My Taoist buddy has practiced surrogacy

Chapter 1415 Connection
He deliberately knocked over the candlestick, and the flame instantly spread. Just then, Ling Xue instinctively covered her face with her hand, a gesture that made Zhou Xing's heart skip a beat—she had exposed her womanly hairstyle.

Zhou Xing looked at Ling Xue, his heart filled with doubt. He slowly walked to Ling Xue's side and reached out to pull off the red string around her neck. At the break in the string, half of a jade pendant bearing the character "Xiao" was revealed. Zhou Xing's heart stirred; this jade pendant seemed to hold a secret unknown to others.

Afterwards, Zhou Xing took advantage of the morning audience to sneak into the Marquis's mansion's library with Ling Xue. He searched for clues among the many ancient books and finally discovered the connection between the Prime Minister's mansion and the war in the northern frontier twenty years ago. Ling Xue, meanwhile, used a hairpin flower technique to unlock the box and retrieve a yellowed secret letter.

Meanwhile, the old lady summoned the "young mistress." As Ling Xue knelt to serve tea, a hidden weapon slipped from her sleeve. Zhou Xing reacted swiftly, using his fan to conceal the weapon and shove it back into his sleeve. He looked at Ling Xue, his eyes filled with concern and protectiveness.

At the market, Zhou Xing and Ling Xue were ambushed by assassins. Ling Xue, undaunted, threw out a red rope that wrapped around one of the assassins' ankles. Zhou Xing seized the opportunity to throw his jade pendant, whose edge sprang forth a fine blade that severed the rope. The two fought back-to-back, their teamwork impeccable.

One day, Zhou Xing accidentally stumbled upon his stepmother's secret meeting with the steward of the Prime Minister's residence. He overheard his stepmother say, "The remnants of the Xiao family must die," and he was shocked. He realized that Ling Xue's identity might not be simple.

Back at his lodgings, Zhou Xing used the tiger tally to access the military files. He discovered that Ling Xue's father's name appeared on the list of those killed in action in the Northern Frontier, but the date had been crossed out in red ink. This further convinced him that Ling Xue harbored a secret.

On a stormy night, Ling Xue was delirious with a high fever. Zhou Xing anxiously wiped her body, when suddenly he touched the arrow scar on her back. This scar perfectly matched the "traitor's characteristics" his father had described on his deathbed. Zhou Xing was filled with mixed emotions; he didn't know how to face Ling Xue.

At the emperor's birthday banquet, a poisoning incident occurred. Zhou Xing carefully observed and discovered that the flow of the poisoned wine overlapped with the distribution map of the Prime Minister's residence's power. He smashed the wine cup in front of everyone, activated the Marquis's guards, and brought the situation under control.

Meanwhile, Ling Xue was imprisoned in the woodshed. She bit her fingertip and wrote a letter in blood on her ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress). The letter revealed the truth about the poisoning of the Xiao family army years ago, and that her stepmother was the one who had informed on them.

Upon learning of this, Zhou Xing stormed into the ancestral hall with his sword. He used his sword to pry open the family genealogy, revealing a secret letter of treason hidden in a crypt. His stepmother, enraged and humiliated, set the ancestral hall ablaze.

Amidst the flames, Zhou Xing searched frantically for Ling Xue. Finally, he found her trapped. He tore his wedding robes to wrap her in them and carried her towards the secret passage. Ling Xue coughed up blood, smiled, and tied the red rope tightly, saying, "This time, I'll accompany you through eternal damnation."

After the two escaped to safety, Zhou Xing used the tiger tally to mobilize his old troops. Ling Xue handed over the map of the Xiao family army's burial site on the condition that she personally interrogate her stepmother. In the courtroom, the stepmother roared, "You will always be a bastard born of a lowly servant!" A flicker of pain flashed in Ling Xue's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.

Just then, Zhou Xing suddenly pressed the blood-stained jade pendant into the torture device and said, "Her surname is Zhou now." These words filled Ling Xue with emotion.

The new emperor ascends the throne and thoroughly investigates old cases. Zhou Xing refuses the title of marquis, only requesting a red ribbon bestowed by the emperor. After Ling Xue regains her identity, she insists on wearing her wedding dress and walking the wedding sedan chair again.

