Blooming Flowers, Silent Sorrow

Translator: Silvery ButterflyTiqcYCzHbgtTjspLxLHOADQahvrBrf

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Xiao Bao suddenly sprang up from the bed, glaring at Zong Zheng Shaoyu as he shouted, “What did you say!”UzFKtyEBegqwEXlUFhslIcfvhYWQXp

“They’ve been kidnapped! The people at the temple didn’t even catch a glimpse of them, they just disappeared into thin air. Do you understand? Gege has been tracking their whereabouts for the past two days, so he couldn’t come back. I thought it was boring, so I came back myself. Gege is so annoying…”ahqPFGYllRuQGAqBlgEPldDJMdlqSK

Xiao Bao’s legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the edge of the bed, too anxious to even speak.jMsbgmGFICGXryuubwPSfsOoNZoAzh

Zong Zheng Shaoyu looked at him with disdain and continued speaking to himself, “I originally came to celebrate the New Year with gege, but it’s all because of you! I don’t know how you have so many problems. I’ve never met someone as pathetic and useless as you in my entire life, and you’re so shameless too, clinging to my gege like this. If I weren’t afraid of making him angry, you’d have died a hundred times over by now!”YVhRPIvsmffMLEpKiMaxuIwvlDZYWN

Xiao Bao paid no attention to his words. Slowly pushing himself up, he threw on a piece of clothing and rushed outside.PuoNjMSzwXnzdTnFZvBVoxinsPUeIw

He had to find Jin Bao immediately, and then they would go together to find his father and mother. If anything happened to them, he…jNMzMOPOcPtFHovBLOSIcVDtzJcTZo

In his desperation, Xiao Bao had already forgotten that he couldn’t leave the mansion. By the time he charged outside, he was greeted by a vast expanse of white. The biting cold wind whipped at the only part of his face that was exposed. Before he could react, it was too late. His joints stiffened, and he fell to the ground.ChQHuIjRuudidwzNkfIvdaRaQnDOBW

“Ahhh! —– Ahhhhhh!!!”nvYBRAhXwtpMkGzptwViXBjesZxdPu

Zong Zheng Shaoyu rushed out after him, only to see Xiao Bao writhing on the ground, curled up in pain and letting out agonized screams. The sight startled him.aJddMnevtsIoVUPGRqxZFsFWXURRQM

He stepped back a little, keeping his distance, and hesitated before asking, “What… what’s wrong with you?”INiKUiUqSmrgOWxRQDvaJdQVdqdNOb

There was no way Xiao Bao could answer him. At this critical moment, the poison had already taken hold, leaving him in unbearable pain, and the lack of anyone nearby only deepened his despair.CicFBrxxANOWPRGOGWOYxjoHQxWTFQ

Suddenly, a loud shout echoed through the air, sending a shock through both of them. Zong Zheng Shaoyu turned to see Su Yin hurtling down from the eaves like an arrow, followed closely by Que Siming and Zhao Cai Jin Bao.mtLoulfjmxvCEBMQvJDWnVITpUpKdW

Zong Zheng Shaoyu watched as Su Yin scooped Xiao Bao up and rushed back into the mansion without even glancing his way. In the dead of winter, Su Yin was drenched in sweat, making it clear just how frantically he had rushed back upon discovering Xiao Bao was missing. The sight left Zong Zheng Shaoyu feeling a bitter ache in his heart.StxMwMdWnPvoVPTzFEynruaKfpzWvz

Zhao Cai was the last to enter the room. After glaring fiercely at Zong Zheng Shaoyu, he slammed the door shut, leaving Zong Zheng Shaoyu standing dazed and alone in the snow.WyTxfnMYefTzMYEAZgsPwrlrRaLwVl

He stood there for a long time, forgetting even to circulate his Qi to keep warm. It wasn’t until a while later that he seemed to snap back to reality and pushed the door open. When he looked inside, he saw Jin Xiao Bao lying on the bed, seemingly unconscious.LBSfIlLNhwYbBIQYEjLSiDwqDgTqRs

