Orden del Loto Rojo

Capítulo 1

Zhengwen first entered the Heike family

Cherry blossoms are in full bloom, their fragrance and color as beautiful as ever. It's springtime in Ren'an year. At the Rokuhara Mansion in the Gyeongsang Mountains of Ping'an, the double-flowered cherry blossoms in the courtyard are in full bloom, their petals fluttering in the air. A thick layer of pink petals has accumulated on the ground, and a gentle breeze sends them swirling and scattering in all directions—a breathtaking sight. Maids in twelve-layered kimonos are bustling through the corridors and courtyards, preparing for the upcoming cherry blossom viewing party. "I don't want to!" A girl wearing only a white short-sleeved shirt and a light pink blouse shouted as she ran out of the room, rushing towards the corridor. She accidentally bumped into one of the maids, Ayu. Seeing the incense box in her hand fall to the ground, Ayu panicked and quickly bent down, too frightened to utter a word. The girl stopped, bent down, and picked up the incense box from the ground. A soft, clear voice came from Ayu's ear: "Hmm, for you." The girl's Beijing dialect wasn't fluent and had a slight accent, but it had a unique charm. Ayu couldn't help but look up and was stunned by the girl's appearance. The girl looked no more than seven or eight years old, with long, black, silky hair that made her skin appear even whiter and more translucent, radiating a faint glow. Her pink lips were as delicate as cherry blossoms, and especially her eyes—not the usual black, but a light amber color, crystal clear, dreamlike. Could there really be such a beautiful young lady in Lord Rokuhara's mansion? Ayu was momentarily speechless. "Xiaoxue, what kind of behavior is this, running around like this? Quickly put on some light clothing." Ayu recognized the woman who followed behind; she was Lady Tokiko, Lord Rokuhara's principal wife. Although her tone was somewhat reproachful, her face was full of doting affection. The maids all bowed. "No, I don't like wearing the twelve-layered kimono, it's too much trouble," the girl said, her big eyes wide with a coquettish tone. Lady Tokiko smiled gently and said, "Xiaoxue, you can't not wear it. This is your first time appearing here, you know. Do you still want to go to the cherry blossom viewing party later?" The girl immediately put on a bitter face, and said softly with a hint of helplessness, "Alright, Mother." Watching the young lady and Lady Tokiko's departing figures, Ayu couldn't help but sigh and say to her other maid, Ajuku, "That young lady is truly beautiful. But how come I've never seen her before?" The maid named Aju smiled mysteriously and said, "Ayu, you're new here and don't know this young lady's background, do you? She's the lady's adopted daughter." Aju lowered her voice further and said, "I heard she was found on the beach a year ago. When she was found, she was dressed in Song Dynasty clothing and washed ashore. It's possible that the Song Dynasty merchant ship she was on encountered a shipwreck. The lady happened to find her and, seeing how similar she was to the recently deceased young lady, took pity on her and took her in. However, she had been living in the villa, and because she was so well-liked by the lady and Lord Rokuhara, they simply adopted her." Ayu clicked her tongue lightly and said, "That young lady is truly blessed." Aju smiled and said, "Although the young lady is a bit willful, she's also incredibly innocent and intelligent. In the past year, she's had no problem conversing with us. The lady has even started having the ladies-in-waiting teach her to write waka poems. Besides, she has such a beautiful appearance; it's easy to like her." Ayu nodded, her curiosity about the young lady growing stronger. After much effort, Xiaoxue finally put on the twelve-layered kimono, the thin peach-colored outer layer further accentuating her exceptionally beautiful features. "Our Xiaoxue will definitely be a beauty in the future," Lady Tokiko said with a gentle smile, holding a folding fan. Looking at the gentleness in her eyes, Xiaoxue's heart fluttered slightly. What a kind lady, just like her own mother. "Alright, Xiaoxue, stay here for now, I'll come back later." Lady Tokiko gracefully stood up and slowly walked out. Xiaoxue finally breathed a sigh of relief, lying back on the tatami mat, staring at the ceiling, her thoughts drifting back to that stormy night two years ago. Everything seemed so unbelievable... She was rehearsing a dance with her classmates for the school anniversary celebration, and was clearly on her way home. How did she inexplicably end up here? Her last memory was of an advertising billboard falling in her direction, and after that, she remembered nothing. When she woke up, she found herself in the body of a seven-year-old girl from the Southern Song Dynasty. It took her a full year to recover from the shock and slowly accept her identity as the daughter of a cook on a merchant ship. Although it wasn't the royal family often depicted in novels, the year passed peacefully, and the Southern Song Dynasty and the Jin Dynasty signed a thirty-year peace treaty. She thought things would continue peacefully, but a year later, a voyage at sea encountered a huge storm, and she inexplicably ended up in Heian-kyo, Japan. It was like adding insult to injury. She knew a little about Chinese history, but her understanding of Japan was limited to comics and the history of the invasion of China; she was completely ignorant of this era. It was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune, to have met such a gentle Lady Tokiko. For the past year, Lady Tokiko had been arranging for her to study Japanese, etiquette, and waka poetry at a villa in the east of the capital. Only then did she gradually learn that her adoptive father, Lord Rokuhara, Taira no Kiyomori, was a powerful and influential figure. Unlike ordinary noble families, the Taira family was a samurai family. It seemed they had defeated another samurai family, the Minamoto clan, a few years ago, and thus seized power. The Taira family's influence in Heian-kyo seemed unmatched. She had already met Taira no Kiyomori; perhaps it was fate, but Lord Rokuhara also seemed to adore her. There was no other way; since she was already here, and since there was such a powerful patron, she had to hold on tight. She still wanted to live, and when she was older, she would find a way to return to Song. After all, this wasn't her home, nor her country. She loosened her robes. Sigh, and these twelve-layered kimonos were truly unbearable… Song clothing was much more comfortable. Suddenly, she missed her freshman year at dance school—jeans, T-shirts, carefree and happy days—and then this unbelievable thing happened. If she was going to time travel, she should have done it before the college entrance exam! "Hey, who are you? Why are you in my mother's room?" The sudden voice snapped Xiaoxue back to reality. She sat up abruptly, staring unceremoniously at the uninvited guest. It turned out to be just a little boy, about eight or nine years old, wearing a light yellow shirt and with his black hair tied back. He had delicate features and a gentle demeanor. But the extremely unfriendly look in his large, black, gem-like eyes completely shattered his gentle image. "Answer me!" His tone hardened, his eyes turning fierce. An unpleasant child. Xiaoxue frowned, gave a soft snort, and decided not to lower herself to his level. The little boy was slightly taken aback when he saw her face, and for a moment he was speechless. Most of the malice in his eyes disappeared. Xiaoxue couldn't help but feel secretly pleased. Fortunately, this face was much more beautiful than her own, and it had actually managed to intimidate the child. "Then, then who exactly are you?" The little boy's tone immediately softened. He was so young and already had no resistance to beauty; he would definitely grow up to be a playboy. She stuck out her tongue and said, "Tell me who you are first." The boy nodded and said loudly, "My name is Ping Chongheng. Okay, it's your turn." She smirked mischievously and said, "I didn't say I was going to tell you. You told me yourself." The boy named Chongheng was speechless with anger, his face turning red. After a long while, he managed to stammer, "You, you broke your promise." She continued to laugh and say, "I broke my promise, ha, ha, ha, so what?" Anger flashed in Chongheng's eyes. He rushed to Xiaoxue's side in one stride, disregarding the difference between boys and girls, and grabbed her hand, asking, "You have to tell me, or I'll have my father lock you up." Although he was young, his grip was surprisingly strong, perhaps because he came from a samurai family. Xiaoxue was also a little angry. She said angrily, "Let go." "Unless you tell me your name." Chongheng's grip did not loosen at all. Xiaoxue's anger flared up. She aimed at his hand, lowered her head, and bit down hard. "Ah--------------------" A scream rang out, and a row of neat teeth marks appeared on Chongheng's wrist, along with some blood. He abruptly released his grip, his eyes misting over. Pointing at her, he winced in pain and said, "You, you bit me! I'll definitely tell Father, and he'll punish you properly!" With that, he turned and ran away without looking back. Xiaoxue shook her head. She was still just a child. She'd only suffered a little loss, yet she kept calling him "Father." What kind of samurai was she? Who did Chongheng think he was? ------------------------ Not long after, Lady Tokiko came to fetch Xiaoxue and they went to the cherry blossom viewing area in the front courtyard. Hearing that most of those present were from the main Taira clan, Xiaoxue was curious and wanted to see what kind of people they were. When they arrived at the front courtyard, the women were already waiting there. "Madam Tokiko, is this your newly adopted daughter? She's so beautiful!" A young woman in a heather-colored kimono with a red plum blossom pattern said softly, her face partially obscured by a fan. Madam Tokiko nodded gracefully. "Yes, Yukiko, please greet everyone." Yukiko could only bow slightly and recite a string of polite greetings she had recently crammed. "Oh my, oh my, what a clear and melodious voice! What a lovely girl!" Another older woman smiled and praised. Yukiko felt a chill run down her spine, goosebumps rising all over her body. These noblewomen's way of speaking was unbearable; Madam Tokiko was much more natural. Bored, she looked around and suddenly noticed a girl about her age, wearing a nightgown kimono, with a beautiful face and sparkling eyes. Noticing Yukiko's gaze, she turned her head and smiled faintly at her. What an elegant girl, Yukiko thought to herself. "The Lord has arrived," Lady Tokiko said softly, and all the women bowed to welcome Lord Rokuhara. From afar, Lord Rokuhara approached with a group of Taira clan gentlemen. Koyuki glanced at them and quickly followed suit, bowing as well. As they took their seats, Koyuki couldn't resist raising her head slightly, only to meet a pair of angry eyes. Oh no! Wasn't that Taira no Shigehira from earlier? He was right opposite her! What a small world! "Alright, everyone, no need for formalities," Lord Rokuhara, Taira no Kiyomori, said calmly. Only then did the women raise their heads, still holding folding fans to partially cover their faces. Koyuki took this opportunity to look around. From a distance, the Taira clan gentlemen all seemed quite elegant. If only she could get a closer look... "Xiaoxue, you've come too." "Xiaoxue—" Lady Tokiko covered her face and repeated, "The master is asking you a question." Ah, Xiaoxue quickly withdrew her lecherous gaze. Luckily, she was only eight years old; no one would think of lust, she thought to herself, amused. "Yes, Father," Xiaoxue quickly replied. Taira no Kiyomori smiled and nodded to everyone, saying, "This is my and Tokiko's adopted daughter, Xuezi." He then turned to the young men around him and said, "Shigemori, from now on she will be your sister. Please take good care of her." "Father, we will definitely treat her as our own sister," the man at the head, named Shigemori, dressed in a brown robe and wearing a tall black hat, respectfully replied to Taira no Kiyomori. He looked to be in his twenties, with an elegant and gentle demeanor—a typical nobleman. After speaking, he nodded to her and then pointed to the men around him, saying, "Xiaoxue, these are your brothers, Munemori, Tomomori, and Shigehira." What? This Ping Chongheng was actually her brother? Xiaoxue stared at him in astonishment, and at the same time, she saw Chongheng show the same astonished expression. The cherry blossom viewing party that followed practically became a glare-gathering session between Xiaoxue and Chongheng. Chongheng kept staring at her, and she didn't back down either, responding to his attacks and even glaring back. Chongsheng, watching from the side, had a slight smile on his lips. He had long heard about this new sister from Song, and now that he had finally met her, she was indeed quite interesting. Suddenly having so many handsome brothers, Xiaoxue was still immersed in excitement until nightfall. Besides Chongheng, there were several other boys who seemed to be around her age, but she was too busy sparring with that annoying child Chongheng at the cherry blossom viewing party to get a good look at the other brothers. Oh well, there's plenty of time in the future. My eyes are so sore, I should go to sleep early. I wonder if Chongheng's eyes are as sore as hers... Meanwhile, the Taira clan's sons continued to gather in the courtyard, discussing amongst themselves. "Big brother, our new little sister is as beautiful as cherry blossoms!" The youngest son, Taira Atsumori, only six years old, made no attempt to hide his affection for his new sister. "Third brother, don't you think so?" Atsumori turned to the third son, Taira Munemori, who, though only twelve, wore an expression far beyond his years. He ignored the falling cherry blossoms and remained silent. "Even if she's beautiful, she's not part of the Taira clan. She's just a Song woman. I really don't understand how Father and Mother could adopt a Song woman of unknown origin as their goddaughter," the fourth son, Taira Tomomori, seemed to dislike Koyuki and harbored considerable resentment towards the matter. Shigemori frowned slightly and said softly, "Chimori, don't think like that. Since Father and Mother have made their decision, we, as the younger generation, must not go against their wishes. Besides, Yuki is innocent and adorable. You should get along well with her from now on, understand?" Shigemori's tone was gentle, yet carried a hint of authority. As the eldest son, he held the important position of Minister of the Interior, and his conduct was impeccable. He could be considered the pillar of the Taira clan, and his younger brothers both loved and respected him. "Shigehira, why are you so quiet today? You're usually the most talkative one." Chimori suddenly turned the conversation to Shigehira, who was lost in thought. Today, his younger brother seemed a bit strange, unusually quiet. Shigehira snapped out of his reverie and quickly said, "It's nothing, I'm just a little tired today." As he spoke, he brushed his hair aside. "Fifth Brother, your hand..." The sharp-eyed Dunsheng immediately noticed the wound on his hand. Chongheng reflexively put his hand behind his back and stammered, "I...I need to rest. Goodbye." "Chongheng," Chongsheng smiled gently, "You should rest. Your eyes must be tired today." Chongheng blushed deeply, quickly stood up, and hurried away. How did his elder brother notice? In his room, Chongheng looked at the wound on his hand. The row of teeth marks was still clearly visible. That rude woman had actually become his sister. He should have told his father about her biting him, but for some reason, he couldn't bring himself to say it. Her glaring eyes even had a certain cuteness about them. Xiaoxue—when Chongheng was nine years old, he remembered a girl's name for the first time.

A Chance Encounter in the Main Text

The true fragrance of plum blossoms lingers in the sleeves. Before she knew it, more than half a month had passed at the Rokuhara residence. Xiaoxue couldn't help but lament the boredom of aristocratic women's lives. Aside from daily studies of waka poetry, her days were spent either admiring flowers and composing poems, or brewing tea and incense. This left the naturally lively Xiaoxue utterly bored. That day, Lady Tokiko and Lord Rokuhara both went to the palace. Taking advantage of the maids' inattention, Xiaoxue slipped out of her room. For over half a month, she felt she hadn't even properly explored the residence. Walking along the corridor, she heard the sounds of clashing swords coming from the rear courtyard. Xiaoxue was filled with curiosity. That's right, the Taira clan were all samurai; could they be practicing martial arts? Xiaoxue was thrilled by this discovery. She tiptoed to the outer edge of the rear courtyard and peeked inside. Sure enough, several Taira princes seemed to be practicing archery and swordsmanship there. They wore various colored robes and soft armor, wielding swords and blades with a dashing air, less refined and more heroic. She spotted Chong Heng immediately. He was still dressed in a yellow straight robe, over which he wore a soft armor made of gold-threaded Tang brocade. He carried a black quiver of eagle-feathered arrows on his back, and drew a paulownia-colored rattan bow. He fired an arrow, hitting the bullseye perfectly—quite a good shot. "Who's there!" A loud shout startled Xiao Xue, who was intently peeking. She tripped and fell to the ground, losing face. She looked at the boy who had yelled at her. He looked to be about ten years old, dressed in a tea-green straight robe, with a healthy wheat-colored complexion, a straight nose, thin lips, and a pair of bright black eyes that glared at her fiercely. Why were the eyes of the Ping family's young masters all so sharp? Upon seeing her, the boy's murderous intent lessened, replaced by disdain. He gave a soft snort and turned away. "Xiaoxue!" Another, even younger boy rushed over, beaming. "Sister Xiaoxue!" Xiaoxue was startled. Just as the boy was about to jump into her arms, he was suddenly grabbed and pulled up. "Let go of me, let go of me..." He flailed his arms and legs, looking unwilling. "Dunsheng, stop fooling around, go practice your sword properly." The person who grabbed him was actually Chongheng. Chongheng looked at Xiaoxue, who was still sitting on the ground looking bewildered, and suddenly burst into laughter. He stretched out his hand and said loudly, "Get up." Did this mean he was friendly? Xiaoxue glanced at him; his smile was still on his face. So, he actually had a pretty sunny smile. Half-believing, half-doubting, Xiaoxue also reached out her hand. He pulled her up forcefully. "Hmm, you're not angry anymore?" Xiaoxue asked him, not quite believing him, glancing at his arm; after all, that bite had been quite hard. Chongheng raised an eyebrow and said, "Hmph, I'm a man, I don't argue with a woman." A childish smile appeared on his face. "But you have to call me 'brother' obediently." She was still just a child, Xiaoxue thought to herself with amusement. She smiled sweetly and called out in a clear voice, "Brother Chongheng!" No matter what, having a brother felt nice. Let this kid have his way with the words. It's a case of "no pain, no gain." Chongheng's heart fluttered slightly. His sister's smile was so beautiful. Just as Dunsheng had said, as beautiful as cherry blossoms. "Brother Chongheng, who was that fierce-looking guy just now?" Xiaoxue pointed to the boy with a disdainful expression, who seemed like a strange child who was difficult to deal with. "That's your fourth brother, Brother Zhisheng." Chongheng made a face and whispered, "But he doesn't seem to like you much, so you mustn't mess with him." Xiaoxue's heart suddenly warmed. Chongheng's clear eyes made her feel a little ashamed. Part of her kindness towards him was to avoid being ostracized in this family, carrying a slightly impure motive. But Chongheng's eyes revealed genuine concern. Had he really accepted her as his sister so quickly? "Also, Third Brother, Zongsheng is a bit of a quiet type, but he's a very nice person. You'll get to know him better as you go." He pointed to another tall, thin boy with a cool blue straight collar. She looked in the direction he was pointing. The boy looked about twelve or thirteen years old, with fair skin, sharp facial features, and deep black eyes like the ocean. He exuded a cool and aloof aura. His gaze swept over her coldly. Xiaoxue gave him a sweet smile, and he paused for a moment before immediately turning his head away. The young masters of the Ping family were indeed all handsome and skilled in both literature and martial arts. Xiaoxue suddenly felt very lucky, as if she had fallen into a den of handsome men. The more she thought about it, the happier she became. Time travel didn't seem so bad after all. ========================= From then on, Shigehira would often come to see Koyuki. Although there was a difference between men and women, they were still young and related as siblings. Furthermore, samurai families didn't have as many formalities as noble families, so Lady Tokiko let them be. Shigehira seemed to have the best relationship with the disdainful Tomomori among the brothers, perhaps because they were of similar age. But every time he saw Shigehira bring Koyuki, he would always make a few sarcastic remarks before stopping. However, despite his sarcasm, he was quite happy to be with them. Today, the mansion seemed unusually lively, as if there was a tea party. Koyuki liked these times the most because usually, people wouldn't notice her at this time. Naturally, she went to their usual spot, which was actually a lotus pond in the inner courtyard, with rocks and flowing water, elegant and pleasant, but not crowded. It was Shigehira who first discovered it, and now it had naturally become her secret garden. It was a good place to relax. "Miss Tokuko, please slow down." Huh? Someone's coming. Xiaoxue sat up from the rockery and looked down, just in time to see a pretty face staring at her. "You, who are you?" The girl looked to be about ten years old, with a graceful appearance but an arrogant air. She wore a willow-colored twelve-layered kimono. Xiaoxue was taken aback, as she seemed to have never seen this girl before. "I'm Xiaoxue, and you are?" Xiaoxue tried her best to answer in a friendly tone. "This is Miss Tokuko, the eldest daughter of Lord Rokuhara. Hurry up and pay your respects." The maid beside her wore the same expression. Miss Tokuko, is she Lady Tokiko's daughter? How come she didn't know at all? Lady Tokiko had never mentioned her. Xiaoxue didn't immediately understand. "Xiaoxue, you're Father's newly adopted daughter?" Tokuko's eyes narrowed, a hint of amusement in them. A glint of arrogance, far beyond her years, flashed in her eyes as she said, "Then you should bow to me. I am the eldest daughter." Xiaoxue glanced at her, thinking it best not to fight a losing battle, and climbed down from the artificial hill. Dezi covered her mouth with her sleeve and sneered, "So rude, so lacking in manners. Are all people from Song like this?" These words immediately ignited Xiaoxue's anger. She wiped her smile and said coldly, "I think you're the one who's ill-mannered. I don't bow to ill-mannered people." Dezi's expression changed. "Who do you think you are, daring to speak to me like that?" Xiaoxue snorted and turned away, wanting to leave, not wanting to pay her any more attention. "Don't go!" Dezi suddenly grabbed her, but Xiaoxue was even angrier. She shook off Dezi's hand, but Dezi's grip was surprisingly strong. Enraged, Xiaoxue tried the same trick again, biting down. Although she didn't use much force, Dezi winced in pain and pushed her away. Xiaoxue lost her footing and fell straight into the pool beside her. "Oh no!" The word flashed through Xiaoxue's mind the instant she hit the water. The heavy twelve-layered kimono made swimming impossible, and before she could think any further, she had already swallowed several mouthfuls of water. Dezi and her maid seemed frozen in fear, standing there motionless for a long time before finally shouting for help. Before they could shout a second time, a figure rushed over and quickly jumped into the water. Xiaoxue slowly opened her eyes, and what came into view was a refined and elegant face, delicate and beautiful. "What a beautiful person," she thought to herself, but her head throbbed even more. "Are you alright?" The voice was also delicate. Was it a man or a woman? Xiaoxue looked more closely. He was wearing a white robe and had his long hair tied back; it should be a man. It was the first time she had seen a boy more beautiful than a woman. Ah, right, she suddenly realized she had fallen into the water, and her mood for admiring the beauty vanished instantly. "Where's Dezi?" she asked fiercely. "Dezi was too scared and ran back," the boy said softly. That wretched Dezi! This feud was now sealed. He faintly exuded the scent of incense, unlike Chongheng and the others; he carried a faint fragrance of plum blossoms. The scent became even stronger after being wet. "Did you save me?" Xiaoxue inhaled the pleasant fragrance a few times, then added, "You smell so good." The boy smiled, revealing a small dimple on his left cheek. Though still young, in a few years, that smile would surely captivate countless women. "Aren't you scared?" The boy seemed a little surprised by Xiaoxue's reaction. Xiaoxue shook her head and said, "What's there to be scared of? I'm alright now. By the way, my name is Xiaoxue, what's yours?" The boy smiled slightly again, about to answer, when suddenly a voice called out from behind, "Niu Ruo, why are you here first?" The voice sounded like Chong Heng. Sure enough, he rushed over, his expression changing upon seeing the scene. He squatted down and asked repeatedly, "Xiaoxue, what's wrong? What happened?" Xiaoxue smiled and said, "Nothing, I accidentally fell into the pond, and he saved me." As she spoke, she winked at the boy named Niu Ruo. She didn't want to make a big fuss about it. Niu Ruo nodded slightly, understanding, and said nothing more. "Why don't you go change your clothes first? What are you doing here, you idiot?" How could she forget? There would definitely be that person—Hira Tomomori—by Chongheng's side. Xiaoxue stood up, made a face at Tomomori, and said, "Okay, silly—" She hurriedly returned to her room amidst Chongheng's laughter. Niu Ruo, who exactly is she? She'll have to find a chance to ask Chongheng properly. Xiaoxue was filled with curiosity about the handsome boy who saved her. ====================================== She actually fell ill after falling into the water. It seems that she has become weak and sickly in this era. Perhaps it's because the pampered aristocratic life she's had this year has made her constitution even weaker. No wonder noblewomen in ancient times tended to have shorter lifespans. No, she needs to exercise more. In her drowsy state, she heard someone talking at the door. "Mother, how is Xiaoxue?" It sounded like Chongheng's voice. "Mother, may I go see Xiaoxue?" The next words were indistinct; she only heard someone gently push open the sliding door and enter. She seemed to feel a warm hand gently placed on her forehead. She slowly opened her eyes and saw Chongheng's worried face. "Xiaoxue, are you feeling better?" he asked softly, a faint scent of incense wafting from his sleeves into the air. She smiled, nodded, and said, "Much better." "Xiaoxue, get well soon. I have so many fun things to teach you." A slight smile played on his lips, adding a touch of mischief. Looking at his smile, Xiaoxue suddenly had an idea and said, "Brother Chongheng, teach me archery." Chongheng was taken aback and said, "But you're a girl, what do you need to learn these things for?" She tugged at his sleeve and said, "Please, Brother Chongheng, I really want to learn. I'm about to die from being bored by admiring flowers, the moon, and scenery every day, and writing poems." He quickly covered her mouth and said in a deep voice, "Don't talk nonsense. I'll teach you, but don't let them know." "By the way, who is Dezi?" She suddenly remembered the culprit who made her sick. Chongheng's expression turned serious and he said, "Dezi is the eldest daughter of Father and Lady Chenzi. Lady Chenzi was the first wife, and she passed away not long after giving birth to Dezi. I heard that Dezi is always in her room and doesn't come out much. Why?" "Nothing, I just heard the name by chance, so I asked casually." She stammered. "Xiaoxue, don't mention Tokuko in front of Mother. Mother, well, she doesn't like her very much," Chongheng instructed softly. Oh, so that's how it is. No wonder I've never seen her before, and no wonder Lady Tokiko never mentioned her. So she's not Lady Tokiko's biological daughter. It seems Lady Tokiko and Lady Tatsuko didn't get along very well in the past. Such an arrogant young lady, I wonder who will be unlucky enough to marry her in the future. =============== After that, Chongheng actually started teaching her some archery skills when he had time. Xiaoxue was very quick to learn, and soon she was quite good at it. However, besides them, only Chimori and Ushiwaka knew about this. During this time, they often saw Ushiwaka. Ushiwaka seemed to have a good relationship with the two brothers. Chongheng said that they only knew that Ushiwaka was the child of Lady Tokiwa, the concubine of Lord Rokuhara, but it seemed that she was a child brought by Lady Tokiwa, so they didn't know who Ushiwaka's father was. And Ushiwaka herself didn't know who her father was. After all, they were just a group of children. As long as they had fun together, who would care about so many things? Although Zhisheng had never been very friendly to Xiaoxue, he had always treated Niu Ruo like a brother. "Look, Chongheng-gege, my arrow was just a little short of the bullseye!" Xiaoxue shot an arrow that was above average, threw down her bow, and jumped up and down with great joy. Chongheng looked at her with indulgence and nodded vigorously. "What kind of behavior is this? How come you can't learn any elegance from the Ping family women? You're hopeless." There was no need to guess; the person who said such a thing was definitely him—Ping Zhisheng. Xiaoxue turned her head, rolled her eyes at him, and said, "I just can't learn to be elegant, so what! Don't worry about it, or you'll get wrinkles." Zhisheng snorted and said, "I don't worry about it, I'm too lazy to care about you. Let's see what you do when you can't get married in the future." What, get married? Too early, isn't it? Xiaoxue pouted dismissively and said, "I don't want to get married, it's better if I can't get married." "Don't pout!" Zhisheng roared, completely unable to tolerate it. "Too rude..." He exaggeratedly pretended to faint. "Brother Zhisheng, I hope you marry a wife a hundred times ruder than me in the future, haha." Xiaoxue's words made Zhisheng's face turn red, and he was so angry that he couldn't speak. "Alright, alright, if you can't get married, you can't get married." Chongheng came over with a smile to smooth things over. He used to be so angry with this younger sister that he was completely flustered, but now he seemed to be getting better and better with her. He didn't know why, but he was quite happy to hear that she didn't want to get married. "Xiaoxue, let me teach you how to hit the bullseye." Niu Ruo stood up, his smile as gentle as a spring breeze. As he approached Xiaoxue, she seemed to catch a faint, lingering scent of plum blossoms, a subtle ripple stirring deep within her heart. What was wrong? This was just a little boy of nine years old. Why did she have such strange feelings for him? Was it because he had saved her? As Niu Ruo helped her nock the arrow and aim, the plum blossom scent seemed to intensify, making her feel somewhat dazed. "Look, Xiaoxue, like this, your line of sight should be parallel to the bullseye..." His breath brushed against her neck, warm and ticklish, making her want to laugh out loud. "Whoosh—" In a daze, the arrow shot out like lightning, hitting the bullseye perfectly. "Wow, that's great!" Xiaoxue excitedly turned and hugged Niu Ruo. Niu Ruo tensed, but didn't pull away. "What kind of behavior is this? What kind of behavior is this?" Zhi Sheng kept complaining. How could someone as refined as him have such an unruly sister? If word got out, what would become of his reputation? "It's really great." Chong Heng walked over, pulled Xiao Xue up with one hand, and separated the two of them. "Xiao Xue, let your brother teach you." He glared at Niu Ruo, suddenly feeling a little uncomfortable. His adorable sister was actually hugging this person; even if he was her best friend, it wouldn't be allowed. "What are you all doing here?" The people present were all startled; this place was rarely visited. Before Xiao Xue could even throw down the bow in her hand, a blue figure flashed and was already standing in front of Xiao Xue.

