Chapter 83, Wind and Dew: "If I weren't worried, I would still be here..."

The imperial edict was delivered, and Yun Sheng, who had just returned from Xue Chenghuai's place, heard about it.

She rushed back, and as she lifted the curtain, Xue Chan, who was talking to Cheng Huaizhu, looked up: "What's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry?"

Yun Sheng, catching his breath, said to her, "Your Majesty, Consort Jin has been promoted to Imperial Noble Consort."

Cheng Huaizhu sat up abruptly from Xue Chan's arms: "Really?"

Yun Sheng nodded: "I just happened to run into the eunuch from His Majesty's side delivering an imperial decree."

Cheng Huaizhu said, "This is a joyous occasion."

Xue Chan didn't speak. After thinking for a moment, she figured it was probably really a happy occasion. She looked out from behind the rolled-up curtain and saw a full moon.

It's very round and very bright.

She lowered her head, touched the birthday gift she hadn't yet given in her sleeve, and rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought.

I heard Jiang Ce was injured, but I don't know how he is.

Cheng Huaizhu said to her, "If you're worried, you can go find him. He's very close, isn't he?"

Xue Chan stood up abruptly.

Yes, what's the point of her sitting here? Is she waiting for someone else to tell her, or for him to come on his own?

How long must we wait?

Why should we hand over the decision-making power to others?

Cheng Huaizhu had barely turned around when Xue Chan grabbed a lantern and went outside.

She wanted to follow, but Xue Chan walked incredibly fast, and she couldn't catch up immediately. She only saw the figure getting faster and faster. When she reached the back, she almost ran and disappeared into the boundless moonlight.

The moon is high in the sky.

Jiang Ce finished bandaging his wounds and came out of Luting, ready to go back.

As I descended a few stone steps, a blurry shadow flashed in my peripheral vision, so I stopped.

At the end of the west corridor is a vase-shaped door. Outside the vase, the fragrance of osmanthus is strong. The hanging palace lanterns reflect the two characters "Wind and Dew" engraved on the door, and there is a slender shadow in the wind and dew.

Jiang Ce walked briskly, facing the evening breeze that flowed like a gentle river.

As he approached, he immediately put his hands behind his back, bent over, and teased, "I heard that Miss Xue fought against the rebels and saved the princess. Even His Majesty praised her for her intelligence and bravery. In that case, I am not worthy of you."

That spirited face swayed back and forth in front of me, his laughter filled with a sweet fragrance.

"After something like this happened, you can still laugh?"

Jiang Ce's smile widened, each word brimming with life: "Of course I'm happy you came to see me, why can't I smile? Do you expect me to look miserable instead of smiling?"

"Ugh, that's so ugly." He pinched his chin and thought about it seriously for a moment, then openly showed his disdain.

Seeing his unreliable behavior, Xue Chan simply reached out and hit Jiang Ce's arm.

"Ah!" Jiang Ce clutched his arm, hissing in pain.

Xue Chan panicked and wanted to go see, but Jiang Ce, while grimacing, joked, "Ouch, Miss Xue."

She said irritably, "Serves you right."

Jiang Ce smiled and asked her, "It's so late, what brings you here to see me in the dead of night?"

Xue Chan sighed softly, took out a small wooden box from her sleeve, and handed it to him.

"This is?"

"Your birthday gift."

Jiang Ce took it and looked inside; it was a celadon round box.

"Open it and take a look."

He immediately opened it obediently, and inside the porcelain box lay a lump of bright red ink.

Jiang Ce immediately recognized it as Baoquan inkpad, worth a fortune per ounce. He pushed it back, saying, "This is too precious. You should keep it for yourself."

Xue Chan took two steps back and put her hands behind her back, saying, "You said, 'There's no reason to take back a gift that's already been given away.'"

"What, it's only been a few months, and you've already forgotten?" she teased.

Jiang Ce was a little embarrassed and said softly, "It's been so long, you still remember it."

Xue Chan: "I've already sent it out. If you send it back, you won't get anything next time."

Jiang Ce could only carefully tuck the inkpad into his pocket and bow deeply to her.

"Are...are your injuries serious?"

Jiang Ce smiled, his eyes crinkling, "Can I take that you came to see me under the pretense of giving me a birthday gift because you were worried about me?"

