24. Catching the Moon

"Does it still hurt?"

Wen Yanhe sat on the chair, Yun Zhihe squatted down and rubbed his ankle with his fingertips to determine whether there was any bone injury.

The little fox always prides himself on being smart, and usually disdains such clumsy methods of pretending to be injured.

Can……

Isn't the way to deal with a green tea girl to be even greener than her?

He narrowed his eyes, looked up at Qingzhu, whose eyes were slightly red, and raised the corners of his lips in a wicked way.

He made a "hiss..." sound from his mouth, pursed his lips, and said something in a hoarse voice.

"……pain."

Qingzhu just looked at him, their eyes meeting, both filled with inexplicable emotions.

Men and women should not touch each other, so she just rubbed her ankle and withdrew her hand when she found that there was no injury to the bones. The task of taking off the socks and applying the medicine could only be left to the man.

Qingzhu seemed to see her dilemma and suggested, "Madam Yun, please let me do it."

Yun Zhihe nodded and walked out of the room tactfully.

It was already dark, and there weren't many servants in the Yun Mansion, so it looked rather quiet and desolate, but in the distance there were bright lights.

She was stunned, thinking that today...it seemed to be the Lantern Festival.

The weather is a little cold, and it snowed a few days ago. The lonely bright moon hangs in the sky.

Yun Zhihe wanted to join in the fun at the Lantern Festival...but the Cui Mansion was far away, and Wen Yanhe had sprained his ankle.

At the moment, there should be no one to accompany her.

Inside the house at this time.

Qingzhu gently took off Wen Yanhe's shoes and socks, with her eyes slightly lowered and her expression calm.

Wen Yanhe snorted coldly and let him hold her ankles, his fingertips tapping on the handle of the white jade fan.

"Master Qingzhu is really good at scheming."

Qingzhu responded softly and applied ointment to his uninjured ankle with her fingertips. He raised his head, and his black hair, which was only tied up with a hairpin, slid down his shoulders.

She slightly curved her eyes, her gaze clear.

"Master Wen naturally despises jealousy and also despises Qingzhu. Qingzhu knows that she is of low status, but how can she be considered as scheming?"

He lowered his head again and obediently applied the ointment for him.

Whispered softly.

“…It’s just joy.”

Wen Yanhe paused for a moment when she calmly expressed her affection for him, and sneered as if in a mocking manner.

"You know my ankle isn't injured, so there's no need to apply it."

"...Why bother pretending anymore?"

He retracted his foot, not letting Qingzhu touch it again.

He sat on the chair, leaned over, and put his face close to Qingzhu who was squatting and looking up.

The two looked into each other's eyes and stared at each other.

His voice was slightly hoarse, and he spoke each word with emphasis.

"If you play tricks on her again, I won't let you off easily."

Wen Yanhe just said this and stopped talking, closing his eyes to rest.

Qingzhu tactfully retreated, leaving only Wen Yanhe in the room, and went out to Yun Zhihe.

He was tall and slender, with a face as white as jade. He looked up at the lights in the distance, pursed his lips with a faint smile, and spoke softly.

"Madam Yun... Master Wen is seriously injured. I'm afraid he won't be able to walk today."

"There's a lantern festival today, and it's bustling in the distance. If Madam Yun is happy... Qingzhu can go with you."

He turned his head and chuckled, his jade-white face handsome and clear.

"Can……"

Yun Zhihe paused, looked up at the lights in the distance, and was about to agree.

Suddenly a voice came, "Zhihe!"

She trembled with fear.

In the blink of an eye, Wen Yan and Pi Rou were not smiling, but forcedly raised the corners of their lips, and raised their foot, deliberately showing that they had indeed sprained it.

He supported himself on the pillar with his hands and chuckled at Yun Zhihe.

"Brother Qingzhu and I hit it off right away, and I just sprained my ankle." Wen Yanhe took Qingzhu's hand and smiled at him, his voice slightly gritted with teeth, "I need Brother Qingzhu to take care of me."

The word "care" is emphasized.

The sprained ankle was a pit he dug for himself, but he didn't expect Qingzhu to jump into it and take advantage of him.

"If you want to go to the Lantern Festival, go by yourself. We brothers will rest for a while in the Yun Mansion and have a heart-to-heart talk."

He can't go to the Lantern Festival with Yun Zhihe... Qingzhu can't go either.

Their eyes met for a moment, and their holding hands exerted force secretly.

Yun Zhihe nodded, "Okay, then I'll go by myself."

She left under the gazes of the two men, frowning as she felt that their way of getting along was a little awkward.

...Maybe they are brothers who met too late?

Following the dim light of the Yun Mansion and the slightly cold wind, she tucked her cloak in, and her hands felt a little cold.

Probably because of kneeling for those three days, I have been feeling particularly cold lately.

As soon as he walked out of the gate of Yun Mansion, he saw a carriage standing quietly at the door.

The carriage is low-key and luxurious. There is no gold, silver, jade or other stone decorations on the outside, but the wood used is of excellent quality and the workmanship is exquisite.

Looking at the slender jade-like hand that gently opened the curtain, Yun Zhihe was stunned for a moment.

...It's him.

