The young master asked, "Do you like it here?"
Hua Wuduo nodded and said, "I like it very much!"
Gongzi Xiu looked at her and asked softly, "How about we really build a bamboo house here?"
Upon hearing this, Hua Wuduo's eyes lit up, and he said, "Let's build a fence around the house, put bamboo tables and chairs in the yard, and raise a few pheasants and rabbits... But... do you know how to build a house?"
This question stumped Young Master Xiu. How could someone from a wealthy family know how to build houses?
Seeing Gongzi Xiu's embarrassed expression, Hua Wuduo laughed and said, "If only we could go out and learn from those building houses, then we can come back and build slowly, buy some daily necessities, and definitely buy wine! Oh dear, it's been so long since I've had a drop of wine, and white rice too..." Hua Wuduo swallowed as he spoke.
Young Master Xiu smiled faintly and said, "Wu Duo, are you really willing to build a house here with me?"
Without much thought, Hua nodded and smiled, "Yes, I'm willing."
Gongzi Xiu held her hand tightly in his palm.
As luck would have it, the next day, Gongzi Xiu told Hua Wuduo that he had discovered a cave halfway up the mountain. The cave was windy and might lead to another place.
The cave was difficult to navigate, and another entrance led to an unknown place. Unfamiliar with the path, the two wandered for nearly an hour before finally emerging from the cave. Outside, overgrown weeds and towering trees made it difficult to discern their location, as they were situated halfway up the mountain. Using their light-footed skills, they flew down the mountain and, after walking a short distance, discovered a forest path with hoofprints. Overjoyed, they followed the path.
After descending the mountain, it didn't take long before we reached the territory of Luzhou.
Along the way, many people stared at Hua Wuduo, so Hua Wuduo put on the mask again. Unexpectedly, Gongzi Xiu also asked Hua Wuduo for a mask and put it on his face.
Hua Wuduo asked Gongzi Xiu, "Why are you wearing a mask?"
Gongzi Xiu countered with a question to Hua Wuduo: "Why do you always wear a mask?"
Hua Wuduo said, "This is a long story."
Young Master Xiu laughed and said, "Anyway, I have nothing else to do."
Hua Wuduo then said, "When I was a child, a fortune teller came to my house and saw me by chance. He said I was destined to bring misfortune, especially because of my face. My father was very worried and said that beautiful women have always had short lives. When I asked him how to resolve this, he mentioned the art of disguise. My father then found someone to teach me the art of disguise, who became my master. My mother passed away early, and no one in the family took care of me. My master didn't take care of me much either. He taught me the art of disguise and then left. I haven't seen him since. I heard that he has passed away."
As Hua Wuduo walked, he said, "I remember when I was little, I thought the art of disguise was troublesome and I didn't want to learn it. My master scared me by saying that I was destined to be a femme fatale and that not using a disguise would bring disaster to myself and others. I was very scared when I heard that, so I learned the art of disguise from him very seriously and often exchanged skills with him, disguising ourselves to deceive each other. Later, he left, and I understood what a femme fatale face was. A femme fatale face is what many women dream of, haha. But I have been wearing a mask for many years and I have gotten used to it. Occasionally, if I don't wear a mask, it feels like something is missing and I feel very uncomfortable. So I've saved myself the trouble of having a femme fatale face to do femme fatale things."
Gongzi Xiu was surprised to hear such remarks. She spoke so casually, her easygoing nature always giving the impression that she lived a carefree and happy life. However, how could Gongzi Xiu not hear the hardships in her life? She lost her mother at a young age and began learning martial arts from a master when she was very young. Her master didn't seem very close to her, teaching her the art of disguise before leaving. From childhood, she had always lived with a mask, simply because her face would bring her a lot of trouble. This must be her past. Gongzi Xiu thought that perhaps even Wu Yi didn't know this. Thinking of this, he took Hua Wuduo's hand and said, "Let's go buy some wine."
"Mm." Hua Wuduo nodded with a smile.
The streets of Luzhou were not as bustling as those of Luoyang, but they were not particularly desolate either. Standing on the main street where people came and went, Gongzi Xiu held Hua Wuduo's hand and felt as if he had been in another world. He then heard Hua Wuduo say, "I haven't lived a normal life for several days. Let's go buy some clothes first, and then we'll have a big meal."
