An eight-year-old kid emptied his scumbag father's warehouse and followed his grandparents into

In the study of Qingshan Villa, Jing Chunxi and Jing Yi were both looking nervously at the iron box that had rust on its surface.

The mottled rust on the surface of the iron box is a reddish-brown of varying shades, and the edges are completely adhered to the box body, as if silently telling the long years it has experienced.

Jing Yi's slender fingers gently stroked the uneven rust marks, feeling the roughness of the touch. The dagger in his hand gleamed coldly in the candlelight. He pressed the tip of the blade against the seam of the iron box several times before withdrawing it. Finally, Jing Yi threw it onto the rosewood table with a clang, a sound that echoed particularly clearly in the quiet study.

"The item isn't ours, so let its real owner open it himself."

Jing Yi's low voice was filled with caution. He picked up the iron box with both hands and weighed it gently. He could feel that there was really something in the heavy iron box. Then a slight collision sound was heard, as if something was rolling gently in the narrow space.

When he handed the iron box to Jing Chunxi, the girl's slender fingers formed a sharp contrast with the rough surface of the iron box. "Put it in the space and keep it well." His tone left no room for doubt.

Pushing open the carved wooden door, cold air immediately rushed into the study. Jing Yi stood in the corridor and looked up at the sky. The sky in the twilight was a pure blue, without a trace of clouds.

"The weather is so nice this year! No rain or snow at all during the Lunar New Year holiday," he muttered to himself, his breath quickly dissipating in the chill air. On the distant eaves, the snow that would normally be there at this time of year was completely gone, only a few dead leaves swirling in the wind.

"Maybe he's urging Xier to get on the road quickly." Jing Chunxi pulled his fox fur cloak closer and stood behind him, whispering in agreement.

Ever since they discovered the secret at Qingshan Villa, the thought of heading south had taken root in her heart. The iron box now made her feel the burden on her shoulders even heavier, and even her breathing became heavier unconsciously.

This year's New Year decorations at Zhuangzi were more elaborate than ever. Vermilion lanterns hung throughout the corridors, and children had pasted brand-new paper-cuts on the window frames. But Jing Chunxi was preoccupied, and the festive sounds of firecrackers and laughter seemed to be blocked by a veil, unable to penetrate his heart.

The exquisite eight-treasure duck and mushroom and meat dumplings that were specially reserved for her at the New Year's Eve dinner last night were tasteless. The fireworks set off by the children bloomed in the night sky, but they could not illuminate the worry in her eyes.

Jing Yi thought about it and said, "Then Dad will tell your mother to arrange for an early departure."

……

Aunt Mi's wrinkled hands tightly grasped the almanac, her eyes full of worry: "Miss, if you travel on the red sun, you will get into arguments and even encounter bloodshed!" She pointed her trembling fingers at the day circled in cinnabar on the almanac, her tone firm and unquestionable.

The third day of the first lunar month was the day they had agreed to travel, but because of a few words from Aunt Mi, the departure date was changed to the fourth day.

The weather was good, and except for a light snowfall three or four days after we left, the whole journey was filled with blue skies and white clouds. That snowfall came and went quickly, and the tiny snowflakes barely accumulated a thin layer on the hood before the warm sun melted them into crystal droplets.

In the days that followed, the clear blue sky was like fine celadon, the fluffy white clouds were like freshly fluffed cotton wool, and the sound of carriage wheels rolling over the official road became lighter.

With the wheels that came out of the second test, the journey was fast and durable, and they were only replaced twice along the way. The squeaking sound of the new wheels when running was much smaller, making their journey less bumpy.

On the fifteenth day, we arrived in Sihui.

Seeing a few people sitting on horseback at the intersection, staring at them buying a car, Jing Chunxi stuck his head out of the car window and waved his hands desperately, "Qingfeng, Luying, when did you come back?"

Her voice trembled slightly with excitement, and she leaned halfway out of the car window. Chuntao and Tangshuang nervously tugged at her clothes from behind. The early spring breeze ruffled her hair, but it couldn't hide her sparkling eyes.

