Eyes Charming

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Outside, the wind howled cold; inside, it was warm and cozy. The two embraced, their hearts intertwined, their love bound together...

On the border between Cangliao and Longxuan, a man and a horse galloped past like lightning. The man in brocade robes rode wildly through the night, his light red hair billowing in the wind, his clothes fluttering, so alluring and captivating. A wicked smile still lingered on his lips, and his red eyes were filled with ecstasy and deep anticipation as he stared ahead: there, his beloved awaited him.

In the imperial garden, where a hundred flowers bloom in vibrant colors, a handsome man whose beauty would make heaven and earth envious sits leisurely in the flower-viewing pavilion, admiring the beautiful scenery before him. Passing palace servants turn their heads to look, not at the flowers, but at the people. No matter how beautiful the scenery in the world is, it cannot compare to their gentle smiles.

However, the handsome man and beautiful woman who could make the world tremble seemed to be arguing about something.

“Qing’er, he is the Crown Prince of the country. How can you give him such a strange name? It will be a laughingstock to the whole world.” Zheng Xuan, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, frowned slightly, trying to persuade the 'dictatorial' Ao Xue. The Crown Prince had been born for almost half a year and still hadn’t been named. The new year was approaching, and at the New Year’s Day state banquet, the Crown Prince’s name would be announced to the whole world. Even foreign envoys would be in attendance. For the Crown Prince of the country to not even have a name was an insult to the nation and would undermine his authority as emperor in the future. But Qing’er refused to agree to the name he had chosen, and the name she had chosen herself was truly bizarre. After discussing it for so long, they were back to square one.

"Who dares to say my son's name is strange? Who dares to laugh at it? I don't care. In short, I don't want the name you gave him, it's so vulgar." Ao Xue slapped the table and raised her eyebrows, looking every bit the queen.

"You say it's not surprising? What's with all this Danny and Thomas? What kind of nonsense is this? It has no imposing presence at all, and besides, who has a three-character name?" Zhengxuan retorted with a stern and authoritative expression. He could go along with Qing'er's wishes in any way, but the title of Crown Prince was a matter of national importance and could not be acted upon rashly.

"Brother, Yuqing, what's with you two, the model couple of the nation, arguing?" A magnetic and pleasant voice rang out playfully between the two, who were on the verge of exchanging a sharp glance. They snorted and turned away, ignoring each other.

Upon seeing this scene, Jin Xuan and Ao Jun, who had come hand in hand, smiled at each other, then walked straight into the flower-viewing pavilion, sat down, and ignored the two who were sulking. Jin Xuan picked up a delicate pastry from the table and held it to Ao Jun's lips. Ao Jun understood and slightly opened her mouth to eat from his hand. At the same time, she reached out and picked up another pastry to feed Jin Xuan. The two of them ate the pastries that the other fed them, smiling happily as they ate, oblivious to everyone else, completely ignoring the two angry Buddhas beside them who had taken over their pastries.

These two were once the renowned, emotionless "Cold-Faced War God" and the aloof, unassuming top strategist—Young Master Mo Jun. They seemed like a loving couple, but who would have thought that the usually taciturn Prince Jin would make sarcastic remarks, or so tenderly feed someone snacks? Who would have thought that the composed Young Master Mo Jun would smile with the sweet happiness of a newlywed, eating the snacks fed to him with such tenderness…? But the undeniable truth before everyone was clear: lovers in the throes of passion completely change. (Which "Promotion" is this? Never heard of it…)

"Hey, have you two had enough?" Finally, the two who were sulking couldn't stand it anymore. They turned around angrily and vented all their pent-up anger on the two people who were oblivious to their surroundings. They shouted at the same time. Sweetie was already looking for a place to vent her anger, and these two were putting on a lovey-dovey show in front of them. This was not only adding fuel to the fire, but they were practically asking for trouble!

"No, come on, Jun, have another piece, ah..." Jin Xuan didn't even glance at the couple who were practically breathing fire. He still gazed intently at his beloved, picking up another pastry and speaking tenderly. Ao Jun sweetly parted her red lips and took a bite of the pastry Jin Xuan offered, ignoring the couple who were practically breathing fire.

"Jun, aren't the pastries delicious? Huh?" Ao Xue suddenly stopped her fiery expression and leaned against Ao Jun with a bright smile, her voice so gentle it seemed to drip with tenderness. However, her voice suddenly gave off a chilling feeling.

Ao Jun, who had a pastry in her mouth, heard someone's devilish voice and saw her radiant smile that sent chills down her spine. She swallowed hard, causing the pastry to get stuck in her throat. She was about to choke and coughed violently, her face turning bright red. Jin Xuan immediately became anxious and worried, patting her back and bringing her tea and water. It took a long time before she finally managed to swallow the damned pastry.

