The wind, bewildered, turned its eyes and gazed at me with a lonely look.
That day, I did something against my conscience. In order to run with Lou Xiyue to that magnificent palace with its carved beams and painted rafters, I left Dafeng by the roadside. I thought that Dafeng must have been heartbroken to watch my figure disappear into the vast sea of people, so he didn't take a step forward to chase after me.
I did not intend to abandon it, but because this journey was fraught with danger, I could not bear to see a bird in such peril.
The main hall of the Eastern Emperor is built with high blue bricks and topped with colorful glazed tiles. The eaves are octagonal, and each corner is carved with a mythical creature such as a pixiu or a tiger.
We climbed over the wall and entered the inner garden, where we could see that the layout of the entire main hall was symmetrical.
The garden features long walls and corridors, stone pavilions and gardens, a clear spring, and a floating bridge, all decorated in a unique style.
The reason I can see so clearly is because Lou Xiyue and I are currently sitting on the roof of the palace.
Inside the hall, men in black, close-fitting clothes and wielding long swords swept about, while women in palace attire moved gracefully.
After observing for a while, I noticed that the clothing and attire inside the Eastern Palace were quite different from those outside.
The woman's palace attire covered her completely, revealing nothing; unlike the bare feet and exposed waists she wore outside the palace.
I said, “How come now, poor people dress in such flamboyant ways, while nobles and royalty dress like respectable women?”
Lou Xiyue instructed, "You all wait here."
Then, he leaped down.
When he came up again, he had two sets of palace attire in his hands.
Ji Jiu didn't say anything, but quickly took off his outer robe, put on the palace dress, and then covered his face with a veil.
After I changed, I awkwardly said to Lou Xiyue, "This outfit is too big."
Lou Xiyue chuckled, "I couldn't find anyone shorter than you. Let's go slowly, it's getting late, no one will be able to tell."
I scratched my head. "You really can't tell? But this veil is so big, I can't wear it at all."
Lou Xiyue remained silent for a long while, "This isn't a veil...it's a dress..."
As night fell, bells rang in the palace and palace lanterns were lit.
Lou Xiyue put his arm around my waist and we entered the garden. He whispered, "Let's go take a look at the South Palace. That's where the Emperor's medicine pavilion is."
Walking towards the South Hall, you'll pass a small garden.
The garden was filled with pale purple passionflowers, exuding a light fragrance.
The palace lanterns were dim, casting silhouettes on the flower petals.
I saw a woman in the lamplight, with long, dark hair, wearing a black, fitted gauze dress with purple cloud patterns. Her skin was very fair, and her alluring profile flickered under the palace lanterns. She lowered her head slightly, raised her hand, and licked her fingertip. Her fingertip was pricked, and blood stained her red lips, curving into a beautiful smile, like a poppy blooming in the night.
She raised her eyes and chuckled softly, "An Chen, long time no see."
Text [25] Wolf Venom Killing (Part 4)
I stopped in my tracks, frozen in place.
Lou Xiyue whispered in my ear, "What's wrong?"
I said, "I want to go inside and take a look. Will you come with me?"
Lou Xiyue leaned into the garden and tightened her grip on my waist. "Stay with me."
A person stood in the shadows behind the palace lanterns, his face indistinct, only his silhouette vaguely visible.
"Lord Zi Mo."
The voice was calm and even, without the slightest fluctuation.
The evening breeze blew by, and the palace lanterns swayed, illuminating my master's plain white robe. He gazed quietly at the woman, who was far away from me.
Zi Mo bent down and picked a passionflower, held it to her nose and smelled it. "At this time of year, the orchids in Yangzhou should be blooming, right?"
She gently plucked a petal, looked at her master, and smiled in the darkness. "I remember you like to drink orchid tea, so I planted a few in the hall."
The master said calmly, "No need."
Zi Mo applied pressure with her fingertips, staining them with the purple juice of passionflower. She gently caressed her lips, which were tinged with a light purple, and her alluring color intensified. "An Chen, I recently observed the celestial phenomena and cast a divination for myself. It seems that my life is nearing its end."
She stopped, looked at her master, her deep blue eyes brimming with tears, "I remember being with you at the Silver Cup Pool on Mount Li..."
The moonlight shone on his master's robes, and he calmly said, "Lord Zi Mo, I have treated the Emperor's illness as agreed. Please lead the way, I wish to visit the medicine pavilion in the palace."
Zi Mo was slightly taken aback, then a faint smile appeared on her lips. "Okay."
She lifted the hem of her skirt and stepped towards the door.
Zi Mo tossed aside the passionflower in her hand, lowered her head slightly, and stopped, as if talking to herself, or perhaps gently speaking to her master behind her, "Did you come because the Medicine Pavilion agreed to keep the appointment? Or because I said I didn't have long to live..."
The master's refined face blended into the night, his brows furrowing slightly. "Lord Zi Mo, lead the way."
Lou Xiyue pulled me behind a pillar in the corridor and asked, "Xiao Xiang, are you going to the medicine pavilion with them?"
He lifted my chin with his hand, forcing me to look him in the eye.
Lou Xiyue frowned. "Are you about to cry?"
I lowered my head and said, "I'm not going."
Lou Xiyue leaned closer and pressed her forehead against mine. "Shall I take you for a stroll in the palace and find a chaise longue to roll around on?"