My Taoist buddy has practiced surrogacy

Chapter 1472 Care
Under her meticulous care, the child miraculously recovered. After this story spread, the villagers held Ling Xue in even higher esteem and gratitude.

To gather more medicinal herbs for his wife, Zhou Xing risked climbing a cliff to pick dendrobium orchids. At the edge of a steep precipice, he slipped and nearly fell into the abyss. Just then, Ling Xue arrived in time and pulled him up with a rope. The two hung on the cliff all night, huddled together, waiting for dawn. During this time, their feelings for each other deepened.

The Lantern Festival arrived, their first festival since arriving on the frontier. Although it lacked the bustling grandeur of the capital, Ling Xue still wanted to make it meaningful. She lit river lanterns in the courtyard and made a wish: "May we meet again every year." Zhou Xing watched her devout expression, his heart filled with happiness. He suddenly pressed his forehead against her fingertips and whispered, "I will never betray you."

Soon after, Ling Xue discovered she was pregnant. This news filled the entire family with joy. However, on the day of delivery, a difficult labor ensued. The midwife was helpless, and the situation was extremely critical. Zhou Xing knelt and prayed to the gods to protect his wife. Just when everyone felt despair, a miracle occurred—twins, a boy and a girl, were born. The babies' cries pierced the darkness before dawn, and the rising sun shone through the window onto the mother's sweat-dampened temples, as if foreshadowing new hope and a bright future.

Ten years passed, and news of victory arrived from the frontier—the war was won. The new emperor granted a general amnesty upon his ascension to the throne, and the Zhou family was among those pardoned. Zhou Xing decided to go to the capital to appeal his grievances, hoping to clear his family's name. On the eve of his departure, Ling Xue stuffed half a tiger tally into his bag, earnestly saying, "Show this if you encounter danger." Zhou Xing held her hand tightly and nodded solemnly.

The journey to the capital was fraught with hardship and danger. At a post station, Zhou Xing was attacked by assassins. Just when he was in dire straits, he pulled out a tiger tally to intimidate the enemy. After escaping danger, he checked the carriage and discovered a hidden compartment containing an unsent letter home. It turned out that during his absence, Ling Xue had been silently missing him and supporting him.

After much difficulty, Zhou Xing finally arrived before the imperial palace. He delivered a passionate speech, presenting detailed evidence to prove the Zhou family's innocence. The court was in an uproar; everyone was moved by his words. Ultimately, the emperor ordered the restoration of the Zhou family's titles and fiefdoms.

On their journey home, they encountered the apricot blossom season, with apricot blossoms blooming in profusion on both sides of the road, a breathtaking sight. Suddenly, a white horse galloped from afar, carrying Lingxue in her finest attire and two young children she was leading. The family looked at each other and smiled amidst the swirling petals, as if all their hardships had passed and a happy and bright future awaited them.

Returning to the old mansion, everything felt both familiar and strange. The crabapple trees in the courtyard, which hadn't bloomed for ten years, were suddenly bursting into full bloom, as dazzling and beautiful as their love after all the hardships they had endured. Zhou Xing took Ling Xue's hand and walked across the vermilion threshold, whispering, "This time, it's my turn to protect you for the rest of your life."

During their first birthday celebration, the baby boy snatched the command arrow, a symbol of military power, foreshadowing his future as a valiant general. The daughter, meanwhile, giggled while clutching an abacus, displaying her cleverness and intelligence. Ling Xue leaned against a pillar, gently fanning herself, watching her husband handle official business, her heart filled with comfort and satisfaction.

Later, when the border was in dire need of the court, a capable general was urgently needed to lead the expedition. He fought bravely on the foreign battlefields, his armor gleaming in the sunlight. Meanwhile, Ling Xue was not idle either. She was in charge of military supplies and logistics in the rear, managing everything in an orderly manner. The couple worked together to protect this land and their country.

In their twilight years, with their hair completely white, they strolled along a path lined with violets, reminiscing about the past—those days of shared hardship, those moments of mutual support—all becoming the most precious treasures of their lives. The setting sun cast their shadows long and thin, just like the long years they had walked hand in hand, filled with warmth and happiness.

Inside the Taiji Hall, the fragrance of sandalwood rose gently, yet it couldn't mask the oppressive atmosphere and sorrow that permeated the air. Three days had passed since the Empress's death, and the mourning banners fluttered in the breeze, seemingly lamenting the loss of past glory. Fifteen-year-old Princess Zhaoyang, Lingxue, knelt on a prayer mat, her figure as slender as a kite, a coarse cloth undergarment faintly visible beneath her plain mourning clothes. She mechanically added gold leaf to the brazier, sparks landing on the back of her hands, leaving red marks, but she seemed oblivious, her eyes vacant and blank.

The bird's nest soup sent by the imperial kitchen, meant to be a nourishing delicacy, had become a death sentence. The head maidservant said in a sarcastic, shrill voice, "Now that all the palaces are tightening their belts, Princess, don't bother with these things anymore." With that, she threw the food box onto the ground. Shards of porcelain flew up, tearing the embroidered phoenix pattern on Ling Xue's skirt. That pattern, originally a symbol of nobility, was now shattered, just like her predicament.

