A Beauty In Troubled Times

Chapter 45: The sight of the vast plain is painful (1)

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It is me who begs Brother to let you go, and let him give you to me... That coming-of-age painting was painted by Brother for you... Letting Brother make a sacrifice in vain... Xiao Lun murmured to her with a wry smile.

Liu Zhen likes you... Liu Di likes you... Under the soft light, he spoke gently and calmly, but he was the most ruthless and cold-blooded Frost Blade.

These words lingered in her ears, unable to be shaken off. Zhao Pei's chest ached, and she curled up in the corner of the alley, unable to utter a word.

How could this be

Is what Xiao Lun said true? Was she really painted in the sea of flowers by Xiao Tong? Zhao Pei remembered that every stroke and every word was filled with a feeling that Zhao Pei half-understood but was unwilling to admit. Who would have thought it was him

"I just treat you as my sister." He once rejected her like this.

He also gave the handkerchief she gave him to Xiao Lun.

She had been frustrated and sad. But when she chose to bury those emotional wounds in her heart, hope rose for no reason. Was this happiness or torture for her? She just felt that she had been in love with someone but she was merciless. Those expectations and aspirations had been shattered, but they gave her hope that she shouldn't have. That damn hope was about to drive her crazy.

Zhao Pei didn't know where she was now, she just stumbled and found a place to hide herself. It was late at night and there were no more pedestrians on the road. She raised her head and looked at the inky sky and the sparse stars. She lost her way and her heart.

Stay here? Endure the inner torment and his secret? Leave? Throw off the ties without looking back

What should she do next? Can anyone tell her

"Pepe..." An anxious call came from afar, diffusing in the lonely night and sounding very vague when it reached her ears.

"Pepe!" she heard her brother's voice.

"Second sister!" "Second young lady!" There were also Zhaoli and Ruhua. She saw several floating red lanterns, which looked a little strange in the dark night.

Zhao Pei covered her ears and buried her head behind her knees, pretending she didn't hear or see anything. Just like when she was a kid playing hide-and-seek, pretending she didn't see anything.

She always likes to deceive herself like this.

Zhao Jie and the others dispersed in the middle of the street, and he went to the alley alone and shouted. This girl left with Xiao Gang at noon, and it's almost midnight now and she hasn't come back yet. Xiao Gang said that Zhao Pei left around 3 p.m., and she insisted that she could go back without him seeing her off, but now it's already late, and there's not even a shadow of her coming back.

Zhao Jie was very anxious, just heard Xiao Gang say that Zhao Pei seemed to be in a bad mood. He didn't know what happened, but guessed that something must have irritated her.

He shouted several times along the street, but no one paid attention to him. Zhao Jie shook his head, but accidentally saw a shadow in the corner of the alley. He was moved and walked forward.

Pei Pei! Zhao Jie silently muttered as he looked at the blurry figure. Zhao Pei ignored him and kept her head down. He moved the lantern closer to illuminate her surroundings. The little person felt the light and raised her head, her eyes were red and swollen, and her face was covered with tears.

He was slightly stunned, and immediately went forward to help her up. "Pepe, what's wrong with you?"

I just felt that the soft body seemed to have no life at all. He helped it up and it stuck close to him.

Zhao Jie felt her trembling and was about to ask a question, but his grip loosened and her body slid down inch by inch and fell to the side of the road. Zhao Jie called out "Pepe!" and realized something was wrong, so he threw away the lantern and tried to pull her out.

The lantern, emitting warm orange light, made several circles on the stone road and tilted to one side. It was immediately lit up and turned into a blazing flame, illuminating half of the street. But it turned into a pile of ashes in the dancing light and shadow, silent in this sad night.

》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》"Is this true?" Xiao Yi was surprised when he heard Qiao Yu’s whisper.

"Of course I take it seriously." Qiao Yu nodded, "Now the Sixth Prince... Xiao Lun lives in the courtyard that the Crown Prince bought outside. You can go and take a look tomorrow."

Xiao Yi played with the jade ring in his hand, which was slightly cold. He smiled faintly and said, "No need. Sixth brother must not want to see me now, why should I bother to make myself unhappy?"

Qiao Yu said, "Sir, let's see how he is so majestic now. He is not a prince now, but just a commoner. How dare he get angry with you?"

Xiao Yi shook his head slowly, his eyes deepened, and he pondered: "But he is still a prince after all. Father was just angry and did something impulsive. After all, blood is thicker than water, and father values sixth brother so much. When father's anger subsides, he will be fine. Qiao Yu, don't act rashly and cause trouble for me." Qiao Yu responded sullenly.

