cold clothes

As the Spring Festival approaches, the festive atmosphere in Beijing is growing stronger. Lanterns and decorations adorn the streets, crowds throng the city, and a variety of goods are displayed on Yongji Bridge while vendors gather along Xiuyun Lake, creating a scene of bustling prosperity.

Brothels gradually reopened. Following the scandal involving the courtesans Qingchun and Yunqiu of the Fengxiang Pavilion, everyone in and out of the industry thought the prostitution would be targeted by the government. After all, Emperor Gaozu had issued an edict banning prostitution during the founding of the dynasty. Therefore, high-ranking officials dared not indulge in pleasure, and brothels closed their doors. However, the Third Prince argued that the country was now peaceful and prosperous, with the people living in harmony and prosperity, a far cry from the poverty and hardship of the early years of the dynasty. He said that this peace and prosperity proved His Majesty's good governance. This appeased the Emperor's anger, and he ceased pursuing the scandal involving the Duke's mansion. Furthermore, upon hearing of the annual New Year's Eve celebrations, His Majesty decided to send the Crown Prince out of the palace to join the people in the festivities.

It was easy to imagine that the Third Prince's fame spread throughout the capital, and women of the night regarded him as their dream lover, doing everything in their power to appear on stage at the New Year's Eve celebration, hoping to shine brightly and make the Third Prince fall in love with them at first sight.

-

Fengxiang Tower, Jingya Pavilion, inner room.

The room was filled with the strong aroma of wine. Mrs. Hu sat comfortably on the kang (a heated brick bed), playing with the wine in her hand, her cheeks slightly flushed.

A gray-clad boy stood beside her, his figure as upright as bamboo, his dark eyes deep and unfathomable, yet a faint smile played at the corners of his lips, making him seem elusive.

Madam Hu was in a very good mood: "Yunqiu's plan is a triple win. Not only did she successfully enter the Duke's Mansion and affect its reputation, causing the Third Prince's faction to restrain themselves, but she also made the Third Prince raise the influence of Fengxianglou in order to protect the Duke's Mansion. Haha, hahahaha."

The boy smiled and echoed, "Sister Yunqiu is intelligent and kind-hearted, truly admirable. I wonder if there has been any news from her yet."

"No, not really. Our informants at the Duke's mansion have sent word that Yunqiu has been locked up to prepare for childbirth, and they probably won't be making any moves. Let's not talk about her. Xia Hua hasn't been in a good mood these past few days. As her cousin, you should go see her. She's been staying at Jingya Pavilion these past few days." As she spoke, Madam Hu suddenly changed the subject and started talking about Xia Hua.

The young man still had a smile on his lips and replied respectfully, "I should visit my cousin Xia Hua more often, but she is often at Zhuoyu Pavilion and it is not easy to meet her. If she has been at Jingyaxuan these days, I will shamelessly go and bother her."

When Mrs. Hu heard this, she chuckled and said, "It's good that you have this idea."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, the young man turned and went to the west wing where Xia Hua was. He still had some feelings for his cousin and was willing to be her gentle and considerate cousin Xie Yin.

Xia Hua was kneeling before the zither, occasionally plucking the strings to produce a few muffled noises. She seemed preoccupied, completely unaware that Xie Yin had walked up to her.

Xie Yin knelt beside her and called out helplessly, "Little Sister Xia Hua."

"Well?--"

Xia Hua was startled and her fingers made a piercing sound on the strings, almost knocking the instrument over. Fortunately, Xie Yin reacted quickly.

"Brother Xie Yin? What are you doing here?" Xia Hua asked, still in surprise.

"Madam asked me to come and see you. What were you thinking about just now?" Xie Yin asked, looking at her with gentle eyes.

"Did your mother send you?" Xia Hua's heart suddenly clenched. She met Xie Yin's gaze, and perhaps it was because his eyes were too gentle and harmless that she let down her guard and poured out all the confusion and pain that had been building up inside her to this distant cousin.

"...Mom wants someone to replace me, why? Why does she want to give up on me? What's wrong with me?"

“But every time I question her, she only says it's for my sake... I really don't understand. Maybe my mother wants to protect me, but if I don't become the most beautiful courtesan, how long will I have to stay in this Jade Pavilion? When will I be able to avenge my parents?”

"Brother Xie Yin, do you know why Mom did this?"

Xia Hua looked at him pleadingly, sincerely wanting to know an answer.

This problem is both tricky and easy. Xia Hua already has the answer; Xie Yin's job is not to offer advice, but to affirm it.

