Looking to the Thirteen Rivers

The courtyard is full of winter snow, which wets the corners of clothes and stains the ends of hair.

At dinner, Fu Xiang still sat at the same table with Yin Qiu and Man Jiangxue. After dinner, Fu Xiang retreated into the room early to sleep, and Man Jiangxue sent Yin Qiu back to the room. The two talked for a while Then, Man Jiangxue said: "Then you have a rest, I'm leaving."

Yin Qiu looked disappointed: "Will Master Uncle come to see me tomorrow?"

Man Jiangxue said: "Come when you are free."

Yin Qiu pushed open the door without saying a word, his eyes blushing quietly.

"Cover up the quilt at night," Man Jiangxue looked back at her, "Remember to close the doors and windows, you will easily have nightmares if you blow the cold wind."

Yin Qiu looked down at the tip of the shoe, and said in a soft voice, "Got it..."

Man Jiangxue went out, saw Yin Qiu was about to follow, and said, "I won't see you off, go to bed early."

Yin Qiu suppressed tears, turned his head away: "Oh..."

Man Jiangxue had a panoramic view of her forbearance, but didn't say much, closed the door and left quickly.

Yin Qiu walked around the room following her figure, walked to the window, saw through the gap that Man Jiangxue had left, Yin Qiu couldn't help crying, and sat back on the bed in a daze.

The disciple's room is very simple, with not many furnishings, tables, chairs and beds are all available, but it is a little less popular, and in addition to the current cold winter season, it seems a bit deserted.

Yin Qiu sat in a daze for a while, looked around blankly for a while, and finally fetched water to wash himself, undressed and shrank into the bedding.

The world seemed to be quiet for a moment, and there was no one walking outside the room, only the rustling sound of snowflakes falling, accompanied by the occasional sound of wind, reverberating between the heaven and the earth for a long time.

This was Yin Qiu's first night alone since he met Man Jiangxue.

I am used to Man Jiangxue's warm embrace, and I am used to having her by my side when I dream back at midnight. At this moment, the body temperature and familiar fragrance are no longer there, and Yin Qiu suddenly feels a strong sense of insecurity.

It was as if she had never met Man Jiangxue before. Not long ago, she was serving tea and water in the Su family’s courtyard, and suddenly she was thrown to a completely strange place, as if the past few days were just a dream. With Man Jiangxue's departure, the dream was shattered, and the bewilderment and fear that had been suppressed because of Man Jiangxue suddenly rushed out like a flood at this moment, occupying Yin Qiu's heart irresistibly.

The dim candlelight flickered slightly, reflecting a cluster of trembling flames on the wall, as well as Yin Qiu's weeping little face.

Forcibly suppressing the sadness in her heart, Yin Qiu forced herself to fall asleep, and half an hour later, she opened her eyes again.

"Mother..." Yin Qiu whispered into the cold room.

Not long after, she murmured again in an inaudible way: "Uncle Master..."

Another half an hour passed, and Yin Qiu still did not fall asleep. She wiped away her wet tears, put on her clothes and got down on the couch, and gently opened the door.

During dinner, she asked Man Jiangxue where Jingyue Peak was. It was completely dark now, and there were not many lanterns lit in the disciple's courtyard. Yin Qiu used the light to try her best to identify the direction of Jingyue Peak. He probed his head and looked around, and saw no one passing by, so he ran to the gate carefully avoiding his eyes and ears.

The wind and snow in the winter night were terribly cold, Yin Qiu forgot to wear a robe, shivered in the cold wind, but walked steadily.

A lot of houses and palaces half-hidden the mountain of Jingyue Peak, Yin Qiu squinted his eyes, tried to walk as lightly as possible, and walked in hiding all the way.

A group of inspecting disciples came ahead, Yin Qiu was startled, almost bumped into them, turned around and squatted beside a flower bed, hiding himself.

