Болезненный юноша, путешествующий во времена династии Сун

Глава 59

"Forget it, I can finish all that wine myself. You can sleep upstairs. I'm going back to sleep too." Mo Xibei felt his cheeks burning. He turned around, pushed Mu Feinan away, and flung open the unlocked door, rushing into the secluded path in the back courtyard.

As before, after the excitement subsided, everyone in the inner courtyard had returned to their rooms. Apart from the night watchmen, some who enjoyed the lively atmosphere gathered together with tea, melon seeds, and candy to chat and play cards; others who preferred quiet stayed in their rooms lost in thought. The courtyard was long deserted.

Mo Xibei ran all the way back to her room, only to regret it as she closed the door. What was wrong with her today? She hadn't been drinking, yet she acted as impulsively as if she had. Just as she was blaming Mu Feinan for being so hateful, she noticed that the candles in the room had been lit one by one. In the soft light, the person standing there had long since shed the fatigue and dejection she had shown when she returned in the afternoon. She hadn't noticed it while eating, but now she realized that the slightly pink brocade robe she wore, illuminated by the candlelight, made her skin appear even whiter than jade, her eyebrows like distant mountains shrouded in green, and her eyes sparkling like shooting stars.

“You have a lifetime to look at me to your heart’s content,” Mu Feinan chuckled, put down the tinderbox, took a few steps over, and covered Mo Xibei’s eyes. “It’s late at night and I’m very chaste. If you keep looking at me like this, I suspect that your little hands will reach out from your eyes and tear my clothes off.”

"Is that so?" Mo Xibei asked softly, pulling off Mu Feinan's hand that was covering his eyes. He stood on tiptoe and reached out to wrap his arms around Mu Feinan's neck. "Since you're so afraid that I'll molest you, you still dare to come to my door in the middle of the night?"

Mu Feinan didn't move. Mo Xibei usually disliked dressing as a woman and never wore makeup. However, at this moment, they were so close that he caught a whiff of a subtle fragrance, unlike the agarwood scent Mo Xibei usually wore; instead, it had a delicate plum blossom fragrance. His hand couldn't help but reach for Mo Xibei's waist, and he lowered his head, wanting to touch those smiling lips so close to his. But just as he closed his eyes slightly, his hand felt empty. When he looked again, Mo Xibei was already standing a few steps away, shaking his head and smiling, "Do you want to drink, or go back to the private room to sleep?"

"I don't want to drink or go back to sleep right now," Mu Feinan said angrily. "I just made an important decision."

"What decision?" Mo Xibei had already brought out a large wine jar weighing forty pounds, placed it heavily on the table, and turned to look for vessels for pouring and holding the wine. Hearing Mu Feinan speak so solemnly, he asked casually.

"In my next life, I'll definitely find a wife who doesn't know martial arts," Mu Feinan said, his tone laced with a hint of gritted teeth.

"You can find someone who doesn't know martial arts in your next life, why do you need the next life after that?" Mo Xibei laughed, thinking that men really can't be joked with, once you start teasing them, their brains get all muddled.

"Doesn't the book say that fate is predetermined for three lifetimes? If we live through this life, there will be the next life and the life after that. If I want to marry another woman, wouldn't I have to wait until the life after that?" Mu Feinan said, sounding aggrieved, but his voice was low and tender.

Mo Xibei was stunned for a while. She gripped the two rhinoceros horn cups she had just found tightly in her palm. The intricate carvings on the rhinoceros horn made her palm ache slightly. "Destined for three lifetimes," she suddenly thought with a bittersweet feeling. She was, after all, a wandering soul from the future. Three lifetimes—what was this one all about? It was all a mess.

"What's wrong?" Mu Feinan noticed that Mo Xibei had been standing in front of her cabinet containing various wine utensils for a long time without moving, so she walked over with a bit of annoyance.

"Oh, it's nothing. I was just looking for a wine glass that would be suitable for drinking this aged Zhuangyuan Hong." Mo Xibei took a deep breath. She was so easily moved today, which was really strange. Maybe it was because of the New Year that people tend to become more vulnerable.

