The glow of the sun is moldy

The next day, Yi Shen took Wu Qi out.

The two hadn't had a chance to explore Changru Town properly since arriving, so they took this opportunity to see it for themselves. They had rarely left the capital in their lives; they dreamt of the capital, and upon waking, they were always in the capital. As for distant landscapes, they had only glimpsed them in books.

Although Changru Town is a remote border town, it is not poor. The sunshine mixed with the sweetness of fruits lingers on everyone's faces. However, Wu Qi can't understand their language, and he has to guess and pay for a piece of fruit.

The man waved his hand, and Wu Qi, thinking he hadn't given enough, took out some more money.

The man waved his hands even more vigorously, looking anxious and confused, while muttering something under his breath.

Wu Qi listened intently, but didn't understand. She turned to look at Yi Shen, who was also trying to guess what the person was saying.

Helpless, the three of them resorted to gestures and guessing, and it took them quite a while to understand what the other meant.

Wu Qi finally paid the money.

She took a bite of the fruit and said, "I thought we gave too little, but it turns out we gave too much and couldn't find change."

"Bring someone with you next time," Yi Shen said.

"Hahaha, we're like two idiots from Changru Town. I wonder if my parents experienced something similar when they came to Changru Town." Wu Qi paused, finishing the fruit in his hand. "It's still different. They came here for sightseeing, we came here to..."

"We eloped." Yi Shen took the fruit pit from her and threw it into the wooden bucket for throwing fruit pits. He took out a handkerchief and wiped her hands clean. "We eloped here and are also celebrating our birthdays."

"Xiaoqi, have you forgotten? I didn't celebrate my birthday last winter solstice. You said we'd celebrate it together next spring equinox."

Wu Qi listened quietly.

She did say those words, but she could never have foreseen the current situation.

She was forced to flee the capital, and Yi Shen suffered an undeserved calamity.

Yi Shen wiped Wu Qi's hand clean and took it, saying, "I'm really looking forward to celebrating my birthday with you."

Wu Qi let him hold his hand and didn't move.

Yi Shen said, "When I was little, I thought about celebrating my birthday with you, so we could exchange birthday gifts. But my mother said we couldn't do that; I can't take away your birthday and my blessings for you. But I'm willing, I'm willing to celebrate my birthday with you and share the blessings."

"Are you willing?"

Would you share some of your blessings with me and celebrate your birthday together?

Are you willing?

Wu Qi was willing, but to this day, what she bestowed upon Yi Shen was never blessing or glory, but rather disaster. If it weren't for her, he, as the third young master of the Yi family, wouldn't be spending his days in Changru Town trying to please her…

If she had known this would happen, she shouldn't have followed her heart and been with him.

"Xiao Qi, I'm so pitiful, I haven't even celebrated my birthday last year yet. Can I celebrate my birthday with you?"

Wu Qi moved his fingers, but still did not agree.

Yi Shen wasn't annoyed, and his patience didn't diminish. Instead, he put his arm around her waist, buried his head in her neck and shoulder in front of everyone, took a deep breath, and said in a low voice, "Okay? My good little Qi, my good wife."

The streets were bustling with people, and the aroma of fruits still lingered, but Wu Qi could only smell the cold plum fragrance on Yi Shen's body, and hear him address her as "Madam."

Wu Qi said in a muffled voice, "What are you saying?"

"Wu Qi, you know me. Once I've made up my mind, I've made up my mind. You are the one I want to spend my life with. This is something I've already decided on. As for what you bring me? Only love."

Yi Shen hugged Wu Qi tightly, nuzzling his head against her neck. The ticklish sensation of his hair brushing against her skin forced Wu Qi to concentrate on what he was saying.

She heard Yi Shen say—

"Wu Qi, all you bring me is happiness and love."

"Because of you, I feel I can stay in this world a little longer."

Is the world good now? No...

Yi Shen saw through the wickedness of the world early on: those in power use their power to issue orders, committing murder and arson, harming the powerless, and striving to curry favor with the powerful and wealthy in order to gain even more power. Officials do not serve the people, and the people do not obey the officials; both sides suffer.

In such circumstances, Wu Qi was like a ray of light, breaking through the dark clouds.

For the people, she developed artillery claps, became a general at a young age, conquered three cities, and forged a century of peace.

She hesitated and pondered over him, her love deeply rooted, and she was devoted to him alone, embarking on a love that would last three lifetimes.

Such a person has gone moldy.

The dullness of the world has shrouded the sunset in mold.

Yi Shen said, "Spend more time with me, Xiao Qi."

He cannot live without Wu Qi.

Wu Qi neither agreed nor refused.

During the long wait, a feeling of fear and dread seemed to weigh on Yi Shen's heart, suffocating him. Only when the armband was wrapped around his waist did he breathe a sigh of relief, and he felt a lump in his throat.

Wu Qi wrapped his arms around his waist and said, "Yi Shen, give him lots of flowers for his birthday."

Yi Shen replied, "Okay."

She added, "I will stay with you, for a very long time."

Yi Shen hugged her tightly and said, "Okay."

That night, as Yi Shen was choosing flowers for his birthday gift, the firelight flickered, and he suddenly remembered—it was time for Wu Qi to go to sleep.

Usually someone would come to inform the lady that she was going to bed, but today, no one came to tell her.

Without even tidying up the table, Yi Shen got up and opened the door, only to see Wu Qi standing outside.

She was holding a pillow in her arms, her hair was loose and without any hair accessories, and she was still wearing the nightgown he had chosen for her. She must have just arrived and hadn't had time to knock on the door yet.

