Chapter 10: Spring Shade (Four)

What about my elder brother? Where are you taking him?

Do not cry

Zhang Duo lifted her chin with the whip handle and said, "I have told you before, relying on others is utterly insufficient for self-rescue. If I see you in this state again, I will make you wish you were dead"

The trunk of the dwarf plum tree is not robust enough to conceal her entire body

Ah. Not foolish, guessed more than half.

Ayin

He remained silent for a long time before uttering these three words to her

Thank you, Young Master, for bestowing the garment

Do you not want to ask me for something

Zhao Qian's last sentence was clearly heard by Zhang Duo

Zhang Duo noticed her timidity, which did not seem to stem from fear of him, so he followed her gaze and turned around, seeing Zhao Qian, who had retreated to the doorway, staring blankly at Xi Yin beneath the low plum tree.

What I want to do, how can a girl follow along? A Yin, do not ask, and do not listen to what others say

He simply chose not to look at her anymore, turning around and walking towards the Qingtan Residence, directing his gaze towards the statue of Guanyin.

Zhao Qian was momentarily stunned; upon hearing Zhang Duo's voice, he raised his hand to rub his eyes and replied to Zhang Duo in a vague manner: "I am not..."

The master does not intend to listen

What are you rushing for

Fortunately, Xi Yin finally tied on the waist belt and got up to walk out from behind the tree

This can indeed be considered as speaking frankly, and Xi Yin no longer dared to delay, hastily making his way around to the back of Yu Ping.

She did not respond to him, as if afraid that he might regret it, shrinking behind the low plum tree, hurriedly loosening her sash, wrapping the large-sleeved shirt around herself, occasionally stealing a glance at the dog and then at Zhang Duo.

That voice was vastly different from Zhang Duo's, trapped in shackles yet still flowing like a spring, gently soothing the heart.

She felt as if she had been granted a reprieve and hurriedly focused on dealing with the disarray around her

Cen Zhao shook his head, "That is why I know that A Yin has suffered for me"

Hearing her in distress, he hurriedly comforted her in a gentle voice: "Ayin has grown up, she can no longer be like a little girl, making a clattering noise. Rest assured, even without the copper bell, I can still find Ayin."

What does the young master intend to do to his elder brother

These two individuals, so vastly different in identity and circumstances, are clearly beyond the realm of empathy. How is it that this woman's frantic stubbornness has stirred Zhang Duo's anger?

She was taken aback and involuntarily tightened her intertwined fingers

Zhao Qian scratched his head

He did not know why, but he thought of the story in the first volume of the "Six Degrees of the Sutra," in which the Buddha cut his flesh to feed an eagle. Suddenly coming to his senses, he felt a moist sensation on his back

What do you think this place is

Zhang Duo did not even glance, casually tossing it directly at her. The person showed no intention of avoiding it at all

Elder brother

There is no nonsense, A Yin only wishes for her elder brother to be well

Zhang Tuihan! Remember this well!

"Dogs are more foolish than humans, and you are afraid. How can you still believe that the person in front of you will protect you?"

There is no ... ...

The person in front raised their head and asked, "Have you been bowing?"

She suddenly shrugged her shoulders, her voice softening: "Please..."

Jiang Ling stepped forward and said: "Your elder brother is behind, the lord has given you a stick of incense's time, speak quickly if you have anything to say, when the time is up, we will take you back"

A few days ago, she had hung herself on this short tree without any hesitation, being beaten by him until her skin was broken and flesh was lacerated. Today, she is under the tree adjusting her collar, tying her waist belt, putting on her shoes and socks, and arranging her long hair

Ayin is not blind after all

I am not afraid, I am afraid of nothing at all

Jiang Ling felt embarrassed

Nonsense

Go out

Before nightfall, the wind calmed down, gently caressing his hair tied in a pine knot on his shoulder. The green ribbon that shaded his eyes was no longer there, and he dared not open his eyes. Sitting quietly with his eyes closed, he was complemented by the jade-carved floral and avian screen, making him appear like exquisite jade, too precious to be gazed upon.

However, as he lowered his head, the woman was still entangled in her clothing, huddled beneath the tree roots, as if afraid that he might regret it. For a brief moment, Zhang Duo had the thought of stripping her and throwing her in front of Cen Zhao. But after realizing he had lost control, he felt an intense anger towards himself

Years of habit have instilled restraint, and I do not appreciate baseless emotions

Am I not doing well?

Please remove the copper bell in the future

Zhang Duo lifted his robe, sat down on the steps, and summoned the Snow Dragon Sand with a wave of his whip

The ivy flowers that bloomed in early spring were startled by the sound of the door closing. A gust of wind blew, causing a chill to swirl around.

Zhao Qian stood with his arms crossed behind the screen, and Jiang Ling could not help but ask: "General Zhao, will you be staying at Lang Zhu'er's place for dinner tonight?"

Upon reaching this point, Zhao Qian could not help but feel a sense of confusion.

Zhang Duo turned sideways, and the Snow Dragon Sand, which had already raised its front legs, lay down again in fear at his gaze

It is unfortunate... they have even removed the veil from your eyes... and they are still binding you.

Zhao Qianzheng was hesitating whether to go in and mediate the situation, while the old servant had already returned with the clothes, bowing and presenting them before Zhang Duo.

He helplessly pressed one hand against his nose while taking a piece of silk from the servant beside him with the other hand, twisting it into two balls to block his nostrils. As he turned to walk outside, he muttered in a strange tone, "You still say you want to kill her, but I see you would rather kill me!"

Looking at the snow dragon sand crawling at his feet, I did not dare to step forward

Why

Cen Zhao's brows are relaxed and serene. "The sound of the bell is so urgent."

