Chapter 5: Spring Snow (Four)

The flesh formed by the snow is delicate and fragile, and apart from the bruise on the knee, there is not a single flaw. The legs are crossed and standing, futilely trying to guard something, yet allowing the cluster of youthful, soft fuzz to stir, captivating the soul. The thick, long hair hangs half down the chest and half cascades down the back, welcoming the occasional falling of two or three plum blossoms.

The English, flourishing yet bearing no fruit, evokes a sense of regret for something that reaches its peak but yields no results. Chen Xiao embodies such a regret

The person behind did not lift their head, "standing."

As soon as the name Chen Xiao was mentioned, Zhao Qian himself was taken aback

She cried out in pain, instantly stirring the snow salon that lay nearby

Be well

Thus, he brazenly committed murder and equally brazenly faced blame and humiliation before the spirit of the Chen family, yet afterwards he continued to walk through the streets of Luoyang, stained with blood and notorious for his misdeeds, causing others to avoid him at all costs

I have said that, with skin torn and flesh lacerated, I feel at ease in my conscience. In this way, it is also good; although we are not biological father and son, I consider this as a way of repaying my father by sacrificing my flesh. At this point, I owe nothing to the Zhang family

Zhang Duo caught it with one hand and immediately threw it back with a reverse motion

As the smoke in the furnace dissipates, the exquisite fragrance of the wood honey lingers on, leaving a long-lasting aftertaste that does not fade away.

You come out

A bark sounded from outside the door, causing Xi Yin to shudder all over. He hurriedly stood up, and before he could turn around, the door was already pushed open. Zhang Duo seemed to have been outside, still wearing his official uniform.

However, before she could indulge in self-pity, she noticed a knot hanging from the short plum tree in the courtyard, with Jiang Ling standing beside the tree, holding a slender whip in her hand

No more words to say? If there are no more words, I will take my leave

The twilight has faded away

It is also possible that he harbors sympathy for Chen Xiaoshang, and I suspect that he is constrained by Zhang Xi and is compelled to act accordingly

The collar of the fur coat was suddenly blown open by the wind, revealing her fair skin in the dim light. Only her pitifully clasped arms remained, concealing a few scattered remnants of dignity. She attempted to cover herself with her hands, but a cold voice interrupted her from the front:

At the foot of Mount Beimang lies an unnamed tomb, which is the final resting place of the once-renowned young talent of Luoyang

On this side of Qingtan Residence, the first incense has just been lit

If Chen Xiaoruo were here, you would not say this

Ah, who made you dress up like this

Take off the robe.

Do not resist

Her jaw trembled uncontrollably as she desperately clutched the rope around her wrist, "Spare me, I want to live... My brother will not be able to live long without seeing me..."

She had no idea what he was asking, nor did she understand why he was asking it. Standing shiveringly in the cold wind, she said in a trembling voice: "Do not kill me... I cannot die... I will listen to whatever you say..."

Even if he brought an end to the Chen family's lineage, he personally buried Chen Xiao.

Did I make you wait?

After Zhao Qian finished speaking, he was met with a prolonged silence from behind.

There are many opinions, yet once one steps onto Tong Tuo Street, everyone falls silent.

It is truly a magnificent scene, with the blooming plum blossoms quietly drifting down with the wind. The daylight is not yet over, casting a layer of golden fluff for the treetops and the people beneath them. The belt around her waist has loosened, and the long ribbons are lifted, resembling the long tail of a giant bird.

Born into a prestigious family and holding a high position among ministers, this individual had a life before the age of ten that remains shrouded in mystery. Where he lived and how he survived is unclear even to Zhao Qian. He does not appreciate hearing others comment on him, which has led to no one in the entire city of Luoyang daring to investigate his past, let alone speak of it.

Zhang Duo turned around and sat down in front of the door, extending his hand towards Jiang Ling, "Throw it over."

As for Zhang Duo, he is another type of character

Manage yourself well

Not hiding?

Having spoken, he struck her lower body with the whip

The Eastern County has always produced beautiful people, and the men are no less remarkable.