A torrential downpour raged, lightning flashing and thunder roaring, creating a chaotic world. Ling Xue huddled in a corner of the library, clutching tightly to her mother's heirloom, the *Rules for Women*, her only solace in this cold palace. Suddenly, footsteps approached, breaking the silence of the night. The newly appointed headmaster of the academy, Zhou Xing, burst in, lantern in hand. His sharp, deep gaze instantly noticed the girl's soaked embroidered shoes. Clad in mud, they stood in stark contrast to the mountains of books piled around them.

Zhou Xing silently removed his crane-feather cloak and gently draped it over Ling Xue. As the sleeve flipped, half a scar from years ago was revealed—a mark left by a caning he had received years ago for speaking out. His movements were light, as if afraid to disturb the trembling girl. In the dim light, the two remained silent, yet a strange emotion quietly blossomed in the air.

In the days that followed, Zhou Xing frequently invited Ling Xue to the secluded and elegant Xiefang Pavilion under the pretext of collating classical texts. This was an extremely quiet place within the academy, surrounded by verdant bamboo and plum blossoms. Each time they met, he patiently taught Ling Xue to copy the "Preface to the Orchid Pavilion." When he noticed her incorrect pen grip, he would gently support her hand from behind to adjust the angle. His fingertips, bearing traces of pine soot ink, brushed against the faded jade bracelet on her wrist, leaving a faint scent of ink.

One day, snowflakes began to fall. Seeing that Ling Xue was thinly dressed, Zhou Xing took off his fox fur scarf and tied it around her neck. This scene was witnessed by a passing eunuch from the Imperial Household Department. The eunuch's eyes darted around, and he immediately ran to report to Consort Shu. Soon, rumors of "insubordination" spread throughout the palace. For a time, all sorts of harsh words filled her ears, putting immense pressure on Ling Xue. However, Zhou Xing did not back down. He sent someone with several green plum saplings, along with the inscription: "Several plum blossoms in the corner, blooming alone in the cold." These simple lines of poetry were like a ray of light, illuminating Ling Xue's gloomy heart. In the dead of night, she secretly dug up the frozen soil and planted the plum saplings, and to her delight, she discovered half a piece of mutton-fat jade pendant engraved with a phoenix pattern hidden among the roots. The jade pendant seemed familiar, yet she couldn't recall where she had seen it before. It was like a key, unlocking the long-sealed door to her memories.

On the day of the winter Confucius memorial ceremony, Ling Xue mustered her courage and put on the nine-pheasant crown left to her by her mother. As she walked through the crowd, she felt countless strange gazes. Just halfway through the ceremony, someone deliberately pushed her, almost causing her to fall. At that critical moment, Zhou Xing flew over and caught her steadily as she fell. His wide sleeve swept away the vermilion inkstone on the table, and the scarlet ink meandered down the white marble steps, resembling a phoenix weeping blood. This scene shocked everyone present.

The Lantern Festival arrived as scheduled, and the entire capital was brightly decorated and bustling with activity. Ling Xue, disguised as a palace maid, came to the market. The streets were lined with all sorts of lanterns, a dazzling array. She strolled among them, feeling a long-lost sense of freedom. Suddenly, a riddle at a stall caught her attention. It was a riddle with embedded characters: "Zhou Lang's appreciation of music has profound meaning." After a moment's thought, she picked up her brush and wrote the answer: "Admiring youthful beauty," her strokes strong and powerful.

Just then, Zhou Xing happened to pass by. He immediately recognized the handwriting as belonging to Ling Xue. The two looked at each other across the crowd, their eyes filled with surprise and unspoken understanding. Afterwards, they went to the riverbank to release river lanterns to pray for blessings. Zhou Xing placed a lotus lantern with his wishes written on it into the water and watched it slowly drift away. Meanwhile, when no one was looking, Ling Xue secretly slipped her own lantern into his boat.

On the hunting grounds, horses galloped, kicking up dust. Suddenly, an arrow flew towards Ling Xue. In the nick of time, Zhou Xing stepped forward, shielding her with his body. The arrow pierced his shoulder, its blood staining the *Classic of Poetry* he carried. When the physician arrived to examine the wound, he exclaimed in horror that it was poisoned, and everyone paled in shock.

During his recovery, Zhou Xing suffered from a persistent high fever and incoherent delirium. In his delirium, he grasped Ling Xue's hand and murmured ancient tales: "Duke Xiang of Song did not attack those who were not in formation. A gentleman's battle should be fought with honor and integrity." Outside the window, pear blossoms fell like snow, making the face of the girl keeping watch by his bedside appear even paler. She sat quietly by the bedside, her gaze never leaving Zhou Xing's face, silently praying for his speedy recovery.

The Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, a time for family reunion and joy, was shattered by a sudden storm. Someone accused Ling Xue of privately drawing designs for the dragon robe, a capital offense. The emperor was furious and ordered a thorough investigation. Zhou Xing, upon hearing the news, was frantic. He rushed to the three judicial offices that very night to plead his case, showing the officials page by page of his annotated policy essays from previous years. Each page bore annotations in the princess's small, neat handwriting, the varying shades of ink recording the traces of their day and night discussions. This evidence was sufficient to prove their innocence.

