An Lingrong's Rebirth: The Lock of Qingqiu

Snow and plum blossoms are considered auspicious things. Against the backdrop of this snowy willow tree and several plum blossoms, the old teacher's courtyard looks even more unique.

Behind the old teacher's residence is a large garden with flowers blooming all year round and pleasant scenery. In front of the house is a small bridge with a thin stream flowing under it. The water is so clear that you can see the bottom and goldfish swim in it from time to time. The old teacher's residence is quite quiet. The yard is full of books and four treasures of the study. Outside the window is an endless vegetable garden with the sound of cicadas from time to time.

The old gentleman was also a serious person with a sharp eye and was well-versed in ancient and modern classics. He preferred the poems of Qing Dynasty literati. An Lingrong once gave him a book of court music she had compiled, which he loved so much that it is still placed in a prominent place on his bookshelf.

The old teacher who had served as the late emperor's teacher had taught many students. A phrase he often said was "Chengtian's will, the Lord of the Palace inherits the door." He was extremely loyal to the country and the court.

The old man said that his two daughters liked snow and plum blossoms respectively. His eldest daughter liked snow. She often lit several incense burners in the quiet room at night when the first snow fell, smelled the fragrance of snow, played the piano and chanted poems. The old man's second daughter liked plum blossoms. She often went to the garden to look at the plum blossoms in full bloom, staring at them for an entire afternoon. The graceful and moving poems she wrote are still posted on the old man's wall.

An Lingrong remembered the snow plum poem that Zhen Huan had written when she bought this courtyard: The snow falls silently in the long night, and the plum blossoms bloom with a cool and fragrant scent. If life could be like our first encounter, why would the autumn wind be so sad and cold?

Chun Er also wrote a poem about plum blossoms in snow: The plum blossoms stand proudly on the snow-covered mountains and rivers, and their fragrance is cold and noble. Where can I find the lonely boat under the cold moon? I am looking for plum blossoms in the snow with a heroic spirit. The artistic conception is slightly higher.

There is another poem: Snow falls all over the garden, plum branches are pretty, the cold moon shines on the loneliness. Nostalgic for the past, thinking of the present, people are not old, and their ambitions are high in the sky. This poem is also good, it sounds ambitious and aspirational, but the ambition has not yet been fulfilled, and it still needs time.

An Lingrong thought that Chun'er, a girl from a poor family, was not capable of composing such a poem. Later, Chun'er said that she was just reciting a poem written by her father.

That night, lying on the big bed in Xiuzhuang, An Lingrong fell into a dream:

In the dream, snowflakes were falling, and the withered plum branches in the garden were only holding fresh and tender stamens, which looked warm and strong under the cold moonlight.

Holding a sharp sword, Zhen Huan walked towards Chun Er steadily, and the two began to fight fiercely in the snow. Their figures kept flashing, faster and faster, and the swords burst out, cutting off countless plum branches in an instant.

The Emperor was there too. He rushed forward and backward, screaming to protect the plum branches. Unexpectedly, Zhen Huan and Chun Er's swords were too fast. Under the heavy sword shadows, the Emperor could only watch the plum branches and plum blossoms shattered to the ground.

Chun Erh was not holding a pipa today, but a long sword that could absorb the essence of the sun and the moon. She slashed down with the sword, and a murderous aura rose from her body. Zhen Huan had already been prepared, and she dodged it, and struck back with the sword, almost knocking Chun Erh's long sword out of her hand.

"How is this possible!" Chun'er looked at Zhen Huan in surprise, her face turning livid. Zhen Huan stood there with a faint smile, wielding the long sword in her hand lightly and freely. The tip of the sword turned, and in a very beautiful dance posture, she slowly came forward again, which made the emperor on the side look stunned again and again. When the sword was close to Chun'er's side, Zhen Huan quickly changed her moves and stabbed the sword diagonally. Chun'er could never have imagined this direction. After a sharp sword sound, Chun'er screamed and retreated quickly. The clothes on her body were cut by Zhen Huan's sword, leaving a long cut of about ten centimeters, and blood splashed on the snow.

"I didn't expect that I would lose so quickly!" Chun'er lowered her head and said nothing. The awe-inspiring look on her body had faded away, and her whole body was dejected. Zhen Huan pulled herself back, threw the long sword in her hand to the ground, and said with a caring look: "Chun'er, are you okay? I didn't control the sword well and accidentally hurt you. I'm so sorry!"

Chun Er took the sword and shook her head sadly, "Sister, I still need more practice. Your swordsmanship is already better than mine. You don't have to be modest."

Zhen Huan said to herself, "We have to fight many battles in our lives. Growth is a process of constantly meeting challenges, with suffering and victory going hand in hand. In this world where no one cares, only you can give yourself strength. One day, don't forget your original intention, rise up against the wind, and become a stronger self."

The snowflakes are still flying, and the plum blossom fragrance is getting stronger. Zhen Huan firmly believes that she will move forward without hesitation in the infinite possibilities, and her beauty will finally bloom without regrets.

An Lingrong was startled and woke up suddenly from the bed. She opened the window and blinked to see snowflakes falling outside. The faint moonlight was shining on the snow, and the silvery-white light illuminated the entire garden.

In one corner of the courtyard, red plum blossoms are in full bloom, not afraid of the cold at all. Perhaps it is because of the special season that these self-admiring plum blossoms are more precious and charming.

They dominate the scene, complementing the snow and the moon. The cold wind blows fiercely, but it just brings out the charm of these plum blossoms facing the sun.

After staying in Xiu Zhuang for a day and returning to Yining Palace, An Lingrong's mood suddenly became brighter, and she could let go of many things that she had previously disliked.

At this time, the emperor was preparing to go to the south of the Yangtze River in disguise. He sincerely invited An Lingrong to go with him. An Lingrong settled Zhou Liufu properly. The emperor sent the Blood Dropper and the masters of the palace to follow Zhou Liufu closely. After all, Zhou Liufu was the prince and he had to be protected. Then, the two of them boarded the flower boat heading south with peace of mind.

On the flower boat, it was An Lingrong's first time to go to the south of the Yangtze River. The emperor brought very few followers this time, and the concubine only brought An Lingrong. Fortunately, there were two palace masters, Xia Ke and Qin Sanyue, to protect the emperor closely, so An Lingrong felt at ease along the way.

Open the screen window of the flower boat and you will see the beautiful scenery along the way.

The sun shines through the clouds and falls on the lake, making everything look full of life. The flower boat sails on the lake, rippling the water, as if adding a bit of strangeness to the beautiful scenery. The willow trees by the lake are shady, swaying gently in the breeze, making rustling sounds, and there are groups of lotus flowers on the lake. Countless ducks flap their wings and happily hunt in the middle of the river. When they see the flower boat approaching, they flee in a hive, chirping. The streets not far away are crowded with people, jugglers, street vendors selling all kinds of antiques, and it is very lively. There are many dignitaries in luxurious clothes riding tall horses and lingering, and many pedestrians give way and salute the tall horses.

The food stalls on both sides of the road were emitting the aroma of barbecue, and there were countless delicacies on display. An Lingrong turned her head and forgot that she was the emperor's concubine with great power. She still had a childlike heart. She jumped off the flower boat and in the blink of an eye she was in the crowd. She stood at the barbecue stall with silver in her hand, waiting in line for the barbecue. The emperor smiled, adjusted his hat quickly, lowered the brim of his hat, and followed closely. Xia Qian, dressed in plain clothes, followed in a low-key manner. He did not hold a long sword today. In the finger-wide belt around his waist was a soft sword like a spirit snake, which was more than enough to protect the emperor and An Lingrong.