Young Master Xiu smiled and said, "Okay." His gaze towards her naturally revealed tenderness and affection.
Hua Wuduo looked back with a smile, her face radiating sweetness and trust.
Once they left the mountain, it seemed like it was time to part ways. Both Hua Wuduo and Gongzi Xiu understood this, but neither of them was willing to bring it up.
When staying at the inn, even though he wore a mask, he couldn't hide the noble air that Gongzi Xiu was born with. With just one glance, he could make the waiter bow and scrape to him.
At midnight, the two of them drank several jars of osmanthus wine in the inn. There were very few people in the inn, and the two of them were the only ones in the entire courtyard.
Having not tasted good wine for many days in the mountains, whether due to his mood or the presence of fine wine, Young Master Xiu drank extremely heavily today. After sharing several jars of wine with Hua Wuduo, he seemed like a different person, slowly recounting his past. These were stories Young Master Xiu had never told another person in his life, stories that Hua Wuduo could never have imagined.
The moonlight of Luzhou shone on Gongzi Xiu, making him appear exceptionally cold and even somewhat pitiful.
Young Master Xiu said calmly, "My mother is extremely beautiful. When I was very young, she told my sister and me that we were different from others, that we were born superior. In the mansion, the children of the other concubines were all lowly and insignificant."
Perhaps it was because he was thinking of his mother, but Gongzi Xiu's face softened with warmth: "My mother was very strict with my sister and me, especially my sister. She learned a lot from a young age, even more than I did. We rarely had time to play. I spent all my time practicing martial arts and studying. My mother often said that she had high hopes for my sister and me, and the more outstanding we were, the prouder she would be. When I was young, I didn't understand what made me different from others, but the feeling of being superior was indeed very good. I also loved seeing my mother proud of me, so I worked very hard at everything I did, and I always wanted to win."
At this point, his eyes suddenly darkened, he took a big gulp of wine, and continued, "But when I was thirteen, my mother passed away. She never got to see me come of age. Before my mother's coffin was even buried, my seventh concubine, relying on my father's favor, wanted to become the principal wife and replace my mother in the household. When I found out, I rushed into her room with my sword, dragging her by her hair all the way to my mother's mourning hall. She was afraid of me and kept kowtowing in the mourning hall, leaving blood all over the floor. When my father came in and saw this scene, he was furious and struck me with his palm. I was so angry that I didn't dodge or flinch, but at that moment, my sister, who had just returned home from the palace to pay respects to my mother, rushed over and took the blow for me. When she flew out... she hit the corner of my mother's coffin, and from then on... she could no longer have children."
Upon hearing this, Hua Wuduo felt a pang of pain in his heart, but he didn't know how to comfort Gongzi Xiu.
He continued, "That night, I knelt before my mother's mourning hall and personally washed away the bloodstains on the ground, bit by bit. How could that vile woman's blood defile my mother's mourning hall!"
Hua Wuduo looked at Gongzi Xiu and noticed a mocking sneer on his lips, as if he were telling someone else's story, without a trace of pain. He was so indifferent, so tragically indifferent. This was a side of Gongzi Xiu that Hua Wuduo had never seen before. He continued, "When my sister was seriously injured and unconscious, she was still thinking of me, repeatedly telling me to remember my mother's words. I swore at my sister's bedside that I would never let her down!"
Gongzi Xiu took another gulp of wine, smiled coldly, and said, "Wudu, what kind of person am I in your heart?"
Upon hearing this, Hua Wuduo snapped out of his daze and smiled, saying, "Cultivating oneself to the utmost in emotion and nature is both chivalrous and noble."
Upon hearing this, a cruel glint flashed in Gongzi Xiu's eyes. He said, "When I was eight, my third concubine's son fought with me over a small wooden horse. I beat him so badly he was crippled. My third concubine went to my father crying and complaining, but I called her vile. She died on the spot, ashamed and indignant, by running into a wall." A faint smile played on his lips, chillingly ruthless. "On my tenth birthday, my mother made me a very beautiful brocade robe. I was wearing it as I walked through the back garden when my cousin, carrying a plate of greasy pastries, bumped into me, soiling my clothes. I slapped her away, sending her flying. She hit a rock and died instantly. When I was fourteen, I had just undergone my coming-of-age ceremony. I glanced at a maid in the manor a few times, and that very night she stripped naked and climbed into my bed. I kicked her off the bed and stabbed her in the chest with a sword."
