Ich freue mich auf die Frühlingsbrise

Kapitel 1

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Linfengchun

Author: Su Mo

The final wind song crossing the moon and the lake at night

"The sound of a well pulley outside the curtain startles me, a smile playing on my lips. Willow shadows are shrouded in mist, and my hairpin falls from my lowered temple. I must give my all to make you happy today..."

The words are exquisitely beautiful, and the person is deeply affectionate.

Spring is in full bloom, and the red silk has a subtle fragrance.

The exquisite painted boat on West Lake, behind a thin beaded curtain, featured the most popular courtesan, her ten fingers lightly plucking the strings of her zither. Her half-closed eyes, slightly raised, gazed at the noble young master seated above. She knew, of course, how captivating her music was, and how many wealthy young men in Hangzhou awaited her gaze. Especially the way she squinted and raised her eyes—it was utterly mesmerizing.

The Hangzhou prefect, sitting at the lower seat, was slightly drunk after a few rounds of drinks. He said, "Young Master Wang, what do you think of Jiang Xian'er and the beauty from the capital?" The clerk behind him coughed lightly when he heard his impolite words.

The noble young man picked up his wine cup, a half-smile playing on his lips, and said calmly, "Lord Lin is too kind." These days, noble sons all preferred lavish clothing, but he wore only a simple blue robe, his hair tied up with a silver hairpin, exuding an air of elegance and nobility without a trace of vulgarity.

Seeing his indifferent expression, Prefect Lin couldn't figure out what he was thinking: "Jiang Xian'er looks down on the young masters of our aristocratic families, but seems to have a high opinion of you, young master. She really has good taste, haha, haha."

His lips twitched slightly, and he replied indifferently, "Is that so?"

Prefect Lin immediately beamed like a chrysanthemum. He had long heard that this noble young master was very self-disciplined and rarely indulged in women, so he assumed that the young man's current expression was just youthful shyness. He was about to speak with a lewd grin when the beaded curtain was lifted, and a rather tall man entered. The man was handsome, tall, and carried a long sword.

The man looked at the young master seated above him and said in a low voice, "I just went out to inquire and found out that the Heavenly Sword has indeed appeared in the Hangzhou area. I also helped Ouyang Ye of the Heavenly Sorrow Sect to pass on a message."

Jiang Xian'er continued playing her zither, her eyes glancing absently towards the outside of the beaded curtain.

"The item is at an old friend's house. Just this one sentence is enough to throw the Jiangnan region into chaos again." The man lowered his head. "Does the young master want his men to stop him? Tianjian is as famous as the young master. If they could fight, it would be good to let the world know who the real swordsman is."

"There are so many people who want this title, but there's no need to join in the fun." His slender fingers tapped lightly on the table. "I'll drink this first as a sign of respect, Brother Mo, for all this trouble." He slightly raised his sleeve and drank the wine in his cup in one gulp.

The guard surnamed Mo replied respectfully, "Yunzhi would not dare to be presumptuous."

A waiter brought over wine cups, and Mo Yunzhi drank three cups in one gulp before standing quietly behind his young master.

"Lord Lin, what about that matter we mentioned earlier?" The young man suddenly turned to Prefect Lin. Perhaps he had drunk a few cups of wine, for his face was slightly flushed, and there was a faint purplish halo around his eyes.

"This..." Prefect Lin was caught off guard by the question and couldn't speak for a moment, only stammering, "This... actually..." The clerk behind him said, "Your Excellency sent people to investigate a couple of days ago, but the people living on that lonely mountain know some kind of evil magic. The people who investigated all said that they got lost in the mountains and when they woke up, they had already been thrown out of the mountains."

"Oh?" he responded casually, a slight smirk playing on his lips. "That's interesting."

Prefect Lin wiped his sweat and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the other party was no longer asking questions. Although the other party was young, he was many ranks higher than him, so he smiled obsequiously and dared not offend him in the slightest.

"You don't need to play this zither anymore." Jiang Xian'er was secretly sending flirtatious glances towards the curtain when the young man suddenly spoke, startling her so much that she loosened her grip and almost dropped the pipa.

