The Banner of Desire - Chapter 5, The Peach Blossom and the Human Face

Jiang Ruhua was granted permission to enter Gongyu Xiaozhu.
Jiang Ruhua often went out with her master.
Jiang Ruhua met the young master, who liked her very much and they often rode horses and played together.
The sudden appearance of this girl threw the entire ranch into a state of panic and unease. Everyone on the ranch was closely watching Duan Yuhan's attitude towards her.
It was speculated that the master had no intention of taking her as a concubine, otherwise he wouldn't have had the young master call her "sister." But just because he didn't now doesn't mean he wouldn't in the future. This girl was the woman who had been closest to the master since the lady left, which was enough to prove that she was unique in the master's heart. Naturally, everyone's attitude towards her gradually softened, no longer as suspicious as they had been at the beginning, and no longer so vehemently rejecting her.
Jiang Ruhua ignored the surrounding discussions and the probing gazes of the crowd, remaining humble yet assertive, and doing her job in a proper and orderly manner, as if she were already quite satisfied with her current life.
Duan Yuhan witnessed all of this, which further confirmed his judgment. He treated her better and better, yet she didn't take advantage of his favor or become arrogant. Only someone sent by Wan Qing would react this way.
Duan Yuhan still had one question. Could Sima Wanqing alone find someone who looked so much like him? Was Pei Mubai supporting her from behind? But Pei Mubai had been searching for her for the past three years; was it all an illusion? Was his Qing actually with Pei Mubai all along?
Thinking of Pei Mubai, Duan Yuhan was surprisingly calm. Upon reflection, he realized how similar Pei Mubai's selfless and tireless help to Sima Wanqing was to his uncle's love for Wanqing's mother. Loving someone doesn't necessarily mean possessing them; simply doing everything in one's power to help them achieve happiness brings happiness oneself. Duan Yuhan couldn't do that kind of love, but he no longer hated Pei Mubai, simply because they both loved the same woman and were equally determined to give her happiness.
"Dad, here's something good for you!" Little Sima Bing rushed into the study with a plate of bright green dumplings, calling out loudly and interrupting his thoughts.
Green rice dumplings? Duan Yuhan picked up the little guy, full of doubt. No one on the ranch outside the pass would make this.
"Is what Sister Ruhua made delicious?" She grabbed one with her little hand and proudly put it into his mouth.
Qingtuan, or Qingming dumplings in Hangzhou dialect, is something Duan Yuhan has eaten quite a bit of since childhood. The one in his mouth now has a cool texture, is sweet and smooth to chew, and tastes very good.
Jiang Ruhua entered with a smile. "Ruhua can only make a few kinds of pastries. If they are not good, please let me know, and I will definitely improve them." Whether intentionally or unintentionally, she never addressed him as "Master," and he did not mind.
"Not bad, very delicious." The familiar qingtuan brought Duan Yuhan a strange feeling. When he was a child, his mother would personally cook qingtuan for him to eat every time Qingming Festival approached.
Qingming Festival? Duan Yuhan suddenly remembered that Qingming Festival was not far away, and was startled to realize that he hadn't personally visited his mother's grave in Hangzhou for four years. Although he had ordered people to properly repair his mother's grave every year, he was ultimately unfilial. Perhaps, this year he should take Bing'er to Hangzhou to sweep the grave and fulfill his filial duty.
Jiang Ruhua lowered her head shyly, seemingly overwhelmed by the praise, her long, butterfly-like eyelashes fluttering slightly. Duan Yuhan caught a glimpse of this and his heart skipped a beat. Why was she making qingtuan for no apparent reason? Was she reminding him that Qingming Festival was approaching? Was she reminding him that he should go to Hangzhou to sweep the tombs? Was Wanqing trying to lead him to Hangzhou?
In a flash, a hundred thoughts raced through Duan Yuhan’s mind, and he was almost close to the truth.
"Here you go." The little guy handed him the plate, then hurriedly slipped off the ground, looking like he was in a hurry to go play somewhere again.
"Young Master, you must attend to important matters. I'll take my leave." Jiang Ruhua took Sima Bing's little hand, and the two skipped out the door together. In the blink of an eye, her little head peeked back in from the doorway. "Daddy, don't finish eating. Leave two for me." Despite being a tiny child, she insisted on giving the adults a serious instruction.
Duan Yuhan casually placed the plate on the desk, finally unable to suppress a smile. Just seeing Bing'er made all his worries vanish instantly. And Jiang Ruhua, with Bing'er, would laugh and play without restraint—that was the real her, wasn't it? This girl, after all, was still too immature; she was completely unsuitable to be an inside man. Perhaps Wan Qing valued Ruhua's innocence precisely because she knew that the more innocent and pure a person was, the less wary he would be.
