Вдовствующая императрица Сяосюань

Глава 63

As soon as Ru Feng saw them, she smiled and said, "Brother Jue, Brother Xuan." With Yu Chi Huaiyang watching from the side, Ru Feng still addressed them politely and respectfully.

Yu Jue's eyes lit up, and he dismounted with a dashing leap. He then walked over and greeted Yu Chi Huaiyang before patting Ru Feng on the shoulder and saying with delight, "Ru Feng, it's been a long time! You've grown taller."

Yu Xuan slowly dismounted, and upon hearing this, rolled his eyes imperceptibly: "Still so short!"

Ru Feng glared angrily. She really wasn't going to grow any taller, but Yu Xuan shouldn't have said it outright. Yu Jue was so good at handling people; his first words made Ru Feng's heart flutter with joy.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries with the others, Yu Jue and Yu Xuan said, "Then Ru Feng will take care of things for you these next few days. I'm too old to get involved."

Ru Feng hurriedly responded and led Yu Jue and Yu Xuan to the guest room that had been prepared in advance. Although it was called a guest room, the furnishings in the room were actually quite nice, as Yu Chi Huaiyang had specially prepared it.

As soon as Yu Xuan saw the bed, he lay down and said lazily, "Shorty, pour me some tea. I'm tired. Sigh, I couldn't wait. I rushed here to see you as soon as possible. We're a day early."

Yu Jue glared at Yu Xuan, then looked at Ru Feng and said gently, "Ignore him. Ru Feng, I heard you were injured. How is your wound now?"

Ru Feng muttered to himself, "Why does it seem like everyone knows I'm injured?" But he still replied aloud, "I'm all better now. I was completely healed by the New Year. It's nothing."

"Where are you hurt?" Yu Jue asked with concern, his eyes scanning Ru Feng's surroundings.

Ru Feng chuckled and remained silent. Of course, she wouldn't tell anyone where she was injured; she'd be too embarrassed.

Yu Xuan exclaimed from the side, "It must be an injury in an embarrassing place, otherwise he would have shown it to you to make you feel sorry for him."

Ru Feng glared at Yu Xuan: "If you don't speak, no one will think you're mute."

Yu Xuan snorted: "I'm going to say it anyway, I'll say it. Yu Chi Ru Feng, have you missed us these days? Or have you already forgotten about us while you're having fun?" Yu Xuan's words were loaded with meaning.

Ru Feng made a face and looked at Yu Jue, saying, "Hmph, I don't miss you at all. I miss Brother Jue, though." She then gave a fawning smile.

Yu Jue smiled slightly, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

"Oh, so how come we heard that you got involved with some unclean things with another man not long after you came back?" Yu Xuan said in one breath without pausing.

Ru Feng curled his lip: "You've heard a lot of things, and your mouth is really foul; you can say anything. And you even slandered me."

Just as Yu Xuan was about to retort, there was a soft knock at the door. Ru Feng raised an eyebrow. Who would come at this hour?

"Come in!" Ru Feng glanced at Yu Jue and Yu Xuan before responding, and the latter immediately sat up, no longer as casual as before.

Entering was Yu Chi Ruxue, carrying a pot of steaming tea. She wore a pink dress with a white jacket over it, and a shy smile on her face. She looked radiant and beautiful, completely different from her usual elegant and graceful demeanor, clearly having dressed up carefully.

Ru Xue glanced into the room, then immediately lowered her head and stammered, "They...they were all busy. I just happened to be passing by and brought it over."

"Oh." Ru Feng responded without suspicion, but turned to look at Yu Jue and Yu Xuan and said, "Come, sister, let me introduce you to two people, but you probably already know them."

Ru Xue nodded, a blush appearing on her face, but she still raised her head and curtsied to Yu Jue and Yu Xuan, smiling gently.

Yujue and Yuxuan simply nodded politely.

Ru Feng sensed something was off about the atmosphere and was about to stir things up when Ru Xue left.

Ru Feng closed the door and patted his head in bewilderment.

Yu Xuan lay back down on the bed and laughed, "Shorty, I didn't know you had such a beautiful older sister. Compared to her, you can only be a servant."

