My Taoist buddy has practiced surrogacy

Chapter 1459 Cold Light
As he spoke, he took out a golden needle, which gleamed coldly in the candlelight.

When the first needle pierced the Zusanli acupoint, Ling Xue bit her lower lip until it bled. Cold sweat soaked through her inner garment, but she didn't utter a sound, only staring at the young man's focused profile. His eyes were like deep pools and ancient wells, reflecting the flickering flames, which inexplicably made her feel at ease. Every day at three-quarters past Chen hour, Zhou Xinglei would appear in the side room without fail, the sound of pounding medicine mingling with the sound of the hourglass becoming the new timekeeping clock.

In the season when peach blossoms sprouted, Ling Xue was finally able to stand up for a moment, leaning against the window frame. At this time, Zhou Xing would magically produce novel objects: small grasshoppers woven from vines, dyed pebbles, and even chirping bamboo crickets. At first, she thought these were the doctor's methods to comfort patients, until one day she bumped into him squatting at the end of the corridor, scratching his head in frustration at the pile of failed attempts.

“You don’t need to go to all that trouble.” She turned her wheelchair closer, her skirt brushing against the muddy toes of his boots. The young man looked up and smiled brightly: “Lying in bed all day must be so boring, we have to find some fun, right?” As he spoke, he stuffed the kite he had just made into her hand, the other end of the string tightly wrapped around his own finger. A spring breeze swept through the courtyard, and colorful butterfly patterns rose slowly, carrying two overlapping shadows chasing the drifting clouds.

In the steaming heat of the medicinal bath, Zhou Xing, with his back to the screen, administered acupuncture to her. Listening to her even breathing behind him, he suddenly spoke: "Actually, you should lose your temper more often." The silver needles hovered in mid-air. "If it were anyone else, they would have already blamed me for the ineffective treatment." After a long silence, a soft laugh came: "If you lose your temper, will you leave?" The voice was as light as a falling petal.

On the night of the Awakening of Insects, a sudden downpour caused Ling Xue to develop a high fever. Zhou Xing stayed by her bedside all night, wiping her burning forehead repeatedly with a handkerchief soaked in well water. In her hazy state, she felt someone lift her up and feed her medicine; the bitter medicine mixed with sweet pear juice slid down her throat. As dawn broke through the window, she saw the young man dozing at his desk, his eyes dark and his hand still clutching a half-dry towel.

By the time the lotus flowers filled the pond, Ling Xue was already able to walk slowly. Zhou Xing began to guide her in identifying herbs, and they would wander through the herb garden before the morning dew had dried. He taught her to distinguish between plantain and dandelion, and demonstrated how to use moxibustion to dispel cold and dampness from acupoints. Once, he deliberately pointed out the wrong variety, and seeing her earnestly correcting him, he couldn't help but chuckle: "Now you've learned to question your teacher?"

At the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, Zhou Xing presented a homemade osmanthus cake. The flaky crust unfolded layer by layer like a full moon, its sweet aroma drawing gasps of wonder from everyone. The old Marquis stroked his beard and smiled, "My son-in-law is very thoughtful." His words had barely left his lips when everyone present was astonished—it turned out that, unbeknownst to them, the entire Marquis's household had already tacitly accepted that this perfect match was made in heaven. Ling Xue's ears flushed crimson, and she lowered her head, only to hear a whisper beside her: "The day you can wield a sword, I will formally propose marriage."

After the Autumnal Equinox, the weather turned cool, and Zhou Xing suddenly stopped coming out of his room. Ling Xue heard the sound of a medicine pot shattering through the door, and her worry grew. When she broke down the door, she saw him pale-faced amidst the mess on the floor: "I've found a way to cure my old injuries, but it requires my own bone marrow to make the medicine..." He was interrupted before he could finish: "If you dare to hurt yourself even a little..." The last half of his sentence disappeared in the warmth of their embrace.

As the frost descended, Ling Xue put on her long-unused embroidered shoes again. Zhou Xing helped her practice her gait on the maple forest path, the fallen leaves carpeting the ground in red. When she was finally able to walk ten zhang independently, the young man's eyes reddened, but he stubbornly said, "It's just that it's time to recover." He turned away and secretly wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes.

At the Winter Solstice family banquet, the old Marquis solemnly presented the imperial edict: "Young friend Zhou saved my daughter from danger; this is His Majesty's special decree of marriage." Ling Xue looked at the man opposite her, watching him calmly accept the edict, his hands trembling slightly within his sleeves. As night fell, the two sat side by side under the eaves of the warm pavilion, watching the snow. Zhou Xing suddenly grasped her hand: "Actually, I should have told you sooner..."

“I know.” She interrupted him, her fingertips gently smoothing the wrinkles between his brows. “I understood from the first time you applied acupuncture to me.” Amidst the swirling snowflakes, the young man took out a jade hairpin he had prepared long ago and inserted it into her hair: “How about I take you to see the wild apricot forest beyond the Great Wall next spring?”

