Chapter 121 Martial Arts Examination 4 "Cui Ying, why are you called Cui Ying?"...

A light rain fell at dawn, and although the sun has now risen, the air is still damp.

In the courtyard of Zangjingzhai, servants were sweeping away the spider webs clinging to the lush green leaves with long-handled brooms. Fine water droplets clung to the spider silk, shimmering like stars in the morning light. Water droplets dripped intermittently from the eaves, forming shimmering silver lines that pattered on the stone steps.

Inside the study.

The incense burner with its animal-head design exhaled wisps of blue smoke, which mingled with the damp rain outside the window, creating a refreshingly cool atmosphere. The summer air permeated every corner, tinging the sky with a pale blue hue.

Xiao Qiyu stood behind the desk, seemingly having just arrived. His shoulders were damp, still wet from the lingering rain. His pale face remained expressionless, and his long eyelashes covered his dark pupils.

He casually flipped through the pages, his gaze not yet fixed, when the bamboo curtain of Xiangfei was suddenly lifted.

Xiao Heng walked in, still damp from the rain, with a few strands of wet hair clinging to his temples. Although the worry in his eyes had faded, the weariness in his expression was still evident.

Xiao Qiyu raised his eyes and asked, "How is it over there?"

Xiao Heng sat down opposite her, looking tired: "She's stabilized. The doctor said the pregnancy is fine. I gave her a calming soup just now, and she's resting now."

Xiao Qiyu said calmly, "It's good that everyone is alright."

"Seventh Brother," Xiao Heng looked up at him, his eyes filled with mixed emotions, "I am so grateful for your help in this matter. Otherwise, I really can't imagine that she would dare to run south while pregnant. She really has no regard for her life."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Heng felt a sense of relief and breathed a sigh of relief. His tone softened as he said, "Anyway, you're back and it's good that you're alright. Don't blame Third Sister. She's young and soft-hearted, so it's understandable."

Xiao Qiyu closed the book, slightly raised his eyes, his gaze calm: "Why does Third Brother think I would blame Cui Ying?"

The atmosphere quieted down, and the crisp sound of raindrops hitting the stones outside the eaves could be clearly heard.

Xiao Heng was taken aback, a look of surprise flashing across his eyes.

The air after the rain was damp and cool, and Xiao Qiyu's voice also cooled down like the rain. He said clearly and distinctly, "Cui Ying is always willing to help others. She has been like this since she was a child. Not to mention that she met Jing Nu, even if she had no relation to her, she would definitely help her generously if she could. This is a virtue of human nature. What reason do I have to blame her?"

Xiao Heng was speechless after hearing these words, and a look of embarrassment flashed in his eyes.

Xiao Qiyu stepped out of his desk and approached Xiao Heng, saying, "Third Brother, you have always been self-disciplined and respectful of propriety, and I have regarded you as a role model since childhood. But this matter," he paused, his voice becoming heavy, "is ultimately a matter of forcing someone to do something against their will. Although I do not know why you two have come to this point, Third Brother's actions are truly lacking in decorum."

Xiao Heng's eyes were filled with complex emotions. Hearing this, he smiled wryly: "Is it unbecoming of me?"

His fingertips involuntarily curled and tightened. He looked up at his cousin, his eyes filled with uncontrollable bitterness, and said softly, "Seventh Brother, let me ask you, if one day Third Sister wants to leave you, what will you do?"

Xiao Qiyu's breath caught in his throat.

Xiao Heng gazed intently at Xiao Qiyu and sighed, "I naturally hope that you two will have a harmonious marriage and do not wish for that day to come, but Seventh Brother, put yourself in his shoes."

"If that day ever comes, I'm afraid you won't be much more rational than me."

...

The night was deep, and the dew was abundant.

Cui Ying was sleeping soundly on the couch when she suddenly felt short of breath. Something hot was blocking her lips, and she couldn't catch her breath.