The next day, after discussing with Yue Zhongzheng, Duan Yuhan decided to take Sima Bing, Jiang Ruhua, Xiaoyu, and Qin's mother to Hangzhou, while Yue Zhongzheng would guard Lieyun Ranch.
Along the way, Sima Bing was as happy as a bird released from its cage, chattering incessantly, wanting all sorts of delicious food and fun toys. As a result, when they finally arrived in Hangzhou, their three carriages were piled full of all sorts of trinkets, and there was hardly any room left for anyone else.
Four years ago, Yunlai Inn by West Lake had already been acquired by Duan Yuhan. Now, the innkeeper was Feng San's younger brother, Feng Si, who was busy welcoming them and directing the servants to move Sima Bing's various treasures into the room. Everyone was busy and having a great time.
Duan Yuhan stood outside the gates of Yunlai Residence, lost in thought. Back then, if Yunlai Residence hadn't burned down, Wanqing wouldn't have come to see him, there wouldn't have been that passionate night, there wouldn't have been Sima Bing, and he and Wanqing wouldn't have married so quickly. Could this place, now, still bring them a turning point?
Naturally, after resting, the energetic little guy wanted to go out and play again. So Duan Yuhan took him and they walked around West Lake.
To compare West Lake to Xi Shi, the legendary beauty, is to admire it whether adorned or plain. Unlike the grand and majestic landscapes beyond the Great Wall, West Lake exudes the delicate and graceful charm of a woman from Jiangnan. Along the Bai Causeway, willow branches sway gently, peach blossoms are reflected in the water, and the breath of spring blends into a rich poetic and picturesque scene, making one feel refreshed and relaxed.
Although Sima Bing was young, he seemed to be captivated by the beautiful scenery, quietly holding Duan Yuhan's left little finger as they strolled leisurely.
"Wow, what a tiny puppy!" A pure white puppy came bounding over from the front, and the little guy was pleasantly surprised when he spotted it. Lieyun Ranch had quite a few dogs, but this was the first time he had ever seen one with such soft fur and a petite body, so he couldn't help but be very curious.
The little dog scurried over, seemingly interested in Sima Bing, circling around his feet. Its head only reached Sima Bing's knees, its bright black eyes set in its flat face, making it look utterly adorable. Sima Bing reached out to pet its head, but the dog cleverly dodged, sticking out its pink little tongue to gently lick his palm. Sima Bing felt ticklish and couldn't help but giggle.
The puppy grew even more smug, showing off by doing a handstand and inching forward. But after a few steps, it grew tired and stopped, panting. Sima Bing carefully picked it up and held it to her chest like a precious treasure. This little thing was much more fun than any of the other toys she'd encountered along the way.
"Xue'er, Xue'er..." A sedan chair carried by four men slowly approached from not far away. A young girl in front of the sedan chair looked around and called out. The girl had her hair in two buns, and her clothes were light and of fine quality, making her look like a maid from a wealthy family.
Hearing the shout, the puppy ducked its head and burrowed under Sima Bing's sleeve, leaving only its hind legs and tail sticking out. Its careless behavior, neglecting its rear, looked quite comical.
"Xue'er!" The girl spotted it and rushed over. The closer it got, the wider her eyes widened. The incomparably handsome man and the dazzling white jade doll were so stunning that she was momentarily stunned.
The puppy ignored her and remained nestled in Sima Bing's arms.
After a moment, the girl came to her senses and curtsied. "Please, young master, return Xue'er to me." She noticed that the two people in front of her were exceptionally beautiful and had extraordinary bearing, so her tone was much more polite than usual.
Although Sima Bing loved Xue'er, he knew the principle of returning something to its rightful owner. He immediately picked it up and was about to hand it over to the young woman. Xue'er let out a mournful cry and kicked its legs wildly. Sima Bing suddenly noticed a red scar on its hind leg, seemingly a wound from being beaten. Could its owner have hit it? No wonder it refused to go back.
Sima Bing pouted and suddenly decided to withdraw her hand, "It won't go with you."