As he said this, he chuckled softly. The moonlight, like water, shone on him, making him feel instantly cold.
"Am I still the Xiu in your heart?" he asked softly, his profile completely hidden in the shadows, indistinct.
***************
The pale moonlight and the quiet felt like poisonous needles piercing Liu Xiu's heart, the light in his eyes gradually fading with the stillness. But then, a soft laugh rang out, a sound as clear and crisp as pearls falling onto a plate, stirring his soul. His gaze fell upon her beneath the moonlight; she shook her head, then nodded, seemingly deep in thought. After a long pause, she finally spoke: "All I know is that Xiu is so good to me, so very good. He would even risk his life for me!"
His heart suddenly clenched.
He gazed at her, noticing her head swaying slightly as she clutched the wine jar, seemingly a little drunk, yet not quite. Then, Gongzi Xiu clearly heard the words he would never forget: "I like Xiu like this!"
At that moment, his heart began to pound uncontrollably.
She laughed even more freely, raised her wine jar to clink with his, waved her hand, and shouted, "Now that we've talked about our troubles, let's throw them all away! Let's drink!"
The sound of the two wine jars colliding was exceptionally clear in the darkness, and it stirred Gongzi Xiu's heart. He tilted his head back and gulped down several mouthfuls of wine, his gaze towards Hua Wuduo growing increasingly fervent. He whispered, "Wuduo, meeting you may be the only variable in my life, but I cherish this variable. I despise women; I've witnessed the ugliness of women vying for favor in this world. I even feel nauseous at the smell of their cosmetics. But you are an exception, the only exception. I used to think marriage was merely a tool to be used in the struggle for power, and that I couldn't escape this fate. So I felt that love and dislike didn't matter. But since meeting you, I've suddenly developed an obsession I shouldn't have. I want to be with you, no matter where we are, no matter how ordinary or poor we are, as long as I can see you every day, be with you, from sunrise to sunset, and from sunset to sunrise." He grasped Hua Wuduo's hand tightly, so tightly it might hurt her, gazing at her with an unprecedented intensity, and asked in a deep voice, "Is this too much to ask?"
Looking at Gongzi Xiu at this moment, Hua Wuduo's heart was in a daze. She felt a strange pain and reluctance in her heart. She didn't know if it was the heat of the wine or the gaze of Gongzi Xiu. Hua Wuduo felt her blood rushing to her head and an indescribable heat filling her chest. She shook her slightly dizzy head and held his hand tightly, saying, "Wuduo is willing to accompany Xiu to the ends of the earth!"
Young Master Xiu pulled her into his arms tightly.
His gaze burned intensely, instantly burning away all the coldness, cruelty, and sorrow that had just been there.
Gongzi Xiu held her on his lap and in his arms, and the wine jar that was originally in the way was now placed aside.
The moonlight, like water, fell gently and tenderly upon the two of them.
He had never embraced anyone like this in his entire life. An overwhelming surge of love welled up within him; even her every breath brought him immense happiness. He wondered, was this love? If this was it, he would gladly give up his former status, his position, everything he had, to possess her at all costs. Even though it meant betraying his mother and sister's expectations, even though the future was uncertain and fraught with obstacles, he would have no regrets as long as she was by his side. This was the path he had chosen. He held her tightly, savoring this moment of real and profound possession. But then, he suddenly heard her whisper in his arms, "Why did you choose to jump into the river back then?"
Just as Gongzi Xiu was about to ask her what she was saying, he looked down and saw that she was leaning against his chest with her eyes closed, seemingly asleep.
The moonlight shone on her eyelids, gently and delicately depicting her beauty. He gazed at her intently, as if time would stand still for him until the end of his life. His gaze moved to her lips, and he lowered his head and slowly leaned down. When their soft lips touched, his whole body trembled. An emotion burst forth in an instant, rushing to the top of his head like a stampede of horses. Overwhelmed by passion, he kissed her.
The drowsy Hua Wuduo suddenly opened her eyes because of the kiss, pushed Gongzi Xiu away in surprise, and covered her mouth, saying, "Why did you bite me?!"