Xiao Yi raised his head and looked at the swaying shadows of the trees outside the window. The wind was blowing. The days were no longer stable.

It feels so good to be able to see things. Although my vision has become much narrower, my ambition has never changed.

Xiao Lun, I want you to watch me marry your sweetheart in a grand ceremony.

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Although the house is not big, it is elegant. There is a garden behind the four-way house. There is a pond in the yard, and a few pots of red lotus are idle. Unfortunately, it is early autumn, and the withered lotus leaves have a different charm. There is a rainbow across the pond, and the waves are as ethereal as if they are on the clouds.

Xiao Lun had long since worn off from the alcohol, and now he was as carefree and calm as before. At this moment, he sat in a pavilion near the pond, throwing some fish food into the pond to tease the fish swimming around, and suggested with a smile: "Brother, it would be better to raise a few more mandarin ducks here."

Xiao Tong sat opposite him and was relieved to see that he no longer looked as sad as he had a few days ago and had recovered well. "Okay."

Xiao Lun turned around and saw Yao holding the child. He smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, do you want to let Zhuer come to feed the fish? I see that boy's eyes are shining."

Yao Yunshang looked at the child in her arms who was babbling and jumping and trying to leave her arms, her eyes were gentle: "Okay, don't let him drop into the water and become a fish by himself." Xiao Lun smiled, put down the fish food, and washed his hands with the basin of water held by the maid.

Xiao Tong looked around and saw no one. He was surprised: "Where are Sixth Brother's maids and concubines? Why can't I see any of them?"

"Send them all away, so they don't have to show up in front of me and bother me." Xiao Lun said straightforwardly.

Yao Yunshang pursed her lips and joked, "Sixth brother, you are really willing to do so." As she spoke, she fed the child the dense water.

"Why would I be reluctant to leave?" Xiao Lun raised his eyebrows, "There are so many beautiful women in Jiankang City. There are even more in Yangzhou." He thought about how he would return to Yangzhou at this moment, and after a moment of melancholy, he smiled again: "Speaking of which, I miss someone the most. Big brother, do you have any spare money?"

Xiao Tong was stunned and asked without thinking, "What's the matter?"

"Hey, I want to meet Miss Wanzhi."

"Who is Wan Zhi?" Yao Yunshang had never heard Sixth Brother mention this person before. Could she be Sixth Brother's new love? A few days ago, he was still calling her Pei Pei, so serious. How could he change his mind so quickly

Xiao Lun did not shy away from explaining, smiling: "She is the girl from Qing Honglou. She is very talented."

Yao Yunshang finally understood who Wan Zhi was. She felt a little embarrassed for a moment, and her face turned slightly red. In her arms, Zhe'er was babbling. She quickly covered his ears and raised her head to scold him, "Look, Zhe'er is here too."

Xiao Lun said with a smile: "Sister-in-law, how old is Xiao Er? He won't understand."

Yao Yunshang, however, warned him with concern: "When our son grows up, you, as his uncle, are not allowed to take him to those places."

Xiao Lun laughed and said, "Sister-in-law, I can't make any promises about something that happened so long ago."

Xiao Tong watched them go back and forth, smiled and shook his head. Suddenly he thought of something, and without thinking too much he asked, "Liu Zhen, did Zhao Pei come to your place yesterday?" As soon as he said that, the two of them fell silent.

After a long while, Xiao Lun smiled bitterly and said, "Yes. I came for an incense stick of time and then left."

"Did she say anything? I heard from my third brother this morning that she disappeared for most of the day and was not found until late at night."

Xiao Lun was stunned. He vaguely remembered some of the stupid things he said when he was drunk yesterday. He must have gotten into trouble. He was secretly annoyed and began to worry about Zhao Pei coming. This girl must have been driven crazy by him. Xiao Tong saw that he was silent and didn't say anything, and his heart sank.

"Nothing." Xiao Lun forced a smile, turning the green teacup in his hand, his eyes slightly lowered, and he had no intention of telling him.

Xiao Tong sighed and stopped talking. The six parties were unstable, his seventh brother had an eye injury, his sixth brother was demoted, his father was obsessed with Buddhism, and he was also compiling the Selected Works. He was too busy with so many things to do and he couldn't be distracted. Zhao Pei... someone would take care of her, so he didn't have to worry about it.

That sigh, when heard by Yao Yunshang, had a completely different meaning. She was his wife, and even though they were not close, how could a wife not understand her husband's heart? And this was especially true for Yao Yunshang, who was as careful as dust? The anger and hurt in her eyes were not seen by the two people who were still thinking.

Those melancholy and jealousy are entangled together, secretly growing into the enchanting and strange flowers on the other side. (To be continued)