My Taoist buddy has practiced surrogacy

Chapter 1464 Persistence
They got lost in the mountains and forests. As dusk fell, a light drizzle began to fall. To protect Ling Xue, Zhou Xing took off his outer robe and draped it over her shoulders, while he himself braved the rain to lead the way. After returning to the manor, Zhou Xing unfortunately caught a cold and was bedridden.

Upon hearing the news, Ling Xue was frantic with worry. She personally brewed medicine to dispel the cold and stayed by Zhou Xing's bedside day and night, taking meticulous care of him. Looking at Zhou Xing on the bed, his face pale but still undeniably handsome, Ling Xue's love for him intensified. She carefully blew on the steaming bowl of medicine, feeding it to Zhou Xing spoonful by spoonful, her eyes filled with concern and heartache. Zhou Xing watched the busy Ling Xue with half-open eyes, a ripple of emotion stirring within him, but he quickly looked away, reminding himself not to overstep his bounds.

Just when Ling Xue thought that her persistence would win over Zhou Xing, Su Wanrou appeared. It was a clear morning, before the morning mist had fully dissipated. Su Wanrou, dressed in plain clothes, stood quietly at the entrance of the Prime Minister's residence. Her appearance was exquisite and refined, her demeanor elegant and serene, like a lotus emerging from the water. When Ling Xue first saw Su Wanrou, she was captivated by her unique charm.

Upon seeing Ling Xue, Su Wanrou politely curtsied and said softly, "I've long admired Miss Ling's reputation. Meeting you today, I can say you are indeed as beautiful and charming as the rumors say." Ling Xue forced a smile in response, but her heart was filled with wariness and hostility. The three of them were enjoying a boat ride on the lake, admiring the lotus blossoms, when their peaceful scene was shattered by a sudden turn of events. A small boat, for some unknown reason, went out of control and hurtled towards them, about to strike Su Wanrou. In the nick of time, Zhou Xing jumped into the water without hesitation and rescued Su Wanrou.

This scene utterly devastated Ling Xue. She watched helplessly as Zhou Xing devoted himself so recklessly to Su Wanrou, and the jealousy and anger in her heart erupted like a volcano. Back in her room, she accidentally broke her treasured gilded hairpin—a gift from her mother for her coming-of-age ceremony. Looking at the broken hairpin on the floor, like her shattered heart, tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

Late that night, Ling Xue sat alone in the courtyard, drowning her sorrows in alcohol. Under the hazy moonlight, her figure appeared exceptionally lonely and forlorn. Just then, a figure quietly approached. It was Zhou Xing. Seeing the thoroughly drunk Ling Xue, he frowned and turned to leave. But Ling Xue grabbed his sleeve. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at Zhou Xing, choking back sobs, "Why? Why can't my passionate love prevail over an old promise?" Zhou Xing remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "The marriage was arranged by our parents; how can it be easily broken? Having agreed, I must keep my promise to the end." With that, he broke free from Ling Xue's grasp and resolutely left.

A few days later, an imperial edict bestowing marriage upon Zhou Xing arrived from the palace. It turned out the Emperor had learned of Zhou Xing and Su Wanrou's engagement and considered them a match made in heaven, thus bestowing upon them a phoenix coronet and embroidered robes as a sign of his favor. The news caused a sensation throughout the capital. For Ling Xue, this was undoubtedly a bolt from the blue. She felt her world collapse instantly, all her hopes shattered.

On their wedding day, the Prime Minister's residence was brightly decorated, and joyous music filled the air. But Ling Xue locked herself in her room, refusing to eat, drink, or speak. The lively celebrations outside contrasted sharply with her inner anguish. Only when the night was deep and still did she quietly change into black clothes, scale the wall, and sneak into a shadowy spot near the wedding hall. Through a crack in the window, she saw Zhou Xing leading Su Wanrou down the aisle, their faces beaming with happiness; guests raised their glasses to congratulate the newlyweds on their marriage. Every scene pierced her heart like a sharp blade.

Just as the ceremony reached its crucial moment, Ling Xue suddenly rushed out. She held a dagger, her eyes filled with madness and despair. Everyone was stunned by this sudden turn of events, and chaos erupted. Ling Xue lunged at Zhou Xing, but stopped just before she could touch him. Finally, she reversed her grip and plunged the dagger into the mandarin duck pendant she wore on her chest. The sound of shattering jade was crisp and piercing, accompanied by her scream: "Since I cannot win your heart, I only seek to sever all vain desires!" Blood dripped from her fingers onto the ground, staining the earth red.