He made a lighthearted joke, just wanting to tease Xue Chan and see how she avoided the topic.

But Xue Chan approached and raised her face, her brows furrowing into a deep frown: "Yes, I was worried about you."

"If I weren't worried, why would I be waiting here?" She lowered her eyes again, her two arched eyebrows softening with a faint hint of resentment.

Xue Chan looked serious, and Jiang Ce immediately dropped his teasing tone and answered her earnestly.

"I was shot by an arrow, but it was only a scratch. The imperial physician said I would recover in two days."

Xue Chan pursed her lips gently and remained silent.

Jiang Ce smiled and said, "If you're really worried about me... why not draw a small picture for me and send it to me, so I can look at it all the time? If I'm in a good mood, I'll naturally recover faster."

She chuckled softly and raised an eyebrow slightly: "That depends on whether I have time. I'm very busy."

“I know you’re a very busy person, but I’m just asking you to spare some time in your busy schedule. There’s still a long way to go, and I can wait.”

Xue Chan raised her eyes, and in the soft moonlight, Jiang Ce was still looking at her and smiling.

"Pfft"

The moment their eyes met, she couldn't help but smile.

"I've been out for a while, I'm going back."

Xue Chan picked up the lamp again and turned to go through the Treasure Vase Gate. Jiang Ce took a few quick steps to catch up and blocked her way.

The two almost bumped into each other, and she was somewhat displeased.

Jiang Ce didn't do anything, he just put a cold, moist thing in her hand and brushed his other hand over her head like the wind.

By the time Xue Chan realized what was happening, he had already retreated to the corridor. Only his light, cheerful voice drifted through the moonlit breeze and dew.

"I found this on the road; it's not as precious as your thoughtfulness. Consider it a gift for you to play with. When I have time, I'll go find something better."

Xue Chan smiled, picked up her lantern, and went back with Yun Sheng Chu Tao, who was waiting not far away.

When they returned to their lodgings, Xue Chan sat in front of the dressing table and opened her palm, revealing a rough, unadorned stone.

It's not pretty or good-looking at all; it's just round with two little points standing up, like a cat's head.

She couldn't help but smile and gently looked up.

A silver lamp illuminates the mirror, revealing her loose, cloud-like hair and the vibrant color of a lotus in full bloom.

She thought for a moment, then sat down at her desk and began to paint.

Less than half a day after "Autumn Hibiscus" was sent out, Jiang Ce sent another letter.

"Let's go horseback riding. See you at Tongxin Lake tomorrow. Please come."

A seal was affixed to the corner of the letter paper, and a cat wearing a cloak was bowing earnestly.

Xue Chan picked up her brush and began to write.

Jiang Ce opened it and saw only three words.

"It depends on my mood."

This was a promise filled with both anticipation and disappointment, but Jiang Ce didn't care.

He even went early in the morning to wait by the Tongxin Lake with Green Eyebrows, but Xue Chan did not appear from sunrise to sunset.

But Jiang Ce was very patient. While Lü Mei drank water by the lake, he sat under the bridge reading. He read for a long time, turning from the first page to the last, but Xue Chan still hadn't come.

He closed the book and placed it on a nearby stone.

The weather is exceptionally fine today; the sky and the water are both crystal clear. Every breeze blowing from the lake is gentle and warm, carrying a delicate, sweet fragrance.

Now that Mid-Autumn Festival has passed, the willows by the bridge have long since thinned and turned yellow. Jiang Ce suddenly thought of breaking off a few willow branches to weave a flower basket. The willow leaves have turned yellow, but there are still osmanthus and wild chrysanthemums; there are many other flowers blooming in autumn, so the flower basket won't look empty.

Perfect timing! She hasn't arrived yet. By the time she does, the flower basket will be finished.

Thinking this, Jiang Ce got up and went to break off a willow branch by the water.

"Bozhou?"

Hearing a call, Jiang Ce parted the weeping willows and saw Xiao Yangjun dressed in riding clothes walking onto the bridge, looking at him with a smile.

What are you doing?

Jiang Ce held the willow branch in his hand, feeling a little embarrassed, but he said frankly, "I made an appointment with her to meet here, so I wanted to weave a flower basket for her to play with before she arrived."

