Chapter 2
He sensed something unusual but remained silent. Following her gaze, he waited for a long time before he finally saw a maid in a brightly colored dress appear. He felt a slight oddity in his heart; how did Anu notice someone coming here so early?
Having finished her speech, she pulled the reins, kicked the horse's belly, and galloped away, leaving no trace behind
I enjoy sleeping in Wuge's room; it has been a long time since we slept together... She heard footsteps approaching and looked towards the gate of the courtyard
In the past, he merely acted like a loyal little dog, running around him. Now, however, he wonders, do other people's younger sisters treat their brothers in this manner? They go to great lengths to accommodate him, to cherish this Fifth Brother of theirs. Which family's daughter can achieve such a level?
Her heart skipped a beat, and she immediately stopped breathing
Miss Liu, this is Young Master Wu's room, please.
Fifth Brother is considerate? Not at all! If he were truly considerate, how could he not reply to her letter? He is not thinking of that girl Chunlian; he is thinking of himself, trying to get used to this woman named Chunlian, forcing himself to become somewhat familiar with the object of his coming-of-age ceremony, confirming that she harbors no feelings of rejection. He absolutely dislikes being overly intimate with strangers when he cannot see clearly—especially when that intimacy is not willingly given.
Of course, Fifth Brother has completed his coming-of-age ceremony, and it is said that in the future he will be able to see people clearly. At that time, he will be able to observe Anu in great detail and with complete clarity. She was excited.
Miss Liu! Jin Er smiled and said: "You woke up really early. We are leaving in the afternoon. Why... why is your face so pale?"
Upon realizing that these books had already been read by someone, she put them back and turned to see a corner of the bookshelf where bamboo slips were placed. Curiously, she picked them up and exclaimed in surprise
I want to leave the city
Xu Er fell silent for a moment. "Who knows? The inferior people of Nanlin have long mingled with the common folk, and have never encountered a situation like his. Those legends are from a long time ago, and their truth is uncertain. However, in any case, this coming-of-age ceremony is necessary. After the ceremony, he wants to go abroad; we must find an opportunity to advise him not to bring back a foreign wife, he should find someone in Nanlin... It is time for the Xu family to expand their branches and leaves." After the ceremony, he wants to go abroad; we must find an opportunity to advise him not to bring back a foreign wife, he should find someone in Nanlin... It is time for the Xu family to expand their branches and leaves.
Not tall in stature, dressed in a black dress, she stood there gazing at him.
"Tomorrow morning, I will first invite a doctor to take a look at you, and then you can return to the capital," he said
Am I really tired? I can't believe that tonight I have Anu accompanying me, it is truly wonderful
"Do not turn on the light, turn your back." He knew she would listen to him very well, and without turning back to confirm, she amusedly used the water in the basin to wash her hands
Fifth Brother, I made a wish to the heavens. If the coming-of-age ceremony cannot improve your eyesight, then Anu will share some of her vision with you. So do not worry, in the future, Fifth Brother will be able to see Anu clearly and look at the things he wishes to see clearly.
"Anu, it has indeed been a long time since I held you." It is only now that he realizes how much he misses this feeling
She paused for a moment, set down the quilt, bent down, and dragged out the basket, which was indeed filled to the brim with envelopes
At present, she noticed that Xiao Yuanxia's complexion was pale and unsightly. What was there to look so unpleasant about? It wasn't as if he was being asked to call her "sister"! Yesterday, she was summoned by His Majesty, who cheerfully mentioned that Xiao Yuanxia and Miss Luo were admiring flowers in the Imperial Garden, even playfully winking at her. She was truly baffled until she coincidentally encountered Princess Dafeng on her way back, and with her hint, she finally understood that His Majesty intended to betroth Miss Luo to Xiao Yuanxia. Yesterday, she was summoned by His Majesty, who cheerfully mentioned that Xiao Yuanxia and Miss Luo were admiring flowers in the Imperial Garden, even playfully winking at her. She was truly baffled until she coincidentally encountered Princess Dafeng on her way back, and with her hint, she finally understood that His Majesty intended to betroth Miss Luo to Xiao Yuanxia.
At dusk, Xu Changmu, dressed in a white shirt and a long robe, suddenly stopped as he passed through the courtyard
"Where should I go?" A momentary confusion appeared in her eyes, and then she smiled at Jin Er, saying, "If Fifth Brother asks, just tell him that Anu has gone back to be a frog at the bottom of the well."
"It's nothing, I accidentally fell into the pond, just changing clothes will be fine." She said absentmindedly, "The third young master also fell into the pond just now and got a bit hurt, you should go help him quickly."
The maid promptly complied and left
She squatted under the lantern, burying her arms and closing her eyes to rest.
"Fifth Master does not particularly like outsiders entering his room, so Jin'er will not go in. Sixth Miss, you are truly beautiful, but you do not quite resemble a person from Nanlin. Is this the original appearance of the Xu family?"
He is utterly incapable of reaching such a level of affection towards Ding Ping; he cannot develop a fraternal bond with Ding Ping. At most, treating him with courtesy is his limit
... ... not only that, I also want to meet Fifth Brother." She smiled, continuously rubbing his hands. "Anu has always been grateful that she is not a man, otherwise this coming-of-age ceremony would be truly painful... ..." She noticed his expression was slightly strange and added, "I think that when Fifth Brother is reluctantly going through this, having me by his side might make the coming-of-age ceremony a bit easier."
Miss Liu, where are you going? Is Tian Cai Liang aware of it? Does Fifth Young Master know?