She blinked, not expecting Yi Shen to open the door.

Yi Shen took Wu Qi's hand and carried her into the house. Now, his way of carrying Wu Qi was different from usual. He always carried her with one arm, so from a distance, it looked as if Wu Qi was sitting on his arm. But upon closer inspection, it became clear that his other hand was holding Wu Qi's hand.

He now likes to hug Wu Qi like this.

It seems like that.

Even after she left his embrace, their hands remained clasped.

"Why did you come here?" Yi Shen didn't rush to put her down, but slowed down and strolled around the room.

"I'm looking for you to sleep with." Wu Qi had a pillow in his arms.

She was holding a pillow, and he was holding her.

Yi Shen breathed a sigh of relief and continued carrying her around the room. "You wanted to come and sleep with me yourself, so you didn't ask anyone else to tell me?"

"Yes. I came to find you on my own."

Yi Shen took her hand, kissed it gently, and coaxed her praisingly, "Good girl."

He was becoming increasingly doting on her, and Wu Qi pouted and said, "You be good too."

"Since I've been good, how about you praise me?"

"How should we praise him?" Wu Qi asked.

"Just give me a kiss."

Wu Qi lowered her head to kiss his lips. Yi Shen, who had been holding her hand, now wrapped his arm around her waist. He was distracted for a moment, sitting on the couch, and let Wu Qi sit sideways on his lap. Wu Qi noticed this brief distraction.

She kissed him even more fiercely.

Yi Shen smiled broadly, patting Wu Qi's head with one hand and gently patting her back with the other.

It seemed like appeasement, but it was more like indulgence.

Their breaths mingled, and in a single pause, Yi Shen was the first to catch his breath. There was blood on his lips, the mark left by Wu Qi's bite. He said, "Wu Qi, I am yours. There's no rush."

After saying that, he kissed her.

The kiss was so long that Wu Qi temporarily forgot many things, and she didn't even know when her pillow had fallen off. She leaned on Yi Shen's shoulder, panting, and then slowly fell asleep. Yi Shen casually pulled a blanket over her and held her like that for a while.

Once she was truly asleep, Yi Shen picked her up and placed her on the bed.

Unexpectedly, Wu Qi slept restlessly in bed, her brows furrowed and her hands groping for something. Yi Shen quickly grasped her hand, and her furrowed brows relaxed somewhat.

In Yi Shen's memory, Wu Qi had always been vibrant and cheerful, her smiling eyes never showing any trace of sorrow. Even now, she couldn't sleep soundly, and he always had to stay by her side.

To be honest, he did dislike the way Wu Qi depended on him.

In Changru Town, she didn't care about food or clothing, nor did she pay attention to others. He personally selected all her meals, clothes, and hair accessories, and even occasionally combed her hair. Even the nightgown she wore and the blanket she used were chosen by him after careful consideration.

When Wu Qi was little, he wasn't this attentive. Now that Wu Qi is grown up, it's really inappropriate for him to interfere so much. But right now, he's truly taking care of Wu Qi, thinking about where to take her tomorrow, what clothes to wear, what flowers to put in her hair, and what color hair ribbon to use.

What color clothes should he wear to match?

He could live such a life for three lifetimes without ever getting tired of it.

However, this was not what Wu Qi wanted.

Wu Qi had already groped her way to lie down on Yi Shen's lap. Yi Shen pulled the blanket over her and gently smoothed her hair, saying, "Someone come here."

In the darkness, a man entered the room and asked, "What are your orders, young master?"

Yi Shen said, "Chunfen, have them come over."

"yes."

The man in black left as ordered, leaving only the two people in the room. Yi Shen touched Wu Qi's face, his eyes filled with heartache. He knew he couldn't save Wu Qi alone; she was too badly affected by mold. His presence could only stop the mold from spreading, not remove it from her body.

Wu Qi was fond of him and loved him.

But this little bit of love wasn't enough to save her from all that she had been through.

He could only let Wu Qi live, not let Wu Qi become the Wu Qi he used to be.

"Xiao Qi, it will be alright," Yi Shen said.

After waking up, Wu Qi would often kiss Yi Shen and discuss with him what flowers to use for his birthday gift. What remained unchanged was that she still didn't care what she wore, what flowers were in her hair, or what color hairband she wore. In fact, she often let her hair down without wearing anything. If she felt that her hair was in the way, she would pick up a pen from Yi Shen's desk and use it as a hairpin.

After Yi Shen noticed this, he placed many beautifully patterned pens, as well as several hairpins and hair ribbons on his desk.

However, Wu Qi still used his pen to tie up his hair, and at most, chose a pen with an exquisite pattern.

Wu Qi, holding the paper, asked Yi Shen, "Do we need so many flowers for our birthday gift?"

Yi Shen asked, "Do you feel you've spent too much?"

"No, I just think it would be a waste to use so many flowers since there aren't many people around."

Yi Shen kissed her and said, "There will be many people."

"Who is it?" Wu Qi returned the kiss on his cheek.

"The one who blesses you."

Wu Qi guessed that they were probably from the manor. They didn't know many people in Changru Town. They said they came to visit, but they hadn't actually been out for more than a few days. If they knew anyone, it was the old lady who lived next door.

Even if all these people came, we still wouldn't need that many flowers.

But Wu Qi looked at the densely packed writing on the paper, which was clearly marked by Yi Shen.

He put a lot of thought into it.

“Alright, let’s use these flowers then,” Wu Qi said.