Ich freue mich auf die Frühlingsbrise

Kapitel 28

He chuckled softly, “Lian Ning is the most flawless in my heart, so naturally I can’t bear to touch her.”

Xu Lianning shook off his hand, her expression extremely complicated: "The first half of the sentence is enough, why bother with the second half?" Zhang Weiyi suddenly reached out and lifted her chin, pressing his lips to the cinnabar mark between her brows in full view of everyone, then let go and turned to retrieve the wooden plaque. Xu Lianning froze on the spot.

Zhang Weiyi took the wooden plaque and vermilion pen, her expression a mixture of a smile and a frown: "We've done far more intimate things than this, so what's this?"

Xu Lianning said angrily, "I've never seen anyone do this in public."

He flicked his sleeve and sat down on the steps outside the Buddhist hall, spreading out his robes. "Sit here," he said. Xu Lianning sat beside him, taking the vermilion brush from his hand. "I remember you followed Wang Xun," she said, "why don't you let me write?" Zhang Weiyi covered her hand with his, applying only gentle pressure, and she slowly wrote the first character following the direction of his strength. His right hand was weak, making it difficult to even hold the brush, so this method was much easier. Seeing him write her name, Xu Lianning suddenly paused, then resolutely wrote the character "朱" (Zhu).

She was slightly surprised, but still followed his strength and began to write.

Zhu Youhan. Xu Lianning. The two names were placed side by side on the wooden sign.

“We are here today, with so many people as witnesses. Even if you revisit this place in the future, someone might ask you, ‘Where is the person who was with you back then?’ Then you will remember me.” Zhang Weiyi lowered her eyes, but her tone was calm and still.

Xu Lianning couldn't find a reply, so she could only say, "We should hang the wooden sign on the tree over there."

Zhang Weiyi stood up and walked to the Bodhi tree. He saw that the branches overhead were covered with wooden plaques, each with a pair of names written on it. He was quite tall, and with a simple reach, he hung the plaques high up. After looking up for a while, he turned his head and said, "It's almost noon. I've heard that Qixia Temple's vegetarian food is very famous. Why don't we go somewhere nearby?"

Xu Lianning nodded: "So what should we do after we finish the vegetarian meal?"

Zhang Weiyi smiled faintly and said slowly, "Actually, as long as it's Lian Ning's cooking, I can swallow it all even if it's burnt."

“…You know perfectly well that I can’t do any of it.” She frowned slightly.

"Whether it's the Three Obediences and Four Virtues, or even morality, speech, appearance, and work, you really don't fit any of them."

Xu Lianning was a little annoyed: "Do you think you can do that?"

Zhang Weiyi said unhurriedly, "I am not very talented, but I can at least make do. I just admire Palace Master Rong for being able to teach a disciple like you, and for you to be able to deal with him. It is truly remarkable."

She was so angry that she could hardly speak, and after a long while she managed to squeeze out a sentence: "If someone is willing to give me some pointers, I will certainly not disappoint them."

Zhang Weiyi had been waiting for her to say this, and readily agreed: "Since you are so sincere in asking for my guidance, I can't refuse, so I will reluctantly give you some pointers."

In the bustling market, on the left are freshly caught, lively crucian carp, and on the right are bunches of lush, vibrant green vegetables. Further ahead are stalls displaying slices of meat hanging in the breeze...

Xu Lianning teased, "So, Your Highness, are you planning to make abalone and bird's nest soup, or shark fin and snow frog soup?"

Zhang Weiyi smiled faintly and said slowly, "Aren't you afraid you won't be able to digest it? Just steaming the tofu will keep you busy enough."

Xu Lianning wasn't annoyed, and smiled slightly, "I'll make you look at me differently later." As soon as she finished speaking, she saw him turn his head away, his expression one of restrained barely suppressed laughter. She angrily reached for his arm, but immediately released it the moment she touched it: his right arm was stiff and slightly cold, as if it were necrotic. And earlier, when she was writing on the wooden plaque bearing his hand at Qixia Temple, she had noticed how unusually cold his palms were.

She wanted to ask but didn't dare, until she saw him buy things from the vendor and carry them, then she tentatively asked, "Won't you be able to carry so many?"

Zhang Weiyi turned to look at her, and then said knowingly, "It's alright, you can hold it with your left hand."