It turns out that her letter has never been read by anyone, hey, it has never been read by anyone
Xu Liefeng hesitated to speak
The Luo family, like the Fang family, is a prominent family with deep roots in the three dynasties, wielding significant influence in the court. However, the Luo family is much more low-key, at least not flaunting their power as ostentatiously as the Fang family does.
What exactly is her status? Is she truly a member of the Xu family? Even the fourth sister, who does not share the Xu surname, receives the love of her father and brothers, but what about her? Is she also an orphan from somewhere? How can she be even less favored than the fourth sister? She has long harbored doubts and pays attention to every clue. Even the fifth brother, who is of average appearance, bears a slight resemblance to the third brother and the others; so who does she resemble? Does she look like her mother?
Who did this? It looks like a wedding. Is it that very enthusiastic Jin Er? She is speechless
Indeed, a few days ago, the five young masters even invited Miss Chunlian to read and write letters on their behalf.
Jin Er quickly bowed and, after seeing him off, turned to Xu Liefeng with a cheerful smile and said
Upon hearing this, she stumbled, nearly falling flat on her face, and it was entirely thanks to Xu Wu who caught her in time
Xu Liefeng touched his right cheek, which was somewhat swollen and red, as he lingered at the entrance of the Xu residence
Fifth Brother, what do you think women have this for? It hurts so much that I feel like I'm dying. In the future, Anu is going to be a person who goes to the battlefield! If it hurts like this every month, won't I have to pray day and night that I won't be on the battlefield during this time? It really hurts. Fifth Brother, yesterday His Majesty suddenly decided that I couldn't return to the residence at night and insisted that I stay and talk with him. When is it ever inappropriate to say such things? Is it really necessary to stay up late? Xiao Yuanxia timely requested an audience with His Majesty, and only then was I able to escape. Hey, I know he is quite loyal, specially redeeming me from the palace. However, he is a bit strange. Last night, he caught up with me with a pale face and scolded me for being a heartless fool, saying that I should know to avoid suspicion now that I'm almost thirteen... Avoid suspicion with whom? His Majesty? He is old enough to be my grandfather, no, he is old enough to be my father. Fifth Brother, please don't tell Father that I laughed at his age; I didn't mean it... However, he is a bit strange. Last night, he caught up with me with a pale face and scolded me for being a heartless fool, saying that I should know to avoid suspicion now that I'm almost thirteen... Avoid suspicion with whom? His Majesty? He is old enough to be my grandfather, no, he is old enough to be my father. Fifth Brother, please don't tell Father that I laughed at his age; I didn't mean it... His Majesty is about the same age as Father, but I definitely lean towards Father. Fifth Brother, you sent a message to Second Brother, why didn't you send one to Anu? Did Second Brother forget? Anu is always pestering him, and he even lied to me that you didn't send me a message. Next time, don't ask Second Brother to relay it; just write to me directly. I don't really miss you anymore, but you miss me... I definitely miss you...
Her hands trembled slightly as she took a cup filled with water and flicked a drop of blood into it. Without hesitation, she drew a dagger and made a cut across the back of her hand, allowing the dark red bead to roll into the cup.
She ran joyfully in front of him, like a little loyal dog
She closed her crescent-shaped eyes and said
The wind today is somewhat strong, making her feel alternately cold and hot. She hurriedly rubbed her hands together and suddenly remembered that if Fifth Brother encountered something he did not enjoy, his hands would always be cold... He had mentioned the matter of the coming-of-age ceremony; at that time, his hands were also icy cold...
Before leaving, she happened to encounter Jin Er. Jin Er and another maid from the Xu residence were carrying hot water basins, preparing to deliver them to their respective masters' rooms
The sky was drizzling lightly, and she lit a match and tossed it into the basket. The orange flames leapt from the paper, swiftly consuming all her hopes, longings, and self-deceptions accumulated over the past two years
Is the second brother going out
"His words made me uncomfortable, so ... ... "
She is my younger sister Xu Liu. Jin'er, please take Miss Liu to my room to rest. He realized that he was still holding Anu's hand and smiled as he let go. "Anu, go rest; I didn't notice your tired expression and I can also tell that you are quite smelly all over.
She gazed absentmindedly for a while, then turned and went to the stable to lead out her horse
She thought that before she was born, Fifth Brother must have endured a lot of hardships studying alone. Fortunately, he had her; she would read to him so that he wouldn't have to strain his eyes too much. When his handwriting was messy, she would secretly correct it for him. If he wanted to see maps of different countries, she would color the maps in vibrant hues, making each border line thicker than her arm, so that he could see clearly. Therefore, Fifth Brother could not do without her, right
You arrived just in time. I have matters to attend to at my fifth brother's place, which will take about two days for the round trip. I would appreciate it if you could inform His Majesty that the little frog at the bottom of the well is going out for a couple of days to gain some experience and will return shortly. Please ask him not to miss me too much. If he does feel a strong longing, then I would like to request that you paint a portrait to ease his feelings of nostalgia. When I return, I will share the interesting stories with him. By the way, the King of Xia is my token; if there is anything, just go find him!" With that, she flicked the whip and galloped through the city gate.
Her eyes were bright. It turned out that she was treated the same as the fourth sister, and she had not been neglected; it was she who had overthought it.
... ... Anu? He could not see clearly, but he knew she was smiling, and her smile was exceedingly joyful
"You have come." The doorman knew what she was going to ask and smiled, saying: "The Fifth Young Master still hasn't sent you any news. Miss Liu, what happened to your face? How did such a beautiful face get swollen like this?"
The Xu family courtyard is not large, and she has a naturally strong sense of perception, quickly finding the guest room for the coming-of-age ceremony in the dark
Xu Liefeng, feeling sullen, casually asked:
"Fifth Brother!" She jumped into his arms. "Fifth Brother! Fifth Brother!"
