Kiyomi Tsuki and His Fox - Chapter 143
Bai Yiting smiled elegantly, "Young Master Jianyue has become even more handsome and charming. Lord of the Fortress is truly blessed. I have heard that your and Young Master Jianyue's happy day is just around the corner."
Kiyomi Tsuki stood there like a puppet.
Lu Qingcheng glanced at him, then changed the subject with a smile, easily returning to the main topic. While they were discussing serious matters, Qing Jianyue slipped out of the study. Feeling depressed, he didn't return to the courtyard but went to the back garden, found a place to sit in the pavilion, and began to daydream.
Suddenly, the white fox swept into the pavilion like a gust of wind, leaped into his arms, and began affectionately licking his face. Qing Jian Yue quickly picked it up and placed it on his lap, gently stroking its soft, snow-white fur. The white fox lay on his thigh, comfortably squinting its golden eyes, but only for a moment before suddenly widening them, rising abruptly, its fur bristling, and letting out a low growl.
The white rabbit appeared outside the pavilion, hands on her hips, and said angrily, "You damn fox, why do you yell at me the moment you see me? I like you so much, and you really hurt my feelings."
Kiyomi Tsuki hugged the white fox to her chest and tapped it on the head to quiet it down. Hearing its master's warning, the white fox naturally dared not cause any more trouble and quietly lay in its master's arms, though its eyes remained warily fixed on the white rabbit.
The white rabbit walked up to the pavilion and said with a grin, "Kiyomizuki, I heard you're finally going to change back into women's clothes and become a woman. Actually, I think you look quite handsome as a man."
Kiyomi Tsuki jumped up and put the white fox on the ground. "Are they out of their minds? Are you out of your mind too? I'm a man. What nonsense is this about changing back into women's clothes?"
The white rabbit opened its mouth wide like a fool.
Kiyomi Tsuki left without looking back, but the white fox did not follow its master. Instead, it wagged its large, snow-white tail and glared maliciously at the white rabbit, plotting how to deal with the rabbit that was always chasing it.
The white rabbit murmured, "Am I sick? Am I dreaming while I'm asleep?"
The New Year arrived, and so did the joyous occasion of He Zhiqiang and Zhao Yu's wedding. Thousands upon thousands of red lanterns within Lujiabao shone like a celestial galaxy. Amidst the deafening drums and booming cannons, He Zhiqiang, riding a tall horse adorned with red ribbons and beaming with happiness, circled the fortress once, finally bringing the bridal sedan chair to the gates of the Su residence. Grandma Cai and Yang Xueli helped Zhao Yu, veiled in a bright red veil and dressed in her wedding attire, into the sedan chair. Amidst the blessings of the crowd, the bridal sedan chair was carried away.
When the bridal sedan chair landed, the door was kicked first, a customary way to show respect. A red silk cloth was handed to Zhao Yu, and maids helped her out. The sudden explosion of firecrackers was deafening, almost making her jump up. She stepped over a burning brazier and entered the hall, where she was surrounded by flattering and sycophantic sounds.
"What a perfect couple!"
"What a perfect match!"
Amidst the emcee's shrill shouts, the couple first bowed to Heaven and Earth, then to their parents. Since the parents were unavailable, Su Haibo and his wife stepped in. Finally, the couple bowed to each other. As the sound of them being led into the bridal chamber rose, the crowd cheered and clapped.
Following the wedding was a lavish banquet, both to celebrate He Zhiqiang and Miss Zhao Yu's marriage and to welcome the New Year. That evening, the banquet hall was brightly lit with red candles, filled with lively chatter and laughter. The banquet featured delicacies from land and sea, fine wines and delicacies, and beautiful women playing the flute. For a time, the melodious flute music lingered, and dancers swayed gracefully in their flowing robes. Amidst this beautiful occasion and delightful celebration, some remained sullen.
Lu Qingcheng would occasionally put down his golden cup, brimming with fine wine, his melancholy gaze frequently drifting towards Qing Jianyue. His actions naturally attracted everyone's attention, and their eyes also frequently strayed towards Qing Jianyue. Tonight, Qing Jianyue was unusually quiet, unlike his usual cheerful self. How could such abnormality not arouse suspicion?
Xu Yun lowered her head and whispered in Madam Lu's ear, "Madam, they look so strange?"
Madam Lu put down her jade chopsticks and snorted, "That's perfectly normal."
Xu Yun suddenly realized, "This servant understands. With Qing Jianyue's personality, it might not be difficult to make someone like him wear women's clothes, but to expect him to act like a lady of high society, with all his words and actions being dignified and polite, and to be restricted by so many rules, he would suffocate within a few days. He would definitely not be able to endure it, and at that time, even the Lord of the Fortress would probably be helpless. So the Old Madam had already foreseen this outcome?"
