Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Heartbeat, Fishing
Daiyu and Wu Tianyue arrived at the palace, only to see Xia Jin and others waiting in front of the main courtyard gate. It must be Princess Zhongshun who received the news and ordered her to pick them up.
The two followed Xia Jin into the main room. Before Daiyu could greet her, she saw a woman sitting next to Princess Zhongshun. She had a frown on her face and eyes that looked a bit like herself. This person should be Lingguan, no, her name should be Jin Ling now.
Princess Zhongshun saw her enter and glanced at Jin Ling first. Knowing she was curious, she smiled and said, "This is your Aunt Lan's goddaughter, Jin Ling. I saw she was quite perceptive, so I brought her along to educate her."
Wu Tianyue gently reminded Daiyu: "Aunt Lan is your mother's half-sister, and the two have always had a good relationship."
Daiyu smiled as she stepped forward and exchanged greetings with Jin Ling. She stood up and took a closer look. Her eyes were indeed very similar to her own. She smiled and said, "If I had only looked at my sister's eyes, I would have thought I was looking in a mirror."
Jin Ling has been with Princess Zhongshun for a while now. She was very scared at first, but the people in the palace were all nice to her. The princess even hired a teacher to teach her music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and the Four Books and Five Classics. Even those who gossiped about her were punished. She knew that she could have these days because she looked like Miss Lin, so she was very uneasy despite her happiness these days, and always felt that it was stolen.
When I learned today that Miss Lin was coming, I felt a little uneasy early in the morning, feeling guilty and scared. But when I saw Daiyu being so friendly, I felt relieved, but then I felt a little despicable.
Princess Zhongshun had always known about her concerns, but she had said everything she needed to say. She could only provide her with a safe environment, allowing her to grow up and slowly figure things out. So, she smiled and said, "Mencius said, 'There is nothing better in a person than the eyes.' The similarity in your eyes suggests you two sisters share a common kindness and talent. You'll definitely be able to connect."
After hearing this, Daiyu and the other girl looked at each other and laughed, and all the grudges in their hearts disappeared.
After entering the palace and seeing familiar people, Wu Tianyue felt that the smell of Daiyu was no longer as strong as before. He breathed a sigh of relief, and his stomach began to growl. Seeing that the three people were still chatting, he said loudly, "Why don't you eat yet? I'm starving."
Daiyu also relaxed, her previous feelings interrupted by something, and she no longer thought about the puppet and the book. Hearing this, although she knew that he was born with supernatural powers and it was normal for him to eat a lot and get hungry quickly, but the two of them were used to bickering with each other on a daily basis, she subconsciously laughed at him: "All you do all day is eat."
"Eat more and you'll be healthy." Wu Tianyue also said, "You eat like a bird every day, that's why your health is so poor."
Jin Ling had never seen such a scene before and was not used to the two people's tit-for-tat confrontation. Princess Zhongshun patted her hand and soothed her, "They poke each other in the face like this all the time. You'll just have to get used to it."
As he said this, he told people to set the table.
After a short rest, they sat down to eat and rest. Princess Zhongshun began to deal with the affairs of the palace. Seeing her busy, Daiyu smiled and said, "Didn't the queen plant a bamboo forest for me? I want to go and see it."
"Go and take a look. Tell Xia Jin if there's anything you want to change." Seeing her interested, Princess Zhongshun smiled and said, "Just don't play around too much. Be careful not to tire yourself out."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Daiyu smiled and knelt down.
Princess Zhongshun heard her strange tone and smiled, shaking her head. She thought she had learned bad habits from Wu Tianyue. She then said to Jin Ling, "You should go out and have some fun too. Don't stay here with me all day."
Jin Ling said, "I like being with the Empress."
"You have been with the Empress for a long time," Daiyu said, pulling her aside. "Come with me and take a look."
Jin Ling was only eleven years old. Seeing that both of them were persuading her, she felt like playing and went to Xianyun Tower with Daiyu.
