Chapter 77: Cold Light in Short Days

Chapter 77: Cold Light in Short Days

In the wind, the faint sound of Feng Jinyu's mother's curses could be heard.

"You beasts who can't understand human speech!"

Fan Xiucai was speechless...

Fan Xiucai was so furious that his blood boiled, itching to storm in and confront her.

But in reality, he patted his fur coat, searched his pockets, and only scrounged up a few copper coins.

As the wind howled, Fan Xiucai clenched the coins in his fist, gritted his teeth, and stormed off.

Fan Xiucai's son scurried after him, his shifty eyes darting around, clearly plotting something.

A moment later, the gate of the Feng family's courtyard opened again.

Feng Jinyu's mother peeked out, glanced around, and sighed in relief when she saw no one.

The more she observed the old scholar, the more he struck her as a shady character.

Even his son, who put on airs of respectability, had a lecherous look in his eyes when he glanced at Xiao Ming.

Disgusting! How dare he?

Even the second young master of the Sun family couldn't get anywhere with Xiao Ming. What makes this little brat think he stands a chance?

As the saying goes, "If the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam will be askew."

Feng Jinyu's mother had already scrapped the idea of sending her youngest son to study with Fan Xiucai.

...

The sky was icy and pale, and the north wind wailed through the barren mulberry trees.

The ice lay unbroken, and the fleeting daylight cast a cold, pale glow.

The winter days were so short, it felt like time was slipping away.

Three days flew by in the blink of an eye.

That night, snow fell, blanketing everything in pristine white.

This was the first true snowfall she'd witnessed since transmigrating into this world.

Not scattered flakes, not slush on the ground, nor a wispy, fleeting dusting.

Lu Mingchao donned a heavier cloak, clutching a hand warmer, and leaned by the window, her warm smile fixed on the children playing gleefully in the snow.

A scene of joyful serenity.

The shy, reserved Ru'an seemed set free by the snow, her laughter ringing clear and bright, as though she'd never known hardship or darkness.

At her tender age, she ought to be as pure and untouched as the snow blanketing the ground.

Pure and untainted.

Lu Mingchao averted her gaze and turned her attention back to the room.

Xie Yan bent over the desk, engraving and drawing on a piece of meticulously cleaned sheepskin parchment.

The wind blew through the half-open window, stirring the long hair tied high at the back of Xie Yan's head.

Xie Huaiqian sat not far from the charcoal brazier, a traditional heating device, holding a scroll, his brow furrowed in concentration, a cup of hot tea steaming on the table beside him.

Perhaps it was the warmth of the charcoal brazier, or perhaps the steam from the hot tea, but Xie Huaiqian's small face was flushed red.

The heavy snowfall had brought the family together, a rare and leisurely occasion.

"Mother, mother," Xie Jingyi's chubby little face beamed with a bright smile as she toddled towards her mother, Lu Mingchao, on her short legs.

After just two steps, she tripped over her own feet and fell into the snow.

She didn't cry; instead, she got up and brushed the snow off her coat.

"Mother, I made a flower."

Lu Mingchao, holding a traditional hand warmer, pushed the door open and carefully brushed the snow off Xie Jingyi.

Following Xie Jingyi's chubby little finger, she saw the vividly shaped flower she had made on the ground and smiled, "My Jingyi is so clever and skillful."

Beside the flower, Xie Ru'an had painstakingly built a grapevine out of snow.

"Come inside to rest and warm up when you're tired."

Just then, the sound of a carriage crunching through the snow grew louder.

The sound grew closer and closer.

Lu Mingchao frowned. No one would venture into the mountains in such weather; it must be someone coming for her and Xie Yan.

As expected.

The sound of knocking echoed from the bolted door.

Hearing the noise, Xie Yan quickly put away the sheepskin scroll he had been engraving and stood under the eaves.

The knocking persisted, and Xie Yan and Lu Mingchao exchanged a glance.

Xie Yan then walked along a cleared path to the courtyard gate and lifted the bolt.

"Are you Xie Yan, sir?"

"I am a servant from the household of the magistrate's wife."

The visitor introduced herself politely and respectfully, without any hint of arrogance.

Xie Yan silently noted the servant's meticulous hairstyle and gold and silver adornments, signs of her high status in the magistrate's wife's household. Though his mind raced, his expression stayed composed as he gave a slight nod, "I am indeed Xie Yan. May I ask what brings you here?"

The servant bowed her head, her voice smiling, "Treading through snow to seek plum blossoms is considered one of life's great pleasures. The mistress is hosting a traditional plum blossom viewing banquet at her residence, inviting Changhe County's literati and ladies."

"The mistress has heard of your dignified demeanor in the county hall and wishes to meet you at this event."

"Sir Xie, please accept this invitation."

The servant retrieved a gilded, ornate invitation from a maid and presented it to Xie Yan with both hands, a gesture of respect.

Xie Yan's brows furrowed slightly; despite the servant's reasonable and grand words, he remained skeptical.

The magistrate of Changhe County has always been the type to act only when there's something in it for him.

And the magistrate's wife naturally wouldn't dare to go against her husband's wishes.

This invitation probably came from the magistrate himself.

Lu Mingchao tightened her cloak and stepped forward, taking the gilded invitation. "Since the magistrate's wife has invited me, how could a common woman like me refuse?"

You don't hit someone who's smiling at you. The maid delivering the invitation stayed polite and humble the whole time, her manner unassuming, using subtle tactics, leaving no room for refusal.

This invitation, whether she wanted to or not, she had to accept.

"Greetings, Madam Xie." The maid slightly raised her head, a flash of admiration in her eyes, then quickly lowered her head again, maintaining her proper and respectful demeanor.

No wonder—she was the pampered young lady raised in the Yongning Marquis family in the capital.

Beautiful, spirited, and truly exceptional.

Lu Mingchao's eyes curved into a smile, her voice gentle. "I should be the one greeting you."

"I wonder if the magistrate's wife invited just me, or my husband too?"

With both scholars and noble ladies attending, there must be separate seating for men and women. Bringing Xie Yan along would not be considered impolite.

The maid smiled and replied, "You're both welcome to come."

"To be frank, Madam Xie, your brother, Lu Yao, is also among the invited."

"I'll wait outside while you and Master Xie get ready."

Lu Mingchao noticed two carriages waiting in the courtyard.

One carriage was smaller and plainer, with dark green curtains. The other was much more refined and spacious, with exquisitely embroidered curtains.

Lu Mingchao's eyes sparkled. "It's freezing out—we can't have you waiting in the cold. If you don't mind, please come inside."

The maid quickly accepted.

The maid and her companions enjoyed hot tea in the main hall while Lu Mingchao changed her dress and styled her hair in the adjacent room.

As she put in the last hairpin, Lu Mingchao softly asked, "A Yan, who's really behind this?"

Xie Yan had already formed his thoughts. "Sun Zhiye, the Sun family's eldest son, probably doesn't have enough pull to make the magistrate's wife do his bidding."

"The capital?" Lu Mingchao caught his drift.

The maid was way too polite and proper—clearly following strict orders.

Xie Yan shook his head. "If it were someone from the capital, they wouldn't bother with all this roundabout stuff."

"From what I can tell, it's probably not a trap."

"My second brother and I will both be there, so no need to worry."

Lu Mingchao smiled. "I'm not worried, just curious about what the magistrate's wife is really after."

"Though it does mean we'll have to ask Mother to watch the kids again."

When Xie Yan was ready, Lu Mingchao threw on her cloak and headed out.

"Plum Blossom Banquet"