On the day of Lichun (the beginning of spring), the Marquis's mansion was brightly decorated. Lingxue, adorned in a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, sat gracefully before a mirror, while Zhou Xing, carrying the nuptial wine, arrived stepping on a red silk ribbon. The guests marveled at the couple's elegance and envied the radiance in their eyes. On their wedding night, the newlyweds together wrote their marriage vows: "May we be intertwined branches, inseparable year after year; may we transform into birds flying wing to wing, sharing dawn and dusk."

Even after their marriage, Zhou Xing did not give up his medical studies, and Ling Xue also followed him to learn traditional Chinese medicine. They cultivated a medicinal herb garden in their backyard, planting rare herbs by hand. Whenever impoverished people sought medical help, the couple would always see and treat them together. Gradually, the reputation of "Renxin Medical Clinic" spread far and wide.

Many years later, on a clear morning, the elderly couple, their hair white with age, strolled hand in hand through the plum grove. Zhou Xing still carried his medicine chest as he had in his youth, only now it contained a collection of medical case studies recording his insights. Ling Xue stopped at the stone steps where they had first met, suddenly turning her head and smiling, "If I hadn't been kicked by the horse back then..." "Then I would have definitely scaled the wall to break into the Marquis's mansion." He replied frankly, sunlight filtering through the blossoms and dappling them with fine golden light.

In that bustling yet turbulent Jiangnan town, the Zhou family was once a prominent and prestigious clan. Their ornately decorated mansion boasted rare and beautiful flowers blooming in every season, and the sounds of string and wind instruments constantly filled the air. Zhou Xing spent his childhood amidst this luxurious environment, surrounded by servants and enjoying a life of comfort and ease. Ling Xue, on the other hand, was originally a poor peasant girl. Unable to support her family, she was sold into the Zhou family as a maid when she was ten years old. Upon entering the Zhou household, she was small and timid, always keeping her eyes down, afraid of making the slightest mistake. But Zhou Xing was different from other masters; he never scolded this girl who was a few years younger than him. Occasionally, he would share delicious snacks with her or teach her to recognize a few characters.

Those peaceful and beautiful times seem like only yesterday, but the gears of fate have begun to turn wildly without anyone noticing. In a business deal involving court intrigue, Zhou's father inadvertently chose the wrong side. Overnight, the Zhou family's property was confiscated, the men were exiled to the army, and the women became government slaves. The once bustling mansion was instantly deserted; creditors thronged the threshold, and even the relatives who used to greet us with smiles avoided us like the plague. Zhou Xing and his mother were forced to move out of the ancestral home and into a leaky, dilapidated house on the outskirts of the city.

“Young Master…” Ling Xue looked at the once-glorious young man, now ragged and haggard, squatting on the ground sorting through his meager belongings, her heart aching, tears welling in her eyes. Zhou Xing raised his head, forcing a smile: “It’s alright, as long as we’re alive, there’s always a way.” However, they soon discovered that the reality of the world was far crueler than they had imagined. The mother and son tried to make a living by pawning their remaining old belongings, but the pawnshop owners, seeing their plight, offered pitifully low prices. To survive, Zhou Xing had to work at the docks carrying cargo sacks. The heavy sacks bent his back and chafed his delicate shoulders; his hands were covered in calluses and blisters, each wound a mocking mark etched by life. Ling Xue wasn’t idle either. Every day before dawn, she would get up to gather firewood, wash clothes, and cook. The rough firewood and icy water made her already frostbitten hands even more unbearable to look at. But she never complained, always quietly keeping the house tidy and saving the meager food for Zhou Xing and his mother. Once, Zhou Xing collapsed and injured his leg at the dock, unable to continue working. The foreman dismissed him without hesitation, saying harshly, "If you can't work, don't occupy the position!" Zhou Xing dragged his injured leg home, filled with despair and self-blame. He felt like a burden to his family and even contemplated suicide.

That night, moonlight streamed through the dilapidated windowpanes, casting dappled shadows on the floor. Ling Xue carried a steaming bowl of porridge into the room and saw Zhou Xing staring blankly at the ceiling, his eyes vacant. A pang of pain shot through her heart. She gently put down her chopsticks and sat on the edge of the bed, taking his hand in hers. "Young Master, don't be discouraged. I've heard there's an old traditional Chinese medicine doctor in town with exceptional skills. Tomorrow I'll go and beg him to treat your injuries." Zhou Xing turned to look at her resolute eyes, tears welling up in his eyes. "You've suffered so much with me..." Ling Xue shook her head vigorously. "No, not at all! If it weren't for your kindness to me back then, I don't know where I would have died. Now it's my turn to protect you."

The next morning, Ling Xue set off for the old Chinese medicine doctor's residence before dawn. She knelt outside the door for a long time before finally getting a chance to open it. After explaining her purpose, the old doctor was moved by her sincerity and agreed to treat Zhou Xing, but the medical expenses were too high for them to afford. To raise the money for the medicine, Ling Xue did her housework during the day and then took odd jobs at the embroidery workshop in town. Her fingers were pricked countless times by the needle, and her eyes were red, swollen, and sore from focusing on embroidery for long periods, but she gritted her teeth and persevered. Every night, she would stay up late to finish more embroidery to sell the next day to earn money.