Upon hearing this, Gongzi Xiu blushed and stammered, but in the blink of an eye, he hugged Hua Wuduo tightly again and kissed her without hesitation. Hua Wuduo was startled, and her mind began to spin as their lips met. When Gongzi Xiu released her, his nose touching hers, Hua Wuduo felt her cheeks burning. Her gaze was unfocused as she looked at Gongzi Xiu so close to her, and she mumbled incoherently, "Why is my heart beating so fast?"
Young Master Xiu, whose heart was pounding like a drum, suddenly opened his eyes and saw her in his arms, who was even more confused than he was. A glint flashed in his eyes, and he lowered his head to kiss her again.
Let's make it faster!
When Gongzi Xiu opened a little space and looked down at her, she also secretly raised her eyes to look at him. In the moonlight, his gaze was full of affection, and his breath was on her cheek. She saw his lips, and for a moment she was dazed. Suddenly she covered her face, pushed Gongzi Xiu away, and ran into the house.
Gongzi Xiu took two steps after her but stopped, a soft, warm smile playing on his lips. Only today did he realize that she did have feelings for him, she truly did…
The next day, the sun was already high in the sky when Hua Wuduo got up. After washing up, she was about to go out to find Gongzi Xiu when she remembered last night and stopped in her tracks.
As she hesitated, she saw a familiar figure standing outside the door. Even in her dazed state, thinking of last night, seeing his shadow now made her feel hot and incredibly embarrassed. Just then, she heard the young master Xiu say from outside the door, "You're up?"
"Ah!" Hua Wuduo responded with a somewhat surprised tone.
The young master outside the door said again, "Then I'll come in."
"Huh?" Hua Wuduo was a little taken aback. But then he saw that the door had been opened, and Hua Wuduo suddenly turned around, not daring to look at him.
She sensed him closing the door and walking towards her. With each step he took, her heart pounded uncontrollably. Even when he stood beside her, gazing at her, she still didn't have the courage to look up at him. He smiled and gently asked, "What's wrong?"
She could clearly smell his approaching scent, and feeling somewhat flustered, Hua Wudu hurriedly said, "No, it's nothing."
Young Master Xiu asked softly again, "Are you blushing?"
"No, no." She hated herself for stuttering. She knew that she was wearing a mask and that he wouldn't be able to tell even if she blushed, but she still had the illusion that he could see through her.
He chuckled and said, "Really not?"
"Really!" The moment her gaze fell upon him, her eyes involuntarily followed his lips, and as she stared, her vision began to blur. But the next moment, she was startled to find him biting her again, just like last night, and her heart was pounding so fast she could almost hear it.
She didn't dislike being bitten; in fact, she almost... liked it...
Bamboo Forest Cottage
The weather is getting colder and colder. In the past few days, Gongzi Xiu has made it clear that from now on he wants to give up his original identity and status and travel the world with her to live the life of a wandering knight. With Hua Wuduo's disguise skills, this wish is not difficult for them.
Hua Wuduo was filled with mixed feelings of joy and worry. She was happy that Gongzi Xiu was so sincere and willing to give up everything for her. She was worried because her concealment of her identity had put him in a difficult position. Whenever she saw him gazing into the distance, frowning in thought, she desperately wanted to tell him, but the words wouldn't come out. If he knew her identity, would he take her back to the capital? Thinking of the many rules and complicated environment of the Liu family, Hua Wuduo felt a sense of fear.
She yearned for a life of carefree wandering and adventure, but revealing her identity would shatter that dream. Hesitant, she decided to keep it to herself for now. "Enjoy life while you can," she thought, comforting herself with the thought that being with Gongzi Xiu was all that mattered.
They both agreed that the bamboo forest was a great place to settle down, with its beautiful mountains and clear waters, pleasant climate, and undisturbed environment. They decided to first learn how to build a house and then return to the bamboo forest to build their little home. Sweetly planning their bright future, they began preparing the necessary supplies to take back to the bamboo forest.
This was the first time in his life that Gongzi Xiu had accompanied a woman shopping, and he soon realized that it was truly a chore. But seeing her happy made him feel content, and he continued shopping with her, visiting almost every shop in the entire city of Luzhou, without uttering a single complaint. Later, when Hua Wuduo complained that she couldn't walk anymore and her legs were so sore, he disregarded the stares of passersby and carried her on his back in public.