Main text: Fujiwara no Shigenori

[Updated: 2005-12-22 21:40:15 Word Count: 4232]

The pale green willows swayed gently in the spring breeze, their dark strands glistening with dew. "Third Brother..." Chongheng and Zhisheng's faces paled slightly. They were usually somewhat afraid of their aloof third brother, and now, caught red-handed teaching Xiaoxue archery, they knew they'd be punished if he complained to their father. Zongsheng's deep, ocean-like eyes swept indifferently around them, coldly asking, "What are you doing here?" Xiaoxue was about to answer when she looked up and saw him staring at Niu Ruo. Niu Ruo was still smiling, but didn't answer. "Third Brother, we were just playing together," Chongheng replied, looking up. A fleeting, inscrutable look flashed in Zongsheng's eyes as he looked at Chongheng and said, word by word, "From now on, you are not allowed to be with him." Niu Ruo's smile remained, her head bowed, only her long eyelashes trembled slightly. "Why!" Zhisheng blurted out indignantly. "Because he's not one of the Ping family." Zong Sheng's face hardened, and he added, "All of you, go back immediately, including Xiao Xue." Xiao Xue looked at Niu Ruo with some sympathy, but Niu Ruo kept his head down, so she couldn't see his expression. Xiao Xue walked to his side and gently patted his shoulder. "Xiao Xue, come here too." Zong Sheng looked at her with a livid face. "But, Niu Ruo is our friend." Xiao Xue suddenly blurted out, and Zong Sheng's face turned even greener. He strode over, grabbed Xiao Xue, and shouted, "Remember, he's not only not our friend, but on the contrary, he's our enemy. Understand?" A hint of coldness flashed in Zong Sheng's eyes. He gripped Xiao Xue tightly; he was furious. It was rare to see the usually calm Zong Sheng so angry. "Third brother, you're hurting your sister." Chong Heng also rushed over, trying to pry Zong Sheng's hand off. Zong Sheng was startled, realizing his lapse in composure. He quickly released Xiao Xue, while Chong Heng lifted her hand, clumsily rubbing it while anxiously asking, "Does it hurt? Does it hurt?" For the first time, he felt a pang of resentment towards his third brother—why had he used so much force? Faint red marks appeared on his sister's fair wrist. Niu Ruo glanced at Xiao Xue, a hint of warmth flashing in his eyes. He smiled at her and said, "Xiao Xue, thank you." His gaze quickly dimmed again. He glanced at Chong Heng and Zhi Sheng, bowed, and turned to leave. "Niu Ruo!" Chong Heng seemed to want to say something, but a glare from Zong Sheng made him swallow his words. "Third brother, how could Niu Ruo be an enemy? Wasn't his mother also one of Father's people?" On the way back, Zhi Sheng asked Zong Sheng with displeasure. Munemori gazed thoughtfully ahead and said, "I just learned that Lady Tokiwa was once the concubine of Yoshitomo, the leader of the Minamoto clan. Ushiwaka's father was Minamoto no Yoshitomo. Don't forget that during the Heiji Rebellion, our father killed Ushiwaka's father and the entire Yoshitomo clan. The Taira and Minamoto families will always be enemies, understand?" Shigehira and Tomomori were both startled and said nothing more. As descendants of the Taira clan, they understood this as well. From the Taira family's daily conversations, Koyuki had also gained some understanding of the long-standing feud between the Taira and Minamoto families. The Taira and Minamoto clans were descendants of Emperor Kanmu and Emperor Seiwa, respectively. As two equally powerful samurai groups, they had been constantly at odds for over a hundred years. In the Heiji Rebellion more than a decade ago, Taira no Kiyomori annihilated the Minamoto clan's power and seized control. The Minamoto clan suffered heavy losses—some were killed, some exiled, and some became monks. "How could Father accept the woman of his enemy as a concubine?" Shigehira murmured to himself. "Fool! Lady Tokiwa must be a beauty, that's why Taira no Kiyomori didn't kill her and her son." Koyuki thought to herself. But as Ushiwaka grows up, doesn't Lord Rokuhara have any suspicions? She couldn't help but worry about Ushiwaka's fate. That evening, Munemori, unusually, sent medicine to treat her bruises. Faced with Lady Tokiko's questions, she could only offer the excuse of accidentally twisting her ankle. Looking at Lady Tokiko's distressed eyes, Koyuki felt she was starting to see her as her mother. ----------- Two months later, news suddenly arrived that Lord Rokuhara had bestowed Lady Tokiwaka upon Lord Okura, who lived in Rokujōin. Those around her didn't seem surprised. Indeed, in this era, women were merely objects, given away or discarded at will. Koyuki felt a deep sense of helplessness and sorrow in addition to her anger, and she worried even more for Ushiwaka. Looking at Shigehira beside her, she felt a surge of anger. These noble young men will surely end up like this. "Xiaoxue, what do you want to play today?" Chongheng asked with a grin, completely unaware of the impending danger. "Play my foot, go away," Xiaoxue retorted, turning her head away irritably. "Xiaoxue," Chongheng suddenly stopped smiling, a hint of melancholy creeping onto her childish face, "I heard that Niu Ruo is about to be sent to Anma Temple outside the capital to become a monk." "What!" she exclaimed in surprise. "Why?" "Father said that Niu Ruo is too old for that. He either becomes a monk, or—" Chongheng didn't finish her sentence. She understood that Taira no Kiyomori still didn't want to let Niu Ruo go; only a monk would eliminate any threat. But at least Niu Ruo wouldn't die, and perhaps they would meet again. Yet, for some reason, she felt a pang of loss, her mind filled with the gentle boy's delicate, lively smile, and the faint, lingering scent of plum blossoms. Would she ever see Niu Ruo again? ====================================And so, peacefully, Xiaoxue welcomed her third spring in Heian-kyo. In the blink of an eye, Xiaoxue was already ten years old, and had grown into an even more charming and beautiful young woman. There were still three or four years until her coming-of-age ceremony, so she still had plenty of free time to squander. Her brother, Munemori, had already undergone his coming-of-age ceremony, beginning to tie his hair up and wear a tall eboshi hat, looking every bit the adult. He had also been appointed Right General, much to the envy of Tomomori and Shigehira. Last year, Prince Norihito, the son of Lady Tokiko's sister, Taira no Shigeko, and the retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa, ascended the throne as Emperor Takakura. The ties between the Taira clan and the imperial family were even closer, their position more secure, and their influence far surpassed that of the Fujiwara clan, which had controlled the court for hundreds of years. Currently, sixteen members of the Taira clan hold high-ranking positions in the imperial court, and approximately thirty others hold fourth or fifth rank, qualifying for promotion to the palace (the highest rank). Most of the provincial governors, guards, and provincial officials are appointed by Taira no Kiyomori, marking the zenith of the Taira clan's power. Recent years have given Koyuki a thorough understanding of the local history, and she occasionally writes a few elegant waka poems and plays the koto, though her skills are only rudimentary. Only her archery skills show promise, surpassing even her elders'. She often sneaks into the back garden to watch her brothers practice martial arts, and she's discovered a perfect vantage point: the locust tree outside the garden. The high vantage point offers a commanding view without being discovered. She can enjoy sweets while watching to her heart's content, and even rest in the tree when tired. Climbing trees is a piece of cake for her, given her excellent athletic abilities. Today, Xiaoxue, dressed only in an apricot-colored blouse, climbed the locust tree early in the morning, carrying the rice cakes she had stolen from her room. Glancing into the courtyard, she saw that all the brothers of the Ping family seemed to be present. The fighting was intense, like watching a kung fu movie, especially the battle between Shigeaki and Tomomori. She was mesmerized; Shigeaki, momentarily distracted, was struck by Tomomori's long sword, which Shigeaki deftly dodged. Startled, she dropped the rice cakes in her hand. "Ah!" A soft cry came from below the tree. Xiaoxue was startled and peeked out from the bushes. Who was the unlucky one who had been attacked? It seemed to be a young man under the tree, looking up at it. Beneath the black euphemism hat was a strikingly handsome face. A light willow-colored robe accentuated his fair complexion, making it appear even more radiant. His slightly arched eyebrows revealed a touch of languid, untamed charm. A few strands of dark hair peeked out from under the hat, fluttering gently in the breeze against his cheek, adding to his elegant bearing. He noticed Xiaoxue in the tree, paused for a moment, then smiled. "So there's a little bird hiding in the tree." His voice was fatally seductive. Xiaoxue, mesmerized by his gaze and suddenly discovered, panicked and slipped, falling from the tree. "No!"... She only had time to think this before landing in a soft embrace. "Ah, thank you..." A wave of relief washed over her, and before she even opened her eyes, she blurted out the words. "Are you... alright?" The man gazed at her, a graceful smile playing on his lips. She opened her eyes, staring at the man before her. This close proximity allowed her to see him clearly. His eyes were deep yet clear, a warmth gently emanating from them. Being gazed upon by him felt like suddenly finding oneself in a warm, spring-like hot spring on a snowy winter's day—a warmth that slowly spread from the depths of one's bones, making one drowsy. "Has anyone ever told you that you have beautiful eyes, little bird?" The man's seductive voice rang in her ears again. She composed herself and smiled, "Has anyone ever told you that you have warm eyes?" Warm? He couldn't help but smile mockingly. It seemed no woman had ever used such a word to describe his eyes. "Yes, as warm as a hot spring," she added. He looked at her with some confusion. At this moment, shouldn't a noblewoman typically cover her face with a folding fan or her sleeve, feigning shyness and playing hard to get? She seemed completely unconcerned, speaking to him quite naturally. Was this how a daughter of a samurai family behaved? But it's impossible to climb up a tree. "Hey, can you put me down?" Xiaoxue interrupted his thoughts rudely. Although he was unbelievably handsome, and although the incense on him was intoxicating, she didn't want him to hold her like this all the time. He smiled, put her down, and couldn't help but ask, "Are you a lady of the Taira clan?" Xiaoxue nodded and said, "Yes, who are you?" He smiled again and said, "I am Fujiwara no Narifumi, the Middle Counselor. I am a colleague of Komatsu-kun." Komatsu-kun, it seems, is Shigemori's older brother. "By the way, what were you doing up in the tree?" he asked curiously. A slight blush crept across her face as she stammered, "Um, I was watching my brothers practice swordsmanship, it was so interesting." His eyebrows rose even higher. What a strange girl, interested in swords and spears! But, it seemed somewhat intriguing. A mischievous smile played on his lips. "If you want to learn, I can teach you." She was overjoyed, jumping up and grabbing his sleeve. "Really? Really?" "But I have a condition, you know." His smile deepened. "Hmm, what is it? Tell me, and I'll definitely agree if I can do it." Xiaoxue excitedly continued tugging at his sleeve. Suddenly, a maid's voice called Xiaoxue from afar. Ah, it must be Ayu who discovered her sneaking out. Fujiwara no Narifusa bent down, gently lifting her face with his jade-handled folding fan, and said softly, "We'll discuss this condition after your coming-of-age ceremony. My lovely little bird, I'll come find you in a few days." By the time Ayu arrived, he had already vanished, leaving only wisps of incense lingering in the air. "Ayu, have you ever heard of Fujiwara no Narifumi?" Xiaoxue couldn't help but ask her. Ayu's face lit up with excitement. "Lord Sakuramachi Narifumi, of course I know him! He's the object of admiration for all the ladies of the court and the daughters of nobles. I've heard he's a gentle, elegant, and beautiful man." So he's a heartthrob. Judging by his appearance, he certainly lives up to the title. "Why is he called Sakuramachi Narifumi?" "Because he loves cherry blossoms, and his residence is filled with cherry trees, so we call him Lord Sakuramachi Narifumi." Ayu knew everything about him like a fangirl knows her idol, but why did the word "fangirl" suddenly pop into Xiaoxue's mind? She couldn't help but laugh as she thought about it. "However, although Lord Sakuramachi Narifumi has many female confidantes, he has never married. He's already nineteen this year, but he still hasn't married. It's very strange." Ayu continued to chatter on. "A typical playboy," Xiaoxue rolled her eyes. Suddenly, his words echoed in her ears: "This request can wait until after your coming-of-age ceremony." Wow, it wasn't some lame request like offering herself in return... Never mind, there's still some time before the ceremony. She'd let him teach her first, and then she could back out later. Fujiwara no Nagenori—she wondered if he was telling the truth or not...

The humiliation of having one's hat taken away

[Updated: 2005-12-22 21:41:41 Word Count: 4806]

The sea surges and the waves seem oblivious to autumn. Taira no Kiyomori appears particularly enthusiastic about this year's cherry blossom viewing party, perhaps basking in the glow of his newly appointed Grand Minister of State. The renowned Shirabyōshi (White-Byōshi) performer from the capital also graces the banquet. Shirabyōshi, similar to modern pop singers, are known for their singing, dancing, and artistic talents, and seemed quite popular among the nobility of this era. Sharing the same shade of a tree, scooping up the same river water—could it be a predestined connection from a past life? Beneath the cherry blossoms, Buddha-Gozen, dressed in a white nobleman's robe and wearing a golden eboshi hat, sang and danced gracefully with her white sleeves fluttering in the falling cherry blossoms. She was not only beautiful, but her voice was also melodious and captivating. Koyuki noticed that Taira no Kiyomori's gaze never left Buddha-Gozen; it seemed she would soon be joining the Taira family—another pitiful woman. Next, Shigehira's biwa performance of "Flowing Spring Song," Tomomori's flute performance of "Wind and Fragrance Tune," and Munemori's Seikai Wave Dance all greatly impressed Taira no Kiyomori. These brothers were truly talented in both literature and martial arts. Koyuki felt a little ashamed. "Since everyone is in such high spirits, let's compose a few waka poems about cherry blossoms." Upon hearing Taira no Kiyomori's words, Koyuki lowered her head. "Sigh, I'm really not good at writing waka poems. If only we could compete in archery. It's always like this. Cherry blossom viewing requires composing waka poems about cherry blossoms, plum blossom viewing requires poems about plum blossoms, chrysanthemum viewing... Why can't we just enjoy the flowers properly?" Ugh... -------------------------------- A few days later, night had fallen. Suddenly, the sound of pebbles hitting the door came from outside. Koyuki put on a white robe, opened the door, and saw a person standing in the front courtyard. Under the moonlight, the person wore a white plain-patterned hunting robe, the sleeves fluttering slightly in the wind. Cherry blossoms danced in the pale moonlight. He turned around and smiled faintly at her amidst the falling pink petals. Fujiwara no Narifusa, damn it, how could he be so charming? For a moment, Koyuki's breath seemed to stop. "Little Bird, I haven't broken my promise, I've come." He slowly walked over, opened his folding fan, his eyes gentle, his every move exuding a noble yet languid air. "You, how did you get in?" Xiaoxue was somewhat surprised; after all, Lord Rokuhara's residence wasn't something one could just enter at will. He smiled slightly, saying, "With a beauty here, I'd do anything to get in." Xiaoxue looked at the man in disbelief, saying, "Do you really know martial arts? You look like a playboy stealing a beauty to me." Fujiwara no Narifumi paused, then suddenly burst into laughter, saying, "Believe it or not, come with me." With that, he gently picked up Xiaoxue and nimbly leaped over the wall. Xiaoxue stared at him dumbfounded. His technique seemed to be light-footed kung fu, but this was Japan; how could he know such skills? Thinking back, the Middle Counselor was a civil official; just how many secrets did this man hide? Reaching an open space, Narifumi put Xiaoxue down. "You, you use kung fu like our Song Dynasty..." "..." Xiaoxue blurted out. Cheng Fan just smiled and gestured for Xiaoxue to sit down next to him. "Weren't you going to teach me? Don't waste time." She was losing patience. "Wouldn't it be disrespectful to such a beautiful scene to be wielding swords and spears? Let's talk about romance and nature today." He smiled somewhat strangely. "I want to go back." Xiaoxue looked a little displeased. He smiled again and teased, "Oh, little bird, you're really heartbreaking. You really don't want to be with me?" After saying that, he stood up, suddenly drew a silver longsword from its scabbard at his waist, gazed at her tenderly, and said, word by word, "Now, let's begin." ================================================================== "Xiaoxue, Xiaoxue, get up." Xiaoxue rubbed her eyes, groggily asking, "What's wrong?" "Xiaoxue, it's already Mao Shi (5-7 AM), get up!" It sounded like Lady Tokiko's voice. What time was Mao Shi? She was still groggy and couldn't quite recall. Right, last night she practiced swordsmanship with Fujiwara no Narifumi. It was all his fault for insisting on teaching someone in the middle of the night; she couldn't get up today, and her whole body ached. "Ah, Mother, I'll get up right away." Xiaoxue quickly sat up. Lady Tokiko smiled gently and said, "If you're not feeling well, sleep a little longer. By the way, I'll be a bit busy these days. Your father's birthday is coming up soon, and there's a lot to prepare." "Has Mother decided how to celebrate?" Lady Tokiko smiled helplessly and said, "Not yet. We'll probably have to invite the white-clad musicians again." "White-clad musicians again? No fun." Xiaoxue pouted. For a dance major like her, watching the same old Baipai dance every year was getting a bit tiresome. In modern times, there were so many different kinds of dance! Take, for example, the Thousand-Hand Guanyin dance they'd rehearsed beforehand… Wait, Thousand-Hand Guanyin? A sudden idea flashed into her mind. Performing that dance with her brothers as accompaniment would be amazing! Thinking of this, she couldn't help but laugh. "Mother, I have an idea." Xiaoxue briefly shared her thought with Madam Shizi. Madam Shizi seemed somewhat surprised: "How does Xiaoxue know about this?" "Well, I saw it when I was very young and remembered it." Xiaoxue could only offer a vague answer. "Our Xiaoxue is really clever. The Guanyin dance is auspicious, but…" Madam Shizi seemed hesitant. "Mother, don't worry, I'll discuss it with my brothers." She nestled her head against Lady Shiko in a coquettish manner. Lady Shiko carried a faint, pleasant scent of incense, like her mother's. ------------------------------------ Not long after, Xiaoxue went to find her most reliable allies, Shigehira and Tomomori. "Great idea, Xiaoxue!" Shigehira naturally agreed wholeheartedly. "Hmph, it might not work, Shigehira, don't play along with her nonsense." She had anticipated Tomomori's reaction. "But Mother thinks it's good. Brother Tomomori, you play the flute so well; without your help, it simply wouldn't work. Your flute is like the soul of the entire dance..." "Under Xiaoxue's flattery, Zhisheng couldn't help but show a hint of smugness, obediently falling for her trick. Xiaoxue smiled mischievously; children are quite easy to manage. "No way, how can you wear this kind of clothing? It even exposes your arms! What kind of decorum is this? What kind of decorum is this?" Zhisheng sighed again, looking at the dance costume Xiaoxue had drawn. What bad luck, how could he have such a sister... This time, even Chongheng frowned slightly, looking disapproving. Sigh, after all, their thinking is almost a thousand years different. "It doesn't matter. Didn't the Dunhuang dances of our Tang Dynasty also expose arms? That's a kind of beauty, you understand?" Xiaoxue continued, playing along with the two idiots. It's just a short-sleeved, tight-fitting top and a long skirt, very nice. "I don't care, I need twenty skilled dancers first. You figure out how to find them." She had no choice but to issue her final ultimatum. "The people are no problem, but this costume..." Zhisheng hesitated, not continuing. Chongheng shook his head helplessly and said, "Forget it, let her do whatever she wants. Anyway, Mother needs to see it first." For some reason, all his anger disappeared in front of his younger sister. "Brother Chongheng, you're so good!" "Xiaoxue almost kissed him. Looking at Xiaoxue's rosy smile, Chongheng found it increasingly difficult to refuse any of her requests. If Xiaoxue weren't his sister..." He quickly shook his head, wondering what he was thinking... Xiaoxue, twelve-year-old Ping Chongheng, dreamed of his sister for the first time that night. ================================== Xiaoxue had been extremely busy these past few days. At night, she practiced swordsmanship with Fujiwara no Narifumi, and during the day, she instructed the new dancers. To surprise Lord Rokuhara, the dance rehearsals were being held at the villa, and the twenty dancers were temporarily housed there. Although physically and mentally exhausted, Xiaoxue was overjoyed. She finally felt a bit like she was back at school, especially when teaching them each movement, gesture, and glance; there was a sense of déjà vu. The dancers were also quite quick to learn; after all, they were professional dancers, and in just one month, they were already quite proficient. "Miss, it's getting late. The master will be leaving soon. Please hurry back," Ayu urged. Xiaoxue nodded and asked, "Has Brother Chongheng arrived?" Usually, it was Chongheng who came to pick her up. Ayu was about to answer when a voice came from the corridor: "No, I'm here to pick you up today." She looked in the direction of the voice and saw Zhisheng standing there in a brick-blue robe, his long black hair tied up with a matching silk cord, looking quite dashing. Soon, he would be going to have his coming-of-age ceremony. Seeing Xiaoxue's expression, Zhisheng couldn't help but hum softly, "It's not my choice. Chongheng was called to his villa in Xiaosongshan by my elder brother. He asked me to do it." "Yes, thank you, Brother Zhisheng," Xiaoxue smiled at him. Actually, Zhisheng could be quite cute at times, just a little awkward, probably due to his adolescence. "The oxcart is parked outside. I'll wait for you there." His face suddenly flushed, and he hurriedly went out. Lifting the curtain and getting into the oxcart, Xiaoxue found the interior warm and cozy, filled with the fragrance of incense and the aroma of orchids and musk. Inside, there was a round pillow made of jade-colored silk and brocade, and a pale purple quilt made of Tang brocade. This Taira no Tomomori really knows how to enjoy life. "Wow, what a lovely round pillow! So beautiful!" Xiaoxue couldn't help but exclaim again. Tomomori frowned, about to speak, when he heard Xiaoxue shaking her head and mimicking his tone, saying, "What kind of behavior is this? What kind of behavior is this? How can you not learn even a fraction of the elegance of a Taira woman..." "You..." Tomomori was both amused and annoyed by her. "Stop fooling around, or I'll kick you out." When the carriage reached the main gate of the city, it suddenly stopped. Tomomori lifted the left curtain and asked the attendant beside him, "Why did we stop?" "The attendant said, 'Young master, that seems to be Regent Matsu-dono's oxcart over there. He seems to want us to give way.'" Tomomori's face immediately turned pale. "This is outrageous! How can we, the Taira clan, give way to them?" Regent Matsu-dono seems to be Fujiwara no Motofusa, a high-ranking official in the court, right? Koyuki still doesn't fully understand the titles of these officials. "Brother Tomomori, it's just giving way. If no one gives way, how long will this go on?" "Koyuki tried to persuade Tomomori, but he seemed determined not to give in. The servants and samurai of both sides began to argue, first hurling insults, then pushing and shoving, and finally a full-blown fight, creating chaos. Tomomori seemed unprepared for this turn of events, his face growing increasingly pale. Suddenly, a burst of laughter came from the other side, and several Taira servants ran over, their faces contorted with grief, their black hats having been removed. Koyuki's expression also changed; she knew that having one's black hat removed was a grave humiliation at the time. Tomomori trembled with rage and shouted, "Turn around and go back!" The other side outnumbered them, and continuing the fight would only be more disadvantageous. Back at the mansion, Tomomori angrily recounted the incident, enraging the entire Taira family. Shigehira, unable to contain himself, jumped up first, shouting, "Father, please allow me to immediately take men to Fujiwara's residence and avenge my fourth brother's hat-snatching humiliation!" "As soon as he finished speaking, the other sons of the Taira clan, including Chimori, echoed his sentiments. "Although they've gone too far, storming into their residence would only invite more criticism. Father, why don't we send men to intercept Fujiwara's carriage on his way to court tomorrow and teach him a lesson?" Even the usually calm Munemori was getting angry. Taira Kiyomori sneered, "What criticism do I have to fear? Fujiwara Motofusa dares to touch anyone from our Taira clan; he simply doesn't respect us. Chimori, Shigehira, you two immediately lead men into Fujiwara Motofusa's residence and snatch back all those ebuka (official hats)!" "Father, that might not be appropriate. Doing so would only bring more trouble to our Taira clan." Shigemori, the eldest son, was usually mild-mannered and feared the Taira clan's sharp edge. "Brother, are we supposed to be bullied like this? I can't swallow this!" Shigehira shouted. Taira Kiyomori's expression hardened, and he said coldly, "It's decided." "The next morning, Tomomori and Shigehira led a large group of samurai straight into Fujiwara no Motofusa's residence. They not only retrieved the eboshi hat (a type of hat), but also cut off the hair of all the servants who had participated in the disturbance, thus appeasing the anger of the Taira men. Only Shigehira looked worried; such arrogance was truly harmful to the Taira clan. Just as Shigehira had predicted, after the incident at the Fujiwara residence, both the court nobles and the common people had many complaints, and their dissatisfaction with the Taira clan deepened. Under the calm surface, undercurrents began to surge. ----------------------- Koyuki had already shown Lady Tokiko the Thousand-Armed Kannon dance she had prepared, and Lady Tokiko praised the dance highly, so she agreed to perform it on Taira no Kiyomori's birthday. As for the dance costume, Shigehira and Tomomori didn't say anything more, but when Koyuki told them that she also wanted to dance, they both jumped up reflexively. "No, no!" This time, the two seemed to have planned it beforehand, opposing in unison. "It's alright, I'll cover my face with a veil, absolutely no one will know. Anyway, the women aren't with you this time," Xiaoxue said dismissively. "But, Xiaoxue wearing such a dance costume..." Chongheng felt a pang of jealousy at the thought of his sister's exposed arms. "What would happen if someone found out?" Zhisheng suddenly felt uneasy. "Alright, I've decided. You two must keep this a secret, my good brothers, please." Xiaoxue's charming smile made her two brothers nod helplessly again.

Thousand-Hand Guanyin (Main Text)

[Updated: 2005-12-22 21:43:54 Word Count: 4980]

The previous hat-snatching incident did not dampen Taira no Kiyomori's enthusiasm for his birthday celebration; in fact, this year's celebration was even more lively than in previous years. Although the nobles and courtiers were dissatisfied, none dared not come to offer their congratulations. After all, their lives and deaths were entirely in Taira no Kiyomori's hands. The place was so crowded that there wasn't even room for an oxcart. In modern terms, there were probably no parking spaces. The gifts from the nobles were incredibly diverse. Since Taira no Kiyomori had devoted himself to building ports and improving the Seto Inland Sea shipping routes, trade between Song and Japan had flourished, so most of the gifts were imported from Song: gold and silver from Yangzhou, pearls from Jingzhou, silks from Wu County, brocades from Shu River—a veritable treasure trove. After several rounds of drinks, the guests began to feel slightly tipsy. At this moment, Chimori bowed slightly and said, "Father, my siblings and I have prepared a gift for you. Please enjoy it." A gentle smile flashed in Taira no Kiyomori's eyes. He nodded. Chimori, holding a flute, and Shigeaki, carrying a pipa, stepped out of their seats and sat on the ground to the right, beginning to play ancient Buddhist music. Suddenly, a soft bell rang, and a group of women veiled in light gauze, wearing pale yellow short-sleeved tops and matching long skirts, filed in. Taira no Kiyomori was slightly taken aback at first, then watched with great interest. The lead dancer, Koyuki, danced with abandon, as if she had forgotten everything, like an elf descended to earth. Her entire being exuded an indescribable ethereal beauty, and immersed in the dance, she seemed to have returned to a long time ago. The bracelets and bells on the dancers' white wrists rang out with their swaying, producing a series of crisp and mesmerizing sounds, captivating the guests present. The classical music evoked the sounds of Buddhist chants, while the graceful, ethereal dance resembled the presence of Guanyin. As Xiaoxue led the dancers in creating the "Grand Opening of the Screen" scene, a thousand delicate hands trembled, and a thousand insightful eyes sparkled, pushing the atmosphere to its climax. Then, the music gradually slowed, and fragrant cherry blossom petals drifted down from the rooftop. These white petals fell hazily, like stardust falling to earth, or the shadow of a pale moon, soft and silent, carrying a delicate fragrance. The cherry blossom season had passed, and the falling petals astonished the guests. Xiaoxue, the leader, smiled and began to softly sing a hymn: "May you live a long and prosperous life, your fortune and blessings ever-increasing. Fine stones become rocks, green moss grows on mountain cliffs. Countless yellow sands stretch across the sea. May you live a long and prosperous life, your life as numerous as the sands. Salt mountains rise from the sea, a thousand birds sing on their peaks." "May you live a long life, your voice ringing out eight thousand times. May you live eight thousand years, plus my old age. May you be remembered for countless generations, so that my remembrance may not be in vain." The sounds of the pipa and flute gently ceased as the song ended. Chongheng and Zhisheng exchanged a smile, each taking out two long strips of Chinese red paper from their sleeves, and together read the words on them: "May Heaven protect you, so that nothing may fail to prosper. May you be as sturdy as mountains and plains, as majestic as hills and ridges, as abundant as flowing rivers, so that nothing may fail to increase; as constant as the moon, as rising as the sun, as long-lived as the Southern Mountain, never waning or collapsing; as flourishing as pine and cypress, may you receive all that is yours." A moment of silence followed, then a burst of praise erupted. "The Thousand-Hand Guanyin is portrayed with such elegance." "Auspicious indeed, gentlemen, you are truly thoughtful." "The poetry from the Book of Songs is also very elegant." "..." Taira no Kiyomori could not hide his joy and laughed, saying, "Good, good, I like this gift very much. You are all very thoughtful." Shigehira bowed slightly and said, "This was all Xiaoxue's idea, we dare not claim credit for it all." A hint of surprise flashed across Taira no Kiyomori's face, and he said, "It's Xiaoxue, indeed, she is exceptionally intelligent." His smile deepened, and he said, "They will all be rewarded!" "Father, perhaps the dancers should withdraw first." Xiaoxue looked at Chisheng with relief, Chisheng-gege really is a good person. She wondered if she was seeing things, but there seemed to be a hint of a smile and a hint of appreciation in Chisheng's eyes as he looked at her. ------------------------ Having received the pardon, she hurriedly withdrew. Fortunately, no one recognized her, but today was really too exciting, she had thoroughly enjoyed dancing. Growing increasingly smug, she laughed as she pulled off her veil. But when she looked up, she suddenly saw the person standing before her, and her smile froze. "Zong...Zong Sheng-gege..." she stammered, swallowing hard. She had always been a little afraid of this cold, aloof brother. After a long silence, she couldn't help but look up. Today, Zong Sheng-gege was wearing a light blue robe and a tall black hat, making him appear even more aloof and handsome. His face seemed expressionless, his emotions unreadable, only his dark eyes fixed intently on her. "Um...that..." she stammered, unsure how to explain. "You danced very well today," he suddenly said. Xiao Xue looked at him in surprise; he hadn't scolded her. He glanced at Xiaoxue, his gaze sweeping over her bare arms, a slight blush crossing his face before he quickly turned away, saying, "But don't let it happen again." "I know," Xiaoxue replied loudly. Zongsheng gave her a complicated look, then turned and left. He seemed to think his sister had grown up a lot... Xiaoxue was still basking in her good fortune; even her brother Zongsheng thought she danced well, and she felt a great sense of accomplishment. "Ah-------------" Suddenly, her body warmed, and she was tightly hugged from behind. Xiaoxue was furious. Who was this ungrateful scoundrel? Just as she was about to curse, a familiar scent of black incense wafted over. She froze, wondering if it was him. Then, that sexy voice came again: "Little bird, I knew it was you! You danced so cutely..." Fujiwara no Narifumi... This playboy... "Let go of me!" she struggled, pinching his hand hard. "Oh dear, you're always so heartless," he teased, releasing her. "I'm warning you, don't lay a hand on me, or even if you teach me swordsmanship, I'll still beat you up," she glared at him. "Oh dear, how rude! I have no interest in little girls," he suddenly lowered his head, bringing his face close to hers, and whispered, "But maybe after your coming-of-age ceremony, I'll change my mind." His face was very close, and the fragrance emanating from him made her dizzy, irresistibly drawing her closer. The delicate scent stirred a slight tremor within her eighteen-year-old soul. "By the way, how did you manage to get those cherry blossoms? Weren't they past their blooming season?" He looked up again, asking this question. Oh, so he really is a flower lover. "I'll tell you, but you have to take me somewhere tomorrow night," she made her request without missing a beat. He laughed again, "That doesn't sound like something a cute ten-year-old girl would say." "Enough nonsense, deal or not." Xiaoxue's patience was wearing thin; this Fujiwara no Nagenori was never serious. Cheng Fan nodded helplessly and said, "Sigh, it seems that Xiao Niao still has a long way to go to become a proper lady." "Hmm, you don't know, do you? There's something called dried flowers. You collect the petals, and then..." Xiao Xue taught Cheng Fan the techniques for making dried flowers in detail. "Where are you going?" Cheng Fan seemed very satisfied with this method of making dried flowers. "Saddle---Horse---Temple." ” 牛若，不知道他过得怎么样呢？====================================== 第二天，成范没有食言，子时刚过，他就潜到了六波罗的府邸，带小雪上了车，往鞍马寺赶去。对成范来说，这六波罗府已经是熟门熟路了。 小雪在熏香满溢的车里有些昏昏欲睡，自从跟着藤原成范习剑开始，生物钟就完全打乱了，好像经常在深更半夜活动，唉，只能暗暗祈祷不要被其他人发现。 “小鸟，如果累得话，我的怀抱可以借你靠噢。”成范笑着靠了过来。 “哎，你再过来我揍你噢，我手下可不留情。”小雪白了他一眼，不是说对小女孩没兴趣吗。 “哦呀你总是那么无情，要温柔点以后才有人爱啊。 He moved closer. "Oh, since you like gentle people, stay away from me. I'm a rude underage girl." Xiaoxue rolled her eyes again. "I always feel like you're not a ten-year-old girl." A playful look flashed across his face. "Besides, I don't only like gentle types. There are so many different kinds of women in this world, each with their own beauty. Sigh, it's really hard to choose." "So, it's your nature to flit from flower to flower, and playing the field is your consistent way of life. You absolutely cannot give up the whole forest for one tree. Someone like you shouldn't get married, lest you hurt someone else." She gave him a merciless scornful look. He was taken aback, then burst into laughter. Kurama Temple was located in the eastern suburbs of Heian-kyo, and Fujiwara no Narifusa's oxcart arrived there in about half an hour. Fujiwara, with Koyuki in tow, quietly slipped into the temple. As they passed through the bamboo grove behind the temple, they suddenly heard the sound of a sword dance coming from behind the bamboo. Koyuki took a few steps into the bamboo grove and peeked through the gaps in the bamboo leaves. A young man with his hair tied up, dressed in white casual clothes, held a katana and wielded it lightly in the moonlight. His movements were graceful and elusive, his swordsmanship exquisite, each move as beautiful as a dance. Enveloped in the soft moonlight, he resembled a noble lotus flower, or a green bamboo stalk stained with morning dew, exuding an indescribable elegance. By the moonlight, Xiaoxue could see his face clearly. Although it had been several years, she recognized him at a glance. Such a handsome and elegant face—who else could it be but Niu Ruo! A slight ripple stirred in her heart, and suddenly, a playful impulse arose. She drew Fujiwara no Narifumi's sword, leaped into the air, and shouted, "Take this!" Caught off guard, Niu Ruo was startled and reflexively raised his sword to block Xiaoxue's attack. Xiaoxue turned, her sword veering to the left, but Niu Ruo immediately parried it again. Xiaoxue smiled lightly, her sword flashing as she launched a swift attack on his entire body, but he only parried, without launching an attack. "Alright! Stop fooling around." Fujiwara no Narifumi also leaped out of the forest, grabbing Niu Ruo's sword with one hand and blocking Xiaoxue's sword with the other. "Brother Niu Ruo, it's me!" "Xiaoxue threw down her sword, grabbed Niu Ruo's hand, and said with a beaming smile. Niu Ruo was startled, looked at Xiaoxue carefully, and exclaimed, "Xiaoxue, I almost didn't recognize you! How did you learn to wield a sword?" Xiaoxue nodded proudly and said, "Yes, yes, don't I look cuter and prettier than before? Haha." Seeing her laughing, a hint of tenderness flashed in Niu Ruo's eyes, and a warm, sunny smile appeared on his face. "Yes, he taught me," Xiaoxue turned and pointed at Fujiwara no Narifumi, then said loudly, "Fujiwara no Narifumi, why do you look like you're having a facial spasm? It's so strange." Hearing what you said, it's no wonder Narifumi's face is cramping, Narifumi thought to himself. However, he quickly put on a Fujiwara-style elegant smile and stared at Niu Ruo, saying, "Judging from your swordsmanship, if I'm not mistaken, you're a disciple of Oni-yan Hoichi, right?" Niu Ruo was startled and said, "Indeed, you are..." "..." Cheng Fan smiled and said, "I only know a few flashy but impractical sword techniques, nothing to brag about." "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore," Xiao Xue said with a grin, looking at Niu Ruo. "Wow, Niu Ruo's hair is still there! I was so worried about seeing a bald Niu Ruo. It's much prettier with hair." Niu Ruo's handsome face had gained a touch of maturity, and he seemed more manly than before. Suddenly, as if she had thought of something, Xiao Xue's smile faded, and she whispered, "Niu Ruo, do you know who your father is?" "Yes, Xiao Xue," Niu Ruo's smile disappeared, and a complex expression flashed in his eyes. He said softly, "A while ago, a man named Shingu Juro Yoshimori came to see me. That's when I learned that I am a child of the Minamoto family, and that Lord Rokuhara—is my father's killer. I..." A hint of sadness flashed in his eyes. He remained silent for a moment, then his expression brightened, and he said, "But I actually have an older brother in Izu. I'm not all alone after all. I have a brother." "Yes, Brother Niu Ruo, you not only have a brother, but you also have me, your good friend." Seeing his expression, Xiao Xue felt a pang of sadness and, in a moment of impulse, hugged Niu Ruo. He still carried that faint scent of plum blossoms, a smell she missed dearly. She didn't want to see him sad, didn't want to see his sorrowful face, she only wanted to see his smile, his warm smile. "Oh dear, time is running out, little bird, we have to hurry back." Cheng Fan interrupted them rather rudely. "Then, I'll go back. I'll come see you again when I have time." Xiao Xue said goodbye to Niu Ruo with some reluctance. "Xiao Xue," he paused, "Niu Ruo is my childhood name. My current Buddhist name is Zhāna Wō." "Shina-o? A rather strange name." Koyuki laughed, saying, "I understand. Goodbye, Shina-o!" Watching Koyuki's departing figure, the young Shina-o suddenly felt a surge of anticipation for their next meeting. However, this girl was ultimately a member of the Taira clan. Thinking of his father, whom he had never met, who was murdered, and the annihilated Minamoto clan, the blood of the Minamoto clan flowing in his veins seemed to ignite within him. ----------------- "Sigh, if I had known you were coming to see him, I wouldn't have agreed." Fujiwara no Narifumi complained resentfully in the carriage. Koyuki glanced at him; though he was smiling, a hint of weariness was in his eyes. Thinking of the many nights he had sacrificed during this time, her heart softened, and she softly said, "Thank you. You should go back and rest early too." Narifumi's eyes suddenly lit up. He moved closer, quickly grabbing her hand, and teasingly said, "Little bird, are you worried about me? I'm so happy." "Ah!! Let go!" Without a word, Xiaoxue punched him. This man, he took advantage of her kindness... Although she was mentally over twenty, her body was still that of a minor. Fujiwara no Nagenori, despite being punched, elegantly rubbed his lower back and smiled, saying, "Little bird, this is a very important part of a man." Xiaoxue curled her lip dismissively. "A very important part," she thought, "isn't it a little lower down?" =============================================== The cherry blossoms in the Rokuhara Mansion bloomed and faded, and several years passed quickly. This year, Xiaoxue would soon turn fourteen, and the day of her coming-of-age ceremony would arrive quickly.

