Song Zixing said, "He committed suicide."
"What?!" Hua Wuduo jumped up abruptly. He still couldn't believe it; such a beautiful and strong-willed woman was just... "dead"?
Song Zixing nodded.
Hua Wuduo said, "The Chu family is quite influential in Luoyang. After such an incident, Chen Dongyao just came back as if nothing happened?"
Song Zixing snorted and said, "How many people in the world dare to oppose the Chen family? Even disregarding his background, Chen Dongyao himself is extremely difficult to deal with. He is highly skilled in martial arts and ruthless. In a one-on-one fight, I might not be his match. Although the Chu family has some influence in Luoyang, they are neither high-ranking officials in the court nor members of the martial arts world. Chu Tianxiu committed suicide, so even if they came to Chen Dongyao's door, they couldn't do anything to him. In particular, how can such a shameful matter as a woman losing her chastity be publicized everywhere? To the outside world, we can only claim that Chu Tianxiu died of illness."
She didn't question why Song Zixing knew the inside story. Song Zixing was right; in chaotic times, only force and power had a voice. Although Chen Dongyao had little influence in Luoyang, he was still a powerful regional official with hundreds of thousands of Chen family soldiers under his command, and he himself was highly skilled in martial arts. Even if he committed such a disgraceful act, no one could touch him. Once he left Luoyang and returned to the south, who could harm him in the slightest?
She had been staying in the peaceful and prosperous Jiangnan region recently, and almost forgot that the world was already in chaos.
Thinking of this, Hua Wuduo remembered something else and murmured, "Li She..."
It was Li She who invited Chu Tianxiu to the banquet. If Chu Tianxiu suffered this fate, Li She is to blame.
Song Zixing understood her meaning, but said, "This matter is not Li She's fault. Chu Tianxiu's beauty is renowned throughout Luoyang. Chen Dongyao had already met Chu Tianxiu before she came to the banquet. The reason Li She deliberately invited Chu Tianxiu that day was probably to help her out of a predicament. However, Li She underestimated Chen Dongyao. Chen Dongyao will not easily give up on a beauty he has his eye on. Even if that beauty is already taken, he will spare no expense to snatch her away."
Hua Wuduo suddenly recalled the way Chu Tianxiu had looked at Tang Ye among the crowd that night, and their moonlit duet the following day. Could it be that Chu Tianxiu was trying to tell Chen Dongyao that Tang Ye was…? However, if Tang Ye admitted that Chu Tianxiu was related to him, Chen Dongyao would likely be more cautious. Even if his martial arts were superior, they probably couldn't overcome the potency of poison. Even with her own considerable martial arts skills, she had still been controlled by Tang Ye for over half a month. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but recall her time with Tang Ye. How come she suddenly didn't find him scary back then? He was clearly the most terrifying person.
Seeing that Hua Wuduo was silent and frowning, seemingly lost in thought, Song Zixing said, "It's fortunate that you were here today, otherwise my sister would have been in grave danger." He had only intended to give her a reason to stay, but unexpectedly, she had done him a great favor and become a benefactor of the Song family.
Hua Wuduo thought to himself, "You're absolutely right." He picked up the teacup on the table and started drinking tea. He heard Song Zixing continue, "You saved my sister's life today. Even if I had to repay you with my body, I would have no objection."
*Pfft...* A mouthful of tea sprayed straight at Song Zixing.
Song Zixing seemed to have been prepared, and dodged very quickly, without getting a single tea stain on his body.
Hua Wuduo wiped the tea from her lips with her sleeve, noticing the playful glint in his eyes, and couldn't help but laugh and cry. She put down her teacup and sat down, still feeling uneasy about Chu Tianxiu's death. Although she wasn't very familiar with Chu Tianxiu, such a beauty had once pleased her. She never expected him to end up like this. Chen Dongyao's behavior was simply that of a womanizer!
If Hua Wuduo despised womanizers, then Chen Dongyao was the biggest womanizer in the world. Because he had power, influence, money, and extremely high martial arts skills! Damn it, how could he have everything! Thinking of how unfair fate was, Hua Wuduo gritted his teeth secretly. He should have been even more despicable when he fought Chen Dongyao today, striking him squarely in the groin! Yes, stab him in the groin with a needle! Cripple him!
Seeing her ferocious expression, Song Zixing suppressed a laugh and suddenly asked, "Do you want to go to Jian'an?"
***************
To prevent Chen Dongyao from harassing Song Ziyin, Song Ziyin was sent to the Hangzhou Governor's Mansion the next day.