"I don't know what's wrong with my music, sir. Please enlighten me." Jiang Xian'er calmed herself down, lifted the beaded curtain, and knelt on the ground. "Or is it that my appearance is too plain, which has displeased you?"

The young gentleman remained silent, and the painted boat fell silent instantly, so quiet that a flute melody drifted in, tender and lingering, playing an extremely beautiful poem:

With colorful sleeves, she diligently holds up the jade cup, In those days, we recklessly drank until our faces were flushed. The dance is low, like the moon reflected in the willow-lined pavilion; the song ends, like the breeze beneath the peach blossom fan. Since parting, I recall our meeting, how many times have my soul and dreams been with you? Tonight, I'll light the silver lamp again, still fearing our meeting is but a dream.

At first listen, the flute melody seemed to twist and turn, deeply moving. The flutist, as if echoing Jiang Xian'er's pipa music from before, added an extra touch of tenderness. However, before the piece ended, it abruptly changed to a different tune, slightly cool, yet brimming with youthful spirit: "Who else scatters fragrant petals in the wind? Drunk, I lean against the railing, my emotions intense. When I return, let not the candle flames burn red, but wait for the clear moonlight as I ride my horse."

The music still flowed smoothly, as if the flutist was a master of melody. Yet, the young gentleman couldn't help but frown slightly. The previous piece, though tender and affectionate, abruptly ended, leaving a faint metallic sound that was then masked by another tune. Even if the flutist was talented and had grasped the essence of each note, there was an undeniable element of insincerity in it. He stood up and said calmly to the guard surnamed Mo beside him, "On such a fine night, under the clear moonlight, it would be better to be drunk and strolling along than to sit on this painted boat. What do you think, Brother Mo?"

Mo Yunzhi's serious face also showed a smile: "What you say is true, young master."

The young master lifted the translucent beaded curtain, not even noticing he was in the middle of the lake, and with a light step, floated towards the shore. A flurry of activity erupted behind him, and Prefect Lin shouted, "Quickly row over! Be careful of the Prince… the young master's safety!" Mo Yunzhi couldn't help but chuckle at Prefect Lin's sudden revelation of his young master's identity and his self-deceptive anxiety. He reached for the corner of the table, grabbed a piece of wood, turned, and walked to the bow of the boat. Using the small piece of wood as he descended with his light-footed skill, he rose and fell, running out of wood just a few feet from the shore. He let out a long whistle and landed steadily on the bank, a strange sense of relief washing over him.

"Brother Mo, you're still a step too late." The young master leaned against the willow tree, looking relaxed and elegant, but there was a damp patch on the hem of his clothes, probably from when he stepped into the lake.

“I actually met someone four years ago. Her lightness skill was unparalleled. Perhaps she could walk on water without getting wet at all,” Mo Yunzhi said without any hesitation.

"Is that so?" He straightened up and flicked his sleeve. "Speaking of four years ago, it was during the time of quelling the Jingxiang Rebellion. I was once infatuated with a woman." He seemed to remember something and frowned slightly, as if joking: "To be honest, I never even spoke a word to her. I just watched her play the flute from afar, but I still became interested in her."

Mo Yunzhi knew his young master was very self-disciplined and rarely indulged in women, let alone such things. Ironically, when uprisings broke out repeatedly in the Jingxiang region, Mo Yunzhi was one of the rebels, but he failed in his attempt to assassinate a court official. At that time, he was shocked to discover that the prince sent by the court was none other than the renowned Sword-wielding Prince Zhang Weiyi. Seeking to quell the chaos, he became one of the Sword-wielding Prince's bodyguards.

Zhang Weiyi, originally named Zhu Youhan, was the sixth prince of the current dynasty, with the title Xiangxiao. Having grown up in Wudang, he achieved fame at a young age and for a time seemed poised to rival the Heavenly Sword Prince, who was known as the number one swordsman in the world. The renowned Xuanji Talented Woman of the martial arts world admired him and once sent him a fan with an inscription of only three characters: "Fine Young Master."

