Chapter 11 "Want to hold me while I watch?"...
The next day.
After leisurely finishing tidying up, Ji Chengning saw that it was almost time for the market to open, so he went to Xianyunfang to pick out flowers first.
The young marquis loved the vibrant and lively atmosphere, while His Highness the Crown Prince was the complete opposite. He was handsome and had a simple and elegant appearance. Ji Chengning chose two vases of pear blossoms, which were as clean and beautiful as snow, not yet fully open, still in bud.
After some thought, he felt it was too plain, so he chose lychees from the March Red variety to arrange in the vase. He trimmed the branches and leaves to look very natural, simple yet graceful, with bright red lychees dotting the branches, each one plump and auspicious, yet also quite elegant, with a touch of wild charm.
The three bottles of flowers made him walk around Xianyunfang twice. Just as he was picking something out, he suddenly heard a voice: "Chengning!" Someone called him happily.
Ji Chengning looked over and saw two tall, handsome young men standing not far away. Who else could they be but Qu Pingzhi and Zhou Mufang? Young Master Qu was holding a handful of peach blossoms, which made his face look even more clean and delicate, while Zhou Mufang was idly picking at his petals.
Ji Chengning held a pomegranate branch between two fingers and waved it at the two of them. The branch bounced up and down as if it were shaking its head and greeting them.
Zhou Mufang chuckled, "It's truly unfortunate that this flower has fallen into the hands of the young marquis."
The magnanimous young marquis was not annoyed by what he heard. He used two fingers to break off the flower head and casually smashed it towards Zhou Mufang's forehead.
"Hey you..."
Seeing this, Qu Pingzhi couldn't help but smile and asked, "Cheng Ning, do you have any plans for tonight?"
Before Ji Chengnin could answer, Zhou Mufang spoke up first: "I got a jar of fifty-year-old fish wine from my brother. Why don't you come over tonight, the usual place?"
“A fifty-year-old vintage makes my mouth water,” Ji Chengnin sighed, but his tone couldn’t hide his pride. “Unfortunately, I have a date with my beloved, so I have to disappoint you both.”
Zhou Mufang was so angry that she tore off another flower.
"He who forgets righteousness for the sake of beauty," he said. "He who is fickle and easily swayed by others."
Qu Pingzhi whispered, "Morning clouds and evening rain."
Ji Chengnin felt his reputation was ruined. "What do you two think you are!" A servant whispered something to him, and his expression changed slightly. "It's getting late! You two have fun, I'm going back now."
Qu Pingzhi sighed, then suddenly remembered something. "Cheng Ning, my brother said he appreciates the amulet you sent. It's kind of you, Your Highness, to go to such trouble."
Ji Chengnin waved his hand, "It's nothing."
The peach blossoms in Qu Pingzhi's arms were bright and delicate. Ji Chengning was delighted to see them, so he bought several more bottles of peach blossoms. He put the ones for his second uncle in plain rattan bottles, and the ones for the empress in the palace had two gold-carved jade koi pendants hanging on them.
Afterwards, the palace physician examined her carefully and personally escorted her to the palace gate. Then she hurried back to her residence to bathe and change clothes, by which time it was already dark.
Ji Chengning had changed his clothes and was choosing a hair ornament when, through the mercury mirror, he saw Chizheng enter carrying a box. "Young Master, Miss Cui sent someone to return the book to you, and there are also gifts from Miss Cui inside."
Ji Chengnin gave a puzzled "Oh," and said, "Let me see it."
He stepped forward and opened the box with one hand.
Inside was a square object, carefully wrapped in several layers of silk handkerchiefs, with all four corners neatly cut as if by a knife. Judging by its size, it was the ninth volume of Qing Le Tang that Ji Chengning had previously sent over.
On the other side, a glint appeared in the young marquis's dark eyes—from the light.
It was an extremely exquisite and gorgeous hair crown, woven entirely with gold thread. Ji Chengning picked up the hair crown and felt that it was not heavy at all, making it very suitable for wearing when going out for a trip.
Despite its extremely ornate and noble design, two thin silk threads dangled from the back, each adorned with a delicate paulownia leaf. When held up to the light, the veins on the leaves were clearly visible, adding an understated elegance to this magnificent headdress.
It has to be said that Cui Yao's choice of hair ornament was absolutely perfect, hitting Ji Chengning's sweet spot.