The so-called "inferior citizens of Nanlin" refer to those of a lower status within the Nanlin community. Historical records of Nanlin state that these inferior citizens have existed since the founding of the nation, originating from various countries without any proof of identity. However, their appearance is distinctly different from the naturally beautiful citizens of Nanlin. Subsequently, the rulers of Nanlin classified certain convicted subjects as inferior citizens, leading to an intermingling of these two groups of inferior citizens. Over time, their descendants gradually leaned towards the beauty characteristic of Nanlin, losing the ordinary and unremarkable traits of their ancestors.
"Wait for my return, please go to the restaurant to have a meal as an apology!" she shouted, and in the blink of an eye, she vanished from his sight
Fifth Brother, Anu got into a fight again today. Usually, Anu is a victorious general, winning every battle, but today he was ambushed. The companion of the fried fish is truly unworthy; indeed, one can only associate with those of similar character! The fried fish teamed up with the most incompetent child of the Fang family, and that Fang, taking advantage of Anu's moment of inattention, struck him from behind with a chair. I accidentally took a punch from the fried fish. He looked terrified, probably fearing my retaliation. ... But at the moment, I have no way to retaliate. Fifth Brother, I am in pain, it hurts so much, and my mouth is bleeding profusely ...? How have you been lately? Anu misses you very much? Do you miss Anu? A couple of days ago, I also had a stomachache and learned that the girl from Nanlin has a condition related to the water of the Gui. Fourth Sister invited a doctor to come to the residence to check my pulse and provide treatment, saying I should avoid ice and not get cold, and naturally, I would feel better? Fifth Brother, this is truly annoying, isn't it? In the future, Anu is going to the battlefield; why do these troublesome things have to appear? A couple of days ago, I also had a stomachache and learned that the girl from Nanlin has a condition related to the water of the Gui. Fourth Sister invited a doctor to come to the residence to check my pulse and provide treatment, saying I should avoid ice and not get cold, and naturally, I would feel better? Fifth Brother, this is truly annoying, isn't it? In the future, Anu is going to the battlefield; why do these troublesome things have to appear? Is it true that when heaven is about to bestow a great responsibility upon a person, it must first torment their will and labor their muscles and bones? Fifth Brother, is there any way to not feel pain ...? Anu is really in a lot of pain ... ...
However, she holds no fondness for either the Luo family or the Fang family. She has not forgotten the smile that the young lady of the Luo family concealed with her hand two years ago at the palace banquet
She took two steps forward, opened her mouth to call out to him, but in the end, she only kicked a stone on the ground in frustration. She walked into the Xu residence, saw the doorman, her eyes brightened, and she approached to ask:
Fifth Brother, a few days ago, His Majesty issued an edict prohibiting Xu's sixth son from leaving the capital! What does he mean by that? Back in the day, when you wanted to travel outside the capital, Anu was supposed to accompany you, but His Majesty said he was too old, and if Anu left, he wouldn't be able to see me all the time. So he insisted on keeping Anu here to watch over him every day, which is truly annoying! ... His Majesty has a daughter and a son to cherish, and Anu does not share the surname Xiao, so having him watch over me every day is of no use ...? ... Fifth Brother, you seem to be lost in your own world, don't you? Why haven't you sent a message to Anu ...? His Majesty has a daughter and a son to cherish, and Anu does not share the surname Xiao, so having him watch over me every day is of no use ...? ... Fifth Brother, you seem to be lost in your own world, don't you? Why haven't you sent a message to Anu ...? Anu really misses you, Anu wants to write for Fifth Brother again, wants to read books to Fifth Brother, wants to learn to entertain Fifth Brother like an actor in the middle of the night ... ... ... Fifth Brother, I can now recite your military strategies fluently, and in the future, I will no longer need you to repeat yourself several times for me to understand, Fifth Brother ... ... Anu really wants to be your hands and feet again ... ... Fifth Brother, I can now recite your military strategies fluently, and in the future, I will no longer need you to repeat yourself several times for me to understand, Fifth Brother ... ... Anu really wants to be your hands and feet again ... ...
He raised his eyes to look at her and said, "Yes... Anu, did you go to fight?"
She has always regarded Xiao Yuanxia as her younger brother, and the Xu family's elder brothers are all her brothers. She longs for her brothers to cherish and love her, while in her eyes, Xiao Yuanxia is like someone who needs protection, akin to the roles of protector and the protected between the Xu family and the royal family. Does this imply that everything is merely her own self-inflicted troubles, when in fact, she has Xu family blood flowing in her veins? Does this imply that everything is merely her own self-inflicted troubles, when in fact, she has Xu family blood flowing in her veins?
Fourth sister
She could not help but nod repeatedly, pulling him back to his room
It is quite uncomfortable... Even Fifth Brother can casually find someone to replace her? Then what is her purpose?
She had just arrived outside Xu Sanmen, her hearing exceptionally sharp, and she clearly heard him laughing heartily inside:
In the past, he merely thought perhaps; today, however, he profoundly confirms—if he were to always possess this appearance and this vision, there would only be one Anu in this world who would sincerely approach him and care for him.