Ru Feng smiled and suddenly pounced on him, sneering, "Alright, I'll show you the strength of my little servant right now!" With that, the two started arguing. Yu Jue, standing to the side, poured himself a cup of tea, shook his head helplessly, but seeing the scene before him, a gentle smile appeared on his face.

That evening, a sumptuous welcome dinner was enjoyed by everyone, and the atmosphere was extremely harmonious.

The next day was the Lantern Festival. Ru Feng, Yu Jue, and Yu Xuan made plans to go out for fun that evening. Ru Feng had never been out to see lanterns in the past seventeen years, while Yu Jue and Yu Xuan wanted to join in the fun. After discussing it at the mansion, Lin Yi Lan and Yu Chi Song also decided to go, and even Ru Xue, who rarely went out, expressed her desire to go.

Ru Feng once read a poem by Xin Qiji: "The east wind releases a thousand trees of flowers at night, and blows down stars like rain. The garden is filled with the fragrance of precious horses and carved carriages. The wind whistles, the light of the pot turns, and a fish and dragon dance. Moths, willows, and golden threads, laughter and fragrance linger. I searched for him a thousand times in the crowd, and suddenly I turned around, and there he was, in the dim light."

In modern times, the Lantern Festival is not as lively as it used to be, and many traditions have almost disappeared. So when he came here, Ru Feng decided that he must experience the atmosphere of the Lantern Festival firsthand, especially the phrase "precious horses and carved carriages fill the garden with fragrance." It was obvious that there would be many beautiful young ladies and gentlemen that night, so Ru Feng had to go and see.

Sure enough, it was only afternoon, and everyone had already started getting ready, waiting to go out and explore after dark. Nightlife was quite limited in ancient times, so everyone was very excited.

Volume 1, Chapter 70: An Encounter

After everyone got dressed, they gathered outside the door. Looking at everyone's refreshed appearance, Ru Feng laughed and said, "I think we're all going to have a lot of romantic encounters tonight."

"All you ever think about are inappropriate things." Yu Jue tapped Ru Feng's head.

Ru Feng shook his head and sighed, "You have many wives and concubines in your families, so you don't know the bitterness of being all alone. It's something I don't like to have anyone to warm my bed at night."

"It's so easy for you, Yu Chi Rufeng, to get someone to warm your bed. You just have to shout on the street, and a whole bunch of people will come, men and women alike, for you to choose from," Yu Xuan sneered.

Ru Feng looked at Yu Jue and Yu Xuan and said, "But they can't compare to the beautiful ladies in your families."

Yu Jue said awkwardly, "Neither my mistress nor I are married yet."

Ru Feng pursed her lips and glanced at Ru Xue, who was dressed in a pink dress, seemingly unintentionally. At that moment, Ru Xue was secretly glancing at Yu Jue.

"But even if you don't have wives, you have concubines or something. Alas, I, a mere maidservant, haven't even had one for a day." Her voice was trembling with emotion, on the verge of tears.

Yujue and Yuxuan kept quiet, but Yuxuan touched his nose and said, "If Rufeng is jealous, just say so. Also, Rufeng, if you were a woman, I would only want you, and I wouldn't want any others."

Ru Feng asked in surprise, "Does this count as a confession?"

Yu Xuan patted Ru Feng on the shoulder and smiled, "It's a pity you're not a woman, so... hmph." The implication was obvious.

Ru Feng rolled her eyes at him, and was about to say something when she was interrupted.

"It's time to go!" Lin Yilan and Yuchi Song came out, both wearing bright red winter clothes and looking cheerful.

The crowd responded and joined the shopping spree.

Today is the Lantern Festival, and there is no curfew, so although it's evening, the streets are adorned with lanterns everywhere, and tall lantern wheels, lantern towers, and lantern trees have been erected, making the entire area brightly lit. The streets are bustling with people, one after another, creating a lively and festive atmosphere. This truly reflects the poem's lines, "Like stars falling from the Milky Way, like the moon hanging above the towers," demonstrating the vibrant spirit of the Lantern Festival.