Four years have passed since the Jingxiang Rebellion was quelled. Now, Zhang Weiyi suddenly brought up that time, and Mo Yunzhi simply smiled and said, "There was such a woman... how does she compare to the talented Xuanji woman?"

Zhang Weiyi looked into the distance with a smile on her lips: "Are you talking about appearance? I've only seen her from afar. I wouldn't say she's pretty, but somehow I just feel..." She paused slightly and softly uttered two words: "Special."

Mo Yunzhi felt a slight chill run through him. He was still unaccustomed to seeing his usually composed young master suddenly display a childlike side. Perhaps, as he said, this was called infatuation, without any reason.

The gentle sound of the flute drifted on the wind, and the scene softened one's heart.

"At that time, she was probably young and sentimental. When I heard her play the tune 'Peach Blossom,' it sounded so sad and lonely. Perhaps some of her relatives had also died in battle." Zhang Weiyi smiled faintly, and the swirling flute melody suddenly changed, revealing itself to be the ancient tune "Peach Blossom."

Zhang Weiyi's expression remained unchanged, but the double vision and purple halo in his eyes suddenly deepened.

It was as if, four years ago, I stood alone on a cliff, and that faint, desolate melancholy began to surface. In the distance, the vibrant red peach blossoms bloomed, yet it was a tree in a riotous, lonely display of color…

Mo Yunzhi discerned the direction: "It seems to be coming from the direction of Gushan."

“Lonely Mountain…?” He frowned slightly, a slight smile playing on his lips. “Is that so? Well, we’ve really run into each other.”

The moonlit night was as cool and still as water.

A slender figure leaned against the stone railing of the waterside pavilion, holding a flute made of polished red jade that emitted a soft, gentle luster. The fingers holding the flute were long and slender, and a blue silk ribbon hung down from the wrist, swaying gently in the night breeze.

"It's time to rest; the dew will soon fall." A gentle voice, tinged with a slight smile, drifted through the night, its sound soothing against the damp air. The speaker was a tall woman, her face veiled by a thin veil, her eyes filled with laughter: "I listened to you play for almost half an hour just now. Did you make that woman singing and playing seductive tunes on the pleasure boat in the middle of the lake feel utterly ashamed?"

“Everyone has their own way of living, and we are all unrelated to each other.” Hong Yumo’s flute slowly approached her face. The deep red and translucent jade was not even as charming as the vermilion between the woman’s eyebrows. “But when I see those who have always lived peacefully, I always feel uneasy. Isn’t it time to repay those who owe me?”

"You really can't forget... That's right, how could I forget all these years of comings and goings?" The veil fluttered slightly, revealing a hint of a smile. "You know that even if torture is used, it only causes temporary pain, the pain is felt on this physical body; when you strike with a sword, you are only afraid at first, and there are times when you don't feel the pain. Such pain doesn't last long."

"Senior sister, if that's the case, then there's nothing in this world that can cause suffering." She looked up slightly, and could just see the crescent moon in the night sky, curved like a hook, its chill penetrating to the bone, its reflection in her eyes shimmering.

The tall woman leaned against the stone railing, smiling slightly: "How could there not be?"

"The most painful thing in this world is love. You think you've got it, but in the end, you destroy it right in front of you. That's the heartbreak of love."

May I ask you, from where do you return?

The Jiangnan region is known for its outstanding people and beautiful scenery, and Hangzhou Prefecture is home to many literary figures and extraordinary individuals. Among those who have gained considerable fame in the martial arts world, besides the Meiheju Master, who lived in seclusion at the former residence of Lin Bu on Gushan Mountain and was a master of traditional Chinese medicine, there is also the Qiushuimen Sect by the Xiling Bridge.

The autumn waters overflow in the courtyard, and the moon shines brightly throughout the garden.

This plaque is located in the main courtyard of the Qiushui Sect, and it is said to be the work of the legendary woman who founded the sect a hundred years ago. In the martial arts world, the Qiushui Sect has always been led by a woman, and although there are male disciples, they rarely appear in public. The Qiushui Sect excels in combat techniques, compensating for some of the shortcomings of women practicing martial arts, making them no less capable than men.