With the year drawing to a close, Song Zixing naturally had to return to the Hangzhou Governor's Mansion to celebrate the New Year. On this day, Song Zixing, unusually, stayed at the mansion and had dinner with Hua Wuduo. When they were almost finished eating, Song Zixing suddenly said, "My family wants to see you."
Hua Wuduo asked, "Why do you want to see me?"
Song Zixing smiled and said, "You saved my sister, and my family wants to meet you and thank you in person. It's almost the New Year, and I'm going back to Hangzhou. I plan to take you with me."
Hua Wuduo said, "I'm not going. You go and celebrate your New Year, don't worry about me."
Song Zixing slightly raised the corners of his mouth, a half-smile playing on his lips, and said, "Why not go? What are you afraid of?"
Hua Wuduo glanced at him, then sighed and said, "Song Zixing, I know what you're thinking. I'm very grateful for your care all this time. The reason I've been eating and drinking your food and not leaving isn't because I have any special feelings for you, but because I have nowhere else to go. The world is in chaos, and there's no peace anywhere. I have a home but can't go back. I'm very tired and weary, and I just want to rest for a while in some quiet place. I will have to leave eventually."
Song Zixing's gaze darkened slightly, then he smiled faintly and said slowly, "I know, I just don't want to leave you alone in the General's Mansion on such a joyous and festive occasion as the New Year. You can disguise yourself as Xu Qing and come back to the Governor's Mansion with me; I won't make things difficult for you. If you don't want to go to Hangzhou, I'll stay here with you." He paused, his voice becoming even softer, like clear water flowing between two cracks: "I think you understand my feelings for you, and I don't want them to become a burden for you. My feelings for you, Song Zixing, are obvious and have never been concealed in the slightest, yet I have never forced you in the slightest."
Upon hearing this, Hua Wuduo was somewhat stunned, never expecting Song Zixing to say such a thing in front of her at this moment. At this moment, she dared not look Song Zixing in the eye, and feeling his gaze upon her, she suddenly felt at a loss.
This was perhaps the first time Song Zixing had so openly laid out his feelings in front of her. She might not have understood his love before, but how could she not understand when he held her in his arms after she woke up from her drunken stupor? It was just that his love seemed too unreal, even impure, to her. She doubted, even resisted, perhaps even opposed it, not wanting to delve into it, yet selfishly using his love to fill the unhealed wounds in her heart.
Thinking of this, she lowered her gaze and looked down. But then she heard Song Zixing say, "All I've done is try to give myself a chance. You... give me and yourself a chance to truly understand me. If you ultimately don't like me, if... one day you still want to leave, I won't stop you."
She remained silent, recalling the tenderness in his eyes when she woke up, and the overwhelming sense of peace she felt in his arms at that moment. These past few days, the memory had always made her slightly uneasy. In truth, he hadn't treated her badly; perhaps it should be said, he had been exceptionally good… She wasn't made of stone; since he treated her with such sincerity, how could she continue to hide and act timidly?
But a struggle lingered within her. She slowly said, "Since...you treat me...I know it all!" Realizing her own hesitation, she felt a surge of frustration at her own indecisiveness. Gritting her teeth, she slammed her hand on the table, as if making a decision. Suddenly, she raised her head, looked directly at Song Zixing, and said loudly, "Fine, since I've gotten myself into this mess, let's get this straight today. I'm not saying I can't give you a chance, but if I find I still can't love you, I'll leave without hesitation. Then, don't regret it, and don't come bothering me." As soon as she finished speaking, Hua Wuduo felt a pang of regret, unsure if her actions were right or wrong. But the words were already spoken, like water spilled, impossible to take back.
"A rotten peach blossom..." Even so, Song Zixing felt a strange joy. He hadn't expected Hua Wuduo to say that; he thought she would still avoid him, that his sincerity in gaining her attention or even genuine affection was still a long way off. But he hadn't expected her to actually agree. He felt a surge of inexplicable joy, a joy that momentarily made him dizzy and somewhat at a loss. He wanted to hold her hand, but ultimately didn't dare to be impulsive. With a smile, he said softly, his voice trembling slightly, "Okay."
[The following is handwritten text for the published book]
Song Zixing nodded and said, "Not only did they make a move, but they also succeeded."
"Ah? Then Chu Tianxiu... Chu... how is she?" Hua Wuduo suddenly stammered for some reason.
Song Zixing said, "He committed suicide."
"What?!" Hua Wuduo was shocked and jumped to his feet. He still couldn't believe that such a beautiful and strong-willed woman was... "dead?"
Song Zixing nodded.
Hua Wuduo said, "The Chu family is quite influential in Luoyang. After such an incident, Chen Dongyao just came back as if nothing happened?"