Su Yin, hearing the noise, turned around. It was as if he just then noticed Zong Zheng Shaoyu. In the next instant, Su Yin had already flashed over to Zong Zheng Shaoyu, grabbed him by the collar, and forcefully shoved him back out the door, pushing him several feet until he crashed into a tree in the courtyard with a thud.ztxhCJSJNSSBychGrISiAgRnwLImFs

Zong Zheng Shaoyu spat out a mouthful of blood, looking at Su Yin in disbelief.DhLtEYvrRWIuNgLkVerUNHgmnRqchO

Su Yin’s face could only be described as ice-cold. His sharp eyes flashed with a murderous light as he stared at Zong Zheng Shaoyu and coldly enunciated each word, “Don’t—let—me—see—you—again!” With that, he viciously threw him to the ground.rxQoILumVeItLVfisrLCmMcHYcrhcV

Zong Zheng Shaoyu clutched his chest and sat up from the ground, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at Su Yin. Through gritted teeth, he snarled, “How dare you treat me like this! Su Yin!!! Su Yin!!!”CmSDrSpkfetRhunyoyuYGvlWqfWmVA

But Su Yin didn’t spare him another glance and turned to leave.iomEJMshQKmGuPYJsPQgKWvBbqlmAu

Zong Zheng Shaoyu shouted after him, “Su Yin!! You bastard!! You treat me like this for the sake of that lowly commoner!! You’ll regret this!! I will make sure you regret this!! Su Yin!!!”uLmnLXSwNpLdZeJjsqdrbnFNKQYuaO

“I am the Crown Prince of the Zong Zheng Dynasty!! I am the future Emperor!! How dare you treat me like this!! If I want you to live, you live!! If I want you dead, you must die!! I want you to be mine!!!!!!” His voice cracked and carried a sob, sounding even more hollow and powerless in the vast, desolate snowfield.aMMQUtQBRNQmfzMimeGYlQRyYWwkgC

As Su Yin shut the door, his expression grew complicated. He silently looked up at the roof, and finally, heaved a deep sigh.YQjmauUDTaocnnSHhzJUzIZqRJJIGt

The moment Xiao Bao regained consciousness, he “jumped” up, though only in his mind. In reality, after each episode of poison, his entire body would be in a state of rigidity, and he couldn’t even comb his hair.ZgMhPngasRXGojSIuZfkdezWyXimaW

Now, the situation was slightly better. Xiao Bao had slept for an entire day and could barely sit up on his own. As soon as he propped himself up, he anxiously looked at Su Yin, who was sitting by the bed.KDIUoqmLRHqvpIDnnHOYTAlvMVmaqa

Su Yin placed his hand on Xiao Bao’s forehead and gently pressed him back onto the bed. He spoke slowly, “Xiao Bao, do you trust me?”rkVhJwNHdRGDwudROIJjeYdPoWbgap

Xiao Bao was taken aback, “I… of course, I trust you, but my father and mother…”usLfSCmObNaTyzZQQaTWfIgojXIeTH

Su Yin waved his hand to interrupt him, “Since you trust me, stay here and wait. I will bring your parents back safe and sound.”umesGqaNYaLbmzwkLGJbMELFxDOvzL

At this point, saying anything more, urging him, or asking for promises would be completely meaningless. Xiao Bao sighed, staring wide-eyed at Su Yin. He asked, “Do you know who it is?”QfRlImTJUdzVfWqpseEITvYjDNoRnK

“You know, don’t you?”nlaNmRouKjVTwKWOMVmiFyPgyXXmPb

Su Yin’s eyes flickered slightly, but only for a moment. He finally shook his head and said, “I don’t know.”KHAicsvEOynRaUeJRVbgJfXWwZWfBJ

Xiao Bao moved his lips but eventually closed his eyes.aPBxgcJiqKKYRnHenhTqLRrquArUCa

As the anxious and restless waiting continued, Xiao Bao faced the arrival of the Lunar New Year’s Eve in increasing silence.ikIhcgIXGxhjCxZngqdvRtpmLuJifN

