Happy Spring Every Year

Chapter 260 Don’t Abandon Xiuzhi

"teacher?"

A gentle and deep voice sounded, full of extreme caution, anxiety and uneasiness.

Old Lin's eyelids trembled slightly, as if they weighed a thousand pounds. The moment he opened his eyes, they were filled with fatigue and confusion.

His face was too pale, and the veins on his neck were bulging, gently pulsating with his breathing. Every rise and fall seemed to use up all his strength.

Despite this, he still followed the sound and tried to turn his head.

In the dim light, what came into view was a very familiar silhouette. It was the person he was worried about and reluctant to leave before closing his eyes.

"build......"

Old Lin moved his lips with difficulty, trying to make a sound, but only a hoarse air flow came out of his throat.

"Yes, teacher, it's me!"

Jiang Xun responded so anxiously that he immediately leaned forward and approached the person on the couch.

Old Lin tried his best to focus his eyes on Jiang Xun, and blinked hard several times before he could barely see the face of the person approaching.

At this moment, he curled the corners of his mouth and revealed a smile that showed great relief.

Since Xiuzhi can appear here, I think the most difficult hurdle outside... should be over.

And he... is still alive.

"Heh...ha...I am a coward after all, I didn't want to kill myself. Look...ha, I am really lucky."

"That blood letter...did you see the blood letter?"

When Mr. Lin reached this point, he was obviously exhausted and stopped to catch his breath for a long time.

But when he saw from the corner of his eye that Jiang Xun seemed to be about to speak to stop him, he immediately continued his conversation:

"Ha... the words written in blood are the culmination of... the culmination of my life's calligraphy. They are... they are so graceful and graceful!"

"Why...why am I still a little cold? Xiuzhi, where's your coat? Give it to me to cover myself with—"

At this point, Mr. Lin's eyes widened slightly, and he gradually stopped talking in astonishment.

When he spoke again, Mr. Lin's voice was trembling.

"Xiuzhi, why are you crying?"

"Isn't this old man...fine?"

Jiang Xun knelt beside the couch, his light-colored hem scattered on the ground, mottled with red blood stains and dark mud, and deep folds.

The chill seeped through the four stone walls of the cell, but his forehead was covered with sweat, and the clothes on his back were already soaked with sweat, wrapped around his body in dampness and coldness.

Even when facing the furious Emperor Sheng, he always kept his back straight, but now his body was hunched, and the hands hanging by his sides were still shaking uncontrollably, revealing his panic and vulnerability that was difficult to conceal.

Listening to Mr. Lin's deliberately light-hearted jokes, he couldn't help but burst into tears.

He had already noticed the bamboo hairpin on the table.

Teachers are always different.

Everyone in the world adorns themselves with gold and jade, but the teacher prefers to wear a bamboo hairpin to tie his hair up, and a loose plain robe. Although he is in the temple, he looks like a free and unrestrained hermit.

But the tip of the bamboo hairpin on the table had been sharpened to an extremely sharp point.

It was stained with dark, almost dried blood, which looked particularly glaring against the plain bamboo color.

According to the law, all those imprisoned must take off their crowns and clothes.

However, the teacher was of high status and respected, and it is said that when Eunuch Fushun escorted the teacher to the imperial prison, he also specifically instructed not to treat him harshly.

If the teacher hadn't asked me to do so, I probably wouldn't even have to wear this prison uniform.

It had been nearly an hour since he entered the cell.

No one knew how tormented he was, as if he were in purgatory, with fear and despair following him like a shadow.

He had no doubt that the teacher had disregarded life and death since the night he entered the palace, no, even since the initial plan was made.

And that blood letter...

He didn't need to read it to know that it must be a letter from the teacher to the emperor, wanting to exchange one life for another.

Use the teacher's own life to exchange for Jiang Xun's life.

This speculation was like a sharp knife piercing his heart.

Especially when I see the teacher who is always as lively as a naughty child lying so fragilely in this cold place, his life or death uncertain.

"teacher."

"You are...scratching my straight heart."

Jiang Xun spoke in a hoarse voice, tears streaming down his usually resolute face, his eyes and brows filled with fragility and helplessness.

Old Lin's heart trembled suddenly. At this moment, he vaguely saw the child he first met ten years ago.

That day, in the reception room of the Anyang Marquis's mansion, little Xiuzhi came out of the side room at the urging of the Anyang Marquis.

He clearly had a pair of very bright eyes and a very decent demeanor, but he could not hide the confusion between his brows.

It was like a little wild deer that knew nothing about the world, or an orphan chick lost in the wind and rain, falling into the human world without any warning.