She groggily opened her eyes and met a pair of deep, dark eyes—Xiao Qiyu had returned at some point and was now on top of her, kissing her without saying a word, his eyes wide open, just watching her expression.

"Xiao Qiyu!" Cui Ying was very sleepy, her voice soft and coquettish. She reached out and pushed him, "Are you ever going to stop? I'm about to fall asleep..."

Xiao Qiyu grabbed her hand that was pushing him away, raised it high above his head, and showed no sign of stopping. Between breaths, he said, "You go to sleep."

He slipped his palm inside her nightgown.

Cui Ying was wide awake by his antics and complained, "How am I supposed to sleep like this!"

Xiao Qiyu did not answer, but used his large hands to push apart her knees that were together.

The moonlight swayed, the candlelight flickered, and the weeping crabapple blossoms outside the window, in full bloom, swayed in the breeze, releasing a faint fragrance.

As her narrow waist sank down, the girl's snow-white neckline stretched long, and hot breath escaped from her red lips.

"Xiao Qiyu, you..."

Cui Ying trembled uncontrollably, even struggling to pronounce the word "bastard".

For some inexplicable reason, she felt that Xiao Qiyu seemed different tonight than usual.

Although the attacks were equally nasty, she sensed that he was exceptionally savage tonight, using all his strength each time, as if he wanted to crush her in his arms.

"Ugh..." Cui Ying's voice was broken, her arms clung weakly to his strong arms, and she struggled to speak, "What's wrong with you today... Did you take the wrong medicine..."

Xiao Qiyu leaned down and kissed her. As their lips and tongues intertwined, his canine teeth pressed against her soft lips, his hot breath spraying on her face. His voice was terribly hoarse: "Cui Ying, will you leave me? Will you?"

Cui Ying didn't understand why he was asking such a nonsensical question, and because he had distracted her, she couldn't speak a complete sentence. She could only let out intermittent sobs, like a withered leaf in a storm, which might be buried in the mud at any moment.

"Answer me." The boy tightened his grip on her waist, his words carrying a ruthless edge, frighteningly wild.

Cui Ying was furious, and her words became harsh: "If you're always like this, then of course I will!"

She wants to change men! To find one with a lower libido!

A crimson light flashed in Xiao Qiyu's eyes as he grabbed her waist and tightened his grip.

As the tide of passion reached its peak, Xiao Qiyu grabbed a pillow and placed it under Cui Ying's waist...

Cui Ying's mind went blank for a moment. The extreme sensation exploded like fireworks, rushing up her spine to the top of her head. Her whole body was burning hot, and her toes curled up involuntarily. She could only cling to him helplessly, trembling slightly beneath him.

Her whole body went limp, she couldn't even move her fingertips, and her consciousness gradually sank into darkness.

Just before she completely lost consciousness, Cui Ying murmured in a barely audible voice, as if in a dream, "Xiao Qiyu...you bastard...you treat me like this every day...do you...like me...?"

Her voice grew softer and softer until it disappeared completely, and her eyes closed tightly.

By the dim moonlight, Xiao Qiyu gazed at her face, at the still flushed cheeks, her thick, moist eyelashes, and her slightly swollen lips.

My gaze traveled downwards and finally settled on her lower abdomen.

Xiao Qiyu's gaze grew even more somber as he touched her sweat-dampened hair:

"Why don't you wait until our child is a month old before asking me this question?"

...

Day after day, time flew by, and before we knew it, it was June.

The lotus flowers in the lake are in full bloom, and their delicate fragrance floats in the summer heat, even the wind carries a touch of sweetness.

Perhaps it was a coincidence, but the day before Cui Ying's birthday was the day of the palace examination.

Outside the palace gates, carriages and horses streamed in, and the waiting crowd craned their necks in anticipation.

Sitting in her own carriage, Cui Ying fanned herself restlessly, feeling that summer had arrived early and the heat was making her extremely anxious.