He lowered his eyes slightly, but his tone wasn't particularly melancholy: "Actually, it's not a big deal. It was a little difficult to get used to at first, but it's much better now."

Xu Lianning shook her head and changed the subject: "Weiyi, have you ever heard of the Drunken River of Oblivion?"

"I only know the general idea. It is said that the masters of the Drunken River of Oblivion are all reclusive sages with a detached temperament, so not many people have heard of them. My arm was also reattached by the former master, Mr. Su."

“Miss Su Ling said she knew Senior Sister Qingxuan. When I saw her, I felt they had a lot in common.”

Zhang Weiyi looked displeased upon hearing the name Su Ling: "That Miss Su, cough, you should stay as far away from her as possible, don't let her corrupt you."

Xu Lianning tilted her head, slightly wistful: "To receive such praise from you makes me want to get closer to her even more."

Hearing this, Zhang Weiyi said softly, "Why do you always do the opposite of whatever I say?" She reached out and grasped his cold right hand, and said leisurely, "Because you are too shameless." He suddenly smiled, his expression slightly strange, "I haven't even started to show you how shameless I am yet."

Xu Lianning felt a chill run down her spine at his cold tone, forcing a smile. "It's a pity I won't have the chance to see it again." She immediately realized her mistake, but it was too late to take it back. Zhang Weiyi's expression changed slightly, and after a moment, he sighed in relief. "Your mouth, as always, loves to spoil the mood." He glanced around; they had already entered a quiet alley. Suddenly, he leaned forward. Xu Lianning took a step back, leaning against the wall. He lowered his head and kissed the corner of her lips, then slightly raised his head, smiling, "But it's okay, I love you just the way you are." Xu Lianning smiled slightly. "Although I don't love you the way you are, I do care about you."

Zhang Weiyi was slightly lost in thought.

Because they think they can't have it, they care about it, and they will try their best to get closer and closer, even if it takes a lot of effort.

Once you've had it, can you stop caring about it?

Zhang Weiyi smiled gently, concealing her emotions for a moment: "Let's hurry up and go, it'll get dark if we dawdle."

Three simple home-style dishes: boiled tofu, steamed fish, and egg drop soup.

After tasting each one, Zhang Weiyi concluded, "You're absolutely right that you never cook."

Xu Lianning slammed her chopsticks on the edge of the bowl. If she weren't so well-mannered, she would have pointed at the other person and given them a piece of her mind: "It's neither burnt nor charred, what's wrong with it?"

Zhang Weiyi said with a half-smile, "This tastes almost exactly like dishwater."

"...So you were so hungry in Wudang that you even drank dishwater."

Zhang Weiyi just lowered her head and chuckled silently.

She braced herself on the table, wishing she could strangle the other person: "What are you laughing at?" She turned her head, her jade-like face slightly flushed: "I didn't do anything funny, why are you laughing at me?"

Zhang Weiyi tapped her forehead with her knuckles and chuckled, "I've just never seen anyone kill a fish with swordsmanship." He had been standing behind her watching, taking the opportunity to grab her a few times, but she hadn't reacted, focusing only on the crucian carp under her knife. The poor crucian carp was already covered in wounds, yet still couldn't escape, and was finally finished off by Xu Lianning's "Picking Chrysanthemums by the Eastern Fence" move. Zhang Weiyi rested her chin on her hand, thinking that she would probably laugh herself to death whenever she saw similar swordsmanship in the future.

Xu Lianning was so angry that she ignored him. But then she saw him finish eating all the home-cooked dishes, and at the end he even offered a hypocritical consolation: "Actually, it's still better than dishwater."

The setting sun faded, and twilight deepened. The late autumn wind was already quite cool. The two sat leaning against each other in the courtyard, chatting idly. Zhang Weiyi didn't mention leaving, so she didn't either. She wished she could stay a little longer in this gentle and quiet atmosphere.

He was the first to speak: "Are you cold? Why don't you come inside?"

Xu Lianning shook her head: "Sit a little longer."

Zhang Weiyi chuckled slightly: "I'm not leaving now. I just need to get back before Sect Leader Liu and the others tomorrow."

Xu Lianning gazed at him and said softly, "Do you really have to go back? I'll go wherever you want, except for Longteng Post Station."

