Enter Chang Xiangsi and help Jingzhai fight

Chapter 191 Dusk Return

"We parted in the morning, but we still see each other in the evening..." I couldn't read any more, so I asked Ruofeng, "Ruofeng, how do you pronounce this word? What's the horse?"

Ruo Feng took a closer look and replied, "Miss, this is the word 'hiss'."

"Oh, thank you." My face turned red. I haven't had time to practice calligraphy recently. It's all relying on what I learned before. It seems that I need to improve more after this busy period.

"I saw the green mountains in the morning but they are still there in the evening. My horse neighs as I leave the house, thinking of my hometown. The green stream was once a dragon's lair, and I dare not rest in peace as the bamboo and rocks are like mountains."

After reading the poem Tu Shanjing wrote to me, I was lost in thought holding the letter.

"Young master is homesick. But the epidemic sounds very dangerous, so he is still 'uneasy'." Ruofeng said to me.

I nodded. Even though he was so busy, he still found time to write me a letter. I didn't ask for anything else.

"Miss, can you also write a letter back to the young master? Tell them that everything is fine in our house and don't worry about them." Ruo Feng said again.

"Okay, I'll just write a brief letter and he won't have to reply. It's more important for him to take care of his own business." I replied.

"That's fine! Young lady, take it and write first. I'll prepare the letter and send it to the study when you finish writing. The carrier pigeons and ravens were all transferred away a while ago, and a few of them were just released back today. When you finish writing today, it will arrive in a few days. It's much faster than asking someone to send it!" Ruo Feng bowed and walked towards the study.

I took the letter back to my room, found a piece of paper, and held the pen, but I couldn't start writing.

This is a family letter, right? What is it about? I have written so many words in the past, but now it is hard to write. I am afraid that if I write too much, it will seem to him that it is taking too much time. After thinking it over, I just drew a big red cross on the paper with cinnabar.

I thought about it, and then drew a small heart in ink on the back of the letter. This love hidden in my heart became a code that only I understood, and it went to him along with this thin piece of paper.

I took the written letter to the study, Ruofeng helped me seal it and sent it via Feishu.

By the time the peonies had fallen, we received news that the epidemic had been brought under control and was gradually coming to an end, and the government no longer had to rush to make masks and face towels and prepare supplies.

Most of the maids and old women have returned to their original daily lives and no longer do sewing and mending, so I have had a lot more free time.

I have been sitting for a long time recently, and my back and neck are always sore, so I simply called Xiaowei and Xiaohui to walk around the back garden for ten or so laps to stretch my muscles. I also brought some wine, cakes and pastries, and sat in the pavilion to enjoy the flowers of late spring and early summer.

I haven't been active for a long time, and I was so tired and sleepy when I got back to my room. Xiaowei is still young, and she has been very cooped up in the mansion recently. She still has the energy to go to some gathering outside with Xiaohui. I could only tell them to be careful and stay in the room.

I resisted the urge to sleep, or I would have trouble sleeping at night. I took out the manuscript account book I had written down and wanted to read some difficult words to wake myself up, but the more I read, the sleepier I became. The words were all mixed together and I couldn't think of them. Finally, I couldn't escape the sleepiness and fell asleep on the table.

As I was sleeping, I felt a cool breeze on my neck. I shivered and woke up reluctantly. I looked up and saw that it was already late outside. No wonder the wind coming in from the window had become colder.

I just stood up to close the window, and my peripheral vision swept across the room, and a piece of white clothing caught my eye.

I closed the window calmly, turned around and shot out six ice arrows.

The other party waved his hand, and his sleeves spread out like a green shadow. With a few tinkling sounds, ice arrows fell to the ground one after another.

I looked carefully and found that the other person was Tu Shanjing, whom I hadn't seen for a long time, standing in the dim light where dusk and night meet.

I stayed where I was, not daring to move or make a sound, fearing that it was a dream and he would disappear if I moved.

He smiled and said, "Did I scare you? Sorry. I saw you were asleep when I got back, so I didn't wake you."

I dared to speak out: "Is it really you?"

He took a step forward and said, "It's me. What? Someone is pretending to be me again? But your spiritual power hasn't declined. You are also very alert and have great skills."