The main text is filled with sorrow at parting.

[Updated: 2005-12-23 21:01:27 Word Count: 5856]

Parting is the most sorrowful thing, especially for Ren Shanying. In the past few years, Xiaoxue's swordsmanship and archery have improved considerably under the guidance of Fujiwara no Narifumi and Shigehira. Fujiwara no Narifumi remains the same, with his number of female confidantes increasing. Shigehira and Tomomori have both undergone their coming-of-age ceremonies and have begun to wear their hair in a bun and don eboshi hats. Tomomori has been appointed Left General, and Shigehira has been appointed Third Lieutenant General, both important positions in the court. Naturally, they are busier than before. Xiaoxue has also sneaked away to Kurama-dera Temple to visit Prince Shana a few times. He has been studying Chinese war books such as Sun Tzu's Art of War in the temple, and his martial arts have become even more advanced. No matter how much Xiaoxue practices, she is defeated after a dozen or so moves, which infuriates her every time. Naturally, she blames Fujiwara no Narifumi for it. Last year, Miss Tokuko, who had a grudge against Koyuki, was sent to the palace by Taira no Kiyomori to become Emperor Takakura's consort. Hearing this, Koyuki felt a pang of sympathy for her; she would spend her life in the deep palace, and it was said that she was extremely unwilling, but dared not disobey Taira no Kiyomori and Lady Tokiko. Alas, the women of this era were truly pitiful. Thinking of this, Koyuki suddenly became worried. After her coming-of-age ceremony, would she also be randomly married off to a designated nobleman? Good heavens, that was terrifying; she couldn't even imagine it. She was, after all, a modern woman; she couldn't be so easily manipulated. She should find a way to return to Song as soon as possible. Soon after, news spread from the palace that thrilled the entire Taira family. Emperor Takakura had just issued an edict appointing Tokuko as Empress, equivalent to the Empress in the Chinese imperial court. If Tokuko were to give birth to an heir, she would immediately be appointed Crown Prince, the future Emperor, making Taira no Kiyomori the future Emperor's maternal grandfather. This would further solidify the Taira family's position. Unable to hide his joy, Taira no Kiyomori ordered a banquet to celebrate this auspicious occasion. Many members of the Taira family were present, including several familiar faces, as well as Taira no Kiyomori's younger brothers, Taira no Tadashi and Taira no Tsunemori, and his elder brother Shigemori, who had moved to the Komatsuyama residence, along with his sons Taira no Koremori and Taira no Sukemori. The Taira family had quite a few sons. "We're all family today, so please don't stand on ceremony," Taira no Kiyomori said with a kind smile on his thin face. Although many people feared his name, after spending time with him, Xiaoxue found him quite approachable, and he was very protective of his children. "My lord, Tokuko becoming Empress is truly wonderful for our Taira family," Lady Tokiko replied with a slight smile and a slight bow. Taira no Kiyomori smiled and said, "Indeed, it would be even better if she could give birth to the Crown Prince sooner." He suddenly seemed to remember something and turned to Munemori, who was sitting to one side, saying, "Mnemori is not young anymore. I've heard that Aoi-hime of the Fujiwara no Dainagon family is exceptionally beautiful and gentle. Why not arrange this marriage?" Munemori's expression changed, and he said in a deep voice, "Father, I am currently very busy with political affairs. Isn't marriage a bit premature?" "Mnemori, it's not premature. You've already undergone your coming-of-age ceremony and should be eighteen now. You've been unmarried for so long. Besides, a marriage alliance with the Dainagon family would be good for our Taira family," his uncle, Tokitada, interjected. Munemori's face turned pale, and he gave Tokitada a cold look. Tokitada seemed completely oblivious, and turned his anger towards Tomomori and Shigehira. “I think it’s time for Chimori and Shigehira to get married. Haven’t they already gone through their coming-of-age ceremony?” Upon hearing this, Shigehira, who was drinking, suddenly spat out his wine. He quickly glanced at Xiaoxue, then turned back with anger in his eyes, replying, “Uncle, you’re worrying too much. Shigehira doesn’t want to think about this at all!” Chimori didn’t say anything, glared fiercely at Shichū, and continued drinking. “Shichū is right. After we finish Munemori’s marriage, we’ll proceed with Chimori and Shigehira’s.” Taira nods, agreeing with Shichū. Xiaoxue watches this scene, her mind filled with many thoughts. These Taira brothers, though pampered and enjoying all the luxuries, cannot escape the fate of political marriages. It seems that this has remained unchanged throughout history, both domestically and internationally. She glanced at her brothers, all of whom were glaring at Shi Zhong. She couldn't help but chuckle. If looks could kill, Shi Zhong would probably have lost several lives today under the menacing gazes of these three brothers. Thinking this, a smile unconsciously crept onto her lips. Just as she was secretly amused, she suddenly felt someone staring at her. Looking up, she met Chong Heng's gaze. There seemed to be a hint of anger on his face. What was wrong? She didn't seem to have offended him... "Xiao Xue should have her coming-of-age ceremony this year, right?" Xiao Xue was startled and turned to look. Ping Qingsheng was smiling at her. So he was indeed asking her. No way, why was he bringing her up again? "Yes, Father." Xiao Xue forced a smile, silently praying, "Okay, please don't say any more, please, please don't bring up marriage." "So many nobles want to establish a connection with our Ping family. After Xiaoxue's coming-of-age ceremony, suitors will be coming in droves," the incredibly tactless Pingzhong interjected again. Xiaoxue finally understood her brothers' anger and cursed her uncle a dozen times in her heart. "Uncle, Xiaoxue is still young. Even after her coming-of-age ceremony, she doesn't necessarily have to get married so soon," Shigehira finally couldn't help but speak up. Shigehira was still the most caring brother, and Xiaoxue looked at him gratefully. Lady Tokiko smiled and said, "We can talk about Xiaoxue's matter later. Since we're so happy today, let's talk about something else. By the way, Shigemori, is everything alright at the Komatsuyama residence?" Lady Tokiko changed the subject at the right time. She turned her head slightly and smiled at Xiaoxue. Looking at her gentle smile, Xiaoxue seemed to relax a little. However, she still felt a little uneasy. =========================== This inexplicable unease persisted until evening. "Watch out!" Fujiwara no Narifumi swung his sword, and Koyuki didn't even react in time. Luckily, he withdrew his attack quickly, preventing her from being hurt. Startled, he broke out in a cold sweat. "Kotori, what's wrong with you today? You seem so distracted." "Nothing," Koyuki replied lazily, tossing down her sword and sitting down to the side. He beckoned, "Narifumi, come and talk to me." Narifumi seemed quite used to her lack of manners, calling himself Narifumi, then Narifumi, then Fujiwara no Narifumi, changing his name according to her whims. Narifumi also put down his sword, walked over, raised an eyebrow, and said softly, "It's rare to see Kotori so listless. Who upset you?" "I'm about to have my coming-of-age ceremony..." she said, head bowed. "That's good. Now you're an adult, not a child anymore, and you can get married." Cheng Fan's lips curled into a teasing smile. "Sigh, that's what bothers me. I hate marrying someone I don't even know. Like my brothers, no matter how successful they are in their careers, they can never decide their own marriages. Spending their lives with someone who doesn't understand them at all—isn't that a sad thing?" Xiao Xue grumbled on. Cheng Fan looked at the girl in front of him with some surprise and said, "So what do you want?" "My future is unknown, but I want to control my own marriage. Nothing else matters. For me, growing old with the person I love is the most important thing." She said earnestly. Cheng Fan was even more surprised. Suddenly, he chuckled softly and said, "Maybe." A hint of melancholy flashed in his smiling eyes. "What 'maybe,' Fujiwara Cheng Fan? Haven't you ever truly loved someone? Haven't you ever felt that urge to hold onto someone tightly?" Xiao Xue was indignant at his perfunctory attitude. "The feeling of loving someone..." He murmured to himself several times, his ever-present elegant smile suddenly dimming. "Aren't you afraid?" he asked abruptly. "Afraid of what?" she asked, puzzled. "If you fall in love with someone, and she suddenly disappears, vanishes without a trace, aren't you afraid? Not loving someone and not being able to be together might lead to a life of numbness, but loving someone and not being able to be together is a life of pain. Isn't that right?" he said softly. Xiaoxue looked at the man in astonishment, seeing this expression on his face for the first time. Was this man afraid to love? Did he harbor fear of his lover? "Fujiwara Shigenori, you're simply afraid to love, a coward." Did he think that by dalliance and playing the field, he could get away with it? What an irresponsible guy. "A life devoid of love and companionship is truly painful. Even if you can't be together, loving each other is still happiness. 'If love is meant to last, why worry about being together every day?' Only by loving can you truly live, understand? Living your life so carelessly will lead to regret in the future. You'll have no memories, only an empty and lonely heart!" She vented her frustration. He shuddered slightly, looking up at Xiaoxue in disbelief, speechless. After a long while, his expression returned to calm, and he suddenly laughed, saying, "How come I've been talking to a child for so long today? Hehe." "You..." Xiaoxue looked at him defiantly, annoyed. All that passionate talk she'd just given was for nothing. What child? He was a twenty-three-year-old old man! "By the way, I don't have time to teach you swordsmanship tomorrow night. I have an appointment with the daughter of the Minister of Justice." He smirked, teasingly adding, "She's a mature and elegant beauty." "Get lost..." Xiaoxue didn't want to waste any more words with him. "Oh my, little bird, are you jealous? I'm so happy." He moved closer, completely oblivious to the danger. "But, once you become a mature beauty, maybe I'll be interested in you, heh, heh, heh." "You bastard, take this!" "Ouch..." The angry beauty, completely lacking in decorum, chased after a man who, even while fleeing, managed to maintain his elegant posture. ============================ Today, Zong Sheng, Zhi Sheng, and Shigeaki seemed to be discussing something important with Hei Kiyomori. They had been in the room for quite a while. It took Xiaoxue a while to see them come out. Zongsheng still seemed angry, while Zhisheng and Chongheng looked helpless, even a little worried. "Xiaoxue, what are you doing here?" Before she could react, Zongsheng and the others were already standing in front of her. "Nothing, just taking a stroll," she said with a smile. "After your coming-of-age ceremony, you can't just wander around like this," Zongsheng said, his dark eyes fixed on her. She pouted and said, "Brother Zongsheng, it's precisely because I won't be able to move around freely afterward, and I might even have to marry someone else miserably, with no freedom at all, like a caged bird, that I can't even take a stroll now?" She finished speaking with a wronged expression. "Xiaoxue, you won't get married so soon. With your brother here, you'll definitely..." Chongheng suddenly realized that what he said was inappropriate. You'll definitely not let her get married? What was he saying? "Alright, I only said one thing to you, and you replied with so much." A hint of indulgent smile flashed in Zong Sheng's eyes. This younger sister always had so many ridiculous excuses; it was obvious she was playing the victim. Xiao Xue smiled. Having a brother was really nice. "Xiao Xue, last time I bought some trinkets from a merchant ship from Song. Do you want to see them?" Zhi Sheng's gentle tone made her feel a little strange. He rarely spoke to her so kindly. Was he up to something? She hesitated, then suddenly saw Zhi Sheng quickly wink at her. Something was wrong. "Sure, I'll go with you to see them now." She didn't care; he wouldn't harm her anyway. ---------------------------- "What's wrong, Brother Zhi Sheng? Is there something you want to tell me?" As soon as they entered his room, she eagerly asked Zhi Sheng and Chong Heng. Zhisheng's expression was somewhat grave: "Yes, it wasn't appropriate to speak when Third Brother was here." He paused, then said, "Father seems to want to get rid of Niu Ruo." Xiaoxue was shocked and asked, "Why? Didn't he already become a monk? Why won't they let him go?" "I heard that Niu Ruo hasn't shaved his head to practice, and Father is afraid he still harbors rebellious intentions, so he's decided..." A trace of worry flashed in Chongheng's eyes. "But how could this happen? Didn't you try to persuade Father? After all, Niu Ruo was once your friend." Xiaoxue felt as if something was burning in her heart; the thought of that pure and spirited young man dying made her thoughts somewhat chaotic. "It's no use. We tried to persuade him just now, but Third Brother insists on getting rid of Niu Ruo to avoid future troubles," Zhisheng said helplessly. "Then, will Father send someone to Anma Temple to get rid of Niu Ruo soon?" Xiaoxue asked softly. Shigeaki nodded and said, "It shouldn't be too late." Leaving Chimori's room, Koyuki felt a tightness in her chest, as if something was pulling at her heart. Shana-ou, he couldn't, he couldn't die. For the first time, she had the urge to protect someone; she wanted to protect that boy. She couldn't stand by and watch him be killed. All she could do now was to go to Kurama Temple under cover of night to warn Shana-ou to leave quickly. ------------------------------ As usual, the young Shana-ou was practicing his swordsmanship behind the bamboo grove. Today, he seemed a little absent-minded. That lovely girl...it seemed like it had been a long time since she'd come. He wondered how she was doing. Tonight, he especially missed her soft voice, her sweet smile, and even—and the angry look on her face every time she lost to him. "King Shana!" Suddenly hearing a familiar, soft, drawn-out voice, King Shana's heart leaped with joy. His expression brightened, and he looked towards the source of the sound. A girl in a cherry-colored dress smiled at him. The silvery moonlight softly bathed her, giving her long, soft, black hair a silvery sheen that shimmered. Her crystal-clear amber eyes shone brightly, seemingly outshining the moonlight itself, like Princess Kaguya who had just descended from the moon. He held his breath, feeling his heart pounding. Xiao Xue seemed to be growing more and more beautiful. "Xiao...Xue," he suddenly stammered. "King Shana, do you miss me?" she teased with a playful smile. He felt his face flush and was speechless. She looked at him, her smile slowly fading, and whispered, "King Shana, you must leave here quickly. Father will soon send men to kill you." His face showed little surprise; instead, he smiled and said, "I knew this day would come." Now it was Xiaoxue who was surprised: "You knew? Then what do you plan to do?" He revealed his adorable dimples and said, "Actually, I've been planning to leave for a while. I've already discussed it with the merchant Yoshiji in the capital; he'll help me leave." "Yoshiji? Who is that? Is he reliable?" she asked. "Yes, Yoshiji has good relationships with many merchant ships; he's quite reliable," he replied. Really? A thought suddenly flashed through her mind: could she ask him for help when she wanted to return to Song? "Where does Yoshiji live?" "He lives in Nijōin in the west of the city; he's quite famous there." Nijōin—she secretly memorized the place. "Then, where are you going? To your brother's?" Xiaoxue suddenly felt a pang of disappointment. He shook his head and said, "No, my brother was also exiled to Izu. I don't want to cause him any trouble right now. I plan to go and seek refuge with Fujiwara no Hidehira in Mutsu first. Mutsu is not within the Taira clan's sphere of influence and is a relatively independent place. It's not too late to go find my brother after I've settled down." "Hmm, that's good, but it's best to do it as soon as possible," Koyuki advised him. He nodded and smiled, "Don't worry, but—" A trace of longing and sorrow flashed in his eyes, "I want to go to Rokujōin to see my mother one last time before I leave." His mother, Lady Tokiwa. For King Shana, he must have had complicated feelings towards his mother. She betrayed his father, but to save her son's life, she married her enemy. Lady Tokiwa was forced to do so; she was actually a very pitiful woman. "Then, leave quickly after you've seen her," she added, still worried. "Xiaoxue..." His eyes softened again, tinged with a hint of reluctance. "Will we ever meet again?" "Yes, we will. So you must live well, or I won't forgive you." Xiaoxue felt a pang in her heart, forcing a smile. "Xiaoxue..." he murmured, reaching out to pull her into his arms. This warmth, he might never experience again, so he had to live. As long as he lived, there would be a day when they would meet again, just like the Taira and Minamoto clans, who would eventually clash on the battlefield. Xiaoxue hugged him tightly. She didn't know if they would ever meet again. Her own fate in this unfamiliar era was uncertain, and who knew what the future held? But no matter how the future changed, that faint fragrance of plum blossoms would always linger in her heart. Farewell, King Shana.

The person who proposed marriage in the main text

[Updated: 2005-12-23 21:02:11 Word Count: 4190]

In autumn, the lespedeza unexpectedly bloomed. A few days later, news of Prince Shana's escape from Heian-kyo reached the Taira clan. Enraged, Taira no Kiyomori dispatched samurai to intercept him, but unsure of his destination, they could only search the surrounding area. Prince Shana successfully reached Mutsu, beginning his new life. The Taira clan then threatened Fujiwara no Hidehira of Mutsu to hand over Prince Shana, but Fujiwara ignored them. Far from the emperor's reach, the Taira clan couldn't do anything to him for the time being. During this period, Koyuki also underwent her coming-of-age ceremony, and her free time during the day was greatly reduced, making her almost sick with boredom. "Otama, I'm so bored!" she complained to Otama while sitting in the house. Ayu smiled and said, "Miss, the young masters will come to see you after court. Why don't you take a look at these letters? You haven't read the ones from the past few days." Xiaoxue sighed. After her coming-of-age ceremony, she received so many love letters from noblemen and young masters that her hands were sore. At first, she was quite proud and excited, but after reading them for a while, she got tired of them. Besides, they were all waka poems expressing their longing, not knowing that her waka poetry skills were actually quite mediocre... Moreover, these people didn't even know what she looked like; they only heard that she was a beauty and a member of the Taira clan. Most of these affections were not from the heart. But today was really boring, so she just looked at them casually. She picked up a light pink letter. A man using this color? Effeminate. Eliminated. She picked up a pale blue letter. A strong fragrance wafted over. Too much fragrance. Eliminated. Then a pale purple letter. She opened it. The paper was elegant, the fragrance was just right, but the handwriting—unreadable. Eliminated. Ayu stared at her in disbelief, not understanding what she was doing. "Hmm, this person is quite refined." Xiaoxue finally found an interesting letter; a few small white orange blossoms were tucked inside the pale yellow letter, and the clear handwriting exuded a faint, tranquil orange scent. "Who misses me, as I miss someone? Where does true love reside? Seek the treasures of the world." "Who is this Tachibana Taikiyo?" she asked Ayu curiously, glancing at the signature. Ayu, in modern times, would surely be a promising gossip magazine reporter, knowing all the popular noblemen like the back of her hand. "Lord Tachibana Uekonoe, Taikiyo! He comes from a prestigious family, is sixteen this year, handsome and refined, and admired by many ladies." Ayu's memory for such things was truly exceptional. But he did seem like a refined person; this poem even seemed to have a hint of longing for love. Since she was bored anyway, she might as well just write a random reply. She picked up a piece of cherry-colored Chinese paper, intending to write something, when she suddenly heard Chongheng's voice from outside the door: "Xiaoxue, I'm back." Before he finished speaking, he unceremoniously pulled back the screen and walked in. Chongheng was sixteen years old this year, and with age, his features had become increasingly handsome, especially his bright black eyes, which shone brightly, seemingly melting anyone who looked at him. Today, Chongheng was wearing a white robe, which made him even more strikingly handsome. "What are you doing?" he asked Xiaoxue curiously. She looked up and said, "Nothing, replying to a letter." She pointed to the letter beside her. "Replying to a letter?" He raised an eyebrow, picked up Ju Taiqing's letter, and upon reading it, his expression changed slightly. He said coldly, "You really want to reply to his letter?" She was completely oblivious to his change in mood and continued, "Yes, it's rare to find a letter I like, and the author went to great lengths to write it. Chongheng-gege, what do you think I should reply to? What kind of incense should I burn?" "Hiss—" The sound of tearing paper interrupted her words. Xiaoxue stared blankly at Chongheng's angry face, unable to react for a long time. "Brother Chongheng, what's wrong?" She was completely baffled. "Are you an idiot? These nobles are all womanizers. If you reply to their letters a few more times, they'll come to your room, you know that, you idiot!" Chongheng cursed angrily, all his noble demeanor gone. "Ayu, throw all these letters away. Also, if anyone writes to Xiaoxue again, give them all to me, understand?" He quickly ordered. "Hey, you're violating my right to privacy! Those are my letters, why should I give them to you!" Xiaoxue also got angry. Her brother shouldn't be interfering so much. "What right to privacy! Don't you understand? I'm your brother, you have to listen to me!" Chongheng, who always indulged his sister, seemed to have swallowed his anger today. "Ayu, don't give them to him, or I'll punish you!" Xiaoxue could only threaten Ayu. "Ayu, you have to listen to me!" Chongheng retorted without backing down. Xiaoxue was very puzzled by Chongheng's behavior today. "Alright, what's all the fuss about? Give me all these letters." Huh? Xiaoxue was taken aback. When did Zongsheng arrive? His tone was authoritative, and under his cold gaze, Xiaoxue was speechless. "Chongheng is right this time. Although you often behave badly, as your older brothers, we still have to discipline you. Do you think we like disciplining you? What a nuisance." Only that rascal Ping Zhisheng would say such sarcastic words. Sure enough, he, dressed in a new green straight robe, emerged from behind Zongsheng. What's wrong with her brothers today? They're all acting strangely, making a mountain out of a molehill. It's just a few letters. "Alright, take them if you want. You can use them as a reference to write to the girls you like. How boring." Xiaoxue shrugged indifferently and glared at Chongheng again. Chongheng glared back, and after a while, they both burst into laughter. Xiaoxue suddenly remembered the time when she and Chongheng glared at each other until their eyes hurt. Looking at Chongheng laughing, she guessed that he must have remembered that incident as well. "Two crazy people, Third Brother, ignore them." Zhisheng looked at them in confusion and pulled Zongsheng away. After laughing for a while, Xiaoxue stopped and said rather generously, "Forget it, I'll forgive you this time. Brother Chongheng is just concerned about me, afraid I'll be deceived. I understand this feeling of protecting his sister. You really are a good brother." Is that so? Is it purely a feeling of protecting his sister? Why does he feel so uncomfortable, like something he cherishes has been taken away...? Chongheng also began to feel confused. =================================== At this very moment, a major event occurred in the imperial court. Although Emperor Go-Shirakawa, father of Emperor Takakura, had become a monk, he still held considerable power. He was deeply dissatisfied with Kiyomori's control over imperial affairs and the government. Furthermore, the frequent complaints from ministers about the Taira clan's tyranny fueled his resentment. Therefore, the retired emperor summoned his key ministers, including Fujiwara no Saiko and Fujiwara no Toshihiro, for a meeting to discuss the extermination of the Taira clan. However, Taira no Kiyomori was no ordinary man, and with numerous spies, the secret was quickly exposed. Enraged, Kiyomori preemptively struck, beheading Fujiwara no Saiko, Fujiwara no Toshihiro, and other key ministers. The retired emperor was placed under house arrest in Toba Palace. Many more were likely to lose their lives, but thanks to Shigemori's desperate pleas, some ministers at the meeting were spared. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Kiyomori dismissed all forty-three high-ranking ministers from their posts, labeling them as rebels and exiling them to various places, replacing them with members of the Taira clan. From then on, almost all the court nobles were from the Taira family. Fujiwara no Dainagon, who was originally supposed to marry Munemori, was also involved and exiled to Bishu Province, and Munemori's marriage was temporarily put on hold. Amidst this boundless glory, Koyuki felt a vague unease about the future of the Taira family. Could such prosperity last? Beneath the seemingly peaceful political situation lay instability. This time it was the Retired Emperor, but what about next time? Unfortunately, she was completely unfamiliar with Japanese history and had no idea about the historical fate of the Taira family. Although she was an outsider, her many years of affection made her hope for a good ending for the Taira family. Oh well, she shouldn't think about it too much. Perhaps one day she would still have to return to Song. After all, this was not her country. "Little bird, are you daydreaming again?" Fujiwara no Narifusa lowered his sword and walked over. Koyuki glanced at him; he was lucky, still firmly seated in his position as Middle Counselor, unmoved. This major upheaval seemed to have no effect on him. "I'm annoyed," she blurted out. "I'm the one who's annoyed! So many nobles have been exiled this time." A hint of disappointment flickered across Fujiwara's smiling face. When had he become so concerned with politics? Just as she was wondering, his next words made Koyuki roll her eyes. "So many of my beautiful confidantes have left me too, alas... so heartbreaking..." Oh, so he was concerned about the daughters of those nobles. It's true what they say, you can't change your ways. "By the way, what are you annoyed about? Your Taira clan is so powerful now, so many people are envious." He teased. Koyuki shook her head, saying, "Haven't you heard that prosperity is followed by decline, and the moon waxes and wanes? The more powerful they are now, the more worried people are about their future. They have no sense of crisis at all." She paused, then continued, “Perhaps many people think the Ping family is truly fortunate, with power and status, but is that truly happiness? When considering human happiness, the most important thing is inner satisfaction and inner richness. If you only pursue happiness through superficial things like wealth, status, and fame, you will never find true inner satisfaction. This is because the pursuit of wealth and status is endless. And if you keep pursuing it, your heart will never escape the ‘quagmire of hunger.’” Cheng Fan was slightly startled, his smile fading as he gazed at her. This girl seemed more mature than he had imagined. She laughed again, pointing to his chest and saying, “Cheng Fan, is this the ‘quagmire of hunger’ or the ‘fountain of joy’?” Her finger touched his chest, and a strange flutter rose in Cheng Fan’s heart. “Alright, let’s not think about that anymore. Let’s continue practicing!” She flashed a lovely smile, leaped up, and thrust her long sword diagonally towards Cheng Fan. ===================================== A month later, Taira no Kiyomori announced that his brother Munemori would be marrying the daughter of the Minister of War. Although Munemori was extremely unwilling, he could only helplessly accept this fact. Next should be his brother Tomomori, and then his brother Shigehira, right? Xiaoxue was lost in thought in her room, wondering what her future sister-in-law would be like. Just then, Ayu walked in from outside with a happy expression. She looked at Xiaoxue mysteriously and whispered, "Miss, there will soon be another happy event in our household." "A happy event?" She perked up. "Who? Is it Tomomori or Shigehira? Which family's young lady is she?" Ayu smiled and softly uttered a few words: "It's you who has happy news." What? Her mind went blank for a moment. She grabbed Ayu's sleeve and said, "I... I didn't hear wrong, did I?" "It's true. I just passed by the front courtyard and heard Lord Liubolu and the young masters talking about this." She looked delighted. "However, the young masters don't seem to approve." Xiaoxue composed herself and asked, "Who proposed? Who are they going to marry me to?" "I don't know, I didn't hear clearly." Ayu shook her head, "But it must be a refined young master." Which heartless bastard dared to marry her? Xiaoxue angrily cursed the man's ancestors for eighteen generations. Staying here wasn't a solution; she had to go find Lady Shizi and ask her for clarification. Just as she stood up, she heard a series of hurried footsteps. The screen was suddenly pulled open, revealing Chongheng's furious face. "Brother Chongheng, tell me quickly what happened?" she hurriedly grabbed his sleeve and asked. His face was still contorted with anger as he said, "I don't know what Father was thinking, actually agreeing to his marriage proposal! Everyone knows he's a womanizer, how could Xiaoxue marry such a man!" "Calm down, tell me who it is!" Xiaoxue asked, frowning. He shook his head and said, "Who else? It's that Fujiwara no Narifumi!" What? Fujiwara no Narifumi? Her eyes widened, speechless with surprise. Had she heard correctly? What was this bastard doing here? A surge of anger welled up inside Xiaoxue, and she glared fiercely at Chongheng, saying, "Take me to Fujiwara no Narifumi's house right now, I'm going to kill him!"

