Bingxue Love, Jade

Bai Bingxue came outside. The bright moon hung high in the sky. She walked to the covered walkway and sat down to catch her breath.

Uncle Abu, concerned for his niece, followed her. Hong Yun brought tea and snacks and stood to the side. The night dew was a bit heavy, so a servant quickly brought two cloaks. General Abu draped one over Bai Bingxue and said softly, "Bingxue, your mother's affairs are in the past. You've grown up now, and your life is just beginning. Don't live in hatred."

Bai Bingxue looked at her uncle and pleaded, "Uncle, what was the relationship between my mother, Su Xue, and Gao Mingqing? I'm grown up now, you should tell me."

Uncle Abu walked to the edge of the covered walkway, looking up at the round, bright moon in the sky. His silhouette appeared very lonely. Hong Yun looked at her father's figure, his empty sleeves, and felt immense heartache.

Hong Yun spoke, "Cousin, have you ever heard a snow mountain song from our Milu River?"

Bai Bingxue looked at Hong Yun and shook her head in response.

"Hong Yun, if you want to sing, then sing," Uncle Abu said with his back turned. He was the one who least wanted to hear this song, and he hadn't figured out how to tell his niece. He decided to let his daughter do it.

Hong Yun cleared her throat, and a clear, melodious voice rang out:

"The folk song comes from Luoqie Lake, The great river swells, bringing the boat, On the boat's prow sits one as white as ice, On the boat's stern rests Su Ru Xue, The June sun scorches, a tiresome heat, Holding up a green sun umbrella, Under the ice and snow umbrella, they travel.

The man is a sparrow from Jiangnan, He comes to Gu Mountain but dares not land, He treads on tree branches but dares not step, He has words in his heart but dares not speak.

The man is a sparrow from Jiangnan, He comes to Gu Mountain, so land freely, Tread on tree branches, step freely, Speak the words in your heart freely.

Rowing a boat on a moonlit sea of stars, Four eyes meet, pouring out their affection, Secretly pledging a lifetime together, The sky becomes their bridal chamber, better than a cave dwelling.

The man is a guest from Jiangnan, The maiden is the daughter of King Ziqi, A small country newly established amidst wind and rain, Surrounded by wolves, striving to survive, Even the strong Han and Tang dynasties sought marriage alliances.

Marquis Gao's betrothal gifts, he forcefully seeks to marry, The bride leaves with tears streaming down her face, Only to repay the grace of her family and country, Reluctantly parting from her love, the Jiangnan guest."

Hong Yun's singing was delicate, clear, resonant, and passionate, finally concluding with a gentle tone that naturally conveyed sincere emotion, reaching deep into Bai Bingxue's heart.

At this moment, Bai Bingxue's heart was a mix of emotions, leaving her at a loss. She could only softly ask, "Then what happened later?"

Hong Yun said, "Cousin, there are a few more lines. Listen carefully."

"Nine months of pregnancy, a daughter is born, Her name is called Bingxue, Shànchǎn and Milu two cities celebrate, Ten years of peace pass in the blink of an eye.

One day, hearing of a false father-daughter relationship, Blood tests prove kinship, or not, Mother and daughter cling to each other, locked in the deep palace, The Jiangnan sparrow flies thousands of miles, Exchanging herself for the return of wife and daughter.

Marquis Gao demands the Green Fragrance Tree, If he does not return in ten days, Su Xue dies."

Bai Bing entered the Pirate Spirit Pearl, And gained Su Xue's freedom.

Marquis Gao mocked his unworthy daughter, Betraying both husband and country.

Bai Bing's heart was filled with sorrow, She leaped from Shànchǎn City, And the Bodhisattva of the Southern Sky went west.

After Hong Yun finished her song, Bai Bingxue's eyes were teary, and she couldn't help but burst into tears.

Seeing her cousin so upset, Hong Yun comforted her, "Cousin, Aunt wouldn't want you to be too sad if she were alive. Adults have their own difficulties. Grandfather has already ordered Aunt's golden statue to be enshrined in Alu Temple. I'll accompany you tomorrow to choose a place."

Bai Bingxue listened to her advice, stopped crying, and replied, "Uncle Abu, it's already midnight, Hong Yun. You've been busy all day, go back and rest."

Uncle Abu said after getting up, "Bingxue, I'll discuss avenging your mother with your maternal grandfather. Let Hong Yun accompany you around the city for the next few days." After Uncle Abu left, Bai Bingxue looked at his lonely, empty sleeve and felt a pang of sadness. When she was little, Uncle Abu used to hold her and feed her.

