Night Song - Chapter 53
Many years later, seeing the old gate and walls again, I was almost speechless.
Xie Qinglan quietly stood to her side and took the initiative to leap up and knock on the door.
"Open the door, Third Brother is back." A clear voice echoed in front of the deep mansion.
After only a couple of knocks, the vermilion gate swung open with a resounding boom, and servants and guards lined up neatly on both sides to welcome the returning traveler. A delicate and beautiful woman stood gracefully surrounded by maids and servants, her eyes glistening with tears as she gazed at her long-separated son.
"mother……………"
Trembling hands touched his shoulders and arms, as if confirming the reality before him. Xie Yunshu's eyes also reddened, and he knelt down in the dust.
“Yunshu is unfilial and has caused his mother worry.”
The woman hugged him and wept bitterly, in disbelief as if in a dream, while Qinglan whispered words of comfort to her from the side.
Xie Quheng looked heartbroken, Song Yushang watched with pity, and Bai Fengge stood by with tears in her eyes.
After crying for a long time, and with the help of her maids and relatives, Madam Xie finally stopped crying. She held his hand and wouldn't let go. After talking for a long time, she grew tired and then Xie Yunshu withdrew.
Qinglan seemed to have come to her senses, and after several days of silence, she reverted to her playful and mischievous nature. "Third Brother came back today. I heard that Mother didn't sleep well all night, but now she can finally rest easy."
Where is Dad?
"I'll wait for you in the study. My elder brother went to report on the trip first." The boy suddenly sighed, his face contorted in a bitter expression. "Father's punishment for me is exactly the same as what my third brother decided. No wonder he always says that my third brother understands Father best."
Seeing his younger brother's dejected face, he couldn't help but chuckle. "You didn't complain?"
"I deserve it." Qinglan sighed sullenly. "I'm lucky it didn't cause a major disaster. Father scolded me terribly."
"You'll calm down in a few days," he comforted gently.
"I'm about to go to the execution hall to receive twenty strokes of the cane. I probably won't be able to get out of bed for half a month. Third Brother, you must remember to come and see me." Thinking of the pain of being tortured, he grinned with a look of utter misery, and his hand unconsciously went to touch his back.
Xie Yunshu wanted to say something but swallowed it back, and took out a medicine bottle from his pocket and handed it to him.
"This wound medicine is quite effective at relieving pain. Have someone apply it for you; it will help you heal faster."
Xie Qinglan blinked gratefully, "Thank you, Third Brother. I thought you were ignoring me." She wiped her eyes and pretended to cry, which made Xie Yunshu both annoyed and amused.
"When will I ignore you?"
"It's all my fault that Miss Ye got hurt. You cherish her so much, I bet you're very angry with me." He said, observing his brother's expression. "Although I don't particularly like her, she does have the power to be arrogant. She's a bit strange, but Third Brother's choice is probably right. Just consider her a quirky sister-in-law. Even if others say Third Brother is a pedophile, I'll..." Seeing Xie Yunshu's expression, he immediately stopped talking and ran far away.
"I'm not going to say anything more... Third Brother, please don't blame me for talking nonsense. Father is waiting for you in the study."
Watching my younger brother's retreating figure, I unexpectedly discovered a fact.
This kid... his light-footed skills are pretty good.
The room was elegantly furnished, with a zither and a writing desk, as if ready for someone to sketch the beautiful scenery outside the window at any moment. Compared to Tianshan, the lotus flowers in Xiachuyuan were more abundant and much softer. It lacked the emptiness and coldness of the main hall and had more of a charming and graceful atmosphere.
The lotus pond in the water palace always felt out of place, unlike the magnificent and unrestrained display before me, blooming without end.
As night deepened, the gauze lanterns on the long bridge were lit, their reflections in the pond like shimmering pearls. The daytime heat dissipated, and she dismissed her maids, letting her long hair fall loosely as she played in the water outside the corridor. Occasionally, small fish would mistake her jade-like feet for lotus roots, playfully nibbling at them.
Staring blankly at the large pink and white flowers, having left the Tianshan Mountains, the days were so idle they felt listless, no wonder the four wings wouldn't stay still. After more than ten years of scheming and careful planning, suddenly entering a misty, watery town, being pampered and cared for like a child, was extremely difficult to adapt to.
Yangzhou... I ended up here by some twist of fate, and I keep thinking about things I shouldn't be thinking about. It's best to leave as soon as possible.
After all this stumbling and entanglement, it's time for it to come to an end.
Where to go next?
Should we go to Nanyue to see the homeland that our mother longed for before she died?
My hometown, which I've never set foot in and which is now just scorched earth, doesn't really pique my interest.
Not knowing how much longer it would take, she didn't care how she spent it. She subconsciously bit her nails, planning her next destination.
At the other end of the long bridge, the man gazed silently, his handsome face not clearly visible in the night.
"What are you thinking about?" With a gentle voice, he sat down beside her. The third watch gong had just sounded outside the wall.
"Nothing." She lazily brushed a stray strand of hair aside, her expression unchanging. "What are you doing here so late?"