Once she caught her breath, Ao Jun glared at Ao Xue and said coldly, "You want to murder me?" She hadn't been killed, but she almost choked to death on a piece of pastry.

"Hehe... You can't blame me! You're just making a big fuss over nothing. Besides, who told you to be all lovey-dovey here while I was still angry?" Ao Xue retorted confidently, as if Ao Jun was the one who had done something wrong, not her. However, her playful expression revealed that she was actually feeling guilty!

"Hey, what are you so angry about? What could have caused you two, this model couple, to argue so fiercely?" Ao Jun asked helplessly. If she kept going, even if it wasn't her fault, it would become her fault.

"Hmph, it's all because of the name you gave your nephew! That brat Xuan always insists on giving him such a common name, while the ones I chose are so much better! They're all names of famous Westerners!" Aoxue glanced at Zhengxuan and snorted, then proudly raised her face when she mentioned her own name.

"The West? My God! No matter how nice the name sounds, we can't use names like that!" Ao Jun shook his head, rubbing his head. This isn't the 21st century, but the ancient Longxuan Dynasty. If we use a name that sounds like the West, my brother-in-law would be crazy to agree to it!

"Then tell me what name we should choose. In short, I will never agree to any of the names Xiao Xuanzi suggested, even if you beat me to death." Ao Xue also backed down. Even Jun said so, so are those names really that strange?

"Hmph, I've been telling you for so long and you wouldn't listen, but you listen as soon as she does. Who is your husband anyway?" Zhengxuan muttered sourly when he saw that Aoxue had softened her attitude because of Aojun's words.

"You mean massage?" Aoxue asked, glancing sideways at Zhengxuan with a dark expression. Actually, she had heard what he said, but what was there to be jealous about? She always liked to be jealous of Jun.

"It's nothing. I just wanted to say that since Jindi and Jun are both here, why don't we name the Crown Prince together?" Zhengxuan quickly denied it and changed the subject.

"Okay, let me think about it. How about Ouyang... Ouyang Xiu? How about Ouyang Xiu?" Jinxuan pretended to think, lowered his head and thought for a moment before speaking, his face full of excitement, as if he was very interested in the matter of choosing a name.

“Ouyang Xiu, cultivate oneself, regulate one’s family, govern the country and bring peace to the world, good, Ouyang Xiu, this name is good…” Zheng Xuan clapped his hands excitedly upon hearing this, it was clear that he was very satisfied with the name.

"No way." Just as the two brothers were thinking the name was good, Ao Jun and Ao Xue, their faces full of black lines, firmly objected. Ouyang Xiu, wasn't that one of the Eight Great Masters of the Song Dynasty? Although he was a famous person, the thought of their sons and nephews being named Ouyang Xiu felt like calling that ancient Song Dynasty figure.

Zhengxuan and the other looked at the two people who were so strongly opposed to the name they thought was good with strange expressions: they were not surprised that Qing'er would object, but why was Lian Jun also so strongly opposed? Was there something wrong with this name?

“Then let’s choose another one! How about Ouyang Feng?” Jin Xuan thought for a moment and then said. When he saw Ao Jun object, he immediately rejected the first name and agreed to choose another name.

Zheng Xuan was about to agree to the name, thinking it was also good, when the two women's faces darkened to a level comparable to Bao Gong's (a famous judge in Chinese history). They slammed their fists on the table and roared, "This name is unacceptable! Absolutely unacceptable..."

Ouyang Feng? I'd rather be the Western Poison! This Jin Xuan really knows how to pick names. It's always Ouyang Xiu or Ouyang Feng. I'm starting to wonder if he's a time traveler himself, always coming up with these kinds of names. Even Ouyang Feng came to mind! They definitely don't want their adorable baby to actually become Ouyang Feng someday. Hmph, Ouyang Feng? Why not Ouyang Ke? Really…

They were just thinking about Zhengxuan. Although Jinxuan was taken aback by their overreaction, he still felt that since they didn't like it, they should choose another one. After thinking for a while, Zhengxuan suddenly looked up and said, "How about we name him Ouyang Ke?"

With two loud thuds, Ao Jun and Ao Xue simultaneously rolled their eyes back and collapsed to the ground. Good heavens! These two brothers are truly something else! How can they be so interested in the characters from Jin Yong's novels?! Do they really want to marry Ouyang Ke?!