Xuanyuan Ying lifted the curtain and stepped down from the carriage. His dark robe embroidered with gold made him look noble and elegant, and he exuded an indescribable aura even when he walked.

Just as Yun Zhihe was about to salute, he put his fingertips to his lips, opened his lips slightly, made a "hush" sound, and made a gesture of silence, his eyes calm.

Yun Zhihe stopped and let Xuanyuan Ying come over. He lowered his eyes and took her hand.

Slender, jade-like, and warm palms wrapped around her frozen hands.

She opened her mouth and was about to speak, but then she thought of what Xuanyuan Ying had said before.

He pursed his lips before speaking, "Xuan, Master Xuan'er."

Xuanyuan responded with a "hmm", and covered Yun Zhihe's hands with his broad hands, clenching them slightly to transfer his body temperature.

The cold wind created white mist with every breath, which clouded Xuanyuan Ying's calm and stern features.

Yun Zhihe wanted to withdraw his hand, but he held it firmly. He could only stammer, his brows slightly furrowed, "No, there's no need for that."

Xuanyuan Ying lowered his head and lowered his eyelids, his pupils were pale and cold, he did not speak, but waited until the hand in his palm became warm before letting go.

At this time, he raised his eyes, met Yun Zhihe's flattered eyes, and spoke softly.

"Today is the Lantern Festival. Come with me for a stroll."

He used the word "I"...which was an order.

Yun Zhihe nodded in agreement.

Just walking on the brightly lit street, surrounded by noise, young boys and girls were in pairs, chattering.

But among male and female combinations, it is rare to find such a quiet atmosphere as that of Yun Zhihe and Xuanyuan Ying.

Yun Zhihe swallowed his sigh helplessly, still feeling the awkwardness of the atmosphere.

She could have come alone.

But it's extremely uncomfortable to visit the Lantern Festival with Your Majesty. How can I concentrate on having fun?

Xuanyuan Ying seemed unaware of the cold atmosphere. He raised his head slightly and pointed to Yun Zhihe at the lantern hanging on the wall.

"I... want that."

Yun Zhihe quickly asked the merchant to take it down and paid for it.

The merchant's wife had been doing business for many years, so she naturally said some auspicious words. She took the money with a smile on her face and praised Yun Zhihe.

"The young lady is very pretty, and the husband is also very handsome...the woman is talented and the man is beautiful."

Yun Zhihe was about to open his mouth to explain, but Xuanyuan Ying threw a silver ingot directly over to him, his thin lips seemed to curl up slightly, and a smile appeared on his face.

The merchant's wife was surprised and delighted. She took the silver ingot and spoke kindly to him without asking for money. "My dear, you are so generous. We are a perfect match. You two will surely be together forever. May you have a daughter soon and fall in love with each other..."

Yun Zhihe was stunned and listened to her words helplessly.

Xuanyuan Ying turned his head and looked at her with a smile on his face.

He pulled the stunned Yun Zhihe away from the stall, holding the lantern in his hand, and his usually indifferent face now showed a happy expression.

Yun Zhihe seemed to have not yet reacted, and suddenly apologized for the merchant, "Your Majesty... Master Xuan'er, that merchant did not mean to offend... you..."

"Don't be angry..."

Xuanyuan Ying responded softly, nodded, his voice slightly hoarse, "I'm not angry."

The bright light shone on the side of his face, casting a shadow on the tip of his tall nose, making his features appear softer, softening his usual indifference.

Yun Zhihe breathed a sigh of relief.

Just walking and turning, I arrived at the riverside. The lights here were dim, with moonlight and lights intertwined, and the noise in the distance was in my ears.

Xuanyuan Ying looked at the children playing in the distance, curled up the corners of his lips slightly, and handed the lantern he was holding to Yun Zhihe.

He reached out and twisted his fingertips around her hair behind her ear.

The moonlight shines slowly on his moon.

He leaned closer and lowered his head, their breaths mingling together, his fingertips still touching her face.

The usually cold and arrogant emperor now had scattered lights in his eyes, like shimmering waves.

Yun Zhihe was a little stunned, and just followed his movements and looked into his eyes.

It was like a whisper, with a hoarse murmur and a trembling ending.

"Jinniang, do you know..."

Suddenly, a voice came from the distance, "Ahhhhhhhh!!! Help! That person has a knife in his hand!!"

Yun Zhihe suddenly broke free from Xuanyuan Ying's hand, ran after the sound, and shouted at Xuanyuan Ying, "Master Xuan'er! Wait a moment—I'll go see what's going on!"

The screams were loud and sounded like there were many voices.

Xuanyuan Ying was silent for a moment, looking at Yun Zhihe's back with dark eyes, his hand still stroking her cheek, and then slowly let go.

Watching her leave calmly.

He coldly ordered the shadow guard in the dark, "...Go and take a look."

Several dark shadows suddenly rushed out.

He exhaled lightly, and the breath turned into white mist with the cold wind. He raised his head, and his neck was smooth and beautiful.

He looked at the bright moonlight, noble and bright. He stretched out his slender hands with trembling fingertips, facing the moon, opening and closing them vaguely and then grasping them.

The moonlight passed through his fingers and reached Xuanyuan Ying's face.

He spoke softly, his eyes calm.

“…still can’t catch it.”

The moon, still can't be caught.

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