Chapter 75: Bride Gift Proposal (Two in One) Because, you are mine...

Shen Wenji closed her eyes as she was told. Xie Yunqing took out a red ribbon from somewhere, stood behind her, wrapped the ribbon in front of her eyes, and finally tied a knot gently.

The sight was pitch black, and Shen Wenji could only barely identify the direction through her ears. She tentatively stretched out a hand and felt around.

The next second, something warm touched her fingertips. It was Xie Yunqing's finger.

The broad palm slid from her fingertips to the palm, holding her tightly without saying anything.

"I'm here, just hold me." Xie Yunqing's voice was low, giving her enough peace of mind.

Shen Wenji nodded and let Xie Yunqing lead him.

After walking for a while, she clearly felt that the road under her feet seemed no longer the familiar stone path in the Hehuan Sect, but soft land with a slight fragrance of spiritual herbs.

Even the air around her became fresher and more moist, containing abundant spiritual energy, which was even richer than the best meditation room in her sect.

"Have we left the Hehuan Sect?" Shen Wenji couldn't help but ask, his doubts growing even greater.

Judging from their pace, they didn't go very far and were still around the Hehuan Sect.

However, ever since she took over the position of the sect leader, she knew everything about the area within a hundred miles around the Hehuan Sect. When did such a place full of spiritual energy come into being?

Hearing her doubts, Xie Yunqing responded, "Susu is very smart. We have left the Hehuan Sect."

Shen Wenji wanted to ask something else, she opened her mouth, but suddenly remembered the surprise Xie Yunqing mentioned, and finally held back.

Xie Yunqing noticed her little movement, chuckled, and comforted her: "We are almost there, we are at the border."

"Good boy, be patient and wait."

"Oh." Shen Wenji responded sullenly, and grumbled softly: "I'm not a child, I can still tolerate these, you don't have to coax me like this."

"I'm happy to." Xie Yunqing raised his hand and rubbed her head, smiling, "My Susu has always been a little kid."

After walking for about an incense stick of time, Xie Yunqing stopped. He held Shen Wenji's hand, and fearing that she would fall, he supported her waist.

"There we go," he said, slowly untying the ties from her eyes.

He called her softly, "Susu, you can open your eyes now."

Shen Wenji's long eyelashes trembled a few times, and he slowly opened his eyes.

At this moment, the scene reflected in her eyes made her stand still for a moment.

Her lips parted slightly, and she was so shocked that she forgot to breathe.

The two of them were standing in front of a magnificent mansion.

This mansion was not built on flat land, but on the cliff of a sacred mountain. Pavilions and towers are scattered around in an orderly manner, and the flying eaves and corners are hidden in the clouds, like a fairyland described in a storybook.

Shen Wenji had always thought that the fairyland was a fabrication of mortals' imagination. After all, she had never seen it before. But now it has opened her eyes.

What's even more peculiar is that the spiritual energy here is so rich that it has even turned into a tangible mist, lingering around the building. With every breath, one can feel their cultivation level subtly increasing.

"Is this a paradise?" Shen Wenji looked at Xie Yunqing in shock. "Is this the place you prepared?"

The so-called blessed land is a treasure land for cultivation formed by the natural gathering of spiritual energy from heaven and earth, which can be encountered but not sought after.

Even the conditions for discovering and opening a paradise are extremely harsh. Some people may not be able to find one even if they spend their entire lives.

She never expected that there was such a place hidden on the border of the Hehuan Sect, and it was discovered by Xie Yunqing and built into a mansion.

Xie Yunqing nodded, raised his hand and pointed upwards, motioning Shen Wenji to look.

She raised her head and saw an exquisite wooden plaque hanging above the door lintel in front of her, with two large characters engraved on it in a vigorous and unrestrained style.

"Chen Qing."

The "Chen" in Shen Wenji's name and the "Qing" in Xie Yunqing's name, but no matter how you look at it, it has little to do with Xie Yunqing. It seems like a mansion that belongs exclusively to Shen Wenji.

Shen Wenji softly read the words on the plaque and asked doubtfully, "Is this the name you gave the mansion? Why is it called this?"

"Don't you like it?" Xie Yunqing said nervously, "I picked two characters from our names and made this."

