My Taoist buddy has practiced surrogacy

Chapter 1428 Struggle
Ling Xue looked at him, tears welling in her eyes. She nodded gently and said, "Okay."

From then on, "Xuexia Residence" became a virtuous place in the capital, where Zhou Xing and Ling Xue wrote their own story of everyday life.

The rain poured down like a burst dam, enveloping the entire world in a curtain of rain. Zhou Xing looked out the window at the raging storm, his heart filled with worry. His father and brother had set sail early that morning, and he wondered if this sudden downpour would endanger them. He could no longer sit still; he put on his raincoat and rushed into the rain.

On the lake, the wind howled, and giant waves crashed against the boats one after another. Zhou Xing's father and brother were rowing with all their might, trying to find shelter from the storm. Zhou Xing called out anxiously from the shore, but his voice was drowned out by the wind and rain. Just then, he glimpsed what seemed to be a figure struggling on the lake in the distance. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was someone who had fallen into the lake during the storm.

Without a second thought, Zhou Xing plunged into the lake and swam desperately towards the person. The water was icy cold, and the fierce wind made every step incredibly difficult. But he had only one thought in his mind: he had to save her. Finally, he reached the drowning woman, grabbed her, and swam with all his might towards the shore.

When he dragged the person ashore, he realized it was a young girl. She was soaking wet, and a phoenix hairpin in her hair glittered in the lightning. Without thinking, Zhou Xing quickly carried the girl to a nearby fishing hut. The hut was dimly lit. Zhou Xing placed the girl on a pile of dry grass and turned to fetch some dry clothes.

At that moment, the dragon-patterned jade pendant at the girl's waist shimmered faintly with her breath. Zhou Xing paid it no mind, assuming it was just a token from an ordinary wealthy young lady. He handed her some dry clothes and said softly, "Miss, change into these clothes first, don't catch a cold." The girl nodded weakly and took the clothes.

Three days later, Zhou Xing went fishing as usual. When he reached the vicinity of the fishing hut, he saw a young girl sitting by the lake, carving something on a reed with a silver hairpin. Curious, Zhou Xing approached and saw that the reed was carved with the character "凌" (Ling) in water patterns. Suddenly, the girl's fish basket leaked, and she panicked. Zhou Xing smiled and came over to help her repair it. During their conversation, the girl inquired about the newly issued fishing tax decree from the imperial court. Zhou Xing frowned and said, "This decree is good, but in practice, it has been distorted. Now, the burden on fishermen is even heavier." The girl nodded thoughtfully, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes.

The county magistrate inspected the lake area in a painted boat, a brocade banner hanging from the bow proclaiming "By Imperial Decree, Inspecting the People" fluttering in the wind. Zhou Xing stood on the shore, looking at the magnificent boat, feeling somewhat uneasy. Just then, he noticed Ling Xue helping an old woman repair a leaky net at the fish market. A thought struck Zhou Xing, and he deliberately spoke loudly and sarcastically, "Some people just love to put on airs. They clearly don't know anything about fishing, yet they still pretend to be experts." A hint of displeasure flashed in Ling Xue's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.

Late at night, Ling Xue, accompanied by her personal guards, quietly arrived at the ancestral hall in the fishing village. She carefully examined the family genealogy and discovered that the Zhou family had participated in a previous dynasty's water management project. As she meticulously examined the document, she inadvertently overlooked a handkerchief embroidered with gold carp. After she left, Zhou Xing entered the ancestral hall. He found the handkerchief on the ground, picked it up, and examined it closely, his heart filled with doubt.

The torrential rain returned, the wind howled, and the lake surged. Zhou Xing, worried about the safety of the lake embankment, went out to patrol. When he reached the embankment, he found Ling Xue using her body to brace against the collapsing embankment. Her face was covered in rain and sweat, but her eyes were incredibly determined. Zhou Xing was shocked and immediately went to help. The two of them worked together, carrying sandbags and busily working in the downpour. Blood seeped from Ling Xue's sleeves, staining half of them red. Zhou Xing said with concern, "Girl, be careful." Ling Xue just smiled slightly and continued to work on the flood control efforts.

An urgent dispatch arrived from the capital, reporting the Crown Princess's disappearance. The imperial envoy, aboard a warship, blocked the lake; sunlight shone on the blades, reflecting a cold glint. Zhou Xing stood on the shore, a sense of unease rising within him. At that moment, Ling Xue approached, her fingertips tracing the calluses on his palm, and softly said, "If Zhou Lang is willing to come to the capital with me, I can absolve his entire clan of the death penalty for resisting taxes." Zhou Xing's heart tightened; he looked at Ling Xue, unsure of what to do.

A fire broke out in the village ancestral hall late at night, flames soaring into the sky. Zhou Xing, disregarding the danger, rushed into the hall and retrieved the flood control scroll that Ling Xue had hidden on the beam. The scroll bore imperial annotations in vermilion ink on the back, and Zhou Xing had a growing feeling that this matter was not simple. At that moment, Ling Xue arrived, her eyes filled with gratitude as she looked at the scroll in Zhou Xing's hand.