The main text is a mess

[Updated: 2005-12-23 21:03:31 Word Count: 4572]

The valley wind thawed the ice, and the stream leaped and rushed. Upon arriving at Fujiwara no Narifumi's residence, Koyuki jumped off the oxcart and rushed inside. "Fujiwara no Narifumi, get out here!" she shouted, swatting away a servant who had chased after her. "Oh dear, little bird, what brings you here today? Did you miss me? I'm so happy," Fujiwara no Narifumi said, leaning against the wall with an elegant smile, dressed in a light blue casual robe and holding a folding fan. He walked over slowly, gently lifting her face with his folding fan, and smiled, "But even if you miss me, you can't shout like that without any manners." "Smack!" Xiaoxue slapped his fan away, angrily shouting, "What are you playing at? Didn't you say you didn't want to get married? Why are you proposing to my father! Are you sick?!" She was almost furious, but he still had that gentle smile on his face, continuing, "I want to help you. Didn't you say you didn't want to spend your life with a stranger? Wouldn't it be better if it were me? At least we know each other well, and I'm looking forward to seeing you mature." She froze, "You...you don't want to marry me for that reason, do you?" Had this man lost his mind? He lowered his head, speaking in a seductive voice, "Besides, maybe I'll also try to experience what you mean by wanting to hold onto someone." His eyes were warm, as if they could draw you in, but this warmth was like a barrier, firmly sealing off his heart, his true feelings. She stared at him and said in a deep voice, "I can't stop you from testing me, but you'd better not use me, or I'll really kill you." A hint of something unfathomable flickered in his eyes, and a perfectly curved smile appeared on his lips. He said, "Oh dear, I'm so heartbroken. Alas, the nightingale's song is tinged with sorrow, but the heart is like a fallen flower." "However, it seems you can't refuse this marriage." He moved his face closer, the faint scent of incense wafting over. "Bang!" "Oh dear, little bird!" She finally couldn't resist punching him in his handsome face, shaking her slightly sore hand, and was somewhat surprised that he hadn't dodged. "Xiaoxue, are you alright!" Chongheng, who had followed her in, pulled Xiaoxue aside with a livid face, glaring angrily at Fujiwara no Narifumi. Cheng Fan rubbed his left cheek and smiled helplessly, saying, "Well, it seems I'm the one who's in trouble." Chong Heng snorted coldly, took Xiao Xue's hand, and asked with concern, "How are you? Does your hand hurt?" "Ah, it seems my face hurts more," Cheng Fan innocently interjected. "Shut up!" Xiao Xue and Chong Heng shouted at the same time. "I won't let you marry Xiao Xue!" Chong Heng angrily threw down these words and hurriedly left with Xiao Xue. Cheng Fan watched their departing figures, and the smile on his face slowly faded. Xiao Xue, so she really didn't want to marry him? But why did he want to marry her? He himself couldn't say for sure. His father's daily nagging and the piles of love letters from young ladies were making him somewhat annoyed. Perhaps he chose Xiao Xue because he thought it would be easier to be with her... What exactly is the feeling of wanting to hold onto someone so tightly...? A few inexplicable traces of melancholy welled up in Fujiwara Cheng Fan's heart. ================================ That night, Lady Tokiko came to Koyuki's room. "Mother, is it true? Are you going to marry me off to Fujiwara no Narifumi?" Koyuki asked unwillingly. Lady Tokiko didn't answer, but smiled slightly, slowly sat down beside her, and gently stroked her hair, saying, "Koyuki has grown so much. I still remember the first time I saw you, you were just a little girl. I liked you immediately because you really looked so much like my deceased daughter." Her eyes were gentle, and a faint fragrance emanated from her. Koyuki's thoughts became somewhat hazy. Over the years, Lady Tokiko had treated her like a daughter, and her heart softened. “As time goes by, you become more and more lovable. I am truly grateful to Buddha for giving you to me when I was so heartbroken. So, as a mother, I sincerely hope you can be happy. For us women, what is happiness? Isn't it finding a strong support?” she said softly. No, Mother, finding a support isn't all happiness. For a woman, marriage isn't the only path. Xiaoxue thought to herself. She thought for a moment, but still didn't say it aloud. "But Mother, why did you choose Fujiwara no Narifumi?" A fleeting, enigmatic look crossed Lady Tokiko's face. "There are too few members of the Fujiwara family that your father trusts now, but we need to keep them in check. That's why we chose from within their clan. Choosing Fujiwara no Narifumi was my decision. He's always been indifferent to fame and fortune, and very intelligent. He won't easily get involved in trouble. After much consideration, I think marrying him might be happier for you." She gazed at Xiaoxue and whispered, "Do you understand your mother's feelings?" Xiaoxue was somewhat shaken. Although this was also a political marriage, Lady Tokiko had tried her best to give her the greatest happiness. *I understand my mother's feelings, I know* she thought softly. *But I'm not a woman of this era. I don't want to be a victim of a political marriage. I want to decide my own marriage.* It seemed she couldn't stay in the Taira clan any longer. What should she do? She had always wanted to go back anyway, so she decided to agree first, then find an opportunity to leave and take a merchant ship back to Song. Returning to Song, a wave of reluctance washed over her. Her motherly Lady Tokiko, her loving brothers, and the image of that elegant, bamboo-like boy flashed through her mind again. "Yes, I will follow Mother's orders," she said with a smile. A pang of sadness lingered in her heart. "I'm sorry, Lady Tokiko." Seeing her smile, Lady Tokiko's face immediately lit up with relief. ================================== The next day, Xiaoxue planned to leave the manor to visit Jiji at Nijōin, as mentioned by King Zana, to inquire about merchant ships going to Song. Just as she finished packing and was about to call Ayu to prepare the oxcart, the screen in front of the door was suddenly kicked aside, and Chongheng, dressed in a white robe, stormed in, his anger palpable. “重衡哥哥，你怎么了，谁惹你了？”小雪一脸纳闷的望着重衡，今天重衡浑身都是火药味，什么事让他这样生气？ “小雪，你怎么答应嫁给他了！”他吼着，一把抓住了她的右手手腕。 “好痛，重衡哥哥，你怎么了，我答应他有什么不对！”，一阵疼痛从手腕处袭来，就算真的嫁给别人，他也不必要这样生气吧。 “好痛，你放开我！”她怒道，怎么有这样不讲理的猪头，哥哥管这么宽干吗！ 他黑亮的眼中有一些血丝，眼神灼灼似乎有什么在燃烧，丝毫没有松手，反而抓得更紧：“你还没回答我，为什么答应他！快说！”他的神情有些失控，小雪也不由有些害怕起来，手腕更是象被火烧着了一般痛。 “混蛋，你放手，不然我真揍人了，”去他的哥哥，他真把她惹火了。 She couldn't care less about anything else, and slapped him with her left hand. Chongheng quickly grabbed her hand with his other hand, a strange look flashing in his eyes. "Xiaoxue..." he murmured. Xiaoxue was stunned, feeling a warmth on her lips. Chongheng had already lowered his head and quickly captured her lips. He awkwardly slipped his tongue into the stunned Xiaoxue's lips, sucking hard on her fragrant tongue tip. In their panic, their teeth even lightly brushed against each other. "Ah--------------------" Xiaoxue finally reacted, pushing him away abruptly, touching her lips, and stammering, "Brother--------Brother?" She was completely dumbfounded. Although they weren't related by blood, she had always regarded them as her brothers, and they must have regarded her as their sister too. But today, Chongheng must be possessed. How could he kiss his own sister? GOD... This...this...is this incest? But they're not siblings, so it shouldn't be, it shouldn't be...her mind was a complete mess. "Xiaoxue, I love you. I won't let you marry Fujiwara. You have to marry me!" Chongheng seemed to have gained even more courage from that kiss, speaking to her with unwavering resolve. What? Marry...marry him? Xiaoxue's mind seemed to go blank. Calm down, calm down... "Come here!" He grabbed her wrist again, dragging her towards the door. His strength was astonishing; even Xiaoxue, who had practiced martial arts, couldn't break free. "No! Where are you taking me!" she cried, clinging tightly to the door, trying to stop him from dragging her away. "To Father, of course. I'm going to tell him we love each other, and I want to marry you!" His words exploded in Xiaoxue's head like a bolt from the blue. "You're crazy! I'm your sister! Let go, let go!" she roared furiously. Damn it, who loves him?! Chongheng must be insane! Unfortunately, she was no match for his strength and was dragged to the front courtyard. ----------------------------- Today's luck was truly terrible; besides Taira no Kiyomori, Lady Tokiko, Munemori, and Tomomori were all there. Seeing Shigehira angrily dragging Yuki over, everyone was shocked. Lady Tokiko spoke first: "Shigehira, you're too presumptuous! Let go of your sister! What's wrong with you?" "Yuki, you troublemaker, did you anger Fifth Brother?" Tomomori, though surprised, couldn't resist a few sarcastic remarks. Munemori frowned slightly but remained silent. "Shigehira, what's wrong?" Taira no Kiyomori couldn't help but ask. Shigehira composed himself and loudly proclaimed, "Father, I want to marry Yuki!" The air seemed to freeze instantly; the courtyard was eerily quiet. Everyone was shocked and speechless. "Say it again," Taira no Kiyomori asked incredulously. “I’ll say it a few more times,” he said, gripping Xiaoxue’s hand tightly. “I want to marry Xiaoxue. I don’t want anyone else!” “No, no,” Xiaoxue hurriedly protested. Chongheng glared at her and said, “Xiaoxue, don’t be shy. I know you like me too.” What was this all about? Xiaoxue was both amused and exasperated. Just as she was about to speak again, Taira no Kiyomori stared at Chongheng and asked, “What exactly is going on?” “I understand now. So Chongheng likes Xiaoxue.” Lady Tokiko suddenly laughed from the side. “Madam, this is simply outrageous. Chongheng and Xiaoxue are siblings.” Taira no Kiyomori frowned slightly. Lady Tokiko smiled gently and said softly, "My lord, since ancient times, hasn't our imperial family had a tradition of half-sibling marriages? Besides, they're not related by blood. This little Xue is my precious child; I really can't bear to give her away. Keeping her for our Taira family wouldn't be bad." It seems the Japanese imperial family has always had examples of half-sibling or uncle-niece marriages—incest, incest, utter incest, Xue thought to herself. Taira no Kiyomori pondered for a moment and said, "However, regarding the marriage alliance with the Fujiwara family..." His tone was softening. "What's so difficult about that? Let Noko marry them. If Fujiwara no Narifusa is unwilling, then any member of the Fujiwara family will do," Lady Tokiko said calmly. Noko seemed to be the daughter of Lady Tokiwa and Taira no Kiyomori. Seeing Lady Tokiko's indifferent expression, it seemed she didn't have any good feelings towards Noko either. Taira no Kiyomori had always respected Lady Tokiko, so he didn't object immediately. A smug look appeared on Chongheng's face. He glanced at Xiaoxue, who was glaring at him. No, if this continued, she might inexplicably be betrothed to Chongheng. She pulled her hand away, about to say something more, when suddenly Zhisheng's voice rang out: "But Xiaoxue doesn't seem too happy to be with Chongheng." She looked up and saw Zhisheng staring at her, his eyes filled with disappointment, anger, and perhaps a hint of jealousy. "Fourth Brother, what are you saying!" Chongheng's face turned pale instantly. Zhisheng gave a soft snort, then turned to Ping Qingsheng and said, "If that's the case, I also ask Father to betroth Xiaoxue to me." Clang! Xiaoxue's head felt like it had been hit hard by a hammer. Had she heard correctly? Hadn't Ping Zhisheng always been at odds with her? What was going on? He was getting involved too! "What!" Ping Qingsheng also lost his usual composure, spilling the tea in his hand. Madam Shi's smile froze on her face, seemingly taken aback. "I like Xiaoxue too! Chongheng can have her, and so can I," he said nonchalantly. "Stop it, both of you!" Zong Sheng coldly snapped, and his two younger brothers immediately quieted down. He glanced at Xiaoxue, a hint of tenderness flickering in his icy gaze. Xiaoxue suddenly felt a chill; this tenderness seemed dangerous. Please, please don't say anything that will make her faint. "Even if anyone's going to marry, it should be me," he coldly uttered, completely stunning Xiaoxue. Her eyes widened in shock. Oh my god, something terrible had happened! Her brothers had all gone mad… Her vision blurred, her legs went weak, and the only thing she could think of was—to faint.

The main text describes the departure from the capital.

[Updated: 2005-12-25 16:41:51 Word Count: 5470]

Xiaoxue didn't know how much time had passed before she woke up. She opened her eyes, saw the familiar ceiling, and pinched her cheek hard—ouch! A dream, it must be a dream. She had just had a terrible dream; all her brothers wanted to marry her, they had all gone mad. A nightmare indeed… “Miss, are you alright?” Ayu asked softly from the side. Xiaoxue shook her head, sat up, and smiled, saying, “Ayu, I just had a nightmare, it was so scary. Oh dear, how long have I been asleep?” Ayu looked at her with some concern and said, “Miss, how can you still laugh? The entire Ping family is in chaos.” “What?” She was stunned, a chill seeping from her pores. Could it be that what she had just dreamt wasn't a dream, but real? “Chaos… chaos what?” she stammered. Ayu looked at her in surprise and said, "Didn't you just faint because of this? The young masters are all saying they want to marry you, and Lord Rokuhara was furious and gave them a good scolding." So it was true. She suddenly felt her body go limp again. No, she needed to calm down now. Would Taira no Kiyomori think she seduced his brothers? Oh no, she couldn't afford to be called a vixen. She needed to get out of here as soon as possible, away from this chaotic situation. "Xiaoxue, are you alright?" Lady Tokiko approached gracefully, gesturing for Ayu to leave. Her expression remained gentle as ever. "Mother, I..." Xiaoxue wanted to explain something, but didn't know what to say. "I understand it's not your fault," Lady Tokiko gently covered Xiaoxue's mouth. "My Xiaoxue is so beautiful and lovely. Shigehira and the others have been inseparable from you since childhood. I should have expected this outcome. But..." "Aren't you angry, Mother?" She breathed a sigh of relief. Lady Tokiko didn't seem angry with her. For some reason, she was worried that Lady Tokiko was angry, just like she used to worry that her mother was angry with her. Lady Tokiko smiled and said, "How could I be angry with you? But—" She sighed slightly and said, "In that case, you must marry Fujiwara no Narifumi. Do you understand?" Xiaoxue nodded and said, "I understand, Mother. Shigehira and the others cannot be hurt because of me. The Taira family cannot have any rift, not even the slightest one." Xiaoxue understood this completely. No matter what era it is, the interests of the family are always above everything else, especially for a large family like the Taira. Lady Tokiko nodded approvingly, saying, "Xiaoxue, you certainly haven't disappointed me." She gently pulled the blanket up for Xiaoxue, saying softly, "You must be tired today, get some rest. Your father and I will be discussing your marriage with the Fujiwara family these next few days." Xiaoxue nodded and obediently closed her eyes. Her mind, however, was in turmoil. *I'm sorry, Lady Tokiko, but lying was unavoidable. Tomorrow, I must find Kichiji as soon as possible...* ============================== The next morning, while Taira no Kiyomori and her brothers were at the palace, Xiaoxue instructed Ayu to prepare an oxcart and head to Nijō-in. For convenience, she wore a city maid's hat, a type of hat shaped like a steamed bun surrounded by transparent gauze, making it difficult to see her face. Upon arriving at Nijō-in, Xiaoxue told Ayu to wait outside and went in alone. Jiji was indeed famous here; a few inquiries led me to his shop. The shop looked unremarkable, seemingly selling only miscellaneous goods, which were displayed haphazardly. However, he had successfully helped King Shana escape to Mutsu, so he should be relatively reliable. "Excuse me, is anyone here?" Xiaoxue asked as she entered. "Yes, yes, what would you like to buy?" A short man lifted the curtain and came out from the inner room. Upon seeing Xiaoxue's attire, he smiled inwardly; another customer. Based on his decades of experience, although he couldn't see her face clearly, he was certain this woman came from a noble family, wealthy and powerful. "I'm not here to buy anything. Let's get straight to the point. Can you help me contact a merchant ship to Song? I want to travel there by ship," Xiaoxue said, staring at him. This man, with the cunning of a businessman, was not someone to be trifled with. Jiji smiled broadly, "This might be a bit troublesome. The seas have been rough lately, and there are far fewer ships going to Song. As for the price..." Oh, so she wanted to raise the price. Xiaoxue sneered inwardly. Back in school, she was a master at haggling. Trying to negotiate with her was a mistake. Although she wasn't short of money, she wasn't willing to be a fool and get ripped off. "The price is negotiable, of course, but I have a bottom line. If you cross that line, I'll be unhappy. If I'm unhappy, I might start thinking about things, like, for example, how you helped King Zhana escape..." "Ah, Miss, please keep your voice down, please keep your voice down! I understand, I understand. I'll arrange a ship to Song soon. When do you want to depart?" Jiji quickly interrupted her, a hint of panic flashing across his usually calm face. He was also puzzled as to how this woman knew about his help King Zhana escape. Xiaoxue smiled faintly and said, "Alright, I'll set off in three days, the sooner the better. I'll come back in two days." She took off the pearl bracelet from her wrist and placed it in front of him, saying, "This is the deposit. Don't worry, I won't let you suffer any loss." Jici was a connoisseur; he immediately recognized the bracelet's value and accepted it with a smile, saying, "I will handle everything perfectly, please rest assured." --------------------------------- When she returned to the manor, it was still early. Her father and brothers hadn't returned yet. She got off the oxcart and slipped in through the back door. Just as she reached the corridor, she bumped into someone. "What's going on?" she muttered, looking up to see Zongsheng, dressed in an ice-blue robe, staring at her. Perhaps remembering yesterday's conversation, the two were momentarily embarrassed. After a while, Xiaoxue broke the silence. "Brother Zongsheng, you're back?" She emphasized the word "brother." A smile flickered across Zongsheng's face, his thin lips curved slightly, and the icy coldness in his eyes vanished. He reached out to support her, saying, "You can't seem to shake this impulsive habit." He paused, then continued, "Xiaoxue, that day..." "Brother Zongsheng, I've been wondering about that too. You're usually the calmest one, but why did you join them in their antics that day, saying such crazy things?" Xiaoxue couldn't help but interrupt him. His brow furrowed slightly. "Nonsense? Talking nonsense? Xiaoxue, what I said that day was true." He tightened his grip on her shoulder slightly. "I haven't considered you my sister since a long time ago. I've been waiting for you to grow up, understand?" Her mind was a little confused again. She managed to compose herself and said, "Brother Zongsheng, I've decided to marry Fujiwara no Narifumi. You will also marry the young lady Father arranged. That can't be changed." He stared at her intently, slowly releasing her. He said coldly, "Listen, I won't let you marry Fujiwara." With that, he turned and left without looking back, leaving only a faint scent of sandalwood in the air. This slightly stuffy scent really suited him. As dusk fell, Xiaoxue lay on the tatami mat, lost in thought. Growing up is really troublesome. Before her coming-of-age ceremony, she was playing happily with her brothers, but now, the situation had completely reversed. Even TV dramas don't have such dramatic ups and downs. All three brothers wanted their sister as their lover. Unbelievable. Fujiwara no Shigenori hasn't been teaching her swordsmanship lately, and he doesn't dare come over either; otherwise, he'd beat her up every time he saw her. It's all that bastard's fault. Three days, just three more days, and we can get rid of this chaotic situation. Leaving would be good for the Taira clan, right? Forget it, don't think about it anymore, I should go to sleep early. She stood up and went to close the sliding door. She'd only pulled it halfway when a figure suddenly flashed and grabbed half of the door. Xiaoxue was startled, and upon closer inspection, it was Taira no Tomomori. Oh no, she sighed inwardly. Were her brothers playing a game of attrition? Tomomori wasn't someone to be trifled with either. "Brother Tomomori, it's getting late, I need to rest. You should rest too," she quickly dismissed him. Tomomori looked up, his sharp eyes fixed on her, and gave a light snort, saying, "This is the Taira clan. I can go wherever I want." With that, he stepped inside. Tomomori was only wearing a light blue robe, and his complexion didn't seem very good. “We should be different as men and women, you shouldn’t be coming into my room so late.” Xiaoxue took a step back, inwardly groaning. “Anyway, you’re going to marry me soon, what does it matter?” he said nonchalantly, slowly approaching. What? Marry him soon? Crazy. Xiaoxue said unhappily, “Brother Zhisheng, don’t joke around. You’ve disliked me since we were little, you think I’m rude, why did you have to wade into this mess?” “Yes, I don’t know either,” he lifted her chin with his hand and said in a deep voice, “I don’t know when I started to like your rudeness and lack of manners.” “Get out of here, or I’ll tell Mother, don’t blame me for being impolite.” Xiaoxue raised her voice, the atmosphere was very strange. He chuckled and said, "Your language is still so rude, but it's alright, I'll teach you a lesson." His sharp gaze softened, a hint of ambiguity appearing on his lips. He whispered, "The first thing I'll teach you is to be obedient and gentle to your future husband." "Go to hell—" Xiaoxue had barely uttered two words when Zhisheng's lips sealed hers. His kiss seemed more practiced and composed than Chongheng's. This time, she reacted quickly, immediately trying to push him away, but Zhisheng held her hair firmly, preventing her from exerting any force. Xiaoxue tightly closed her lips, but he seemed unwilling to give up, relentlessly trying to pry them open with his tongue. Enough! She couldn't bear it any longer and bit down on his tongue. "Ah!" This trick worked; Zhisheng immediately released her, momentarily speechless with pain. Anger flashed in his eyes, and he grabbed Xiaoxue's hair. Here we go again! Xiaoxue's anger flared. Why did he keep grabbing her hair? In a fit of rage, she turned sharply, swiftly drawing the long sword from Zhisheng's waist and slashing at his hand that was holding her hair. Zhisheng was shocked and quickly released her grip. Xiaoxue couldn't stop in time, and most of her knee-length hair was sliced off by the sharp blade. "Xiaoxue, are you crazy!" Zhisheng was still somewhat shaken. "Are you satisfied now? Grab my hair all you want!" she angrily threw her hair to the ground. "You, you're so rude! Do you know how important hair is to a woman?" he roared furiously. "Then get out of here, or I'll cut off all my hair!" Xiaoxue suddenly had a brilliant idea; this threat was actually quite effective. Sure enough, his tone softened immediately: "Okay, okay, I'll go, I'll go, please don't do this." "I won't see you out, just close the door behind you." Xiaoxue smiled slightly, casually picking up her cut hair. Growing it that long was no easy feat, but such long hair was also inconvenient for walking. If she trimmed it, her hair would just reach her waist, perfect for disguising herself as a man when she ran away. Sigh, she didn't know what kind of romantic luck she'd encountered—no, it should be called a romantic calamity—she'd been forcibly kissed twice for no reason. Luckily, she was about to leave, otherwise she would have gone crazy... ========================================= Two days later, Xiaoxue went to Nijouin Yoshiji's shop again. As soon as Jiji saw her, he greeted her with a beaming smile, saying, "Miss, you're really lucky! There's a ship going to Quanzhou in the Song Dynasty at Taga Wharf tomorrow morning." As he spoke, he pulled a bronze plaque from his sleeve, engraved with a plum blossom pattern and the Chinese character "吉" (Ji, meaning auspicious). "Tomorrow morning, Miss, just hold this plaque, and the person in charge will let you board. Remember, the ship to the Song Dynasty is dark red, and it has a plum blossom mark on the bow. Don't get on the wrong ship." "You're not lying to me, are you?" Xiaoxue was somewhat skeptical, thinking she could board just by holding this plaque. Jiji's expression turned serious. "I'm renowned in this line of work, with an excellent reputation. There will never be any mistakes." He seemed quite serious. "Alright, thank you," Xiaoxue said softly. At this point, she could only trust him this once. "Remember, tomorrow morning at Mao Shi (5-7 AM), the ship is dark red. Don't get on the wrong ship," he repeated after Xiaoxue as she left. Xiaoxue clutched the unassuming plaque tightly in her hand, unable to contain her excitement and nervousness. Could this really allow her to return to Song? Quanzhou—that must be modern-day Fuzhou, right? Although she had spent a year there as a child, she barely remembered it. Song, after all, was her own country. But the thought of truly leaving the Ping family, who had raised her for so many years, filled her with a faint reluctance. She had spent such wonderful times here; if it weren't for the current chaotic situation, she wouldn't have made this decision. When she returned to the manor, Ping Qingsheng and her brothers hadn't returned yet. On a whim, Xiaoxue went to Lady Shiko's room. After so many years of nurturing, she should see her one last time before leaving, as a farewell. "Mother, may I come in?" Xiaoxue asked softly at the door. "It's Xiaoxue," Lady Shiko's gentle voice sounded from behind the screen. "Come in, I was just looking for you." Xiaoxue walked around the screen, went to Lady Shiko's side, bowed, and sat down beside her. "Mother, what brings you here?" Lady Tokiko smiled and said, "Nothing much, just wanted to chat casually between us. After you get married, I won't be able to see you every day anymore." A hint of sadness flashed in her eyes. "No, Mother, I will definitely come back to visit you often." Xiaoxue felt a pang of sadness and snuggled into Lady Tokiko's arms, wanting to feel her warm embrace and smell her faint fragrance one last time. Lady Tokiko lovingly stroked her face and said, "Silly child, once you're married, you won't have much time to spend with me. You should spend more time with your husband." After a while, Lady Tokiko suddenly stood up, took out a sandalwood box, and opened it in front of Xiaoxue. The box seemed to contain jewelry and other precious stones. Pearls, jade, and gemstones shimmered under the candlelight. She took out a silver chain with a butterfly-shaped jade pendant. Having been immersed in the Taira family for so many years, Xiaoxue could tell at a glance that it was a masterpiece. “Xiaoxue, this shimmering butterfly is the crest of our Taira family. I’m giving this to you; do you understand what your mother means?” Lady Tokiko gently put the chain on Xiaoxue’s wrist. “But, Mother, this is too precious.” It wasn’t just precious; it felt like a responsibility, a reminder that she would always be a member of the Taira family. She understood. "Even if you get married, never forget that you will always be a member of the Taira family. If you suffer any injustice, you must come back and tell your mother, understand?" Lady Tokiko's gentle words finally brought tears to Xiaoxue's eyes. Don't be so kind to her anymore; she has never considered herself a member of the Taira family. If this continues, she really won't be able to leave... Rubbing her swollen eyes, Xiaoxue slowly returned to her room, spaced out for a while, and began to pack her things. Having prepared almost everything, she changed into a set of wisteria-purple men's hunting robes, trimmed her hair, tied it up with a matching silk cord, and fastened a longsword with a silver-threaded hilt at her waist. Looking in the bronze mirror, she truly resembled a handsome young man, only with a touch more allure. She took a short nap, glanced at the hourglass—it was already the hour of Yin (3-5 AM). Xiaoxue picked up her bundle, gently opened the sliding door, and looked around. The Rokuhara mansion was unusually quiet tonight. She skillfully navigated the corridors and easily slipped out through the back door. She turned and glanced one last time at the mansion that held so many beautiful memories, took a deep breath, and whispered, "Goodbye, Lord Rokuhara, Lady Tokiko, and... my brothers, I will never forget you." She wanted to choose the path she wanted to take, and although she didn't know what the future held, she would bravely walk it forward.

The main text: boarded the wrong pirate ship

[Updated: 2005-12-25 16:42:47 Word Count: 5021]

When Xiaoxue arrived at the Duohe Wharf, she was overwhelmed by the scene before her. Many boats of all shapes and sizes were moored on the wharf. Although it was still dark, the area was bustling with people and vehicles, a lively and lively place. Dark red, with plum blossom markings—it seemed like a secret code! She found it somewhat amusing and walked to the shore, searching one boat after another. The overcast sky made searching very difficult. She grew anxious; the boats would be leaving soon after dawn, so she had to continue her search. Dark red, dark red… Ah, there it is! Her eyes lit up; sure enough, there was a dark red boat. She quickened her pace and ran towards it. A tall, thin young man was standing at the bow, preparing to untie the mooring ropes. Oh no, was the boat about to depart? In her anxiety, Xiaoxue hurriedly pulled out the sign and shouted, "Hey, hey, wait! I want to board!" The man glanced at her sideways, his gaze sweeping over the bronze sign in her hand, and said in a deep voice, "Come on up." Jici hadn't lied to her after all. Xiaoxue was overjoyed and was about to board when she suddenly remembered Jici's words and looked down at the bow again. Fortunately, there was indeed a flower pattern, which looked like plum blossoms. She wanted to take a closer look. Suddenly, the man shouted, "Are you going to board or not! What are you looking at!" What a rude man! Xiaoxue rolled her eyes at him and said, "I'm coming up." She boarded the boat, still feeling a little uneasy, and asked the man again, "So, may I ask where this boat is heading..." "Can you go to the cabin? You're getting in the way here!" He interrupted her rudely. Good heavens! She usually only saw refined men; this was the first time she'd ever seen one like him. Xiaoxue glared at him and turned to walk into the cabin. The cabin was dimly lit, and the passengers seemed to be both men and women, though she couldn't see clearly. There appeared to be three or four people sitting in a corner. Everyone seemed exhausted, and the cabin was quiet, except for occasional soft conversations. Xiaoxue found a corner and sat down against the cabin wall. With a huge jolt from the bottom of the ship, Xiaoxue felt the ship slowly leaving the shore. Was it really leaving like this? Lady Tokiko, Brother Shigemori, Brother Munemori, Brother Chimori, Brother Shigehira, King Shana, Ayu, and even that hateful Chengfan—this departure might be forever. A sudden, dull ache gripped her heart, and she weakly rested her head on her knees. If they knew she was running away like this, they would be so disappointed in her. She lowered her head, and the shimmering jade pendant around her neck slipped off. She gently stroked the pendant, remembering Lady Tokiko's words, and her heart ached even more. ---------------------------------- Before she knew it, evening had arrived. Xiaoxue took out some snacks she had brought and began to eat. As she ate, she looked around. The men and women all seemed to be sleeping, and she couldn't help but feel a little bored. Since she couldn't sleep anyway, she decided to go up to the deck for some fresh air. She stood up and walked out of the cabin. The spacious deck was also deserted, perfect for its tranquility. She walked to the stern and took a few deep breaths of fresh air. The air, carrying the scent of the sea, was a little salty, and her mood seemed to improve. "Hey, it's dangerous here." A man's voice came from behind her. She turned around. Wasn't this the rude man she had seen earlier? "It's okay, I won't fall overboard." She replied nonchalantly. Looking closely at the man, he had clear features and was quite handsome, but a shallow scar beside his straight nose gave his face a somewhat menacing look. "Judging from your appearance, you're a young master from the capital. You've never seen the sea before, have you?" He seemed to be in a good mood, but there was a hint of disdain in his tone. "The sea? I've seen it countless times. What's so special about it? By the way, when do we get to Quanzhou?" she said nonchalantly. His expression turned strange, and he asked in surprise, "Quanzhou?" "Yes, isn't your ship going to Quanzhou?" Seeing his expression, she suddenly felt uneasy. He paused for a moment, then burst into laughter, saying, "I've never been to Song. My ship is going to Mutsu. Young master, you've probably boarded the wrong ship." "What!" she screamed. Could she be so unlucky? How could this happen! "Then, then why did you let me board that ship when you saw the sign?" she asked angrily. He raised an eyebrow and said, "My ship can board Yoshiji's ship. We've always had a good working relationship." "But, but he clearly said I should board the dark red ship with a plum blossom symbol on the bow... Doesn't your ship have plum blossoms painted on it?!" she shouted. "What! Plum Blossom, what kind of taste do you have? These pear blossoms took me half a month to paint! Look, it's all your fault!" He seemed quite unconvinced. Good heavens, brother, are these pear blossoms? Did this roughneck paint them himself? She was stunned for a moment, her mind unable to process it. She was wrong, she was wrong, how could she have gotten on such a pirate ship... It's truly a case of karma coming back to haunt her. "Then, can you take me with you when you go back to the capital?" Perhaps they should go back to Heian-kyo first. He shook his head and said, "No, I plan to sell the ship in Mutsu this time. I'm going to seek refuge with Lord Kuro." Lord Kuro? Who's that? Never heard of him. "Ah, what am I going to do..." she grumbled. "I-don't-know, it's not my business!" He turned his head and swaggered into the cabin. His steps suddenly stopped. Four men wielding large knives suddenly sprang out of the cabin. The leader snarled, "Sanlang, long time no see!" This man was called Sanlang. Sanlang's expression changed, and he said in a deep voice, "What do you want? I have nothing to do with you anymore." "Nothing to do with you? Haha." The leader chuckled maliciously, "We're still good brothers. Why don't you go back to your old ways today? We'll just kill everyone on this ship and rob them of all their valuables. What do you say?" Xiaoxue gasped. This group seemed to be bandits, and Sanlang sounded like he used to be one too. Sigh, what bad luck! Getting on the wrong ship was bad enough, but now he's involved in this mess. Sanlang's face darkened with anger as he shouted, "Bastards, don't do anything reckless! I said I have nothing to do with you anymore!" A slightly overweight man beside him said gruffly. "Brother, why be polite with him? Let's just kill him too!" A cruel glint flashed in the leader's eyes as he said, "Sanlang, don't blame us for being impolite!" With that, he swung his sword at Sanlang. The slightly overweight man also joined the fray. What should they do now? Xiaoxue was struggling with her thoughts. This was the first time she'd encountered such a scene from a TV drama. Should she help him? But aside from practicing with Cheng Fan and Zhena Wang, she'd never actually fought in a real fight. Just then, a thin man in black said, "Brother, that kid is as pretty as a woman. Why don't we leave him alive, and we brothers..." A lewd laugh followed. "You're asking for it!" Xiaoxue thought angrily, making a decision immediately. She drew her longsword and leaped towards the man in black. Caught off guard, the man in black couldn't dodge in time, and his left arm was immediately struck by the sword. His face turned ashen, and he swung his longsword at Xiaoxue with his right hand. The remaining men in brown clothes also raised their knives to attack Xiaoxue. A chaotic battle erupted on the deck, each man fighting two against one. Sanlang's skills were also quite good; even with two men attacking him, he wasn't at a disadvantage. On Xiaoxue's side, her swordsmanship was more agile, and the two men had never seen such swordsmanship before, so they couldn't gain the upper hand. "Hiss—" The brown-clad man felt a chill on his chest; Xiaoxue's sword had already ripped his collar. Enraged, his face turned terrifying. He suddenly slashed at Xiaoxue's neck, but Xiaoxue parried with her sword. Suddenly, his foot slipped, and his longsword abruptly pulled back. Xiaoxue lost her balance, and her sword thrust forward. In an instant, she felt her sword pierce something soft. She looked up and was horrified to find her sword embedded in the brown-clad man's abdomen. Blood gushed out like a fountain. Xiaoxue's mind went blank. Oh my god, she...she had actually killed someone. In a moment of panic, her mind went blank, and her hand gripping the sword began to tremble. Taking advantage of her distraction, the man in black swiftly raised his blade and slashed at her. She froze, and it was too late to draw her sword. "Ah!" It was the man in black who screamed. Xiaoxue looked up and saw a silver sword embedded in his chest. His eyes were wide with rage as he glared at Xiaoxue's back before collapsing to the ground. This sword... it looked so familiar. "Oh dear, little bird, you're such a disgrace! I've wasted my time teaching you." The voice sounded exceptionally warm at that moment. Xiaoxue released her sword and turned around, her eyes brimming with tears. "Cheng, Cheng Fan!" Without thinking twice, she ran over and buried her face in his chest, bursting into tears without asking any questions. "Cheng Fan, what do I do? I killed someone! I killed someone!" Cheng Fan couldn't help but chuckle to himself; it was the first time he'd seen Xiaoxue so vulnerable. At that moment, Sanlang had also dealt with his opponent. "Sungbeom, what do I do... He killed someone! I've never killed anyone before!" She was still wailing. "Alright, alright, stop like this. You were forced to kill him. If you hadn't killed him, he would have killed you. What's there to cry about? You grew up in a samurai family, for goodness' sake." He patted her back gently and couldn't help but laugh. Xiaoxue gradually stopped crying, then glared at him, thinking that it might not mean much to him, but to her, it was a serious matter of murder, a capital offense in modern times. But he also had a point. If she hadn't killed him, she would have been killed, just like before. If it weren't for Sungbeom, she wouldn't be alive either. Was this considered self-defense? After venting for a while and calming down a bit, she remembered something else: "You, how did you get here?" Cheng Fan drew the sword from the man in black, took out a scented handkerchief from his sleeve, and carefully wiped the bloodstains off it, saying, "I was very interested in what my future bride was going to do, so I followed you onto the ship." "You, you bastard, have you been following me for days? And I'm not your bride!" Xiao Xue calmed down and regained her confidence. Cheng Fan smiled, elegantly tossing the wiped handkerchief into the sea in a graceful arc, saying, "I was just curious, hehe, interesting, interesting." "And you, since you followed me, you should have known I got on the wrong ship! And why didn't you come out sooner? You watched half the show before coming out!" She shouted angrily; this man was too hateful. "If I didn't do this, how would I know how well you've learned? I'm really disappointed. Your performance just now made you a likely victim of some inexplicable death, you know?" He smiled. At this moment, Saburo also came over and bowed to Xiaoxue, saying, "Thank you for your help, young master!" Xiaoxue glared at him and said, "I didn't want to help you; I was implicated because of you. It's all your fault!" Saburo's face turned awkward, and he replied, "Well, I will definitely repay this favor in the future!" "Nonsense, of course you have to repay it! Send me back to Kyoto." Xiaoxue seized the opportunity to make this request. He looked troubled and said, "But I need to go and seek refuge with Lord Kuro..." "What Lord Kuro? Didn't you say you were going to repay a favor and then go see that Lord Kuro?" Xiaoxue persisted. "That Lord Kuro, is it Lord Minamoto no Kuro Yoshitsune?" Cheng Fan suddenly interjected. Saburo nodded and said, "That's right!" "Who is Minamoto no Kuro Yoshitsune?" Xiaoxue asked in confusion. Chengfan suddenly laughed and said, "You know this person too? It's Ushiwaka. After his coming-of-age ceremony, he changed his name to Minamoto no Yoshitsune." Ushiwaka, the King of Shana, that fresh-faced boy like morning dew! Xiaoxue's heart suddenly skipped a beat. That's right, didn't Ushiwaka say he was going to Mutsu? So Ushiwaka is here, which means she'll see him soon. Her heart immediately raced with excitement. However, the name Yoshitsune sounded familiar; she seemed to have heard it somewhere before... Was it on TV or in a game? Never mind, she'd find him first. "Um, Saburo, let's go to Lord Yoshitsune's place together. I'm his good friend." Her mood immediately improved, and she smiled at Saburo. It seems that even a mistake can have its advantages; coming to Mutsu isn't so bad after all. "Aren't you going back?" Chengfan said from the side, "You're my..." Before he could even say the words "bride," she quickly covered his mouth and dragged him to a corner of the deck. "Don't talk nonsense, or I'll be rude to you. Also, I don't want that Sanlang to know I'm a woman right now," Xiaoxue said, half-threateningly. Chengfan's lips curled into a smile, and he said, "Alright, enough joking. A man like me wouldn't force a woman to marry me. Oh dear, if I really got married, I don't know how many women would be heartbroken. How could I bear that? So, let's pretend our engagement never happened." Xiaoxue exclaimed happily, "Really? You're such a good person, Chengcheng. I wish you many more female confidantes!" Looking at her joyful expression, Chengfan suddenly felt a pang of disappointment. ==================================== At dawn, the ship arrived in Mutsu. "Chengfan, are you coming with us?" Xiaoxue asked doubtfully. Cheng Fan shook his head and said, "I have things to do. I'll return to the capital as soon as I'm done." He smiled and said, "What, are you reluctant to part with me?" Xiao Xue rolled her eyes at him and said, "Who's reluctant to part with you? But—you won't tell them I'm here, will you?" "I'm not that bored," he smiled dismissively. He added, "By the way, Fujiwara no Hidehira, whom Yoshitsune has allied with, is a distant relative of mine. If you need anything, you can ask someone to pass a message to me." "Ah, really?" Xiao Xue felt a warmth in her heart. Apart from his womanizing ways, Cheng Fan was actually a very gentle and considerate person. He leaned down and teased, "While I'm still here, it's not too late to regret it now, hehe." Seeing Xiao Xue's expression change, he laughed again and said, "Alright, it's getting late, let's part ways here." He gazed at her, his eyes suddenly becoming deep, a glint of unfathomable light flashing within them, and said softly, "From now on, you'll have to rely on yourself, understand?" "I understand," Xiao Xue nodded. He nodded slightly and turned to leave. "Chengfan, thank you!" Xiaoxue called out loudly behind him. Chengfan waved gracefully, without turning back, and continued walking. Watching Chengfan's departing figure, Xiaoxue felt a pang of disappointment. "Hey, he's gone. Let's go find Lord Jiulang first!" Sanlang said impatiently from the side. Xiaoxue turned her head, almost forgetting that there was still someone standing there. "Okay, let's hurry then." She smiled and walked quickly forward, the joy of seeing Niu Ruo soon instantly overshadowing the slight sadness that had welled up earlier.