"I don't dislike it, it sounds very nice." Shen Wenji arched his eyelashes, "I'm just curious, why do you put my last name first in your mansion."

Xie Yunqing didn't answer directly, but raised the corner of his mouth: "Stretch out your hand."

"Hmm?" Shen Wenji obediently spread out his palm and held it in front of him.

Then, a silver key was placed in her palm.

"What is this?" Shen Wenji guessed something, but still asked in surprise.

"This is the key to this mansion. From now on, you will be its owner."

Shen Wenji blinked his eyes: "You're just giving me the mansion in the blessed land?"

"Of course." Xie Yunqing raised his eyebrows and said, "This mansion was originally a gift I prepared for you."

He went on to explain, “That’s why the plaque is named after you.”

"What's the meaning of the word 'Qing' at the end? Why don't you use 'Xie' or 'Yun'?"

Xie Yunqing pretended to be thoughtful: "Do you know how husband and wife address each other?"

"Lady and husband?"

"Something a little more intimate."

Shen Wenji's cheeks flushed, and after holding it in for a long time, he finally uttered a sentence: "Darling?"

Xie Yunqing was obviously very pleased to hear this title.

He nodded and responded, and Shen Wenji was so angry that he raised his hand to hit him.

He took her hand, cupped it in his palm, leaned closer and said, "There's another intimate name for you, Qingqing."

The last two words were whispered, sliding from her earlobe into her skull, spraying hot air, and in an instant, her ears turned red.

Shen Wenji covered his red ears, stepped back half a step, and said in a muffled voice: "I know, don't get so close."

"Qingqing, don't you like this name?"

This sentence seemed to be asking, and also seemed to be called again.

She rubbed her ears, which were steaming, and said dryly, "I don't dislike it."

Xie Yunqing chuckled and saw through her shyness at a glance.

He didn't continue teasing her, his eyes full of smiles, and took her hand: "Let's go in and take a look."

Push open the spiritual wooden door that looks heavy but is actually light as a feather.

Behind the door was not the front yard of an ordinary mansion, but an extremely spacious courtyard.

What surprised her even more was that this spacious courtyard was filled with piles of boxes and cages.

It is more like a warehouse than a courtyard, and it feels comparable to the treasure room of the Hehuan Sect.

Shen Wenji looked more closely and found that those boxes and cages were all made of precious sandalwood, warm jade, and even rare black iron.

They are neatly classified and arranged. Although there are many of them, they do not appear messy. They are dazzling and there is no end to them.

She turned around and asked, "What's in this pile?" "Some small items to please you." Xie Yunqing replied vaguely, motioning her to use her spiritual sense to investigate.

Shen Wenji was suspicious, feeling that it was not as simple as he said, but he still released his spiritual sense to investigate.

Near the gate, closest to her, were dozens of boxes tied with big red silk flowers. The lids of the boxes were open, revealing glittering brocade, cloud brocade, spiritual silk... all kinds of fabrics that were priceless in the world of immortal cultivation. They were colorful and shining, enough to dazzle the eyes.

Next to it is an area dedicated to displaying spiritual plants, including thousand-year-old blood ginseng, ten-thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum, and twin-stemmed spiritual lotus... Each plant is full of spiritual energy and is placed in a specially made jade basin.

Going further in, there is the area of ​​magic tools and magic treasures. Various magic treasures emit spiritual power fluctuations of different attributes, and the lowest one is at the top-grade spiritual weapon level.

There is also an area dedicated to storing spirit stones. High-quality spirit stones are piled up like mountains, and among them are many top-grade spirit stones with different properties.

There are also ancient books and jade slips, elixir porcelain bottles, rare treasures and curios... they are categorized into countless categories.

The entire courtyard was filled with precious light, as if the treasuries of several top sects had been emptied.

Shen Wenji was so shocked by the scene that he was speechless for a long time.

She turned around blankly and looked at Xie Yunqing, who seemed calm and composed beside her. Her voice trembled a little: "Xie Yunqing, these... are all for me?"

"You can buy ten Hehuan Sects with all this, right?" She stared at Xie Yunqing, "Tell me, what exactly are you going to do with all this?"

Xie Yunqing's ears turned slightly red, and he touched his nose a little embarrassedly. His eyes were wandering, not daring to look her in the eye. He whispered, "It's a betrothal gift."