The entire Su mansion was deathly quiet. The bright red decorations that had been hung up days ago were all taken down. After the disappearance of Xiao Bao’s parents, everyone tacitly chose to forget this most important and grand annual festival.PLQbKsNIaEeqAkXWwBIzkKuTWBoqay

At this moment, Su Yin, Que Siming, and Jin Bao were all out tracking down the whereabouts of the two elders, and Zong Zheng Shaoyu was long gone without a trace. Zhao Cai remained by Xiao Bao’s side, accompanying him.NzjihIeBGtEFMUJKYRnZZWBDdTGZPy

The air in the room was both stuffy and oppressive, and Zhao Cai felt as though he could barely breathe. One glance at his young master, lying there as if his soul had left him, and Zhao Cai felt overwhelmed. He had grown up with his young master since childhood. Ever since he was sold to the Jin family at four or five years old, he had been told very clearly by the adults that protecting his young master was his life’s mission.cdXqZPcSTHWFygzNKGOUbYrFrucDhY

The imagined mistreatment, abuse, and scolding he thought he would suffer as a servant had never happened. His young master, aside from being willful, prone to temper tantrums, and often playing pranks, had always treated him and Jin Bao very well. They were indeed fortunate.mtqaMhojbfXvspoEurDLOhCrlgEJSi

His young master was just a bit spoiled, a bit of a flirt, and a little unlearned. Who did that harm? Why did it have to come to this?jCyXDfjqWGRXLxChcUIsPChhvNhHNr

In the past, the Jin mansion would begin preparations for the New Year two or three months in advance. The entire mansion would be festively decorated, with bright red adornments everywhere. The servants would change into beautiful new clothes, and the New Year’s goods would be delivered to the mansion cartload after cartload. In the days just before and after the New Year, the mansion would be bustling with excitement, as if the roof could be lifted off with the noise. The visitors coming to pay their New Year’s greetings could trample the doorstep flat… But now, with the passage of time and the shifting of fate, this cold and desolate scene was so sorrowful that it made one want to cry.vNVLkazaeTjRKPAvHqBhVwrmKUAPpu

Zhao Cai hesitated for a moment before speaking, “Young master, are you hungry? Would you like something to eat?”iliHUQgnNMVbyDHiSuGegUSsgIbFyE

Xiao Bao glanced up at Zhao Cai. He was about to say he wasn’t hungry, but seeing the worried expression on Zhao Cai’s face, he suddenly remembered that Zhao Cai had been by his side all this time, without even a drop of water. A feeling of guilt rose within him, and he quickly said, “Alright, go get something to eat. You must be hungry too. Look, even the young master has kept you from eating.”QbTogUivLEiNAsRsOxdVHkcjrhCNIa

Zhao Cai smiled, “How could I starve myself? Young master, you’re overthinking. I’ll have the kitchen prepare something for you… Who’s there?!” Zhao Cai suddenly shouted, rushing out the door. Even in his haste, he was careful to close the door behind him, leaving Xiao Bao in the room.RrVAXJOLBVBBRiRSHBMWDsKqFHwAzx

Xiao Bao stood frozen, staring at the now empty room. All he could hear from outside were the sounds of a struggle. His heart raced, a gnawing feeling of unease rising within him. He instinctively knew this had something to do with the disappearance of his parents, but that wasn’t the only thing troubling him. There was another sensation, one that made him feel as if…gSEWqiALgKZyDDgTWUURCGqnUsjZky

The sounds of fighting outside abruptly ceased, and a footstep—one Xiao Bao knew all too well—began to approach, growing closer and closer with each step.lJaCNtcePHwCrkEhIVPEQhcqWnvTTG

Xiao Bao’s heart tightened. He suddenly wanted to run, but realized he was backed up against a wall with nowhere to go. His entire body trembled, his eyes wide with anguish as he stared at the door, watching the person push it open.aNdaIECvRvjTsgmjXpIoWyYmIJPIuL

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