"You're holding two rhinoceros horn cups, these are fine, why are you still choosing?" Mu Feinan pulled Mo Xibei's hand, took the two rhinoceros horn cups, and secretly glanced at Mo Xibei's expression before asking, "Are you too moved to stand here and cry by yourself?"

"Has anyone told you that you're talking a lot of nonsense today? I think you'd better not drink anymore, because you're already drunk enough." Mo Xibei closed the cabinet door and shoved Mu Feinan with a laugh.

"Don't you believe that a person's fate can last for three lifetimes?" Mu Feinan put down the rhinoceros horn cup and, unusually seriously, pulled Mo Xibei back.

"No one knows what will happen tomorrow, let alone after several lifetimes." Mo Xibei gently nestled into Mu Feinan's arms, his fingers tightly gripping Mu Feinan's clothes.

“Tomorrow, I will naturally stay here with you to watch the first rays of the New Year’s sun, Northwest. This time, I made a special trip to Hangzhou and saw the Three Lives Stone. Before I met you, I didn’t believe in fate, but now I do. It turns out that some people really do know, with just one glance, without even saying a word, that she is the one they have been searching for all these years. You don’t know, I sat quietly by the Three Lives Stone for an hour, and suddenly I understood why countless devout men and women have come to pray before this stone all these years. Fate is truly predetermined. So I know that we will not only have this life, but also the next life, and the life after that.” Mu Feinan gently embraced Mo Northwest. “Northwest, let’s go in the spring. When we have time in the spring, I will take you to Hangzhou, and we will go to see the Three Lives Stone together.”

Volume Two: The Wind Leaves a Trace, Chapter Fifteen: The Shocking Change on the Lantern Festival (Part 1)

After a long while, Mu Feinan did not hear Mo Xibei's reply. He was slightly disappointed. He looked down at the person in his arms and saw that Mo Xibei's fingers were tightly gripping his clothes, his eyes were closed, and his breathing was even. He had actually fallen asleep in his arms.

"You can fall asleep like this?" Mu Feinan smiled wryly and gently pulled Mo Xibei out of his embrace. However, Mo Xibei's hands gripped his clothes too tightly, so he had no choice but to half-carry and half-support her and put her on the bed, then lay down next to her himself.

These past few days, Mu Feinan had traveled thousands of miles, experiencing dangers he had never encountered before. On his way back, his biggest thought was how to tell Mo Xibei about his journey. He had thought about how to tell her, what expression and actions to use when recounting each event, countless times. However, unexpectedly, when he actually saw Mo Xibei, he felt that not a single word was necessary. Just seeing her, just being able to hold her, everything else was in the past and didn't need to be mentioned.

Her gaze lingered on Mo Xibei's face until she finally couldn't stay awake any longer and fell into a deep sleep.

The next day, neither of them saw the first rays of sunlight on the morning of the first day of the lunar new year. It wasn't that they were particularly fond of sleeping in, but rather that a north wind had started blowing in the latter half of the night, and snow had fallen heavily. The sky was overcast in the morning, and when they looked out through the green curtains, it was always a dim, half-lit scene. They hesitated and slept for a while, until they were awakened by footsteps outside. When they got up and checked the water clock, they found that it was already the hour of Chen (7-9 AM).

"Why are you sleeping in my bed?" Mo Xibei asked as soon as he opened his eyes.

"And you said you could fall asleep standing up, and even in your sleep you wouldn't forget to hold onto my clothes tightly?" Mu Feinan stretched his arms comfortably. His eyes were full of laughter, and his expression was extremely smug.

"Then you should have woken me up instead of taking the opportunity to sleep here." Mo Xibei kicked him. Mu Feinan was lying down, but his body seemed to sense it beforehand. The moment Mo Xibei's foot touched his clothes, he saw Mu Feinan roll over and jump down.

"It's not the first time, what's there to be shy about?" Mu Fei blinked as he dodged Mo Xibei's kick. He said innocently to Mo Xibei, "We've been married for so long, I can understand that you're getting older and feeling down, but hitting someone is wrong."

"It's wrong to hit someone, but the problem is, I didn't even lay a hand on him." Mo Xibei smiled and nodded, then, taking advantage of Mu Feinan's inattention, raised his leg and kicked him again.