Pure and clean, it is a real unpolished jade.

"Xiu Zhi, everyone... everyone is mortal. In this matter... you are being delusional. Teacher... Teacher is already over sixty years old, so you can be said to have lived a long life."

Mr. Lin felt his eyelids were very heavy, and a feeling of fatigue emanated from his bones, almost sucking away all the heat from his body.

He felt very cold and wanted to rest.

But he was also afraid that this would be the last time he would open his eyes and the last time he would see Xiuzhi, so he used all his strength to speak again and again.

Jiang Xun had already noticed that Lin Lao was tired. He raised his sleeve to wipe the tears from his face and said in a hoarse voice:

"Teacher, you are now exhausted. You should rest well and don't waste your energy talking."

"Imperial Physician Zhang has gone to boil the medicine. Please wait a little longer. Xiuzhi will be able to take you out soon."

But Mr. Lin shook his head and continued stubbornly in a rough and hoarse voice:

"No, Xiuzhi, the lesson of life and death...should be taught to you by your teacher as well."

"If one day the teacher passes away, sooner or later, it doesn't matter. In thousands of lives, the teacher will continue to travel and return to your side."

“Be your good friend, be the breeze that brushes past you, be the branches that touch your shoulders, be the weeds by the roadside that look at you…”

“And when you find your good friend, face the wind, touch the branches and leaves, and look back at the wilderness, it is you and your teacher, meeting again and again in this vast world.”

"When girls your age talk about you, use their pens and ink to describe you, and recall you over and over again, it will mean that you have always been by my side and have never left."

"Cultivate integrity. This... is the true meaning of life and death. Constantly remember, always be present, and always let go. The living will be happy, and the dead will be at peace."

Old Lin tilted his head and spoke, lying on the rough wooden board in this dim cell. Even though his face was pale and his breath was weak, it was still difficult to hide his wisdom and open-mindedness.

The young man who was full of vigor and stunning beauty back then, even though he is old and even becomes a prisoner, still cannot hide his unparalleled charm.

And his eyes are as bright as stars.

Especially when she looked at Jiang Xun at this moment, her eyes were full of tenderness and love, as if they were her own son.

But Jiang Xun, who was such a clear-headed person and always gave in to Lin Lao in arguments in the past, was acting out of character today and shook his head solemnly.

"Teacher, this is different. You are different from others. You must live a long life."

Old Lin rarely heard such childish words from Jiang Xun and couldn't help laughing.

He was about to shake his head when he suddenly heard Jiang Xun soften his voice and said softly:

"Teacher, the bamboos in Songbai Courtyard are now standing tall, and the chessboard in the courtyard has been carved by a skilled craftsman."

"There are fish in the pond, a pavilion built beside the pond, tea from Minzhou, and chefs from Yangzhou."

"Also, my future child with Sui Sui...

"Teacher, I don't want separations or death. I want an open-minded life. What I want is to be together year after year, to have fun together every year, and to be reunited with my family."

"Teacher, please...please don't abandon Xiuzhi..."

Jiang Xun said this, his voice choked with sobs.

His body was trembling slightly, and at this moment he was like a child, slowly leaning over and resting his head on Mr. Lin's arm.

He wanted to hide his vulnerability, but dependence and pleading had already overflowed from his words.

When Mr. Lin heard this, his heart trembled, his eyes were sore, and his heart was almost crushed to pieces.

He walked alone through wind and rain all his life, and was not able to stay with the one he loved, let alone have children to take care of him.

But that poem ten years ago led him to Xiuzhi.

From then on, the master and the disciple sat together at the same desk, listened to the morning bells and evening drums, and admired the beautiful scenery of mountains and rivers. They studied the ancient and modern classics, history, and literature, learned the profound teachings of sages, and read the exquisite etiquette and regulations.

Then they talked about people's livelihood, discussed the government and the world, and lived together day and night, with a relationship like father and son.

How could he... bear to leave?

Seeing that Mr. Lin remained silent for a long time, Jiang Xun couldn't help but feel anxious and worried, and wanted to look up and take a look.

But the next moment, a trembling hand gently placed on his head. The palm was cold, but it was filled with endless love and reluctance.

"Teacher, just listen to Xiuzhi and live a long life, okay?"

His tone was so gentle, just like back then, he also touched little Jiang Xun's head like this, and asked with a smile:

"I'll take you in as my last disciple, okay?"

Jiang Xun shuddered, and slowly raised his head. His warm hands quickly clasped Lin Lao's cold fingertips, and he smiled with tears in his eyes, just like before:

"Disciple—I couldn't ask for more."