Девять песен - Глава 10
All the words she desperately wanted to confide in someone stuck in her throat, and then transformed into a heart full of tenderness.
The girl who always appeared before her in the most impossible places and in the most bizarre way was now lying on her bed, sleeping like a log, with drool dripping from the corner of her mouth.
She stood amusedly by the bed, studying the carefree girl with a keen eye. She noticed her slightly upturned lips and gently fluttering eyelashes, and slowly, a sense of bewilderment crept in. Where did this girl come from? Why did she possess such boundless energy, living such a joyful and vibrant life? Even in her sleep, her face seemed to carry a sweet smile.
She was woken up by the girl in the middle of the night. She opened her eyes blankly and looked at the girl, who looked bewildered and was clutching her stomach, completely confused.
"I'm hungry," the girl declared. Then, she explained nervously, "I'm really starving. I've been looking for food for ages, but I haven't found anything." The girl's bright eyes blinked slightly, a sly glint in them, letting her know that the girl was doing it on purpose.
She sat up on the soft couch by the window, reached up and touched her face; it was covered in tear stains. Had she had another nightmare?
The girl looked around with a grin, seemingly oblivious to her actions. "Wow, Ziru, I only found out today that the top courtesans in brothels get such good treatment! It's such a waste, I've been sleeping on the streets for days! No way, I want to stay in a room like yours, Ziru. Tomorrow I'll become the top courtesan too! But you have to let me win the competition, okay? Don't let me fail! Hehe."
Zi Ru couldn't help but laugh out loud. "If you were to compete, I'm afraid I'd be the one who fails."
This girl, aside from being sweet-talking at the beginning when she was trying to get on my good side, refused to call me "sister" anymore and kept calling me "Zi Ru," trying to trick me into calling her "sister."
The girl's smug smile vanished in an instant, replaced by a pained expression. She was dragged down by the girl, feigning anger. "Ziru, are you still smiling? I'm starving! Let's go, let's go! Everything else is secondary; eating is the most important thing!"
With a smile, Zi Ru obediently followed her into the hall. For the first time in her life, she was secretly led by the maid to the kitchen, where she retrieved the snacks specially prepared for Mama Rong for the next day. She then slipped back, and for the first time in her life, she ate until she was stuffed. For the first time in her life, she opened her heart to someone who was still a complete stranger, chatting casually. As they chatted, the maid dragged her onto the bed, where they snuggled together warmly under the covers.
It really feels so warm.
After her mother passed away when she was five years old, she never felt warmth again, and never felt so close to anyone again.
She was vaguely enveloped and embraced by the maid, listening to the maid's incessant chatter in her ear. For some reason, she suddenly felt a sense of comfort and peace.
Gradually, she fell asleep.
When I woke up again, the room was filled with morning light. The room was empty; the little girl was nowhere to be found. Everything from yesterday felt like a beautiful dream I had been longing for.
"It was just a dream..."
Zi Ru murmured, a feeling she couldn't quite describe welling up inside her. She closed her eyes, suddenly feeling utterly exhausted.
Ring ring ring﹏﹏ Ring ring﹏﹏
Suddenly, the clear sound of wind chimes rang out. Zi Ru trembled slightly and abruptly opened her eyes.
The carved window, which she habitually kept closed, was wide open, and a cool breeze blew freely and happily from outside, causing the wind chimes to spin and leap lightly, and a series of arrhythmic melodies drifted in the wind.
A smile gradually appeared, then blossomed fully.
That girl's uniquely cheerful and playful voice rang out again in my ears, "Stop teasing Ziru, who said the sound of wind chimes is the urging of fate? In my opinion, the wind is light and agile, free and unrestrained, and is the happiest. The sound of wind chimes is just the song of the wind, a sound of joy and freedom."
She added, "All external circumstances arise from the mind. When the mind is at ease and joyful, everything seen will bring joy. A day is a day, whether you're happy or frowning, so little Ziru, you need to be happy!"
Zi Ru thought of this and couldn't help but feel both annoyed and amused. After the anger and laughter subsided, a thoughtful expression appeared on her face.
Is it true that our environment is a reflection of our mind? Why is it that when I listen to the wind chimes again, I can indeed hear the wind singing happily?
Chapter 26 The Brothel is Strange
The study of the Minister's residence.
Behind the large table sat a man with a calm and collected smile, elegantly raising his chin and glancing at the group of secret agents kneeling on the ground.
There are still no results.
Lin Ye stood beside Mo Yu, his intense resentment and anger, brewing and escalating after several days of repeated setbacks, now showing signs of exploding. His face was ashen as he glared at his subordinates who had come to report the situation. His expression seemed to suggest that he wished he could gouge holes in them with his gaze.
"Never mind, you can all go now." Mo Yu smiled faintly.
"Yes!" The subordinates, as if granted a pardon, fled like the wind, not even bothering to wipe the cold sweat from their faces.
Mo Yu chuckled softly as he looked at his subordinates.
"Young Master, are you still laughing?" Lin Ye said angrily, "That damned woman has been missing for days, and we've laid such a tight net, yet we still haven't caught her. This woman's abilities are truly remarkable. Aren't you worried that she might be hiding in the shadows causing trouble? In a few days, it will be the day that the princess of Dawei Kingdom comes to marry the emperor. What if she's a spy from another country and causes some trouble? You are the Minister of War, and you can't escape responsibility. The Emperor will definitely blame you."
Mo Yu shook his head and said with a smile, "She's not a spy."
"How did you know, young master?"
"Her eyes, those eyes of a girl with such clear clarity, couldn't possibly be someone who lives in the shadows."
Lin Ye fell silent, clearly agreeing with his master's words.
"Young Master, what should we do now?" Should they catch that girl or not? If the young master simply tells them to let her go, he doesn't know if he'll fly into a rage. Just thinking about the aphrodisiac on the street and the exposure incident that day makes him lose all reason; the humiliation he's never experienced before... ahhhhhh!
"That girl, we must find her." Mo Yu's voice was calm, the corners of his lips slightly upturned. He recalled the two of them gazing at each other across the bustling and silent street. She stood gracefully, her beauty captivating, her clear and pure phoenix eyes filled with the fragrance of a hundred flowers.
He still can't believe that she dared to bite him.
but,
—That certainly seems like something she would do.
"Young master, that damned woman is cunning and treacherous; I'm afraid it will be difficult to find her in a short time." Lin Ye said indignantly, but he had no choice but to admit the truth.
Mo Yu's gaze swept over indifferently. Although he didn't speak, Lin Ye, who had known him since childhood, immediately sensed a hint of displeasure in his eyes. Lin Ye shut his mouth, his expression sullen.
"Hehe." Mo Yu chuckled: "Do you still remember the miscellaneous matters of the capital that the City Magistrate reported this morning?"
"I remember," Lin Ye said in a muffled voice. This young master was strange; he had hundreds or even thousands of things to deal with every day, yet these days he was very interested in every little thing in the capital. He would listen so attentively to even the smallest matter, sometimes asking questions repeatedly, which made the Prefect of the Capital think that he had done something wrong, and he would tremble every time he reported the situation.
"Haven't you noticed that the brothels in the capital have been acting strangely lately?"
"Well-?"