Princess Zhongshun had previously ordered people to clear out the corner of the garden in Xianyun Tower where there was a lake and plant a large bamboo forest. The three of them walked along the cobblestone path into the depths of the bamboo forest and saw three or four bamboo houses connected together by the lake.
Except for the thick carpet on the floor, everything in the house, including the bamboo chairs and bamboo table under the window, as well as the cups and ornaments on the table, are made of bamboo.
Daiyu loves bamboo and books. She couldn't help but linger in the bamboo house, which was made entirely of bamboo and had bookshelves in one room filled with the palace's collection copied by Princess Zhongshun.
Jin Ling has learned to read these days and is very interested in books. She sits on the floor with Daiyu and reads.
Seeing that she read slowly and some words and sentences were difficult to understand, Daiyu took out a pen and paper to explain them to her one by one.
Seeing that the two of them had no time to pay attention to him, Wu Tianyue also took a book and sat aside to accompany them. However, as he read, he was always distracted to look at Daiyu. At this time, seeing the two of them talking together, his eyes followed them unconsciously.
The late spring sunlight outside the window shines through the bamboo forest and falls on Daiyu's face, casting a hazy light on her delicate fair skin. Her long eyelashes droop down, trembling slightly, and reflected on the skin under her eyes, like the skirt of a fairy dancing in the moonlight.
Wu Tianyue was staring blankly, while Daiyu had already picked up the pen and written the words, then picked up the paper to explain to Jin Ling.
A voice as clear as jade was heard, and Wu Tianyue couldn't help but look at her slightly moving lips. Daiyu had a weak constitution, and her lips were not as rosy as those of Wu Tianyue, who had sufficient energy and blood. Instead, they were a light pink, which showed a fragile beauty against her white and somewhat transparent skin.
Wu Tianyue suddenly felt a little dry in the mouth. He knew he had to look away but he couldn't bear to do so, so he stared at her intently.
Daiyu was also a little nervous now. She could feel Wu Tianyue's increasingly hot gaze. She felt a little excited and a little at a loss. She didn't dare to look up and forced herself to concentrate on teaching.
Just when Jin Ling noticed that Daiyu's fingers were gripping the book tighter and tighter, a breeze blew in from the window, blowing the papers on the table off. The two of them hurriedly bent down to pick them up.
Wu Tianyue also came to his senses, picked up the paper beside him and handed it to Daiyu. His ears turned red when their fingertips touched.
Daiyu's heart was pounding because of what had just happened, but when she saw his ears red and his eyes evasive, she felt a little amused and deliberately said, "Brother, are you hot? Why is your neck red?"
Wu Tianyue felt a surge of heat. His face, which was not as fair as Daiyu's due to years of martial arts training, instantly turned red. He stammered, "Yes...it is a bit hot today."
After saying this, he didn't dare look at Daiyu and turned his head away uncomfortably. He heard Daiyu's laughter again, which made him even more restless. He wanted to escape. After catching a glimpse of the fishing rods placed by the lake outside the window, he hurriedly asked the two of them, "The fish in the lake tastes good. Why don't we catch some for dinner?"
"Okay." Jin Ling didn't notice anything unusual and responded, "It just so happens that I need time to understand what Miss Lin taught me today."
Daiyu was a little surprised to see Wu Tianyue's reaction, but she knew it was not good to tease him any more, so she agreed with a smile.
The maids and old women serving outside heard the instructions and hurriedly brought the fishing bait. They also wiped the chairs in the bamboo pavilion by the lake clean and put cushions on them.
The three of them put the book away, went out to change their shoes, and walked into the pavilion to sit down.
Wu Tianyue had learned fishing specifically to defeat Daiyu, but he was busy going to Yangzhou and had no chance to compete with Daiyu. When he was in Yangzhou, Daiyu had to take care of Lin Ruhai. After returning to Beijing, the two had even less time, so Wu Tianyue gradually forgot about it.
