My Taoist buddy has practiced surrogacy

Chapter 1471 Halo
After dipping his brush in ink, he wrote lines of elegant and unrestrained characters on the rice paper with effortless grace. Sunlight streamed through the carved window lattice, bathing him in a golden glow.

Ling Xue was so engrossed in watching that she accidentally knocked over a flowerpot. The loud crash broke the silence of the room. Zhou Xing turned around at the sound, his sharp gaze fixed on the window. Ling Xue was startled and tried to run away in a panic, but Zhou Xing quickly stepped forward and grabbed her wrist. Their eyes met, and Ling Xue felt her heart suddenly race, her cheeks flushing red.

"Who are you? Why are you eavesdropping on this lecture?" Zhou Xing's voice was deep and magnetic. Ling Xue composed herself and lied, claiming to be a lost palace maid. However, her gorgeous clothes and exquisite accessories betrayed her true identity. Zhou Xing saw through her lie but did not expose her; he merely loosened his grip slightly.

The next day, the emperor decreed that Zhou Xing would teach calligraphy and painting to the royal children. In class, Ling Xue deliberately caused trouble, spilling ink everywhere. Instead of being angry, Zhou Xing picked up a clean brush and, using the ink stains, sketched a lifelike plum blossom painting. His movements were fluid and graceful, his gaze focused and resolute, captivating Ling Xue.

After class, Ling Xue intercepted Zhou Xing outside the Imperial Study. Mustering her courage, she questioned, "Since you know my identity, why do you indulge me?" Zhou Xing calmly replied, "The princess is naturally free-spirited; forcibly restraining her would only diminish her charm." With that, he pulled a fragment of the *Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion* from his robes and handed it to Ling Xue. "If you are truly interested in calligraphy, you can start by practicing this." Ling Xue took the book; her fingertips lightly touched his, and a jolt of electricity coursed through her body.

The autumn hunting grounds, a perfect opportunity to showcase bravery and skill, were suddenly struck by a torrential downpour. Large raindrops pounded the ground, splashing water everywhere, and everyone scrambled for shelter. Ling Xue, riding her horse wildly through the rain, accidentally fell into a mud puddle. The mud quickly submerged her skirt, leaving her unable to move.

Just then, Zhou Xing rode up to their rescue. Without hesitation, he jumped into the mud and held Ling Xue in his arms. Both of them were soaked to the bone and looked quite disheveled. To warm Ling Xue, Zhou Xing took off his crane cloak and wrapped it around her thin body. He then braved the rain to find dry firewood to start a fire.

Back in the tent, Zhou Xing caught a chill from the rain and developed a high fever. In his delirium, he held Ling Xue's hand tightly, murmuring the promise he made as a child: "When you come of age, I will marry you with a phoenix feather." Ling Xue stayed by his bedside all night, wiping his forehead with warm water, her heart filled with worry and gratitude.

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager was furious, deeming Zhou Xing's actions improper, and ordered him to be flogged thirty times. At the execution ground, the cane was raised high and then brought down heavily, each blow striking Ling Xue's heart. Ignoring the crowd's attempts to stop her, she rushed forward to protect Zhou Xing, shouting, "Punish me if you must!" With her insistence, the Empress Dowager finally relented, changing the punishment to copying one hundred scrolls of scriptures.

Late at night, Ling Xue went to Zhou Xing's study to deliver medicine. Moonlight streamed through the window, casting a solitary shadow on the floor. She noticed Zhou Xing burning their correspondence, and a corner of a handkerchief embroidered with twin lotus blossoms peeked out from the ashes. A strange pang of sorrow welled up in her heart, and she quietly turned and left.

The imperial examination fraud case brought to light an old case involving the deceased Grand Tutor, sparking heated discussions in the court. Some accused Zhou Xing's father of involvement, with seemingly irrefutable evidence. Zhou Xing was forced to kneel in the ancestral temple for three days in repentance. Upon learning the news, Ling Xue was frantic with worry. She stormed into the palace to plead Zhou Xing's case, declaring, "The Zhou family has been a family of upright officials for three generations; they would never commit such a despicable act!"

To uncover the truth, Ling Xue disguised herself and infiltrated the black market to gather clues. There, she witnessed Zhou Xing exchanging intelligence with a mysterious man. Before she could react, she was pursued as a spy. At the critical moment, Zhou Xing appeared to save her. He pulled Ling Xue into a dark alley and urgently explained, "I'm collecting evidence to clear my father's name."

While the two were hiding in a dilapidated temple sharing roasted potatoes, Zhou Xing suddenly started coughing incessantly. Ling Xue pulled open his shirt to check his injuries and was shocked to see a new knife wound below his collarbone, still oozing blood. She asked with concern, "Does it hurt?" Zhou Xing smiled and shook his head, "It's not even a fraction of the danger I faced seeing you."

The Lantern Festival was a lively affair, with lanterns adorning the streets and alleys. Ling Xue, wearing a mask, weaved through the crowd, guessing riddles and having a great time. Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared in her sight—it was Zhou Xing. He stood by the bridge, holding a jade flute, playing "The Phoenix Seeks Its Mate," the melodious tune echoing in the night sky.