The disciples didn't look sideways, and didn't hear any movement, they passed Yin Qiu one after another without noticing her trace.

Yin Qiu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and moved step by step with his hunched body when they left, but within a few steps, someone behind him shouted: "Who is it!"

Yin Qiu was frightened almost out of his wits by this sentence, and was terrified in his heart, he hurriedly turned around and said, "I..."

"What are you doing sneakily!"

The previous team of inspecting disciples immediately turned back, and the leading girl looked at Yin Qiu coldly: "Which peak are you from!"

Facing the staring eyes, Yin Qiu trembled even more, and said with a pale face, "Yes, I'm sorry... I'm lost."

"Lie!" The girl took the opportunity to look at her for a while, "You are wearing the clothes of a new disciple. You should be sleeping in the disciple's room at this time. What are you going to do when you come out!"

Yin Qiu was flustered and frightened, he was overwhelmed by the girl's aura and dared not speak out, his throat was choked up and he couldn't speak.

"Ask you!" The girl shouted again, "If you don't explain clearly, I will take you to the execution hall!"

As soon as Yin Qiu heard the word "Punishment Hall", she knew that it was a place where people were beaten and punished. Had to cry on the spot.

"Uncle Master...I want to see Uncle Master..." Yin Qiu was extremely helpless, tears streaming down his face.

Seeing her crying pitifully, Xu Shi softened her tone a bit, held up the lantern to shine on Yin Qiu's face, and said, "Why are you crying? Which uncle are you looking for?" After she finished speaking, she paused and said, "Didn't your master tell you the rules? You are not allowed to run around in the disciple's courtyard at night."

"I just came here today, I don't know yet..." Yin Qiu wiped away tears and looked at her in horror.

"Recently, I have caught a lot of eyeliners that the Ziwei Sect has planted in the palace," the girl said with a serious expression, "You are acting suspiciously, and there is no way you can cry, let's go, come with us to the execution hall, and we will talk about it after we have a clear understanding."

After speaking, several disciples walked towards Yin Qiu with their swords in hand.

Yin Qiu backed away again and again, crying, "Don't...don't grab me..."

·

"Wait." Suddenly, a faint voice sounded behind him.

Yin Qiu's whole body was about to stick to the wall, and when he heard the words, he turned his head, and a group of inspecting disciples also followed the prestige, and saw a light blue figure walking out from behind the arch,

Holding a lantern in her hand, Ye Zhilan said to the crowd, "You all step back, I called her here."

The girl hurriedly saluted and said, "I've seen Senior Sister."

Several disciples let go of Yin Qiu, and bowed to the girl one after another.

"It was a misunderstanding," Ye Zhilan said in a low voice, "Go on patrol."

When she came forward to speak, the inspecting disciples stopped asking any more questions, and all respectfully retreated, and went out the door instead.

"Not sleeping in the room, what are you doing running out?" Ye Zhilan looked at Yin Qiu.

"I...I want to see Master Uncle..." Yin Qiu was in shock and lowered his head.

"Uncle Master has been with you all day, why are you so ignorant?" Ye Zhilan frowned.

Seeing that her complexion was not very good, Yin Qiu couldn't help feeling a little panicked, and said in a low voice, "I don't want to part with my uncle, I'm afraid by myself..."

"Then do you know the way?" Ye Zhilan asked.

Yin Qiu hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.

"If I hadn't met you, you would have been taken to the torture hall for interrogation." Ye Zhilan said.

"I didn't do it on purpose..." Yin Qiu rubbed the corner of his clothes, not daring to look up.

"Didn't it be intentional?" Ye Zhilan stood upright, with a lecture tone, "You sneaked here from the disciple's courtyard, you must have been careful all the way, what is it?"

Yin Qiu was speechless, she was so trained that he couldn't refute, so he had to keep quiet.