Days passed, and Zhou Xing's injuries gradually improved. But seeing Ling Xue's increasingly thin figure filled him with guilt and unease. Finally, one day he said to Ling Xue, "This can't go on. I can't let you suffer like this alone." With that, he insisted on going out to find work again. This time, he found an apprenticeship at a blacksmith's shop, wielding a hammer every day to forge parts for farm tools. Sparks flew, and sweat soaked his back, but he felt incredibly grounded—at least every penny earned with his own hands carried dignity.

However, misfortune did not spare this already fragile family. One cold winter evening, Zhou's mother suddenly developed a high fever and fell into a coma. The doctor they summoned shook his head and sighed, saying he was powerless to save her unless extremely expensive medicine was used to prolong her life. Faced with the exorbitant medical bills, the entire family was plunged into despair. Zhou Xing searched his pockets and only managed to scrape together a few copper coins, which was of no use whatsoever. Just as he was about to rush out the door to try and get some money, Ling Xue stopped him: "Young Master, let me go!" Before anyone could react, she had already disappeared into the night.

It turned out that Ling Xue had secretly gone to several wealthy young ladies she used to know, hoping to get an advance on her wages to help her out of her predicament. While these women outwardly sympathized, they were unwilling to risk lending to someone in dire need. Just when all hope seemed lost, a girl surnamed Lin appeared—one of the few who still remembered their past friendship. She secretly gave Ling Xue some money and instructed her not to tell anyone. After receiving the life-saving money, Ling Xue ran home as fast as she could, not daring to delay for a moment. When she rushed breathlessly into the house, she saw Zhou Xing kneeling on the floor, weeping bitterly before his mother on her sickbed. Upon seeing the medicinal herbs she had brought back, everyone wept with joy…

With everyone's meticulous care, Zhou's mother miraculously recovered from her fever. Having survived this life-or-death ordeal, the family's bond grew even stronger. In the following years, Zhou Xing gradually gained local renown through his intelligence and hard work. He not only mastered iron casting techniques but also taught himself business acumen, slowly accumulating some capital. Ling Xue remained by his side throughout, managing both household chores and business affairs with remarkable efficiency.

As time went by, the Zhou family's fortunes improved, and they repurchased property and land, restoring their former prosperity. Those who had once been indifferent and distant now flocked to their door, trying to curry favor, but Zhou Xing politely declined them all. He knew that only those who had stood by him through thick and thin were worthy of his trust and affection. On a sunny day, Zhou Xing prepared generous gifts and solemnly proposed to Ling Xue: "Without you all these years, I wouldn't be where I am today. I will repay your kindness for the rest of my life." Ling Xue lowered her head shyly and softly agreed…

The whole town was abuzz with excitement on their wedding day, as people flocked to congratulate the newlyweds who had overcome so many hardships to finally be together. At the banquet, someone curiously asked them how they had weathered those difficult years. Zhou Xing looked lovingly at his beautifully dressed wife beside him and replied, "It was her unwavering support that taught me what true love in adversity is; it was the immense strength hidden within her seemingly frail body that sustained me through countless dark nights, allowing me to welcome the dawn." Ling Xue blushed slightly, nestled beside him, and smiled happily…

Years later, whenever Zhou Xing recalls that unforgettable experience, he is always filled with emotion: "Life's journey is full of ups and downs, but only true feelings can help us weather the winter and welcome the spring." Ling Xue would gently add, "Actually, everyone is the protagonist of their own destiny. As long as there is love in your heart, even the greatest difficulties can be overcome." Their story is like a ray of warm sunshine in winter, warming the hearts of those who come after, and making people believe that true feelings in this world never fade...

A biting north wind swept across the cobblestone path, carrying fine snowflakes. In the chilling cold, a simply decorated yet undeniably luxurious carriage slowly entered the capital. A corner of the curtain was lifted, revealing a girl of about fifteen or sixteen years old—Ling Xue. She wore a fox fur cloak, her eyes bright as stars, curiously surveying the house that would soon become her new home.

The Ling family is a prestigious clan with a history spanning centuries, boasting ancestors who served three emperors. Although not as powerful as in its heyday, they still hold considerable influence in the court. Today is Ling Xue's homecoming day after her coming-of-age ceremony. The entire household is decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and servants are bustling about, preparing to welcome their young lady back home.

"Watch your step." A steady, powerful voice came from behind her, accompanied by a warm hand supporting her arm. Ling Xue turned around and saw a young man dressed in a dark blue outfit, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, his posture as upright as a pine tree, and an unsharpened longsword hanging at his waist. He bowed his head respectfully, saying, "Your subordinate, Zhou Xing, is here on Master's orders to escort Miss back safely."

It turns out that Zhou Xing was originally the most outstanding disciple in the Ling family's secret guard camp. He was selected and trained from a young age, possessing superb martial arts skills and unwavering loyalty. Because Ling Xue was returning to the capital from the palace for the first time, her father specially assigned him to protect her. From that day on, Zhou Xing served her like a shadow, never leaving her side during morning and evening greetings, banquets, or outings.

At first, Ling Xue didn't pay much attention to this taciturn guard.