The two jointly governed the border, their tent adorned with faded wedding robes and bronze bells. Amidst the northern winds and sand, Zhou Xing tightened Ling Xue's fox fur coat, saying, "This time, I should be the one to braid the red ribbon."

Even in their old age, they still shared a military bed. Under their pillows lay half a jade pendant and a tiger tally, and outside the window, the falling snow resembled the long street where their wedding sedan chair had once passed. They smiled at each other, as if they had returned to that time filled with hardship and sweetness. They knew the road ahead was long, but as long as they stayed together, they could weather any storm.

Today, the palace is brightly decorated and bustling with activity. Zhou Xing, the powerful regent, is dressed in a black python robe, preparing to welcome his queen. However, he is unaware that a conspiracy is hidden behind this wedding.

The bridal sedan chair was slowly carried into the Prince's mansion. Zhou Xing stepped forward and kicked the sedan chair door. Just then, a powerful demonic aura surged out of the sedan chair, shooting straight into the sky. In the blink of an eye, a slender figure leaped out of the sedan chair—it was Ling Xue. She crushed the assassin's heart with her bare hands, beads of blood rolling down her fingertips.

Zhou Xing was startled. Upon closer inspection, he noticed a bronze bell tied to the red string on Ling Xue's wrist. The bell looked ancient and worn, yet it exuded a mysterious aura. He gently stroked the bell and discovered that it was engraved with runes of the Demonic Sect.

On their wedding night, Zhou Xing feigned drunkenness to test Ling Xue. He deliberately knocked over a candlestick, causing the flame to spread instantly. At that moment, Ling Xue instinctively covered her face with her hand, a gesture that made Zhou Xing's heart skip a beat—she had revealed her womanly hairstyle.

Zhou Xing looked at Ling Xue, his heart filled with doubt. He slowly walked to Ling Xue's side and reached out to pull off the red string around her neck. At the break in the string, half of a jade pendant bearing the character "demon" was revealed. Zhou Xing's heart skipped a beat; this jade pendant seemed to hold a secret unknown to others.

Afterwards, Zhou Xing took advantage of an inspection tour to sneak into the Prince's Palace library with Ling Xue. He searched for clues among the many ancient books and finally discovered the connection between the Demonic Sect and the imperial court twenty years ago. Ling Xue, on the other hand, used the Demonic Sect's secret techniques to unlock the mechanism box and retrieve the yellowed secret letter.

Meanwhile, the Empress Dowager summoned the "Princess Consort." As Ling Xue knelt to serve tea, a hidden weapon slipped from her sleeve. Zhou Xing reacted swiftly, using his fan to conceal the weapon and shove it back into his sleeve. He looked at Ling Xue, his eyes filled with concern and protectiveness.

In the Imperial Garden, Zhou Xing and Ling Xue were ambushed by assassins. Ling Xue, undaunted, threw out a red rope that bound the assassin's ankle. Zhou Xing seized the opportunity to throw his jade pendant, the edge of which sprang forth a fine blade that severed the rope. The two fought back-to-back, their teamwork impeccable.

One day, Zhou Xing accidentally stumbled upon the legitimate prince's secret meeting with an elder of the Demonic Sect. He overheard the prince say, "The Holy Maiden must die," and was shocked. He realized that Ling Xue's identity might not be simple.

Back at his lodgings, Zhou Xing used the tiger tally to access the military files. He discovered that Ling Xue's father's name appeared on the Demonic Sect's list of fallen soldiers, but the date had been crossed out in vermilion ink. This further convinced him that Ling Xue harbored a secret.

On a stormy night, Ling Xue was delirious with a high fever. Zhou Xing anxiously wiped her body, when suddenly he touched the demonic markings on her back. These markings perfectly matched the "traitor's characteristics" his father had described on his deathbed. Zhou Xing was overwhelmed with mixed emotions; he didn't know how to face Ling Xue.

At the emperor's birthday banquet, a poisoning incident occurred. Zhou Xing carefully observed and discovered that the flow of the poisoned wine overlapped with the distribution map of the Demonic Cult's forces. He smashed the wine cup in front of everyone, activated the palace guards, and brought the situation under control.