They visited another shop, but Hua Wuduo didn't buy anything. The shopkeeper complained behind them, "I thought he was a rich guy, but he's just a poor wretch."
When had Young Master Xiu ever been treated with such humiliation? Upon hearing this, his gaze turned cold and he was about to turn away, but Hua Wuduo grabbed him: "When you're traveling the world, you have to see and endure all kinds of people's true colors. You're no longer the noble young master you used to be. You're someone who will share joys and sorrows with Wuduo."
Young Master Xiu lowered his gaze and did not look back at the shopkeeper.
Hua Wuduo continued, "That's how the world is. When you're high and mighty, all you see are fawning and flattering faces. When you lose your original status, you have to learn to endure. Xiu, I know this is difficult for you, but I can do it, and so can you."
Hua Wuduo's last words were about his identity, but the lost-in-thought Gongzi Xiu didn't realize it. Gongzi Xiu ultimately suppressed his anger, took Hua Wuduo's hand, and walked away.
The two got tired from walking, so they went into a tavern and ordered some food and drinks.
As the two were eating, they heard someone say, "Last night, the daughter of Scholar Zhang from the east end of the city was defiled and her body was dumped in the wilderness. Alas, what kind of world is this?"
Another person said, "Alas, the world is in chaos now. Officials and merchants collude, bandits run rampant, and all kinds of exorbitant taxes are suffocating us ordinary people. Alas, life is getting harder and harder to bear."
The man sighed and said, "This was most likely done by those bandits in the east of the city. Alas, poor Zhang Xiucai's daughter was only sixteen. She was filial and lovely. Recently, her mother fell ill, so she went to the riverbank in the east of the city to wash clothes for her family. But she never expected to be targeted by bandits. She lost her chastity and her life. I heard that her death was extremely tragic. Alas... how pitiful."
Originally, it was just idle gossip, but to Gongzi Xiu's surprise, the next day, Hua Wuduo actually decided to go to the east of the city to wash clothes. He even patted Gongzi Xiu on the shoulder and said to him, "You're lucky. Let me wash your dirty clothes. Don't be shy."
Upon hearing this, Young Master Xiu was both amused and exasperated. He didn't have any dirty clothes at all; he had given them all to poor people on the roadside. The clothes he was wearing now were new, and although they were simple cloth garments, they were still clean and tidy. But in order to fulfill Hua Wuduo's wish to wash his clothes, he secretly took off the clothes he was wearing and brazenly said that they were dirty so he could give them to her to wash.
Looking back at Hua Wuduo, she was nowhere near as meticulous as him; the bundle of dirty clothes she collected was overflowing. No wonder she wanted to wash clothes, but why did she have to go to the east side of the city…?
“We might not encounter any thieves who want to harm us in one day, so let’s do it in two days, or three if that doesn’t work. It doesn’t matter if we have a lot of dirty clothes, we have nothing else to do anyway, so we can wash them slowly.” Gongzi Xiu heard Hua Wuduo’s mutterings from outside the door. Hua Wuduo had just left the house when he followed him out.
Having never seen a woman wash clothes before, let alone Hua Wuduo, Gongzi Xiu hid in a tree and watched her squatting by the river, wielding a washing stick and pounding the clothes hard. He had a feeling that the clothes would be smashed to pieces by her, and unconsciously, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly. He suddenly felt that it was such a happy thing for her to wash his clothes, and even the way she washed clothes was extremely beautiful.
Hua Wuduo quickly finished washing one garment, wrung it out, and temporarily hung it on a nearby tree. He then began washing another garment, but no one else was seen. It seemed that a murder had occurred here, and those who used to come to wash clothes were now too afraid to return.
Seeing that she had finished washing the other garment and was about to hang it up, a cow suddenly appeared out of the bushes. It was clearly not a domesticated cow; its strong body had a slightly wild quality. But somehow, it bit the clothes that Hua Wuduo had hung on the tree branch earlier.
Upon seeing this, Hua Wuduo hurriedly shouted, "Oh dear, Xiu!"
Upon hearing the sudden exclamation, Gongzi Xiu almost thought she had discovered him. He straightened up in surprise and then realized that she was tightly gripping the other side of the clothes in the cow's mouth, trying to pull the clothes out. Only then did he realize that she was calling for the clothes.