He got into bed and found that the quilt had been covered by Anu, which made him chuckle involuntarily. Usually, Anu is very attentive to him, so how could she allow him to have no quilt at all? She must be truly exhausted tonight
Upon hearing this, Xu Liefeng developed a feeling of dislike towards this person named Chunlian
She was drenched and hurried back to her dormitory
No matter how long it takes for Fifth Brother to complete his coming-of-age ceremony, she wants to be by his side. Even if someone else takes her place as his eyes, at least she is still Xu Liu, Fifth Brother's sister
Sister Si maintains a neutral demeanor, neither overly enthusiastic nor excessively dismissive towards her. Perhaps Sister Si is an outsider, and it is not appropriate to distance herself too much from Xu Liu, but she has a vague sense that Xu Si has drawn a line in front of her, placing herself and her brothers within a circle, while she, Xu Liefeng, remains outside of it
I can go back by myself; this day and night of riding won't tire me out. Where is the ceremony for Fifth Brother's coming of age held? Perhaps I should go to Fourth Sister's room to rest
To this day, there are few who possess an unexpectedly striking appearance like that of Fifth Brother.
Finally ... someone has truly noticed her ... Hey, she said coming here was the right choice, hey, hey ...
She took out another official road map, spent some time memorizing it silently, then led her horse out of the Xu residence
Not a single letter has been opened
He smiled faintly and returned to sit on the bed
She carefully confirmed that each character was bold enough for Fifth Brother to barely see, and only then did she toss down her brush, rolling onto the cool bamboo slip. After thinking for a moment, she pulled open her top, half-unbuttoning her belly pocket, exposing her small belly to cool off, hoping it would be cool enough to make her roll in pain
After thinking for a while, she gritted her teeth, returned to her room to retrieve the map, and examined it closely. The location chosen by Fifth Brother for the coming-of-age ceremony is a town in the south with a relatively high population of undesirable elements. If one rides swiftly through the night, it can be reached in a day
Jin Er arrived at a room, opened the door, and smiled at her
"Five Young Masters, I am Jin Er..." The maid, aware of his poor eyesight, quickly reported her identity. She glanced over Xu Liefeng and blurted out: "This beautiful young lady is..."
"If you're injured, just apply some medicine; don't let anyone see your scars," Xu Dingping said before leaving
However, he never considered that he would be bound by the habits of the past few years—holding Anu, he actually felt relaxed
Fifth Brother, recently Anu has been doing quite well. Our brothers have been taking turns returning to the capital. Today, Third Brother, in his reckless manner, fell into the pond, and his awkward appearance truly made Anu burst into laughter. However, as a sister, how could I just watch my brother in trouble without offering help? So, I stepped forward to try to assist him, but accidentally fell into the pond as well. ... Third Brother has been at the border for a long time, and he has become quite unrefined in his speech. When he saw me completely soaked, he exclaimed "unlucky" and then ran away ...
She listened as behind her, it was not just washing hands, it was simply ... ? ... Fifth Brother was wiping his body. ? She really wanted to remind him that it was freezing cold and not to use cold water, but she thought it was better not to say much at this moment. At worst, the two siblings would get sick together and see a doctor together.
"What are you doing here just after the first watch has passed?" he frowned
Her writing is rich in emotion, so much so that even she feels moved when she reads it. She has always been puzzled as to why the person reading the letter does not reply. It must be that the other brothers are unwilling to convey the message! This is how she reassures herself.
A short nap will suffice, she thought, I should be able to wake up before Fifth Brother emerges. ... She fell into a hazy sleep, thinking that she is Xu Liu, the sister of Xu Wu, and this relationship will not change, it must not change ... . ... Someone kept shaking her, she felt a bit cold and curled up even tighter.
What is it! What is it! Can anything be as remarkable as Fifth Brother's eyes and hands? Such boasting! She was so angry that she paced back and forth, wishing she could drive away the one called Chunlian!
"Do not call me Brother Yuanxia!" he said sternly. He realized that he had inexplicably lost his temper with her, and then said, "I am not angry with you; it’s just that you are not that much younger in my eyes. Father wants us to address each other as siblings, but I am not used to it... Where are you going?"
He smiled as he playfully tapped her nose, gathered the comforter from the bed, urged her to lie down on the couch, and carefully covered her with the blanket
He laughed heartily and pulled her along. "You go rest in my room first, and tomorrow I will hire a carriage to take you back to the capital."
Fifth brother, don't rush me to the guest room. I... I sleep on the long couch by the window. I will be going back tomorrow. If we sleep in separate rooms tonight, we won't even have a few words to say to each other
Fifth Brother is a talented individual, and it is only natural for him to possess a certain degree of pride. You cannot see the other person's true feelings, nor do you know their emotions, yet you feel displeased due to the overly close relationship dictated by the customs of the South. It is of no consequence; at that time, Anu will accompany you outside. As long as Fifth Brother wishes, Anu can endure the discomfort of being outside with you, and it will soon pass.
Who wants to see it? Well, the only one who will look is oneself
Miss Liu! Jin Er, being clever, subtly signaled to the maid from the Xu family to find Xu Wu. She hurried forward and said with a smile: "It is raining, Miss Liu is dressed too lightly, look, you are still shivering, where is Young Master Wu?"
Write for oneself, read for oneself, and find joy in one's own company
He slowly turned his head and looked at the figure standing beside the column.
She was momentarily taken aback, feeling that Fifth Brother seemed somewhat unfamiliar at this moment. She stammered
I have come to see you! I miss you so much, Fifth Brother! You seem to have grown taller, but Anu is not to be underestimated; she is still growing taller too
Anu has become too close for comfort on her own accord. Previously, he always thought she was indifferent, but now he feels that her closeness is not necessarily a bad thing
What he thought of first was not the unruly maidservants, but rather that the only person capable of wearing the girl's clothes with such audacity, as if even the garments were infused with that certain aura, was one individual
"I am talking to you." Xu Liefeng frowned
Will Fifth Brother reply to the letter? If he does not like writing letters, it is also fine to send a servant to deliver a message. Fifth Brother travels between various towns; I wonder where he is now? With this letter going back and forth, when will she finally receive it? The days of waiting are truly difficult!