Zhou Xing was shocked to see this and rushed forward to support the swaying Ling Xue. His eyes were filled with guilt, heartache, and helplessness. Su Wanrou also came forward to help support her, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. At this moment, time seemed to freeze.

After this incident, Ling Xue fell seriously ill. She suffered from a persistent high fever and frequently murmured incoherently. Her maids stayed by her bedside day and night to care for her. Once her condition improved slightly, her family arranged for her to travel to a secluded villa in Jiangnan to recuperate. The scenery of the Jiangnan water towns was beautiful, shrouded in mist and rain, but it could not heal the wounds in Ling Xue's heart.

During her time in Jiangnan, Ling Xue was constantly melancholy. She often sat by the window, lost in thought, gazing at the gently flowing river outside. One day, while tidying up her old belongings, she discovered half a poem, "Linjiang Xian," hidden in a folded compartment. It was a draft of a poem she and Zhou Xing had co-written. Seeing the familiar handwriting, memories of the past flooded back like a tide. Her fingers gently traced the ink on the paper, and tears once again blurred her vision.

Meanwhile, events were unfolding in the capital, a thousand miles away. Zhou Xing refused half of the betrothal gifts offered by the Su family as compensation to the Ling family. This action caused quite a stir. Some speculated that he couldn't bear to hurt Ling Xue out of consideration for their past relationship; others said he was protecting his reputation. Only he knew the true reason. One snowy night, Zhou Xing went alone to the ancestral hall and knelt all night as punishment. In the dim candlelight, his figure appeared particularly lonely and desolate. Snowflakes fell gently, landing on his shoulders, but he felt no cold, as if his senses had been numbed, his only thought being to repeatedly recall the moments he had spent with Ling Xue…

Three years passed quickly. Many changes occurred during this time. The old prime minister retired and moved his family south to settle in Jiangnan; Su Wanrou gave birth to a son, bringing joy to the whole family; and news about Zhou Xing occasionally reached their ears—his career was going smoothly, and he had become one of the important officials in the court; only Ling Xue remained single and unmarried.

It was that time of year again when apricot blossoms bloomed and a light rain fell. A special guest arrived in the Jiangnan town—Zhou Xing, now an Imperial Censor, inspecting salt affairs. When he saw Ling Xue again, he was stunned. The woman before him, dressed in simple clothes and adorned with a plain hairpin, had shed her former finery and jewelry, but possessed a serene and composed beauty. Time seemed exceptionally kind to her, leaving few traces, only a hint of relief in her eyes. The two remained silent for a long time before Ling Xue finally broke the silence: "Greetings, sir." Her simple greeting contained a complex mix of emotions: resentment, bitterness, and also acceptance… Zhou Xing gazed at her, hesitant to speak for a long time before slowly saying, "What happened back then… I wronged you. It's good that everything is well now." With that, he took out a perfectly intact new mandarin duck pendant from his robes and handed it to Ling Xue. "I've always carried this jade pendant with me; today I return it to its rightful owner. I hope you take good care of yourself, young lady."

Ling Xue accepted the jade pendant, her fingertips touching its slightly cool surface. A mix of emotions welled up within her, but ultimately, a relieved smile appeared on her face. "Thank you for your kindness, sir. May we both find peace in the future." With that, she gave a slight curtsy, turned, and left, her figure gradually disappearing into the misty rain…

Years later, historical records state that this incorruptible censor never took a concubine, and somewhere in Jiangnan, a figure in simple white robes would always be seen brewing tea and listening to the snow amidst the sparse shadows of apricot blossoms until his hair turned white...

My name is Ling Xue. When I was eight years old, my family suffered a sudden tragedy; both my parents died, and I, alone and destitute, was sent to the palace to become a maid. When I first entered the palace, I was filled with fear and unease. Looking at the tall and majestic palaces and the hurried, indifferent palace servants around me, I felt that this deep palace was like a giant beast that could devour me at any moment. My only hope was that when I reached a certain age, I could leave the palace with my cousin, Granny Li, and live a simple and free life.

My first days in the palace were extremely difficult. The heavy and tedious chores weighed me down, and I had to get up before dawn to sweep the courtyard and wipe the utensils. The slightest mistake would bring me scolding. The older palace maids had sharp eyes and spoke with biting sarcasm, often making fun of me. I did everything carefully every day, not daring to make the slightest mistake, just hoping that time would pass quickly and that I could endure until the day I could leave the palace.