Song Zixing snorted and said, "How many people in the world dare to oppose the Chen family army? Even disregarding his background, Chen Dongyao himself is extremely difficult to deal with. He is highly skilled in martial arts and ruthless. In a one-on-one fight, I might not be his match. Although the Chu family has some influence in Luoyang, they are neither high-ranking officials in the court nor members of the martial arts world. Chu Tianxiu committed suicide, so even if they come to Chen Dongyao's door, they can't do anything about it. In particular, how can such a shameful matter as a woman losing her chastity be publicized everywhere? To the outside world, we can only say that Chu Tianxiu died of illness."
She didn't question why Song Zixing knew the inside story. Song Zixing was right; in chaotic times, only force and power had a voice. Although Chen Dongyao had little influence in Luoyang, he was still a powerful regional official with hundreds of thousands of Chen family soldiers under his command, and he himself was highly skilled in martial arts. Even if he committed such a disgraceful act, no one could touch him. Once he left Luoyang and returned to the south, who could harm him in the slightest?
She had been staying in the peaceful and prosperous Jiangnan region recently, and almost forgot that the world was already in chaos.
Thinking of this, Hua Wuduo remembered something else and murmured, "Li She..."
It was Li She who invited Chu Tianxiu to the banquet. If Chu Tianxiu suffered this fate, Li She is to blame.
Song Zixing shook his head and said, "This matter is not Li She's fault. Chu Tianxiu's beauty is renowned throughout Luoyang. Chen Dongyao had already met Chu Tianxiu before she came to the banquet. The reason Li She deliberately invited Chu Tianxiu that day was probably to help her out of a predicament. However, Li She underestimated Chen Dongyao. Chen Dongyao will not easily give up on a beauty he has his eye on. Even if that beauty is already taken, he will spare no expense to snatch her away."
Hua Wuduo suddenly recalled the way Chu Tianxiu had looked at Tang Ye among the crowd that night, and their moonlit duet the following day. Could it be that Chu Tianxiu was trying to tell Chen Dongyao that Tang Ye was… no, right? However, if Tang Ye admitted that Chu Tianxiu was related to him, Chen Dongyao would likely be more cautious. Even if his martial arts were superior, they probably couldn't surpass the potency of poison. Even with her own considerable martial arts skills, she had still been controlled by Tang Ye for over half a month. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but recall her time with Tang Ye. How come she suddenly didn't find him scary back then? He was clearly the most terrifying person.
Seeing that Hua Wuduo was lost in thought, sometimes frowning, sometimes gaping in surprise, and sometimes looking somewhat smug, Song Zixing said, "It's fortunate that you were here today, otherwise my sister would have been in grave danger." He had only intended to give her a reason to stay, but he never expected that she would do him such a great favor and become a benefactor of the Song family.
Hua Wuduo thought to herself, "You're absolutely right." She picked up a teacup from the table and started drinking tea. She heard Song Zixing continue, "You saved my sister's life today. Even if you asked me to repay you with my body, I would have no objection."
*Pfft...* She spat out a mouthful of tea directly at Song Zixing.
Song Zixing seemed to have been prepared, and dodged very quickly, without getting a single tea stain on his body.
Hua Wuduo wiped the tea from her lips with her sleeve, and seeing his smiling face, her lips twitched involuntarily. She put down her teacup and sat down, still feeling a pang of unease at the thought of Chu Tianxiu's death. Although she didn't particularly like Chu Tianxiu as a person, his beauty had once been pleasing to her eye. Chu Tianxiu, though somewhat proud, was not pretentious; she never expected him to meet such an end. Chen Dongyao's behavior was simply that of a womanizer!
If Hua Wuduo despised womanizers, then Chen Dongyao was the biggest womanizer in the world. Because he had power, influence, money, and extremely high martial arts skills! Damn it, how did he have everything! Lately, Hua Wuduo had been wanting to curse. Thinking about how unfair fate was, he gritted his teeth secretly. Today, when he fought Chen Dongyao, he should have been even more despicable, striking him squarely in the groin! Yes, he should have used a needle to stab his groin! Cripple him!
Song Zixing looked at her for a while, then suddenly asked, "Do you want to go to Jian'an?"
To prevent Chen Dongyao from making any secret moves against Song Ziyin, Song Ziyin was sent to the Hangzhou Governor's Mansion the next day.
With the year drawing to a close, Song Zixing naturally had to return to the Hangzhou Governor's Mansion to celebrate the New Year. On this day, Song Zixing, unusually, stayed at the mansion and had dinner with Hua Wuduo. When they were almost finished eating, Song Zixing suddenly said, "My family wants to see you."