I walked closer to him and smelled a hint of alcohol and a faint medicinal scent coming from him. It was different from the incense I used to smell, and it had a fresh and strange feel to it.

He looked down at me with a smile, and that look was very familiar.

"Yes, it is you, sir! I am not dreaming!" I said happily.

"Oh? How come you dreamed about me?" He raised his eyebrows and a mischievous look flashed across his eyes.

"Ahem!" I was speechless for a moment, so I coughed to cover it up and changed the subject, "Sir, you've come back this time. Does the epidemic have to end? Are you not leaving?"

He said "hmm" and continued, "I'm not leaving. There are some unfinished things over there, and I can do without them. I'll come back first and leave some shadow guards there." After that, he took out a small cloth bag from his arms, handed it to me, and said, "Tomorrow is not your birthday, so I came back in a hurry and didn't buy any good things unique to Hao Ling. I only brought back this. If you want anything, I'll go to the street with you to buy it tomorrow."

I paused, completely unaware that my birthday was tomorrow. After all, I was a fake Lanxiang, and I only knew that my real birthday was in June.

As I was thinking about it, I took the small cloth bag and opened it. I saw a smoothly polished wooden cross with totems and words engraved all over it. Unfortunately, I didn't recognize it and only smelled a faint fragrance.

"This was made by the most skilled craftsmen in the area, who were recommended by the local people of Haoling. Your method helped a lot during this visit. When someone asked me about it, I didn't dare to take all the credit, so I said that the Medicine Goddess had told me the method in a dream. As the story spread, it became known that there were disciples of the Medicine Goddess around me. To express their gratitude to you, they selected the best local Ruoqiao wood and engraved the ancient Haoling blessing on it. You carry it with you, and it will help you to clear your mind and sleep."

"Thank you, sir." I lifted it up and examined it carefully, my eyes getting hot. "Local people still rely on you for help. I just talk and do some mending."

"No, no, thanks to your method, otherwise I don't know how much more damage would have been done." He said. "It's just that I didn't know you still have some memories of the past?"

I stole a glance at him and saw a playful expression on his face.

"I..." I was speechless for a moment, not knowing what to say. Recalling the urgent situation that day, I spoke without planning my words, and he keenly caught the flaw in my words. This time he exposed me, but I really didn't want to lie in such a warm atmosphere, but I couldn't justify myself if I didn't lie, so I had to remain silent.

"And this symbol, what does it mean?" He stretched out his white fingers and drew a heart shape in the air.

This was another question I couldn’t answer. I bit my lip and blinked at him.

He looked at me, sighed and said, "Forget it. When you want to talk, you can tell me. I will just think that you just dreamed about it. I will go to pay my respects to grandma tomorrow morning and go out with you in the afternoon."

I was relieved to hear him stop asking questions, and said, "Sir, I don't want to buy anything. I only have one wish."

He looked down at me with a gentle expression and said softly, "What is it? Tell me."

"I want you to accompany me to see the flowers. Wear your green cloud gauze brocade dress."

He raised his eyebrows and said, "Look at the flowers? The best time to look at flowers has passed now. Why don't we look at them next year? I will definitely not go anywhere on your birthday next year."

"No, let's do it tomorrow. We can see whatever flowers are available."

He nodded: "Okay, then, I'll come to see you tomorrow afternoon, and we'll go out to see the flowers."

I nodded vigorously, almost making a pinky promise. Suddenly I remembered something, so I asked, "Sir, are you ready for dinner now? I'll ask the kitchen to light the fire?"

He touched his stomach and said with a smile, "I haven't eaten it yet. I didn't feel it until you said it, but now that you said it, I'm really a little hungry. I kind of miss the mansion--"

"Chicken stew!" I blurt out.

He smiled and nodded: "The one who understands me is Lanxiang."

"Then I'll ask the kitchen to prepare it, and bring it to your room when it's ready." I stood up and walked out the door, and he followed me and responded.

When we opened the door, Qian Mu was sweeping fallen flowers in the yard. He looked up and saw us coming out. He was surprised and said, "Young Master is back?!"

Tu Shanjing nodded to her.

She added, "The Madam will be extremely happy if she knows this! Has the Young Master gone over there to let them know?"

*Adapted from Li Qi’s “Farewell to Chen Zhangfu” and Du Fu’s “Four Quatrains”.