If you are injured, apply some medicine; do not let others see your scars.
She was so delighted that even if she were to be punched ten or eight times by a fried fish, she would not retaliate! Fifth Brother said he would find a doctor to examine her! He heard about her discomfort, so he wants to find a doctor to take a look at her!
"Fifth Brother... is he still sleeping?" Xu Liefeng replied absentmindedly, nimbly turning over to mount the horse
Why hasn't anyone replied to her? She feels a bit anxious, quickly prepares her ink and brush, lays out the stationery, thinks carefully for a moment, and begins to write:
There is no need for her father and brothers to deceive her! After her mother gave birth to her, she became weak and soon passed away. Perhaps for this reason, her father and brothers have always rejected her, while her fifth brother, being a bastard, holds no animosity towards her.
She squatted there, staring for a long time, slowly turning her head to look at the faint figure on the bed. Her expression was slightly dazed as she carefully opened one treasured letter after another, reading each sentence written on them.
I... I just arrived and wanted to say... if Fifth Brother comes out while it is still dark, I will be able to help you back to your room
She was restless and simply pushed the door open. The cold wind made her shiver, and she clasped her hands together, murmuring to the night sky: "I hope for a miracle that will grant Fifth Brother vision as clear as Anu's." His talents could lead him to a bright future and benefit the people of Nanlin, but due to his eyesight, he faced many obstacles. Whether he has good looks is irrelevant; if the miraculous legends of the inferior people of Nanlin are true, may they come to pass for Fifth Brother.
He steadied her and exclaimed, "How did you come here?"
How could she not have the surname Xu
Xu Liefeng's face was flushed, and she quietly left Xu San's dormitory. Her face was so red that even her eyes turned red. Why did San Ge have to say such things about her! ... His Majesty only wanted ...! ... to see her at all times. Right now, she is just a frog at the bottom of a well, but in the future, she will definitely rise to the surface and protect all the people of Nanlin. By then, San Ge will no longer laugh at her!
Xu Liefeng anxiously kicked open his room door, then quickly closed it tightly, his heart pounding as he spread out the handkerchief.
"It hurts so much, it hurts so much." She covered her face, initially intending to return to her room, but later changed direction and headed towards Fifth Brother's dormitory.
The shadows in the room faintly cast a vibrant hue on her face, momentarily leaving Jin'er in a daze. Do the people from the south possess such vivid colors?
Hmm... Xu Liefeng stepped in and turned to look at her. "How long have you been staying in this residence?"
Fifth Brother, do you still want Anu to be your hands and feet? Do you miss Anu? ... Anu really misses you, really misses you ... . ... She lay down for a while, touching her abdomen, took off her shoes and socks, and jumped down onto the cold floor.
Is Miss Liu joking? There is an order from above; Miss Liu must have a token to leave Beijing. This token...
Xu Liefeng clenched his fist
It has been half a month. Jin Er reluctantly came to her senses and replied: "Fifth Young Master is considerate, fearing that Miss Chunlian may not be able to accept his appearance, so he asked her to stay in this residence for half a month to gradually get accustomed to him... Sigh, let’s not mention what our Chunshui Residence does; in fact, we are different from those noble ladies in Nanlin who only care about appearances. Fifth Young Master, whose surname is Xu, is a strategist who has written military treatises and is much kinder than others. It is a blessing for Miss Chunlian that he has taken an interest in her."
She originally intended to ask him today where he planned to go after leaving Nanlin. The two siblings have been close for so many years, yet she never knew that her fifth brother wanted to go abroad. Did he forget to mention it to her
He nodded slightly. "It should be so." After speaking, he turned and left
The siblings... she smiled brightly.
Xu Liefeng bit her lip. She understood the implication of her second brother's words. He was saying that from now on, the fifth brother would no longer need to rely on Anu!
The man looked completely different from Xu Wu, possessing the pure and ethereal beauty typical of the southern people, yet his features were overly cold and serious, making it easy for others to keep their distance.
"It hurts!" Her mouth was bitten, causing her flesh to break and blood to flow profusely, making her small face contort in pain
She shuddered all over, not daring to think any further
"What bad luck, we are siblings after all," she complained to herself. "He actually mistook me for an outsider, thinking that just because he saw me drenched and exposed, he would have to marry me? Third Brother's eyesight is even worse than Fifth Brother's..." She found the letter to be exceedingly dull and directly crumpled it up, tossing it into a corner.
Two bright red lanterns are lit at the entrance of the yard, making it very easy to find
No, no, I did not mean that...
Two years later
If in the future Your Majesty allows her to leave the capital, and she is no longer needed at the border, she wishes to follow in the footsteps of Fifth Brother. He is an eagle soaring in the sky, and she would be a little eagle behind him. She chuckled softly, realizing that Third Brother was right; she truly was being one-sided in her affections, fearing that in his eyes, she never existed at all.
She smiled with a twinkle in her eyes, filled with fragments of joy.
She moved some bamboo slips from Fifth Brother's room and read them repeatedly every day, fearing that one day when he returned, he might casually ask her something, and she would not be as fluent as she claimed in her letter, which would surely disappoint Fifth Brother. She also read the idle books on the shelf one by one, just waiting for his return so that she could speak with brilliance and without monotony.
The sky has darkened, and the entire room is as if stained with ink
Sometimes she feels that His Majesty and Xiao Yuanxia are the ones who truly care for her... Of course, those who care for her also include Fifth Brother... If you get hurt, just apply some medicine, don't let anyone see your scars, hey, who are you afraid of being seen by? His Majesty?