Zhang Weiyi reached out and placed her palm against hers, slowly interlocking their fingers: "I want to... hear you play the flute once."

Xu Lianning withdrew her hand, untied the jade flute from her side, and stood before him. She slowly brought the jade flute to her lips and blew out the first note, which was plaintive and lingering, as if it had drifted from a very distant place.

Xu Lianning's long sleeves fluttered in the wind, her black hair gently swaying as she slowly lowered her eyes.

Zhang Weiyi looked at her, as if he wanted to remember her.

My thoughts wander to the distant South Sea. Why ask what I left for you? A pair of pearl-encrusted tortoiseshell hairpins, bound with jade thread. I hear you have another heart.

Burn it all. Burn it, and let the wind scatter its ashes. From this day forward, let us never think of each other again. My love for you is over!

The rooster crows and the dog barks; my elder brother and sister-in-law should know. Oh, my dear brother! The autumn wind blows crisply in the morning; the east will soon know.

My mind has changed, and my longing has turned to ashes.

However, the past is now just a fleeting memory.

He stood up and watched quietly as she played the last note, then brought the flute close to her cheek. The pale pink jade flute and the touch of vermilion between her brows complemented each other perfectly, making it impossible to say which was more alluring.

Xu Lianning tilted her head slightly, her eyes clear and shallow, with a light as clear as jade, but her cheeks were full of tears.

Zhang Weiyi felt a pang of pain in his heart, wishing he could turn and leave immediately, yet also wanting to stab her to death with his own sword. He was unable to move for a long time. Xu Lianning was like poison, like crimson cinnabar, beautiful and alluring yet possessing a ruthless and decisive nature. He only regretted that he had seen too much, that he had seen through the pretense and deceit to the true heart.

Zhang Weiyi took two steps closer. Behind her was a stone table, leaving her no way to avoid it. He reached out and pressed her wrist, and seeing her expression change slightly, he chuckled softly, "If you're asking what I want to do... I think my intentions are already quite obvious."

What harm is there in being intoxicated by you?

Xu Lianjing looked at him quietly, then smiled sweetly and said, "Okay." Her radiant smile made the vermilion mark between her brows appear even more alluring. She raised her hand to hook his neck and slowly brought her lips close to his. Zhang Weiyi's pupils deepened, his eyes a mixture of coldness and passion, only to gaze upon the shimmering clarity in hers.

He suddenly reached out and pressed his hand against her neck, sighed, closed his eyes, and deepened the kiss. Xu Lianning kept her eyes open, carefully examining his features, when suddenly everything went black as he covered her eyes. Yet, she remained wide open in the darkness. There was none of the tension or annoyance she had felt during their previous intimacy, not even a trace of… emotion. Yet, she could still hear the creaking of the door closing, feel the soft touch of the blankets as she lay down, and even the body slowly covering her felt so real and warm.

She turned her head to look at Zhang Weiyi, only to find him staring intently at her. He chuckled softly and whispered, "If you still don't snap out of it, I really don't know if I should continue..." Lowering his head, their bodies pressed together intimately, Zhang Weiyi reached out and pulled off the sash tied to her body, tossing it aside. Xu Lianning reacted, reaching for it, but he pressed her wrist down.

Zhang Weiyi smiled slightly and said, "It's better to keep these hidden weapons far away. I don't want to suffer through the night like last time."

Xu Lianning was taken aback, suddenly recalling their drunken embrace and whispered words in the capital that night, and couldn't help but ask, "You remember all of that?"

He reached out and stroked her face, smiling meaningfully: "I'm a little drunk, but I still know who that person is and what I did."

Xu Lianning looked at him for a while, then smiled faintly: "Forget it, those things are not worth arguing about."

Zhang Weiyi brushed a strand of her hair aside, a half-smile on her face: "If you're going to say anything else, do it now, lest you say something that will spoil the mood later."

Xu Lianning tilted her head and leaned against the pillow: "That's all."

The light gauze curtains slowly draped down to the ground.

Xu Lianning tilted her head, watching him slowly toss off his outer robe, revealing a captivating and alluring charm. Zhang Weiyi reached out to unbutton her robe, patiently unbuttoning each of the intricate garments until the vermilion mark on her shoulder was revealed. He paused, unsure whether he felt pleasure or growing contempt, but only for a moment before continuing.