Ling Xue walked towards him involuntarily. Zhou Xing stopped playing when he saw her, looking at her tenderly. The people around them automatically parted to form a human wall, surrounding them. Zhou Xing stepped forward, removed her mask, and whispered, "I knew it was you." Then he took her hand and disappeared into the crowd into the night.

Soon after, news of the escalating war in the northern frontier reached the court, causing a stir. Many in the court advocated for peace talks, but Zhou Xing defied the majority and volunteered to lead the expedition. Ling Xue, worried about his safety, tried to dissuade him, saying, "Swords on the battlefield have no eyes..." Zhou Xing interrupted her, "It is precisely because I cherish this opportunity that I offer the land as my dowry." He solemnly placed his family's heirloom black iron dagger into her palm, saying, "Wait for my triumphant return."

Every month thereafter, a letter written in blood was sent from the front lines, recording the hardships of the battle but also revealing the deep longing for Ling Xue. One night, while reading the letter, Ling Xue discovered a small portrait hidden in the lining of the letter, with the inscription "To my beloved wife" on the back. Her cheeks instantly flushed crimson and her heart raced.

The night before the decisive battle was exceptionally quiet and bitterly cold. Ling Xue, disguised as a female physician, infiltrated the military camp to visit Zhou Xing, only to find him imprisoned in a prison cart after being given a drug to make him mute. It turned out that this was an enemy conspiracy to use him to coerce the Great Zhou army into surrendering.

Desperate, Ling Xue risked everything to steal the commander's seal and mobilize her troops for a surprise attack on the enemy camp. The battlefield was filled with smoke and the sounds of battle deafening. Amidst the chaos, she found a prison cart, broke its shackles, and rescued Zhou Xing. Just then, a cold arrow shot towards his heart. Without thinking, Ling Xue leaped forward to shield him, the arrow piercing his shoulder blade, blood staining her clothes.

The two, seriously injured and unconscious, were sent back to the capital to recuperate. During this time, Zhou Xing stayed by Ling Xue's bedside day and night, feeding her medicine and combing her hair with utmost care. When she woke up, there was an exquisitely carved mandarin duck pendant on her pillow, engraved with the eight characters of a marriage certificate: "May you be forever united in heart and grow old together."

One morning after his recovery, Zhou Xing suddenly produced a secret edict from the late emperor. It turned out that the marriage was actually a ploy to protect the imperial lineage; now that the crisis was over, he could return her freedom. Upon hearing this, Ling Xue burst into tears and tore up the edict: "I only want your choice." The two embraced and wept, confessing their deepest feelings for each other.

On this auspicious day, the entire capital was immersed in a festive atmosphere. Albizia trees were planted everywhere inside and outside the palace walls, and petals fell like a romantic and beautiful red rain. Zhou Xing rode a tall horse, dressed in wedding attire, and wearing the phoenix feather that symbolized their love from years ago, to marry Ling Xue.

After the ceremony, the newlyweds jointly dipped a brush in vermilion ink and wrote a large character "安" (An, meaning peace) on the screen, symbolizing a peaceful and prosperous life together, a lifelong commitment to each other. On their wedding night, Zhou Xing unfolded their treasured marriage certificate, which was pieced together from their handwriting over the years. The last page depicted their wish to grow old together in harmony, filled with anticipation for a beautiful future. Years later, they planted a tree in their courtyard, a symbol of faithful love. When it bloomed, the tree was covered in blossoms, just like their love, which had weathered many storms and grown ever more radiant. Historical records state that the wife of the Grand Tutor was skilled in painting, especially fond of painting twin lotus flowers. Her life was one of harmonious marriage with her husband, a story that became a legend.

In the winter capital, a heavy snowfall blanketed the entire palace in white. Inside the Imperial Study, however, the atmosphere was as cold and oppressive as the snow. The Emperor sat on his dragon throne, his face grim, clutching a memorial impeaching the Zhou family. The memorial was sharp and incisive, listing numerous "crimes" committed by the Zhou family, each enough to bring this once illustrious marquisate to ruin.

"Your Majesty, the Zhou family has colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country; the evidence is irrefutable, and the entire family should be executed!" a minister knelt on the ground and loudly proclaimed. The emperor coldly snorted, and with a flick of his vermilion brush, approved the decree without hesitation. Thus, the entire Zhou family was sentenced to exile to the bitterly cold far north.

At the royal banquet, a scene of joy and peace unfolded. Princess Ling Xue of Zhenbei, dressed in magnificent palace attire, sat regally among her guests, her gaze inadvertently sweeping over the young Zhou Xing in the corner. He stood tall and straight, exuding an extraordinary air even in his predicament. Yet, at this moment, his eyes were filled with despair and helplessness.

Ling Xue's heart skipped a beat. Taking advantage of changing her clothes, she quietly left the banquet hall. In a secluded corridor, she saw Zhou Xing being harassed. Several guards surrounded him, speaking mockingly and occasionally shoving him. Ling Xue frowned, stepped forward, and shouted, "Stop!" Seeing that it was a princess, the guards dared not act rashly and quickly retreated.