For some reason today, he suddenly wanted to show off in front of Daiyu. He didn't do it for the sake of winning, but just wanted Daiyu to see how good he was. After all, he had caught several big fish when he just started learning, so wouldn't he have a good harvest today?
Thinking of this, Wu Tianyue confidently waved away the maid who was going to help him hang the bait, prepared the bait himself, and carefully chose a place to throw it down.
He thought he was very handsome and natural, but in Daiyu's eyes, he looked around the lake like a fool, and finally chose a place exposed to the sun. He spent a quarter of an hour grunting and struggling to put up the bait himself before starting to fish.
Daiyu sat on a bamboo chair with a fishing rod in her hand. She looked at the high sun, then lowered her head to glance at Wu Tianyue, then looked away with disdain and began to reflect on why she was blushing and her heart was beating fast because of this man.
Wu Tianyue felt Daiyu's gaze and thought that she must be admiring him, so he straightened his head and chest and sat upright, waiting for the fish to bite so that he could show off his skills. But perhaps his luck was bad today, and half an hour passed without any fish taking the bait.
It was like a house leaking in a rainy night. Not only could he not catch any fish, but he could also hear Daiyu and Jin Ling's happy cheers after catching fish. Wu Tianyue looked down at his fishing rod and began to doubt his life. He used to catch fish with every hook. Was it because of the competition with Daiyu? Or was it because he hadn't practiced since returning from Yangzhou?
The good news is that Wu Tianyue is no longer obsessed with the strange thoughts and actions he saw Daiyu have today. The bad news is that the shadow that she had suppressed in the past has come to her mind again and cannot be shaken off.
Wu Tianyue shuddered all over. If he couldn't catch any fish today, he would be afraid that he would have to endure Daiyu's ridicule and mockery for a long time. When he thought of that scene... he couldn't think about it, it was too scary.
For a better life in the future, Wu Tianyue pulled up the fishing rod and quickly changed the place to fish. He couldn't lose today, but things went against his wishes. Until the sun set in the west, he didn't catch a single fish, but Daiyu and Jin Ling both caught a few.
Seeing that his bucket was empty, Daiyu smiled and put away the fishing rod: "I have filled my basket with fish, but you have nothing in your hands. I smile and point to the ripples reflecting the sunlight." After that, she ordered someone to release the fish in the bucket.
Wu Tianyue heard her mocking him for fishing until sunset with no fish, and then saw her releasing the fish. He replied, "It's a pretense of kindness to catch a carp on your fishing rod, but if you let it go, you'll still be buried by the water."
Daiyu was startled by this and asked anxiously, "How can a fish that is released die?"
Wu Tianyue scored a victory and laughed out loud.
The little maidservant beside her hurriedly comforted Daiyu: "The fish you caught only had its mouth injured. Its gills and body are intact. It will be fine if you release it."
After hearing this, Daiyu chased after Wu Tianyue to beat him.
Wu Tianyue smiled and dodged, but when he saw Daiyu panting but still not stopping, he knew she was being stubborn again, so he pretended to be tired and slowed down.
Daiyu stepped forward, grabbed him, twisted his ear, and then contentedly pulled Jin Ling, who was giggling beside her, back to Princess Zhongshun's courtyard.
Wu Tianyue followed them, rubbing his ears and whispering, "How cruel."
"What are you mumbling about?" Daiyu turned to look at him. "You're secretly saying bad things about me again."
"What are you talking about, young lady?" Wu Tianyue quickly stepped forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with her. "In my heart, you are the Lady of the Nine Heavens. You have only good qualities, and I can't find any bad qualities at all."
Daiyu was amused by his flattering manner and said in a feigned manner, "You are such a smooth talker."
The three of them chatted and laughed as they returned to the main courtyard. They had dinner with Princess Zhongshun and chatted for a few more minutes before returning to their rooms. No words were spoken all night.
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The author has something to say: Thanks to the little angel "waiting for the flowers to bloom" and "9/7/5=0.257" for the nutrient solution for irrigation~
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