Sept nuits de neige

Chapitre 4

The smile lingered on his lips, refusing to fade.

The junior brothers were buying food and drink, while the junior sisters were adorning themselves with necklaces and embroidering wedding gowns. At this moment, Xu Ziqing was probably excitedly tumbling around in his room. At this moment, Gu Yan, with a shy blush, was declaring her happiness with gentle, affectionate eyes. The entire Xiaoyao Manor was filled with joy, except for him, who remained isolated outside.

Like an outsider.

Nineteen gently covered her lips. An outsider. She had lived in Xiaoyao Manor for seventeen years, yet she had become an outsider.

Even her master advised her to go down the mountain.

Even her master didn't want her anymore.

Indeed, there is truly no place of peace on earth.

Tian Man ran over again, looking like a mud monkey, and asked Tang Shijiu, "Senior Sister, are you crying?" Tang Shijiu stared blankly for a moment, then reached out and touched her face, only to find it covered in tears.

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, Tang Shijiu squatted on the ground and burst into tears.

Tian Man was so flustered by the crying that he frantically rubbed his muddy little hands on Tang Shijiu's face, making her rouge a mess and turning her into a smeared cat.

"Senior Sister, if you don't like Senior Sister Gu, then I don't like Senior Sister Gu either."

Tang Shijiu sobbed, unsure how to explain to her that her sadness wasn't entirely due to Gu Yan and Xu Ziqing's marriage. Seeing her still heartbroken, Tian Man was filled with righteous indignation: "Senior Sister, I'll go and cause trouble for Senior Sister Gu, so she can't get married."

Tang Shijiu wiped his face with his sleeve: "Tian Hou'er, don't go. Even if we can't get married, he doesn't have me in his heart. Even if he's with me every day, he's thinking about someone else. I won't be happy like that."

Tian Manman was completely confused: "Senior brother, who are you thinking about? And how do you know, senior sister?"

Tang Shijiu couldn't explain, so she just waved her hand and said, "Listen to your senior sister, don't go." She took out her handkerchief from her bosom, but after feeling around for a long time, she couldn't find anything. She guessed that she had forgotten to bring it again when she got up in the morning.

She gave a bitter smile to herself. No wonder Xu Ziqing didn't like her; he didn't even bring a handkerchief. How could he be considered a girl? Lifting up her hem, she didn't care about the dirt and carefully wiped Tian Man's dirty face and hands. "After your Senior Brother Xu's wedding, I'll be going down the mountain. After I go down the mountain, take care of yourself and wash yourself clean every day. Don't let your senior brothers and sisters bully you... and don't let Senior Sister Gu Yan look down on you."

Upon hearing that Tang Shijiu was leaving, Tian Man pouted and was about to cry. Tang Shijiu frowned: "A real man doesn't cry anymore. Listen to your senior sister, don't cry!"

Tears welled up in her eyes, and her nose stung, but Tian Man forced herself to hold them back: "Yes, Senior Sister, Tian Man won't cry."

On the evening of the third day, the auspicious time for the wedding, Gu Yan was lost in thought, combing her glossy black hair. The senior sister who was dressing her up said with a smile, "Junior Sister Gu, you look truly radiant and beautiful with this makeover. You're miles ahead of that other one."

Gu Yan raised her big, bright eyes and gave a shy smile: "Senior sister, really, how can Xiao Yan compare to Senior Sister Tang? Senior Sister Tang is the truly beautiful one."

No matter how beautiful she is, Xu Ziqing is not hers.

Gu Yan lowered her eyes meekly, a cold smile playing on her lips. Xu Ziqing wasn't Tang Shijiu's, so how could she, Gu Yan, be bound by a mere Xu Ziqing?

A scarlet veil concealed her beautiful face. Gu Yan slowly stood up and curtsied to her senior sisters: "Thank you all for your care. It was through your help that I was able to marry Xu Lang. If it weren't for your support, Senior Sister Tang would have certainly not forgiven me."

The women were delighted to hear her being so polite, and they all waved their hands in flattery, while also saying many bad things about Tang Shijiu.

Tang Shijiu was originally the most likely to inherit Xiaoyao Manor, but her master suddenly sent her down the mountain, leading everyone to speculate whether she had lost his favor.

Xu Ziqing, besides Tang Shijiu, is the most likely successor.

Anyone who doesn't rush to flatter you is a fool.