The slightly hoarse young man's voice was soft and slow: "The lady has her reasons for doing things." Xia Hua's eyes darkened, and then she heard him say: "However, she is not necessarily entirely right. She is only considering your situation from her own perspective, but she ignores your feelings. I know that Xia Hua is not an ordinary person. You have your own principles, and you will definitely be able to gain the lady's support through your own efforts. You should know that the lady loves you the most, and she is willing to do anything for you."

"Brother Xie Yin..." Xia Hua's eyes instantly filled with tears. It was the first time she had heard someone say such things to her. It was like a thirsty person drinking from a spring or a hungry person eating bread, enough to make her tears well up with joy.

Suddenly, she felt much closer to her gentle and understanding cousin.

Xia Hua wiped away her tears and said emotionally, "Thanks to Brother Xie Yin for helping me resolve my inner conflict, I feel much better now. Looking back, my previous worries were so ridiculous. Mom will definitely not abandon me, and I will prove my excellence to her!"

Xie Yin chuckled: "Sister Xia Hua should do so."

"This year's Xiuyun Lake exam is different from previous years, but I will still try my best to get first place! Heh, what will be the result of Ningbi's last-minute cramming for the sword dance? I'm afraid she will embarrass herself and disgrace Fengxianglou during the performance."

"Ningbi?"

"Brother Xie Yin, you don't know this, but she is the newcomer of Zhuoyu Pavilion, the one that Mother chose to replace me. Although she is indeed quite beautiful, with blue-green eyes just like her name, she is all looks and no talent. How can she compare to me?" Xia Hua explained to Xie Yin with resentment.

Xia Hua's dissatisfaction was almost overflowing, but she actually had no ill will towards Ning Bi. Much of it stemmed from Hu's mother's special treatment of Ning Bi.

Clever, quick-witted, and simple-minded, Xie Yin didn't mind coaxing his innocent and lovely cousin. He pretended to sigh and said, "I met this girl with blue-green eyes outside Zhuoyu Pavilion. Her behavior is a bit...unconventional, and her personality is also...a bit fierce. Hmm, she really can't compare to Xia Hua."

"I never imagined that Brother Xie Yin had met her before," Xia Hua exclaimed in surprise.

"It was just a brief encounter," Xie Yin chuckled.

Xia Hua's face hardened slightly: "I've heard that Ningbi often sneaks out of Zhuoyu Pavilion. We should tell Mother about this, in case she gets into trouble."

"This... what trouble could a little girl like her cause?" Xie Yin's light smile faltered. It was as if her words had bounced back at her; it would be difficult for Xia Hua to tell Aunt Hu that he had gone to play with Leng Yi.

Xia Hua rubbed her forehead and said, "She's caused a lot of trouble, but lately she's been practicing sword dance with Sister Nuan Dong, so she can't really cause any more problems. Let's wait until after the big exam to bring this up again. Maybe she'll be expelled from Zhuoyu Pavilion after that." Xia Hua waved her hand to end the conversation, then looked at Xie Yin as if she had thought of something: "Brother Xie Yin, I've thought of a few plans for the big exam, but I can't make a decision yet. Can you give me some advice?"

Meeting Xia Hua's bright eyes, Xie Yin smiled and agreed, "With pleasure."

-

Before they knew it, the sun was setting. Xia Hua was delighted by Xie Yin's company. Hu's mother was surprised that they could spend so much time together, but she was also very happy that they were so close, because Xie Yin was Xia Hua's only blood relative.

The young man who came out of Jingya Pavilion should have returned to Langya Pavilion, but he couldn't help but walk towards Liuyun Pavilion, the most beautiful flower in winter.

Braving the fine snow, the young man used his lightness skill to reach the foot of the pavilion without alerting anyone. Upstairs, the girl was practicing her swordsmanship with great effort, sweating profusely. He noticed that the girl's swordsmanship was different from what he had taught her; it had become more agile and graceful, but a sharp edge was hidden within this gentleness.

Well, even if it's last-minute cramming, they're doing it quite seriously.

Suddenly, the girl seemed to sense something and looked out the window. After a moment of surprise, she quickly rushed to the window.

The girl opened her mouth as if to say something, but quickly stopped herself from speaking. But he still heard her; he heard her call him "Yin Jiu" in surprise.

Therefore, the boy named Yin Jiu stood outside the window, his body covered in fine snow, as upright as bamboo, his dark eyes as clear as water, and a faint smile on his lips, looking incomparably handsome.