He paused, his voice lowered, and he explained with a somewhat clumsy tone, "I have little experience, and I don't know what ancient rituals should be followed for the Hehuan Sect's leader's wedding. I can only refer to the solemn folk customs of the Three Books and Six Ceremonies, while also emulating the immortal race's marriage proposal rituals in my preparations."

Shen Wenji was stunned: "So many things, you prepared them in such a short time?"

"Not really. Actually, I saved all of this little by little."

He chuckled and said, "Susu, I've said it before, I've liked you for a long time, and you've always been in my future plans."

Xie Yunqing raised his head, looked at Shen Wenji sincerely, and said nervously: "I know these vulgar things may not be in your eyes, but a big sect like Hehuan Sect is not short of these."

Shen Wenji swallowed his saliva and complained in his heart: He was wrong, the Hehuan Sect is still quite short of people, what big sect? It really flatters us.

He held her hand and said, "But this is a token of my love. I thought that if other girls have something, my Susu must have it too. If others don't have something, my Susu must have it too."

Pointing at the dazzling array of betrothal gifts, Xie Yunqing raised the corners of his lips helplessly: "I remember the book saying: The betrothal gift ceremony includes a black silk bundle and two pieces of leather as the courtyard fruit."

"But besides the silks, deerskins, wild geese, wine, millet, and rice... I felt it wasn't enough, so I bought some more. If you think anything is out of place, or if there's anything missing, tell me and I'll get it right away."

"A little?" Shen Wenji looked at the things in the yard and didn't know what to say for a moment.

In addition to being touched, I also felt an almost funny emotion. This fool... why is he so serious?

She couldn't imagine that Xie Yunqing, such a cold and detached immortal, would secretly inquire about the marriage customs of the mortal world and clumsily prepare these things that he might never have come into contact with in his life.

On the one hand, I am worried that it is not grand enough, and on the other hand, I am afraid that it is against the rules.

The care and sincerity with which it was presented to her moved her more than the mountains of treasures.

"How long have you been preparing these things?" she asked in a hoarse voice.

Seeing that she didn't show any dislike, Xie Yunqing breathed a sigh of relief and answered honestly, "From the day I confirmed that I liked you and decided to be with you no matter what, I started secretly preparing."

He didn't dare to say the specific time, after all, he had been planning this for a long time.

Shen Wenji looked at his forced blushing face and felt completely softened.

She took the initiative to extend her hand, clasped his slightly cold fingers, and said softly, "It's very grand. I've never seen such a large betrothal gift. I like it very much."

Xie Yunqing's eyes lit up instantly when he heard that. He held her hand with his backhand, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but rise.

"However," Shen Wenji changed the subject, deliberately putting on a stern face, "You secretly prepared so much, have you already decided to eat me?"

Xie Yunqing quickly shook his head: "No, I was just thinking, what if you are willing one day? I have to be prepared in advance and can't let you wait."

Seeing him eager to explain, Shen Wenji finally couldn't help but burst out laughing.

She rolled her eyes and glared at him: "Fool."

Seeing her smile, Xie Yunqing was willing to be scolded. He whispered, "Susu, the betrothal gift is only one of the things. I'll take you to the backyard to see what I really want to prepare for you."

There's more? What on earth has this guy prepared? He's given her too many surprises.

Xie Yunqing took Shen Wenji by the hand, walked around the mountain of betrothal gifts, passed through the winding corridors, and came to the backyard of the mansion.

The backyard is spacious and quiet. It looks ordinary, but it is actually a different world.

Although he didn't see the secret clearly at the first time, the moment Shen Wenji stepped into the backyard, he felt refreshed and happy. Spiritual consciousness can't deceive people.

Xie Yunqing stood beside her and raised his hand and waved gently.

In an instant, the originally clear blue sky seemed to be quietly replaced by an invisible hand, and the daylight instantly turned into the deep night sky.

The night sky was not pitch black, but was dotted with countless bright stars. The galaxy was vast and flickered, as if the Milky Way above the nine heavens was moved in front of Shen Wenji's eyes.

The soft starlight slowly fell, and the entire backyard was shrouded in a dreamy and magnificent light.