The young marquis liked these kinds of extremely luxurious and exquisite things, which were useless except for being pretty.
“It looks good,” he said, reaching out to brush the golden paulownia leaf aside. The leaves rustled as they collided, just like leaves rubbing against each other in the forest, only with a clearer sound. “I’ll wear this.”
After he had finished getting ready and stepped out of the courtyard, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Cui Yao was standing outside the courtyard, looking up slightly at the lanterns hanging above.
Ji Chengning's breathing was slightly sluggish.
Perhaps because he was going out today, Cui Yao put on makeup. His facial features were not soft to begin with, and the makeup did not neutralize his overly sharp temperament. Instead, it made his bone structure more prominent, revealing a kind of captivating, sharp beauty.
Hearing the sound, Cui Yao looked up.
The dim candlelight fell into his eyes, and his gaze trembled, converging into two flickering orbs. His eyes, so pale they were almost bluish, resembled will-o'-the-wisps on a lonely grave when illuminated.
A night breeze blew, causing the lanterns hanging at the door, depicting Kui catching ghosts, to rustle loudly.
Ji Chengning shivered violently.
"Your Highness?" Cui Yao called him softly.
Ji Chengning snapped out of his daze, flashed a bright smile, and strode forward.
He spoke, his tone tinged with a spoiled apology, "I was supposed to be going to meet my cousin, but now it's my cousin who's come to pick me up."
Cui Yao turned her face away.
His makeup was exquisite. Nowadays, young women love to apply small pieces of rouge under their eyes and then decorate them with powder, creating a slanted, flamboyant effect. However, on Cui Yao's face, it did not look charming, but rather like a freshly cut wound, eerily strange.
"In that case, Your Highness, would you be willing to let me continue to the end?" he asked, his voice slightly hoarse but very gentle.
Ji Chengnin suppressed the strange chill in his heart and smiled, "As long as my cousin wants to do it, I will do anything."
Cui Yao raised her eyes and glanced at Ji Chengning with an ambiguous expression. "Thank you for your leniency, Your Highness."
Ji Chengning's neck tensed up reflexively.
Then, he suddenly realized what was happening, cursed himself for being seriously ill, and slowly calmed down.
The two remained silent the rest of the way.
Upon reaching the carriage, Ji Chengning finally understood what Cui Yao meant.
He watched as his delicate cousin deftly got into the car, and then reached out a hand to him.
Ji Chengnin: "...Hmm?"
Something seems off.
Cui Yao smiled at him, seemingly puzzled, and called out, "Your Highness."
Ji Chengnin remained silent for a few moments before extending his hand.
It doesn't seem like there's anything wrong with it.
After all, there's no law that forbids a cousin from helping him into the car... right?
To Ji Chengning's surprise, Cui Yao's fingers, though slender, were actually much stronger than he had imagined.
Her long, slender fingers gripped his wrist tightly, and with a yank, she easily pulled him into the car.
Miss Cui remained calm and composed, pulling this grown man as if she were carrying a raccoon.
The rounded edge of his nail brushed against Ji Chengnin's palm, causing a slight itch.
The young marquis, who had intended to make a show of it while secretly exerting influence to save face for his cousin, fell silent.
His gaze fell suspiciously on Cui Yao's arms, which were wrapped in brocade.
What did his cousin eat to grow up like this?
After gently helping him into the car, Cui Yao politely and slowly let go of his hand.
The two sat down on opposite sides.
Ji Chengning was exhausted after working for half a day, so he lowered his head and closed his eyes for a short rest.
The excessively long gold thread on his headdress swayed with the bumps of the carriage, hitting his neck again and again.
He was pampered and his skin was rarely exposed to sunlight. His snow-white neck, with its pale blue veins, pulsated and trembled with Ji Chengning's breathing.
The gentle and docile Miss Cui raised her lips, her canine teeth silently piercing the soft flesh inside her cheek.
The stench of blood spread instantly.
...
Because it was the Flower Festival, Xianyun Lane was crowded with tourists. Ji Chengning felt that it was most boring to just glance at the scenery from the carriage, so he asked the driver to stay outside the lane and walked in leisurely with Cui Yao.
The streets were ablaze with lights, with lanterns shaped like peach blossoms hanging on both sides, stretching for more than ten miles. The candlelight shone brightly, casting warm pink light through the oiled paper.
The delicate and natural floral fragrance blends with the sweet and powdery scent, carried on the spring breeze, lifting one's mood.
