Since we are already engaged and intend to spend our lives together, we should be honest with each other. Otherwise, if he finds out, he might think I have other feelings for Yunzhou, which could easily lead to misunderstandings. I am a simple and straightforward person, and I most hope that my husband and I can be honest with each other.
So, after dinner, when I got back to my room, I told Jiang Chen the truth.
"Jiang Chen, Yun Zhou invited me to meet at Yaoyue Tower, saying he has something important to discuss. I came to tell you."
Jiang Chen stared straight at me with a strange expression.
I paused, then asked in a low voice, "What, you don't want to?"
He didn't say anything, but suddenly he wrapped his arm around me and held me tightly in his embrace. Could it be that he was really jealous?
Just as I was about to argue, I heard him say quietly, "Xiao Mo, only now do you truly have me in your heart."
My face flushed. Why did I suddenly start feeling sentimental again for no reason?
I nudged his chest. "If you're worried, just wait for me downstairs."
He said with a grin, "Go ahead. I'm at ease, more at ease than ever before."
"You don't mind?"
"Whether you mind if I mind or not means you...hehe, of course I don't mind, you just go ahead."
He spoke in a rather convoluted way, but I roughly understood what he meant. "Okay, I'll be right back."
He pecked me on the cheek, his voice sweet as honey: "My dear wife, I am so pleased with what you've done."
I felt both amused and embarrassed, but when I left the room, I felt completely calm. This is the kind of couple I long for: honest with each other and supporting one another through thick and thin. I don't know if he can do it, but regardless, I'll strive to do it myself first.
The Inviting Moon Pavilion was located by the west wall of Guiyun Manor. Jiang Chen had mentioned it before; when his father was home, he and his mother often enjoyed the moon and wine upstairs. After his father disappeared, Madam Qi lost all interest in going there alone. Gradually, the Inviting Moon Pavilion became deserted and abandoned by the lake. Jiang Chen, however, would sometimes return in the summer and sleep there. The lake water was calm and still, and the small pavilion stood by the lake, with a cool breeze blowing through it, making it very pleasant.
When the time came, I took my purse and left through the west gate of Guiyun Manor. After walking about twenty steps, I arrived at Yaoyue Tower. Two lanterns hung at the entrance, and two old servants sat chatting idly with their hands clasped behind their backs. When they saw me, they stood up and bowed.
Little Hebao and I stepped through the moon gate. Although lanterns were hanging inside, the small building had been uninhabited for a long time and was devoid of life. At this moment, it seemed quiet and still, with the cold moon silent.
Xiao Hebao looked around and said, "Miss, it seems that Young Master Yun hasn't arrived yet. I'll wait at the entrance. You should go upstairs first. It's windy by the lake, so be careful not to catch a cold."
I replied "okay," then walked to the east side of the corridor, stepped onto the wooden stairs, and climbed up the small building.
At the end of the wooden stairs, a bright moon hung in the sky, its cool light, like silver and water, covering the ground. I stepped onto the last step, and a casual glance up startled me.
On the carved nanmu wood balustrade under the eaves, a person was leaning against something. The person wore a white veil, her figure graceful, leaning there languidly. The lamplight fell on her shoulders and body, creating a hazy, veiled effect. It was Yu Muxi!
She seemed surprised by my arrival and stood up. "Miss Yun, it's you?"
I was astonished. "Sect Leader Yu, what are you doing here?"
Her tone was gentle and serene. "Someone invited me here, but I waited for a long time and ended up meeting Miss Yun instead. How strange."
I was even more puzzled and asked curiously, "Who invited Master Yu?"
Yu Muxi shook her head. "I don't know. They only sent me a letter."