His eyesight is poor, and the characters he writes are also messy and rough, but she, having been accustomed to his handwriting since childhood, is able to discern what he is writing.
Xu San smiled and said: "Indeed. Our lives are always at risk, but at least our family must preserve one to carry on the lineage. Lao Wu is quite good; he is intelligent and has the ability to survive no matter the circumstances. His future descendants will surely not be ordinary. I used to think that heaven had been overly generous to our family, producing such an extraordinary child. However, now I suddenly feel that Lao Wu is just fine as he is. No one is perfect; if he were truly as the legends say, gradually changing in appearance, that would be perfection, and I would be afraid of that."
She is well aware that with Fifth Brother outside, there must be others to replace her as his eyes and hands, yet hearing it with her own ears still leaves her feeling uncomfortable deep down
How is it that after not seeing each other for two years, he feels completely familiar?
I said, does this fifth one have a... a penchant for Dragon Yang? Why has the coming-of-age ceremony been delayed for so long? It seems as if he is being forced.
The edge of the basket is still covered in dust, indicating that the owner seldom moves it, merely tossing unwanted items inside.
Each letter, every single one, was written by her own hand, sealed by her own hand. She was afraid that others would open them carelessly, so she sealed them meticulously and securely, hoping that only Brother Wu would see them
"... ... Hmm, you ... ... should go to sleep soon." He replied gently. As her breathing gradually steadied, his smile faded, yet the unexpected warmth brought by Anu lingered in his heart
Please allow Miss Liu to come with Jin'er. How fortunate I am to have encountered two members of the Xu family in a single day, or rather, in my lifetime; if this were to be known, it would surely incite envy in others
"You... are you my fifth brother's maid here?" Xu Liefeng followed her, secretly observing the graceful figure of the maid, who was about the same age as his fifth brother, but wasn't her makeup a bit too heavy?
There is someone who can replace her ... ? ... Fifth Brother probably doesn't need her much anymore, right? ? Her palms are a bit sweaty, extremely annoyed that Fifth Brother would look for a flower sister who can read and write!
She rummaged through the bookshelf, not noticing anyone who could interpret these drawings for him. She curled her lips, thinking that if there were truly someone who could understand his artistic skills, it would indeed be a marvel akin to the worms in Fifth Brother's belly.
Xu Dingping glanced at her, nodded slightly as a greeting, and then brushed past her. Xu Liefeng bit her lip, lowered her head to touch the bruised joint on her finger. The footsteps behind her turned back; she did not look back, her lips moved silently as she spoke:
Her heart raced. "I didn't mean to..."
However, the origins of those foreign subjects, which country or clan they wandered in from, have never been boldly asserted by any scholar throughout history. Yet, they dare to assert that currently, no subjects of any country require the harmonization of yin and yang to alter their appearance. Consequently, the notion of gradual changes in appearance that has circulated among the inferior populace of the South has always been regarded as a myth, and remains unverified to this day
He is very proud; he usually treats those he despises with courtesy. He detests certain established customs, such as the coming-of-age ceremony, yet he has no choice but to conform to them. She understands all of this, but it makes her feel very uncomfortable
For what matter
She intended to take a nap on the steps in front of the door, but just as she moved a step, her ears perked up, and her eyes widened slightly as she gazed towards the door
She buried her small face in the mattress, ignoring the pain. Fifth Brother had left a long time ago, and this bed had been changed several times; how could there still be his scent?
"Are you now a prisoner?" she said with a cold smile. "Are you implying that I, Xu Liu, am the prisoner, and that this capital has become my prison?"
Xu Liefeng appeared oblivious, leading the horse out.
I know that Fifth Brother likes to hold Anu
Then, the cloth plug in her ear was removed by someone
He said nothing, still holding her soft body. After a long while, he finally concealed his rare vulnerability and said
I am not that unfortunate yet... Your fingers are really cold, have you only been here for a short while?
His gaze lingered on her indistinct brows and eyes
She paced back and forth anxiously, then went to rummage through his books
"I came by myself," she said proudly. "Anu hasn't closed her eyes for a whole day and night. After arriving here, I casually asked a local, and they told me that the Xu family has a small residence here, so I came by myself. Fifth Brother, you..." She gently held his hands, which were indeed cold. "When I first arrived, I heard that tonight is your coming-of-age ceremony, so Anu wanted... wanted to accompany Fifth Brother."
She laughed heartily and said, "Alright, I will take Fifth Brother back to the room"
She stepped back slightly to the window and peered inside, where Xu Er was looking down at a letter. Has Fifth Brother written?
"Fierce Wind, what are you doing here?" Xiao Yuanxia exclaimed in surprise, quickly getting out of the carriage. "I was just about to look for you, these past few days have always..." "Always making the Emperor intend to separate the two of us.
He remained silent for a moment, wrapped her soft body in his arms, and said softly with a smile
What is that sound? Her heart was pounding, and her cheeks felt slightly warm. She vaguely sensed that something was amiss and that she should not listen closely. Thus, she retreated from the courtyard, took a dagger to cut a piece of cloth, and stuffed it into her ears
Still, no one resembles anyone else
Refrain from speaking too much; do not say what should not be said
Xu San reined in his joking demeanor and asked seriously
Outside the window, Xu Liefeng listened carefully as they discussed the place where Fifth Brother was currently staying, when the coming-of-age ceremony would take place, and which of the flower sisters from the southern lowly folk would be chosen. Finally, Xu San hesitated and asked a question:
"Sleep now," he said
He intended to briefly rest in his clothes and have a good conversation with her when dawn broke. However, with Anu by his side, he unconsciously felt a sense of peace that gradually spread throughout his body. The past two years, he had always been a light sleeper, but tonight he fell into a deep sleep.
