PDLP Chapter 371 Snowing
Chapter 371 Snowing
Chapter 371 Snow
When Zhang Chengde heard Zhang Hengrui's guess, his expression became more solemn. He subconsciously clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white, and said in a deep voice: "Don't panic, it's just a guess now." Although he said so, he was still unsure.
"Alright, let's stop wasting time guessing. The most urgent thing is to find out if today's incident was intentional. Also, have someone carefully monitor the inside and outside of the mansion for any suspicious, 'dirty' things." The old Grand Tutor frowned, his voice low and undeniable, carrying unquestionable authority. "As for the rest, let me ponder it carefully. You can go back first!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chengde and Zhang Hengrui hurriedly stood up and bowed respectfully. They left the old master's study in silence.
Outside the door, snowflakes had suddenly begun to fall. The moment he stepped outside, the chill intensified. Zhang Chengde watched the occasional flakes drift by under the dim yellow light, his worries spreading like the falling snow.
Zhang Hengrui shuddered at the sudden chill and subconsciously wrapped his clothes tightly around him. He looked at his father's solemn profile and opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but felt that any words would seem pale and powerless at the moment, so he swallowed the words back.
"Hengrui," Zhang Chengde finally broke the silence, his voice low and powerful, "After you go back, immediately arrange for our trusted and capable people to secretly investigate the Mu family's every move. Remember, you must be careful and cautious, and you must not reveal any flaws when you are watching, and you must not alert the enemy. In addition, before everything is investigated clearly, the actions of the mansion in the next few days must be carried out step by step and as usual. Do not act rashly, understand?" As he spoke, he turned to look at Zhang Hengrui.
Zhang Hengrui's heart was still in turmoil, but he knew the importance of the matter. He took a deep breath, calmed himself, and nodded in agreement, saying, "I know, Father. Don't worry, I understand. Well, when I just got back, I learned that Madam had been looking for me all day. It must be something important. So I'll go back and see."
"Well, okay! Then you go back first. Be careful not to let her know about Yuan'er." Zhang Chengde nodded slightly, his eyes full of worry. Zhenyuan was the apple of his daughter-in-law's eye. She was very sensitive and would be in great disarray if she knew that something might have happened to Yuan'er. The family was already in a mess and could not afford to add to the chaos.
Zhang Hengrui bowed and turned to leave. His steps were heavy, his back long in the dim light. And the pure white snowflakes swirled and fell in the dim light. The combination of the two made him feel not pure and peaceful, but rather a sense of desolation and loneliness.
Zhang Chengde watched his son's retreating figure, his heart awash with mixed emotions, and he sighed silently. Zhang Hengrui's figure gradually receded, appearing increasingly frail and lonely under the dim light and falling snow. With a sigh, he too turned, taking steady steps, and vanished into the snowy night.
The cold wind howled, and the snow gradually grew thicker and larger. Goose-feather-like snowflakes fluttered and danced freely in the air, swirling and swirling. In a moment, the entire courtyard was decorated with a silvery white world. The previously quiet Grand Tutor's Mansion, shrouded in this heavy snow, seemed even more dead silent. Only a few lanterns swayed in the wind and snow, their faint glow struggling to resist the darkness and cold, but it could only illuminate a small area.
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"Princess, Princess, have you gotten up? It's very cold today. There is a thick layer of snow." Nanny Zhao stood in front of the bed, bent over, and called Jin'an softly and carefully.
Jin An stretched out lazily, muttered something, and slowly opened his eyes, "Mammy, what time is it?"
"Princess, it's almost mid-morning." Madam Zhao smiled gently as she stepped forward and gently hung the gauze curtains on both sides. "The snow outside is so thick, a vast expanse of white, it's so beautiful."
Jin An rubbed her eyes, finally awakening somewhat. She sat up slightly, the quilt sliding down slightly as she moved, revealing her pale pink undershirt. She yawned, a bit lazy as she woke up, and looked out the window at the few red plum blossoms Zi Yun had placed in a vase. "The snow is coming later than usual, but the plum blossoms are in full bloom right now. With the snow weighing down the branches, it's a perfect time to enjoy them in the snow."
Nanny Zhao, who was swiftly helping Jin'an get dressed, smiled kindly upon hearing this and agreed, "Princess, you're right. The plum blossoms in the palace are probably in full bloom these days. Princess, would you like to go to the Imperial Garden to enjoy them?"
Jin An tilted his head, a trace of nostalgia flashing in his eyes, and he said slowly, "Speaking of plum blossoms, I still remember going to my great-aunt's farm in the suburbs when I was a child. The winter plum blossoms there were truly beautiful. Back then, my mother took my brother and me to the farm, along with my cousin and cousin Chuzhou."
She narrowed her eyes slightly, lost in memories, her lips curling up unconsciously in a faint smile, as if she were transported back to those carefree days of her childhood. "Behind the village stands a plum grove. With the arrival of winter, the plum blossoms burst into bloom. The red plum blossoms are like fire, their beauty blazing; the white plum blossoms are purer than snow, pure and clean. They bloom unrestrainedly in the cold wind, their fragrance filling the entire village. When the wind blows, the petals fall gently, like a snowfall."
"Mammy, do you still remember that my brothers and I loved to play and laugh and have snowball fights in the plum forest after it snowed. My cousin and cousin Chuzhou were running in front, throwing snowballs at each other, and their laughter echoed in the plum forest. I was small at that time and ran slowly, but I still insisted on chasing after them. My brothers were afraid that I would fall, so they always followed me carefully to protect me. I remember that my brothers would climb up the trees, as agile as little monkeys, and pick the most beautiful plum branches for me. I was so happy holding the plum branches." Jin'an's voice was soft, with a bit of nostalgia. The warm scenes of the past emerged vividly in his mind, and every detail was clear.
Zhao Mama's hand paused, her eyes suddenly sore. She lowered her head to tie Jin An's belt, blinking furiously, suppressing the bitterness in her heart. "Your Highness, of course I remember. The Empress and the Crown Prince both loved Your Highness the most. They just wanted the Princess to be happy forever." Zhao Mama's voice trembled slightly. Those beautiful past events had now become a sad memory for the Princess.
Jin An heard something unusual in the nanny's voice. She looked down at the old lady with a little frost on her temples and realized that she was worried about her again.
She reached out and held the hand that was busy tidying up her clothes, her voice soft and gentle: "Mammy, I'm fine, I'm fine now. I have you always by my side, my grandparents' family cares for me very much, and my father loves me very much. And I believe that my mother and brother are also with me in heaven. My heart is warm." She spoke in a light tone, with the corners of her mouth slightly raised, outlining a bright smile, and she wanted to convey this relaxed mood to Mammy Zhao to dispel the haze in her heart.