Chapter 4, Su Xu

The ice in the abyss is three feet thick

At that moment, the man with the surname Su suddenly turned around and smiled at me brightly: "Miss Rong San, my name is Su Xu. Please remember my name, I am Su Xu."

Rong Huar walked at the back, glaring at me with disdain and hatred. That piercing gaze, like a nail, unexpectedly pricked me, causing me to involuntarily withdraw my wandering thoughts.

It turns out that everything is truly arranged by fate; my being cast into the body of Rong Shuer is by no means a coincidence

Su Xu and Dongfang Qingyao were together, clearly indicating that Dongfang Qingyao had brought a friend, whose status must be considerable, and they would certainly be regarded as esteemed guests. Gu Rongcheng would most likely receive them in the front hall of the Fengrong Hall, and naturally, I would be even less likely to go to the Fengrong Hall.

But Su Xu clearly guessed that I am not a fool. If he were to inform Dongfang Qingyao and Rong Jincheng that I am not Rong Shuer, how would they treat me?

That is an ancient jade with a dragon pattern

My heart is like a pine and cypress

But how can I make others aware that I am merely a soul that has occupied Rong Shuer's body

But I am certain that it is indeed my protective ancient jade. Its form and every texture are exactly the same as those from a thousand years ago

Yet Rong Huaar was still sighing in sorrow: "Forget it, don't talk to her anymore. She can't understand. She... she is truly too pitiful"

I wish to meet again that Eastern Qingyao who resembles Jingqian, and that Su Xu who seems to have seen through my identity

The wife and daughter of Rong Jincheng, and even his concubines, were all dining in the back hall of the Fengrong Hall, surrounded by a large table of people. Yet I was never among them. I was merely an idiot, someone whom even my father could not bear to look at, and wherever I went, I only brought shame to the Rong family

The inscription is a personal seal of an individual, in ancient seal script. My proficiency in classical Chinese is quite good, yet it still took me a long time to discern that it reads "Li Daozong" in three characters

Inside, there is a silk handkerchief, wrapped around something.

The pure snow blankets a thousand miles

What are you thinking? I will return, I will definitely return

He will not like Rong Shuer, as Rong Shuer is merely an idiot. However, he will not abandon Rong Shuer, because she is the responsibility of the Dongfang family

It's over, this person must have discovered that I am not Rong Shuer anymore

I pondered for a long time, then carefully concealed the jade close to my body before going to examine the silk handkerchief

What is your feeling now?

But when can I return to my world

Beside the embroidery, there are several beautifully arranged lines of text, which are quite pleasing to the eye

This piece of jade is the catalyst; it is what drew me here

One might mistakenly think that I am a malevolent spirit who has taken away Rong Shuer's life and is borrowing her corpse to return to the world, seeking out a group of highly skilled sorcerers to scatter my soul and spirit.

Alas, what are you arguing with me about again? I am merely a wandering soul, a wandering soul that is trying to find a way to leave Rong Shuer's body.

Rong Huar bit her lip and smiled, saying: "My father did not see wrong after all; Brother Dongfang is indeed a person of affection and righteousness"

This box seems a bit too shallow. Moreover, did not the ancients prefer not to engage in unnecessary mystification, placing important items in hidden compartments?

I carefully held the ancient jade, and the future path before me suddenly became much brighter

And that person, Su Xu, smiled and said: "Does she really not understand anything?"

The moment I saw such a thing, my heart trembled to the point of nearly stopping my breath

After much time, I finally opened that hidden compartment

Those few lines are

I am starting to have a headache

Su Xu's eyes sparkled even more like stars, and he smiled again, clearly meaningful, then waved his hand at me

Will it, like it led me here, lead me out of the Tang Dynasty again, back to the time and space that Jingqian and I should belong to?

Li Daozong? This name sounds quite familiar.

Dongfang Qingyao sighed. It was evident that the sentiment was one of genuine regret. It seems that her temperament is as gentle and kind as Jing Qian's. If returning is not an option, marrying such a person should not be a bad choice.

I wish to see Dongfang Qingyao's smile, which closely resembles Jing Qian's, and to confirm how much Su Xu knows about me. That final meaningful smile truly unsettles me

The room I currently reside in, Liufangxuan, is imbued with an ancient charm and exudes a sense of grandeur. It was originally intended for the first wife of the Rong family and her daughter to live in. There are numerous cabinets, but they must have been tidied up long ago, as most contain old garments that have long lost their vibrancy. There are also some hairpins and jewelry, which are clearly of little value. When I flipped open a small cabinet at the very bottom, I found a few brushes and inkstones inside, which seemed quite nice. Unfortunately, my calligraphy is not good, and I do not know how to appreciate whether the brushes are made of weasel hair or some other material, rendering these items useless to me, which left me quite disappointed. Just as I was about to set them aside and leave, I suddenly felt that something was amiss.