Meanwhile, Ling Xue was imprisoned in the Cold Palace. She bit her fingertip and wrote a letter in blood on the wall. The letter revealed the truth about the extermination of the Demonic Sect, and that the legitimate prince was the informant from back then.

Upon learning of this, Zhou Xing stormed into the altar, sword in hand. He used his sword to part the curtain, revealing a secret letter of treason hidden within. The crown prince, enraged by this, set the palace ablaze.

Amidst the flames, Zhou Xing searched frantically for Ling Xue. Finally, he found her trapped. He tore his wedding robes to wrap her in them and carried her towards the secret passage. Ling Xue coughed up blood, smiled, and tied the red rope tightly, saying, "This time, I'll accompany you through eternal damnation." After they reached safety, Zhou Xing used the tiger tally to mobilize his old subordinates. Ling Xue, in turn, handed over the Demonic Sect's sacred artifact on the condition that she personally interrogate the legitimate prince. In the courtroom, the legitimate prince roared, "You will forever be a remnant of the Demonic Sect!" A flicker of pain flashed in Ling Xue's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.

Just then, Zhou Xing suddenly pressed the blood-stained jade pendant into the torture device and said, "Her surname is Zhou now." These words filled Ling Xue with emotion.

The new emperor ascends the throne and thoroughly investigates old cases. Zhou Xing refuses the throne, only requesting a red ribbon bestowed by the emperor. After Ling Xue regains her identity, she insists on wearing a wedding dress and walking the wedding sedan chair again.

The two ruled the martial world together, their tent adorned with faded wedding robes and bronze bells. Amidst the winds and sands of the northern frontier, Zhou Xing tightened Ling Xue's fox fur coat, saying, "This time, I should be the one to weave the red ribbon."

Even in their old age, they still shared a military bed. Under their pillows lay half a jade pendant and a tiger tally, and outside the window, the falling snow resembled the long street where their wedding sedan chair had once passed. They smiled at each other, as if they had returned to that time filled with hardship and sweetness. They knew the road ahead was long, but as long as they stayed together, they could weather any storm.

Dressed in a guard's uniform, Ling Xue sneaked into the Prince's residence under the cover of night. Her movements were lithe and agile, like a ghost, as she evaded the patrolling guards. In a secluded courtyard, she saw Prince Ning having a private conversation with a masked man. In the moonlight, the masked man stood tall and possessed an extraordinary air.

Suddenly, a cold arrow shot towards Prince Ning. Ling Xue was startled and, without thinking, leaped to shield him. The arrow grazed her shoulder; enduring the pain, she tackled Prince Ning to the ground. In the chaos, her hairpin fell off, and her black hair fell loose.

Prince Ning stared at the "guards" before him, his mind filled with doubt. He reached out and touched the arrow wound on Ling Xue's shoulder, his fingertips brushing against the disguise gel behind her ear. Just then, the hidden guards swiftly surrounded her. In desperation, Ling Xue scattered the poison powder she had prepared into the air. Instantly, a pungent odor filled the air, and the hidden guards covered their mouths and noses.

Prince Ning covered his nose, looking at Ling Xue. In the moonlight, Ling Xue's eyes shone with a resolute light. Prince Ning's heart stirred, and he inexplicably said, "Leave them alive." Although the guards were unwilling, they dared not disobey Prince Ning's order.

Ling Xue was taken to a prison cell. She secretly plotted her escape. Late at night, Prince Ning, disguised as a guard, quietly entered the cell. He saw Ling Xue huddled in a corner.

Prince Ning squatted down, staring at the cinnabar birthmark on Ling Xue's collarbone, and said teasingly, "Young man, this birthmark is quite unique." As he spoke, his fingertip lightly traced the birthmark. Ling Xue's heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to remain calm and said, "Your Highness is joking."