When the auspicious time for the wedding ceremony finally arrived, Tang Shijiu did not appear. People were somewhat disappointed; the wedding had been so lively and eventful, and everyone had secretly hoped that Tang Shijiu would cause a ruckus in the hall.

The bride and groom bowed to heaven and earth, and to their parents. Gu Yan and Xu Ziqing kowtowed three times earnestly to Xie Dongsheng. Xie Dongsheng, holding a cup of tea, felt a deep sense of comfort. More than ten years had passed in the blink of an eye; even his apprentice was getting married.

Just as the newlyweds were about to enter their bridal chamber, a red figure suddenly flashed at the door, and Tang Shijiu had already swept into the hall. Dressed in bright red, she was even more dazzling than the bride.

Her meticulously applied makeup was exceptionally exquisite, further highlighting her snow-white skin and exquisitely beautiful features. Upon hearing of her arrival, Gu Yan hurriedly and timidly hid behind Xu Ziqing.

Tang Shijiu, radiant and dashing, held a large jar of wine in her hands: "Junior brother, this is monkey wine from Xiaoyao Mountain. Senior sister brought it for you as a betrothal gift!"

Before anyone could react, Tang Shijiu patted the red clay seal of the bottle, lifted the jar, and took three deep gulps: "A beautiful woman must be paired with fine wine. Junior brothers and sisters, won't you have a taste?"

The strong liquor went down her throat, and she drank it hastily, her pretty face turning even redder. Compared to the shy Gu Yan, she possessed a more alluring beauty, captivating everyone's attention. Many of her junior brothers secretly compared her to Tang Shijiu, still finding her beauty more dazzling.

Xu Ziqing blushed and whispered, "Senior sister, don't be silly."

Tang Shijiu pressed his advantage: "How is this nonsense? This is a dowry I specially found. Will you drink it or not? Will you give me face?"

Before Xu Ziqing could say anything, his sleeve was tugged, and the person behind him had somehow appeared in front of him. Watching Gu Yan's movements, Xie Dongsheng raised an eyebrow slightly, but said nothing.

As she lifted the red veil, Gu Yan bowed gracefully to Tang Shijiu: "Thank you so much, Senior Sister, for coming to offer your congratulations."

Tang Shijiu laughed: "Of course, of course. It's rare for Junior Sister Gu to marry such a good husband at over eighteen years old, so you must keep a close eye on her."

Gu Yan blushed and said softly, "Senior Sister is a year younger than Junior Sister, yet her achievements are far greater. Junior Sister only married at eighteen, which is far too late. Senior Sister, with your talent, certainly wouldn't have done that." A gentle smile appeared on her lips, but her voice was no longer soft, "Junior Sister believes that Senior Sister Tang will definitely not lose to Junior Sister!"

Her eyes darted around, and everyone felt she was looking at them, yet it seemed she was only looking at Tang Shijiu: "With a talent like Senior Sister Tang, she will surely find her ideal husband before she turns nineteen. Otherwise, how could she live up to the title of Senior Sister?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Gu Yan picked up the wine jar on the ground, took a sip, and said, "As expected of the wine given by Senior Sister, it's delicious and fragrant!" Her eyes darted around slightly, and only Tang Shijiu could see the disdain in them. Reaching out to return the wine jar, Gu Yan's voice, as clear as a mosquito's buzz, pierced through her eardrums: "Senior Sister, you lost."

Tang Shijiu, her breath rippling with the effects of alcohol, proudly raised her head and declared loudly, "How can a senior sister allow her junior sister to look down on me? Therefore, I ask all my fellow disciples to bear witness: if I cannot find a suitable husband before my nineteenth birthday, I will voluntarily withdraw from the sect." Her gaze, sharp as a knife, swept lightly over Gu Yan. "And if I do find one?"

Gu Yan bit her lip, looking aggrieved, and said, "I didn't mean to force you, Senior Sister..."

Nineteen shouted, "What if I find it?!"

Gu Yan, her eyes brimming with tears, said, "Senior sister, that's really not what I meant..."

Xu Ziqing shielded Gu Yan, who was on the verge of tears, and said, "If you find her, my husband and I will also leave Xiaoyao Manor and never set foot there again!"

Gu Yan let out a soft moan and hid in his arms, seemingly terribly frightened. However, Tang Shijiu did not miss the victorious smile on her lips.

She wasn't afraid of what she saw.

It's enough that only she sees it.