"Is this... the Starry Sea?" Shen Wenji raised his head and murmured.

She could feel that this was not an illusion, but the real power of the stars, which opened up an independent tiny world here with day and night stars.

"Yeah." Xie Yunqing looked at her profile illuminated by the starlight and said softly, "I remember you said you like the starry sky and the moon."

His words brought Shen Wenji's memory back to a long, long time ago.

At that time, both of them were still young teenagers studying in academy.

In my memory, the chubby and clumsy little Xie Yunqing, who was ostracized because of his background, was bullied by several naughty disciples in a corner.

The young Wen Ji, who was just beginning to show his potential, was filled with a sense of justice. He rushed forward like a little sun and beat those people away in no time. Because he fought in the academy, he was punished by the old-fashioned teacher to stand in the corridor and reflect on his mistakes.

The moonlight was beautiful that night.

A small figure sneaked into the corridor. It was Xiao Yunqing. He found Xiao Wenji who was standing alone as punishment.

Xiao Yunqing carefully took out a clean handkerchief from her arms, which contained a piece of fragrant red bean pastry, and handed it to Shen Wenji.

"Thank you for today. This is for you." His voice was soft and a little nervous.

Little Wen Ji was stunned for a moment, then took the pastry that still had his body temperature: "Thank you."

"I should be the one thanking you."

"Friends don't need to say that."

The two small figures looked at each other in silence, sitting side by side on the cold steps in tacit understanding.

Little Shen Wenji took a bite of the sweet red bean pastry, squinted his eyes in satisfaction, and dangled his two feet in the air gently.

Xiao Yunqing thought for a long time, and finally stammered, "I'm sorry, it's my fault that you got punished."

"How can this be considered a punishment? You know, I love the starry sky and go to see it every night. Even if the Master didn't punish me today, I would still come. So it doesn't affect me at all, and you shouldn't blame yourself too much. You didn't do anything wrong, it's them who are wrong."

He forced a smile: "Chen Wenji, thank you."

"I've already said it, friends don't need to say this."

"Friend? Then can I call you Wen Ji from now on?"

"Of course, whatever you want."

Little Wen Ji looked up at the bright moon in the sky, stretched out his fingers stained with cake crumbs, and said happily: "Xie Yunqing, look, the moon is so beautiful tonight, so bright and round, I love the moon the most."

Xiao Yunqing raised his head following the sound, but his eyes did not stay on the bright moon, but involuntarily fell on the profile of the girl next to him.

"How is it? Is the moon beautiful?"

“It looks very nice.”

The bright moonlight gently outlined her face, and her eyes, brighter than the stars, were filled with the brilliance of the entire night sky.

He was a little stunned, as if his heart was gently hit by something, and an unfamiliar emotion quietly spread.

Xie Yunqing lowered his head and murmured in a voice that only he could hear: "Yeah, I like the moon too."

Because you are my moon.

During the darkest period of his childhood, she suddenly broke in, pulled him out of the mud, and became the only light in his gray life.

He kept these words in his heart for many, many years.

Shen Wenji pulled himself away from his memories, suddenly turned around and looked at the man beside him.

At this moment, the starlight fell into his deep eyes, emitting a gentle light.

And he was looking at her again.

Shen Wenji suddenly understood why he was here, creating another vast sea of ​​stars for her.

She looked at him, smiled, and asked the same question she had asked that year: "Is the moon beautiful?"

Xie Yunqing raised his eyebrows: "You guessed it."

He no longer hid it, and placed a light kiss on Shen Wenji's lips, saying softly, "It looks good."

The moon that was out of reach back then now belongs to him.

Xie Yunqing raised his hand and waved, and the albizzia flowers all over the mountains suddenly bloomed, stretching endlessly.

The area was suddenly filled with the fragrance of Albizia julibrissin flowers, and pink petals fluttered in the air, creating a beautiful scene.

The Albizia Julibrissin flower is the symbol of the Albizia sect, signifying everlasting love, happiness and contentment. It holds extraordinary significance for the sect's disciples.

Xie Yunqing hopes that their love will be witnessed by the julibrissin flowers.

Shen Wenji looked at the sea of ​​stars and the sea of ​​flowers intertwined, and was once again struck by romance.