She paused her movements, gazing at the bamboo slip for a moment before opening it as if it were a precious treasure
She is the girl who will participate in the coming-of-age ceremony with the Fifth Young Master. Jin'er covered her mouth, feeling quite embarrassed to discuss such matters with a young lady who had not yet turned sixteen. However, she thought to herself that Xu Liu was a descendant of the Xu family, and judging by her demeanor, she was not overly reserved, unlike the refined young ladies raised in seclusion. She continued with familiarity: "Miss Chunlian is the top performer at our Chunshui Residence. Although she belongs to a lower social class, she possesses more talent than the average young lady from the southern region. The Fifth Young Master enjoys listening to her play the piano and sing, and he has been captivated for half a month. After this period, when the Fifth Young Master mentioned the coming-of-age ceremony to Miss Chunlian, she readily agreed."
Has the messenger come today
Jin Er smiled and said, "Of course not. I am Miss Chunlian's maid."
If one were to see her, they might truly believe that the Fourth Sister is the daughter with a blood relation to the Xu family
Xu Changmu's eyes reflected a rare softness as he pulled her closer. "You lead the way."
Xu Liefeng let out a light laugh, entering Xu Wu's bedroom without looking back, and threw his entire body onto the soft mattress
"You talk too much, get out!" Xu Liefeng forcefully closed the door in front of Jin Er, who was left in shock.
"Well, Fifth Brother, you should rest early. Anu will be here; just call out if you need anything." Her words were filled with joy and contentment, and she even quietly pinched herself to make sure she was not dreaming.
She stepped into the yard, glanced over the pitch-black doors and windows, and gently kicked the small stones at her feet.
This letter does not mention Anu. Xu San chuckled and said, "I suppose she has long forgotten about her. Anu is truly one-sided in her affections; last time I even saw her handing a letter to the doorman. Who else could she send it to? The Emperor has turned everything into a frog at the bottom of the well; let the Emperor continue with that! Our Fifth Brother should be an eagle soaring in the sky; how can Anu, this frog, compare to him?"
"Oh dear!" she exclaimed. Why hasn't Fifth Brother come home? Come back early! Anu is very lonely by herself!
Her eyes lit up as she tightly embraced his waist. "I knew Fifth Brother hadn't forgotten me, hey! He really hasn't forgotten me!" Tears fell from her eyes, but she couldn't let him notice, or she would be laughed at. She pretended to snuggle into his arms, wiping away her tears in the process. Third Brother's words were all nonsense; Fifth Brother had always been thinking of her.
The first watch had just passed... She widened her eyes. Wasn't it just a short while ago? Did Fifth Brother really complete his coming-of-age ceremony? She wanted to ask, but felt a bit shy to do so, as the scent of rouge wafted from him.
What is this? Fifth Brother is drawing, and it is so rough that others cannot understand it! Is this armor? It looks quite different from the current armor of Nanlin. The armor of Nanlin mainly focuses on the chest and back, and in fact, the armor of various countries is quite similar at present. Why does Fifth Brother's drawing look so different? Is it that Fifth Brother's eyesight is poor and he drew it incorrectly? She compared her sleeves and knee-length skirt to the drawing he made, which was truly baffling. In the end, she thought for a moment and carefully put it away.
She originally intended to write about her amusing experiences, such as the time when His Majesty summoned her a few days ago, during which Xiao Yuanxia was also present. His Majesty smiled and asked her to call him Brother Yuanxia in the future
In fact, the father and brothers do not treat the fourth sister with much warmth, but at least there is a sense of brotherly friendship and concern for her well-being. ... The father and brothers certainly show concern for her, but it feels very perfunctory to her.
Xu Liefeng was completely unconcerned by his sudden outburst of anger. She smiled with delight and said
Xu Liefeng! Xiao Yuanxia's face turned ashen
Everyone seems to care about her, but in reality, they do not care at all. The fourth sister is an orphan in the Xu family army; logically, her brothers should be more affectionate towards her than towards the fourth sister. However, she used to think that her brothers simply did not know how to treat girls, but now she realizes that it varies from person to person
She was utterly taken aback
Two years! Not a single letter has been opened! She buried her little face in the letter paper
She stared for a long time, her face contorted with rage, gritting her teeth in frustration, and finally, in a fit of anger, she threw the cup forcefully. Enraged, she kicked over the tables and chairs, just as she was about to pull the books from the bookshelf to the ground, she suddenly noticed a corner of the cabinet bound with bamboo slips.
Miss Liu? A maid exclaimed in surprise
Upon hearing this, he wanted to laugh. His ordinarily plain face appeared much softer, and just as he was about to speak, he heard her say earnestly
Anu, what are you doing
She buried her small face in the bamboo slips for a long time before taking a deep breath to compose herself. She patted her cheeks, straightened the table and chairs, fetched the brush and inkstone, her sleeves still damp, but she was too lazy to change; instead, she rolled up her sleeves and began to write:
Isn't this Miss Liu?
Wuge is an old-fashioned person who enjoys writing on bamboo slips. The first edition of "Changmu Military Strategy" was completed on bamboo slips before being transcribed onto paper
She turned over and mounted her horse. As she approached the city gate, the guard saw her, was taken aback for a moment, and then smiled, saying
Anu, are you very happy
He was taken aback. "You came all this way for such a trivial matter?"
In the past two years, he hardly thought about her. Studying, copying, and taking care of things, there were many who could replace her. Although they did not possess her exaggerated and interesting tone, he was merely absorbing the content of the books, and whether it was conveyed in an engaging manner was of no importance to him.
