Three days later, aside from the news of "Lotus Wings" reappearing in the martial world, some news spread throughout Jiangnan and was spreading in all directions at an alarming speed: First, the real reason why Shangguan Tou was expelled from Lingjian Manor, and that the day after this was exposed, he rekindled his old desires and began to set his sights on Xia Qingmei's fiancée, Liu Hua. Fortunately, Liu Hua was a loyal and virtuous woman who resisted Shangguan Tou's temptation. Moreover, those rumors about him and Chong Xuezhi turned out to be true.
In other words, it is rumored that both the fox spirit and Yu Tianxian were seduced by Shangguan Tou.
Shangguan Tou was criticized harshly, but at the same time, many men said that this was a real man, and only a real man could make a woman fall for him.
Xuezhi felt helpless upon hearing the rumors, and she was at a loss for words when she heard the praise.
As for the fierce woman Liu Hua, she is described as graceful and elegant. Just think about it, how powerful must Xia Qingmei and Shangguan Tou be to both fall for a woman at the same time?
However, great reputation is often accompanied by blemishes.
Xuezhi is in Suzhou, waiting for the right opportunity to infiltrate Lingjian Manor and complete the task assigned to her by Feng She. While lamenting the power of gossip, she also hears about Liu Hua's background.
A man from Luoyang said that Liu Hua's mother was a prostitute, and Liu Hua herself grew up in a brothel, doing odd jobs; it's unclear whether she was sold into prostitution. He added at the end: "How many people from such places can be innocent? So if she were a virtuous and faithful woman, even sparrows would lay goose eggs."
Perhaps it was because she had been exposed to the cold wind for the past few days, but Xuezhi was feeling unwell and had no appetite for greasy food. The two ate a meal at a small restaurant, which was full of meat and fish, but Xuezhi only ate a plate of pickled radishes before going outside to stand.
Finally, it got dark.
In the dead of winter, once it gets dark, there are hardly any pedestrians on the streets.
Feng She darted to the west side of Lingjian Manor, climbing over the trees and scaling the wall. Xue Zhi, on the other hand, headed straight for the gate.
As soon as she reached the entrance, the guard saw Xuezhi and asked, "Who goes there?"
"I have something to do."
What brings you here?
"It's...uh, it's about Miss Lin and Manager Lin." Xuezhi glanced at Feng She standing by the wall, gritted her teeth, and rushed straight into the manor.
She was stopped as expected. She struggled desperately, and seeing Feng She enter the manor, she waved her hand defiantly: "You wait, I'll be back."
Then she waited at the foot of the mountain, pacing back and forth, while the guards kept their horses in saddles and armor on, keeping a close watch on her.
Feng She brought two things: a packet of spices and a bib.
Both items belonged to the young woman, but neither was her, and she was certain they weren't from anyone in Chonghuo Palace.
At this time, Fengshe was heading towards the disciples' residential area.
What exactly is he going to do?
Before she could think for long, she saw Feng She, who had returned with lightning speed, already peeking out from above the wall. So she went back to the guards and charged in. The guards, of course, stopped her again. Only after Feng She had already leaped into the woods halfway up the mountain did she shout angrily once more, "You wait, I'll be back!"
But after that night, Xuezhi became even more listless, and the next day she slept until noon. Feng She was convinced that she was sick from overwork, and feeling uneasy, he traveled all the way across half of Suzhou to fetch the best doctor.
The doctor took Xuezhi's pulse and examined her. After a short while, he stood up and said with a smile, "Madam, you don't have an illness, you have a happy pregnancy."
120
Deep winter in Suzhou.
The trees at both ends of the bridge were bare. It had snowed the night before, and the snowflakes hadn't melted yet. A thin layer of snowflakes clung to the treetops, contrasting sharply with the frozen, purplish-black bark.
The winter sun, a pale golden and youthful sun, had long since fallen into a hazy slumber. A few birds, like gleaming arrows, darted across the sky.
Xuezhi sat on the bed in a daze, as if waking from a nightmare. Feng She went out to pay the doctor, then returned to the room and gently closed the door behind him.
It was cold, yet Xuezhi was only wearing a thin shirt. Feng She had just sat down when he stood up again, took a coat for her, and draped it over her shoulders. Her figure was similar to Chonglian's; not much flesh, but broad shoulders and well-proportioned bones, so no matter how thin she was, she never looked frail. Qiu Hongxiu had once said, "My sister's figure is just so good, broad shoulders and long legs. I don't know if it's because she practices martial arts, I'm so envious!" At that time, Shangguan Tou and Xuezhi were still just siblings. He looked Xuezhi up and down with pure admiration and smiled, saying it was indeed true. Zhong Tao glanced at Qiu Hongxiu but didn't speak. Then Qiu Hongxiu continued, "Are some people trying to say that those things aren't important, I only notice her chest?" Zhong Tao smiled bitterly, saying, "I didn't say anything!"
After Qiu Hongxiu left, Shangguan Tou whispered to Zhong Tao, "When you're pursuing a woman, you have to compliment her on her beauty, but you absolutely cannot say that you're pursuing her because she's beautiful—even if that's true." Hearing this, Zhong Tao regretted his words and said, "At first, I did like her breasts, but now, even if they turned into two plums, I wouldn't care much."
Shangguan Tou said, "I don't believe any of your words. Do you think Hongxiu will believe them?"
Xuezhi took all of this to heart. This was also why she had always been so wary of Shangguan Tou; she never believed she could be happy with him. During their previous farewell, she had actually prepared to sever all ties.
However, she discovered that she was pregnant with his child.
Her eyes were dark, as if she were blind, staring blankly ahead.
Finally, it was Toyotsugu who spoke first:
"Chong Xuezhi, it seems things are quite serious."
Xuezhi lowered her head and said softly, "I know."
"It's very serious."
"Don't repeat yourself."
Do you know who this child is?
Xuezhi looked up quickly and said angrily, "What nonsense are you spouting?"
Do you know?
"How could I not know?"
"That's good." Feng She breathed a sigh of relief. "Since that's the case, it's easy to solve. Just go find the child's father and discuss it with him."
Xuezhi's eyes flickered slightly, but she quickly and decisively said, "I won't look for her."
Why not look for it?
"I'm not looking for it, that's all."
"Oh, then what will you do in the future? You're not married yet."