Chapter 212: The Fragrance Fades and the Jade Dies

"Whoosh—"

A cold wind swept past, and suddenly, light rain and snowflakes began to drift through the night sky.

The rain fell with a pitter-patter.

A carriage braved the rain and snow, winding slowly through the city.

The wheels crushed against the dampened bluestone slabs, emitting a wet, creaking sound.

Outside the carriage, the wind and snow mingled, biting and cold.

Inside the carriage, however, flowers bloomed in fragrant profusion, as warm as spring.

After Lin Daiyu returned to the mansion with the rest of the Jia Family, she accompanied Jia Mu for a while before returning to her own boudoir.

Zijuan and Xueyan brought hot water to attend to her washing.

After Lin Daiyu finished washing, she did not immediately go to bed; she stood before the window in a daze for a while, then suddenly instructed Chunxian to grind some ink.

She sat down at the table and spread out a sheet of snow-white rice paper.

Then, she lifted her brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote down those three short poems.

"A melody of Xiaoxiang, the feelings remain unfinished; deep within the Red Chamber, the rhyme drifts melodiously..."

"Xiaoxiang is the melody, and it also refers to my title 'Xiaoxiang Feizi'... but this Red Chamber, where is that?"

"Only now do I hide my pearly tears within the poem, dreaming of sending my spring sorrows to the water flowing east. Is it that the Human Realm has no soulmate, or is it just pity that the flowers wither at the same time?"

"Does he also read my poems? Otherwise, how would he know that tears are hidden in the poetry and sorrow resides in the heart?"

"Is it that the Human Realm has no soulmate... do I actually have a soulmate? Is it him, or..."

Outside the window, the cold wind wailed, and snowflakes drifted.

Inside the window, red candles burned, and the warming stove was lit.

Lin Daiyu, with her long, raven-black hair draped loose and wearing a red garment, sat weakly at the table, her gaze fixed blankly on the ink marks left on the rice paper, unable to stop herself from murmuring to herself.

When she saw the third poem, she froze for a moment, and suddenly her cheeks grew slightly warm.

"Hibiscus-like face reflecting autumn ripples, weak bones and light steps, so timid..."

"Hmph, am I really that weak? Looking down on people; isn't he also quite frail and scholarly..."

"A scroll of poetry and books to pity the night rain, half a window of cool shadows to listen to sad songs..."

"How does he know that I like to read books and ponder my sorrows during the night rain..."

"Fragrance fades and jade chills, not without intent; the moon shines on withered flowers, what can be done..."

"This line is so beautiful, but, I fear it implies something else... fragrance fades and jade chills, fragrance fades and jade dies... fragrance fades, Xiaoxiang... Xiaoxiang jade dies..."

She suddenly remembered the fortune-telling poem he had written for her back then: "A jade belt hangs in the forest, a golden hairpin buried in the snow..."

"Could it be that I am truly..."

"Cough, cough..."

She suddenly began to cough, picked up a handkerchief, and covered her mouth.

When she pulled the handkerchief away, the snow-white fabric was already stained a bright crimson.

She paid it no mind and continued reading.

Upon seeing the final line, two clouds of red rose on her cheeks, hot and burning.

"If only the east wind could often be a companion, then I would not let these red tears be spent in vain..."

"Who is that... east wind?"

She murmured to herself, her expression dazed.

At this moment, Xueyan came over and pleaded softly, "Miss, it is cold at night, please go to bed."

The handkerchief on the table was stained red with fresh blood.

Xueyan saw it in her eyes and felt the pain in her heart, yet she dared not mention this illness.

"Mm."

The young girl at the table remained dazed for a while longer before carefully putting away the rice paper, then finally rising to walk to the bedside.

Xueyan helped her remove the red garment she was wearing, immediately revealing a delicate, slender, and gracefully soft body.

She got into bed, wrapped herself in the quilt, and after lying down, she kept her eyes open and stared blankly, feeling no sleepiness.

"Whoosh—"

Outside the window, the wind blew with a howl all night, and the rain fell with a wet patter all night.

After the night had passed.

In the courtyard flowerbed, leaves had fallen and flowers were ruined, with scattered red petals everywhere.

Many of the blooming flowers were filled with muddy water; those precious plants all drooped their heads, in disarray and a complete mess.

When the sky was just beginning to brighten, the light rain ceased.

However, the cold wind and snowflakes continued to wail and drift.

Everywhere the eye could see was snow-white.

Sun Daniang, who had been driving the carriage, woke up in a daze to find herself lying inside the carriage, her whole body frozen stiff; she had nearly frozen to death.

She rubbed her aching head and stepped out of the carriage, discovering that she was in a small alley of the Anguo Mansion.

She tried to think back in a muddled state for a while, but she could not remember what had happened last night.

Last night, she had been driving the carriage, taking the son-in-law and Liu back; after dropping off Liu, she had taken the son-in-law and prepared to return to the Anguo Mansion, and then...

And then what?

Why did she suddenly fall asleep? Why was she lying alone in the carriage?

Where was the son-in-law?

Just as she was filled with shock and uncertainty, she suddenly noticed a mess of tracks on the snow beneath the carriage, as well as a line of footprints.

At this moment, a familiar voice suddenly came from the small alley ahead: "Sun Daniang, why are you sleeping in the carriage? Hurry back and sleep."

Upon hearing this, Sun Daniang immediately raised her head to look, discovering that it was actually the son-in-law, and hurriedly asked: "Son-in-law, what happened last night?"

Luo Zijun leaned against the wall and said with insufficient breath: "I don't know either. I had something to attend to halfway through last night, so I got off the carriage and only just returned. You must be tired and fell asleep in the carriage."