Zhang Duo turned his eyes aside and unknowingly stepped down a step. The sole of his boot snapped a dry branch, producing a "crack" sound. The woman behind the dwarf plum hurriedly turned around, hugging the trunk and desperately trying to hide her body.

Xi Yinmeng felt a sudden pang of acidity, and immediately his nostrils flared with heat

Just as she was about to resign herself to her fate and endure humiliation by undressing, she saw another man standing outside the door, boldly and confidently. She had been too flustered to see clearly just moments ago, but now, upon closer inspection, she realized he was indeed a man. The hand that had been gripping the sash at her waist retracted.

Don't go, I... have just put it on

Xi Yin lowered her head to look at the string of copper bells on her ankle. It was personally put on her by Cen Zhao in his early years

How the young master treats the servant is bearable, but the elder brother knows nothing at all; he is a person of dignity. I implore you, do not insult him

A gentle call, like the warm spring breeze, "I am tired of you. Do not be afraid, we will not die."

Zhao Qian made a shushing gesture towards him

What did she say

What do you understand? He Xin's approach is all about injury and pain, while I believe in genuine feelings. Tell me, these two siblings have relied on each other for so many years, can they not speak some truth? Just stay there and don't mimic your master’s deadpan expression; the words you speak are as if they were squeezed out from the seams of a coffin, lacking any vitality.

Silly girl

Xi Yin was obscured by the large sleeves, unable to see her surroundings. All she could hear were the faint sounds of footsteps retreating outside. After a while, the area fell silent. She cautiously opened one eye, just about to reach for the belt at her waist, when unexpectedly, she collided with his gaze, sharp as a cold blade. Her hand instinctively froze for a moment, then she thought, he has regarded her as a courtesan, and would never bestow even the slightest respect. At this moment of stalemate, she feared that even this outfit would be beyond her reach.

I did not leave

Outrageous

The soft hem of the skirt brushed against the catkins, while the copper bells on the ankles clinked, creating a fragmented sound

What do they want to do to the elder brother? A-Yin also wants to follow!

It is still possible to wrap the corpse

The more she spoke, the more chaotic it became

Later, when she grew older, many men regarded this string of objects as a part of her lewdness, discussing and teasing her, which caused her great humiliation at banquets. However, she refused to take it off and also refused to tell Cen Zhao

No, I am right here outside, and besides, I shouldn't be looking. What are you looking at here!

Zhao Qian turned back and said: "I am here on behalf of your lord to listen to what they, the siblings, have to say"

After speaking, Song Li turned away from her face and said to the outside, "Jiang Qin, bind them and take them away. In the West Pavilion, give them a stick of incense."

Elder brother should not come to find me

Miss, you should be aware of the rules set by the master. What we ought to know, we do not dare to forget even a bit; what we should not know, we do not hear a single word. Please go, Miss

As long as one stays away from all sentient beings, one will be fearless and unafraid

Get dressed and get up

Ayin, be careful; there is a table ahead, don't bump into it and hurt yourself

Jiang Ling stepped back a step and said

He shouted loudly, yet there was no response from within

At that moment, the Golden Crow of the Western Pavilion was hanging by a thread

However, this woman's "fear" seems somewhat familiar to him

Upon looking again at Zhang Duo, he was surprisingly trembling slightly at his shoulders, as if he were making a great effort to control his emotions

Xi Yin shook his head desperately, sobbing uncontrollably

Did not cry

As she spoke, she shifted her body, attempting to shield him from the fragmented light that passed through the intricately carved screen

The delicate fingers, the jade-like legs, and even the occasionally visible pair of jade peaks, all sway gracefully in the cold wind

The servants in the courtyard were all perceptive; after exchanging glances for a moment, they put down their tasks and followed the old servant out.

Hold on a little longer, and I will surely take you home

She was startled and, extending her delicate hand, tremulously pointed to the snow dragon sand in the corner of the wall, stammering as she explained to him: "If you are not here, it will bite me..."

Even in the presence of Guanyin, Zhang Duo still felt a momentary blankness in his mind. He turned around and shouted, "Do not act recklessly in front of me!"

Hmm?

Don't go

He said: "If it takes a little longer, I might not be able to see you anymore. You take it with you, so that I can always know where you are."

What could be more pitiable than a woman who is testing her limits in a desperate situation

More than a decade ago, he relied on this restraint to save himself in the mass grave. Those who struggled alongside him either went mad or died; only he, with his flesh exposed and drenched in blood, carrying a heart riddled with wounds, survived. Since then, he had long severed his emotional turmoil, even believing that carnal desires signified unrest and were of no benefit to inner cultivation, thus excluding women from his life.

He suddenly found her foolishness amusing and couldn't help but scoff:

Upon hearing this, she pressed her lips together and did not respond

As he was speaking, the old servant had already brought over the silver tray

Cen Zhao quietly knelt behind the jade-carved screen, with her hands bound in front of her knees.

Her hands were bound by ropes, leaving her unable to wipe away her tears, and she could only strive to steady the sob in her throat

No, no, A Yin's death is not to be mourned; I am just afraid that my elder brother will have no one to take care of him

Zhang Duo looked up and smiled in response

Frost-colored base, a large-sleeved shirt embroidered with lotus flowers, a moon-white lining, a skirt in a shade of rouge, and an entire outfit in moon-white color with a belly wrap

Where is A Yin going to find her elder brother ... ... I am so afraid of him ... ... really so afraid of him ... ... I really want to go home with you

The dog lay obediently at his feet, not daring to move, while he sat on the steps casually stroking the dog's head, glancing at the shadow behind the low plum tree.

Before he could finish speaking, the door suddenly slammed shut with a loud "bang". Zhao Qian did not react in time and was immediately hit, causing his nose to bleed.

The sudden loss of speech left Zhang Duo feeling uneasy

How dare one urge the general