C16 – Caught Fire

The next morning, the rain on the mountain finally stopped.

The sky was blue, and the sun was high in the sky. It was a good day for travelling. The Xie Family and the Li Family met at the back gate of the temple. Just as they were about to depart, the Gao Family’s people came over, saying that they wanted to go with them to see the peach blossoms. Madam Xu brought Gao Tongtong, Madam Zhao brought Gao Xun, and a few maidservants followed behind. It seemed that they had come prepared.

Madam Song was polite. “The more people, the more lively it will be. Then let’s go together.”

The garden was not far from the temple, and they were led by a small monk who walked for about a quarter of an hour. The children were rather obedient and didn’t cause any major troubles.

Xie Zhen was always by Xie Rong’s side. It was probably because the road down the mountain was not easy to walk. She closely followed Xie Rong. “Big brother, slow down.”

Xie Rong was not Li Yu. Xie Zhen told him to slow down, he would be sure to slow down, and sometimes directly carried her along the road. So along the way, the little girl, Xie Zhen, did not put much effort at all. She was the most spirited in her time in the peach orchard, and Xie Xun fell asleep on the nannie’s shoulder instead.

The peach orchard had a total of tens of mu. Thousands of peach blossoms bloomed at the same time, forming a beautiful scenery in front of everyone’s eyes.

Peach petals scattered with the wind. From afar, it looked like a pink ocean rising and falling. Waves surged up, bringing with them a strong fragrance of flowers. Xie Zhen came to a peach tree and looked up at the petals above him, perhaps stunned by the spectacle, and stared for a moment.

A petal floated down from above, spinning and landing on her forehead. The petals were covered with water droplets that had remained from last night, covering her forehead with ice-cold water. She reached out to pick them, and a bit of bright red flower juice was imprinted on the place where the petals fell, like cinnabar that had been intentionally pressed.

When she smiled and turned her head, the peach blossoms behind her became a foil.

At such a young age, she already possessed such a beautiful disposition. No wonder Gao Tongtong called her a little fox spirit, it was true. She was not that kind of demure and imposing beauty. She was so beautiful that she was a little bit like a demon.

Now, she was standing under the Peach Blossom Tree, wearing a white dress. She smiled with her pair of clear eyes and waved at them. “Big brother and mother, quickly come over. The flowers on this tree are very fragrant!”

Madam Leng and Xie Liqing did as they were told. Xie Rong also slowly stepped forward, leaving behind a group of people who were looking at them with infatuation.

With the Xie family gone … Each one of them was prettier than the other. It was truly a beautiful painting. God was so unfair that those with good looks had gone to their families.

Gao Xun stood on the spot, staring at his little fairy. He didn’t even hear Madam Zhao cry out several times.

Madam Zhao helplessly knocked on his head. “What are you thinking about?” “How many times have I called you?”

Only then did he regain his senses, reluctantly withdrawing his gaze. “What did mother call me?”

Madam Zhao pointed ahead. “The little Young Master of the Li family has already been there. Aren’t you going over?”

Gao Xun then saw that Li Yu had come to Xie Zhen, his face turned sideways, there was not much expression on his jade-like face. But Xie Zhen liked him and always talked to him, which made Gao Xun very envious.

Ever since he had taken them out into the street, but had nearly lost them, he had been ashamed of himself, and he had not had the nerve to look for her. But when he saw her today, he couldn’t hold it in any longer. He walked up to her and mumbled for a long time, then called her name, “Ah Zhen…”

Unexpectedly, Xie Zhen’s attitude towards him didn’t change at all. She was as friendly as ever. “Hmm?”

Gao Xun felt relieved. He only felt that the depression that had been pressing down on his heart for the past few days had completely disappeared. His entire person felt much more relaxed. He said what he had been thinking for a long time, “I’m sorry, I almost lost you last time …” “If something like that happens again in the future, I will definitely protect you well!”

Xie Zhen had almost forgotten it, but now that he mentioned it, her rosy face instantly turned pale.