Madam Lu said, "It's not that simple."
As for how complicated it was, Old Madam Lu didn't elaborate. Xu Yun lowered her head, carefully pondering the meaning behind Old Madam Lu's words.
Li Anguo was never comfortable in such settings. After a few sips of wine, he left the living room and went to explore the garden. Crossing the bridge and through the hall, he arrived at the backyard, where a dozen plum trees were in full bloom, their fragrance pure and elegant, brimming with the spirit of spring. He admired them with his hands behind his back, strolling leisurely. Suddenly, he stepped on a red embroidered handkerchief. He bent down, picked it up, and brought it to his nose. A delicate fragrance of orchids filled his senses.
I don't know which woman dropped it here, but it probably didn't go far. I guess it's still hanging on the plum branch, waiting for its owner to come and find it.
He raised his hand and hung the embroidered handkerchief on the plum blossom branch. Suddenly, he heard a woman's surprised voice. He turned around and saw Zhou Yanhua gracefully running towards him. "It's Lord Li. Greetings!"
Li Anguo's face flushed instantly, and his tall and imposing figure stepped aside, saying, "Miss Zhou, may you have many blessings."
Zhou Yanhua didn't look at him, but stared at the embroidered handkerchief fluttering on the plum blossom branch. "Lord Li, thank you so much for finding my handkerchief. I wonder if you could take it down and return it to me? You put it too high, I can't reach it."
"Oh, okay, sorry, I didn't think of that."
Li Anguo, flustered and disorganized, lost all the masculine prowess he displayed in commanding thousands of troops and fighting the enemy before Zhou Yanhua.
Zhou Yanhua accepted the embroidered handkerchief he handed her, smiling sweetly and gracefully, exuding the elegance of a well-bred lady. "Thank you very much, Lord Li. You've really gone to a lot of trouble."
From afar came Yang Xueli's charming voice, "Yanhua, come quickly, there are still many plum blossoms over there, blooming beautifully in spring."
"They're here, they're here."
Zhou Yanhua wiped her mouth with her embroidered handkerchief, then casually stuffed it into her lapel, turned and hurriedly ran away. The handkerchief slipped off her lapel again and fluttered to the ground. She didn't notice at all, stepped over it with her embroidered shoes, and gracefully and swiftly chased after Yang Xueli and the others.
Li Anguo bent down to pick up the embroidered handkerchief, gazing affectionately at Zhou Yanhua's receding figure until she was completely out of sight, before letting out a soft sigh. Turning around, he was suddenly struck by the sight of Qing Jianyue standing under a blooming plum tree, cradling a white fox, watching him in the cold moonlight. The astonishment in his heart was beyond words.
"To see...to see Young Master Yue?"
"If you like her so much, why don't you tell her?" Kiyomi Tsuki asked.
Li Anguo remained silent, unable to utter a single word.
"If you love her so much, why don't you marry her and cherish her? What's the use of just watching her silently?" Qingjian Yue asked again.
Li Anguo shifted his body uncomfortably.
"I heard that someone has already come to the Cai family to propose marriage. There are two stunning beauties in the Cai family, one is Miss Cai Bijing, and the other is Miss Zhou Yanhua," Qing Jianyue said.
The veins on Li Anguo's forehead bulged immediately. "Who? Who proposed?"
Kiyomi Tsuki laughed and said, "I was just joking with you, but you took it seriously."
Li Anguo blushed crimson and complained, "Young Master Jianyue, how can you make such a joke?"
Qingjian Yue said seriously, "With Miss Zhou's family background, character, gentleness, and virtue, wouldn't she be eager to be liked by men? Does it mean that only you are allowed to like her, but others are not? Do you really think I'm joking? Maybe one day, my words will come true. If someone really comes to propose marriage and asks to marry Miss Zhou, what will you do?"
Li Anguo lowered his head, his eyes filled with sorrow.
The white fox let out a low growl of dissatisfaction, its beautiful, snow-white body wriggling in its master's arms. Qing Jianyue gently stroked it and said, "Farewell." As she turned to leave, she suddenly heard Li Anguo's voice calling, "Please, please wait a moment." Qing Jianyue stopped. Li Anguo quickly walked over, bowed respectfully, and said, "Young Master Jianyue, please wait a moment."
The white fox suddenly cried out. Qingjian Yue stroked its beautiful head and scolded, "Be quiet for a moment. Brother Anguo, please speak. My fox only cares about the delicacies in the banquet hall. If I weren't its master, it would have already rushed to the fragrant embrace of the beauties." The master's rebuke made the white fox shrink back in shame and mumble obediently.
Li Anguo smiled.
Kiyomi Tsuki asked, "You look very sad. Why is that?"