Cui Jin comforted her, "Don't worry, young lady. Your son-in-law will definitely become the top martial arts scholar and earn you an imperial title in the future."

Looking at the quiet and majestic vermilion palace gate, Cui Ying snorted and said, "I don't care about any imperial titles or anything. As long as he can keep himself in check and perform normally, that's fine. As for the martial arts champion, I don't think so. The palace examination tests military strategy and policy. What if he encounters someone with higher knowledge than him?"

Although he said it himself, Cui Ying didn't believe him at all.

She firmly believed that with Xiao Qiyu's skills and talent, he would surely win the title of martial arts champion.

Her current anxiety stems from her desire for that precarious stone to fall soon.

As the sun began to set in the west, news finally arrived from inside the palace gates.

The eunuch's voice was high-pitched and shrill as he ran up to Cui Ying, beaming, "Congratulations, Madam! Congratulations, Madam! Young Master Xiao Qi has been nominated as the second-highest scorer!"

"Second place?" Cui Ying's brows furrowed immediately, and he muttered under his breath, "Shouldn't he be the top scholar?"

But the thought vanished in an instant, and she immediately felt relieved. She let out a soft sigh and comforted herself, saying, "Well, being second in the imperial examination is still excellent. So many people would kill for it. Xiao Qiyu, you've truly brought glory to your ancestors. You'll have plenty to brag about in the future."

As Cui Ying said this, she couldn't help but picture Xiao Qiyu's smug and irritating expression in her mind, and the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up.

Sometimes she couldn't understand it either.

When she's annoyed by him, she wishes she could be a million miles away from him, but as soon as she thinks of his face, she wishes he would appear in front of her the next moment.

Cui Ying regained her senses and stared intently at the palace gate where people were emerging one after another.

But as they waited and waited, they watched as the other martial arts candidates who had taken the exam with them emerged one by one, full of vigor, some surrounded by their families, others chatting and laughing with their colleagues, and then boarding their carriages and leaving. The crowd in front of the palace gate gradually thinned out until it was almost completely gone, but Xiao Qiyu was nowhere to be seen.

The afterglow of the setting sun cast extremely long shadows on the palace walls, and twilight began to spread.

Cui Ying's initial anticipation gradually turned into doubt, and finally into restless anxiety.

"What's going on?" She couldn't help but lift the carriage curtain and lean out to look towards the palace gate. Apart from the guards standing at attention, it was deserted. "Almost everyone has left. Why hasn't he come out yet?"

Various unpleasant speculations began to creep uncontrollably into her mind.

Did he encounter some trouble in the palace? Or did His Majesty keep him behind for questioning? But even if he was kept behind for questioning, it shouldn't have taken this long.

After pondering for a moment, Cui Ying instructed Cui Jin, "Send someone else to the palace gate to inquire and see if there is any other news."

Cui Jin made the arrangements immediately.

Cui Ying looked up at the increasingly dark sky, her heart sinking deeper and deeper. The unease in her heart grew stronger and stronger, so she simply lifted her skirt and got out of the carriage to inquire herself.

Just then, Xiao Qiyu's personal servant, Jin Feng, quickly walked to the carriage and bowed, saying, "Madam, my lord sent me to deliver a message that he is waiting for you at the Yun Shen Ancient Temple outside the city."

"The ancient temple in the deep clouds?" Cui Ying paused in his steps.

She knew about Yun Shen Ancient Temple, which was famous for a towering ancient tree about 100 feet tall with a dense canopy like clouds. However, she had heard that the ancient tree was struck by lightning and killed a few years ago, and since then, fewer and fewer pilgrims have visited the temple, which has declined as a result.

Cui Ying frowned deeply: "What is he doing in there? Could it be that he failed the imperial examination and is so disheartened that he wants to become a monk?" She almost laughed when she said that.

Jin Feng lowered her head even further: "I don't know about these things. My lord only instructed that my wife must go."

Cui Ying frowned and stared at Jin Feng for a long time, but still couldn't figure it out.