The magistrate and his troops surrounded the Zhou family's fishing boat, creating a tense atmosphere. Ling Xue boarded the bow, lifted her hair, revealing the fiery lotus birthmark on her forehead. She declared loudly, "I'm taking Zhou Lang away today! Who dares to stop me?" The soldiers, intimidated by her imposing presence, retreated. Zhou Xing looked at Ling Xue, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Inside a side hall of the palace, Ling Xue was trying on a phoenix crown. Zhou Xing was serving her, and he inadvertently noticed an old arrow scar on the back of her neck. Ling Xue noticed his gaze and smiled, saying, "This is from when I was twelve years old, when I was inspecting the northern frontier." Zhou Xing felt a pang of heartache and asked, "It must have been very dangerous back then, right?" Ling Xue nodded, a hint of reminiscence flashing in her eyes.

In the Imperial Study, candlelight flickered late into the night as Ling Xue worked on a flood control plan before a sand table until dawn. Zhou Xing stood by, watching her weary figure, filled with admiration. Suddenly, Ling Xue coughed up blood, staining the flood control diagram crimson. Zhou Xing was shocked and rushed to support her. Ling Xue weakly said, "It's alright, don't make a sound."

In the scene of the night gathering in the Imperial Garden, Ling Xue pushed Zhou Xing towards the Prime Minister's daughter, while she herself played the zither, "Song of the Canglang," alone. The music was melodious, yet tinged with sorrow. Zhou Xing, puzzled, looked at Ling Xue. As a string broke, Ling Xue choked out, "The road ahead in the martial world is long." Zhou Xing's heart tightened, as if he had realized something.

Rumors circulated that the Crown Princess was harboring a man from the martial world, enraging the Emperor, who ordered the Imperial Guards to surround the villa. Zhou Xing, upon hearing the news, was frantic with worry. He rushed to the execution ground and found Ling Xue holding a hairpin to the throat of the imperial envoy. Ling Xue's eyes were resolute as she said, "Zhou Lang, run!" Zhou Xing was deeply moved and said, "I will not abandon you."

In the water torture chamber of the dungeon, Ling Xue bit her fingertip and wrote a blood letter on her prison uniform. When Zhou Xing broke in through the window, he saw her carving "I am willing to open a path to survival for the Zhou family" on a piece of broken tile. Zhou Xing's eyes welled up with tears, and he said, "Girl, I will never let anything happen to you." During their prison break escape, the two encountered an ambush, and the situation was extremely critical. Ling Xue shielded Zhou Xing like a target, saying, "Remember your promise to be the world's number one angler." Zhou Xing was filled with grief and vowed to protect Ling Xue.

Ten years later, a shrine bearing the names "Ling" and "Zhou" stood in the fishing village, its incense smoke swirling. The white-haired fisherman Zhou Xing hung baby bibs to dry at the bow of his boat, his eyes filled with loving kindness. On the table lay a yellowed map of flood control and half a phoenix hairpin.

On the day the new emperor ascended the throne, a fisherwoman sang a song called "Picking Water Chestnuts" in the middle of the lake. The lyrics contained strategies for governing the country. When the imperial censor's boat passed by, the people inside stared at the direction from which the song came for a long time.

As twilight fell, Zhou Xing pulled up the gilded box while hauling in his net. The moment he opened it, a flock of egrets took flight. Inside, Ling Xue's handwriting was faintly visible: "When the peach blossom season arrives, let's gamble on the vast lake again." Zhou Xing looked at the words, a happy smile spreading across his face. He gazed at the distant lake, as if he could see Ling Xue's figure. In this vast world, their story continued…

The triennial imperial concubine selection ceremony of the Great Qi Dynasty swept through the entire capital like a grand and magnificent storm. Countless women, harboring dreams and ambitions, flocked from all directions to this resplendent palace, hoping to secure a place within its walls and thus enjoy wealth, honor, and a meteoric rise in status.

Ling Xue was also among the bustling crowd. She had a beautiful face, with eyebrows like distant mountains, eyes like stars, and skin as white as snow. However, at this moment, her face was covered with deliberately applied black powder, completely concealing her original beauty.

In the Imperial Garden, the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers, and colorful butterflies fluttered about. Ling Xue deliberately pretended to be careless and bumped into a table displaying rouge and face powder. With a "crash," various colors of rouge and face powder scattered all over the ground, and several exquisite porcelain bottles shattered. The surrounding ladies-in-waiting cast disapproving glances, and whispers rose and fell.

Ling Xue was secretly delighted, but still pretended to be extremely flustered, quickly kneeling down to apologize. In that instant, her hand inadvertently brushed the ashes from the stove onto the ground, then cleverly smeared them on her cheek. In an instant, her face became blackened, like that of a charcoal-burning maid.

"You audacious scoundrel, how dare you be so clumsy!" The head maid glared angrily and shouted sternly.

Ling Xue shrank back, her voice trembling as she said, "Please forgive me, Granny, I really didn't mean it." The nanny snorted coldly, looked her up and down, and said with disdain, "Looking at you, let alone serving the Emperor in the palace, you're probably not even qualified to be a lowly maid."

