Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely Chapter 1419 - 455: The Sisters Cai Shiqin and Xia Hong in the Book Collection Tower

The year 297 of the Caiqiu Calendar, on the eighth day of October, during the daytime.

Lin Chu County City, on the west side of the Governor Mansion, within the guest residence wing.

An icy wind whipped through the courtyard, causing the trees to sway violently.

Piercingly cold light descended, and frost on the roof and exterior walls relentlessly solidified into sheets of ice.

A line of icicles hung from the eaves; while not on the grand scale of the ice plains outside the city reaching ten meters, they were still over a meter long. Snowflakes danced erratically in the air, seemingly heralding a time of unrest and unease.

Fortunately, each room in the guest wing was equipped with a coal stove. The misty, hot air currents melted most snowflakes before they could reach the ground. Combined with the diligent efforts of servants to continuously tend and sweep, no snow accumulation formed.

"Ding ding ding... ding..."

From the purple bamboo grove at the back of the courtyard, the crisp and enchanting melody of an ancient zither suddenly arose.

The zither's sound, at times vast as distant mountains, then cold as celestial music, and long like human speech, was not only captivating but exceptionally melodious. It possessed a bewitching charm that gradually subdued the rampant snowflakes above the courtyard. They ceased their wild flight and rotation, slowly descending to the ground.

A dozen servants clad in linen tunics, who had been cleaning the courtyard, had long ceased their actions. With eyes closed, they focused intently on the music, their faces etched with enchantment and enjoyment. Even a procession of maids carrying food boxes entered the courtyard, heading towards the bamboo grove, completely unnoticed by the absorbed servants.

"Hehe, these simpletons are entranced by the music once more."

"Is this piece, the Commandery Princess’s ’Chu Wind’?"

"Indeed. The Commandery Princess rarely plays this piece, so it must be Miss Su performing."

"Miss Su has only been learning for about a month, hasn’t she? Most people require at least half a year to master a single piece, yet she learned this so swiftly!"

"Nonsense. It was more than three months ago, when Miss Su first arrived at the mansion. She astounded everyone with her self-composed ’Master’s Grace’. Even the Eldest Prince lauded her, proclaiming her a natural musical prodigy whose learning speed would undoubtedly surpass that of ordinary individuals."

"Right, right, I recall now. She can even compose her own zither music; learning existing pieces must be effortless for her."

.........

As the maids chattered amongst themselves, they followed the stone path, guided by the music, twisting and turning rapidly until they arrived at the heart of the bamboo grove. There, a delicate, five-sided pavilion, draped with warm-hued gauze curtains, suddenly came into view.

Within the pavilion sat two young girls, around eight years of age, dressed in blue and white attire, facing each other.

The chill wind gently lifted the curtains, revealing two faces of breathtaking beauty. Instantly, both the pavilion and the tranquil bamboo grove seemed to pale in comparison.

The girl on the left was adorned in a sky-blue brocade dress intricately woven with golden threads. Her dark hair was elegantly coiled at the back, secured by two exquisitely crafted phoenix-shaped silver hairpins. The Chi Pattern Silver Ornament worn on her forehead, upon closer examination, was meticulously fashioned from hundreds of tiny, bright scale-like pieces, shimmering and dazzling under the cold light.

A lustrous Jade Ring graced her neck, and two emerald green Jades dangled from her waist. Though she emanated an aura of noble status, her brows betrayed no hint of arrogance. Her beautiful eyes were as tranquil as the waters of autumn, and a gentle smile played on her lips as she quietly observed the white-skirted girl playing the zither before her.

The girl on the right was clad in a white brocade skirt, its hem flowing lightly like clouds in the wind. The sleeves were embroidered with faint silver thread lotus patterns, which only revealed a subtle glow, akin to flowing moonlight, under the shifting daylight. Her dark hair was loosely pinned with a white jade hairpin, showcasing her fair and graceful features.

A warm yellow Jade Ring hung from her neck, and two moon-white Jades dangled from her waist. Her bearing was not as overtly noble as the former, but it radiated a unique sense of simplicity and elegance.

Before her rested a five-stringed ancient zither, approximately two meters in length. Its five strings emitted spiritual lights of gold, blue, red, and yellow. As her slender fingers gently caressed them, luminous colored light slowly spread outwards with the melodious music, creating a rather mystical spectacle.

"Ding..."

With the final lingering note, the girl’s ten fingers lightly pressed down on the strings. Only after the music concluded did she look up at the girl in blue, her eyes conveying a hint of anticipation.

"It’s so beautiful, Xing’er! Your learning speed is astounding. This ’Chu Wind’ rendition sounds just as wonderful as mine!"

Hearing the commendation from the young lady dressed in blue, Su Xing’er’s lovely eyes instantly formed a crescent shape, her face alight with pride. "It’s all due to my skilled mentor, Sister Shiqin. Without her guidance, how could Xing’er have learned so rapidly!"

Cai Shiqin responded with a shake of her head and a gentle smile. Noticing a gaggle of maids waiting outside with food carriers, she chuckled, "You must be famished after playing for so long. Today, I’ve instructed the chef to prepare some exquisite dishes. Come, Xing’er, let’s taste them together and see how they are."

The pair appeared to be quite intimate. As Cai Shiqin spoke, she didn’t wait for Su Xing’er’s reply. She rose and, taking Su Xing’er’s hand, led her directly towards the main hall, signaling the maids to prepare the celebratory meal.

Aware of Cai Shiqin’s resolute nature, Su Xing’er knew further refusal was futile. She waved her hand, storing the Five-Colored Demon Zither within her form, then followed, her gaze drifting back towards the ceaseless snowfall blanketing the bamboo grove. A faint sense of wistfulness surfaced in her eyes.

Unbeknownst to her, nearly four months had slipped by since her arrival at the Governor Mansion.

On April 20th, she, alongside her three sworn siblings, had set out from Qinghua City under the tutelage of Xia Hong. After journeying and resting intermittently for over a month, they finally arrived at the most expansive city in western Caiqiu, Lin Chu County City, on the seventh day of June.

Earlier, during a casual discussion with her brothers regarding Hu Tiejiang, she had mentioned Xia Hong’s intention to train them against Caiqiu. What might have been mere speculation then had solidified into near certainty during their month-long travels from Qinghua City to Lin Chu County City, confirming Su Xing’er’s suspicions about Xia Hong’s true intentions.