Yunzhou invited me here, what a coincidence! Someone else also invited Yu Muxi here? This Yaoyue Tower is owned by Guiyun Manor. Although Madam Qi doesn't manage it much, she still keeps two servants to guard the gate and clean, so outsiders can't easily enter. Yu Muxi just came in, and the old servant at the door let her in without even asking? Although I'm puzzled, it would be a bit abrupt to ask, because I'm not Jiang Chen's wife yet, and it's not appropriate for me to inquire about Yaoyue Tower. Besides, Yu Muxi saved me once, so I'm even more embarrassed to ask her how she got in.
Yu Muxi pointed to the chaise lounge and gestured for her to sit down. “Miss Yun, since the person who invited me isn’t here and we’ve run into each other, why don’t you sit down and talk to me for a while?”
I smiled and took two steps forward. "Okay."
I sat down next to her. She had a faint fragrance that wafted to my nose on the night breeze, and it was incredibly refreshing.
She smiled, her eyes crinkling. "Tonight, I'm not some sect leader, just a young lady a few years older than you, and I'd like to have a private chat with you. Miss Yun, I felt an instant connection with you the moment I saw you. Although the Yuanshan Sect is full of young women, they respect my status, and I rarely have anyone I can confide in."
Her tone was somewhat sad, revealing the shyness and grievances of a young girl. Instantly, she shed her usual dignified and strict demeanor as the sect leader, becoming exceptionally kind, gentle, and amiable.
I was naturally very touched that she trusted me so much and wanted to confide in me, so I said with utmost sincerity, "Sister Yu, please feel free to tell me anything, and I will definitely keep it a secret for you."
She sighed: "You know what? I've liked someone since I was very young. And he liked me too."
"Hmm, and then what?"
"One day, he suddenly told me he was engaged. I had loved him for many years and waited for him for many years. Hearing this news broke my heart. He said he was engaged out of necessity, wanting to reclaim something that belonged to his family. He also said that he would leave her once he got it. Of course, I believed him. I even foolishly asked someone to go and get the things back so he wouldn't have to marry that person. In my heart, I only hoped he would marry me."
She spoke slowly, her voice low and plaintive, which immediately stirred my sympathy. In this world, it is truly heartbreaking and regrettable that lovers cannot be together.
"So what does your sister plan to do?"
She remained silent for a long time, then sighed softly. I felt even more conflicted and sympathetic towards her, wishing I could take her burdens and solve her problems.
"Tell me, sister, if I can help you."
She looked at me gratefully and gently patted the back of my hand.
The movement was extremely natural, but as soon as her palm touched the back of my hand, I felt a sharp pain on the back of my hand, and instantly my arm went numb!
In a moment of shock, she raised her hand and struck my pressure point, rendering me speechless. I never dreamed that she would take advantage of my momentary lapse in attention and plunge a hidden weapon into a vein on the back of my hand! All of this happened in the blink of an eye, when I was least prepared.
My body went limp and I leaned against her. She barely managed to catch me. "Yunmo," she said, "actually, it was me who invited you, not Yunzhou. I used his name for two reasons: first, I thought you would definitely come if he invited you; second, you wouldn't tell Jiang Chen if you came to meet him in secret."
So shocked and surprised that I seemed to freeze in my tracks, staring blankly at her.
"I know you have many questions." She raised her finger and gently lifted the veil. The moonlight was clear, and a lantern under the eaves cast a dim glow. The moment the white veil was lifted, I was so stunned by her beauty that I couldn't speak. I stared at her blankly, as if I were looking at myself!
I never dreamed that she would look so much like me, like twin sisters!
I was stunned for a long time, a strange feeling spreading through my heart. Why did she ask me out, and why did she use Yunzhou's name? And why wouldn't she let Jiang Chen know where I was? A series of questions made me inexplicably uneasy, and a frightening guess began to stir, like a small seedling breaking through the soil and growing in the wind.
She smiled at me, her eyes gentle and calm, like a bottomless pool. Her smiling gaze only amplified my unease and tension. I felt that her smile carried an eerie meaning, like ripples spreading through my heart, gradually forming a whirlpool.