Hua Wuduo asked, "Why do you want to see me?"
Song Zixing smiled and said, "You saved my sister, and my family wants to meet you to thank you in person. It's almost the New Year, and I need to go back to Hangzhou, so I plan to take you with me."
Hua Wuduo said, "I'm not going. You go and celebrate your New Year, don't worry about me."
Song Zixing slightly raised the corners of his mouth, a half-smile playing on his lips, and said, "Why not go? What are you afraid of?"
Hua Wuduo glanced at him, then sighed and said, "Song Zixing, I know what you're thinking. I'm very grateful for your care all this time. The reason I've been eating and drinking your food and not leaving isn't because I have any special feelings for you, but because I have nowhere else to go. The world is in chaos, and there's no peace anywhere. I have a home but can't go back. I'm very tired and weary, and I just want to rest for a while in some quiet place. I will have to leave eventually."
Song Zixing's gaze darkened slightly, then he smiled faintly and said slowly, "I know, I just don't want to leave you alone in the General's Mansion on such a joyous and festive occasion as the New Year. You can disguise yourself as Xu Qing and come back to the Governor's Mansion with me; I won't make things difficult for you. If you don't want to go to Hangzhou, I'll stay here with you." He paused, his voice becoming even softer, like clear water flowing over sand, "I think you understand my feelings for you, and I don't want them to become a burden for you. My feelings for you, Song Zixing, are obvious and have never been concealed in the slightest, yet I have never forced you in the slightest."
Upon hearing this, Hua Wuduo was somewhat stunned, never expecting Song Zixing to say such a thing in front of her at this moment. At this instant, she dared not look Song Zixing in the eye, feeling his gaze upon her, and suddenly felt at a loss.
This was perhaps the first time Song Zixing had so openly laid out his feelings in front of her. She might not have understood his love before, but when she woke up from her drunken stupor and he held her in his arms, how could she not understand? It was just that his love seemed too unreal, even impure, to her. She doubted, even resisted, perhaps even opposed it, not wanting to delve into it, yet selfishly using his love to fill the unhealed wounds in her heart. Thinking of this, she lowered her gaze and looked down. Then she heard Song Zixing say, "Everything I've done is just to give myself a chance. You… give me and yourself a chance to truly understand me. If you ultimately don't like me, if… one day you still want to leave, I won't stop you."
She remained silent, recalling the tenderness in his eyes when she woke up, and the overwhelming sense of peace she felt in his arms at that moment. These past few days, the memory had always made her slightly uneasy. She wasn't even sure what her feelings for Song Zixing truly were. In truth, he wasn't bad to her; perhaps it should be said, he was very good… She wasn't made of stone. Since he treated her with such sincerity, how could she continue to hide and act timidly?
But a struggle lingered within her. She slowly said, "Since...you treat me...I know it all!" Realizing her hesitation, she abruptly raised her head, looked directly at Song Zixing, and said loudly, "Fine, since I've gotten myself into this mess, let's get this straight today. I'm not unwilling to give you a chance, but if I..."
"If I find that I still can't fall in love with you, I will leave without hesitation. Don't regret it then, and don't come bothering me." As soon as she finished speaking, Hua Wuduo felt a little regretful, wondering if what she had done was right or wrong. But the words had already been spoken, like water spilled, and could not be taken back. She looked at Song Zixing with a resolute expression.
"Bad luck in love..." Even so, Song Zixing felt a strange joy. He hadn't expected Hua Wuduo to say that; he thought she would still avoid him. He thought that earning her attention and even genuine affection from his sincerity was still a long way off. But he hadn't expected her to actually agree. He felt a strange joy, a joy that momentarily overwhelmed him...
For a moment, he felt dizzy and disoriented. He wanted to take her hand, but ultimately didn't dare to be abrupt. With a smile on his lips, he said softly, his voice trembling slightly, "Okay."
Hua Wuduo took in Song Zixing's appearance, paused slightly, and was suddenly overcome with guilt by his slightly trembling "Okay." At that moment, she dared not look directly at him, instead shifting her gaze to the remaining food and wine on the table. She poked at it listlessly with her chopsticks, taking a bite absentmindedly, unaware of what she ate or what it tasted like; she only felt...
The gaze Song Zixing was giving her made her feel uncontrollably hot. She shifted slightly, moving to the left, feeling uncomfortable; then to the right, still uncomfortable. She felt her whole body suddenly become strange, and no matter how she sat, she was uncomfortable. Just as she could no longer bear his gaze and was about to throw down her chopsticks and run away...