The main text also appears in the *Yijing*.

[Updated: 2005-12-25 16:43:53 Word Count: 4929]

It was easy to find Genjiro Yoshitsune's residence. It seemed Fujiwara no Hidehira quite admired him; the mansion, though small, was elegant and tasteful. "Excuse me, does Lord Yoshitsune live here?" Saburo seemed to have suddenly become more refined. "Lord Yoshitsune has gone to Lord Fujiwara's residence." The servant's answer disappointed Koyuki. She interjected, "When will he return?" "He should be back soon." After answering, the servant looked up and suddenly saw behind Koyuki, exclaiming joyfully, "Lord Yoshitsune is back!" Ushiwaka! Koyuki suddenly felt her face flush and her whole body tense up, not turning around for a moment. "Lord Yoshitsune, these two have come to see you." The servant bowed. "Seeking me? Who are they?" It was indeed Ushiwaka's clear and somewhat magnetic voice. "Shā-na-o-ō, it's me." Yoshitsune, sitting on his horse, trembled upon hearing this voice. In his memory, only one person could utter such a soft, drawn-out voice. Just then, the young man in the purplish-purple casual clothes turned around. His porcelain-like face was framed by a pair of bright, amber-colored crystal eyes that smiled at him, a mischievous smile playing on his pink lips. His breathing quickened; he could hardly believe his eyes. "Xiaoxue--------" he managed to squeeze out two words, but didn't know what to say next. Xiaoxue, too, was smiling as she looked at Yoshitsune. After his coming-of-age ceremony, Yoshitsune wore a black hat and a straight, carnation-colored robe that accentuated his maturity. The lively spirit in his beautiful, refined features immediately reminded Xiaoxue of the phrase "like morning dew." "Hey, stop spacing out! Why didn't you react at all when you saw me?" Xiaoxue held out her hand and waved it in front of him. Yoshitsune, having already realized what was happening, quickly dismounted and asked repeatedly, "Koyuki, what brings you here? And why are you dressed as a man? What happened?" She looked helpless and said, "So many questions, I can't answer them all. I'm exhausted. Can I rest for a bit?" "Ah, right, look how confused I am," Yoshitsune said with a smile. "Oh, are you so happy and excited to see me?" Koyuki teased. Yoshitsune blushed slightly and smiled, "Come in with me." "Lord Kuro, do you remember me?" Saburo, who had been left out, quickly interjected. Yoshitsune turned and smiled, "Ise Saburo, it's you. Of course I remember you. I was on your ship when I came to Mutsu last time." "Lord Kuro, please allow me to become one of your retainers!" Saburo suddenly bowed deeply and knelt before Yoshitsune. Yoshitsune quickly helped him up, saying, "Come in first, let's talk." As Yoshitsune walked to her side, she seemed to smell that faint fragrance of plum blossoms again. ========================= Over the past few days, Koyuki had told Yoshitsune everything, omitting the part about the three brothers, only saying that she had come to Mutsu to escape an arranged marriage. Yoshitsune naturally let her stay first and then make further plans. During these few days, Koyuki had become familiar with some of Yoshitsune's retainers, except for one who dressed as a martial monk, Musashibo Benkei, who always had a stern face and was not easy to get along with. It was said that he was extremely skilled in martial arts, and used to challenge people to duels everywhere, boasting that he would collect a thousand large swords. However, he met Yoshitsune at Gojo Bridge and was defeated, and from then on, he submitted to Yoshitsune. She wondered how skilled Yoshitsune was now; if he taught her a few moves, she would surely benefit greatly. Under her relentless pestering, Yoshitsune would set aside some time each night to teach her some moves. His self-created two-sword style emphasized practicality, which, combined with Xiaoxue's agile swordsmanship, complemented each other perfectly. "Ah, no, stop!" In the courtyard, Xiaoxue and Yoshitsune exchanged more than ten blows, but Xiaoxue was forced to retreat by his onslaught. Yoshitsune smiled slightly and said, "Xiaoxue, you've given up so quickly?" Xiaoxue glared at him defiantly and said, "Again!" Yoshitsune put down his sword, walked to the side, and sat down, saying, "Sit down and rest for a while. It's rare for a girl to have a hobby like yours." A smile played on his lips. Xiaoxue smiled, also put down her sword, and sat down next to Yoshitsune. "Oh, you're sweating a lot!" she exclaimed softly, and without thinking, pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve to wipe the sweat from his forehead. Her fingers accidentally touched his skin, and a faint ripple stirred in Yoshitsune's heart. Xiaoxue's occasional gentleness was truly rare. "Xiaoxue, do you miss your family?" Hearing his question, her hand suddenly stopped. Family? Her mind flashed quickly to Lady Tokiko of the Taira family, and the images of her brothers. She was surprised. Why did all she saw when she thought of family were their faces? Had she unconsciously come to regard herself as a member of the Taira family? Over the years, for her, who had grown up in the modern world with divorced parents, she had indeed received a lot of affection from the Taira family. But she had always told herself that this was someone else's family. Seeing her dazed expression, Yoshitsune smiled and asked, "What's wrong?" She slowly lowered her hand and said, "Yoshitsune, do you miss your mother and brother?" A hint of sadness flashed across Yoshitsune's face as he said, "How could I not miss them? I used to hate my mother. When she sent me to Kurama Temple, I shed tears, blaming her for being so heartless and refusing to see me again. You know, I sneaked into the capital several times in the middle of the night to kneel before her door, begging to see her, but she wouldn't open it." He sighed softly, "But now I understand that my mother did all that to protect me, to save my life." Thinking of young Yoshitsune crying and calling for his mother outside the closed door, Xiaoxue's nose tingled, and her heart ached. "Your mother did that because she cared about you. At least she loved you, so you're still lucky, aren't you? At least you know there's someone who always cares about you and loves you," Xiaoxue gently comforted him. He nodded and said, "At least I have an older brother, though I've never met him, but I think I'll definitely like him." A childlike smile appeared on Yoshitsune's face. Yoshitsune, who so yearned for family affection, must have been very lonely. She smiled and pointed to Yoshitsune and her own chest, saying, "Look, neither of us is empty here. We both have people we care about, and we know that someone else cares about us here too. So we're not alone, right?" Yoshitsune looked up at her and smiled. Under the soft moonlight, the two smiled at each other, a strange feeling gently rippling in their hearts. --------------------------------- A little over a month later, Fujiwara no Narifusa sent a letter. The letter mentioned that after Koyuki ran away, Taira no Kiyomori and Lady Tokiko seemed extremely angry, and also wrote about other things concerning the Taira clan. In short, it told her that although the Taira clan had been in chaos for a while, things were gradually settling down, and that she could stay in Mutsu without worry. Fujiwara no Narifusa, what a thoughtful person. Touching her shimmering butterfly bracelet, she felt guilty again. Lady Tokiko must be very disappointed in her selfishness... The weather was gradually turning colder; the first snow of the year was probably coming soon. Compared to Heian-kyo, Mutsu seemed even more desolate. It seemed unusually cold when she woke up this morning. After getting dressed, Xiaoxue opened the sliding door, her eyes lit up, and she exclaimed excitedly. It must have snowed all night; the entire courtyard was now a pristine white. The artificial hill and the tree branches were covered with a thick layer of snow. She quickly ran to the veranda, bent down, and grabbed a handful of snow. The fine snow, like sand, slipped softly from her fingers. "Xiaoxue, you're not dressed warmly enough. Be careful not to catch a cold," Yijing said, drawn by her voice. Xiaoxue shook her head and smiled, "I'm not cold, my heart is warm. Look, look, such a thick layer of snow accumulated overnight, how wonderful!" Yijing smiled slightly, gazing at the courtyard, and softly recited: "A sudden awakening at dawn, the clear light like the bright moon. The mountain village is cold and desolate, the white snow already abundant." "He really speaks eloquently," Xiaoxue thought to herself. The waka poem was so fitting. A mischievous smile appeared on her face as she thought to herself, "Yoshitsune, I also have a wonderful poem about snow." Yoshitsune turned to her, looking at her with interest, and said, "What poem? Recite it for me." "Hmm!" Xiaoxue nodded vigorously and recited, swaying her head, "The landscape is all covered, the well is a dark hole. A yellow dog has white spots, a white dog has swollen spots." Yoshitsune was stunned for a moment, then immediately burst into laughter, "A yellow dog has white spots, a white dog has swollen spots, hahaha..." He repeated it, laughing uncontrollably, tears welling in his eyes. Seeing his bright smile, Xiaoxue suddenly remembered reciting this poem last year when her family enjoyed the snow. At that time, Taira no Kiyomori and Lady Tokiko couldn't help but chuckle, and her brothers laughed so hard they almost fell over. For some reason, she suddenly missed them, feeling a pang of sadness. Was it really as the song said, that longing was a mysterious thing...? "Xiaoxue, what's wrong? Are you angry? Okay, I won't laugh anymore." Yoshitsune had stopped laughing, but seeing Xiaoxue's expression suddenly darken, he thought his laughter had upset her. Xiaoxue looked up, a smile blooming on her face, and said, "Yoshitsune, let's go build a snowman!" "Without waiting for his reply, she dragged him into the courtyard. Yoshitsune smiled and let her drag him. The snow in Mutsu was really different from the snow in Heian-kyo; it was much drier and softer, making it a bit difficult to build a snowman. It would easily crumble. After a while, Koyuki lost patience and grabbed a snowball, throwing it at Yoshitsune. It crumbled before it even touched his clothes. He smiled, and Koyuki grabbed another and threw it, which he easily dodged. "You're not allowed to dodge." She was a little angry. "Okay." He smiled. He threw a third one, and he dodged it again. "You broke your promise! You're not allowed to dodge!" "Sorry, it was probably a natural reaction. I promise I won't dodge this time." The fourth time, the fifth time, he dodged it every time. "Why are you still dodging!" "Ah, I'm sorry." "Xiaoxue was extremely annoyed. She quickly grabbed a handful of snow, rushed in front of Yijing, and grinned mischievously, saying, 'Now you can't hide from me.' With that, she swiftly poured the sand-like snow down his neck. 'Ah!' Yijing, caught off guard, shivered and instinctively grabbed Xiaoxue. Xiaoxue struggled, and both of them lost their balance, falling to the snow-covered ground. When Xiaoxue opened her eyes, she found Yijing's face so close to hers. His fine, thick eyelashes, his fair skin with a blushing cherry blossom sheen, and his soft, pale pink lips were all clearly visible. The faint scent of plum blossoms emanating from him was intoxicating. His dark, crystal-like eyes reflected a somewhat bewildered girl. Good heavens, he had fallen on her! Xiaoxue's face flushed, and she quickly pushed him away and sat up. Yijing seemed to be just realizing what had happened, his face slightly red, and he stammered, 'Are you...cold?'" "When he mentioned the cold, Xiaoxue realized she had been in the snow for quite a while and it was indeed a bit chilly. She rubbed her hands and said, "Yeah, it's a bit cold. My hands are almost numb." She smiled and pretended to reach out her hands, teasingly saying, "How about... you lend me yours to warm them up?" Before she finished speaking, she felt a warmth in her hands; Yoshitsune had grasped them and pressed them firmly against his face. Xiaoxue was startled and hurriedly pulled her hands away, saying, "I was just kidding, my hands are too cold." But his hands remained firmly pressed down, gazing at her and softly saying, "Is this a little warmer?" Her heart suddenly softened. His face was a little cold, yet a warmth emanated from it, continuously flowing to her hands—a so warm, so comfortable feeling. If she closed her eyes, it felt like strolling in the warm autumn sunset. Suddenly, she felt a coolness on her nose. She opened her eyes and saw that it had started snowing again. White snowflakes swirled in the air, each one like a playful child, carelessly twirling down. Snowflakes covered Yoshitsune's long eyelashes. His eyelids fluttered slightly, and the snowflakes fell again—how amusing! "Hey, if this keeps up, we'll both become real snowmen!" Xiaoxue reminded him with a laugh. He laughed too, slowly releasing Xiaoxue's hand, and stood up, saying, "Let's go back to our room." "Okay." Her hand seemed to linger on his warmth. "I know." She also got up and walked towards her room. "Xiaoxue," he suddenly called out to her. "What?" She turned around and smiled brightly. "Next spring, I'll go to Izu to visit my brother." He paused, then added, "Will you come with me?" "To Izu?" Yuki was taken aback, looking up at Yoshitsune. His eyes seemed to hold a mixture of expectation and unease. "Yes, I'll go with you. You can't leave such a lovely and pretty girl behind." Her smile grew even brighter. A relieved smile immediately appeared on his face, and he nodded heavily. ============================== Time flew by, and it was early spring of the following year. Before Yoshitsune prepared to go to Izu, Koyuki received another letter from Fujiwara no Narifusa. Everything was well with the Taira clan; her brothers Munemori and Tomomori had recently gotten married. Seeing this news, Koyuki felt a sense of relief; everything seemed to have returned to normal. However, recently, the monks of Nara's Okifuku and Hannya temples had dug up roads, built fortifications and fortifications, and threatened Heian-kyo. Her brother Shigehira, with 40,000 infantry and cavalry, had annihilated the monks of Hannya Temple and even burned the temple down. Seeing this, Koyuki's relaxed mood began to wistfully return. The Taira clan was now at odds with the temple forces, so if the situation suddenly changed, the Taira clan could very well face a situation of being surrounded on all sides. She could only secretly pray for the safety of her entire family. This time, Koyuki also sent a message to Fujiwara, telling him that she was doing well and would soon be heading to Izu. She added that if anyone was in Izu, she could deliver the message there later. In early spring, the snow on the plains had melted, and the earth, nourished by the snowmelt, awoke from the winter's chill. The plum blossoms faded, and the willows swayed with new green. Minamoto no Yoshitsune, along with his retainers and Koyuki, rode towards Izu across these vibrant fields, filled with longing to see his brother. But what kind of person was Yoshitsune's brother, Minamoto no Yoritomo?

Main text: Genji Yoritomo

[Updated: 2005-12-25 16:45:29 Word Count: 4142]

Izu—Xiaoxue had heard of it before. The book "The Dancing Girl of Izu" made the place famous, but she hadn't expected that over eight hundred years ago, Izu was a place of exile for criminals. However, according to Yoshitsune, his brother Minamoto no Yoritomo seemed to be doing quite well in Izu. Hojo Masako, the daughter of the local powerful clan leader Hojo Tokimasa, who was responsible for monitoring him, had fallen in love with him, and Hojo Tokimasa, admiring his talent, had even taken him as his son-in-law. It seemed that Minamoto no Yoritomo was quite capable. By the time they arrived at the Hojo residence in Izu, it was already dusk. While waiting in the room, Yoshitsune felt a slight tremor of nervous excitement. Of course, although he had never met this person, he was, after all, his blood brother. Xiaoxue thought with some worry, wondering how his brother would react. Although he also knew he had a half-brother, perhaps he didn't crave kinship as much as Yoshitsune. Would Yoshitsune be disappointed? Suddenly, a steady footstep sounded, and a tall man in a brown robe and a black hat emerged from the inner room, followed by a woman in a yellow dress. Yoshitsune tensed, his heart pounding in his chest, and bowed first. "Are you Kuro?" the man's voice was deep and steady. "Yes, I am Minamoto no Kuro Yoshitsune. Are you my elder brother?" Yoshitsune's voice was tinged with excitement. "Yes, I am your elder brother." His voice was flat, seemingly devoid of emotion. Koyuki couldn't help but look up at him. Although this man named Minamoto no Yoritomo was Yoshitsune's brother, he had a completely different appearance and temperament. He looked to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with sharply defined features, as if sculpted by a knife, exuding a hint of authority. His deep brown eyes shone with a sharp, edgy gaze, and only a slight curve to his thin lips softened his expression. He seemed like a difficult man to get along with, and even when he saw his younger brother, he remained frighteningly calm. "Brother...brother, are you alright?" Yoshitsune's eyes were already misty as he gazed at Yoritomo, his face slightly flushed, trying his best to suppress the excitement in his heart. Yoritomo nodded and said, "I'm fine." He then glanced at the woman beside him and said, "Kuro, this is your sister-in-law." This must be Hojo Masako. Masako was pretty, with a hint of heroism in her eyes. Upon seeing Yoshitsune, she smiled before speaking, "Kuro, it's so good to see you here! My lord has been thinking of you. I didn't realize you've grown so much!" She turned to Yoritomo and said, "My lord, don't you think so?" A gentle light flashed in Yoritomo's eyes as he said to Yoshitsune, "You must be tired from your long journey. Get some rest." Yoshitsune nodded and said, "Thank you, brother." "By the way, Kuro, is this beautiful girl your wife?" Masako suddenly looked at Koyuki with interest and asked. Yoshitsune's face flushed instantly, and he hurriedly replied, "No, no, this is my friend. She had nowhere to go, so..." Before coming, he had discussed with Koyuki that they shouldn't reveal to his brother that she was from the Taira clan, because he knew how deeply Yoritomo hated the Taira. "My name is Koyuki, I'm Yoshitsune's friend. I'm truly sorry to have bothered you this time," Koyuki said with a slight bow and a graceful smile. "Hehe, this girl isn't shy at all, just like one of our Hojo clan's children," Masako said with a smile to Yoritomo. Yoritomo also glanced at the girl; she was indeed a beauty, especially her amber eyes. Their pure, clear luster momentarily captivated him. Since following his father into battle and then being exiled, he had never seen such innocent and unfeeling eyes in all these years. However, perhaps it was simply because she was still a child. He didn't think much of it, simply nodding slightly to Xiaoxue. Xiaoxue looked at him, a bright smile spreading across her lips. Seeing that smile, he seemed to drift off into thought again. ==================================== Life in Izu seemed a bit more relaxed than in Mutsu. Xiaoxue and Masako's relationship gradually grew closer. Masako's cheerful personality and straightforward manner suited Xiaoxue's tastes quite well, and before long, the two became good friends. "Xiaoxue, let's go to the hot springs together?" Masako brought Xiaoxue's delightful news as soon as she arrived at her room today. The spring chill hadn't completely dissipated; now was the perfect time for a hot spring bath, and Izu's hot springs were renowned. "Okay, okay," Xiaoxue excitedly hugged her. "Masako, you're so cute!" Masako's face even turned slightly red. She said, "Stop fooling around. Now, get ready. I'll take you there later. By the way, can you ride a horse?" Xiaoxue nodded. "Yes, Yoshitsune just taught me last year." Masako smiled. "That's good. Let's ride there. I don't want so many boring people following us." Tsuru no Yu Onsen was located not far from the Hojo residence. It was a private hot spring owned by the Hojo family. "Wow, what a wonderful open-air hot spring!" Xiaoxue exclaimed as soon as she arrived, her excitement overflowing. The open-air hot spring was elegant and pleasant, tranquil and serene, with only the occasional bird call. "My dear hot spring, here I come!" Xiaoxue didn't care about anything else. She took off her clothes and jumped into the steaming hot spring. What a comfortable feeling! Every pore on her body seemed to open up, fully absorbing the comfortable warmth. "Masako, why aren't you coming down? Hurry up!" "Ah!" Startled by Masako's sudden shout, Xiaoxue walked over, her face flushed, and said awkwardly, "Xiaoxue, I forgot to bring my change of clothes." Ah, even Masako can be forgetful. "What should we do then? Why don't you wear your old clothes for now?" Xiaoxue said. She shook her head, "No, I can't stand it." She thought for a moment, "It's not far anyway, I'll ride back and get it myself. You can wait for me here while you soak." "Am I alone?" Xiaoxue suddenly felt a chill. Masako smiled, "It's alright, there are servants guarding the door. And I'll be back soon." "Can't you just ask a servant to get it?" Xiaoxue complained. Masako frowned, "How can that be? I don't want a man's hands touching my clothes. Besides, they won't know which one I'm going to wear." Masako, this spoiled young lady, if only she had brought a maid with her! "Wait for me!" she tossed out, then strode away. Oh well, might as well enjoy it for now. There are guards at the door, and besides, I'm quite skilled in martial arts. She thought smugly to herself as she folded a towel and placed it on her head. Soaking comfortably in the warm water, leaning against the smooth stone wall, gazing at the surrounding green trees and red flowers, feeling the gentle breeze caressing every crevice of her skin, time seemed to linger in this blissful, comfortable state. She closed her eyes contentedly and began to hum a relaxing bath tune. Lulalala lulalala lulalala le lulalala lulalala lulalala le lulalala lulalala lulalala le lulalala lulalala le lulalala lulalala le I love taking a bath. The turtle fell down. Be careful, there are so many fleas. The submarine is praying. I love taking a bath, my skin feels so good. Put on a shower cap, sing and dance. The mermaid wants to escape. Rinse up and down, scrub left and rub right. Come back when you have time. Rinse up and down, scrub left and rub right. My bathtub feels so good. While sitting and indulging in self-admiration, she suddenly heard a soft laugh. Without opening her eyes, she casually asked, "You're back, Masako, so fast." There was no answer for a while, so she opened her eyes and vaguely saw someone standing by the spring. She rubbed her eyes, and when she saw the person in front of her, she was immediately stunned and froze. To her horror, it was Minamoto no Yoritomo! She froze, then dove deeper into the water, leaving only her neck above the surface, and asked, "What are you doing here?" His thin lips curved slightly, and he countered, "Why can't I be here? This is the Hojo family's hot spring." "You, when did you get here?" she glared at him. "I've been here for a while. Seeing you singing so enthusiastically, I didn't want to interrupt. If—if that counts as singing—" he said casually, a hint of mockery flickering in his usually sharp eyes. "Then why aren't you leaving? A polite man would have quietly walked away by now. You're sneaking around eavesdropping, and you even dare to laugh out loud! How rude!" He'd heard everything! Good heavens, her off-key singing! Xiaoxue was instantly furious and embarrassed. A fleeting, inscrutable expression crossed his face. Suddenly, he walked to the edge of the spring, squatted down, and tested the water temperature with his hand. "Hey, hey, what are you doing? Masako will be back soon." As he approached, Xiaoxue suddenly felt a heavy pressure descend upon her. "Didn't you know? Mixed bathing is allowed here," he said casually. "Ah, well, then I'll let you have your way," she said angrily. "Oh, okay," he replied casually, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes. A while later... "You said you'd let me have your way, so why aren't you coming out?" He seemed to be enjoying the show. How am I supposed to come out? You idiot, you keep staring at me like that, how am I supposed to get out of the water? How could Yoshitsune's brother be such an annoying person? Koyuki thought angrily. She glared at Yoritomo and said, "You go out first. How am I supposed to come out when you're staring at me like that? Keep staring, or you'll get a sty." His thin lips suddenly curved into an upward arc, and he said nonchalantly, "Don't worry, I have absolutely no interest in a child like you who's underdeveloped. Looking at you is no different to me than looking at a stone or a piece of wood." Minamoto no Yoritomo, now she'd made an enemy. Koyuki was furious; this man's words were too venomous, severely damaging her self-esteem. She suppressed her anger, determined to retaliate. "Ouch..." she cried out softly, her face contorted in pain. He was initially taken aback, then asked, "What's wrong?" She continued, her voice broken and agonizing, "I...I feel so bad..." blinking hard and squeezing out a few tears. He was momentarily stunned, then said, "If you're not feeling well, come up quickly." She shook her head, "No, you..." He couldn't help but find it amusing, but seeing her pain, she seemed genuinely suffering. He had no choice but to turn away, saying, "Is this alright?" Xiaoxue quickly seized the opportunity, swam to the edge, emerged from the hot spring, grabbed her clothes from the water's edge, and dressed as fast as she could. A strange smile crept across her face as she walked behind Lai Chao and softly called out, "Hey, you—" He turned around and casually replied, "What about me?" Her smile widened, and she said, word by word, "You—go—to—die!" The word "die" had barely left her lips when, with a "plop," she kicked him into the hot spring. Looking at Lai Chao, soaking wet and furious, she burst into laughter, made a face at him, and teased, "You can wash first; Masako will come to keep you company later." How could there be such a girl? Lai Chao, besides being angry, couldn't help but feel a little confused. This was the first time he'd been tricked like this, especially by such a young girl. It was truly embarrassing, yet somehow, it seemed a little interesting. He leaned against the stone wall, a slight smile flashing across his usually expressionless face. -------------------- The next day, Masako came to ask Xiao Xue, still displeased, why the hot spring was empty after she returned that day, and why she had run back first—it seemed disloyal of her. Not a single person? Xiaoxue smiled inwardly. So Lai Chao had slipped away too. Good, he probably wouldn't make a fuss about something so embarrassing; he'd just have to swallow his pride. But they'd have plenty of time together in the future; he probably wouldn't retaliate, right?