It was not really a beautiful memory, and she would rather not remember it.

“I mean it!” Gao Xun stopped forward and gave a promise.

Xie Zhen really didn’t want to continue this topic. She quickly thought about it, then suddenly remembered to settle the score with him. “You clearly promised me to keep it a secret from everyone, so why did you tell big brother Xiaoyu about the hairpin?”

It wasn’t that she didn’t want Li Yu to know, but she felt that since he had promised her, she shouldn’t tell others.

Gao Xun suddenly felt he was in the wrong. He looked at Li Yu guiltily. “I …” His gaze was obviously begging Li Yu to speak up for him.

But as if he didn’t see it, Li Yu turned to look at the luscious peach blossoms behind him, leaving Gao Xun alone to face Xie Zhen’s accusation.

In the end, Gao Xun was scolded by Little Fairy until his head drooped and he admitted his mistake. Even so, his heart was still happy and willing.

Gao Tongtong was close to Xie Zhen, and she followed her wherever she went.

There is a small building in the depths of the peach garden, built with bamboo, all four sides wind, elegant and elegant. A bamboo table was set up in the middle, and even the teacups were made of bamboo tubes. Not only did they not seem to conflict with the surrounding peach trees, they even combined the two colors red and green perfectly.

The women stopped in the small building to drink tea and talk.

Not long after, the serving maid brought out several plates of cantaloupe fruits and a peach blossom wine, pouring a small half cup into each of the cups.

Madam Leng takes a sip, sweet in the mouth, between the teeth seem to contain a piece of fragrant peach blossom, swallow down the stomach, still taste endless.

Madam Xu also took a sip, but her attention was not on the peach blossom wine, but rather on the outside of the small building. “Tongtong really has a good relationship with your daughter…”

Not far away, beneath a tree, she saw Gao Tongtong following Xie Xun. Wherever the nannie went with Xie Xun, she followed.

Those who didn’t know would think that their relationship was really good.

Xie Xun felt that today Gao Tongtong seems to always follow him, wherever she goes she will go, and she also showed a lot of enthusiasm to him, asking questions and questions.

Xie Xun didn’t want to answer at all, because she was asking strange questions.

For example, “What are you playing at home?”

And, “What is Xie Rong doing? He went to school and invited Teacher, how did you do your homework? What does he usually like? ’

As he spoke, he ran over to his older brother.

Xie Xun was too young to remember this much, so she quickly lost patience and shook her head like a rattle drum. “I don’t know, I don’t know!”

Gao Tongtong didn’t lose her patience. “You tell me this, and I’ll buy you a snack at Ruyi.”

Xie Xun puffed out his cheeks and shook her head firmly. “I don’t want it.”

Only God knew how determined she was to refuse the good food for her brother. She was four years old and didn’t know what it was like to hate a person, but she subconsciously rejected Gao Tongtong.

She wanted to go to Xie Zhen, but after a few steps, she was blocked by Gao Tongtong. “What do you want to eat?” he asked with a smile. “I’ll get my servants to buy it for you when I get back. Why don’t you tell me what you like about Xie Zhen and Xie Rong, and I’ll prepare it for you?”

Xie Zhen’s beautiful eyes were widened, “I don’t know.”

Gao Tongtong took a deep breath. “Is there anything he doesn’t like?”

Xie Xun said, “I don’t know.”

Gao Tongtong finally couldn’t bear it any longer. She bent down and poked her forehead. “How come you don’t know? That doesn’t know. Are you stupid?”

She didn’t have much strength left at first, but Xie Xun took a half step back, stepped right on top of a protruding rock, staggered, and sat straight on the ground. Ignoring her, the nannie hurriedly helped her up, dusted off the dirt on her body, and asked worriedly, “Where does it hurt, Miss?” “Did you fall?”

Xie Hun rubbed his buttocks and said it hurts.

In the small building, Madam Leng and Madam Xu noticed the situation here and immediately got up and rushed over. Leng carried Xie Xun over and asked her what was going on.