"There are rules in the palace, even if you are Uncle Shen's daughter, you can't ignore them," Ye Zhilan said, "Besides, Jingyue Peak is not a two-step walk away. At this time, Uncle Shen may also fall asleep. It can be said that you are exhausted from running around when you come back, and you haven't had a good night's sleep in the past few days. If you really have some feelings for the uncle, you should be considerate of her, why disturb her purity?"

Yin Qiu was stunned, and said with red eyes, "I just miss her very much..."

The cold wind was precipitous, and the crushed snow hit people. Yin Qiu was thin and thin, standing in the wind as thin as a fragile grass.

Ye Zhilan looked at her for a while, then sighed for no reason, took off her coat and put it on Yin Qiu's body, and said earnestly: "I know you have no father or mother, and right now you regard your uncle as a relative, it's not your fault that you want to see her , but you can’t sneak out rashly, if I didn’t happen to meet you, you were arrested and tortured in the torture hall as soon as you entered the palace, how will you gain a foothold in the palace in the future? What will others think of you?”

Yin Qiu felt ashamed and sobbed non-stop.

"Okay, wipe away your tears," Ye Zhilan took Yin Qiu's hand, "Let's go."

Yin Qiu raised his sleeves and wiped his eyes, but seeing that Ye Zhilan was not leading her towards the disciples' courtyard, he couldn't help asking, "Where are you going?"

"Didn't you want to find my uncle?" Ye Zhilan looked sideways at her.

Yin Qiu was surprised, and was overjoyed at once, but stopped again, hesitated for a while and said, "Why don't we just forget it..."

Ye Zhilan said, "What?"

Yin Qiu sniffed, pulled the corners of his mouth and said, "You're right, I'm too ignorant, my uncle is working hard, I shouldn't bother her."

Ye Zhilan showed relief, and asked again: "Have you decided?"

Yin Qiu nodded and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I won't do this again in the future."

Ye Zhilan gave a "hmm" and said, "Then go back."

The two returned to the disciple's courtyard and entered the room. Ye Zhilan watched over Yin Qiu by the bed for a while. After Yin Qiu's breathing was steady and he fell asleep, she put out the candle and gently pushed the door away.

Hearing the door being closed slowly, Yin Qiu opened his sour eyes, suppressed the movement and cried for a while in the darkness, and finally fell asleep groggyly in the middle of the night.

·

The next day, Mingguang Hall.

"I heard from Zhilan that the child sneaked out last night to find you." Xie Yijun held the teacup, and the Buddhist beads on his wrist touched the cup wall, making a soft sound.

"I heard about it." Man Jiangxue sat on one side, her eyes fell on the disciples sweeping snow outside the hall.

"It seems that he regards you as his mother?" Xie Yijun smiled.

"I think it's a newcomer and I can't get used to it," Man Jiangxue said, "What did you come to me for?"

Xie Yijun dismissed the disciples on the left and right, and said: "Since the person came back, I thought, I should release the news sooner. If Man Dong is still alive, he will come back to see the child after hearing about it."

Man Jiangxue looked sideways at her and didn't reply quickly.

"The intention of the Ziwei Sect is not hard to guess," Xie Yijun said, "Nangongmin wanted to use that child to lure Mandong, and the disciples reported that the Ziwei Sect seemed to be looking for something. I guess they wanted it." Something should be related to Mandong."

Back then, Shen Mandong pierced Yin Xuan's heart with a sword, then set fire to the Ruyi Gate with his own hands, and then left the newly born Yin Qiu to evaporate in the world, whereabouts are unknown, the reason is still unknown, no one knows why she do that.

At that time, although Ruyimen had been breached by the Ziwei Sect, not everyone died. After all, it was a world-renowned martial arts sect, and there were always disciples with strong martial arts skills who could survive, and Yunhua Palace was quick to act when they heard the news. People rushed to help and repelled the Ziwei Cult.