"Even if you like the name, you don't need to get so worked up!" Seeing the two collapse, the Ouyang brothers rushed over to help them up, their tone slightly reproachful. The two, who were about to get up, rolled their eyes again upon hearing this and collapsed once more… It wasn't that they liked it, they were just so angry they were about to die…

Kyoto Chapter 69: The State Banquet

A man in brocade robes stood before the Crown Prince's tutor's gate, his red eyes, hidden beneath a bamboo hat, gleaming with a faint smile and barely suppressed excitement: This is her residence? The intelligence was indeed correct; she really has become the Crown Prince's tutor, and she really dares to enter the court as an official?

Hehe... Her behavior is truly unpredictable, repeatedly shocking him. This time, it's his turn to shock her! I wonder what her expression will be when she sees him? I'm really looking forward to it! Haha...

"Is there something you need?" The gatekeeper of the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor's residence noticed the man in the straw hat staring intently at the gate plaque and politely approached to ask. This was the residence's rule: one must be polite and courteous, never look down on others, and treat everyone equally.

"I am an old friend of the Grand Tutor of the city, and I have come to pay a visit. Please announce my arrival." The man bowed slightly and smiled, his tone exuding an undeniable air of dominance and nobility, revealing his extraordinary status. He was only so polite to her. A smirk played on her lips beneath her bamboo hat: Heh… even her servant is different from others, so courteous and polite, like a well-read scholar.

"I'm so sorry, my master has not yet returned from the palace. Since you are an old friend of my master, please wait in the main hall, okay? I will inform my master as soon as he returns."

"No need, I'll visit again another day." The man smiled, seemingly indifferent, and before the servant could reply, he turned and left with a graceful and dashing air. His red eyes gleamed with a deep smile: My lord, I will give you a meeting you will never forget.

The servant stared blankly at the mysterious man as he walked away. Though he couldn't see the man's true face, his every gesture revealed him to be an exceptionally handsome man, a rare beauty in the world. Despite his best efforts to conceal it, his innate kingly aura and inviolable noble bearing were still clearly evident. This royal dominance, like that of the current emperor, made him seem unapproachable. Yet, he possessed an aura of malevolence that neither the emperor nor the man possessed—yes, malevolence…

The sound of hooves brought the servant back from his reverie. Turning around, he saw his master's carriage and quickly climbed in, respectfully calling out, "Master, you're back?"

The sound was clearly heard by the man in the straw hat who hadn't gone far. His heart skipped a beat, and he turned around abruptly, his fists clenched, his red eyes shining with excitement as he stared straight into the unpretentious carriage: Was she in that carriage? The person he had been longing for was in that carriage. He had thought he would never see her today, but unexpectedly, fate was still kind to him.

He had just taken a step when he suddenly stopped. His fist, which was already clenched, tightened even more, and drops of blood flowed down his slender hand. His surprised red eyes instantly turned even redder, flashing with a bloodthirsty light. His wickedly smiling lips were tightly pursed, as if he wanted to bite them until they bled, but his heart was truly bleeding.

The red eyes stared directly at Jin Xuan, who stepped down from the carriage first. Bathed in sunlight, his resolute, handsome face softened with a happy smile. He extended a perfectly slender hand, and simultaneously, a delicate, white hand reached out from the carriage and rested on Jin Xuan's. The equally perfect hand seemed to fit him perfectly. Following that delicate hand, Ao Jun emerged from the carriage with a faint smile, facing the sunlight. Her gaze met Jin Xuan's dark eyes, and they looked back at each other with equal intensity. They smiled at each other, a smile so radiant, so full of happiness, so unabashedly expressing their deep love for one another…

"Your Highness, Your Excellency, you're back!" The servant respectfully stepped forward to greet them. He lowered his head slightly, not daring to look at the two equally dazzling figures, afraid of being lost in thought again.

"Yes, Jun, let's go in!" Jinxuan nodded, naturally took Aojun's hand, and said gently. Seeing the few strands of hair hanging down Aojun's forehead, he reached out and gently stroked them.

"Mmm." Jin Xuan's affectionate gesture made Ao Jun blush slightly, making her look even more radiant and beautiful. She lowered her head slightly and responded softly, her expression so gentle it seemed to drip water.

Watching the two figures, so intimately entwined, the man in the straw hat turned and punched the wall beside him. Blood slowly trickled down the wall, reflecting in his heart: Why? Why did you break your promise? Why? You promised to wait for me, you promised not to accept anyone else before I came to find you? What do you mean by doing this now? Ling Aojun, why did you betray our 'oath'? I'm not convinced! Do you know how much I've suffered for you? You don't know, you know nothing? Ling Aojun, I won't let you get away with this. This time, no matter what, I won't be soft-hearted again. You wait, we'll meet again soon…

Though his departing figure stood tall, his back was undeniably strong, yet his desolation, loneliness, and deep sorrow were palpable. His heavy footsteps conveyed the pain in his heart, and the blood on the wall beside him continued to flow.