Sister Si approached directly, and she immediately put her hands down, revealing the swelling on her face in full view
I am not a coward, do I need your company? It would be laughable to say that. Silly Anu, you value this matter so much. He slightly nodded to Jin'er and politely said: "Thank you for your trouble."
Although she was covered with a quilt, she was shivering all over, so much so that she woke herself up. She turned over and got out of bed, trembling as she tried to wake up her fifth brother, asking him to find a doctor to come over first. She thought that it was due to the arrival of the Gui Water, which had brought a cold wind and caused her to catch a chill.
Who brought you here
There are still quite a few beads of blood rolling on the mat ... They belong to Third Brother
He is proud and aloof, how could he be willing to have a romantic entanglement with someone he does not care about? However, even if he is reluctant, this matter must be addressed. He is from Nanlin, and he should adhere to the customs of Nanlin, so as not to give others a handle on the Xu family. Furthermore, if this can truly help him see things clearly, he will no longer need to rely on others in the future
"After the coming-of-age ceremony, can one truly be like us?"
Is the fifth brother really about to have his coming-of-age ceremony
He tapped the top of her head. "You have grown taller."
Can I mention these matters to Brother Wu? Will he think that she always brings up others but never herself? ... However, in the past, she used to write letters full of herself, and he never responded to them either
Is it still ... ? ... or, in fact, there really was a person named Xu Liu, but Xu Liu passed away early, and she is merely a substitute ... ? Therefore, whenever it is time to wear the Xu family's colors, they always casually find various reasons to let this substitute not wear white ... ...
Fifth brother! She was startled and quickly jumped up, colliding with Xu Changmu. She hurriedly supported him while looking around anxiously. "How long has it been? Why is it still dark?"
Nan Lin is fifteen years old and is about to undergo his coming-of-age ceremony. He is already eighteen; if he does not proceed with the ceremony now, will he have to live with his eyes like that for the rest of his life? Xu Er replied
"Hehe, I really only waited for a little while, but the wind is so strong that it makes me feel cold all over." She felt that his hands were also icy, and was somewhat annoyed that the one called Chunlian did not take the opportunity to warm Fifth Brother's hands. She discreetly reached out and grasped his hands, trying to shield him from the wind with her small hands wrapping around his large ones.
Suddenly, she saw a young man walking out of the residence, her heart skipped a beat. She approached him nonchalantly and smiled, saying:
Well... we won
She responded vaguely and, imitating Xu Er, turned her head and walked away. What is there to make a fuss about? It's just a pig's head face so swollen that even Second Brother can't see it
In the darkness, she remained completely still, her bright eyes wide open. "If Fifth Brother is tired, then holding Anu all night is also fine."
Six months ago, her father accidentally got injured and bled upon returning to Beijing. She nervously took her own handkerchief to stop his bleeding. Afterwards, a thought crossed her mind; she recalled having seen an example of blood recognition in the medical texts of the Great Wei. Thus, she cut her finger and mingled their blood... The outcome of that incident was the same as this one, hey... hey...? Is the Great Wei medical text misleading, or is it true that she does not bear the surname Xu?
He gently encircled her, bending down to bury his face in her neck, sighed, and finally relaxed
Third Brother said she is being one-sided...! How could that be! Fifth Brother has never rejected her closeness! The feelings between the two of them are not something Third Brother can comprehend!
There is nothing wrong with being a frog at the bottom of a well; not knowing anything allows one to slightly deceive oneself. She paused and said, "If he were to ask."
She stomped around barefoot, feeling her little feet were icy cold, and her stomach felt even worse. Only then did she take out the bamboo slips of "Chang Mu Bing Ce" from the bookshelf in her room and spread them all over the floor
She thought for a moment, sighed, and concluded that rather than relying on this unendorsed myth, it would be better to ask the heavens to grant her some of his insight.
Fifth Brother
He replied without changing his expression: "My room is currently empty, I have arranged the coming-of-age ceremony in another guest room. Your fourth sister is resting here in the guest room as well, where would her room be?"
Has she been playing the piano and singing songs for my fifth brother during her half month here
I also want to see you," he suddenly said
He changed into a clean robe, responded, and said: "Anu, come here."
At dawn, the genius was just beginning to show light. On the bed, Wu Ge was sleeping fully clothed. She was taken aback and hurriedly picked up the quilt to return it to him, when her eye caught a glimpse of a hollow basket in the corner beneath the bookshelf, which contained a familiar envelope.
She felt somewhat dejected, yet she still picked out some of her amusing anecdotes to write in the letter. She carefully sealed it and, after a moment of thought, decided to change into a clean outfit to visit Xu San
Miss Chunlian
Brother Yuanxia, you ... ...
She silently took out the bamboo scroll adorned with armor from last night, spread it open, and sat at the table to lay down paper and begin to draw. She meticulously transcribed it onto the blueprint, occasionally letting the completed drawings fall to the ground without concern. When she had nearly finished, without tidying up the ink and brushes, she simply carried the basket and walked out.
Xu Liefeng turned around, tightly clutching a white handkerchief in his arms
He covered his eyes, thinking about how she actually wished to share her eyesight with him, this Anu... this Anu... His palm gradually warmed. Tonight, it seemed that his hand was not so uncomfortable after all
Tonight's unfamiliar romantic encounters certainly stimulate his senses, yet he departs without a trace of attachment after the completion of the rite. While he breathes a sigh of relief upon finishing this coming-of-age ceremony, he still harbors a psychological discomfort stemming from a sense of coercion.
Did we win