Hunting Peril (Part 1)

[Updated: 2005-12-26 4:38:46 Word Count: 4662]

Time flies, and things were peaceful for a while, though Yoritomo's attitude towards Yoshitsune remained lukewarm. Autumn arrived in the blink of an eye, the air crisp and clear, the vegetation lush and green, and the Hojo clan's annual, most exciting hunting expedition was scheduled for this time. This was undoubtedly exciting news for Koyuki. Moreover, she hadn't practiced archery in a long time, and her hands were itching to try it. This time, the hunting grounds were Mount Ogura in eastern Izu. Although called Mount Ogura, it was quite a large mountain, and the paths were not easy to traverse, with dense forests stretching as far as the eye could see. Masako had told her that there were many kinds of game here, and Masako, who had hunted with her father since childhood, was also an excellent archer. Today, she wore a grape-colored hunting outfit, riding a large brown horse, looking dashing and spirited. Xiaoxue glanced at Yoshitsune beside her. His white attire accentuated his clean and delicate features, making him appear even more radiant and dashing. For some reason, she suddenly thought of a line from Romeo: "Like doves flitting among crows!" She couldn't help but smile. It seemed a bit exaggerated; actually, Minamoto no Yoritomo, among the crows, was also quite handsome in his dark green attire, appearing mature and dashing, though perhaps a little too aloof. Aloof? Xiaoxue suddenly recalled his expression when he fell into the hot spring that day, and couldn't help but chuckle again. "Xiaoxue, what are you laughing at?" Yoshitsune smiled slightly at her. Xiaoxue, with her ponytail and apricot-yellow outfit, looked particularly like a handsome boy today—a mix of cuteness, playfulness, and allure, exuding an indescribable charm. "Oh, I'm just so happy to be hunting, hehe." She laughed, glancing at Lai Chao again. Just then, Lai Chao was also looking at her. Their eyes met, and Xiao Xue glared at him fearlessly. His eyes seemed to have lost their sharpness today, replaced by a hint of inquiry. After setting up camp halfway up the mountain, the large group headed deeper into the dense forest. "Hey, Yoshitsune, what's going on?" Xiao Xue looked at her missed arrow with a disgruntled expression. She could hit stationary targets perfectly, but how could she possibly hit moving animals, not even a pheasant? People say you have to apply what you learn; am I only good at shooting dead things? Yoshitsune smiled and said to Xiao Xue, "Actually, it's quite easy. You're too concerned about whether you hit the target or not, which makes hunting less fun." As he spoke, he walked to Xiao Xue's side, took her hand from behind, and slowly drew back the bow. He was so close; her whole body felt gently enveloped by his warmth. Suddenly, Xiaoxue recalled the times he taught her archery when she was little, and her face flushed. She seemed to smell the faint scent of plum blossoms emanating from him again. Her concentration seemed even more elusive. "Xiaoxue, relax your shoulders, don't strain too much, keep your eyes on that pheasant, yes, like that..." he whispered in her ear, as if gently breathing on her face. She carried a faint, youthful fragrance, different from the delicate scent of incense, subtle yet alluring, seemingly stirring his senses, and Yoshitsune's mind became somewhat hazy. "Whoosh—" An arrow flew from his hand, heading straight for the tree trunk beside the pheasant. Xiaoxue turned to look at Yoshitsune; a hint of embarrassment crossed his face. Xiaoxue chuckled first, "Oh, so even Yoshitsune can miss." Yoshitsune smiled self-deprecatingly, "I told you, you can't worry too much about whether you hit the target or not." They looked at each other for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter. Startled, the pheasant had already flown to a nearby bush. Just as Xiaoxue was about to aim again, an arrow flew swiftly towards it, striking the pheasant squarely in the throat. "Excellent archery!" Immediately, someone ran to the bush and picked up the pheasant. "My lord! Look how beautiful its feathers are!" The colorful feathers had not lost their luster despite the loss of life; they were still dazzling under the sunlight. "Hmm, this is a reward for you." The person who shot it down—Minamoto no Yoritomo—only glanced at it and said casually. "Thank you, my lord!" The servant looked excited. Although Minamoto no Yoritomo was not easy to approach, he had always been very kind to his subordinates. "My lord, Lord Hojo has heard of your superb archery skills and requests your presence, saying he wishes to have a match with you. In addition, Lady Masako also wishes to see it." Ise Saburo ran over from a distance, speaking excitedly. "Is that so?" Yoshitsune glanced at Koyuki, about to say something, when Minamoto no Yoritomo suddenly said, "Kuro, don't disappoint me. Show me what you've got this time." Yoshitsune's expression brightened, and he smiled and nodded at Yoritomo, saying, "Yes, but," he glanced at Koyuki again, "Koyuki, you------------" A hint of unease flashed in his eyes. "I'll go with you," Koyuki quickly said; she didn't want to stay with Yoritomo. "However, I'm afraid it might be dangerous for you. Your horsemanship isn't that solid, and I'm afraid you might get hurt in the chaos." He turned his head and said, "How about this, please look after Koyuki for a while, brother. I'll be back soon." Yoritomo raised an eyebrow, about to refuse, but suddenly saw Koyuki's angry eyes, and a thought struck him, so he said, "Okay." "Ah, no!" Koyuki suddenly felt a chill; if he wanted revenge for the kick last time, she would be in big trouble. "Don't worry about me, I don't need protection." Watching Yoshitsune's departing figure, Xiaoxue angrily kicked a pebble. "I know," he said coldly, "I saw it last time." He still held a grudge from last time. "You..." Xiaoxue glared at him; this man's sarcasm was truly annoying, and she couldn't bear to stay a minute longer. "Then don't worry about where I go," Xiaoxue muttered. "Whatever," he said indifferently, then added, "But there are many steep valleys in the forest, and leopards and wolves roam. Think it through." A hint of contempt flashed in his eyes. "You're a dog if you dare follow!" Xiaoxue roared, suddenly clenching her legs around the horse's flanks. The horse neighed and galloped quickly into the forest. "Damn it." He immediately spurred his horse to follow, not expecting that his words hadn't frightened her but instead made her act even more drastically, choosing the most dangerous mountain path. Was this girl really an idiot? "Whoa—" Xiaoxue stopped on a relatively flat hillside. She dismounted and sat under a tree. It didn't seem so dangerous here. It seemed that Lai Chao was just talking nonsense. There was no leopard. This wasn't how you scare people. Did he think she was a three-year-old? Suddenly, the sound of hooves approached. Lai Chao, who had caught up, saw her sitting there unharmed and breathed a sigh of relief. "Hey, why did you follow me? I told you that following me is like being a dog!" She immediately stood up when she saw him. For some reason, seeing her raising her eyebrows and scolding him, he suddenly found it a little funny. Lai Chao also dismounted and walked to the tree. He said, "What nonsense are you talking about? Here—" His gaze swept over the branches above Xiaoxue, and he suddenly stopped, his expression changing slightly. "Don't move now. Listen carefully to what I'm saying." He regained his composure and said softly, "Close your eyes first." Close her eyes? No way! Who knew what he was going to do? "Why?" She deliberately widened her eyes. "Because there's a snake above you!" A flash of anger crossed his eyes. What! A snake! Xiaoxue's legs went weak. There were few things in this world that frightened her, but snakes were one of them, and her greatest fear. She tried to remain calm, nodded slightly, and closed her eyes. Lai Chao gently drew his knife, exerted his strength, took two steps forward, and swiftly swung the blade. In an instant, the snake was severed in two and fell, landing right on Xiaoxue. "Ah!" Xiaoxue felt a chill on her neck, something slippery had fallen in. Her first reaction was that she had been attacked by a snake. She screamed and retreated in panic, tripping over some pebbles on the ground. Suddenly, she lost her footing and immediately lost her balance. Only then did Lai Chao realize that there was a cliff behind the tree. In desperation, he leaped forward, trying to grab Xiaoxue who was falling. But it was too sudden. He had just grabbed her hand when she tumbled down the mountain with him. ========================= After an unknown amount of time, Xiaoxue woke up from her unconsciousness. She opened her eyes and looked up. Good heavens, she had fallen from such a high cliff! She quickly checked her body for injuries. Thankfully, aside from some scrapes on her arms, she seemed mostly unharmed. She was truly blessed. Wait, why is there something soft beneath her? She suddenly gasped in shock. Oh no! It seems Yoritomo fell with her! God, could it be—it was him? She quickly sat up and froze. It was indeed Minamoto no Yoritomo. He seemed to be in much worse shape than her, with several scrapes on his face. Oh my god, was he dead? A wave of fear washed over her. Forgetting everything else, she reached out and nudged him, frantically patting his face and calling out, "Hey, wake up, wake up! Are you alright? Are you alright?" "If you keep patting me, something really bad will happen," he suddenly said softly, slowly opening his eyes. Xiaoxue breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I was so afraid you'd die like that, it scared me to death." She gently helped him sit up and asked, "How are you feeling?" He shifted his body, frowned slightly, and said, "I think I can't move my right hand, it might be broken." He looked up and said helplessly, "It seems we can only wait for them to come." "They should be here soon, right? They should see our horses, right?" As soon as Xiaoxue finished speaking, she suddenly felt a chill. She seemed to have forgotten to tie the horses, and she didn't see Lai Chao tying them either. Ah, if these two horses ran away and they couldn't find her and Lai Chao, wouldn't that be terrible? Lai Chao didn't speak; he probably thought of that too. They could only pray to God that someone would find them soon. The sky gradually darkened, but there was no movement on the cliff. It would be even harder to find them after dark. Did they have to spend the night in this place? "It's all your fault! If you hadn't put the snake on me, I wouldn't have fallen!" Xiaoxue suddenly remembered what had just happened and couldn't help but blame him. "You ungrateful wretch! If it weren't for me, you might have been attacked by a snake." "That's better than starving to death here, being eaten by wild animals, dying a gruesome death, a dismembered body, a horrible death..." "Enough, shut up. Who said you'd definitely die?" "It's all your fault anyway." "Hmph." He ignored her, tearing a piece of clothing with his left hand to bandage the bleeding wound on his leg. Seeing his inconvenient movements due to his injured right hand, Xiaoxue's heart softened. Well, if it weren't for him being her human cushion, she might have broken her own leg. She glared at him and said, "Alright, I'll bandage it for you." Saying this, she tore a strip of cloth from the inner layer of her clothes and gently wiped his wound. "What are you doing!" He gasped softly in pain. This girl was incredibly clumsy. He looked at her helplessly. “Don’t be afraid of the pain. We need to remove the sand and gravel from the wound first, otherwise it will easily become infected, and the chances of getting tetanus will greatly increase. You can’t even bear such a little pain?” She rolled her eyes at him. Tetanus? What’s that? He looked at her with some confusion. She carefully cleaned his wound with a serious expression, gently bandaging it with a strip of cloth. Her long, drooping eyelashes trembled slightly, her soft hands lightly touching his skin, and a gentle glow enveloped her cheeks. His heartstrings seemed to be suddenly plucked, and a warm feeling welled up deep within him. Xiaoxue picked up a few flatter, sturdier branches and used the cloth to secure his right hand to them, saying, “This is the only way for now. Don’t move around too much, otherwise—” She smiled and said, “Your hand might grow crooked.” A hint of a smile flashed in his eyes. This girl seemed to have many strange ideas. Xiaoxue looked up at the sky; it was already dark, and a moon had quietly risen. She couldn’t help but feel disappointed. It seemed there was no hope for today. “Sigh, it’s so late, the moon is already up. I wonder if we’ll be saved tomorrow.” She sighed softly. His thin lips curved slightly, and he said in a low voice, “What’s the big deal? The sun sets, the moon rises. The moon sets, the sun rises again. The sun will rise tomorrow, so we must keep hope. Someone will find us tomorrow.” “Mm,” Xiaoxue nodded. This man sometimes said things that weren’t unpleasant. The night grew darker, and occasionally, the eerie cries of wild beasts could be heard in the distance. A sense of fear crept into her heart. Just as she was about to speak to Lai Chao, she saw that he looked serious, as if he was listening to something. “You…” “Shh—” He gestured for her to remain silent. A strange tension rose in her heart. She wondered what terrifying sound he had heard. “Oh no, Xiaoxue, quickly grab the sword!” he suddenly whispered. Xiaoxue touched her waist and exclaimed in surprise, "Oh no, I probably lost my sword when I fell!" His expression changed slightly. "My knife is gone too." "What happened?" Xiaoxue asked him anxiously. "If I heard correctly, there might be a leopard nearby..." "A leopard..." Xiaoxue finished the sentence blankly, staring straight ahead. "How do you know?" He was slightly taken aback, following Xiaoxue's gaze, and couldn't help but gasp. Not far away, under a tree, stood a majestic, medium-sized leopard. In the moonlight, its fur shimmered, exuding a noble aura.

Hunting Peril (Part 2)

[Updated: 2005-12-26 4:39:56 Word Count: 3756]

"Where's your arrow?" He composed himself and asked softly. "Xiaoxue?" Xiaoxue was still somewhat dazed by what she saw. Although this wasn't the first time she'd seen a leopard in real life, they'd been separated by a large iron cage before. Now, they were so close, so close that it could leap up and bite her throat at any moment. What should she do? What should she do? "Where's your arrow, Xiaoxue?" Lai Chao's words brought her back to her senses. The arrow? She touched her back; it was there. Then where was the bow? She quickly glanced around. Fortunately, there was always a way out; the bow lay not far from her left foot. Calm down, calm down. Lai Chao's hand was badly injured; now she had to rely on herself. But could she really hit that leopard? And she had to hit its vital spot? Her heart wavered. She moved very, very slightly, her eyes fixed on the leopard's eyes. Its eyes gleamed a chilling green in the moonlight, truly terrifying. But she had to keep her eyes on it; she couldn't let it sense her fear. Seeing that the leopard didn't react to her slight movement, she moved a little closer to the bow. Tension-laden sweat trickled down her forehead. She had to remain calm; the leopard wasn't making any sudden moves, it was definitely observing her. Finally reaching the bow, she gripped it tightly and gently drew a black-feathered arrow from the quiver behind her back. "Don't be nervous, you can do it," Lai Chao's voice seemed calm and composed, without a trace of panic. "No, I couldn't even hit a pheasant, how can I hit it? I... I'm afraid I can't do it." Her hands trembled slightly. "Believe in yourself, all those years of study haven't been for nothing." Lai Chao's calm voice steadied Xiaoxue. "Remember, you're not shooting the whole leopard, just its vital points. Either don't shoot, or shoot and hit it squarely. Imagine its throat as the bullseye." Imagine the bullseye? She slowly drew back the bow and slowly aimed. The leopard seemed to sense something, becoming somewhat restless. “Shoot based on your instincts. I’m entrusting my life to you.” He even smiled slightly. Entrusting his life to her, he still trusted her so much. A wave of emotion washed over her. She focused intently on aiming at it. The leopard sensed something was wrong, slightly arching its back. Oh no, the tug-of-war was over; it was about to attack. At that moment, she could no longer see the entire leopard lunging at her, only a clear dot, like the bullseye in target practice. In a flash, the arrow was released. “Thud!” The dull sound of the arrow piercing flesh, “Thump—” The sound of a heavy object falling. She breathed heavily, her eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at the fallen leopard. Her black-feathered arrow was lodged in its throat, blood flowing continuously. She had actually hit it! She had actually hit a leopard! She threw down her bow and arrow, panting heavily, and tugged at Lai Chao's sleeve with a mixture of joy and surprise, saying, "I hit it! I did it!! I really hit it!" Looking at her ecstatic expression, Lai Chao's eyes warmed slightly. This girl was definitely not a child; her performance just now had truly impressed him. "Remember, from now on I'm your savior!" Her next words immediately made Lai Chao regret his earlier thought. He snorted softly, saying, "This time it was purely luck." She smiled slyly, saying, "Whatever, I'm your savior anyway. You owe me this favor, haha." He turned his head away, ignoring her. The excitement of killing the leopard gradually faded, and the autumn wind of the middle of the night sent a chill through her, causing her to shiver involuntarily. "What's wrong, are you cold?" He seemed to notice. "I'm... I'm fine." Her teeth chattered slightly. "Put this on." He moved slightly, preparing to take off his outer garment with his left hand. "Don't move!" she suddenly shouted. "Are you stupid? Be careful with your hands! And I don't want to wear your clothes, they're covered in blood." She wasn't going to play along with his tired old cliché. "Suit yourself." He stopped moving. He had intended to ignore her, but seeing her trembling slightly, Lai Chao suddenly felt a pang of pity and couldn't help but say, "Come here." She glanced at him and asked, "Why come here?" "Come lean against me. You don't want to freeze to death before we get out of here, do you?" His tone was impatient. Xiao Xue looked at him, then obediently went over and sat down next to him. There was nothing wrong with leaning against him, and most importantly, she was freezing. His body was much warmer than his cold face; leaning against him did make her a little warmer. Although his clothes were covered in blood, they still had a faint sandalwood scent. Looking at him more closely, he actually was quite handsome, but he was biting his lower lip, as if his wound was in pain. "Hey, does your wound hurt a lot?" she asked. "It's alright." "Hey, how about I sing you a song to distract you?" She suddenly had this idea. "That kind of song from last time? I'm afraid it will make my wound hurt more." He replied mercilessly. "You—" Xiaoxue's confidence was slightly shaken by his lack of appreciation, so she ignored him. After a moment of silence, Xiaoxue suddenly asked, "By the way, I've always wondered why you're always so indifferent to Yoshitsune?" His eyelids twitched slightly, and he looked up at her, saying, "That's just my personality." "But why do I feel like you don't trust him?" Xiaoxue finally voiced her doubts. His eyes flickered, a hint of something unfathomable flashing across them, and he said, "Trust? That word sounds a bit harsh." He paused, then added, "From the moment my father was assassinated by a traitor in front of me, I abandoned that word. Exiled here at the age of thirteen, constantly toyed with by fate, how could I easily trust anyone again, even my own brother?" “But you’re not the only one toyed with by fate. There’s also Yoshitsune. His mother abandoned him at Kurama-dera Temple as a child to become a monk, and when he grew up, he had to flee to a strange place, living under someone else’s roof. He was even more unfortunate than you, never even seeing his own father’s face. Yet he still so innocently believed in you, coming to you with a heart yearning for family. Shouldn’t you cherish such a younger brother? This isn’t your fault; it’s all the fault of this era.” Koyuki rattled off a long string of words. Yoritomo looked at her, moved, a hint of shock in his eyes. These weren’t the words of an ordinary girl, yet what she said seemed to make some sense. “Yes, this isn’t our fault.” A flash of hatred quickly crossed his eyes. “It’s all the Taira clan’s fault.” Upon hearing this, Koyuki’s heart trembled. “Then, if one day you had the ability to defeat the Taira clan, what would you do?” she asked tentatively. “What would I do?” A cold glint flashed in Yoritomo’s eyes as he said, word by word, “Naturally, I wouldn’t let a single one of them go.” Xiaoxue felt a wave of dizziness, a sharp pain shooting through her heart, and an unprecedented fear slowly crept in. "Not a single one spared... why say such terrible things... why... what if Lady Tokiko, her brothers, the entire Taira family...?" She felt as if she were suffocating, unable to bear the thought any longer. "What's wrong? Why do you look so pale?" Yoritomo noticed her unusual expression. "Nothing," she shook her head, completely devoid of interest in speaking, "I'm just tired." "If he knew I was from the Ping family, he would have killed me without hesitation." Lost in these thoughts, Xiaoxue drifted off to sleep. =================================================== The next morning, Lai Chao opened his eyes, only to be blinded by the rising sun and close them again. After a moment, he opened them again and found Xiaoxue's face buried in his chest, clutching his clothes tightly, still fast asleep. She must be so cold. He smiled involuntarily. Her warm body, even breathing, and sweet scent stirred a special feeling within him. Seeing her sleeping so soundly, he didn't move an inch. "How warm!" Xiaoxue groggily tugged at his clothes and snuggled closer to him. She slowly opened her eyes, and as she looked up, she was startled to meet his deep brown eyes, which held a hint of a smile. She jumped up from his embrace. "Hey, why am I sleeping in your arms?" she snapped. "You threw yourself into my arms, and I see you're sleeping quite comfortably," he said, raising an eyebrow. "You...you treat your savior like this?" she immediately threatened him. A slight smile played on his thin lips. "What else? Repay me with your body?" Xiaoxue froze. These words didn't seem to come from him; Cheng Fan seemed more suited to saying such things. Just as Lai Chao was about to say something, he heard a commotion coming from the cliff. "Someone's coming!" Xiaoxue's face lit up with joy, and she shouted, "Hey, Yoshitsune! Yoshitsune!! Is that you?" A short while later, a white figure appeared on the cliff, calling out, "Xiaoxue! Brother, are you there?" It was indeed Yoshitsune's voice. Xiaoxue jumped for joy, shouting, "Yes, yes, Yoshitsune, come save us!!" Thank goodness, they were finally rescued; they wouldn't starve to death here anymore. She smiled and turned to look at Yoritomo. He didn't seem as happy as she was; his expression seemed somewhat strange. ------------------------------------------------ After being rescued, Xiaoxue finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Yoshitsune!" she excitedly ran to him, telling him about shooting the leopard. Yoshitsune listened, but his usually gentle face showed no smile; his eyes were haggard, as if he hadn't slept well all night. He said nothing, then suddenly hugged her tightly. He held her so tightly that Xiaoxue was somewhat taken aback as he pulled her into his arms. What was wrong with the usually gentle Yoshitsune today? "I was so worried, Xiaoxue, I was so scared..." His body trembled slightly, his hands tightening around her, as if afraid she would disappear if he let go. Was Yoshitsune worried about her? Was he really this worried about her? A sweet feeling welled up in Xiaoxue's heart, and she reached out to hug Yoshitsune tightly. His embrace was so warm, and she could hear his irregular heartbeat, thump, thump... like a small drum. "Gurgle--------" Where was the drumming again? "Gurgle------------" This time she clearly heard it coming from her own stomach. Ah, her face instantly burned, how embarrassing! "Xiaoxue, you're hungry." Yoshitsune chuckled softly in her ear. "Nonsense, of course I've been hungry all day. Don't laugh!" She glared at him. "Okay, okay," Yoshitsune could only suppress his laughter, "Then let's go back quickly." His body was still trembling slightly, that bastard, he must still be secretly laughing...

The main text is like a thunderclap from a clear sky.

[Updated: 2005-12-26 4:41:30 Word Count: 3867]

Autumn turned to spring, and in the blink of an eye, Koyuki had been living in Izu for almost two years. Although she was happy with Yoshitsune there, she couldn't help but think of Lady Tokiko and her brothers, and the various events of the past. Moreover, since the incident of falling off the cliff, Minamoto no Yoritomo's gaze towards her seemed somewhat different, but the only bright spot was that his attitude towards Yoshitsune had become much warmer. Under Yoshitsune's guidance, Koyuki's swordsmanship improved rapidly; even Ise Saburo was no match for her, and she could exchange dozens of blows with Yoshitsune. Even the usually aloof Musashibo couldn't help but feel a little regretful that Koyuki wasn't a boy, otherwise she could have been an excellent retainer. Retainer? She chuckled inwardly; she learned this purely out of interest, not to become a retainer. However, she also had to thank Fujiwara no Narifumi; without his early education, she wouldn't have become so proficient. Thinking of Narifumi, it seemed like she hadn't heard from him in a long time. She wondered how the Taira clan was doing now; she figured everything should be alright. A year ago, in Narifumi's letter, he mentioned that after Tokuko's son was made Crown Prince, Lord Rokuhara forced Emperor Takakura to pass the throne to the young Crown Prince. It seemed the Taira clan's position was even more secure. But for some reason, she always felt uneasy. In March, when the cherry blossoms were just beginning to bloom, Koyuki finally received a letter from Narifumi delivered to her by someone. As soon as she opened the letter, Koyuki became uneasy. This time, the paper wasn't fragrant as usual, and Narifumi's handwriting seemed somewhat hasty. After reading the contents, Koyuki felt a chill run through her body. Her fingers trembled, and the letter slipped from her hand. Her heart sank slowly with the falling letter. How could this be? How could this be? She slid weakly down the eaves. "Koyuki, what's wrong?" Yoshitsune, who happened to be passing by, was shocked to see her like this and quickly came over to support her. "Father, Father and Brother Shigemori have both passed away from illness... Mother, she... she also fell seriously ill because of it... How could this happen... Yoshitsune, what should we do?" Upon seeing Yoshitsune, she clung to his sleeve like a drowning person grasping at a piece of driftwood, her voice choked with sobs. "What!" Yoshitsune was startled. He noticed the fallen letter, picked it up, and whispered, "Xue, it's not convenient to talk here. Let's go to the room." He then pulled her into the adjacent room. Yoshitsune's feelings were complex and difficult to describe. Although Taira no Kiyomori was his father's killer, he had also raised him. Hearing the news of his death, he felt no joy, only a faint sense of loss. He glanced at Xue; her once bright eyes were now completely lifeless, her face pale, her eyes red and brimming with tears. Xiaoxue felt a sharp pain in her heart. Taira no Kiyomori had always treated her like his own daughter, with kindness and gentleness. Her brother Shigemori had always been tender towards her since childhood. Now, with both Shigemori and Kiyomori gone, Lady Tokiko must have fallen ill from excessive grief. She must be overwhelmed with sorrow; how could she bear it? And now, even her eldest son, Shigemori, was gone. Wasn't the pillar of the Taira family gone? How was the Taira family now? How were her brothers? The more she thought about it, the more worried she became, her anxiety growing ever stronger. Unconsciously, her hand touched the chain around her chest again, and Lady Tokiko's words echoed in her ears: "Don't forget, you will always be a member of the Taira family." Another pang of pain shot through her heart. Had she been deceiving herself all along, saying she was never considered a member of the Taira family? If that were truly the case, why did she constantly recall the beautiful times of the past? Why did she often dream of Lady Tokiko and her brothers' smiles? Why was she so concerned about the Taira family's every move? Why was her heart aching so much now? Why? "Mother..." she murmured softly. She wanted to go back; she wanted to see them. "Yoshitsune, I'm going back to Heian-kyo, immediately." She looked up, gazing at him. A flicker of emotion crossed his face, and his fingers holding the letter trembled slightly. "Have you decided?" "Yes, Mother is seriously ill. I must go back to see her. I... I didn't get to see Father and Shigemori one last time, so..." Her expression grew increasingly somber. He gazed deeply at her. He couldn't bear to see her like this. Koyuki was always cheerful and smiling, but now her somber expression tugged at his heartstrings. Hearing her say she was leaving him brought an unprecedented pain and loss that spread from the depths of his heart. "Koyuki..." he called softly, reaching out to pull her into his arms. This fear of losing her wasn't new; ever since she fell off the cliff, this feeling had been a constant companion. But now she had chosen to return to the Taira clan. What would become of her? What will become of the Taira and Genji clans? A troubled mind, Yoshitsune held the girl tightly in his arms, clinging to her with all his might. Yoshitsune's body trembled; he seemed afraid. She had felt this way before, when they were rescued from the cliff, and he had held her just as tightly. A bittersweet feeling welled up in her heart. She let him hold her, the faint scent of plum blossoms making her cherish this embrace. "Koyuki, will you come back?" he suddenly asked. Come back? Yoshitsune looked at her with hopeful eyes. But she herself wasn't sure. If Lady Tokiko recovered her health, and the Taira clan was at peace, she might return to Yoshitsune's side. She hesitated, looking at him, and said, "I don't know, I need to see how Mother is doing." She paused, then added, "But if I come back, I..." Before she could finish, Yoshitsune's warm lips were already on hers, gently lingering on hers. He tentatively licked her lips with the tip of his tongue, and seeing that she didn't object, he gradually deepened the kiss, making it more passionate and lingering. Her mind went blank; she didn't know how to respond. She only felt his lips were soft, his breath comforting, his kiss as gentle as he was, like a clear spring slowly flowing into her heart. Her heart melted... "You must come back, because—I love you, Xiaoxue." His eyes shone brightly as he whispered firmly in her ear. Love? Was he confessing his love? Her heart was suddenly in turmoil. She liked him too, but was that the same kind of love he meant? She wasn't sure. "I, I..." She was unsure how to answer. He smiled gently and said, "Xiaoxue, you don't need to answer me now. Wait until you're sure of your feelings and return from Heian-kyo before answering, okay?" Yes, I will come back, if everything is alright with the Taira clan. Xiaoxue thought to herself and nodded to Yoshitsune. His face lit up with joy, his eyes shone even brighter, and he couldn't help but embrace her again. "Remember, this is our promise. You can't break your word," he said with a smile. If she was sure of her feelings, if she came back, then perhaps when they met again, he would be the one to accompany her for life... If... ------------------------------- Two days later, Xiaoxue embarked on her journey back to Heian-kyo, carrying her promise to Yoshitsune. She saw Yoshitsune's longing and Masako's disappointment, but she seemed oblivious to the trace of reluctance in Minamoto no Yoritomo's eyes. Eager to return home, Xiaoxue was unaware that Prince Yoshihito, the second son of Emperor Go-Shirakawa, and Minamoto no Yorimasa, the only remaining court noble of the Minamoto clan, were preparing to raise the banner of overthrowing the Taira clan. Prince Yoshihito's secret edict to the remaining Minamoto clan members in Owari, Mino, and Izu, ordering them to attack the Taira, had spread like wildfire throughout the country. This included, of course, Minamoto no Yoritomo, the eldest son of the Minamoto clan. ============( 《TXT Forum》 collects excellent novels, more ebooks can be found at 《TXT Forum》. …Original literature, mood diary)================ At this moment in Izu, Minamoto no Yoritomo expressionlessly rolled up the edict and placed it aside, saying indifferently to Shingu Juro Yoshimori, who had come to deliver it, "Understood." Yoshitsune had met Yoshimori before; it was this man who had told him at Kurama Temple that he was a descendant of the Minamoto clan. It turned out that Yoshimori was also a member of the Minamoto clan, and by seniority, he was Yoshimori and Yoritomo's uncle. Yoshimori looked at Yoritomo's reaction with great surprise, and said with slight anger, "Don't you want to fight the Taira clan? Don't forget who killed your father!" Yoritomo looked at him calmly and said, "Of course I have this wish, but I am currently in exile, and while my heart is willing, my strength is insufficient. I'm sorry I cannot grant your request immediately." Yoshitsune also looked at Yoritomo in surprise. His brother had been waiting for this opportunity all along, but now that the opportunity was right in front of him, why was he saying this? "Brother, the Taira clan..." He had only uttered a few words when he was stopped by Yoritomo's sharp gaze. "Yorito, are you really not planning to join the fight against the Taira clan?" Yoshimori asked again, suppressing his anger. Yoritomo remained calm and nodded slightly. "You, you, I truly feel sorry for your father!" "Yoshimori flew into a rage, abruptly stood up, and turned to leave. Watching Yoshimori's indignant retreat, Yoritomo's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile. "Kuro, our Minamoto clan's chance has finally arrived." He smiled slightly, a hint of excitement flashing in his eyes. "But, elder brother, didn't you reject him?" Yoshitsune asked, somewhat puzzled. Yoritomo glanced at him and said, "Now, besides us, in Owari and Mino, we also have another half-brother, Noriyori, and our cousin Yoshinaka, who was adopted by the Kiso family. Especially Yoshinaka, he's no simple character. The Taira clan's military strength is still very strong. If this edict is fake, then we will be in a dangerous situation. If the edict is real, even if the Hojo clan supports me, our military strength is no match for the Taira clan's. So what we need to do now is to observe the situation and find the right opportunity to strike, understand?" "I have another older brother?" "Yoshitsune asked with great joy. Yoritomo simply nodded slightly. "Brother, let's wait for this opportunity." Yoshitsune nodded in agreement. His brother was indeed thoughtful, but the Taira and Minamoto clans had inevitably reached this point. His expression darkened. What would happen to Koyuki, who was far away in Heian-kyo, once they went to war? Koyuki, could she return before the war started? If she returned this time, he would never let her leave again. Even knowing that she would worry about the Taira clan, and that she might hate him, he just didn't want her to leave. "By the way, Kuro, Koyuki—will she come back?" Yoshitsune's thoughts were suddenly pulled back by Yoritomo's question. He nodded and said, "Yes, she will come back after she sees her sick mother, definitely." He emphasized this certainty, a statement he made only to himself. Yoritomo gazed thoughtfully ahead, the image of those clear, amber eyes suddenly appearing before his eyes, and something seemed to tug at his heart. As the sun set and a gentle breeze stirred, the two Genji brothers, bathed in the warm, pale golden sunlight, sat silently, their hearts both preoccupied with the same person, their thoughts seemingly carried by the wind to Heian-kyo, a thousand miles away. ------------------------------------------------ Heian-kyo, she has finally returned…

Main text: Returning to the capital

[Updated: 2005-12-26 4:42:36 Word Count: 5730]