Afterwards, Ling Xue was assigned to work in Prince Ning's study. She observed the study closely, searching for possible clues. One day, she discovered a portrait of a woman in a hidden compartment. The woman in the painting bore a striking resemblance to herself, with her features bearing the inscription "Presented to A Xue." Ling Xue was startled. Could the woman in the painting be related to her in some way?
One day, Prince Ning was bathing in the hot spring. Ling Xue was ordered to serve him. In the steamy air, Prince Ning's bathrobe slipped down, revealing a gruesome old arrow wound on his back. Ling Xue's heart skipped a beat; the location of this arrow wound was exactly the same as the one she had been wounded in when she saved Prince Ning years ago. A deep ripple of emotion stirred within her.

Prince Ning forcibly summoned Ling Xue to his bedchamber. The atmosphere in the flickering candlelight was ambiguous and tense. Ling Xue was filled with unease; she knew that if her identity were exposed, she would surely die a horrible death.

Just as Prince Ning approached her, Ling Xue, in her panic, broke the red rope around her waist. Half of a jade pendant engraved with the character "Xue" rolled onto the bed. Prince Ning looked at the jade pendant, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He picked up the jade pendant, played with it, and said, "So your name is Ling Xue."

Ling Xue gritted her teeth and decided to confess everything. Trembling, she removed her outer garment, revealing her body beneath the bodice. Prince Ning looked at her, his eyes not filled with anger, but with a hint of a smile. He stroked Ling Xue's lower abdomen and chuckled, "Three months ago, during the martial arts competition at the training ground, I deliberately let you stab my left shoulder."

Ling Xue was startled; it turned out that Prince Ning had already seen through her identity. She knelt on the ground, head bowed, not daring to look Prince Ning in the eye. Prince Ning looked at her and said, "Get up, you little liar."

Prince Ning took the other half of the jade pendant from under his pillow and pieced it together with Ling Xue's jade pendant. The complete jade pendant was engraved with "Eternal Union," a token of their marriage. Ling Xue looked at the jade pendant, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

She recalled her initial reason for disguising herself as a man and infiltrating the Prince's mansion: simply to find an opportunity to avenge her family. Unexpectedly, she had become entangled in this complex emotional web. The Prince of Ning looked at her and said, "Ling Xue, do you think you can fool me?"

It turned out that Prince Ning had known Ling Xue was a woman all along. He deliberately allowed Ling Xue to get close to him in order to lure out the enemy behind the scenes. Ling Xue felt a surge of emotion, but also a pang of guilt. She lowered her head and said, "Your Highness, I'm sorry, I lied to you."

Prince Ning embraced her and said, "Silly girl, I know you have your own reasons." The two wept in each other's arms, as if they had forgotten all the grudges and conspiracies.

While tidying up the study, Ling Xue discovered a shocking secret: the late Princess Consort had died of poisoning, and the murderer was none other than a powerful minister in the court. Upon learning of this, Prince Ning decided to join forces with Ling Xue to avenge the late Princess Consort.

However, their plan was discovered by a powerful minister. The minister sent men to besiege the Prince's residence, and the situation became extremely critical. Ling Xue was about to give birth, and disregarding her own safety, she fought alongside Prince Ning.

On the battlefield, Ling Xue gave birth to a lovely little life. She tied the infant to her chest with a red rope and fought her way through with twin swords. Prince Ning looked at her, his heart filled with admiration and love. He cried out, "Ling Xue, I'm here to help you!"

The two fought side by side and finally defeated the enemy. After the war, Prince Ning abdicated the throne and went into seclusion in the mountains with Ling Xue.

Years later, a story circulated among the common people about a chivalrous swordsman in black and a woman in red. They roamed the land, upholding justice and helping those in distress.

Inside the thatched hut, a man was polishing his long sword. A woman was mending clothes nearby, and an infant was babbling to the sound of a rattle. Two jade pendants were tied to a red string around the woman's neck, and peach blossoms were falling gently outside the window.

They distanced themselves from the conflicts and power struggles of the martial world, living a simple and happy life. Occasionally, they would recall that thrilling past, their hearts filled with emotion.

As the years passed, their child grew up. The family of three enjoyed peaceful moments amidst the green hills and clear waters. And that red string, witnessing their love and legend, will continue to accompany them forever.

In the dead of winter, snow was falling heavily. In a dilapidated temple, Zhou Xing huddled on a straw mat, shivering from the cold.

(End of this chapter)