"Ah?" Sun Daniang tried to recall carefully, but she couldn't remember a thing.

Luo Zijun ignored her further, leaned against the wall, his legs trembling, and continued to walk forward.

It was true that he had only just returned.

But he hadn't walked back; he had been sent back by a carriage, then thrown out of the carriage compartment like trash, lying on the snowy ground for quite a while before he could lean against the wall and stand up.

This time he was truly desperate; he didn't even want to curse.

Better to hurry back and rest.

If he didn't rest, he reckoned his life would be gone.

Forcing himself to keep his spirits up along the way, he finally returned safely to Junzi Residence.

At this time, the sky was not yet fully bright; Ziyuan and Xiaohuan had not yet risen, though they were already awake and talking in bed.

He quietly entered the room through the window and got into bed.

!

Just as he lay down, sleepiness washed over him like a tide, and he soon fell asleep.

He slept this sleep until evening.

During this time, he didn't have any dreams, but his mind remained hazy, constantly echoing with the sound of a carriage moving and the pitter-patter of rain.

By evening, he finally woke up.

Everything that happened last night then surfaced in his mind, scene by scene.

The other party kept her word; it was indeed eight times.

However, after seven times, the other party threw down her armor and surrendered voluntarily.

For the eighth time, another person was swapped in.

It seemed to be that female thief's maid, who clearly had no experience; he took this opportunity to vent all his pent-up anger on her, and after a few heavy punches, he beat her until she cried, which could be considered his revenge.

Just as he was savoring the memory, Hua'er's voice suddenly came from the small courtyard: "Has the son-in-law not gotten up yet?"

Xiaohuan said: "I just went to check, he hasn't."

Hua'er said worriedly: "The son-in-law has been sleeping for a whole day; could he be sick? Should we go find a doctor to come and take a look?"

Xiaohuan said: "No need, he's probably just tired. I'll go check again."

Luo Zijun hurriedly sat up.

Xiaohuan walked to the window, gently pushed it open to take a look, and happened to meet his gaze: "Ah, the Young Master is awake!"

Hua'er hurriedly said: "Xiaohuan, hurry and tell the son-in-law that the Madam wants to see him."

Just as Xiaohuan was about to speak, Luo Zijun hurriedly said: "Xiaohuan, go tell the mother-in-law that I'm feeling a bit unwell and will come to pay my respects tomorrow night. There's no need to find a doctor; I'll be fine after resting another day."

Upon hearing this, Xiaohuan hurriedly agreed, said a few words to Hua'er, and then went out in person to the Madam's place.

"Sigh..."

Luo Zijun let out a long sigh, got out of bed, walked to the vanity mirror and sat down, then parted his hair to look at his ears.

His ears were broken and covered in tooth marks.

He looked at his neck and shoulders again, then opened his mouth and stuck out his tongue...

Last night he even told Chujian to wash up and wait for him tonight...

"That female thief..."

In his mind, the scenes from the carriage last night surfaced once again; although he couldn't see, he could smell and he could touch.

He now knew the other party's scent and her entire body like the back of his hand.

As long as he could see her, he would definitely be able to recognize who she was!

In the Inner City, on the street, and with Bai Family members driving the carriage, to openly attack and rob in broad daylight...

It was truly audacious!

He was now the Matrilocal Son-in-law of the Bai Family, the husband of the Bai Family's eldest miss!

Who exactly was the other party to be so arrogant?

However, he could be certain of one thing: the other party had many experts by her side, and her identity was definitely not simple.

Just as he was lost in thought, there was a sudden knock on the door outside.

Then came the voice of Bai Qingtong: "Brother-in-law, may I come in to see you?"

Before Luo Zijun could speak, the small door in the courtyard wall suddenly opened.

Fenfen walked out from the small door, then went over to open the courtyard gate and said: "Third Miss, please come in."

Bai Qingtong was somewhat surprised outside the gate: "Fenfen, why are you here?"

Fenfen pointed to the newly opened small door in the courtyard wall and smiled: "I just came over from next door. Third Miss, if you want to come here in the future, just enter from our side; there's no need to knock."

Luo Zijun was speechless and said from inside the room: "Fenfen, get out!"

Fenfen deliberately looked around and said: "Eh, Third Miss, who was speaking just now?"

Bai Qingtong couldn't help but smile and said toward the room: "Brother-in-law, I won't enter the room; I'll just stand on the veranda and talk to you, is that alright?"

Luo Zijun thought for a moment and could only say: "Third Miss, come in."

Bai Qingtong then entered the small courtyard.

At this time, Xiaohuan and Ziyuan also returned.

Fenfen pulled them aside and whispered: "What is wrong with the son-in-law? He didn't return all night last night; did he go to a Brothel and catch a disease?"

Xiaohuan and Ziyuan: "..."

Bai Qingtong came to the corridor and stood sideways in front of the window, not feeling comfortable looking into the room, and asked with concern: "I heard from Xiaohuan that brother-in-law is not feeling well. Are you sick? Do you need to see a doctor?"

Luo Zijun said: "I might have caught a cold last night. I will be fine after another sleep; there is no need to see a doctor."

Bai Qingtong let out an "oh." She had wanted to ask where he went last night, but then thought that besides that Liu, there probably wasn't anywhere else, and fearing that asking would make him awkward, she didn't ask further, only saying: "Brother-in-law, Mother is looking for you, actually because of the matter regarding Liu."

Upon hearing this, Luo Zijun asked in confusion: "What matter?"

Watching the snowflakes falling under the eaves, Bai Qingtong said softly: "Mother said that if brother-in-law truly likes that Liu, you can marry her and bring her home."

(End of this chapter)