Hearing Song Zixing ask softly, even somewhat cautiously, "Would you be willing to go to Hangzhou with me?"
Upon hearing this, Hua Wuduo's heart softened instantly, and she blurted out, "I'll go back to Hangzhou with you for the New Year under my real identity. I think your family probably already knows who I am, and there's no fun in hiding it." After saying this, she paused, seemingly unable to believe what she had impulsively agreed to. She threw down her chopsticks and ran outside. She had only run a few...
She took a step, then realized how awkward her actions were and stopped. Coughing, she suppressed her agitation, secretly clenching her fists in her sleeve, taking a deep breath, and trying to walk calmly out the door. As she left, she made sure to turn back and close the door, but no matter what, she dared not look at Song Zixing inside again.
Hua Wuduo didn't see Song Zixing's appearance at this moment. If she had, she would not have believed that Song Zixing also had a moment of helplessness, but it was only a brief moment, and then only a faint, heartwarming smile remained.
On the way to Hangzhou, Hua Wuduo sat in the carriage, sullen and uncomfortable in her new clothes. When Song Zixing gave her this outfit, she had been amazed for a long time; it was very special, exquisitely beautiful, as if tailor-made for her. Thinking back, Song Ziyin had once had clothes taken in Suzhou, so she had put it off...
From that time on, Song Zixing put his mind to it.
This outfit, lined with white brocade and layered with a long-sleeved white gauze robe, features red plum blossoms embroidered on the cuffs and a single blossom blooming gently on the shoulder, creating a bright and unique look. A red tassel hangs from the waist. She was quite fond of this distinctive attire, wondering who had gone to such lengths to devise such a design. Besides the clothes, Song Zixing also gifted her a set of jewelry.
The painting was inspired by plum blossoms, and I imagine it was meant to match this outfit.
Before dawn, Hua Wuduo got up, washed, changed into new clothes, and quickly combed her hair. She selected a few red plum blossom-shaped hairpins from her jewelry box, put them on her head, and gazed at herself in the mirror, momentarily stunned. How long had it been since she'd shown her true face? Since she could remember, it seemed she'd never openly revealed her true self. Did she look good or not? A sense of unease crept into her heart.
She opened the door, about to step out, when she found Song Zixing already standing outside. A breeze blew, faintly lifting the hem of his clothes. Hearing the door open, he couldn't help but turn around and look. She was startled, and Song Zixing was also startled.
His clothes were remarkably similar to hers. Song Zixing wore a white robe with a brocade belt, the same fabric as hers. Red plum blossoms adorned the cuffs and collar, as if they had accidentally fallen onto him, fluttering along with the cloud patterns. This accentuated his upright posture and refined elegance.
One was men's clothing, and the other was women's clothing. Hua Wuduo's eyes widened suddenly, feeling so awkward... She turned around and wanted to go back to change, but Song Zixing grabbed her and said that it would be too late if she didn't leave now. He dragged her and shoved her into the car.
Seeing Song Zixing riding a horse in front of the carriage, smiling like a spring breeze, she gritted her teeth, wanting to jump out of the carriage and kick him off the horse.
Chapter Thirty-Two: Entering and Leaving the Song Family
The wheels creaked as they left Suzhou. Hua Wuduo, gritting his teeth inside the carriage, heard a voice outside the window say, "Our Song family has a New Year's custom: any unmarried junior who visits our Song family receives lucky money from all the elders. You are my sister's savior. Think about it, from uncles and aunts to maternal uncles and aunts..."
There were at least a dozen or so families, each costing at least one hundred taels, that is…
Hua Wuduo lifted the carriage curtain and looked at Song Zixing, his brows furrowed deeply.
Song Zixing glanced at her through the window and said, "You are coming back with me this time because you are my friend and also my little sister's benefactor. My Song family is grateful to you for saving my little sister's life and will never neglect you in the slightest."
Hua's brows remained furrowed.
Song Zixing added, “My family celebrates the New Year in great style, and the food is just as good, more than ten times better than what I have in my General’s Mansion. The New Year’s Eve dinner alone has nearly a hundred famous dishes from Jiangnan. The best chef in Jiangnan is in my Song family.”
Hua Wuduo's brows relaxed and then furrowed again.
Song Zixing said, "You don't need to be too nervous, my family is very easy to get along with."
Hua Wuduo pulled down the carriage curtain and said angrily, "Who's nervous!"
Upon hearing this, Song Zixing burst into laughter, thoroughly delighted.
After traveling for a while, Song Zixing said from outside the carriage, "After much consideration, I think you should still wear a veil."