Jian An Kee

Counting nine to the cold winter, the fire crackled in the hearth, licking firewood.

I stood in front of grandma holding a bowl of soup with a strong smell of traditional Chinese medicine with a bitter face: "Grandma, can I not drink it?"

Grandma was busy making rice noodles and said without raising her head, "Alan has to drink."

I resigned myself to my fate, holding the bowl in one hand and supporting my stomach with the other, pouring down the suspicious soup.Pearl was busy presenting a plate of candied fruit.I smiled and picked a candied peach and ate it, and my grandma rushed me back to the room: "It's cold, what does it look like to stay in the kitchen, you go back to the room and rest. Huzhu help the young lady."

I promised her again and again, and staggered back holding Pearl's hand.

"It's so cold, I'm afraid there will be snow falling." I looked towards the distant peak of the mountain: "Pearl, look at the snow-white peak of the mountain, it's cold again this year."

She snorted and replied: "I stayed here in Kuaiji when I was young, and I don't remember it snowing. When I was still in the Dudu Mansion, I heard from an attendant outside that the Huaihe River going north is very frozen, and you can ride a horse on the river. It’s snowing a foot thicker to the north.”

"'The Xiongnu use killing as farming'. This winter is cold, and they are bound to go south to plunder next year. Putting it on Xianbei's head is the same..." I couldn't continue, and I found myself choked up because of the imaginary picture .

"What's the matter with you?" she asked in bewilderment.

"It's nothing, it's because the days are too quiet." This time, I came to a conclusion, and began to feel that the huge mansion was deserted.

Last time Zhou Jun came to stay for one night, left me a lot of food, and left in a hurry.Later, I found someone to inquire, and it is said that he had to go back to socialize because he received a message from Sun Quan that he would be promoted to a noble.

Later, Gongsun Shao cut off all my sources of information in the name of safe pregnancy.I can only barely remember: in the new year, Cao Cao will conquer Xiliang, Ma Chao will be defeated in winter, and Uncle Liu Huang will start his expedition to Xichuan.

As the days grew longer, I started copying "Historical Records" out of boredom, and when I got to "Biography of Wei Qiwu Anhou", the child stirred in my belly, as if supporting my belly with the palm of my hand.

I put down my pen, stroked my belly and laughed: "Baby also thinks that Wei Qihou and Wu'anhou are stupid, right? They are lips and teeth for each other, but they just kill each other. I don't know that they gave the Emperor of Han a good chance to be a fisherman."

Gongsun Shao just came in at that time, and when he heard what I said, he rolled his eyes impolitely, and shouted, "Hey, what are you talking about with the kids?"

"I just like it, what can you do?" I replied triumphantly.

"The weird mother gave birth to clever and ghostly children." He said and sat down beside me.

I spat at him with a smile, but his face became serious: "What day is it today?"

"Uh, the sixth day, what's the matter?"

He lifted the lid of the bamboo-shaped copper smoker in front of him, stirred the few remaining spices inside with fire chopsticks, then opened the bottom drawer, scooped a small spoonful of rouge-colored powder into the smoker with an iron spoon Go in: "I went to the county and brought back two pieces of news."

"You speak."

"Which one are you going to listen to first?"

"Is there a difference?"

He slowly rolled up his sleeves, frowned and complained: "It's too hot in this room...there is still a difference. Now, let's talk about something that doesn't matter first." Then he suddenly switched to his proficient Jingzhou dialect and said to me: "Ma Chao in Xiliang fell into Cao Cao's trick and fell out with Han Sui."

"Well," I nodded, "that's silly."

He raised the corner of his mouth and looked at me playfully: "You actually know?"

I turned my eyes away: "Is there another one?"

"Great news, I guess the miss will be moved by it." He said to me again in the correct official language: "General Sun has already found out where the miss is, and I'm afraid she will be here soon."

I lowered my head, a trace of uneasiness flashed in my heart, and then I suppressed my irritability and responded, "He really wants to investigate. Although I am hiding here in the countryside, how can I escape from his sight?"

"Oh—" He smiled meaningfully, got up and left.

I have to admit that I've known for months that he would find this far.It was just me pretending to be self-effacing before I kept saying that I would cut off my friendship.Let's put aside the grievances and entanglements between us for the time being, even if I am pregnant with his child, he definitely can't ignore it.

After this child was born, I couldn't take it with me alone, otherwise my husband would force me to pick me up and settle down across the river early in the morning.The existence of this child is also an important reason for my friendly acceptance of my cousin's visit.Without Zhou Jun delivering the letter, I'm afraid that the Sun family slut might not remember me, Zhou, whom he had forgotten.

For me, how to get along with him when we meet again is not a big or small problem worth worrying about.

I can't help turning my eyes to the snow-white mountains in the distance.That kind of continuous and spectacular, extending to the unknown distance, full of uncertainty, in my eyes, is a hint and encouragement.

After all, I am not suitable for a comfortable and easy life. What I want to pursue are unusual and legendary experiences.The reason why I participated in Mr.'s plan was not because I had a noble sentiment to save the common people from troubled times, but because I was impatient with mediocrity and did not want to die in the silent and gloomy world.

So why hesitate?

On the ninth day of the first lunar month, there was heavy snow, and it snowed in the afternoon.The world is like weaving silver and white threads.

The attendants carefully placed the wintersweet harvested from the plum grove by the lake in a hollowed-out jade bottle with Tai Chi swirling patterns, and placed it far in the corridor.