Jiang Ling looked at Xi Yin's intertwined fingers, her toes nervously rubbing against each other, hesitating for a moment

She trembled all over, hurriedly letting go of her hand, standing helplessly under the plum blossom tree

Yes

He stood up and walked towards her step by step, until he was in front of her, then coldly smiled and said: "Are you afraid of death? If you are afraid of death, how dare you hide a knife to assassinate the king?"

One is dressed elegantly, while the other is in disheveled robes

A chill arose at Zhao Qian's neck, and after pondering its meaning for a long while, he found himself speechless. When he finally raised his head to ask again, the person had already left, and the tea had grown cold.

Xi Yin's legs went weak, and she couldn't help but take a step back

Chen Xiaoyi possessed an unparalleled beauty, adorned in a splendid robe, with a single person and a single guqin, capable of independently mastering the "Guangling San." Striking stones and blowing leaves, he could summon a hundred birds to compete in song. Born into a family with profound scholarly heritage in the Eastern County, he remained humble in his self-cultivation and guarded in his demeanor. In the city of Luoyang, from the royal family to the servants, none did not admire his appearance and character. Even ten years after his death, there were still men and women who revered his extraordinary nature, frequently visiting Beima Mountain to pay their respects.

He turned sideways, grasping the sleeves of his robe as he ignited the incense burner shaped like a mountain. The spices within the furnace burned, and the smoke flowed out from the hollowed mountain shape, curling into the sleeves of the two individuals, causing their brows to slightly relax.

Only by saying this in front of a close friend can one truly feel at ease and justified

Though she is young, she has witnessed too many men gazing at her with insatiable desire, displaying grotesque behavior. She survives by catering to the malicious whims of society, supporting the blind members of her family. Therefore, she is grateful for her physical form and does not find those who covet it repulsive. On the contrary, she has never encountered anyone like Zhang Duo, who, like a cold crow perched on a paulownia tree, remains utterly indifferent to her extraordinary beauty, as if he could easily grasp her neck and snap it without a hint of remorse.

Jiang Ling

He glanced again at the whip marks on Zhang Duo's wrist, hesitated for a moment, and then cautiously asked: "Grand Marshal... why exactly did he humiliate you again"

In the tumultuous and absurd world, the term "hero" is often dissected and pursued separately.

This person is true to their word, as she has already witnessed on Tong Tuo Street

His whip was not brought down, nor did he scold her; he maintained his arm and quietly gazed into her eyes

Zhao Qian had already walked around the screen. Upon hearing these two words, he could only retreat. However, he refused to turn back, addressing the jade-carved screen of a hundred birds: "Fine, I should not mention that person. Yet, he has been dead for ten years, and the short cypress by the nameless grave on Beimang Mountain has already grown tall. In this life, no matter how splendid his reputation was, the outcome is already determined, and it cannot compare to yours. You have defeated him by more than half a piece; what obsession do you still hold?"

A vibrant display of youthfulness blossomed before Zhang Duo's eyes

She was on the verge of tears, and for a moment, she did not know where to place her hands. In a fit of panic, she raised her hands and hurriedly attempted to loop her wrist through the knot on the plum tree.

Xi Yin did not dare to pause; she had no footwear and walked barefoot on the stone steps, the cold pain piercing to the bone

He did not come in, but looked at her through the curtain

He took a few steps forward, then paused as a thought crossed his mind. He turned around and pulled a porcelain bottle from his waist, tossing it to him. "The family rules of the Zhang family are not lenient, so I won't use them. Take this to treat your injuries. It is more effective than your snake gall liquor"

In the face of this paradox, should I privately criticize him for his hypocritical pursuit of a pristine reputation

He busily poured tea and took a sip, then climbed up and said, "I am returning to the inner garrison to receive my punishment, farewell." After saying this, he strode away.

Zhang Duo said nothing, glanced at Zhao Qian's back, and raised his head to sip tea

In those years, Zhang Xi prepared a coffin for Chen Wang, and before the coffin, he severely punished Zhang Duo. Subsequently, Zhang Duo, despite bearing extremely severe injuries from the punishment, personally collected the bones for Chen Wang's son, Chen Xiao

Zhao Qian reluctantly tucked the porcelain vase back into his waist, crossed his arms, and said: "Alright, Mei Xinlin has only produced this much in a year, and I still feel reluctant to part with it after giving it all to you, but the cold is retreating..."

