Snow falls and the wind blows

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The author's note: This story is set during the reign of Emperor Zhenzong of the Northern Song Dynasty, mainly to facilitate the design of geography and official titles.

It does not involve major historical events, nor will it feature any real historical figures.

Please point out any inaccuracies in the descriptions of specific details of life during the Northern Song Dynasty.

But please don't get hung up on things like Bao Zheng and Zhan Zhao from Kaifeng Prefecture. Thanks!

Dear viewers, please give me some flowers! Little Snowflakes bows to you all~

During the reign of Emperor Zhenzong of the Northern Song Dynasty.

"Good morning, Young Master Zhan!" a young boy in blue greeted him in a clear voice, stretching out his arm to invite him forward, saying, "Young Master Zhan, please! My master has been waiting inside for a long time."

Zhan Yun smiled slightly, put away his umbrella, and handed it to the boy standing to the side: "Thank you for your trouble." With the end of the year approaching, a light snow began to fall early in the morning, covering the bluestone path with a thin layer, making it slightly slippery. Just as Zhan Yun stepped into the government office gate, a figure in light blue instantly appeared beside him. The figure had a fair face, clear, aloof eyes, slightly upturned lips, and jet-black hair tied high at the back of the head. The figure brushed past him without glancing at him, then used his light-footed skill to head east, quickly disappearing into a thin white mist.

Zhan Yun turned halfway around, one foot already stepping over the threshold. His delicate brows furrowed slightly, and his pink lips curved into a faint smile. The little boy beside him saw this, curled his lip, and said in a crisp voice with great disdain, "That person is very strange. Young Master Zhan, don't pay any attention to him."

Zhan Yun turned his head, a slight smile playing on his lips. This faint smile captivated Xiao Tong, leaving him mesmerized. So handsome! Even after seeing him so many times, even though they were both men, Xiao Tong blushed secretly and exclaimed in admiration, "Young Master Zhan is truly handsome! No wonder all those maids, upon hearing that Young Master Zhan was coming, put on makeup and bought new clothes, just so they could catch his eye when serving tea and water."

"Why are you standing here in a daze so early in the morning? Xingzhi, you ate so many steamed buns for nothing! You're already dizzy and weak so soon?" The man in the crimson brocade robe raised his hand and patted Zhan Yun's shoulder, his handsome eyebrows raised high. He teased him while smiling wickedly, and glanced at the man in black who was climbing the steps.

Xiao Tong stood there, completely dumbfounded. Every time she saw these three appear together, she couldn't suppress the urge to scream. The young master Zhan, dressed in white, was as handsome as a fairy. Young master Zhou favored brightly colored and luxurious clothes; his handsome, masculine face always carried a wicked smile, and his deep eyes would occasionally flicker with a seductive glance, causing the women on the street to excitedly shout and scream. The one always dressed in black was taciturn. Although extremely handsome, he exuded an icy aura that kept strangers at bay. It was said that he had fought against the Liao people on the border in his younger days; perhaps because of his military service, every time he spoke, he carried an aura that made people involuntarily submit.

Zhan Yun glanced at Zhou Yufei with a half-smile, then subtly dodged away. He then looked at Zhao Ting, who was walking towards the gate, and asked, "Zhengping, guess who I just saw?"

The man in black shrugged, slowed his pace, and said in a low voice without turning his head, "How many times have I told you, don't call me by that name. Just call me Zhao Ting."

"Alright, Zhao Ting. Guess who I just saw?" Zhan Yun readily agreed, his clear voice carrying a hint of amusement.

Zhou Yufei scoffed and lazily followed him inside: "Who? Who made our gentle and refined Young Master Xingzhi stand here in a daze at the entrance of the Hangzhou government office so early in the morning, and even smile so broadly when you mention him?"

Zhan Yun shook his head helplessly and walked side by side with Zhou Yufei. Looking at Zhao Ting, who was walking ahead, he raised his voice slightly: "Zhao Ting, haven't you always wanted to see him?"

The group had already entered the inner hall of the government office. The man in black had already sat down in a chair without saying a word, giving a barely perceptible nod to the old man sitting in the seat of honor as a greeting. Then, without any ceremony, he picked up a delicate white porcelain teacup placed to the side, lifted the lid, scraped off the layer of emerald green buds covering it, and took a leisurely sip. He then looked up, his sword-like eyebrows slightly raised, at Zhan Yun, who was dressed in snow-white robes: "Who?"

"Who else? Isn't it that little Duan you were talking about last night?" Zhan Yun said helplessly. How could this person be so forgetful? He first bowed to the old man who was squinting and stroking his beard, "Lord Li." The latter nodded with a smile. Zhan Yun then lifted his robe and sat down opposite Zhao Ting, picking up his tea and slowly sipping it.

Li Qinglan had been stroking his beard all morning. Now that the three of them were seated, he stood up with a smile, handed a square apricot-yellow bag to Zhan Yun, and then cupped his hands in thanks: "Young Master Zhan, gentlemen, this matter was resolved so quickly thanks to your help. Now the people of Hangzhou can enjoy a peaceful New Year! On behalf of all the people of Hangzhou, I thank you all three of you."

Zhan Yun stood up with the small cloth bag in his hand and bowed, saying, "Lord Li, you are too kind. The fact that this case was resolved so quickly is the result of everyone's cooperation and hard work. Lord Li is enlightened and understanding, and he has also done us a lot of favors."

Li Qinglan smiled and waved his hand, "It's only right." Just then, Zhou Yufei, who was sitting to the side, leaned over, took the bag from Zhan Yun's hand, reached inside and took out several silver notes. He twirled them in his hand, then frowned, "I say, Lord Li, wasn't it five hundred taels? The three of us brothers each need one hundred taels! Where's the remaining two hundred taels?"

The old man chuckled, sat back down in his chair, and continued stroking his beard: "Young Master Zhou, as Young Master Xingzhi just mentioned, it's that young Duan."

"Why does he get two hundred taels, while we brothers have been working ourselves to the bone for days and only get one hundred taels each?" Zhou Yufei pouted, his handsome eyebrows raised high, his deep peach blossom eyes filled with deep dissatisfaction.

"The case was indeed solved thanks to the two clues found by that young master Duan. We only contributed some physical labor and ran errands. The money was divided fairly, Yiran, so stop making a fuss." Zhan Yun took the silver notes and bag from Zhou Yufei, carefully packed them up, and nodded to Lord Li to express his gratitude.

"Tch! He just got there early! If we had arrived two days earlier, we could have found the same clues too. Why would that kid have gotten the better deal?" Zhou Yufei curled her red lips, her face full of disdain.

"Are you that short of money? The white jade bracelet you bought for that 'Keyun' girl the other day cost more than that." Zhao Ting didn't even raise his eyes, coldly snorting, not believing that this kid would be bothered by a hundred taels of silver less.

“Yes, it’s not about the money.” Zhou Yufei glanced at Lord Li, who was squinting and stroking his beard, and gritted his teeth angrily. “I just can’t stand that Duan guy. Last time in Suzhou Prefecture, and the time before that in Huzhou Prefecture, he beat us to it and took the lion’s share of the money. I just think it’s weird. We were rushing over as soon as the results came out, but how come we always ended up behind him? What I can’t understand the most is that we’ve fought three times and I haven’t even seen what he looks like! Is thi

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