第二十二回 满面啼痕拥衾倚绣榻 载途风雪收骨葬荒丘 (Chapter Twenty-Two: A Tear-Stained Face Beside the Embroidered Bed, A Snowy Journey to Bury Bones on a Desolate Hill)

Since parting with Li Yun that day, Yang Xingyuan had been feeling despondent. He busied himself daily at the newspaper office to dispel his sorrow.

That day, the sky was overcast, and a bitter north wind blew, as if snow was about to fall. Yang Xingyuan sat alone by the window, thinking of Li Yun's sickly appearance, and tears fell unbidden.

Suddenly, he heard the sound of a carriage outside, and He Jianchen walked in. Seeing him in such a state, he advised, "Xingyuan, why torment yourself like this? Li Yun's illness is fated by heaven. Your constant worrying will do no good."

Yang Xingyuan sighed and said, "How could I not know? But when one's heart is attached, one cannot control himself." As they were speaking, a postman suddenly arrived with a letter, which was from Li Yun.

Yang Xingyuan opened it and saw that the handwriting was scrawled, as if written in illness. The words were sorrowful, saying that her illness was worsening daily and she feared she would not live long, hoping he would take care.

After reading it, Yang Xingyuan felt as if his heart were cut by a knife. He wanted to visit immediately. He Jianchen stopped him, saying, "It's already late today, and snow is about to fall. It would be better to go tomorrow."

Yang Xingyuan would not listen. He hastily put on his overcoat, went out to hire a carriage, and headed for Li Yun's residence.

Upon arriving at Li Yun's home, he saw the courtyard deserted and utterly silent. Yang Xingyuan's heart tightened. He hurried inside and saw Li Yun lying in bed, her face pale and her breath faint.

Li Yun saw him come and forced a smile. She said, "You've come. I thought we would never meet again in this life." Yang Xingyuan took her hand, and tears fell like rain.

The two gazed at each other in silence, only tears streaming down. Outside the window, the wind and snow raged, as if accompanying this desolate scene.

Li Yun gradually fell into unconsciousness, and Yang Xingyuan kept vigil by her side until late into the night. Suddenly, Li Yun opened her eyes and said, "After I die, don't grieve. I only hope we can meet again in the next life." With these words, she passed away peacefully.

Yang Xingyuan was grief-stricken, but with things as they were, he had to suppress his sorrow and handle her funeral arrangements. Since Li Yun had led a lonely life with no kin, Yang Xingyuan decided to personally arrange her burial.

The next day, the wind and snow had somewhat abated. Yang Xingyuan hired a horse-drawn carriage to transport Li Yun's coffin to the barren hill Outside the City for burial. Along the way, the road was filled with wind and snow. Yang Xingyuan's heart felt like dead ashes, and he felt the impermanence of life and the fragility of love and fate.

After the burial was completed, Yang Xingyuan stood before the grave for a long time. Not until dusk approached did he reluctantly leave. Returning home, lamps were just being lit. Yet he felt the entire room desolate, with Li Yun's shadow everywhere.

From then on, Yang Xingyuan became even more despondent. He drowned his sorrows in wine daily. Although He Jianchen and others often came to console him, they could do nothing about it.