In that case, it stands to reason that Shen Mandong should gather to appease the remaining Ruyimen disciples, recuperate, rebuild the family, and seek revenge from the Ziwei Sect in the future, but she chose to set fire to the mountain and resolutely leave the country regardless of her daughter's safety. It is really strange to leave only a few words.

"I always feel that Man Dong is still alive," Xie Yijun sighed, "I just don't know why she acts like that, and why she hides in the world and refuses to show up. All these can only be clarified after meeting her."

The censer on the table was burning incense, the snow had stopped today, and the brighter sky cast from the gate of the palace, reflecting wisps of tangled blue smoke.

Man Jiangxue was very close to the incense burner, and her whole body was enveloped by the soft smoke. She was slightly lost in thought, silent, her lowered eyebrows showed no emotion.

Xie Yijun put down the teacup, tapped the table lightly, and said: "This old habit of being in a daze can never be changed, so you should have a word."

Man Jiangxue reached out to poke the smoke, and said in a calm voice, "You are the head, you decide."

Xie Yijun said: "What is this talking about? I came here to discuss this matter with you, so why don't you talk about your thoughts?"

Man Jiangxue took out the handkerchief and wiped the dagger carefully, and said without raising her head: "I also believe that the senior sister is not dead, but since she hasn't come back to recognize us for ten years, there must be something hidden, let alone her back then. If you can leave Yin Qiu who is still a baby, it may not be possible to reappear for her now."

Xie Yijun pondered for a moment, and said: "That being said, all that Man Dong wanted back then was to get married and have children. She didn't want to be a swordsman, but just wanted to be a good mother. Maybe she couldn't accept the Ruyimen incident and left angrily. But ten years have passed, no matter how big the hatred is, it should settle down, no family feud is as important as her own flesh and blood, doesn't she want to see what her child looks like?"

Man Jiangxue said: "I can't guess what senior sister thinks, but you are the only one who wants to find her back. Even if she does come back, so what?"

Xie Yijun was slightly stunned, and sighed: "Master wanted to pass on to her back then, and even before he died, he couldn't forget her traces. Although I have had a grudge against Mandong for a long time, I have to admit that if it wasn't for something wrong with Ruyimen, I can't be the head of the sect, if she can come back, I will abdicate and let the virtuous, this is also the wish of the master."

"Senior Sister is not the material to be the head," Man Jiangxue said, "I am not either, only you are qualified for this position."

After saying this, the two fell silent together.

After a long time, Xie Yijun said again: "No matter what, the news has to be released. After all, there is a Ziwei sect watching outside. We can't be helpless, Zhilan!"

Hearing the call, Ye Zhilan immediately appeared at the entrance of the hall.

"Instruct my disciples to spread the news of Yin Qiu's return to the palace." Xie Yijun said loudly.

"Yes, Master." Ye Zhilan accepted the order.

"Wait," Xie Yijun said again, "it is said that Yin Qiu is seriously ill and dying. I hope that many famous doctors will come to my Yunhua to treat the illness and save people. They will do it immediately, the sooner the better."

Ye Zhilan's eyes showed surprise, but she didn't ask any further questions, she bowed and saluted, and then led a group of disciples down the stairs.

"The only flesh and blood is about to die of illness," Xie Yijun stood with his hands behind his back, and said in a deep voice, "If Man Dong is really alive, I don't believe she can be so cruel as to ignore it."

She did this to force Shen Mandong to show up.

"In this way, I'm afraid that the Ziwei Sect will not be safe." Man Jiangxue said.

"Come to Yunhua Palace to rob people if you have the ability," Xie Yijun smiled contemptuously, "What exactly is Nangong Min looking for, I leave it to you to find out."

"Then how do you plan to deal with the famous doctors who came here?" Man Jiangxue asked.

"Just find a girl who is sick," Xie Yijun said, "There are not many people who have met Yin Qiu, so let me just say whoever is."

Man Jiangxue hung the dagger back to his waist, stood up and said, "Okay."