Ling Xue was secretly pleased, but dared not show it at all, and just kept kowtowing and apologizing.

The night was deep and as dark as ink. Taking advantage of everyone's deep sleep, Ling Xue quietly slipped into the library. She knew it contained many books about palace secrets, and perhaps she could find some useful information there.

Inside the library, candlelight flickered, and shadows danced among the bookshelves. Ling Xue carefully flipped through the ancient books, when suddenly her gaze was drawn to a book titled "Records of the Great Qi Palace."

She gently turned the pages, and on the yellowed paper, a striking line of words caught her eye: "In the second year of Tianxi, Lady Lin gained favor by dyeing her lips with cinnabar, and was subsequently promoted to Imperial Concubine." Ling Xue's heart tightened suddenly, and her fingers unconsciously clenched the hem of her dress, causing deep wrinkles to form on the silk in her palm.

She knew all too well that in this palace, beauty was a double-edged sword. Too much beauty might bring her endless trouble. So she deliberately painted herself as charcoal to avoid the vortex of conflict and eke out a living in this deep palace.

Inside the imperial kitchen, steam rose and the aroma filled the air. Ling Xue was assigned to do menial work there, responsible for chopping wood and tending the fire every day. She wore a simple palace maid's outfit, her hair was casually tied back, and her face was still covered with a layer of black charcoal ash.

One day, Ling Xue was busy at the stove when she suddenly heard hurried footsteps. She looked up and saw a young eunuch running towards her in a panic, carrying a bowl of medicine.

"Oh no! The Emperor's medicine has boiled dry!" the little eunuch cried out anxiously.

Ling Xue was startled. Without thinking, she quickly took the medicine, wrapped the scalding pot in her sleeve, and swiftly replaced it with a fresh dose, placing it back on the stove to boil. Her movements were practiced and efficient, showing no sign of panic.

Just then, the head eunuch entered. He saw Ling Xue's actions and a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. What surprised him even more was that Ling Xue's wrist was visible amidst the ashes; her skin was as white and delicate as jade, a stark contrast to the charcoal on her face.

The head eunuch's heart stirred, but he did not make a sound, instead silently observing everything.

A few days later, the Empress Dowager's birthday was approaching. The Imperial Household Department, wanting to present the Empress Dowager with a unique birthday gift, decided to select a palace maid to perform the Fire Meteor Dance. However, this dance required someone to walk barefoot on fire, and everyone looked hesitant, no one daring to volunteer.

Looking at the roaring embers, Ling Xue suddenly had an idea. She stepped forward and said, "I'm willing to give it a try."

Everyone stared at her in surprise, their eyes filled with doubt. Ling Xue, however, remained calm. She walked to the charcoal fire, closed her eyes slightly, took a deep breath, and then slowly placed her feet into the fire.

The scorching embers burned her feet, yet she seemed oblivious to the pain, dancing lightly across the fire. The embers crackled beneath her feet, as if providing accompaniment.

Emperor Zhou Xing sat in the main seat at the banquet, his gaze deeply drawn to this scene. He saw Ling Xue dancing gracefully in the charcoal fire, like a lotus blooming in the flames, pure and untainted by the mud, cleansed by the clear water without being seductive.

Zhou Xing's gaze fell on Ling Xue's face. Although her face was covered in soot, her agile figure and resolute eyes stirred up a strange emotion in his heart.

After the performance, Ling Xue was taken to the Jiaofang Palace to bathe. When she washed away the soot from her face, her stunning beauty was instantly revealed. Her long, ink-black hair was casually draped over her shoulders, and her eyes and brows exuded a cool and stubborn air, like a beautiful painting.

The palace maids were all amazed, and one of them exclaimed, "This is clearly Wang Zhaojun reborn!"

Ling Xue looked at herself in the bronze mirror and said with a self-deprecating smile, "Beauty bones are the most troublesome thing." She knew that in this deep palace, beauty was both an asset and a source of trouble.

Late at night, in Emperor Zhou Xing's bedchamber, candlelight flickered. Zhou Xing sat at the table, toying with a jade pendant in his hand, his eyes somewhat unfocused.

At this moment, a bodyguard appeared and handed over a secret report. Zhou Xing took the report, unfolded it, and read: "The Ling family woman is the daughter of the Grand Tutor of the previous dynasty." His eyes instantly deepened, and a complex emotion welled up in his heart.

Outside the window, snowflakes began to fall. They drifted down like white feathers. Zhou Xing fell into deep thought. He knew Ling Xue's identity was not simple, and her appearance might bring a huge upheaval to the palace.

Not long after Ling Xue entered the palace, she was assigned to take care of the winter plum blossoms in the Imperial Garden. She watered and cared for them meticulously every day, and under her protection, the winter plum blossoms bloomed exceptionally beautifully.

One day, Zhou Xing went for a walk in the Imperial Garden. He saw Ling Xue busy under the plum tree, so he went over to check on her.