He rode out of the camp on horseback, galloped along the wild road outside the city wall towards the north of the city, braving the wind and snow, and arrived at the bank of the Wei River in one breath.
Tonight, the Wei River flows slowly eastward, and heavy snow falls on the broad surface of the water. He dismounts and gallops to the sacrificial shore he has visited many times.
There was no one here, but there was an altar. In the altar were neatly placed incense burners, sacrificial fruits and wine, and a few sticks of incense were quietly burning in the burner, emitting a few wisps of smoke.
The incense is already half burned.
The feeling that was impossible but suddenly became real became stronger and stronger.
Pei Xiaoyuan's heart was pounding.
But where are the people? Where are they
He tried his best to keep his eyes open in the vast snowy night before him and was about to look around when suddenly, his figure hesitated. After pausing for a few breaths, he suddenly turned around.
Just behind him, not far away, on the bank of a river, a figure was sitting quietly on a blue stone with his knees hugged, looking at the quietly flowing Wei River opposite.
She was wrapped from head to toe in a thick red hooded cape with white fur trim.
That red was the red of pomegranates in full bloom in May, and even in such a dark night, it was still dazzling. A gust of wind wrapped in snow flakes rushed towards her, making the corners of her cloak dance. Looking at it, it was like a ball of blazing and jumping fire, illuminating the white snow under her feet, and then burning all the way, instantly burning the eyes of the young man standing by the water.
Pei Xiaoyuan forgot everything. He could do nothing. The only thing he could do was to stare at her without blinking. He saw her turn around and her beautiful face was protected by the snow. When her eyes met his, she seemed to smile at him, then stood up and walked ashore, walking towards him in the heavy snow.
"You're here?" Xuyu stopped in front of him and nodded at him with a smile.
He didn't answer.
She continued, "You will go north tomorrow. Speaking of which, I have been a wife of the Pei family for quite some time, but I have never offered sacrifices to my uncle and aunt. I heard from Qingtou that you would come here to offer sacrifices to the general and Madam Cui, so I followed suit tonight and came here rashly. If I have offended you or if I have made you unhappy, please forgive me. I am sincere."
Pei Xiaoyuan finally came to his senses and shook his head hastily: "Princess, you are too kind—"
He heard a hoarse and unpleasant voice coming from his throat. He paused, calmed himself, and then spoke again: "If my father and mother knew about this, they would only be happy. How can it be said to be offensive?"
Xuyu nodded: "Then I feel relieved."
She turned to the altar, took the libation wine, came to the water, slowly poured it on the water, worshiped devoutly for a moment, walked back, glanced at the thin layer of snow that had accumulated on his shoulders, and said, "There is no shelter here, just follow me."
After she finished speaking, she walked past him. Pei Xiaoyuan followed the red shadow in front of him silently. The two of them walked a few dozen steps along the snow on the shore, one in front and one behind. A faint fragrance permeated into his lungs.
Under the forest on the bank, there is a dilapidated pavilion with a few illuminated glass palace lanterns hanging on it, and plum branches with blooming calyxes quietly extend into the corner of the pavilion.