The moment Xiaoxue stood before the Liu Boluo Mansion, gazing at everything so familiar, her heart pounded, and she could barely breathe. She steadied herself, took a deep breath, and was about to knock when she saw a richly decorated oxcart slowly approaching. Hesitating, she stepped back against the wall. The oxcart stopped at the gate, the bamboo curtain billowed, and a tall, handsome young nobleman in a black belt stepped out, seemingly having just descended from the palace. He turned his head slightly, revealing thick, arched eyebrows and bright, dark eyes—it was none other than Chongheng! Only his usually spirited face now bore a hint of weariness, likely due to the passing of his father and brother. Xiaoxue could no longer suppress the surging excitement within her and called out softly, "Brother Chongheng." Chongheng, who was about to enter the mansion, suddenly heard this voice, his body trembled slightly, and he immediately stopped. After a pause, he continued walking forward. "Brother Chongheng!" He couldn't believe his ears; someone was really calling him. Could it be...? He turned around in disbelief. He stared at the girl before him, her familiar smile, those unforgettable eyes. He wanted to pinch himself; he'd seen this scene countless times in his dreams. Was this another dream? A bitter smile touched his lips. Seeing Chongheng's incredulous expression, Xiaoxue was about to call out again, but only moved her lips, remaining silent, just looking at him. For some reason, seeing his deep eyes, she suddenly felt a pang of fear. If she ran away without a word, perhaps they already hated her and would never speak to her again. Otherwise, why would his face look like that, even his smile so stiff? The two stood there, the air around them seemingly frozen. Suddenly, Chongheng strode towards her, grabbing her shoulder forcefully. Her brows furrowed slightly; he had used considerable force. "Ouch, Brother Chongheng!" she cried out involuntarily. "You know pain now! You still dare to come back! You bastard, how dare you run away! Do you know how worried everyone was after you ran away? How could you be so selfish, so hateful! So infuriating! And you actually dare to come back today!" He grabbed her tightly, disregarding his composure, and unleashed a torrent of abuse upon her. "I..." She was startled by Chong Heng's livid face; it seemed more serious than she had imagined. Sure enough, they really hated her and never wanted to talk to her again. A pang of heartache surged from the depths of her soul. She looked up at the furious Chong Heng, about to say something, when suddenly, Chong Heng hugged her tightly. "You brat, you're finally back," he whispered in her ear, his voice trembling with a sob. Chong Heng, when did you start using such uncouth words? She was slightly taken aback, looking up. Chong Heng's eyes were red, as if veiled by mist, and filled with tears. "Don't look." Chongheng reached out and pressed her face against his chest. She obediently buried her face in his chest. Chongheng's body trembled slightly; he seemed about to cry. "Brother Chongheng, I'm back, I'm back," she murmured in her heart. "Brother Chongheng, how is Mother?" Xiaoxue suddenly remembered this important matter. Chongheng's face paled even more. He shook his head and said, "Not good. Since my eldest brother passed away, Mother has fallen ill. Now that Father has left, Mother simply can't hold on any longer..." "I want to see Mother." Hearing this, she was even more worried. Chongheng nodded and said, "Come with me." Following behind him, Xiaoxue couldn't help but ask anxiously, "Mother, are you angry with me?" Chongheng paused, then turned and said, "Of course I'm angry with you, so you should explain it to Mother yourself." Reaching Lady Shizi's room, Xiaoxue could vaguely see Lady Shizi lying there through the screen, and her heart ached. "Mother, Chongheng has come to visit you." Chongheng bowed to those inside. "It's Chongheng, come in." Lady Shizi's voice was still gentle and kind, but she lacked her former spirit, even appearing somewhat weak. Xiaoxue felt a pang of pain in her heart, her nose stinging, and she tried her best to hold back her tears. Chongheng nodded to her, and she immediately understood, slowly moving the screen aside. "Mother..." She choked up as soon as she saw Lady Shizi lying there, pale-faced, thin and haggard, unable to speak any more. Lady Tokiko was visibly startled. She opened her eyes and saw Xiaoxue before her, but showed no surprise. She simply smiled slightly at her; even in her illness, Lady Tokiko's smile remained elegant and captivating. "Xiaoxue, you've come." Her tone was as if nothing had happened. Xiaoxue, however, could no longer hold back and burst into tears. "Mother, I... I was so selfish. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I came back too late..." she sobbed. "Xiaoxue is still the same as always." Lady Tokiko smiled and took her hand. "I knew you would come back, because you are a member of the Taira family." "Mother..." She gradually stopped crying and asked softly, "Do you forgive me? Aren't you angry with me anymore?" "I was very angry, really angry at first, but how could a mother truly be angry with her daughter, right? Now that I see you're back, I'm relieved." She spoke softly, a faint smile in her eyes. "Mother..." She gripped Lady Shizi's hand tightly, her heart pounding, speechless. Heaven had been so kind to her, giving her such a wonderful mother in this era. "Mother, the imperial physician from the palace instructed you not to talk too much and to rest. Let's stop here for today." Chongheng entered unnoticed. Xiaoxue quickly stood up, saying, "I was so forgetful, I forgot Mother is still ill. Please rest." Lady Shizi gently shook her head, saying, "No, I'm very happy today." "But you still need to rest, otherwise Xiaoxue will worry, right?" Chongheng coaxed her gently. She smiled and nodded. After Xiaoxue finished her greetings, she followed Chongheng out of the room. "Xiaoxue, you won't leave this time, right?" "Lady Tokiko suddenly asked from behind. She looked up and met Shigehira's gaze as he turned around, his gaze seemingly asking the same question. She quickly turned back and saw a glimmer of hope in Lady Tokiko's eyes, and the promise she made to Yoshitsune flashed through her mind. "Yes, I won't leave." She nodded. At this moment, she absolutely could not abandon this family. When she turned back, Shigehira also seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. "Brother Shigehira, how are Brother Munemori and Brother Tomomori? I haven't seen them." As soon as she left the room, Koyuki asked again. Shigehira nodded and said, "Third brother has taken over the position of Minister of the Interior from eldest brother, and he is even busier now. He and fourth brother have things to do. They may not be back for a while." Koyuki nodded, suddenly remembering that the three brothers had all wanted to marry her before she left, and couldn't help but worry that it would be a little awkward when they all met. Chongheng seemed to see through her thoughts, stopped in his tracks, and said, "Third Brother and Fourth Brother are already married and have children. Their past arrogance is all in the past. You don't need to worry about it too much." "Yes, I understand. I will always be your good sister," Xiaoxue said with relief. "Good sister..." Chongheng murmured, repeating it, a bitter feeling rising in his heart. Just then, two more elegant young men walked in through the door. The one in the lead, wearing a turquoise robe, had a cold expression and deep eyes. His haggard face could not hide his handsome features. The one in a dark blue robe, although having a wheat-colored complexion rarely seen among the Ping family's young masters, did not diminish his noble air in the slightest. "Brother Zongsheng, Brother Zhisheng," Xiaoxue stood there and smiled slightly at them. The two of them were immediately stunned, staring at her in shock. "Xiaoxue?" Zongsheng called out tentatively. "Is that you?" Xiaoxue nodded heavily. Her two brothers were still as dashing as ever, but much more mature and a bit haggard, especially Zongsheng. He must be working very hard now, shouldering the burden of the Hei family. "It's good to be back." Zongsheng gazed at her, a slight smile playing on his lips. Zhisheng had been watching her intently since earlier, a complex look flashing in his eyes, but unusually, he remained silent. "I... I heard Mother was ill, so..." "If Mother hadn't been ill, and no one in the family had passed away, you wouldn't have come back, right?" Zhisheng suddenly interrupted her. "No, I... I've missed you all so much, it's true." Xiaoxue hurriedly explained. Zhisheng's expression softened slightly. He snorted and didn't speak again. "Anyway, it's good to be back. Don't dwell on the past anymore." Zongsheng nodded to Xiaoxue, but the last part was addressed to Zhisheng. "Yes, yes, it's good that Xiaoxue is back. Mother seemed much better when she saw Xiaoxue." Chongheng quickly added. Zhisheng glanced at Xiaoxue again and said, "I'm going to see Mother. Third Brother, let's go." He then pulled Zongsheng along. "Brother Chongheng, Zhisheng seems still angry with me, and Zongsheng seems a bit distant too," Xiaoxue said, watching their retreating figures, feeling somewhat dejected. "Don't be silly, Third and Fourth Brothers have always been like this, you know that," Chongheng patted her shoulder reassuringly. Is that so? She wondered. ================================================== In the following days, Xiaoxue stayed with Madam Shizi. Madam Shizi's illness seemed to have suddenly improved, and the whole family smiled more. Xiaoxue also visited Zongsheng and Zhisheng's wives, both noble ladies from prestigious families, beautiful and gentle, their delicate bodies wrapped in magnificent twelve-layered kimonos, exuding charm and pitiful beauty. The two children were also delicate, as if they could be squeezed for water. The cherry blossoms in the courtyard had been blooming for several days. After Lady Tokiko went to sleep, Xiaoxue went alone to the cherry tree, watching the petals falling all around, and a trace of melancholy arose in her heart. Although Lady Tokiko's spirits had improved, even Xiaoxue, who knew nothing about medicine, could see that Lady Tokiko was suffering greatly from the illness. She recalled the times when the whole family would come here to admire the cherry blossoms and sing songs. Although she always made a fool of herself, those were the days when everyone was very happy. Everyone was happy. But now, everything had changed. "Beautiful when in full bloom, sad when gone. Sweet when joyful, bitter when departed, like morning dew." She gently leaned against the tree and softly recited this waka poem that Lady Tokiko loved most. "In the valley, there is no sun, and spring comes unnoticed. What is there to rejoice in when flowers bloom, and no need to grieve when they fall early?" She was startled. Who was singing a waka poem with her? That sexy voice sounded familiar. She turned her head and was delighted. Fujiwara no Narifumi, dressed in a pine-leaf-colored robe, held a cypress fan, a smile playing on his lips, elegantly leaning against the wisteria blossoms as he watched her. Pale pink cherry blossom petals fluttered, brushing against his cheeks and drifting past his slightly open robe, adding a touch of maturity and untamed spirit, his unparalleled charm surpassing even their first meeting. His dark eyes were even more captivating, warm enough to drown one. "Narifumi!" she cried out, a smile blooming on her face. Narifumi calmly walked over, smiling, "You're back?" "How did you know I was back?" she asked, somewhat puzzled. "Of course I knew. You would definitely come back once you received that letter." He chuckled softly. Suddenly, he leaned down, close to her face, and said, "Little bird, you've become much prettier and more mature. Oh dear, I'm starting to regret it a bit. Maybe that engagement..." "Shut up, stop playing around," Xiaoxue quickly interrupted him, truly unsure what he was about to say next. "Hehe, you're still so cute." He looked up and said, "What are your plans for the future?" "Me?" She paused, then said, "I'll naturally stay here with my mother." "Aren't you going back to Izu?" he suddenly asked. "I..." Her mind flashed back to Yoshitsune's longing eyes, that incredibly tender kiss, that promise between the two of them. I'm not going back, she wanted to say, but for some reason, she didn't want to lie to Chengfan. She moved her lips, about to tell the truth, when Chengfan suddenly laughed and said, "I was just asking casually. Whether you go back or stay, it's none of my business, right?" Is that so? Everything about me is none of your business? For some reason, hearing him say that made her feel a little lost. "Then what did you come here for today?" she asked, somewhat annoyed. "Oh dear, I almost forgot. I had a moon-viewing appointment with the young lady of the Left Guard's family. I saw it was still early, so I thought I'd drop by. I have to go now; being late would be impolite to a beauty's invitation, hehe." He said with a smile. "Then get lost..." she retorted angrily, raising an eyebrow. What did he mean by "dropped by"? A sudden discomfort rose within her. "Oh dear, little bird, I love seeing you jealous, it's so cute." He was about to lean closer when he suddenly remembered something, took a few steps back, and strode away, leaving behind a sentence that infuriated Xiaoxue even more. "I know you too well, little bird. I can't go to my appointment with a beauty with a bruised face!" Fujiwara no Nagenori, why was he always so hateful...? All the joy she felt upon seeing him vanished. ---------------------------------------------------------- This morning, Lady Tokiko woke up in exceptionally good spirits, her complexion rosy. As soon as she got up, she had Xiaoxue and her maid help her to the veranda to admire the cherry blossoms. "Mother, you're being disobedient again! The imperial physician said you need to rest more and shouldn't move around," Xiaoxue feigned anger. Lady Tokiko gently shook her head and smiled, "The cherry blossom season is so short, won't you let me see the last cherry blossoms of this season?" Since she said so, Xiaoxue had no choice but to instruct Ayu and the other maids to lay out tatami mats and silk cushions on the veranda so that the lady could lean back and enjoy the view. "Xiaoxue, the cherry blossoms are truly beautiful this year," Lady Tokiko smiled, gazing at the branches laden with blossoms. "I first met your father during the cherry blossom season; I was only five years old then." She suddenly turned her head, a girlish blush appearing on her face. "He was only nine years old then, visiting our residence with his father." "That day, also in the courtyard, he picked a cherry blossom branch and gave it to me. I've liked him ever since." Her face grew even rosier, and she gazed thoughtfully ahead, seemingly recalling something beautiful. "I married into the Taira family as I wished, but I found that everything wasn't as easy as I imagined. For this family, I've always been very tired, very tired. Of course, this is also a kind of happiness, because—I truly love this family with you all. But now, I must lay down this burden." She sighed softly. "Now that you and Shigemori have both passed away before me, and my days are numbered, I'm truly worried about the Taira family, worried about you all." "Mother, don't say that. You will surely live a long, long life." Xiaoxue's heart began to ache again. "Silly child, I know my own illness." She smiled, then looked up at the fluttering cherry blossoms, and after a moment of silence said, "Xiaoxue, go pick a cherry blossom for me. I want to see more clearly." Xiaoxue was taken aback, responded with a sound of agreement, and was about to get up when Lady Shizi suddenly grabbed her hand and said softly, "Xiaoxue, I've always considered you a member of the Taira family. You understand, right?" "Yes!" Xiaoxue nodded heavily, then went into the courtyard, carefully searched for a while, and selected a cherry blossom branch in full bloom. She held it to her nose and smelled its delicate fragrance; her mother would surely like it. She smiled faintly and was about to turn back. "Madam! Madam!" "Ayu's tearful voice suddenly pierced the silence. Xiaoxue's body trembled, and she stood still under the tree, as if deeply stabbed in the heart. Pain spread rapidly from the depths of her soul, her eyes welled up, and a hot tear slid down her cheek. The cherry blossoms in her hand had unknowingly detached from the branches, fluttering and helplessly falling to the dust. Flowers fall from the branches, scattering without warning. Xiaoxue gently brushed away the hot tear with her fingers, reached out and broke off another cherry blossom, walked past the weeping maids, and came to Lady Tokiko's side. Suppressing her heartache, she placed the cherry blossom in Lady Tokiko's arms, gently smoothed her hair, and suddenly leaned down, whispering in her ear, word by word, "Mother, rest assured, I will do everything in my power to protect the Taira family." After speaking, she looked up and said to the maids, "What are you still doing here? Go and inform the young masters immediately!" "I'm sorry, Yoshitsune, I'm afraid I can't keep our promise, at least not now. Perhaps this is my destiny, the destiny of this era. I must protect this family, the family that Mother loved most. Even if my strength is so weak, I will do my best. If fate allows, we will surely meet again..."

Text: Expedition to Kumano

[Updated: 2005-12-27 0:06:13 Word Count: 4794]

After arranging Lady Tokiko's funeral, the Taira clan fell into a long period of silence. However, before the elder brothers could recover from their grief, news arrived from Kumano that Prince Hitoshi and Minamoto no Yorimasa were plotting a military campaign to march on Kyoto. Taira no Munemori, the Minister of the Interior and head of the family, immediately summoned the adult sons of the Taira clan to discuss a strategy to repel the enemy. Besides his own younger brother, this included several sons of his deceased eldest son, Shigemori: Major General Taira no Arimori, Left Lieutenant General Taira no Kiyotsune, Right Lieutenant General Taira no Sukemori, three Lieutenant Generals Taira no Koremori, Bitchu no Kami Taira no Moromori, and several sons of his three uncles. After the discussion, Munemori decided to first send his younger brother, Tomomori, and Shigehira with troops to Kumano to suppress the rebels. After everyone else had left, only the three Taira brothers remained in the room. "Third brother, don't worry, dealing with these rebels is nothing to us," Tomomori said, seemingly unconcerned about the matter. Shigehira glared at him and interrupted, "You still say that? If you hadn't forcibly taken Minamoto no Yorimasa's son's beloved horse and branded it with his son's name to humiliate him, how could he have rebelled at nearly seventy years old!" "But," Tomomori's face turned pale, "how was I supposed to know he'd be so impulsive? Are you blaming me?" "Alright, stop arguing. The most important thing now is to suppress the rebellion. I'm afraid that if this happens, the remaining Minamoto clan will rise up in revolt." Munemori coldly interrupted them, "Now the Taira clan depends entirely on us, understand?" A trace of worry flashed in his eyes. "Don't worry, Third Brother, we will definitely annihilate the rebels." Shigehira said firmly. Koyuki wanted to go in and see her brothers, but she overheard everything as soon as she reached the door. Her heart tightened. Munemori's worries were not unfounded. If someone took the lead, the Minamoto clan would probably all rise up in revolt. Minamoto no Yoritomo's face and his words suddenly flashed through her mind, making her even more anxious. This was probably a perfect opportunity for him. She had promised Lady Tokiko she would do her best to protect this family, but now she wondered what to do. "If you were a man, you would surely be a good retainer," she suddenly remembered Musashibo's words. Yes, she was skilled in martial arts; why couldn't she make good use of it? Even though she was a woman, what did it matter? Her thoughts seemed to clear. "Can I come along?" A soft voice suddenly came from the doorway, and Koyuki's smiling face appeared. The three looked at each other, speechless with surprise. "Do you know what you're saying?" Tomomori's eyes flashed with disdain. "I know, I want to go along." Koyuki emphasized, her tone more determined. "Koyuki, we're not going to play around. Although your archery skills are good, the battlefield is such a dangerous place, especially since you're a woman. Don't be silly," Shigeaki said patiently. Xiaoxue glanced at him, then took a few steps forward, staring at Zongsheng and saying, "Brother Zongsheng, this isn't about whether women can go to the battlefield. The most important thing now is to protect the Taira clan. Our Taira clan is a family of samurai, so we can be lenient on some minor matters now. As a member of the Taira clan, I don't want to do nothing. Please let me do something for the Taira clan, something for Mother." Zongsheng glanced at her indifferently, a hint of something unfathomable flashing in his eyes, and said, "Xiaoxue, I understand your feelings, and I know you've been learning archery from Chongheng since you were little, but the battlefield isn't a place to show off. Archery alone isn't enough, you know?" Xiaoxue stared at him and said, "I can do more than just archery. Let's have a contest. If I can beat you, please allow me to go with you." She ignored their even more shocked expressions and continued, "Then which brother would like to have a contest with me first?" The room fell silent, all three of them wearing expressions of disbelief. “Third Brother, why don’t we just go along with her? Otherwise, she won’t give up. We all know Xiaoxue’s personality,” Chongheng suddenly said. “Let me play along with her for a bit,” Zongsheng pondered for a moment and then nodded. Xiaoxue smiled slightly, walked up to Zhisheng, and said, “Brother Zhisheng, please lend me your knife.” Zhisheng looked at her, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes. He drew the sword from his waist, about to hand it to her, but then suddenly withdrew his hand. He walked directly to a tree in the courtyard, raised his sword, and quickly cut down two branches, gesturing for Xiaoxue and Chongheng to come over. He handed them the branches, then said to Xiaoxue in a somewhat annoyed tone, “Swords have no eyes; use these instead of a real knife.” Xiaoxue was secretly delighted. Brother Zhisheng must have thought she was just saying that out of anger, worried that Chongheng might accidentally hurt her. It seemed that her brother still cared about her and wasn’t really angry with her. “Yes, thank you, Brother Zhisheng.” She smiled and said to Zhisheng. Zhisheng was taken aback, turned his head, and said stiffly, "I'm not worried about you, I'm worried about Fifth Brother. You crazy girl are always so clumsy." She couldn't help but laugh again. Zhisheng's brother's mouth was always so stubborn. Holding the tree branch, she took a few steps back and said, "Brother Chongheng, I'm sorry for being rude." "With that, she swiftly attacked Chongheng. Chongheng, who had initially approached the fight with a playful attitude, simply smiled and parried her moves. After a few exchanges, his smile faded, and he was secretly astonished. When had Xiaoxue learned this? And how could she wield such fierce techniques? Each thrust and parry was difficult to defend against. The two spectators exchanged a surprised glance, their thoughts mirroring Chongheng's. Xiaoxue leaped and bounded with the agility of a swallow, her branches like knives and swords, her attacks as graceful and fluid as a butterfly's dance. Chongheng was utterly unfamiliar with and shocked by Xiaoxue's moves. After dozens of exchanges, he even staggered back several steps, seemingly on the verge of defeat. But seeing Xiaoxue's calm and composed demeanor, he was even more confused. Where had she been all these years? How had she learned this? And who had taught her? In a moment of distraction, Xiaoxue's branch was already unceremoniously positioned against his neck. "Brother Chongheng, I won!" Xiaoxue smiled cleverly, casually tossing away the branch. She then looked at the astonished Zongsheng and Zhisheng, winking triumphantly. "Xiaoxue, where did you learn this?" Zongsheng's usual composure vanished. She hesitated, thinking she couldn't very well tell them she'd been learning from Fujiwara no Narifusa since childhood, nor could she say she'd learned from Yoshitsune. "Um, um, I met a master," she stammered, changing the subject. "So, can I go with you now?" "After all, you're a girl. The battlefield isn't suitable for you. We can't let you risk your life," Zongsheng said after a moment's thought. She looked at Zongsheng with disappointment, her face full of displeasure. "So what if I'm a girl? Can't you understand my desire to protect this family?!" Her tone was laced with anger. How could her brothers be so stubborn? "Third brother, since she's so eager to go, let her go this time. Don't waste her excellent skills. Besides, annihilating the rebels is a piece of cake." "Chongheng suddenly interjected. Xiaoxue looked at him with surprise, and he smiled at her. "Let her stay by my side, Zhisheng and I will protect her." He continued. "That's right, that's right, promise me, I will definitely protect myself carefully too." She quickly added. Zongsheng considered for a while and finally nodded. "Thank you, Brother Chongheng." After Zongsheng and Zhisheng left, Xiaoxue said to Chongheng with gratitude. Chongheng did not answer, looking at the withered cherry blossom tree, and said softly, "Xiaoxue, I know you too well. You will definitely do what you want to do, and there's no use forcing you to do what you don't want to do. So this time, I won't stop you from doing what you want to do." He paused, then added, "I hope I haven't made a mistake this time." A complex expression flickered across his handsome face. Her brother Chongheng had always been so good to her, protecting and spoiling her since childhood. He was truly a very, very good brother, but he had been so reluctant to marry. Could it be that he…? A pang of sadness welled up in Xiaoxue's heart, but she didn't know what to say. She loved him, but it was entirely her love for her brother. “Brother Chongheng, when are we leaving?” she changed the subject. Chongheng turned to look at her, gazing at her intently. “But Xiaoxue is so beautiful, and a woman. I’m afraid it might be detrimental to you on the battlefield.” “Don’t worry about that, I have a plan.” Xiaoxue smiled. Chongheng smiled back, saying, “Then, we’ll leave in two days.” "Tomorrow we're leaving. Xiaoxue gazed at the moon high in the sky in the courtyard, a faint tension rising in her heart. She'd been impulsively saying she wanted to go to the battlefield, but now, with the departure imminent, she felt uneasy and afraid. Yes, afraid. She'd only ever seen war scenes on television before; now she was going to be there herself. Although she was skilled in martial arts, would it be different to actually fight on the front lines? Speaking of killing, she had killed someone on the way to Mutsu, but it was an accidental killing. She lowered her head, and the shimmering jade bracelet around her neck slipped out again. She gently touched the delicate jade disc, a tender feeling spreading through her heart. 'Mother, please give me courage and strength. I must be stronger, much stronger.'" Yoshitsune, remembering the boy who gently kissed her, felt a slight pang in her heart again. Yoshitsune, if your brother raises an army, you will surely join him without hesitation, right? Then, one day, will we meet on the battlefield? I don't want that day to come. "Little Bird, what are you doing?" There was only one person who had sneaked in so silently, and she knew it without turning around—Fujiwara no Narifumi. He was just checking on her again, wasn't he? "Nothing..." she replied faintly. "Is it true? You're going to Kumano with Shigehira and the others?" He had moved to stand in front of her without her noticing. She looked up, and a hint of surprise appeared on Narifumi's usually elegant smile, his gaze deep as if trying to see through her thoughts. She nodded. "Why? You're a woman." Receiving her affirmative answer, his tone became impatient, and he felt inexplicably irritated. "Anyway, everything I do is none of your business, why should I know why?" "She suddenly replied coldly. "You," he was speechless for a moment, it seemed like he had said those words before. "Sungfan," seeing Sungfan's rare moment of being speechless, she suddenly laughed, gazing into his eyes, and said, "Don't ask me why, one day when you have something you want to protect, you will understand." Something he wanted to protect? Sungfan looked at Xiaoxue's clear and bright eyes, and for a moment he felt a little confused. Did he have something he wanted to protect? At this moment, he suddenly felt that he was somewhat confused. Perhaps having something to protect was also a kind of happiness. Oh well, anyway, what happens to the Ping family, what happens to the court, what happens to the capital, it's none of his business. So what happens to Xiaoniao is her own business. But why was he so agitated? "By the way, thank you for coming to see me today." She deliberately emphasized the word "incidentally". Sungfan couldn't help but chuckle, this girl still remembered what happened last time. "Maybe Sungfan has too many beauties he wants to protect, he can't protect them all, hehe, it must be so tiring." "She continued teasingly. He smiled, then couldn't help but be surprised, "Little bird, aren't you nervous? Tomorrow is..." Xiaoxue smiled and looked at him, saying, "I'm nervous, I'm scared too, I'm terrified of dying, really, but for what I'm protecting, even death is worth it." Although she was smiling, her body was trembling slightly. Cheng Fan's heart suddenly clenched; this little bird made him feel a pang of heartache. He leaned down and gently embraced her small body. "Cheng Fan?" She looked up in surprise. "You can lean on my shoulder today." He smiled, "That's something many women dream of." How vain! She chuckled. "Don't be afraid, you won't die. You're someone I trained, how could you die so easily?" He gently brushed aside her hair and whispered softly in her ear. The familiar scent of his black incense wafted over her, and his warm breath sent shivers down her spine. Cheng Fan's embrace was firmer than she'd imagined, giving her a sense of security. Leaning against him, listening to his slightly rapid heartbeat, she felt a slow calming down. "Oh dear, little bird, you seem quite used to my embrace. Do you regret not marrying me?" His teasing voice rudely broke the tender atmosphere. Xiao Xue quickly pushed him away, glaring at him, and said, "Who regrets it? Pah!" Cheng Fan elegantly straightened his clothes, smoothing out the wrinkles, and smiled gently. "Alright, you should rest early. I'm leaving." He looked at Xiao Xue, then suddenly leaned down and lightly kissed her cheek, laughing, "If you want to settle accounts, wait until you come back." "Having said that, he vanished like the wind, leaving behind a stunned and bewildered Xiaoxue. "Fujiwara no Narifumi, you bastard! I'll kill you!" Xiaoxue's angry voice echoed within Rokuhara's mansion. ---------------------- The next day, Tomomori and Shigehira waited outside for Xiaoxue to lead the troops. "Shigehira, where's Xiaoxue?" Tomomori looked around but couldn't find her. Shigehira shook his head as well. Suddenly, the sound of hooves rang out, and a white horse with yellow spots slowly walked from the inner courtyard. When the white horse stopped in front of them, Tomomori and Shigehira couldn't help but gasp. What surprised them was the young man on the horse. This young man wore a dark purple robe, his long hair tied up high with a matching silk rope. His clothing was unremarkable, but his face was covered with a thin, demonic mask, giving him a somewhat ferocious look. The mask made him exude a sharp aura. "Who is it?" Shigehira asked in a deep voice, his hand on his sword. "Hehehe." "..." The person let out a series of crisp laughs, lifted a corner of the mask to reveal a completely different, adorable smile, and said, "Brother Chongheng, it's me." "Xiaoxue?" He and Zhisheng were both surprised. "Yes, in ancient times, the Prince of Lanling used a mask to intimidate his enemies because of his beautiful, almost feminine face. So today, I can use the same method, can't I?" She smiled slightly. Chongheng smiled with relief and said, "Not bad, a good idea." Zhisheng looked at Xiaoxue, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes.

The first battle was a success.

[Updated: 2005-12-27 0:07:11 Word Count: 5608]

As the main army marched towards Kumano, Prince Yoshihito and Minamoto no Yorimasa, upon hearing of the approaching army, hastily fled to the nearby Mii-dera Temple, and later hid in Byodoin Temple near the Uji River. Byodoin Temple was preceded by the long Uji Bridge, with a swiftly flowing river beneath it. They intended to use it as an obstacle to resist the Taira clan's attack. When Tomomori and Shigehira arrived at the Uji Bridge, Prince Yoshihito and Minamoto no Yorimasa's samurai and a group of warrior monks were already waiting for them on the other side of the bridge. After exchanging signal arrows to signal the start of battle, the two armies, positioned at opposite ends of the bridge, immediately drew their bows and began fighting. A volley of arrows rained down, accompanied by screams of agony. Shigehira immediately rushed in front of Koyuki, deflecting arrows while shouting, "Back off! It's dangerous here!" Koyuki, witnessing such a bloody battle scene for the first time, was stunned and momentarily frozen. Shigehira's shout brought her back to her senses; she immediately drew her longsword, deflecting arrows as she retreated. At that moment, a young man dressed in black robes appeared from the opposite side, wielding a long sword and shouting, "I am Tajima of the Gochiin!" He deflected all the arrows shot by the Taira clan and charged across the bridge with incredible ferocity. With swift strokes, he cut down seven or eight Taira warriors in the blink of an eye. The Taira soldiers were momentarily intimidated by his imposing presence, and in a moment of carelessness, he rushed towards Shigehira, raising his sword to strike. Shigehira parried, and the two seemed evenly matched. Seeing Shigehira in danger, Koyuki disregarded everything else, leaping forward and thrusting her sword at Tajima. Upon seeing her face, Tajima was startled, and in that moment of distraction, Koyuki's fierce swordplay forced him to retreat several steps. "Leave this to me," she whispered in Shigehira's ear. With a flick of her longsword, she swiftly thrust at Tajima again. After only a few exchanges, Koyuki realized that although Tajima's swordsmanship was fierce, it lacked any specific techniques; it relied solely on ruthlessness. She slowed her pace, patiently searching for his weakness, but Ma grew increasingly frantic. Soon, Xiaoxue found an opening, her longsword flashing, aiming straight for his chest. Just as the tip touched his chest, a sudden chill ran through her. This was another attempt to kill. Her mind wavered slightly, her movements slowing by a beat. In that moment of hesitation, Ma had already parried her sword, his blade already slashing at her. "Get out of the way!" Chongheng shouted, shoving her aside, his longsword simultaneously plunging into Ma's chest. She was thrown to the ground. Chongheng glared at her, saying, "What are you doing!" She looked at him with guilt, feeling utterly useless. A quick glance revealed blood flowing from Chongheng's left arm. Had he been injured when he pushed her away? A pang of pain shot through her heart. She couldn't continue like this, she couldn't waver like this. This is a bloody battlefield, a cold and ruthless battlefield. It's either the enemy or us who die. If she hesitates any longer, not only will she be in danger, but she'll also endanger her brothers. Now that she's made her decision, she has to be ruthless and abandon what needs to be abandoned. She stood up, gripped her sword tightly, and remained silent. "Shigehira, we must force our way across the Uji River now," Tomomori said gravely. Shigehira nodded and said, "Yes, but we have 30,000 troops. We must be extremely careful when crossing the river and not let them be swept away by the current." Force a crossing? Xiaoxue's mind raced. Suddenly, she remembered a foreign war movie she had seen before, which seemed to have a scene of forced river crossing. Because the movie was so exciting, she vaguely remembered it. She reached out to stop Chongheng and whispered, "If we're crossing the river, let go of the reins where the horses' feet can touch the riverbed, and tighten them where they can't. If anyone falls behind, hold onto the bow tips, hold hands, and swim side by side. It's best to form a horizontal line and cross diagonally with the current; that way, the chance of being separated is smaller. Please give instructions like this, brother." That was all she could remember. Luckily, she had seen this movie. A look of surprise flashed across Chongheng's face, and he nodded. Xiaoxue felt a complex mix of emotions. Over the years, under the care of Lady Taira no Tokiko and her brothers, she had almost forgotten the modern soul residing in her body. If it weren't for this sudden turn of events, she might still be indulging in her carefree life. At Zhisheng's command, except for a portion that remained at the bridgehead to continue resisting the enemy's attack, the remaining 20,000-plus troops began crossing the river in batches under Chongheng's command. Samurai clad in various colored robes and armor moved across the river, appearing from afar like countless autumn leaves floating on its surface. Everything went smoothly; Koyuki, along with Tomomori, quickly reached the shore in the first wave. Once ashore, they engaged in more direct, close-quarters combat. Koyuki had gradually adjusted her mindset, wielding her longsword with unwavering focus, her strikes swift and decisive, each stab piercing the throat of her opponent—the only thing she could do was hope for a painless and swift death. Her demon mask was also effective; some enemy soldiers, seeing her mask, were already filled with fear, and in their moment of distraction, they were all felled by her. The Taira warriors had all reached the shore, fighting with increasing ferocity, and the enemy was retreating steadily. Minamoto no Yorimasa and his sons were eventually forced to retreat into the Abode of Byodoin Temple. "Shoot!" Zhisheng commanded, and countless flaming arrows rained down on the hermitage. In an instant, the entire hermitage burst into flames. Suddenly, a dozen or so remaining troops charged out, heading straight for Zhisheng and his men. Wasn't this suicide? Xiaoxue wondered, then a thought struck her. Were they protecting someone? She glanced to the side and saw a rider suddenly emerge from the side, galloping off in another direction. Without hesitation, she drew her bow and arrows. "Shoot! It's Prince Yiren! Don't let him escape!" Chongheng also saw it and shouted. Struggling to deal with the dozen or so pursuing troops, he couldn't break free to shoot. The warriors in front quickly drew their bows and arrows, ready to fire, when a black-feathered arrow flew like lightning towards Prince Yiren's back, piercing his heart. Prince Yiren swayed on his horse and fell to the ground. "Well done!" Shigehira shouted after finishing off his opponent. Tomomori and the samurai all turned their attention to the warrior who had killed Prince Hitoshi with a single arrow. A young man in a deep purple robe, wielding a black rattan bow, sat dashingly on a white horse. His robes, stained with dark blood, fluttered in the wind, and his tied-up black hair flowed freely, a strand brushing against his face—no, a hideous demon mask. In the firelight behind him, his entire body was bathed in a red glow, making his demon mask appear even more eerie, mysterious, and terrifying. For a moment, everyone stood there, stunned. "Young—" Shigehira was about to speak when Tomomori stopped him. He suddenly turned and shouted, "The Taira clan has many warriors like this! Anyone who dares to betray the Taira clan is digging their own grave! They will not have a good end!" A thunderous cheer erupted from below, their morale soaring. Looking at them, Xiaoxue saw the complex emotions in her two older brothers' eyes—joy, surprise, and a mixture of worry—and she herself was overwhelmed with mixed feelings. From this moment on, her fate had completely changed. She was no longer that willful, spoiled little girl; she could never go back to the past. Having chosen this path, she could only continue walking it, ever on. Because—she had something she had to protect. ==================================== This battle was won brilliantly; Prince Hitoshi and his son Minamoto no Yorimasa were all killed. When Tomomori and his army returned, Munemori, who had already received this good news, showed a smile that was rarely seen. Xiaoxue returned to her residence early and changed back into women's clothing. She didn't want too many people to know this secret; if her female identity were exposed, it might affect morale. "Miss, the Minister of the Interior requests your presence," Munemori's attendant suddenly announced at the door. "Okay, I understand." She replied casually. Why did Zongsheng want her to come over? But her performance this time didn't seem so bad, so it shouldn't be a reprimand, right? When she entered Zongsheng's room, she saw her three brothers there. "Xiaoxue, you did well this time." Zongsheng smiled slightly, and hearing this, she immediately felt relieved. Zongsheng looked at her, took a short sword from his waist, and said, "This small black sword is a family heirloom of the Genji clan. Father obtained it during the suppression of the rebellion. It is extremely sharp, and I'm giving it to you today." Xiaoxue was taken aback, and reached out to take the sword. From the outside, it seemed unremarkable, with black metal inlaid on the hilt. She gently drew the sword from its sheath, and the sharp light emitted by the blade caught her eye. Upon closer inspection, she realized that the sword was double-edged. "Third brother, isn't this double-edged sword a bit dangerous for Xiaoxue? I'm afraid Xiaoxue will hurt herself," Chongheng couldn't help but ask. Zong Sheng gazed intently at Xiao Xue and said, "Xiao Xue will absolutely not hurt herself; this knife will only be stained with the blood of the enemy. Right?" "Of course," Xiao Xue replied, standing up and casually demonstrating her skills. The knife was light and thin; it was more like a sword than a knife, and she wielded it more skillfully than her usual sword. "If you're going to force yourself, then forget it," Zhi Sheng added from the side. Xiao Xue shook her head and smiled, "Very well, thank you, Brother Zong Sheng." "Xiao Xue, you've had to go through so much trouble," Zong Sheng suddenly said softly, a complex look flashing in his eyes. Her brothers were worried about her, and her heart softened instantly. A big smile bloomed on her face as she quickly said, "What do you mean, 'it's not difficult'? I'm a member of the Heike clan too. Besides, fighting on the battlefield is much more exciting than I imagined. Don't worry, everyone." "Our little sister is truly a mistake in being born a girl; she's always been so clever and mischievous," Zhi Sheng suddenly laughed. "Exactly, exactly, we've all suffered at her hands, haven't we? Hehe, she's the one who caused the trouble, but we're the ones who got scolded." Chongheng laughed heartily. "Zhisheng, you always disliked Xiaoxue at first." Zongsheng said softly, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes. Zhisheng was taken aback, then laughed again, looking at Xiaoxue, and said in a deep voice, "I still haven't gotten along with this audacious little sister, but—" He paused, then said, "I've been a little unaccustomed to her absence these past few days, she seems a bit lonely." After he finished speaking, the surroundings seemed to fall silent all at once. Zongsheng and Chongheng both seemed to be deep in thought. "So, now that I'm back, you two better watch out. I promise, I definitely won't let you feel lonely." Xiaoxue said, a mischievous smile appearing on her face. "That sounds a bit dangerous." Zongsheng narrowed his eyes. "Then, Fourth Brother, I'd rather choose loneliness." Chongheng patted Zhisheng's shoulder with a smile. Zhisheng looked at Xiaoxue and smiled back, softly saying, "Crazy girl." She was happy, wasn't she? At least she still had these dear brothers who loved and cared for her. So, for them, for this family, for protecting this precious kinship, what couldn't she do? If it could protect everything before her, what did it matter if she killed someone? What did it matter if her knife was stained with the enemy's blood? She would never back down. For them, she didn't want to back down. Let herself continue being a cruel murderer she herself hated, because—it was worth it. It was just—a strange sadness welled up inside her. =================================================== I wonder if Fujiwara Shigenori will come by tonight? But he probably wouldn't dare come. He actually dared to flirt with her; he must have a death wish! If she saw him again, she'd definitely teach him a lesson. "Little bird, I'm so glad you're still standing here." This Fujiwara no Narufumi actually had the guts to come. Hearing his voice, Xiaoxue turned around. Today, Fujiwara no Narufumi was only wearing a simple, pure white hunting robe, his lips always bearing that calm and elegant smile. She snorted and said, "You still have the guts to come? Aren't you afraid I'll settle the score with you?" He smiled even more charmingly and said, "Didn't I come here voluntarily, so you could settle the score?" Seeing his nonchalant expression, Xiaoxue suddenly had the urge to play a prank. She smiled sweetly at him and said, "How could I really settle the score with you? Hehe, I know you're joking..." As she spoke, she slowly approached him. Taking advantage of his distraction while fanning himself, she suddenly drew her small black gold knife, leaped forward, and stabbed at his black hat. She had perfect timing; she only wanted to scare him. And she was sure he would dodge. But to her surprise, he didn't move at all. The knife was too fast; she was startled and tried to pull back, but the blade was too sharp, piercing through the hat and severing his hair tie with its chilling force. In an instant, his long, black hair cascaded down like a waterfall. "Are you an idiot? Why didn't you dodge?" She dropped the knife and quickly checked him for injuries. He kept his head down, silent, his long hair obscuring his face, making it impossible to see his expression or where he was injured. This silence made her uneasy. "Sungfan, are you alright?" Her voice softened. "Are you hurt? Say something!" Her voice grew anxious. Suddenly, a soft laugh rang out. Cheng Fan looked up, lifting the long hair that had been obscuring his face, and said, "Why would I hide? How could you possibly kill me? Hehe, isn't that right?" "You, you're playing me!" She was furious and about to throw a punch when he suddenly grabbed her hand. He gazed at her and said softly, "Little bird, I know. The person they're talking about wearing the ghost mask is you." Cheng Fan's long hair fluttered slightly in the wind. Beneath his unbuttoned white hunting robe, a blue brocade undergarment was faintly visible. In the moonlight, he appeared even more dashing, noble yet languid, carefree yet unrestrained. What surprised Xiao Xue wasn't his unparalleled beauty, but the rare seriousness on his face. His eyes, usually warm as spring water, seemed to have been slightly opened, revealing an unfathomable expression. “Yes, it was me. I personally shot and killed Prince Yiren. I killed many enemies. How about that? You didn't teach me for nothing, did you?” Her heart trembled, and she tried to speak with an excited tone. He didn't speak, but just gazed at her. Suddenly, he reached out his other hand and gently touched the corner of her mouth, whispering, “Is the little bird smiling like this in its heart too?” His gentle words were like a switch that turned on a valve, and Xiaoxue's body began to tremble, her feigned composure about to crumble. “You can borrow my shoulder.” He smiled. Xiaoxue gazed at him, then suddenly gently rested her head against his chest. Cheng Fan was slightly taken aback, and immediately reached out to embrace her. “I killed so many people. Unlike the accidental killings last time, this time I killed them intentionally. Their blood splattered everywhere, on my hands, my body, my clothes. Their expressions before they died were so terrifying. There were bloody corpses all around me, and the air was filled with a suffocating stench of blood. My hands and my sword were covered in blood. I was so scared. I really hate myself. I'm a murderer, an executioner. I hate war, I hate…” She gripped his collar tightly, seemingly talking to herself, venting her emotions. His heart ached slightly. He pulled her closer, lowered his head, and gently stroked her head with his chin. *Fool. If you had married me sooner, none of this would have happened. Why are you suffering like this?* This thought suddenly crossed his mind. “Since you’ve chosen this path, walk it without hesitation. As long as you feel it’s worth it, as long as you protect what’s important, it’s worth it, isn’t that what you said?” he said softly. "Yes, I know. I just hate the feeling of killing. Maybe it's because I'm not used to it yet," she replied softly. "I can't tell my brothers, I'm afraid they'll worry." "Then... does it feel better to say it out loud?" he smiled. "Yes." After a long while, he moved slightly. "Don't be so stingy, it won't hurt you to lend me your shoulder a little longer!" she suddenly noticed and said bluntly. "That's not what I meant," he said innocently. "Just... just a little longer..." she murmured, "Soon, I'll be completely used to it..." "Idiot—no one will hate you," he said helplessly, hugging her even tighter, something deep inside him seemed to be slowly melting. The black incense emanating from Cheng Fan's clothes was really comforting, and the uncomfortable, suffocating feeling in his heart seemed to be disappearing... Just a little longer... just a little longer... and it will be alright...

