Luzhou Moon

Chapter 46

Yue Ruzheng rested her arm on a book on the side of the table, propped her chin on her hand, and looked at the plum blossom painting again and again before saying, "There are just too few flowers; they're all shy and unwilling to bloom."

Tang Yanchu nodded, a smile playing in her eyes, and said, "Ruzheng, you're truly an expert."

Yue Ruzheng realized he was being sarcastic, so she suddenly pounced on his shoulder, pinning him to the table, and said, "Are you making fun of me? I don't have the patience to learn calligraphy and painting, unlike you, who's so carefree."

"When have I ever had a moment's peace?" He strained his waist, trying to straighten his upper body. Yue Ruzheng, however, clung to his shoulders and refused to let go, muttering, "Little Tang, now you dare to mock me, don't you? It seems you're not as honest as you seem..."

"Okay, okay, I'll listen to you." He turned his head and looked at Yue Ruzheng. Yue Ruzheng looked into his dark, bright eyes, in which she saw her own small reflection. Her heart softened, so much so. She gently leaned in and pressed her cheek against his, hugging his neck, and said, "Little Tang, I'm in your eyes."

He smiled, his eyes sparkling like lake water and starlight, and pressed his forehead against hers, saying, "I also live in your eyes."

Yue Ruzheng pulled up his sleeve, placed it against her chest, and said, "You still live in my heart."

Tang Yanchu smiled slightly, her lips pursed. Her smile was serene and gentle, like a spring breeze that had turned the Jiangnan region green and awakened the seedlings.

That spring night, like his smile, was gentle and warm, yet subtle and profound.

"When was this painted? I've never seen it before," Yue Ruzheng said, stroking the ink plum blossom with her fingertips.

Tang Yanchu paused for a moment, then said calmly, "After you left last time."

Yue Ruzheng paused, then leaned against his chest and said, "Little Tang, did you paint plum blossoms because you missed me so much?"

Tang Yanchu did not answer, but smiled and gazed at the plum branch in the painting for a long time.

"Then this painting is for me," Yue Ruzheng said softly, her eyes warm. "Paint some more plum blossoms for me to see."

Tang Yanchu listened to her and picked up his pen again, examining the painting. He added a few slightly blooming flowers to the branches. Yue Ruzheng was beside him, using scissors to flicker the candlelight, making the light shine brightly. As he painted, he turned his head to look at her. Yue Ruzheng deliberately put on a stern face and told him to be more serious. He smiled, then lowered his head and continued painting.

After he finished painting, Yue Ruzheng was about to clean up his brush and ink. Tang Yanchu shook his head, picked up a different brush, dipped it in ink, and began to paint in the blank space on the right side of the scroll.

His eyes were clear and focused, and his brush moved swiftly, producing elegant and flowing calligraphy on the paper. Yue Ruzheng rested her elbows on the book, watching quietly as he inscribed a poem, "Jiang Mei Yin," by the Daoist Baishi.

Parting in this world is often fleeting. Seeing the plum blossoms, I am suddenly filled with longing. How many times have we dreamt of holding hands by the small window? Tonight, I cannot find them in my dreams, so I wander aimlessly. The cold seeps into my quilt, but I am unaware.

The ink, damp with sorrow, barely covers the seal. The zither lies empty, no geese fly. A carefree wanderer strolls through the alleys, finding only ancient trees bathed in the slanting sunlight. The old promise of a small boat, the heart's desires now gone! The song of "Ode to the Spring Grasses of Huainan" ends, and the grasses grow lush and green again. A wandering traveler, tears soaking his clothes.

Yue Ruzheng silently recited it in her mind. Seeing that Tang Yanchu had finished writing, she propped her cheeks up and said, "Little Tang, why did you write such a sad poem?"

Tang Yanchu bent down, put the pen aside, looked up at her, and said, "It's nothing, I just like Jiang Kui's poems. Don't you think they're good?"

Yue Ruzheng nestled beside him, smiling brightly, and said, "I only know that what you like must be good." She pointed to the poem and added, "Look, these words contain both our names."