It was a time of cool breezes and beautiful scenery. Although the peak blooming season for peach blossoms had passed, there were still a few scattered groups of tourists enjoying the scenery along the way.

"You know, when the Qiushui Sect's fighting techniques are displayed, some heroes and chivalrous men always praise them as outstanding women, beautiful and intelligent. Why is it that when it comes to us, those people all call us witches?" The tall woman's face was covered by a veil, and she picked up a chess piece with her fingers. The chess piece was placed perfectly, and the place where the chess was played was a very elegant little boat, even the distance from the shore was just right.

"Men who are arrogant and self-important are always like this. If you beat them with martial arts, they will look down on this crooked way, especially since the level of defeat is much higher. But if you win with real skill, then you will lose face and be insulted. Calling them a witch is still being polite." The woman opposite her wore a light green dress, which made her skin look even more radiant. A touch of vermilion between her eyebrows made her look charming and delicate. She looked down at the chessboard with a demure and elegant demeanor. After thinking for a while, she put down a black piece.

"But that fighting technique is quite skillful." The veil fluttered slightly, and the woman raised her hand, revealing a lifelike white plum blossom embroidered on her sleeve, its branches curving and exquisitely crafted. She didn't think much before placing her piece, and the two exchanged moves in the blink of an eye. The woman in light green held a black piece, hesitating to put it down, but finally smiled faintly: "Senior Sister Qingxuan, my chess skills are no match for yours, let's end this game here."

"It seems that you, junior sister, are not proficient in all these miscellaneous arts, such as music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and poetry." He rested his chin on his hand, his tone slightly teasing, yet unable to conceal the gentle smile within.

"It's probably only my senior uncle who claims to be proficient in miscellaneous knowledge. I'm just using it as a cover. Senior sister knows that, doesn't she?" She raised her hand and gently lifted the boat curtain, her smile as graceful as a peach blossom. "This is the perfect time."

As usual, the area around Su Xiaoxiao's tomb near Xiling Bridge was a popular gathering place for tourists. Although there were many beauties in Hangzhou Prefecture, and quite a few of them entered the palace and were granted the title of Noble Lady, only that one from the previous dynasty was so famous.

A short, raggedly dressed man with a sleazy appearance walked around the bridge, sizing up everyone around him. The smiling woman over there, though beautiful, was accompanied by a richly dressed man who seemed unapproachable; the others were local scholars, spouting Confucian classics all day, their appearance sanctimonious—perhaps he'd only end up losing more than he gained; as for the fisherwoman, she was too plain-looking to be aroused by. Finally, his gaze settled on two strangers from out of town. One looked like a young nobleman, dressed in a blue robe with wide sleeves, holding a folding fan; the other was even taller and more imposing. The short man, sensing the strangers' fear of trouble in unfamiliar surroundings, rushed forward, reaching out to tug at the young nobleman's robe. He lunged, but managed to grab the hem of the robe without even touching a single piece.

He paused for a moment, but didn't care. He burst into tears and cried, "You despicable man! My sister was so devoted to you, but you despised her and now you've found someone else's daughter. How can you do this to her?" His crying wasn't loud, but everyone around could hear it.

The young man in the blue robe glanced at him, then turned and left. The man beside him, however, couldn't help but scold, "What nonsense are you spouting?"

The short man felt smug, and his expression became even more genuine. He knelt on the ground and took two steps forward: "I knew from the beginning that you rich people couldn't be trusted, but now that she's pregnant, how can she marry someone else?"

More and more people gathered around, pointing and gossiping, criticizing the young man in the blue robe for his heartless nature.

In a small boat on the lake, the tall woman leaned over the table, watching with great interest, the chessboard already pushed aside: "Lian Ning, it's amazing that you managed to find such a wonderful person."