The main text is filled with continuous battles

[Updated: 2005-12-27 0:07:45 Word Count: 4269]

In the days that followed, sporadic rebellions broke out among the Minamoto clan in Owari and other areas. Following Shigehira's army, she suppressed several rebellions. Koyuki gradually became accustomed to the bloodshed of the battlefield, especially after annihilating three thousand careless Minamoto troops crossing the Owari River on its west bank, which greatly boosted morale within the army. Koyuki, who had killed countless enemies, was also feared for her elegant and ruthless throat-piercing technique. No one knew who this young samurai was; they only knew that he always wore that terrifying demon mask. So the Minamoto clan simply called him—Demon Mask. "Hehe, Demon Mask is a good nickname, quite scary." Hearing the spread of this nickname, Koyuki couldn't help but laugh. When did she become so famous? Her three brothers were looking at her with those eyes again. Here they came again. She hated it when they looked at her with that pitying gaze; it made her feel uncomfortable. "Oh dear, what's wrong? Your little sister has such a cool nickname, I'm happy about it." She said with a grin. “Maybe I really shouldn’t have dragged you into this.” Zong Sheng’s face was devoid of any smile. “What’s wrong? I really like this nickname.” She continued to smile. “What woman would like to be called that kind of nickname?” Zhi Sheng also said expressionlessly. “What’s wrong? You’re all acting so strangely. Okay, I’m going out first.” Xiao Xue also stopped smiling; why were all her brothers acting so weird? Just as she stepped out the door, Chong Heng caught up and grabbed her. “What, are you going to give me that attitude too?” she said irritably. “Xiaoxue, are you really not understanding, or are you pretending?” His tone became somewhat agitated. “We’re all heartbroken, you understand? You should have been living a comfortable life as a noble lady, but we made a mistake and dragged you into this mess. It’s heartbreaking, you understand?” Her expression softened, and she looked at him firmly, saying, “But this is my own choice, and I don’t regret it. I love the feeling of fighting alongside my brothers, really. I don’t like staying at home anxiously waiting for your battle reports. I want to share your pain.” Chongheng gazed deeply at her, reached out, gently lifted Xiaoxue’s chin, and whispered, “Actually, who knows that beneath the ghost mask lies such a captivating face?” His gaze began to wander, a look that seemed less like he was looking at his sister and more like he was looking at his beloved. Xiaoxue was momentarily captivated by his deep, hazy eyes, momentarily dizzy, before suddenly snapping out of her daze. "Brother Chongheng!" she called out hastily. Startled by her call, Chongheng immediately snapped out of his reverie, quickly releasing her hand and smiling, "Alright, you should go and rest too. I have something to discuss with Third Brother and the others." Xiaoxue nodded and left. Watching Xiaoxue's departing figure, a bitter feeling welled up in Chongheng's heart again. ====================================== The peaceful days lasted only a few months. In early June, the Minamoto clans of Omi, Mino, and Owari provinces finally rose up in rebellion. Not only the Minamoto clans of the eastern provinces, but also powerful clans of Kyushu such as Ogata, Usuki, Totsugi, and Matsuura, and powerful clans of Shikoku such as Kono, all rallied to support the Minamoto clan. The situation suddenly became extremely dire; the fighting seemed to be escalating. Among those who had risen in rebellion, the most powerful was Kiso Yoshinaka of Shinano. Yoshinaka was the son of Minamoto no Yoshitomo's younger brother, Yoshikata, and was adopted by the Kiso family, hence the name Kiso Yoshinaka. He was said to be incredibly brave and not to be underestimated. His forces rapidly increased after his uprising, advancing with overwhelming force, and were now almost at the border of Etsu-chu and Kaga provinces. In recent days, Munemori had been racking his brains over how to mobilize troops to suppress the uprisings across the land. Because the affected area was vast, his forces had to be dispersed. At this critical juncture, Shigehira suddenly fell ill, a huge loss for the Taira clan. Shigehira was not only a skilled warrior but also possessed considerable tactical acumen, holding a pivotal position in the Taira army. Left with no other choice, Munemori dispatched Tomomori and his uncle's son, Taira no Michimori, with an army of 100,000 to Etsu-chu to annihilate Yoshinaka. Inside Shigehira's room... "Third brother, I'm so useless..." Chongheng looked annoyed. He didn't know what illness he had contracted; he suddenly started vomiting and having diarrhea. Even the imperial physician and the Yin-Yang master couldn't figure it out, only saying it was an invasion of evil wind and he needed to rest. "Don't blame yourself; there's nothing you can do about being sick," Zongsheng said, his eyes filled with gentleness as he looked at his younger brother. Xiaoxue gently patted his shoulder and said, "Don't worry, Chongheng brother. I'm going with Zhisheng brother this time, so don't worry." Looking at his somewhat haggard face, she couldn't help but feel worried and heartbroken. Compared to the battle, she was more worried about Chongheng's health. Among her brothers, Chongheng's place in her heart was irreplaceable. Zong Sheng smiled, a rare occurrence, and said, "Xiao Xue is right. Besides, we have 100,000 troops this time, while Kiso Yoshinaka only has about 50,000. The outcome is no longer in doubt. Just focus on recovering and wait for their good news." Shigeaki's expression softened, and he said, "No matter what, we can't underestimate them. I've heard that Yoshinaka is no ordinary person." He paused, then asked, "Where is Fourth Brother?" "Chimori is still in the palace. He should be back soon," Zong Sheng said softly. Shigeaki nodded, closing his eyes with a hint of helplessness. Just then, footsteps sounded, and the sliding door was quickly opened. Chimori, dressed in a black sash, rushed in anxiously. He was wearing court robes and hadn't had time to change into casual clothes, indicating that he had come straight here after leaving the palace. "Chimori, what's wrong?" Zong Sheng frowned slightly. "Third Brother, Minamoto no Yoritomo, who was exiled to Izu, has also raised an army with his father-in-law, Hojo Tokimasa, in Kamakura near Izu! The rebels have already set off for Fujigawa!" His usually calm face showed a hint of anxiety. Hearing this, Koyuki's body trembled. Minamoto no Yoritomo had indeed raised an army. What about Yoshitsune? Yoshitsune would surely follow his brother. Were they truly destined to meet on the battlefield? Although she had considered this possibility before, hearing it with her own ears was still hard to accept. The suffocating feeling in her chest gradually spread to her fingertips, seeping out a slight, dull pain. This day would eventually come. There was no escaping it. "Tomomori is going to attack Yoshinaka now. I think we should send my eldest brother's eldest son, Taira no Koremori, to Fujigawa. He, like Shigehira, holds the rank of third-level lieutenant general; he should be a suitable candidate," Munemori said after thinking for a moment. "Third Brother, my illness...it's really too untimely," Shigehira said, his brows furrowed, his face filled with resentment. “Shigehira, don’t blame yourself. We’ll definitely win easily this time too. Just wait for our good news,” Tomomori comforted him. “However, Fourth Brother, besides the 20,000 to 30,000 troops sent to Fujikawa and other places, and the few thousand stationed in Kyoto, the 100,000 troops you’ve mobilized here are almost the entirety of the Taira army. Annihilating Yoshinaka is a crucial battle; otherwise, they could easily march into Kyoto.” Shigehira still reminded him with some unease. “Alright, Shigehira-nii, don’t worry about it anymore. Don’t forget about me, the Demon Mask who strikes fear into the hearts of the enemy.” Koyuki had calmed herself down and gave Shigehira a smile. No matter what happens in the future, she had to pull herself together and be strong now, for her family, for her brothers, and for her mother. She shouldn’t think about things that disturb her peace of mind. Shigehira laughed at her words, saying, “When did you become someone who strikes fear into the hearts of the enemy? You must have just made that up yourself.” Munemori and Tomomori also laughed. "Fourth Brother, please keep an eye on this girl for me, make sure she doesn't get hurt." Chongheng smiled, a fleeting hint of worry in his eyes. Zhisheng reached out and tapped Xiaoxue's head, saying, "This girl isn't easily hurt. Don't worry, I'll definitely bring her back safely." "Hey, brothers, why are you saying that? It sounds like I'm a burden." She protested indignantly. "That's right." Zhisheng tapped her again without hesitation. "Brother Zhisheng, why are you being so rude? A gentleman uses words, not fists. How can you hit me like that? How can you be so rude?" Xiaoxue shook her head, mimicking Zhisheng's old tone. Zongsheng and Chongheng both laughed. Zhisheng's face stiffened for a moment, then his lips relaxed, and he couldn't help but laugh as well. "I'm not a burden at all! I'm feared by the enemy, renowned for my might and bravery..." Xiaoxue continued her incessant chatter. "Chongheng, you should rest now. I have something to do, so I'll head out first." Zongsheng, clearly unable to bear it any longer, quickly interrupted Xiaoxue and got up to leave. "Third brother, I'll go with you." Zhisheng also hurriedly got up, seemingly wanting to escape his terrifying sister's nagging voice as soon as possible. "Hahaha!" Xiaoxue laughed loudly as she watched her two brothers leave rather inelegantly. She turned her head and mischievously looked at Chongheng lying on the soft couch. Chongheng suddenly felt a chill and quickly said, "I... I'm sick. You wouldn't torture a sick person like this, would you?" "No, no, I know Brother Chongheng is the best to me." Xiaoxue smiled gently. Brother Chongheng looked so cute like this. "Xiaoxue, promise me you'll come back safe and sound." Chongheng's smile faded, and he looked at her earnestly. Xiaoxue nodded heavily and smiled, "Definitely. When I come back, you must get better, otherwise I'll nag you every day." A smile appeared on his lips, and he nodded gently. Brother Chongheng, you must get better. She silently prayed in her heart, this time we will definitely return victorious soon, we definitely will. But Xiaoxue and her brothers didn't know that what awaited them was a nightmare they would never forget. ========================================= When Tomomori and Michimori's 100,000-strong army arrived in Echizen, their first target was the gateway to the heart of Echizen, the castle of Hitachi. The castle was fortified and the terrain was treacherous. To hinder the Taira army's advance, Kiso Yoshinaka's troops built a dam at a suitable river confluence, creating a large artificial lake in front of Hitachi Castle. The Taira army, unprepared for the vast expanse of water, had neither ships nor the ability to requisition any nearby vessels, and were forced to temporarily encamp on high ground, fretting about their fate. Perhaps by chance, the Genji general Saimei Ikishi, responsible for defending the artificial lake, was a fence-sitter. Seeing the approaching 100,000-strong Taira army, he had already begun to waver. He wrote a letter, attached it to an arrow, and shot it into Tomomori's camp, informing him of the location of the dam on the artificial lake and offering to act as an inside agent for the Taira army. Tomomori was overjoyed upon receiving the letter and secretly dispatched skilled soldiers to breach the dam, drain the lake, and, with Ikishi's assistance, capture the castle. The Genji soldiers defending the castle fought valiantly, but were ultimately outnumbered and forced to retreat towards Kaga. The Taira army, riding high on its momentum, then easily captured Hayashi Castle and Togashi Castle. The situation seemed to be going very well. That night, the Taira army set up camp and rested. Inside Tomomori's main camp... "Brother Zhisheng, what are you planning to do next?" Xiaoxue asked softly. Since they were inside Zhisheng's tent, Xiaoxue removed her mask as she spoke. Zhisheng seemed not to hear her, only gazing at her face. "What's wrong? Is there something on my face?" Xiaoxue was a little confused by his gaze. He looked at her and said, "I'm thinking, when will you be able to never have to wear that thing again?" A hint of heartache flashed in his eyes. Why was her brother thinking about this at a time like this? Xiaoxue smiled and said, "I think it will be soon. Once the rebellion across the country is suppressed, I won't need to lead them anymore." A hint of amusement flashed in Zhisheng's eyes, and he nodded, saying, "That's true. I plan to have Tongsheng and 30,000 troops as reinforcements. Tomorrow, I will lead another 70,000 troops across Mount Tiramisu to fight Yoshinaka's forces. With 70,000 against 50,000, we still have the advantage. Xiaoxue, you should stay too." Xiaoxue shook her head, saying, "I don't want to stay. I want to fight alongside you. I'm not afraid." Zhisheng looked at her, a slow smile spreading across his lips, and said, "Good, you truly are one of our Taira clan. Then tomorrow, let's have a good fight, brother and sister, and annihilate Yoshinaka's forces." "However, Brother Zhisheng, what is the terrain like on Mount Tiramisu?" Xiaoxue asked. Familiarity with the surrounding terrain is crucial for victory in any battle. Zhisheng frowned slightly and said, "We are not familiar with the terrain of Mount Tiramisu. We have only heard that the mountain is steep and the Kurikara Valley is very dangerous. So it would be best to cross the mountain range and fight Yoshinaka's troops in an open area. Only in this way can our numerical advantage be revealed." Hearing Zhisheng's words, it seemed that he was somewhat unfamiliar with the terrain. Xiaoxue suddenly felt uneasy.

The main text: The Soul of Gara

[Updated: 2005-12-27 0:09:02 Word Count: 5399]

The next day, just as dawn broke, Tomomori led his 70,000-strong army across Mount Tōran. By nearly noon, almost all 70,000 troops had reached the summit. Meanwhile, Yoshinaka's Minamoto army was already waiting on the other side of the summit. The Taira and Minamoto armies were locked in a stalemate on the mountaintop, no more than three chō (a unit of distance). The Minamoto army was no longer advancing, and the Taira army was holding its ground. "Brother Tomomori, it seems like the Minamoto army is waiting for us," Koyuki whispered in Tomomori's ear. Tomomori frowned slightly and said, "We can't launch an overwhelming attack from this terrain. We can only wait and see." Koyuki looked around. It seemed to be a canyon, and the terrain looked very treacherous. Could this be the Kurikara Valley? Koyuki looked across and could only vaguely make out several generals in armor, but she couldn't tell which one was Kiso Yoshinaka. Suddenly, a young samurai on horseback, spear in hand, charged out from the Minamoto army, heading straight for the Taira army. He proclaimed loudly, "I am Fubuki Takanashi! Who among you dares to fight me?" Wasn't this a blatant provocation? Immediately, commotion erupted within the Taira army, the young samurai rising in anger. Xiaoxue, filled with rage, was about to rush out when Tomomori blocked her way. "Wait," he said in a deep voice. Even with this block, a Taira soldier immediately charged forward. After announcing his name, he immediately engaged the samurai named Takanashi. Before long, the Taira samurai was cut down from his horse, and another immediately rushed out, beheading Takanashi after a few moves. With Takanashi dead, the Minamoto army also immediately rushed out, continuing the fight. This back-and-forth continued until darkness gradually fell, and the two sides showed no sign of stopping. Xiaoxue felt increasingly uneasy; this situation seemed rather strange. "Brother Zhisheng, something seems wrong. The enemy seems to be stalling for time," she whispered a reminder. Zhisheng looked ahead thoughtfully and said, "There are cliffs all around here. They can't pull any tricks. They'll be wiped out sooner or later!" Seeing his words, Xiaoxue didn't say anything more. After all, she was a latecomer to military affairs, and her brothers were more experienced in military campaigns. "Ah-----" A scream rang out as another Taira samurai was cut down from his horse. The Minamoto samurai named Yamada Jiro had already killed four Taira samurai. For a moment, no one from the Taira side went out to fight. Yamada Jiro, with an arrogant look on his face, shouted, "Is there no one left in the Taira clan? Is this all the Taira samurai are capable of?" Zhisheng's face turned pale, and he was about to lash out when Xiaoxue quickly stopped him, lowering her voice. "You can't go out. You are the commander-in-chief. If you go out, it will lower your status. The other commanders can't go either. Let me go." Zhisheng looked at her, thought for a while, and then nodded. Xiaoxue nodded and immediately rode out of the formation. As soon as she left, a small commotion arose among the Yuan family's troops, with faint whispers of "Oni-Faced," and "He's Oni-Faced." She smiled slightly; it seemed she was quite well-known after all. Yamada Jiro's expression changed slightly upon seeing her. He introduced himself again and waited for Xiaoxue to speak. Xiaoxue chuckled inwardly. Why would she speak? Since the start of the campaign, she had never announced herself before the enemy. She always spoke in hushed tones with Tomomori and never spoke to others. If she spoke, her soft voice would give her away, failing to intimidate the enemy. She simply drew her small black sword slowly, remaining silent. Seeing her like this, Yamada Jiro was enraged, taking it as contempt for him, and began to hurl insults: "Why aren't you speaking? Is the ruthless Oni Mask a mute? Hahaha, the Taira clan only sent a mute—" A flash of cold light appeared, and his voice abruptly stopped. He looked down in horror at the bloodstain on his throat. As soon as he looked up, blood gushed out like a fountain from the bloodstain, instantly staining his entire body crimson. On his snow-white warhorse, it bloomed like an ink painting, with incomparably vivid crimson flowers. A hush fell over the surroundings. The Genji and Taira clans stared in astonishment and fear at the legendary, ruthless Oni Mask. Xiaoxue, dressed in a deep purple robe, simply took a handkerchief from her bosom and gently wiped her sword, not even glancing at Yamada Jiro, who had fallen from his horse, as if nothing had happened. She suddenly raised her head, coldly looking at the Genji army from behind the hideous Oni Mask, as if asking: Who's next? After a while, several warriors mustered their courage and stepped forward from the Minamoto army, only to be cut down one by one by her. After a short wait, with no one from the Minamoto family venturing out, a clear, melodious female voice suddenly rang out from the enemy camp: "Then let me, Tomoe Gozen, experience it for myself." As soon as the words were spoken, a woman rode out. This woman, clad in red and white armor, had long, flowing black hair that reached the ground like a cascading waterfall. Her eyes were shimmering with a captivating light, a mixture of amusement and amusement, gentle yet not seductive, beautiful yet not gaudy. What a wonderful woman! Xiaoxue couldn't help but inwardly exclaim in admiration. Tomoe Gozen—she seemed to have heard Munemori mention her; this must be her, the beloved concubine of Kiso Yoshinaka, a remarkable woman known as the most beautiful and bravest woman in Kanto. She smiled slightly, radiating a dazzling brilliance that even Xiaoxue, a woman herself, couldn't help but be mesmerized. But despite the allure, when her long sword came slashing down, Xiaoxue quickly regained her composure. At this moment, Tomoe Gozen, wielding her sword, had a hint of murderous intent in her eyes. Her every move was incredibly sharp. Koyuki, not daring to underestimate her, focused all her attention on the duel. One was a cold-blooded demon who killed without blinking an eye, the other a beautiful and valiant warrior who had achieved great feats. One possessed a deadly ruthlessness beneath her elegant appearance, the other had an aura that seemed capable of cleaving heaven and earth. Their duel opened the eyes of the samurai from both the Genpei and Taira armies. They exchanged blows for about fifty or sixty moves, still unable to determine a winner. After these fifty or sixty moves, the two developed a mutual respect. Tomoe Gozen had more admiration for this Taira samurai, after all, few could withstand ten moves from her blade, and Koyuki felt a good impression of this extraordinary woman. If they weren't enemies, they might even become good friends. "Clang!" Their blades clashed heavily again, producing a crisp metallic sound. The force was so great that both of their mounts staggered back a few steps. Tomoe Gozen suddenly laughed, sheathed her sword, and said loudly, "That's enough for today. I've learned my lesson; the Taira clan is indeed full of hidden talents." Her eyes burned as she looked at Koyuki, making no attempt to hide her admiration. Koyuki nodded slightly in return and slowly retreated. Tomomori gave her an approving look, and she smiled softly, a smile that was hard to tell whether it was joy or helplessness. She was probably becoming increasingly famous, and this kind of fame was rather pathetic. As she thought this, she glanced at the Minamoto army. The Minamoto army looked quite well-organized, but compared to her own 70,000 troops, they were significantly smaller. Wait a minute, they also had 50,000 troops, so why did they look so much smaller? "They have 50,000 troops, so why do they look so few? It seems like only 20,000 or 30,000," Koyuki couldn't help but say again. Tomomori said dismissively, "We also split into two groups, so they might also..." He suddenly stopped, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. "Could they be lying in ambush somewhere?" Xiaoxue finally asked anxiously. "Probably not. This place is all cliffs and precipices. How could they possibly come up from the side?" Zhisheng calmed himself down. But we're not familiar with this place. Xiaoxue looked at the sky with worry. It was completely dark, and even the moonlight was obscured. How long would this take? Just then, a general from the Minamoto army suddenly fired a signal arrow into the sky, the loud sound instantly echoing through the heavens. Before the Taira clan could react, Xiaoxue and Zhisheng turned around and were shocked to find a sea of Minamoto banners behind them, like a vast army surging towards them. "Oh no! They've flanked us from behind!" Xiaoxue panicked and looked at Zhisheng. Zhisheng's face had changed color, and he shouted incredulously, "How did they manage to get to our rear?!" Xiaoxue was shocked. So their delaying tactics were a cover for a sneak attack. Suddenly, the Genji warriors at the front and rear began banging on their quivers and shouting loudly. The earth-shattering roars echoed through the valley, sounding as if hundreds of thousands of people were shouting together, or as if mountains were collapsing and rivers were flowing. The Taira army was thrown into chaos. The Taira warriors were terrified and panicked, thinking they had been surrounded by a powerful enemy force, and they scattered and fled. The scene collapsed instantly. All that could be heard was men and horses falling, screams of agony. Koyuki had never seen such a scene before and was almost thrown from her horse. Cold sweat broke out on her brow. Was she going to die here today? "Koyuki, stay close to me!" Tomomori shouted as he spurred his horse to Koyuki's side. He tightened the reins and yelled, "Don't run away! Don't panic! Everyone, stay calm!" But his voice was so insignificant amidst the deafening sounds of the Genji warriors banging on their quivers and shouting. All around was pitch black, and Xiaoxue couldn't even see his face clearly; it must have been frighteningly pale. What should she do now? She didn't want to die. She had so many people she cared about: Zongsheng, Shigehira, Fujiwara no Narifumi, Yoshitsune. No, she couldn't die, and she couldn't let Zhisheng die. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. All around were cliffs; if this continued, she would either fall off or be trampled to death. She absolutely couldn't be pushed off her horse now. "Brother, don't get off! Don't go outwards! Go to the middle!" she shouted with all her might in Zhisheng's ear, not knowing if he heard her. In an instant, she was pushed to the side. When she looked again, Zhisheng was completely gone. "Brother! Zhisheng!" she cried out in panic. Zhisheng was also shouting Xiaoxue's name at the same time, but his weak voice was immediately drowned out by the enemy's roar. There was no time to think. Looking at the chaotic, disorganized Taira army, she spurred her horse and galloped towards the center. She couldn't see anything clearly, only hear screams all around her. Her eyes widened as she scanned the shadows around her. Suddenly, she saw a massive object ahead, resembling a large tree, surrounded by people. She quickly reined in her horse, using it as a reference point, no longer daring to advance. People kept jostling around her. She gripped the reins tightly, maintaining her balance, while frantically searching for Tomomori's figure in the darkness. "Brother Tomomori, please, please don't be hurt! He's so calm, he should be alright, he definitely will." Her heart was in her throat; she felt like she couldn't breathe. At this moment, the 70,000 Taira warriors, unable to hear commands, surged forward, many being pushed into the deep Kurikara Valley. The remaining warriors, unable to discern the path in the darkness, assumed those who had fallen to the bottom had found a way out. Unable to see those who had jumped first, they too, led by their generals, rushed to the bottom. In an instant, fathers jumped, sons jumped; brothers jumped, brothers jumped; masters jumped, retainers jumped. Horses fell, men fell from their mounts; a scene of carnage unfolded near Kurikara Valley, the mournful cries echoing through the valley like those of a demon incarnate. Xiaoxue trembled uncontrollably. How could this be? How could the Taira warriors have collapsed so quickly? The heart-wrenching screams seemed to pierce her eardrums; her heart could not bear it. Stop it, stop it! If this continues, she too will break down… "Chimori-nii, Chimori-nii!" she cried out, her throat burning and her voice hoarse. She refused to give up hope, hoping her brother would hear her cries. Tears streamed uncontrollably beneath her mask; she never wanted to experience such a terrifying scene again. She must be dreaming, a terrible nightmare. After a while, the roars of the Genji warriors began to subside. Suddenly, a rider charged towards her. She couldn't see the person clearly, but the rider was still shouting, "Calm down! Calm down! Come back! It's a canyon over there! Don't jump!" She froze. It sounded like Chimori's voice, but it was terribly hoarse, as if he'd used up all his strength. "Chimori-nii!" she cried out. The figure jolted and moved closer. Xiaoxue finally made out the person's outline—it was Chimori. Overjoyed, she was speechless. Suddenly, a pair of hands touched her face. "Is that you? Xiaoxue, are you hurt? Are you hurt?" Zhisheng asked anxiously, frantically touching her face, her hands, her shoulders... "I'm fine," Xiaoxue said, feeling dizzy and unable to hold on any longer. Her body went limp, and she was about to fall off her horse. Just before she fell, she felt a pair of strong hands catch her. ===================================================== After an unknown amount of time, the sky finally began to brighten. When Xiaoxue opened her eyes, she found herself leaning against a tree. She glanced around and saw only a few dozen scattered warriors on the vast mountaintop. She was immediately shocked and jumped up. Even the Yuan family army was gone! Where were the 70,000 Taira family soldiers? Where was they? Where was her brother Zhisheng? She quickly searched again, and looking up, she saw him standing on the edge of the cliff, his back to her. She ran over and stood behind Chisei, whose body seemed to be trembling. "Brother Chisei, what's wrong? Where are our samurai?" she asked softly. Hearing this, Chisei trembled even more violently. "Brother?" Xiaoxue began to feel afraid, a deep sense of fear spreading from the depths of her heart. "Where are the Minamoto army?" "They should be pursuing the 30,000 Taira army that had lagged behind." His voice also trembled slightly. "Then... our samurai..." Xiaoxue dared not ask any further. "Here." Chisei's gaze was ------------------ looking down into the valley. Xiaoxue slowly moved to the edge of the cliff, and as soon as she looked down, her mind went blank. She stumbled and almost fell. The valley floor was piled high with the corpses of Taira warriors and their horses. The stream had turned crimson, flesh and bones were rotting, blood flowed like rivers, and the bodies piled up like mountains. The entire stream gleamed a terrifying crimson light under the sunlight. As far as the eye could see, there were no intact corpses; blood and flesh were everywhere. This Kurikara Valley was like a living, breathing corpse-strewn field, a hell on earth. Xiaoxue collapsed to the ground, waves of nausea washing over her. She was on the verge of collapse. How could this be? Seventy thousand soldiers! Had they all perished in this hell? They hadn't even officially engaged in battle, and they had already lost? How could she accept this? These seventy thousand innocent souls, how could she accept this? She glanced blankly at Zhisheng. Could he—could he hold on? "Brother Zhisheng," she called softly. Zhisheng slowly turned around, his face deathly pale, two silent tears streaming down his cheeks. He looked at Xiaoxue, then suddenly knelt down, embracing her tightly, and began to sob painfully. The sobs grew louder, his body trembling violently as he desperately suppressed his cries. "Just cry if you want to..." Xiaoxue whispered. His sobs erupted suddenly, and Xiaoxue's heart ached as if pierced by needles. This was the first time she had seen Zhisheng cry so openly; his hoarse, sorrowful cries felt like whips lashing her heart. Men don't easily shed tears, but this time, what man could remain unmoved? Seventy thousand soldiers, seventy thousand vibrant lives, swallowed up overnight by this demonic canyon. She knew this defeat was devastating, and she knew even more that the Taira clan could no longer muster such a large army... Beneath the mask, Xiaoxue's tears had already soaked her clothes. Why? Why did she know nothing of this history? Why couldn't she help at all? Under the rising sun, the canyon was silent, as if nothing had ever happened, except for Zhisheng's heart-wrenching cries, echoing mournfully in the deep Kurikara Canyon. ...