To this end, she diligently toiled for an entire day, making the bed, pruning the plum trees, sweeping, and polishing the vases. Finally, before sunset, she completed her tasks, lit the incense cake, and closed the furnace lid. She draped her robe and knelt on the ground in front of the gilded bronze Boshan furnace with a silver bamboo handle. While catching her breath, she gazed at the fragrant smoke wafting from the furnace. The aroma was rich and profound, entirely different from the light and frivolous scents sold in the music shop. After inhaling for a while, a sense of drowsiness unexpectedly arose, and as her body tilted, her knees relaxed, revealing her legs, which were as smooth as congealed fat. A chill swept over her, causing her to hurriedly pull her robe to cover herself. While catching her breath, she gazed at the fragrant smoke wafting from the furnace. The aroma was rich and profound, entirely different from the light and frivolous scents sold in the music shop. After inhaling for a while, a sense of drowsiness unexpectedly arose, and as her body tilted, her knees relaxed, revealing her legs, which were as smooth as congealed fat. A chill swept over her, causing her to hurriedly pull her robe to cover herself.

As long as the whip is cracked and strikes, it can ignite this stunning beauty

Upon hearing this, her ears turned red. She tightly grasped the hem of her clothing, not daring to look at Zhang Duo, let alone at herself. In the corner, Xuelongsha barked sharply, causing her to nearly jump up. In a panic, she tore off the belt around her waist, and at the same time, a package of unknown contents fell out from between her belt. However, she could no longer pay attention to it.

There are two remaining in the courtyard

Yes

The tea cup clinked against the table as he raised his head to meet someone's gaze

Genuine fear, crystal clear

The smoke from the incense in the Boshan furnace gathers and rises from the base like ethereal mist, swirling around the tea table

The cold and crisp fragrance of the plum blossoms mingles with the subtle warmth of honeyed wood emanating from indoors, intertwining in the gentle breeze of dusk

It will be fine in ten days, no need for you to worry

Are you trying to make things difficult for me

He dropped his hand, remaining silent, which already frightened her into rushing down the steps. She stopped under the short plum tree, and without waiting for him to speak, she tiptoed and placed her wrist towards the noose.

The cold words that struck directly at his brow jolted Zhao Qian back to reality

He raised his whip and pointed at that dwarf plum tree

It cannot be described as an obsession, but rather as a more complex layer of human perception.

Zhang Duo seemingly had no intention of allowing her to live beyond ten days, and he could not even be bothered to provide her with proper clothing

The whip wind swept across Xi Yin's face, and the person behind raised a hand to catch it, gripping the whip handle with one hand and the whip tail with the other, speaking in a flat tone: "You go out first, and no matter what you hear, you must not come back in."

Zhao Qian sat properly with his arms crossed, patiently saying: "Is there still good meat on your back? For the past few days, Mei Xinlin has been unable to come out. How are you treating your injuries? Are you just enduring it?"

the past

The man's robe she wore had no lining, and as soon as she sat down, it naturally parted, revealing a glimpse of light; not to mention that she wore no undergarments, which was even more scandalous than a prostitute. However, that man did not cast even a glance her way, leaving one to wonder whether he was exceptionally pure or utterly disdainful of her.

However, Zhang Duo simply sat quietly at the top of the stone steps, glancing at her from a distance of ten meters, the whip in his hand striking his palm repeatedly.

Do not cover!

He spoke in a neither light nor heavy tone, reclaiming his spirit. He is a person who speaks decisively, and Jiang Ling is well aware of this. At this moment, she could only suppress her admiration and respond with "Yes." before throwing the whip.

As Zhang Duo was leaving, he left a message for Xi Yin: "The Guanyin descends without dust, the room is filled with fragrance; if there is a single word amiss, I shall be punished."

Chen Xiao died in the tenth year of Xingqing, during the case of the extermination of the Chen clan in Dongjun