Hearing him say that, Xiao Yangjun teased him, "What a clever idea!"

Jiang Ce felt a little embarrassed by her laughter: "Whether it's a coincidence or not doesn't matter, as long as she's happy."

Xiao Yangjun smiled and nodded, then looked down and handed him the few flowers she had just picked.

"Since you're so kind, I'll add some autumn colors as well."

Jiang Ce took it, thanked her, and then asked her, "Where are you going?"

Xiao Yangjun said, "I made an appointment with His Highness to go horseback riding."

Jiang Ce: "Speaking of which, I've noticed that Xiao Huaiting has been looking rather down lately. He's turned down several invitations. When I asked him about it, he just said he was fine."

When he mentioned his brother, Xiao Yangjun's smile vanished considerably, and his eyes were filled with sorrow.

Jiang Ce roughly knew that Xiao Huaiting was deep in thought, and he, Zheng Shaoyu, Li Wu, and others had also roughly figured out what was going on, but no one mentioned it when they got together.

"But...because of the marriage?"

Ever since that big argument, Father has fallen ill. Later, Xiao Huaiting knelt by the bedside and kowtowed, only saying that he had never forgotten his responsibilities, but he did not wish to get married too early. He hoped to wait until his career was more stable before considering marriage.

As a result, the house was always immersed in endless silence.

Xiao Yangjun turned her face away, secretly wiping away the tears that fell from her eyes, and when she turned back, she still had that bright smile.

"Don't worry, on your wedding day, your brother will definitely go with you to welcome your bride."

Jiang Ce sighed and gently comforted her, "Your brother is also a very opinionated person. It's normal for him to have different ideas from our parents occasionally. It will get better in time, so don't worry too much."

Besides---

He then joked, "What's going on in your family? If I were the son of the Earl of Mingyi, I don't know how much your parents would adore Xiao Huaiting."

Xiao Yangjun was amused by him, and his gloomy mood dissipated considerably.

But her relief was short-lived, as she sighed again: "My brother's marriage is on hold, but recently my parents have started looking for someone to marry me."

"But I wasn't ready to get married at all, and I didn't really like any of those people."

When it comes to liking someone, she doesn't even understand what liking someone means.

She and Cheng Huaizhu had watched many plays and heard many stories together, and they had even talked about them, but neither of them could come to a conclusion.

She asked Jiang Ce, "Bo Zhou, do you like Miss Xue?"

Jiang Ce said, "I like it."

"What does it feel like to like someone? What kind of feeling is called liking someone?"

Perhaps she was just too troubled, or perhaps she was just too curious, that she actually asked Jiang Ce.

Jiang Ce thought for a moment, then smiled gently and said, "Actually, I don't really know what kind of feeling is called true liking. I only know that when I don't see her, I want to see her, and when I see her, I think about seeing her again. I even want to see her every day, and keep seeing her. Maybe everyone is different. It's like drinking water; only the person drinking knows whether it's hot or cold."

Xiao Yangjun seemed to understand but not quite, so Jiang Ce smiled and said, "Perhaps, you'll understand when you truly meet someone you like."

Xiao Yangjun murmured in doubt, "Will that day ever come? Will there really be such a person?"

“Of course, you are very good,” Jiang Ce said with a smile. “You and Xiao Huaiting are the same kind of people, meticulous and gentle, open and honest. You are the most gentlemanly people I have ever met.”

Xiao Yangjun smiled and said, "You are very good, Liu Lang is very good, Miss Xue is very good, everyone is good."

Jiang Ce also smiled: "Yes, she is very good, I know."

The two smiled and then parted ways.

Jiang Ce sat by the water under the bridge, continuing to weave the little flower basket. He picked two more handfuls of wildflowers and put them inside, making the basket look as splendid as brocade.

He looked at the flower basket from left to right, feeling that something was missing. He gazed at the sky and thought for a moment, then wove two more small butterflies.

Jiang Ce rested his chin on his hand and gazed at the bridge. He didn't know how long he had been gazing at it, but the water gradually began to ripple with golden light.

It looks like someone is coming from afar.

Jiang Ce immediately stood up and watched the person approach slowly, the blurry figure gradually becoming clearer in his eyes.

When he finally saw her clearly, he forgot to breathe, and just stared blankly as she got closer and closer to him.