Gao Tongtong rushed in front of her and said, “I was playing with Ah Xun. I only touched her lightly, but she fell over. It’s my fault.”

Her sincere apology made it hard for the adults to say anything.

However, Madam Leng’s complexion did not look too good. Her daughter had been through so many mishaps because of her, but she had never been able to develop a good impression of this little girl.

Due to the presence of the Madam Xu, Madam Leng only said, “In the future, just pay more attention.”

Madam Xu was still reasonable, so she pulled her daughter along to apologize a few times. This matter was over just like that.

After the adults left, there were only a few children left.

With Xie Xun and Xie Rong behind him, Xie Zhen’s pretty face was full of anger as she glared at Gao Tongtong. “Did you bully Ah Xun again?”

How could Gao Tongtong admit, “I already said she was not standing steadily on her own, what does that have to do with me?”

Xie Xun leaned into Xie Rong’s arms and rubbed his neck before saying in a troubled tone, “Big brother, I’m not stupid.”

Xie Rong hesitated, then touched the back of her head. “Ah Xun is not stupid. Ah Xun is the second cleverest person in our family.” The first, of course, was Xie Zhen. As an older brother, he never argued with them, and then asked, “Who said that about you?”

Under Xie Rong’s guidance, Xie Xun started to explain what had happened.

Xie Rong’s face was extremely unsightly. He put her on his lap and stood up to look at Gao Tongtong. “Does the second miss of Gao Family think you are very smart?”

Gao Tongtong, who was still confronting Xie Zhen, didn’t notice what was going on behind her. “What?”

Xie Rong asked again, “Since that’s the case, why can’t you even guess what I like and whether or not my lessons are good?”

Gao Tongtong was completely dumbfounded as he looked at him, at a loss.

Xie Rong continued, “If you want to know more about my situation, you should be kinder to my sister. Otherwise, not only this time, but the next time, and the next time, she won’t tell you.” He looked down and rubbed Xie Xue’s head. “Is it right, Ah Xun?”

Xie Xun nodded vigorously, perhaps because she felt that it was not enough, and added: “Hmm!”

Gao Tongtong, who blushed, could not wait to find a hole in the ground and never come out again.

When they returned to the Temple of Puyin at noon, Madam Leng had a discussion with Xie Liqing, planning to depart early tomorrow to return to the estate.

After the temple fasts, all three children were exhausted, and Leng sent them back to their room to rest. She and Xie Liqing were not sleepy, so they laid on their beds and talked for a while.

After a while, when they were about to fall asleep, the window outside suddenly lit up, and the firelight illuminated the sky.

Xie Liqing stood up and looked out the window. He saw that the source of the fire was coming from the Main Hall. It wasn’t far away, and he could almost hear the crackling of sparks.

He was shocked. “Why is the main hall burning?”

As he spoke, he went over to take a look.

Afraid of his impulsiveness, Leng hurriedly put on her clothes and followed him.

The children were still sleeping soundly. Madam Leng had the maidservants take care of them, so she didn’t need to wake up.

Not long after Leng and Xie Liqing left, Xie Zhen woke up. She couldn’t find her father and mother, and when she heard Shuang Yu say they were ahead, she noticed a red glow on the horizon. The fire grew stronger, until half the sky was red.

Most of the people living in the temple had gone off to catch the fire, and neither Madam Song nor Li Xiqing were there. The backyard suddenly became extremely quiet.

Xie Xun was still sleeping and they couldn’t wake her up no matter how hard they tried.

She was a little afraid by herself, so she didn’t think much of it. She ran to his room, which was the closest to hers.

Li Yu’s door was tightly shut, and there were no maids outside.

The door was unlocked, and Xie Zhen pushed it open and stepped inside.

“Brother Xiaoyu, are you there?” she asked softly.

However, just as she entered the inner room, before she could see what was going on inside, a hand came out from behind her back and covered her mouth.