On the day of the trial in the imperial prison, the atmosphere was extremely tense. Ling Xue maintained her innocence throughout the brutal torture. Just when everyone thought she wouldn't be able to withstand it, she suddenly removed a wooden hairpin from her hair and threw it to the ground: "This is a peachwood branch given to me by my teacher!" The broken end revealed a hollow structure, inside which was a blood-written petition signed by all the students of the academy years ago, impeaching her. This blood-written petition was like a bombshell, shocking everyone present.

The emperor ultimately decided to clear their names, but ordered Zhou Xing to leave the capital immediately to take up his post as the educational commissioner of Jiangnan. This news struck Ling Xue like a bolt from the blue. Amidst the farewell crowd, she bit her lip so hard it bled, then stuffed a tear-soaked handkerchief into the bottom of Zhou Xing's luggage. Embroidered on the corner of the handkerchief was half a verse of "The Magpie Bridge Fairy," the brushstrokes trembling yet revealing strength.

Floods ravaged the Jiangnan region, causing immense suffering to the people. Upon assuming his post, Zhou Xing immediately threw himself into disaster relief efforts. He led the people in building dikes, dredging waterways, and providing aid to the victims… his busy figure moving between the various disaster areas. One evening at dusk, he spotted a familiar figure in front of a makeshift soup kitchen—it was Ling Xue, disguised as a woman! She was distributing soup to the disaster victims and providing relief to refugees.

The joy of their reunion was indescribable, yet they couldn't express it openly. That night, as they spent the night together in a Buddhist temple meditation room, a light drizzle began to fall. Zhou Xing took off his official robe and covered the exhausted and sleeping Ling Xue, while he himself, draped in a damp robe, kept watch until dawn. When the morning bell rang, his shoulders were covered with osmanthus petals, their fragrance filling the room and intoxicating everyone present.

Upon learning of this, the local tyrants became jealous and plotted to frame Zhou Xing for embezzling funds intended for river repairs. They even hired assassins to stage a drowning accident, hoping to kill him. Fortunately, Ling Xue arrived in time and jumped into the icy river to rescue him. After they were pulled ashore, the two embraced and wept. The cold water vapor mixed with warm tears rolled down like strings of pearls, crystal clear and incredibly beautiful!
On the day of the assessment upon the expiration of his three-year term, the imperial envoy sent by the court suddenly arrived and announced the imperial edict. It turned out that the emperor had been secretly evaluating Zhou Xing's political achievements. He highly praised Zhou Xing's effective flood control and the benefits he had brought to the region. Not only was he promoted to Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, but he was also granted a marriage between Zhou Xing and a princess of the imperial clan. This news was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples!
On the day of the wedding, the grand procession of the bridal sedan chairs passed through the streets and alleys of the capital, attracting countless onlookers. Just when everyone thought the groom would happily welcome his bride, Zhou Xing made a surprising move—he tore up the imperial edict in public, lifted up the woman in plain clothes behind the curtain, and loudly declared: "I have only married one person!" The whole audience was in an uproar, followed by thunderous applause and cheers of support!
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the Emperor looked at Zhou Xing, who was kneeling on the ground with unwavering determination, and then at his daughter beside him, who was bowing her head and blushing shyly. Finally, he sighed and granted them permission to marry, bestowing upon her the title of "Princess Xianyi". From then on, Ling Xue was no longer the pitiful little girl who could be bullied by others, but a dignified and virtuous wife who stood by her lover's side. The couple walked hand in hand through the rest of their lives, creating a legendary love story!
Years later, when the historian recorded this event, he added a note: "A phoenix feather flew out from the inkstone, soared into the nine heavens, and transformed into two cranes that intertwined their necks and perched there." This beautiful story has been passed down through the ages and has become a wonderful legend that people talk about with great relish!

The brightly lit main hall of Jingguo Mansion was suddenly ripped apart by an imperial edict, the brocade decree fluttering down like white silk onto the jade bricks. The Minister of Rites loudly proclaimed the Zhou family's crimes of treason and collusion with the enemy, and the guests scattered like birds and beasts. Ling Xue tightly gripped the mandarin duck pendant at her waist—the token that Zhou Xing had personally tied on her when they were engaged, its gilded surface now dulled by the sweat of her palms.

"Father!" She turned and rushed towards the Duke of Jingguo, who sat upright in his armchair with his eyes closed, only to see the old man's cloudy eyes gazing at the eaves and ridge beasts, his withered fingers tapping on the sandalwood table. As the third watch drum sounded, the eight-bearer sedan chair had already stopped at the side gate, and the wedding procession silently headed towards the Ning Prince's residence. The moment the wedding attendant helped her step over the brazier, Ling Xue clearly heard the crisp sound of a jade ruyi bestowed by the emperor shattering coming from the front hall.

The position of Princess Ning should have long belonged to Zhou Xing's principal wife, but now it has become a bargaining chip in political transactions. On her wedding day, she sat on the bridal bed wearing a wedding dress embroidered with gold phoenixes.