“I’m quite busy during the day.” Ignoring her coldness, he opened the paper package he had brought. “Try these, the jadeite shumai and silver thread rolls are considered Yangzhou specialties.”
She picked up the still-warm pastry and took a bite absentmindedly.
"Made in the Xie family kitchen? The craftsmanship is quite good."
Seeing her take a bite, he leaned in and nibbled at her slender, white neck as well. Jia Ye flinched, nearly dropping what she was holding.
"Stop it." She scolded him in a low voice, embarrassed and annoyed. He avoided her elbow and put his arm around her slender shoulder.
“Gaye”.
"Um."
"Why won't you come back with me?"
"There's no need." The body in her arms stiffened, she put down the pastries, and her voice hardened.
Is it disdain, or unwillingness?
"Guess whatever you want."
"Are you afraid of trouble?" After a moment of silence, he tightened his embrace on the struggling person.
"Aren't you afraid?" she retorted irritably.
"I'm not afraid."
Her firm and composed answer was like a promise, and she turned her head away as if she hadn't heard it.
You don't believe me?
"I'm only saying this now because the trouble hasn't happened yet. Who knows what the situation will be like then?" She sneered. "Don't be too sure of anything."
“You’re always like this.” He sighed softly, frustrated and powerless.
What I think is none of your business.
"You really don't understand?" He looked into her eyes. They were clear and distinct, as innocent as spring snow, yet as ruthless as a deep, dark pool.
"I advise you to save your energy and not waste your time on me." She lowered her eyelashes, revealing the mystery for the first time.
"Why."
"It's not worth it."
Three casually uttered words easily stirred emotions. "Explain yourself more clearly."
"We know each other better than anyone else. There's not a trace of emotion in his words; his indifference sends a chill down your spine. Once we leave the Tianshan Mountains, we are clearly separated; we should never have been mixed up together."
"You really think so?" The deep voice was filled with anger.
She broke free from his grasp and stood up. "You're a good person, but unfortunately, I'm not the kind of woman for you. Right now, it's just because of a momentary infatuation after years of being together, or..." Ignoring the increasing pressure on her wrist, she gave a mocking smile. "After being driven by me for so many years, I'm planning to completely conquer you and have my way with you."
"No matter what the intention is, continuing this entanglement will not benefit either party, and you know that in your heart."
The anger in his chest swelled higher and higher, and just as he was about to utter even more heartless words, he grabbed her tightly and kissed her deeply, silencing all the words that were about to stir up his anger.
Why won't you let go?
Knowing full well the countless troubles and the many hidden worries of the future, they still don't want to let go.
He went to great lengths to hold back the person who was about to turn away at any moment, willing to bear the blame of his father and brothers, and the burden of his family's reputation, all to keep the unpredictable beauty in his arms.
But she simply withdrew.
She pushed him away time and again, rejecting his advances with cold words, relentlessly pushing him back to the life he had seven years ago. Everyone else was against it, but he alone remained stubborn in this chaos, much like a pointless act of willfulness.
He could hardly contain his hatred.
Perhaps overwhelmed by anger, she gave up trying to push him away and let him hold her tightly.
As the stars shifted westward, he gently placed her on the jade mat, then lay down himself, his arms wrapped around her slender waist. Neither of them spoke.
A waning moon was reflected on the shrimp-whisker curtain, its hazy pale yellow hue resembling a tear about to fall.
As dawn broke, he released his arms, gazed at the gently closed eyes for a long while, and then went out.
She quietly opened her eyes.
She turned over, her slender white fingertips tracing the still-warm mat.
She bit her lip silently.
Invite
As usual, the most famous Zuixianlou restaurant in Yangzhou was packed with guests.
The third floor, however, was quiet and peaceful, with only a few distinguished guests seated there.
Several huge ice buckets emanated a chill, easily dispelling the summer heat. Chilled fruits and snacks were arranged on plates, moist and fresh, making them even more tempting on a summer day.
The four wings watched the street scene and commented on it. Bai Fengge and her maid leaned against the balustrade and teased the parrot. Xie Quheng accompanied them. Song Yushang gently waved his folding fan and chatted idly.
"Where did the boss go to pick up the master? He hasn't arrived yet." Blue Owl couldn't contain his impatience.
"It should be soon," Mo Yao estimated the time.
"Why didn't she come with us to the Xie family?" Bi Jun asked, finally voicing the question that had been nagging at him for so long.
“Who can guess what she’s thinking? She’s getting weirder and weirder.” Blue Owl shrugged. “At least before, there were some clues to follow…”
"You think it's strange? I think she's more like a normal person now," Mo Yao retorted. "Not like before, completely devoid of humanity."
"That makes sense... Has she ever been normal?" Yin Hu stroked his chin, deep in thought.
The four wings looked at each other, all shaking their heads in sympathy.
"Are you talking about Miss Ye? Why are you all afraid of her? She used to be very fierce to you." Unwilling to accept her half-baked understanding, Song Yushang joined the gossip.
“Not fierce,” the blue owl honestly provided the answer.
"Cruel methods?" Song Yushang persisted.
"It's alright," Mo Yao said, denying it.
"Does she have something on you?"