“小孩，快把雪儿还来！”少女见他不还，口气立刻变得强硬傲慢，顿显盛气凌人之势。司马冰迈着小腿，偷偷的往后蹭到段喻寒身前。
少女疾步过来，俯身要从司马冰怀中抢回雪儿，它却敏捷的窜上司马冰的肩头，嗖的跳到段喻寒身上。段喻寒随手揽过它。
“爹，它被打过，好可怜。”司马冰撒娇的扯着段喻寒的衣袖，自然是要爹帮他把小狗留下。段喻寒拍拍小家伙的头，示意不必担心，随即冷冷的瞧着那少女。这样仗势欺人的人，自小他就极厌恶，何况她还敢对司马冰大呼小叫。
“你……”少女本是怒气勃发，但触到他的目光，却不由自主的后退了一步。冰山雪水般的冷漠高傲仿佛在她面前竖起一堵墙，让她再不敢靠近孩子半步。
“怎么了？”柔媚入骨的声音幽幽而来。不知何时，那顶软轿已静静的停在一旁。流金锦纱的轿帘，随风轻摆，影影绰绰的，一个云鬓高挽的女子端坐其中，却瞧不清她的面容。
“雪儿，乖，不要调皮了。”那声音柔柔嗲嗲，倒似在对雪儿娇嗔一般。雪儿从段喻寒手中跳下地，欢快的冲软轿跑去。
司马冰小孩心性，不免要替雪儿担心，“别去，她会打你的。”雪儿好像听懂了，临到软轿前，又停下来，乌溜溜的大眼回看司马冰，好像舍不得这个新朋友。
素白的手，轻轻撩起流金锦纱，湖水一色的衣袖微微探出。岸边风势陡增，霎时柳丝飞扬，落英缤纷，漫天花雨，饱浸着沁心暖香，中人欲醉。然，西湖之美，桃柳之色，也不及她绝世容光之万一。仿佛只要她轻轻的回眸，满目春花都会为之竞相盛开，青山绿水也会为之倾倒折腰。
段喻寒自认从不会惑于美色，但此刻莫名的有些窒息，只觉得铺天盖地的艳光丽色，柔和又不可抗拒的汹涌而至，心不由自主的要痴迷沉沦。
宝儿急急的过去搀扶，“夫人，宫主有令……”
“出来看看有什么大不了。”美人淡淡的说，凭空有点不怒自威的气势。宝儿只得将后半句“夫人不可轻易见外人”咽回去。
宫主？在杭州，能被称为宫主的人，大约只有圣武宫主人盛希贤。此人在武林中颇有威望，但素未谋面，因礼贤下士，处事公允，近两年名声日隆。听闻此人极好美色，身边美女无数。此女莫非是他的姬妾？段喻寒瞬间已推测了大致情况。
雪儿乖乖的溜到美人脚边，美人抱起它，轻移莲步。她一瞬不瞬的看着段喻寒身前小小的人儿。
圆润稚气的小脸，吹弹可破的肌肤，挺秀小巧的鼻，笑起来点漆般的黑眸弯如新月。他就象不小心坠落凡尘的天使，超凡脱俗，完美无匹。是冰儿吗？她的冰儿。
淡淡的水氲，依稀要模糊司马晚晴的双眼，这一刻，她想紧紧抱着他，她想亲亲他的小脸蛋，她想告诉他，她有多想他。可是她不能。她不能！
她明明知道，在没成功报仇前，轻易在段喻寒面前现身，是极其不智的。可她还是来了，只为看他一眼。她的孩子，过得很好，她终于可以稍稍放心，可近在咫尺，她却不能相认，更不能让段喻寒有丝毫的疑心。
凤仙花瓣淬过的指甲深深嵌入手心，她需要疼痛来保持清醒。
在段喻寒看来，这个绝世美女被司马冰吸引，也是寻常事。因为不管在牧场，还是这一路行来，司马冰都吸引了无数人惊叹的目光。只是，他还是有一丁点怪异的感觉。怪在哪里，一时间却难以捉摸。
“好漂亮的孩子。”司马晚晴故作客套的说，贪恋的注视着司马冰，只想在这一刻，把他的模样分毫不差的印在脑中。
温柔如春水般的气息在司马冰身边逡巡流动，小家伙忽然脱口道，“阿姨，你好漂亮。”顿了一顿，又加了一句，“比我娘还漂亮。”
娘？离开的时候，他还不会说话。没想到第一次听冰儿说“娘”，居然要等这么久，居然是在这样的情形下。这声清清脆脆的“娘”，几乎要逼得司马晚晴落下泪来。
“不过我娘是世上最好的。”小家伙托着下巴，认真的补上一句。
“你娘一定很疼你。”她仿佛用尽全身力气，才遏止住眼中的一片温热。
“当然啦。”小家伙大声说着，眼圈却倏地红了。虽是小小年纪，却是分外好强，他在外人面前不会软弱，因为他相信娘亲一定会回来。
司马晚晴忍不住怜爱的拉起他粉嘟嘟的小手，“好孩子。”十指连心，这样的手拉手，她甚至可以感到他扑通扑通的心跳。
雪儿好像知道主人对那孩子的喜爱，又悄悄溜到司马冰脚下。
司马冰抱起它，“阿姨，你能不能别打雪儿？”他小心的查看它的伤，认真的要求着。
司马晚晴惊愕的望着他，他怎会有此误会？一边的宝儿忿忿的上前，“夫人才没打它。那伤是前些日子偷狗的小贼打的。”
“那它怎么不肯跟你走？”司马冰定要问个清楚明白，不能让雪儿再受苦。
“给它换药，它不肯，就跑了呀。”宝儿急了。
司马晚晴轻抚雪儿的背，“换药是有点疼，你也太娇气了。”雪儿灰溜溜的耷拉下脑袋，好像知道自己错了。