“It would be even worse to use your feet,” Mu Feinan said, hooking his hand to grab another jar of Zhuangyuanhong wine that was placed nearby, holding it in front of him as a shield. This wine was quite valuable. Mo Xibei quickly withdrew his attack, thankful that he hadn't used his full strength. He had saved this eighty-year-old vintage.

"Young Master Mo, get up, the New Year's visitors are here." The two were joking around inside. Suddenly, a series of footsteps came from outside, and a moment later, Honglu was knocking on the door.

"No need to knock anymore. My wallet has been pounding all morning, warning me that you're coming and telling me to hide." Mo Xibei gave Mu Feinan a look that said he would let her off the hook for now. He put on his boots, still wearing the same clothes he wore last night. Although they were a bit wrinkled from sleeping on them, Honglu had seen them even more wrinkled than this, so he couldn't guess what they looked like. He walked over, unlatched the door, and opened the door.

"Wishing you prosperity and a red envelope!" Honglu said in the local dialect that Mo Xibei had taught her during their first Chinese New Year together.

"I've never missed out on giving you a red envelope in a year," Mo Xibei said with a smile, handing over a large purse.

"Huh?" Honglu took the red envelope, took two steps back, then turned around, looked Mo Xibei up and down, and said, "Young Master Mo, why are you still wearing yesterday's clothes? Did you drink too much last night?" Without waiting for Mo Xibei's reply, she forcefully squeezed past him into the room and immediately saw Mu Feinan sitting at the table, drinking tea and rinsing his mouth. "What are you doing here?"

“Miss Honglv, why can’t I be here?” Mu Feinan put down his teacup and asked seriously.

"Men and women shouldn't touch each other, of course you shouldn't be here so early in the morning?" Honglu's eyes widened, then she noticed that Mu Feinan's clothes were also from yesterday, and there were two wine jars in Mo Xibei's room. "Did you drink together yesterday?"

"No, I didn't get to drink it." Mo Xibei shook his head.

"So, when are you planning to get married?" Honglu's thoughts automatically wandered to other things when she heard Mo Xibei's answer.

"I haven't thought about it."

"The sooner the better."

Mo Xibei and Mu Feinan gave different answers.

"What a lively morning! Sister Mo, I wish you long life and eternal youth!" A moment later, Murong Lianyun arrived in the courtyard. She looked to be in excellent spirits today, her vibrant energy returning as it had when they first met. Her words preceded her arrival. Of course, upon reaching the door and seeing Honglu glaring angrily at Mu Feinan, she immediately sensed something. However, though a shadow crossed her eyes, it was only for a moment; her face remained serene and gentle. "Sister Honglu, you've come early to wish us a Happy New Year. I wonder if your red envelope is bigger than others'?"

"You arrived very early, so your red envelope is naturally no less than others'." Mo Xibei took this opportunity to change the subject and quickly handed over a red envelope. The group had only been standing there for a short while when people from all over the mansion came to pay their respects for the New Year, and they had to kowtow and say some auspicious words.

During the first month of the lunar calendar, business at Chunfeng Ruyi Restaurant was relatively slow. This is because the New Year is all about family reunion and visiting relatives and friends. Usually, the guests served here are either rich or noble. At this time, they are busy receiving or giving gifts at home and have no free time. They can only steal a moment to come over for a drink and a chat.

The young emperor did not come incognito again, and Mo Xibei's mood relaxed. This day was the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

The Lantern Festival is the most elegant day in the first month of the lunar calendar. There are lantern displays on the streets, and the most important thing at these displays is guessing lantern riddles. On this day, men and women from both wealthy and ordinary families can go out to enjoy the lanterns and guess the riddles.

As soon as it got dark, the young girls in Chunfeng Ruyi Tower and the inner quarters couldn't stay still. They pushed Honglu out and asked Mo Xibei if they could go out for a stroll. As soon as Mo Xibei nodded, they all rushed back to wash and tidy themselves up, and then went out in groups of three or five.

"These girls in your household are strange. They're all so excited just going out. Anyone who didn't know better would think you mistreat them." Mu Feinan walked over and saw several girls chattering away, then running off with smiles on their faces.