The quiet plum forest was filled with a slight mist, and wisps of sunlight filtered through the gaps between the branches and leaves, making the plum forest look like a fairyland.
One of them was a young girl wearing a moon-white dress. Her silk dress was embroidered with light purple-pink peonies and tender green vines. Her dress was fluttering in the wind, and her clothes were swaying. She carried a bamboo basket and walked straight into the depths of the plum forest.
At the end of the path, there was a secluded place, but it was a beautiful scenery of the human world. There was a tombstone on the grassy slope with an inscription on it! -- The woman in white knelt in front of her mother's tombstone. She put down the bamboo basket, took out flowers and fruits, and kowtowed to the tombstone.
"Mother, Qing-er is here to see you. Aunty Hong wants me to greet you. She even asked me to bring your favorite Xuemei to show my respect to you.”Her gentle voice trembled slightly from memories and longing.
"Mother, Qinger is already eighteen years old this year and can take care of herself. Every year on this day, Qinger will put down everything and come here to chat with you. The environment here is quiet and beautiful, and there are also your favorite plum trees. You were depressed when you were alive, but after you die, you can finally have this piece of pure land to settle down.”As she finished speaking, she was already sobbing.
It turned out that this woman in white was the same Gege Chuqing. She had always carried her mother's urn with her. It was only when she discovered this place when she was 15 years old that she placed her mother's tombstone here.
Chu Qing slowly stood up and placed a plum blossom in front of the tombstone. "Mother, although Qing-er has fallen into the dust, she has always followed Mother's example. She loves herself, sells her skills, and doesn't sell her body.”
She paused for a moment, and her beautiful face was stained with a touch of sorrow. Her black eyebrows were tightly knitted, as if she was deeply trapped in the prison of memories and in pain. "Mother, I will definitely use my own methods to seek justice for you. After this matter is done, I will build a hut here and stay with you for the rest of my life. I will no longer let you be lonely.”She gritted her teeth and whispered sorrowfully. Her small hand trembled as she traced the tombstone.
After paying her respects, Chu Qing leaned against the thick banyan tree trunk behind her and sat on the ground. She looked at the plum trees that were gradually falling. The snow-white petals on the ground set off the purity and elegance of the plum trees.
She sighed lightly and raised her head slightly to welcome the faint morning light.
The white snow had melted, and the sun was warm. The air was filled with the fragrance of flowers and coolness. She slowly closed her eyes, allowing the warm golden sun to shine through the layers of clouds onto her snow-white face, revealing a faint halo. Her fair skin, which was not stained by any rouge, reflected her pink and fair skin. She was as beautiful as a lotus flower that had just emerged from the water.
A spring breeze blew over, blowing her hair and clothes, making her smile unconsciously. Her worries were swept away and she couldn't help but shake her head slightly, letting the spring breeze brush her hair and ears…She was intoxicated by the coolness and sweetness of the spring breeze with a hint of floral fragrance, and she didn't feel anyone approaching her.#
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