“我就知道，阿姨是好人。”
“你喜欢雪儿？喜欢的话，就送给你。”就让这小狗代她暂时陪在他身边吧。没有娘亲的孩子，再多的人疼，也是寂寞的。这一点，她比谁都清楚。
司马冰大喜过望，小嘴微张，露出两颗可爱的小虎牙，“真的吗？”
“自然是真的。”司马晚晴情不自禁抱了他一下。小小的，温软的，可爱的，她的冰儿，是真的，不是梦中。
司马冰觉得漂亮阿姨有点奇怪，但终究没挣扎，把小脑袋舒适的搁在她肩头。
“冰儿。”段喻寒隐隐觉得有点不对。其一，这个美女自始至终没看旁边一眼，只对司马冰兴趣浓厚。其二，除了他、岳中正和秦妈妈，司马冰一向不喜欢被别人抱，更别说被陌生人抱，如今居然乖乖的趴在人家怀里，委实太过异常。
好久没听到他的声音，依然那么醇和，那么富有磁性。司马晚晴有些心慌，终于坚决的放下司马冰。
再怎么不舍，也要放手，再怎么难过，也要分离。孩子，最后一定会属于她。而现在，绝不能因一时冲动而破坏复仇计划。
段喻寒，在司马冰身后，离她仅一尺。她不敢看他，只怕看他一眼，就要泄漏内心的秘密，再也无法如现在般镇定自若。一千多个日日夜夜，从不曾忘记他半分。念及他的残忍，念及他的无情，心已被日复一日的恨意折磨得麻木。是否只有他的命，才能让她彻底解脱？
鼻端，依稀嗅到清爽的香气，她，却分不清那是翠柳碧草的味道，还是他的味道。
就这样吧，今日目的已达到，是该速速抽身了。司马晚晴没有选择，只能从容的转身离去。
“阿姨，谢谢你。”欢快悦耳的童音自身后响起，仿佛天籁般动听。
“不谢。”司马晚晴回头温柔一笑，却在刹那间，目光和段喻寒对了个正着。
俊雅青衫，了无纤尘，卓世而立，亦梦亦真。命中注定的避不开，怎么也避不开！
尖锐的刺痛自心头爆裂，天地间一片静谧。舌间的苦涩幽幽的化开去，却又隐隐带着一丝甜蜜。
咫尺，也是天涯。
缓缓低头，淡定从容的微一颔首，司马晚晴毅然转身离去。她的背影，坚定而孤寂，渐渐融入那片流金锦纱。
她，本不适合做复仇这样惨烈的事，却不得不去做。天意弄人，夫复何言？
段喻寒的视线直到软轿远去，才不确定的游移开。第一次，一个女子见了他平静如斯；第一次，他注视除晚晴以外的女子那么久；第一次，如此迷惑。
为什么，她注视冰儿的目光，会那么温柔，仿佛连飞舞的柳丝也要融化其中。
为什么，她和司马冰相拥时，他明明觉得有些异常，还是不忍破坏那亲密无间。
为什么，陌生又熟悉的情愫在周围盘旋不定？
“爹，这个阿姨好像娘亲。”司马冰一边和雪儿嬉戏，一边漫不经心的说。
象吗？段喻寒好笑的摇摇头。这孩子，见人家长得美又对他好，他就说人家象娘亲。
He didn't know that children are the most sensitive beings in the world. Only a child's clear eyes can see the deepest warmth and love in people's hearts, without being deceived by any outward appearances.
Their encounter by the lake, her face as beautiful as peach blossoms, was unparalleled in beauty. In Duan Yuhan's memory, it was now a beautiful ink painting. Her breathtaking radiance ultimately dazzled his eyes, preventing him from scrutinizing her words and actions.
Amidst the spring scenery, Duan Yuhan was unaware that a pair of eyes on the other side of the lake had been watching them for a long time.

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The Banner of Desire - Chapter 5, The Peach Blossom and the Human Face

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