Well then, let's see what they're made of.

She suppressed her suspicions, turned around, got into the carriage, and instructed the driver to turn around and head out of the city towards the ancient temple in the deep clouds.

As evening fell, the countryside was lush and green, with verdant vegetation and a moist air filled with the fresh scent of earth and wildflowers. The horse-drawn carriage rolled along the muddy mountain path and finally stopped at the foot of the mountain.

The ancient temple lies quietly amidst the verdant mountains and forests. As the evening drums cease, only the chirping of birds remains, making the place even more secluded and tranquil.

As Cui Ying ascended the steps, the moment she entered the front courtyard of the main hall, her vision suddenly went dark as a pair of hands covered her eyes from behind.

The palm was warm, carrying familiar calluses and a refreshing scent.

Cui Ying was startled at first, then realized what was happening and irritably raised her hand to brush the hand covering her eyes: "Xiao Qiyu? Aren't you bored!"

The person behind her didn't speak, but tightened his arms slightly, encircling her in his embrace, his chin gently resting on the top of her head, his breathing long and even.

Cui Ying struggled twice but couldn't break free, so she had no choice but to let him go, but she kept saying, "I know you're unhappy about being nominated as the second-place candidate, but I've also asked around and found out that the candidates nominated for the top scholar all come from humble backgrounds. Your momentum of winning all three top scholar titles is too strong. Perhaps His Majesty did this intentionally, as a way to maintain balance."

She paused, her tone carrying a hint of reassurance that she herself didn't realize: "Try to think positively. Second place is still amazing. I won't laugh at you."

Xiao Qiyu finally spoke, her voice low and slow, but not with the disappointment or frustration she had expected; instead, it was exceptionally gentle: "I wasn't thinking about that."

He lowered his head, his breath brushing against her earlobe. "I'm thinking about something more important."

"What is it?" Cui Ying's curiosity was piqued.

Instead of answering directly, Xiao Qiyu asked a completely irrelevant question: "Cui Ying, why are you called Cui Ying?"

Cui Ying was taken aback by his question, thinking what a ridiculous question it was, but considering that he was in a bad mood at the moment, she decided not to argue with him and patiently answered, "Because my father said that when I was born, it was just after dawn and the sky was the color of jacaranda, so he named me Cui Ying."

That's strange, why did he suddenly ask that?

"Have you ever seen a jacaranda?" Xiao Qiyu's voice was even softer.

“No,” Cui Ying shook her head and said with some regret, “Jacaranda trees grow in the Yunnan area, which is too far from the capital. I have never seen one. My father only saw one when he was young and traveling, and he has never forgotten it.”

Just then, Xiao Qiyu slowly released his hand from her eyes, his warm breath close to hers, his voice gentler and calmer than ever before, whispering in her ear: "Now, open your eyes."

Cui Ying was puzzled, wondering what he was up to. Her curled eyelashes fluttered a few times, and she slowly opened her eyes.

The sight that came into view made her hold her breath instantly, her eyes widening in astonishment.

Instead of the gray tiles and brown pillars of an ancient temple, one finds oneself standing beneath an unimaginably enormous ancient tree.

The gnarled branches stretched wildly toward the sky, densely covered with dreamlike blue flowers. The petals, like clouds and mist, wove together a vast blue lake, filtering the afterglow of the setting sun into a gentle blue-purple halo, which fell on the ground and her upturned face.

This blue is pure and deep, with an unreal beauty, much like the deepest blue of the sky before dawn, when daybreak is just around the corner.

Cui Ying had never seen a jacaranda tree before, but the moment she saw this sea of ​​flowers, she was absolutely certain—this was the origin of her name, and this was the color of the sky when her father told her that she was born.

Xiao Qiyu stood beside her, gazing silently at her stunning profile, his eyes bright.

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Author's Note: I wrote this in a rush and there are many details that need revision. Please bear with me for now.