"That day, we walked through a secluded alley, and he suddenly rushed out with those words, except that the one being rejected was himself." The woman in green pulled up the boat curtain, propped her chin on her hand, and looked outside. Suddenly, she saw the young man in blue turn his head, seemingly glancing in their direction. Although she felt a little uneasy for a moment, she didn't pay much attention.

Suddenly, a slender woman stepped out from the crowd, her face as beautiful as a lotus blossom, with a touch of heroic spirit between her brows. She walked straight up to the young man in the blue robe: "Judging from your appearance, this gentleman doesn't seem to be a local. May I ask your honorable name?"

The young man in the blue robe raised the corners of his mouth slightly, as if he were smiling but not really: "My surname is Zhang."

“Young Master Zhang, you seem to be a man well-versed in the classics. Either you marry this brother’s sister immediately and treat her well, or…” She drew out the last syllable, but didn’t finish her sentence.

He glanced at the woman, his folding fan pausing slightly. "Or what?" he asked. He was handsome, but his lips were thin, suggesting a cold-hearted nature. Upon hearing this, the woman's expression turned extremely ugly. "Or, stay here and become a wandering ghost." As soon as she finished speaking, a brocade ribbon flew out from her sleeve. The ribbon was made of soft silk, with a small copper ball tied at the top—both strong and flexible. This kind of unusual weapon was the nemesis of short weapons.

Just as the man beside the young man in the blue robe was about to make a move, a folding fan gently pressed down on his hand. He immediately understood and took two steps back. The folding fan spun around and pushed the copper ball on the brocade ribbon, causing the ribbon to suddenly twist and strike the woman. The woman seemed to be startled as well, her body lightly retreating. The ribbon swirled around her once before striking her again.

"This person's martial arts skills are quite good." The tall woman unconsciously stood at the bow of the boat, but her face was covered by a veil, so her expression could not be seen.

The elegant woman beside him had a delicate cinnabar mark between her brows and an indescribable expression: "Fighting techniques are inherently designed to counter short weapons. Although that person was using a folding fan, he was actually using swordsmanship."

The woman twirled, her brocade ribbon dancing flawlessly, creating a breathtaking, overwhelming blur. A cheer erupted from the crowd. But only she felt a chill creep down her spine. She had initially assumed the man was merely a young nobleman, and even if he knew martial arts, he would be easily defeated in a few moves. But now, things were far from that.

The young man in the blue robe, for reasons unknown, had every opportunity to defeat his opponent but refrained from doing so. As time passed, the woman sensed his leniency and, initially feeling a pang of gratitude, quickly retorted with anger, "You lecherous scoundrel!" She racked her brains for names of notorious womanizers in the martial world but couldn't recall anyone like him, so she added, "You lecherous scoundrel!"

The other party wasn't angry at all, and his expression didn't even change. His sleeves fluttered in the wind, making him look like a handsome young man. Unfortunately, in that woman's eyes, he looked frivolous.

Just as she was thinking about how to escape, a cold wind swept by, and a tall woman lifted her sash, stepping in front of her. Her clothes fluttered slightly in the wind, but her aura was undeniably imposing. The young man in the blue robe stood still, glancing at the plum blossom embroidered on the other woman's sleeve: "So it's Pavilion Master Ruan of Lingxuan Palace. I've heard so much about you." Ruan Qingxuan's veil fluttered slightly, revealing a hint of a smile: "Judging from your unparalleled swordsmanship, could you be the Sword Master of Wudang Sect?"

Everyone knows the name of the Sword Master of the Wudang Sect, and there are also martial arts practitioners in the crowd, so there are bound to be a few murmurs of discussion.

The young man in the blue robe smiled faintly: "Sect Master Ruan is too kind."

Ruan Qingxuan smiled again: "I never expected Young Master Zhang to be so heartless and cold-hearted, which has chilled the hearts of us women. Isn't that right, Miss Zhou from Qiushui Sect?" She spoke the last sentence to the woman behind her.

Zhou Xi, already exhausted from the previous dragging, was still breathing heavily when he spoke with extreme hatred: "Zhang Weiyi, you disgrace to the Wudang Sect! It's a pity that my martial arts are inferior to yours today, but I will definitely make you, you scoundrel, suffer in the future!"