Of course, I haven't slept. I looked at myself in the mirror, with my hair and clothes deliberately disheveled, and my hands and face quite dirty, yet I did not appear unattractive. One could even say that Rong Shuer should be a woman of considerable beauty, but her long-standing madness has rendered her expression stiff and her gaze vacant. If I wished, drawing upon my literary upbringing and family education from a young age, I could make this body exude the same elegant and serene aura as my true self.

My ancient jade with dragon patterns actually appeared during the Tang Dynasty over a thousand years ago

Tibet, Tubo, Great Snow Mountain, Master, Chiwen pattern, Ancient jade

I have seen the Fengrong Hall from a distance; it is a very tidy and spacious place. The tables and chairs are tall, with beautiful textures and exquisite carvings, likely made of rosewood. The various furnishings are also quite luxurious, among which there is a porcelain vase of a gentle, soft green color, most likely the "Qianfeng Cuise" porcelain recorded in books. I even considered exchanging it for money, as such a precious artifact must be worth a great deal. Upon further reflection, during the Tang Dynasty's Zhenguan period, it probably was not yet considered an artifact! Moreover, it is already quite fortunate for my soul to return to my own time and space, let alone these external possessions

An expression that is absolutely rich and does not resemble that of a fool

The silk is pure white, and even after such a long time, it has not turned yellow or dull. The quality is evidently excellent, reflecting the elegance and charm of a branch of plum blossoms that leans gracefully in one corner of the silk, vibrant and striking, almost allowing one to catch a faint, delicate fragrance from the blossoms. The technique resembles modern Suzhou embroidery, particularly the most renowned double-sided embroidery. The woman who embroidered the plum blossoms must possess exceptional skills.

I smile foolishly, saliva dripping down, yet my heart aches slightly. Coming to this world, I unexpectedly encounter someone so similar to Jing Qian; is this a blessing or a curse? When I return to my own time and tell Jing Qian that over 1,400 years ago, there was a man who looked very much like him, so much so that it moves me to pain, what will he think?

If she says that I am too detestable, that I have brought shame to the Rong family, I fear I would be better off. This woman is quite hypocritical

At this moment, the ancient jade is still a brand new piece of white jade, its color lustrous and radiant, exuding a warm and smooth sheen, reminiscent of a beautiful young girl in her prime, smiling with affection.

But would Dongfang Qingyao laugh if a disheveled fool suddenly walked into the magnificent and elegant Fengrong Hall? And how could one test how much Su Xu knows?

A wave of pain surged through my chest again

I randomly wiped my nose and tears with my sleeve, smiling foolishly at the maid who was waiting beside me

I was taken aback, unsure whether to maintain the sour expression on my face or to change my expression and feign a silly smile, and even more uncertain about how to conceal the embarrassment and shock after my identity was exposed. Thus, the expression at that moment must have been exceedingly rich.

Dongfang Qingyao lowered his head and said: "My father has received a life-saving grace from your esteemed family, so the Dongfang family naturally ought to treat Shuer well."

My gaze wandered, so aimlessly that I could not clearly see Dongfang Qingyao and the man with the surname Su walking past me.

I forced a smile, feeling somewhat pity for this sister, who, in her grand ambition to marry Dongfang Qingyao, did not hesitate to harm her own younger sister.

The maid hurriedly held me back and said, "Miss San, it is better to return to the room. It is time for lunch."

However, on that day, I truly wanted to go to the Fengrong Hall and have a meal with them

A few individuals, surrounded by a throng of servants, gradually receded from view. The foolish smile I maintained on my face began to feel strained, and I could not help but feel a tinge of bitterness.

I hastily swallowed a few bites of food and sent the maid away. The maids who served me were not very clever; they allowed me to close the door and sleep, as long as I did not run around outside, I was grateful.

Moreover, Su Xu, this name seems somewhat familiar. Was there perhaps a person by this name in history who has been recorded?

The more I thought about it, the more afraid I became, so I hurriedly opened all the wardrobes and chests, searching everywhere for anything of value that I could take with me as travel expenses after my escape