The moonlight streamed slowly through the windowpanes, spreading softly and shimmering. She looked at her bare, supple left arm, with a deep red scar on its upper part. She raised her hand and gently touched the scar, noticing that Zhang Weiyi had his eyes slightly closed, breathing heavily. He lowered his head, his open eyes gleaming, and looked at her with a smile, gently flattening her palm and interlocking their fingers.

Zhang Weiyi gently stroked her eyebrows and the corners of her eyes, hesitated slightly, then slowly lowered himself, his hair slipping down his shoulders and tangling with hers. Xu Lianning looked at him quietly, watching the restraint and clarity in his eyes completely disappear, replaced by a hidden heat. Suddenly, she felt a warmth on her lips, and for some reason, her eyes began to moisten and blur.

Zhang Weiyi breathed softly, unable to utter a word, only gently kissing the corners of her eyes. She raised her hand to hold his shoulder, silently shedding tears.

Perhaps despair is contagious, for his actions became increasingly out of control. Xu Lianning felt unbearable pain and unconsciously tightened her grip, pinching a bloody mark on his shoulder. Zhang Weiyi groaned softly, burying his face in her neck, occasionally nuzzling her gently, as if trying to appease her.

Enraged, she bit him hard on the shoulder. Zhang Weiyi paid no heed, reaching out to pinch her chin, their lips meeting, deepening their kiss. The silvery veil before them vanished, leaving only their heartbeats and breathless gasps. Their hair intertwined, like tightly entwined snakes, unwilling to separate.

Xu Lianning turned her head to look at the other person beside her pillow.

He lay asleep with a slight frown, as if his mind was preoccupied with countless thoughts. His long eyebrows reached his temples, and his eyes were slightly upturned, quite handsome. His arm was exposed outside the blanket, long and supple, clearly the work of someone who had practiced martial arts. She reached out and gently touched it, then stopped at the deep red scar. It was probably the mark left after his arm was reattached that day, sunken and somewhat grotesque.

This scar will stay with him for the rest of his life. But isn't it also going to stay with her for the rest of her life?

Zhang Weiyi opened his eyes slightly, his expression momentarily confused, his voice muffled: "...Not asleep yet?" He reached out and pulled her closer, letting her lean against him. Xu Lianning propped herself up, looking down at him, and smiled slightly: "It doesn't matter, anyway, one day I'll be sleeping forever, then it's not too late to sleep to my heart's content."

"Lian Ning..." He raised his hand to stroke her black hair, and after a moment, he said, "Will you avenge Miss Ruan?"

She said slowly, "That's natural."

Zhang Weiyi hesitated for a moment, then asked, "What if I stop you?"

"...It's the same."

Zhang Weiyi gave a soft "hmm" and closed her eyes slightly. The two remained silent, listening to the midnight watchman's clapper sound gradually fade away. They didn't know how much time had passed, but they could hear the soft patter of rain outside the window, fine and persistent. Xu Lianning suddenly said, "It's almost time."

He turned his head to look outside, but could only see a dim light through the windowpane. It seemed they wouldn't be able to wait until dawn. Zhang Weiyi got up and dressed, straightening the intricate buttons of his coat with his left hand. Suddenly, he saw her reach out to help him straighten his clothes. It was as if it were an illusion; the warmth of their night together hadn't cooled, and they would spend every morning together like this from now on.

Zhang Weiyi suddenly wanted to see her expression at that moment.

I don't know if it's that kind of sorrowful, lingering sadness.

He had seen this expression many times before, and it had never moved him, but he longed to see it truly on her face this time.

Xu Lianning raised her head and smiled slightly, "Alright."

He didn't know whether he should applaud her resolute decision, knowing that the more upset she was, the more radiant her smile would be, yet he still felt a subtle sense of being let down.

He watched her leave the room and bring in a basin of water. The two of them quickly washed up.

"Are you leaving today?" Zhang Weiyi asked as she saw her carrying a bundle and holding a translucent, pale red jade flute in her hand, standing by the threshold.

Xu Lianning said calmly, "Yes." Nanjing Prefecture is the territory of Longteng Post Station. The longer she stays here, the more dangerous it will be.

Zhang Weiyi smiled and said nothing more. Some things were no longer his concern.

The two walked out of the alley side by side. The sky was dark, and a fine drizzle mingled with the cool air. Neither of them looked back.