She suppressed the emotion surging in her chest, deliberately turned her head, raised an eyebrow and looked at Xie Yunqing, and said in a teasing tone: "Master Xie, why are there julibrissin flowers again? I'm afraid your paradise has been completely emptied out by the flower gardens of the Hehuan Sect, right?"

"How could that be? I just borrowed some seeds. The albizzia trees here were all carefully cultivated by me. They weren't brought from your flower garden."

Xie Yunqing frowned slightly, as if he had thought of something: "Don't you like Albizia julibrissin?"

Before Shen Wenji could speak, the light on his fingertips flashed again: “Fortunately, I have prepared something else.”

With Shen Wenji standing at the center of the circle, countless white flower buds around him slowly unfolded at a speed visible to the naked eye. The petals were stacked one after another and bloomed one after another, as if they were carved out of moonlight, with an ethereal and illusory beauty.

Is this a night-blooming cereus?

Xie Yunqing asked her, "Susu, have you heard the story of the ephemeral flower blooming only for the sake of Wei Tuo?"

Shen Wenji shook his head.

He spoke slowly and steadily, "In order to awaken her amnesiac lover, the Epiphyllum flower goddess gathered her energy for a whole year and made it bloom in an instant, hoping that Wei Tuo would fall in love with her."

"Now, I want to be your Epiphyllum."

He controlled thousands of Epiphyllums to bloom simultaneously, just for Shen Wenji.

Xie Yunqing took a deep breath and faced her. His eyes were brighter than the stars and his expression became solemn.

"Chen Wenji." He called her full name, his voice gentle and firm. "When I was little, you were the light that shone into my dark life. Now, you are also the moon that I am willing to protect with everything I have."

"I know that the road to becoming an immortal is long, and there may be many unknown storms in the future, but I have made my heart clear, and you will always be my only choice."

"I, Xie Yunqing, swear here on my soul, with the stars as my witness."

"In this life, I only wish for you. I will protect you, love you, respect you, and be by your side. I will never let you down."

"I want to be with you, married, and love you wholeheartedly. I want to admire the stars and the bright moon together, and spend the long journey of immortality with you."

He stretched out his hand, and found an elegant jade bracelet in his palm. The jade bracelet was crystal white and contained powerful spiritual power.

"I transformed the jade pendant left by my mother into this jade bracelet."

"My mother once said that the jade pendant should be given to the future daughter-in-law of the Xie family. However, the jade pendant has been broken into three pieces, and it would not be appropriate to give it to you, so I made this jade bracelet."

He looked at her deeply and asked the question he had rehearsed in his mind thousands of times: "Will you marry me? Will Shen Wenji marry Xie Yunqing?"

Shen Wenji's eyes were filled with tears. She looked at the person in front of her, and all her words seemed pale.

She nodded vigorously, her voice tinged with tears: "I do."

She stretched out her hand and offered it to him.

Xie Yunqing was ecstatic, his hands even trembling a little, as he carefully put the jade bracelet on Shen Wenji's slender wrist.

The size is just right, and the warm touch fits the skin, it is tailor-made for her.

He stood up, hugged Shen Wenji, who was crying bitterly, tightly in his arms, and patted her back gently with his palm.

"Wen Ji, Susu, my wife..." Xie Yunqing called over and over again, his eyes moist.

From the joy in childhood to holding hands and looking at each other now.

He went through countless years and finally turned the purest love of his youth into a lifelong commitment.

From "I like you" to "I want to marry you", it was always her from beginning to end.

It’s great to marry someone you love.

Xie Yunqing lowered his head and hugged the warmth in his arms.

He finally held his moon tightly in his arms, and no one could take it away from him anymore.

-----------------------

The author has something to say: Thank you for your support, bow ~ [Rose]

The story of the Epiphyllum Blooming Only for Wei Tuo comes from Buddhist legend, which tells the story of the eternal love between the Epiphyllum Fairy and Wei Tuo that was blocked by the rules of heaven. If you are interested, you can search it. This article has been edited.

Black and purple silk wrapped in silk, with leather as the courtyard fruit, from "Yili Annotations, Volume 6, The Wedding Ceremony of a Gentleman, Part 2"

Married as husband and wife, with unwavering love, from "Farewell to My Wife"