If I remember correctly, this vase was chosen from the workshop of the general who made tribute to the court to give it to me after all the incidents of Xie Yu were settled.The craftsmen claimed that it was worth ten horses from Mobei, but I privately denied it.Without it, no matter how exquisitely carved, can a stone bottle carry me to escape at a critical moment?

I stared at it through the hanging window for a long time, then turned around and asked Le Ling, "Do you still remember the song "Treading the Snow and Looking for Plum Blossoms" that I taught you?"

She saluted slightly: "Miss Hui, this slave remembers."

"Sing it with me and listen."

"No." She straightened her clothes, took a step forward, and gently parted her red lips:

"Snowy and sunny,

Wintersweet is fragrant everywhere,

Riding a donkey across the Baqiao,

Jingle bells.

jingle bells,

jingle bells,

Jingle bells.

A good flower can be offered in a bottle,

Accompany me with the sound of calligraphy and piano rhyme,

Have a good time together. "

I rested my chin and was fascinated by it. After a while, I came back to my senses, applauded and laughed: "That's right, Le Ling's singing is beautiful and melodious, and she is getting more and more diligent."

She blushed slightly, "Miss Xie."

I motioned her to move the vase to the wooden table in front of me, reached out and picked one, and got up slowly, adorning the flowers on her temples, and exclaimed: "Fragrant flowers paired with beautiful women bring me the most joy and peace in my heart."

She lowered her head shyly and submissively.

I slowly rubbed my knees and tried to sit down again. For some reason, my stomach felt hot, and then I was dizzy for a second.Just this second was enough to make me lose my balance and fall backwards. The jade bracelet on my wrist first slid across the wooden table, and then slammed on the vase beside me.

With a crisp "clang", the jade bracelet broke into three pieces and fell to his feet, and the vase fell on the floor covered with animal skins and rolled away.

Le Ling, still in shock, grabbed my sleeve tightly and couldn't say a word.I grabbed the guardrail of the rattan bed and broke out in a cold sweat.

"I didn't fall, fool, don't be afraid." I comforted her, and comforted myself.This was the first time I realized the enormous impact pregnancy can have on bodily functions.

I did not disclose this matter to others, and I also told Le Ling not to disclose it.My gut tells me this is going to be a terrible weakness in my body.

After lunch, I took a short break in the corridor, when someone approached me and said, "Madam is staring at the eaves, who are you thinking about?"

"Tell me if you have something to say, is he here?" I thought that the snow would start to melt today, and the road would be very muddy and difficult to walk on.

"Well, you guessed right. A small group of people has arrived at Shanyin, and they will be here in at least an hour."

"Oh." I answered unconsciously.

Gongsun Shao stood beside me with his hands behind his back, and stared at the falling snow drops from the eaves with his head up: "It's hard for him, such weather..."

I interrupted him: "Why, it's just an inch of snow melting, and it's not snowing anymore."

"Oh, don't ask too much." He raised his hand to wipe the water droplets on his shoulders, and at the same time said to me melancholy and tenderly: "My lady's heart should be relaxed. The family of princes and generals has his kind of elders who can be missed." Sex, I think it's pretty good."

I said in a mocking tone: "Hey, don't you remember that you hate him? You actually speak for him."

"I don't hate him, because he is an irrelevant person, not worth hating."

I pretended to stand on tiptoe, and rested his chin with my fingers: "Every word my husband said today makes sense."

"Aside from being nice to me, what else can you do..." He complained, obviously expressing dissatisfaction with my words and deeds that seemed to be flattering but were perfunctory.

I pretended not to notice, and instructed him: "Go and tell the person in charge to have the yard cleaned up. Also, for the future, it's better for you not to show up here for the time being."

"Shall I remind you? You've given this order many times since lunch, ma'am."

"Don't criticize me like that, it's the first time I've seen him in half a year." I said angrily.

I took the maid's arm and went to the front yard.On the other hand, he followed my route on the snow-covered roof like a cloud and water, not taking a single bit of snow with him.

After confirming that I was completely settled, he gave me a cup of hands through the open window, and jumped out of the courtyard wall.

The gate of the courtyard was open, and I asked Huzhu to take a few servants to sweep the snow on the mountain road, and told them not to make a fuss if they saw anyone coming.Zhu Er blinked her eyes: "Miss, is there anyone coming to visit us in this weather?"

I hugged the stove in my hand and said nothing, and quickly twisted the iron stove out of shape, and Huzhu yelled at the blacksmith in the village for cutting corners and deceiving us as foreigners.

However, after an entire hour passed, no one appeared on the avenue.It was Gongsun Shao who came to me and asked for instructions: "I'll go to the county to investigate again, maybe it's delayed."

"Okay." I agreed, feeling more uneasy in my heart.I stroked my wrist nervously, and suddenly realized that the jade bracelet Sun Quan gave me had just broken this morning.

At night when the lights were on, a flying horse came from the main road.My ears were sharp, and I heard horseshoes stepping in the yard, and I wanted to get up as soon as I stretched my arms.

The grandma who was sitting next to her turned pale and said anxiously: "Alan, you must not! You got up so violently, it's okay if you hurt yourself..."

In my desperation, I didn't care about that much anymore, and kept asking Zhu'er who came in through the curtain: "What's the situation?"

She cried: "Just now a guard came to report that General Sun met the Shanyue rebels on the way to Dongshan, and the situation is very dangerous..."

I realized that I screamed sharply, and my head swelled with a "buzz".After a few deep breaths, I gathered myself together: "Call someone in, and I will ask him personally."