Although Xu Zize was wearing a mask, it was still exactly the same as his original one. Jing Chunxi couldn't have been unaware of it.

Seeing that the girl had no eyes for him, Xu Zize, who was riding in the front, was so angry that his teeth itched. He rode his horse quickly to her and said in a displeased voice, "You are such a grown-up, didn't you see it?"

His long fingers gripped the reins so tightly that the knuckles turned white. The black horse snorted and trotted restlessly under his crotch, its hooves kicking up a fine cloud of dust.

Xu Zize specially wore a newly made dark purple brocade robe today. The jade pendant on his waist shone with a warm luster in the sunlight, but he didn't even get a glance.

Qingfeng and Luying, who followed, only saw their master's back and had no idea that the master was angry.

Seeing the young lady smiling happily at them, he couldn't help but greet her with a smile, "Miss Xi, you are finally here." Qingfeng's voice was filled with the joy of reunion after a long separation. His bronze face still bore the frost of the journey, but his eyes were surprisingly bright.

Green Shadow chuckled softly, his fingers unconsciously circling the red tassel on the whip.

"Yes! It's been so long since we last met." Jing Chunxi thought about it and it was true. So much time had passed, the 77th day after the funeral had long passed, and they should have arrived at Shibaao a long time ago!

She counted the days on her fingers and suddenly realized that it was late autumn when they last parted. Now, looking at the trees in Lingnan, tender green buds were sprouting on the branches.

Xu Zize saw that the girl only had eyes for others and even forgot to greet him. He was so angry that he turned around and gave Qingfeng and Luying a glare, which scared them so much that they immediately turned their horses and pretended to shrink back.

Qingfeng pretended to be very interested in the ants on the tree trunk, while Luying suddenly developed a desire to study his saddle. Both of them tacitly avoided their master's sharp gaze.

Xu Zize turned around again, his expression changed, and he said to the maid, "Knowing that Xier was coming, Brother Xiaokang has been waiting here for a long time." Xu Zize's voice softened by eight octaves in an instant, and a smile appeared in the corners of his eyes and eyebrows.

He leaned over the window, the faint scent of agarwood wafting into the carriage. For this reunion, he had specially used the finest agarwood and even replaced his hair crown with a new one. At first glance, he looked like a wealthy young man from a wealthy family.

Before leaving the house, Jing Yi sent him a secret letter. In order to see this girl as soon as possible, he calculated the time and rushed here to wait. He has been staying in Sihui Town for two days.

He didn't expect to meet her, and she didn't even glance at him. Xu Zize felt a mixture of emotions, a sour feeling spreading from his chest to his throat. He subconsciously touched the hairpin in his sleeve, the delicate lines rubbing against his fingertips, but it was nothing compared to the inexplicable loss in his heart.

"Brother Xiaokang, Xier wants to eat tea oil chicken and nest rice noodle." She had originally planned to stay in Sihui tonight, and she had planned what dishes to eat with Chuntao and Tangshuang in the car. Tangshuang couldn't come last time, so she had been drooling with greed and had been waiting for today.

Jing Chunxi lifted her skirt and gracefully jumped out of the carriage. The hem of her skirt, embroidered with twined branches, drew a graceful arc in the wind. Her upturned face was filled with anticipation, and her tender pink lips were slightly pouting, making it hard to refuse.

"You only know how to eat." Xu Zize was furious. He wanted to reach out with his hand, but he withdrew it embarrassedly. He originally wanted to take out the hairpin, but instead adjusted his sleeve to hide his panic.

The sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting mottled shadows on his face, but it couldn't hide the suspicious red color that appeared on the tip of his ear.

He resisted the urge to pull her onto the horse, but his words were filled with affection. "Hurry up and get in the car. We'll stay at the Sitong Inn next to the restaurant. You can rest for two days. Wait until Xier has eaten enough before leaving."

He shook his head helplessly, his voice full of connivance, and pointed to the three-story building with red lanterns hanging on it not far away.

The wind chimes on the eaves there jingled in the breeze, as if welcoming guests from afar.