Zhou Xing raised his head, his gaze meeting Ling Xue's. In that instant, Ling Xue saw stubbornness and resentment in his eyes. She secretly placed a warm jade into Zhou Xing's palm and whispered, "Live." Zhou Xing was slightly taken aback, and before he could say anything, Ling Xue had already turned and left.

On the execution ground, a biting wind howled, and snowflakes danced in the air. The elderly, women, and children of the Zhou family were chained, their cries and pleas echoing throughout. Just as the executioner raised his blade to carry out the execution, a gilded carriage abruptly stopped in the center of the execution ground. The curtain was lifted, revealing Ling Xue's exquisitely beautiful face. Holding the imperial decree of marriage, her voice was clear and firm: "I am willing to offer ten miles of red dowry in exchange for the life of this sinner's entire clan."

Everyone was shocked, never expecting the princess to make such a decision. After weighing the pros and cons, the emperor finally granted her request, changing the sentence to exile for the Zhou family. Thus, led by Ling Xue, the Zhou family embarked on their journey to exile. From then on, Ling Xue's fate became inextricably linked with that of the fallen marquis's mansion.

The exiled caravan traveled north, traversing the vast Gobi Desert and desolate wastelands. The harsh environment caused many to fall ill, and supplies dwindled. Ling Xue shed her magnificent brocade robes, donned coarse cloth garments, and personally cared for the Zhou family's sick. Her hands were covered in cuts from thorns, but she paid no heed, persisting in preparing medicine and cooking for everyone.

Night fell, and the campfire flickered in the campsite. Suddenly, a pack of wolves appeared, their eyes greedily fixed on the exhausted group. Zhou Xing, disregarding his own safety, shielded Ling Xue. As a wolf pounced on him, he was bitten hard on the back, blood staining his clothes. Ling Xue was frantic, tearing a piece of her skirt to bandage his wound. Moonlight shone on her face, revealing the resolute yet tender expression in her eyes.

During their trek, they encountered a flash flood. The raging waters washed away the road, and many people were swept away. Zhou Xing reacted quickly, grabbing Ling Xue and leaping onto a boulder. The two embraced and wept on the boulder, feeling the warmth of each other's heartbeats. At that moment, the distance between them seemed to shrink considerably.

Passing by an abandoned post station, they found it filled with violets. Looking at the beautiful flowers, Ling Xue felt a surge of joy. She picked one and tucked it behind her ear, smiling as she said to Zhou Xing, "When spring comes, shall we plant these flowers all over our new house?" Zhou Xing, seeing her radiant smile, felt a deep ripple of emotion and silently nodded.

However, fate often plays cruel tricks. The escorting officer, acting on orders, withheld their rations. Seeing her starving family and followers, Ling Xue was frantic with worry. She secretly pawned her mother's heirloom—a phoenix hairpin—in exchange for some food and medicine. As she distributed the food, Zhou Xing noticed her trembling hands hidden behind her back, his heart filled with gratitude and guilt.

They finally arrived at the border town, their new home. But the sight before them filled them with immense disappointment: a few dilapidated thatched huts surrounded by overgrown wasteland. Ling Xue did not complain. She led the women to cut reeds and weave fences, using their wisdom and hands to build simple yet warm dwellings.

Zhou Xing went hunting in the mountains, hoping to find some game to improve everyone's lives. One day, while hunting, he accidentally fell off a cliff. Ling Xue, upon learning this, was frantic and searched for him through the night and rain. In a mountain cave, she finally found Zhou Xing unconscious. She hugged him tightly, tears soaking his face.

To supplement her family's income, Ling Xue taught local women how to weave Shu brocade. Her skills were exquisite; the brocade she wove was vibrant in color and beautifully patterned, quickly gaining popularity. Every night after finishing work, she would leave an oil lamp lit for Zhou Xing to return home late. That faint light, especially warm in the darkness, became the brightest star in Zhou Xing's heart.

One day, Zhou Xing discovered that Ling Xue had repurposed her dowry box into a medicine chest. Opening it, he found various herbs and pills neatly arranged inside. It turned out that Ling Xue had been secretly studying medicine all along, so she could better care for her family's health. Looking at all this, Zhou Xing's eyes welled up with tears.

On the Winter Solstice, it's customary to eat dumplings. Ling Xue clumsily kneaded the dough, unable to wrap a single decent dumpling. Zhou Xing came over, took her hand, and patiently taught her how to roll out the wrappers and fill them. Their hands intertwined, fingers clasped, and a strange feeling flowed between them. Outside the window, snow blanketed the landscape, while inside, the fireplace roared, reflecting the shadows of their intertwined hands—a scene of warmth and beauty.

Days passed, and although life was hard, things were starting to look up. However, a sudden plague shattered this peace. Many people contracted the disease, suffering from persistent high fevers and coughs. Using her knowledge, Ling Xue developed a prescription to treat the plague. She stayed by the patients' bedsides day and night, personally feeding them medicine and taking care of their daily needs.

A child was seriously ill and on the verge of death. Without hesitation, Ling Xue fed the child ginseng soup, hoping to save his life.