After General Abu walked away, Bai Bingxue asked Hong Yun, "Sister Hong Yun, how did Uncle lose his arm?"

Hong Yun frowned and asked, "Cousin, you really don't know?"

Bai Bingxue shook her head.

Hong Yun said sadly, "I was little then. One night, Aunt carried Father back. Father was covered in blood and unconscious. The adults sent my brother and me out."

"Since Aunt passed away, Father has been melancholic and rarely speaks. I asked Mother and my brother about Father's arm, but they didn't know much and didn't dare to ask Father."

"Grandfather told me and Hong Lian to listen to Father more, saying he carries a lot of pain in his heart. Hong Lian asked Grandfather if Father seemed to have lost his soul."

"Grandfather said that the person dearest to your father left, and his hand was eaten by a monster."

"Hong Lian asked Grandfather if the person dearest to Father could come back, and if Father's hand could grow back."

"Grandfather smiled and said, 'Silly children, you are the dearest people to him now. You can help his hand grow back.'"

"A few years ago, Hong Lian and I made a fake hand for Father. He said it was useless because he couldn't hold a knife or a brush."

Bai Bingxue listened to Hong Yun's narration without interrupting or showing any expression, lost in thought.

After a long pause in Hong Yun's storytelling, Bai Bingxue said softly, "Uncle Abu and my mother were very close siblings. He suffered a double blow, which is why he can't overcome his psychological trauma. I've read in medical books that a prosthetic hand can be made and worn on the arm. The joints and fingers of the prosthetic hand can be controlled by the other hand and shoulder, allowing one to write and wield a sword."

Hong Yun asked in surprise, "Are there really such magical prosthetic hands, Cousin?"

Bai Bingxue smiled and said, "I'll draw the blueprints for you based on my memory these few days."

Hong Yun smiled happily, "Thank you, Cousin!"

Bai Bingxue smiled and asked again, "Hong Yun, do you know someone named Su Xue?"

Hong Yun thought for a moment and said, "I heard Brother A Wei mention him. Su Xue is the attendant of Su Zi, a great scholar from Gongjiao Country. That year, Su Zi fell ill with a strange disease that lingered. A Taoist priest said that the Green Fragrance Tree from the Southern Expedition Country could cure it. Su Xue traveled thousands of miles through mountains and rivers to the Southern Expedition Country to find it. He scoured the mountains and rivers of the Southern Expedition Country and later met Aunt at Luoqie Lake. It is said that Su Xue was a handsome man, gentle and kind, with a soft appearance but a strong heart, and a beautiful voice and demeanor. Aunt fell in love with him at first sight, and they were deeply in love. Unfortunately, their time together was short. Su Zi's family sent an urgent letter saying he was gravely ill. Su Xue bid farewell to Aunt and returned to Gongjiao Country. After his return, Su Zi died. Su Xue handled the funeral arrangements for the head of the household, and when he returned, Aunt had already married Marquis Gao. My uncle and second uncle threatened and intimidated him, telling him not to disturb Aunt, but luckily Father protected him. He left the Southern Expedition Country disheartened. I don't know how he found out about Aunt and you eight years ago. After ten years apart, the elegant young man who was once as pure as white snow had become a great swordsman of the Jiangnan region, with a blade as sharp as frost. He still protected Aunt, and Aunt still protected him."

Bai Bingxue listened and pondered, thinking to herself, "She has no good feelings for this biological father. She only knows her mother died because of him, and she has him on her revenge list. But when Hong Yun spoke of Su Xue just now, I could feel her envy for Aunt. Su Xue became a good man worthy of her mother's entrustment."

Meanwhile, in the Small World of the Twin Fish Jade Pendant, in a Siheyuan courtyard, Chen Qing was working on a piece of wood, making a billiard table. He had already planed the stone tabletop and set up the four wooden legs. A bedsheet was spread as the tablecloth. The nets for the six ball pockets were hung, and nine round balls were placed on the table.

"Bai Xue, come out!" Chen Qing shouted. Over the years in the Siheyuan, he had tinkered with many toys but never focused on cultivation.

"What for! I'm busy making pills," Bai Xue shouted back, not coming out.

"Let's play! Billiards, I've finished making it," Chen Qing replied, not stopping his work, polishing two cue sticks.

"Wait a moment," she said, putting down her work. Her two black and white swans, honking, ran out first.