A woman in green, who had just rowed her boat ashore, suddenly chuckled, her laughter as graceful as a peach blossom. Zhou Xi glared at her and said, "What are you laughing at?"

She stepped lightly onto the shore, the side of the boat she stood on didn't even tremble, and she smiled slightly at the three people facing each other, looking quite innocent: "I didn't laugh at anything, does Miss Zhou think I should make fun of you?"

Zhang Weiyi simply watched quietly, glancing out of the corner of her eye as the short man who had been bothering her earlier slowly withdrew from the crowd without making a sound, appearing completely detached.

Zhou Xi, already seething with anger, let the brocade ribbon in his hand drop again: "Pavilion Master Ruan, is this young lady from your Huiyue Pavilion?" Ruan Qingxuan didn't answer, but the woman in green smiled slightly: "I'm the last among the four pavilions of Lingxuan Palace, utterly useless." She slightly raised her sleeve, revealing a lotus flower embroidered on it, the mark of the Pavilion Master of Liushao Pavilion. Zhou Xi had initially thought himself inferior to Ruan Qingxuan in terms of skill, but Huiyue Pavilion was the most powerful force in Lingxuan Palace, and Ruan Qingxuan's martial arts were the highest among the four pavilion masters. In contrast, Xu Lianning, the Pavilion Master of Liushao Pavilion, was known for his mastery of the Six Arts, or to put it bluntly, a jack-of-all-trades, master of none, but with mediocre martial arts skills.

Xu Lianning watched as the brocade ribbon in Zhou Xi's hand approached. Her clothes fluttered, and she gracefully dodged it, making a slight turn in mid-air. Her jade flute pointed at Zhang Weiyi on the other side. This attack completely caught Zhou Xi off guard. She put away the brocade ribbon and was immediately unsure of what to do.

Ruan Qingxuan moved a step to the left, blocking Zhou Xi's view: "Right now, all we need to do is stand here."

Xu Lianning's attack was extremely fast, reaching Zhang Weiyi in the blink of an eye. Her jade flute touched Zhang Weiyi's clothes, feeling slightly cool. Ruan Qingxuan, however, noticed a slight change in her expression. She hastily stopped her momentum, and as soon as her toes touched the ground, she turned around and flicked a blue light from her fingertips.

Zhang Weiyi was very close to her, barely dodging the projectile, which only grazed his sleeve. Ruan Qingxuan couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Zhang Weiyi flicked his sleeve, the wind from which seemed to carry a murderous intent, his folding fan aimed at the weaknesses in her movements. Xu Lianning's lightness skill was unparalleled, and she managed to escape danger, but she couldn't break free no matter what. Knowing the gap between them was too great, she simply stood still, neither dodging nor flinching as the folding fan struck her shoulder. Zhang Weiyi watched her suddenly stop, the fan touching her yet withdrawing, a smile playing on his lips: "Miss Xu's martial arts are quite formidable."

Xu Lianning showed no panic: "I am far from being as good as Young Master Zhang." She stood in the wind, her voice and laughter serene, her clothes fluttering, truly a peerless beauty.

Zhang Weiyi smiled faintly, then suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist: "I advise you, young lady, to throw away those hidden weapons." She frowned, secretly gathering her strength, but couldn't break free. Her originally fair and jade-like face turned deathly pale: "Let go."

"You put on this whole show, and I've played along, yet not a single word of thanks? It seems Palace Master Rong hasn't even taught us basic manners." The two were so close they could feel each other's breath. With each word Zhang Weiyi spoke, her heart sank, unsure how to respond: "Let go! So many people are watching."

"I was called a lecher for the first time in my life, so I should make the most of it." Zhang Weiyi's tone was extremely calm, even somewhat gentle, but Xu Lianning felt extremely disgusted when she heard it, and her pale face turned blue in an instant.

Seeing the two men's posture, Ruan Qingxuan was anxious, but his tone remained unchanged: "Young Master Zhang, my junior sister is gentle and refined. She offended me just now. Please forgive her."