cold clothes

Qingchun lightly leaped onto the roof of Zhuoyu Pavilion, the highest building in Fengxiang Tower, its roof the highest point in the entire tower. Qingchun gazed into the distance, enjoying the breeze. Layer upon layer of buildings stretched to the horizon. In the distance were restaurants, and further still, Huguo Temple, its towering pagoda reaching into the clouds. The white clouds in the blue sky resembled floating bubbles on water.

Even the warm winter jumped onto the roof, looking worried, and said, "Why did you come to such a high place? It's dangerous. Come down quickly."

“I don’t want that. I want to stand tall and look out.” Qingchun replied immediately, her eyes fixed on the distance ahead.

Even in the warm winter, just like in the clear spring, one is quickly delighted by the expansive beauty and can't help but exclaim, "It's so beautiful!"

“That’s not enough,” Qingchun said. “This is just a corner of the vast ocean. As the poem says, ‘In this world, there is the Heavenly Gate broken, the Chu River opened, the green water flows eastward and turns back here. There is the bright moon over the vast ocean, pearls with tears, the warm sun over Lantian, jade giving off smoke. There is the yellow grass of the Xiongnu, the horses are fat, and the smoke and dust fly in the west of Jinshan. There are also cascading waterfalls, secluded ancient temples, frozen earth, and burning hot rivers. We have never seen any of these, have we, Nuandong?’” Qingchun turned to look at Nuandong and asked seriously.

"Yes, we've lived here since we were little, and we've never stepped outside."

"So why, why can't we go out?" Qingchun said indignantly. "We've read many books and poems, learned about the vastness of this world, and even learned light-body skills, so we can be as light as birds. Why must we stay in this small Fengxiang Pavilion? Besides, we have no reason to seek revenge like Yunqiu and Liuxia! So, Nuandong, I want to escape from here. I want to be as free as a bird."

Twelve-year-old Qingchun opened her arms wide, vowing to pursue her dreams with everything she had.

Freedom is what she truly desires.

It was wishful thinking for her to leave this place on her own. What good was her martial arts skills? They had taught her those skills. She dared to fly onto the roof, but she would never dare to fly over this wall. The lantern festival on the night of the Lantern Festival was the first time they had gone out.

The lights shone like daylight, fireworks lit up the sky, and crowds thronged the streets. Only when she saw the bustling street scene did she believe that the scenes in the poems were real...

That fleeting glance was real. She stood on the float, and when she looked up, she saw him leaning against the railing, holding a cup, his eyes filled with affection. Even the lamplight couldn't blur his face; he was as handsome as a poem, and the poem was real.

The sweet words he uttered were as beautiful as poetry, because poetry is real, and so is his love.

He loves me, he's willing to take me away, and he's willing to give me freedom.

So, no—

"No, no, it can't be!" Qingchun looked up, her eyes brimming with tears. "He loves me. He said he would take me away. How could he change his mind so quickly! He won't change his mind! He loves me!"

"You really disappoint me." Yunqiu's eyes were clouded with gray. "You were so indignant when you questioned me. I thought you would really come to your senses. What kind of bewitching potion did that man give you?" Yunqiu squatted down and leaned closer to her: "Why are you crying? You look so ugly when you cry. It's a failure, isn't it? The courtesan is supposed to be able to charm thousands of men. Instead, you were charmed by a man."

"No, no, he loves me. He promised to take me away... to give me... freedom..."

"A man's promise is lighter than a piece of paper!"

The word "freedom" was immediately swallowed by Yun Qiu's angry voice, her gaze chilling: "Since you don't believe me, tonight I'll let you see Wang Yiqing's true colors with your own eyes. When everything is shattered right before your eyes, will you still be able to find lies to mend it?"

Qingchun was deeply shaken by Yunqiu's words, and her resentment surged instantly. She retorted angrily, "Hasn't my life been a constant series of shattering events for the past ten years? I was already shattered once when I was ten… Haven't I been constantly deceived?! You! Liuxia! Nuandong! Mama Hu! Which one of you hasn't lied to me? Back at Zhuoyu Pavilion, you lied to me the most. You'd wake me up at night when I couldn't sleep, scaring me by saying I'd be late for class. During dance class, you'd throw a handkerchief at me saying there were bugs. And so much more! Your lies are countless! I hate you the most! I thought that becoming the top courtesan would resolve our grudges, but you're still lying to me!"

Unexpectedly, Qingchun started bringing up old grievances from years ago, and Yunqiu also got anxious: "So what if I lied to you! I can't stand you the most. You're obviously stupid but so arrogant. You look down on learning vocal music and dance, only interested in reciting poetry and painting. You're always holding a tattered book of poems, feeling melancholic. Can you be a scholar or a poet? Do you think you're so refined and noble? You're just useless. You've been fooled by me so many times and you still haven't learned your lesson. You're still being fooled by men. He's just here to seduce someone, how much could he love you!"

As she spoke, Yunqiu's eyes reddened, her eyes glaring like a red-eyed lioness, while Qingchun's apricot-shaped eyes gushed tears like a spring, her teeth biting her lower lip tightly to keep herself from crying out loud.

The way the two glared at each other was like stepping back into childhood, two stubborn children arguing with childish words.

Countless times they've argued like this, only to silently reconcile. Will it be the same this time...?

When Yunqiu saw Qingchun's tears, she felt that she had lost, but her heart of stone could not tolerate the deep sisterly affection.

The silent standoff was finally broken by Yun Qiu, who said in a stiff tone, "I will not back down for revenge. I am determined to get Wang Yiqing. From now on, we don't need to pretend anymore. If you want to deal with me, just do it."

"Ha, don't be so arrogant. Do you really think you can steal a man from me? Besides, Wang Yiqing is just a son of a concubine. Even if you have him under your control, what can you do to the Duke's mansion? You're the stupidest one, always thinking of throwing an egg against a rock." Qingchun's words were barbed. After she finished speaking, she immediately left Yujiexuan and never came back.

Yunqiu sat on the ground, hugging her knees, curled up in silence, completely shedding her fierce lioness persona. The charcoal fire inside the room gradually dimmed and grew cold, and Yunqiu's personal maid, Yilian, entered.

Yilian saw her tired and fragile appearance deeply, added charcoal to the stove, and then couldn't help but whisper, "The ground is very cold, Miss, please get up quickly."

Upon hearing this, Yunqiu looked up expressionlessly, then extended her hand and hummed in response.

Yilian thought her young lady was rather cute, smiled with satisfaction, and helped Yunqiu up to walk towards the kang (heated brick bed).

As Yunqiu walked, she said, "Have someone wait for Wang Yiqing at the entrance of Fengxiang Tower. As soon as you see him, tell him to come here."