She was referring to the line, "The zither is empty, no geese fly." Tang Yanchu smiled faintly, then looked at "After the song of the Spring Grass of Huainan," and said, "He once loved a woman from Huainan, but they could not stay together for life, and in the end, they drifted apart to the ends of the earth. Those two words, 'Huainan,' became the pain of his entire life."

Yue Ruzheng was stunned. Her innermost thoughts were touched. She frowned tightly and said dejectedly, "Xiao Tang, could you please erase this poem?"

Tang Yanchu paused, then asked, "Why? Don't you like it?"

Yue Ruzheng bit her lower lip and said, "Isn't Luzhou the same as Huainan? I feel this is very unlucky..."

Tang Yanchu turned her head slightly and said softly, "Ruzheng, don't overthink it."

Yue Ruzheng lowered her eyes, her heart filled with mixed emotions. Tang Yanchu saw that she was silent and couldn't help but feel down. Looking at the ink plum blossom painting, he suddenly said, "Since you really don't like it, I'll throw it away." After saying that, he bent down to bite the scroll.

"Don't throw it!" Yue Ruzheng hugged him, looking into his eyes with fear and anxiety, and whispered, "Little Tang, Little Tang, I like him very much, I'm just a little scared..."

"I'm not afraid." His eyes were clear, his tone resolute. "Ruzheng, do you really believe in fate?"

Yue Ruzheng was silent for a moment, then gently touched his shoulder and said, "I don't believe you."

A satisfied smile gradually appeared in Tang Yanchu's eyes, as if she had obtained a priceless treasure.

Tang Yanchu originally intended to put the ink plum blossom painting away, but Yue Ruzheng hung the scroll on the wall beside her bed. She said that this way, the plum blossoms could keep her company as she fell asleep at night.

The pear blossoms before the bamboo fence had faded; the once snow-white and elegant flowers were now only left with a faint fragrance, drifting away in the evening breeze. Yue Ruzheng gazed at the verdant branches and leaves, suddenly realizing how quickly time was passing.

The plans she had made when she came were gradually coming to fruition. Yue Ruzheng felt her breathing become heavy, and her thoughts drifted far away.

Tang Yanchu returned carrying a bamboo basket and saw Ruzheng standing alone under the tree, lost in thought. She walked up behind her and asked, "Ruzheng, what are you thinking about?"

Yue Ruzheng was startled and quickly turned around, forcing a smile as she said, "It's nothing, I just feel sorry that all the pear blossoms on this tree have faded."

Tang Yanchu looked up at the pear tree and said, "Flowers blooming and withering are normal occurrences. It's almost May now, so the pear blossoms will naturally fall."

Yue Ruzheng silently walked away and sat on a stool by the well. Tang Yanchu followed her, somewhat surprised, and squatted down to ask, "What's wrong with you now?"

Yue Ruzheng lowered her head and after a moment said, "Little Tang, are you going back to Seven Star Island soon?"

Tang Yanchu seemed taken aback by the question, paused for a moment, and then said helplessly, "How did you know?"

"I heard your older sister say before that the island lord's birthday banquet is in May." She never dared to look at him, her eyes always lowered as she stared at the ground.

Tang Yanchu replied in a low voice, "Yes. I promised him last time."

"Was it that night I tried to sneak back to Luzhou?" Yue Ruzheng whispered. "You rushed back to Seven Star Island overnight?"

Tang Yanchu shook her head and said, "I didn't go back. There are people from Seven Star Island guarding the area down the mountain. I just went down to ask them to tell Lian Haichao."

"Right in this small town?" Yue Ruzheng was very surprised. She didn't expect that there would be people from Seven Star Island in this seemingly ordinary small town.

Tang Yanchu smiled faintly, but there was a hint of disdain in his smile: "No, they live near the sea. Even if you saw them, you'd just think they were ordinary fishermen. The waters around here are under the jurisdiction of Seven Star Island, and fishermen need their permission to go out to sea." He glanced at Yue Ruzheng, noticing her slightly furrowed brows, and whispered, "Ruzheng, why did you ask about this?"

Yue Ruzheng bit her lower lip, slowly placed her hand on his shoulder, and asked, "Xiao Tang, what kind of person is your father?"

Tang Yanchu's originally calm expression changed, and her eyes gradually turned icy.

"I just wanted to know..." Yue Ruzheng said hesitantly.