It was a cold winter morning, the wind was biting, and snowflakes were falling thickly, blanketing the entire palace in white. As usual, I was clearing snow near the Imperial Garden, my hands already red and numb with cold, my breath condensing into a mist before my eyes. Suddenly, I heard hurried footsteps approaching. I looked up and saw a young man in a guard's uniform walking quickly towards me. He was tall and strong, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, his face stern yet possessing a heroic air. I quickly lowered my head and continued my work, afraid of causing trouble.

"Young lady, you must be tired in this cold weather." A gentle voice sounded above me. I looked up in surprise and met his gaze. His eyes were deep and unfathomable, filled with concern and a smile. I hastily curtsied and replied softly, "Thank you for your concern, sir. It's all I should do." He nodded slightly and left without lingering. In the following days, I kept running into him in different places, sometimes at the corner of a corridor, sometimes near the palace gate. Each time we met, he would greet me with a friendly smile and occasionally help me carry some heavy things or remind me to watch my step. Gradually, we became familiar with each other, and I learned that his name was Zhou Xing, and he was a guard.

Once, I twisted my ankle while carrying clothes, and tears welled up in my eyes from the pain. Just as I gritted my teeth and tried to continue, Zhou Xing appeared. Seeing my injury, he immediately helped me up, frowning as he said, "How could you be so careless? Sit down and rest, I'll go get you some medicine." With that, he hurried away. A little while later, he returned with a bottle of liniment for sprains and bruises. He knelt down, gently rolled up my trouser leg, carefully examined the injury, and then applied the ointment evenly to my ankle, his movements gentle and focused. Feeling the warmth from his palm, a warm current surged through me. This was the first time he had been so close to me, and my heart inexplicably began to race.

As time went by, Zhou Xing and I grew closer. In our spare time, he would secretly take me to a secluded corner where several ancient plum trees stood. It was the season when the plum blossoms were in full bloom, their pink petals swaying gracefully on the branches, releasing a delicate fragrance. We would sit under the trees and share our stories. I told him about the hardships I faced after entering the palace and my aspirations for the future, while he spoke of his childhood martial arts training and his ambition to achieve great things. In his descriptions, the outside world was full of wonder and opportunities—a vast realm I had never imagined.

However, life in the palace was not always peaceful. The infighting among the concubines intensified, often implicating innocent people. One day, a disfavored concubine, harboring resentment, vented her anger on my group of palace maids. She falsely accused us of stealing her jewelry and demanded severe punishment for those involved. The atmosphere instantly became extremely tense, and all the palace maids were gathered for interrogation. I trembled with fear, my mind blank. Just when I thought I was in grave danger, Zhou Xing stepped forward. Calm and composed, he clearly and logically analyzed the situation: "Your Highness, these palace maids are busy with their work all day and have no opportunity to approach your bedchamber, let alone steal valuables. Moreover, there is no conclusive evidence pointing to them at the scene. I hope Your Highness will investigate thoroughly." His words turned the tide, and the concubine, though unwilling, had no choice but to temporarily relent. Afterwards, I was filled with gratitude towards him; without his timely help, I truly didn't know how I would have handled this crisis.

As the days went by, my feelings for Zhou Xing subtly changed. I began to look forward to seeing him every day, and would unconsciously observe his movements; when I saw him talking with other women, a pang of jealousy would rise in my heart. But I knew my status was lowly, that I was just a lowly palace maid, how could I dare to hope for anything more than that? I could only bury these feelings deep in my heart and silently wish him success in achieving his ambitions.

By chance, I discovered Zhou Xing's true identity—he was actually the Crown Prince! This news struck me like a bolt from the blue. I was shocked and terrified. I realized that my previous casual interactions with him might have brought me to my death. From then on, I deliberately distanced myself from him, no longer initiating conversations with him, and even quickly avoiding him when I saw him. Zhou Xing noticed my strange behavior and tried to explain himself to me several times, but I avoided him.

Finally, one day, he stopped me on my usual route. His eyes were filled with anxiety and confusion: "Ling Xue, why are you suddenly so cold to me? Have you heard some rumors about me?" I lowered my head, not daring to look him in the eye, and said in a trembling voice, "Your Highness is of noble birth, and I know I am unworthy of you. I dare not presume to be your equal." Hearing this, he suddenly grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to look up at him: "In your eyes, am I just a high and mighty Crown Prince? Does our past affection mean nothing?" He was very strong, and my shoulders ached from his grip, but I still stubbornly said, "Your Highness and I are worlds apart. It's best to keep our distance." After saying that, I broke free from his grasp, turned around, and ran away.