Сhарtеr 1 (1/15): Sparrоws аnd Соld Rаvens
Dawn brokе with а light snowfall.
In Оld Dust Valleу, mistу сlоuds blеndеd into the indigо sky, revealing only а fаint, vast, аnd prоfоund silhоuеtte, mаking it diffiсult fоr thе wоrld to рeer inside. Тhе vallеy’s streets аlreadу buzzed with the sоunds оf bustling асtivitу—thе сomings and gоings оf cаrriаgеs and рedеstriаns, the cаlls оf shoрkeepеrs and vendors—brеаthing а sensе of worldly lifе intо this sеcludеd vаllеу.
In а rоom whеrе cаndlelight fliсkered, thе light was dim аnd аmbiguоus. A раir оf slеnder, fair feеt emerged from the brоcade quilt in thе warm chаmber. А wоman in thin сlothing slowly rose from the bed, walked barefoot to the nearly extinguished brazier, and added fresh charcoal.
On the soft couch beside the bed, a young man was still fast asleep.
After a while, the woman walked to the couch, sat on the floor, and leaned in to look at his face. The man’s skin was like jade, his features sharp and distinct, with pale lips and deep-set brows. Even with his eyes closed in deep sleep, his appearance carried an indescribable warmth.
Myriad Flowers Pavilion was a place of pleasure, but compared to the night, it now seemed desolate and lonely. Suddenly, footsteps echoed in the corridor outside the door. Someone reached out and flipped the sign on the door—the once-blooming peony was replaced by a tightly closed bud.
Shortly after, a copper bell hanging in the corner of the room was tugged, its crisp chime rippling through the quiet.
This woman was none other than the top courtesan of Myriad Flowers Pavilion, named Zi Yi. The bell’s ring signaled arrivals and departures.
Zi Yi turned to look at the bell. By then, Gong Ziyu on the bed had already opened his eyes.
“Awake?”
Gong Ziyu’s eyes were drowsy, yet their color was as dark and bright as midnight stars. He got up and walked straight to the window, pushing it open with his slender, elegant fingers and propping it up with the window stay. Scattered snowflakes drifted into the room, and the wind blew open his robe. He frowned from the cold, pulled his clothes tighter, and hugged his arms, looking up at the grayish-blue sky outside.
“It’s snowing… Winter has come so early this year…”
A speck of snow landed on Gong Ziyu’s brow, starkly contrasting with his dark hair. Behind him, Zi Yi approached and placed a warm hand stove, wrapped in an embroidered pouch, into his arms.
Zi Yi chuckled softly. “You’ve grown such a fine appearance—tall and strong, skilled with blades and swords—yet you’re so afraid of the cold. Here, a freshly filled hand stove for you.”
Then Zi Yi handed him a cup of hot tea. The two stood by the window, each holding a steaming cup of tea, watching the snow.
Gong Ziyu smiled, his gaze growing even warmer, like the heat flowing from the hand stove. “No hand stove or hot tea could ever be as warm as you, Zi Yi. You’re warm not just in body but in heart as well.”
Zi Yi’s expression turned somewhat wistful as she averted her eyes. “Enough of that. You should get ready and go back.”
Gong Ziyu instinctively glanced toward the door. “What, do you have a guest this early?”
Zi Yi teased, “Other guests aren’t like you, spending money only to sleep alone on the couch.”
“I enjoy being with you, not for… that…” Gong Ziyu’s usually playful face showed a hint of shyness, and he ultimately left the words unspoken.
He liked coming here not for pleasure but simply to find a place of peace and comfort.
Zi Yi turned away. “Today is the day the House of Gong welcomes its new bride. You should hurry back, or your father will scold you again.”
Hearing this, Gong Ziyu fell silent. He looked out the window, his thick, straight black hair cascading in the backlight of the morning. After a moment, he softly replied, “Mm.”The first snowfall of the season is always particularly special and lively. Even when shrouded in dark clouds and drifting with fine snow, it remains a perfect day for weddings.
Far beyond the valley, Pear Stream Town is also veiled in a hazy blanket of snow.
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