Ji Chengning took a spoonful of tea snacks with a small bamboo spoon and put it in his mouth. The snacks were soft and melted in his mouth with just a light touch of his tongue. The milk was sweet, but there was no fishy or goaty taste. He had also picked some newly opened pear blossoms, steamed them, squeezed out the juice, and mixed it into the dough. The dough had the fragrance of spring flowers but no bitterness from the grass. "This is very good," the young marquis commented solemnly. "It's not sweet."
Cui Yao turned her head to look at him upon hearing the sound.
Ji Chengning immediately turned the small tray in his palm around and placed it in front of Cui Yao, "Cousin, would you like to try some?"
The tray contained two small pastries, both shaped like jade rabbits holding the tray, charming and adorable. However, one was intact, while the other was headless, with cherry jam slowly seeping out from the twisted and crooked cracks in its neck.
"Thank you, Your Highness, but there's no need."
Ji Chengnin's face showed genuine doubt. "Why?"
Cui Yao smiled slightly, "Your Highness, guess?"
His gaze slid down, from the pear blossom jade rabbit cake in Ji Chengnin's left hand to the bamboo spoon with half a pastry still in it and the osmanthus glutinous rice candy skewer in his right hand. His wrist was also busy, with two packets of pastries hanging on the open, with bamboo skewers inserted inside, making it very convenient for the owner to take them.
Ji Chengning bought it with great fanfare, but when he ate it, he only took a small bite to taste it.
He couldn't eat it all, didn't want to throw it away, and couldn't carry that much, so he kept spouting nonsense like "Try this, little sister, this is delicious too," and coaxed Cui Yao into eating countless pastries.
Just moments ago, Miss Cui had finished eating the flower-shaped cake that the young marquis had sent her. Turning her head, she saw the other woman standing in front of a stall selling dew, her long eyebrows drooping gently with a smile. "Boss, how much is this?"
He was such a handsome young man that when he wasn't arrogant and domineering, the slight upturn of his lips was enough to make one's heart pound.
The girl selling Qinglu blushed under his gaze and replied shyly, "Twenty coins a bowl."
Cui Yao took two steps forward, gently took Ji Chengning's hand, and pressed her fingers down to the slightly deformed wrist bone.
It felt cool, like a piece of ice that wasn't too hard sliding across my skin.
Ji Chengnin turned his head abruptly.
Cui Yao smiled and said, "Brother."
Ji Chengnin asked with a smile, "Does my cousin want some?"
His response was a slight itch and heaviness on his wrist.
He looked down and saw two bags of snacks dangling from his wrist.
It was him; he just bought it.
The young marquis coughed softly, then belatedly realized his embarrassment and softened his voice to call out, "Cousin."
The voice was drawn out with a lot of twists and turns, even more cloying than the sugar candy Cui Yao had just swallowed.
Cui Yao remained unmoved, took Ji Chengning's other hand, gently pried open his fingers, placed the candy skewer in his palm, and let go.
Ji Chengning instinctively grabbed it and squeezed the candy skewer into his palm.
So the cake bags that Miss Cui had just been holding were now all hanging on Ji Chengning.
Young Master Ji actually had the nerve to ask him why he wasn't eating.
Meeting Cui Yao's ambiguous smile, Ji Chengnin immediately turned his head and looked around.
Xianyunfang was crowded, especially in front, where people were packed shoulder to shoulder around a platform that was about half a meter high.
The music came with the wind, its sound capable of piercing through clouds and splitting rocks.
Ji Chengning bent his little finger and hooked it around Cui Yao's sleeve, saying in a flattering tone, "Cousin, let's go take a look at the front."
Cui Yao chuckled and stepped forward beside him.
A dense crowd completely surrounded the platform. Ji Chengning looked up and saw nine musicians performing a flying dance on the lotus-shaped platform. They were dressed in colorful clothes and draped in gold and green gauze. The golden bells on their wrists and ankles jingled with the dancers' movements, blending with the music and making the performance even more captivating.
To the rear, two musicians knelt on a mat and played, one playing the jie drum and the other the pipa.
As the dance steps quickened, the dancer's flowing skirt and gauze fluttered outwards like flower petals, while the zither music grew more urgent, both bold and grand, yet also graceful and ethereal.
Ji Chengnin didn't want to squeeze in, but he was curious about what the musician looked like, so he looked up at him intently.
A sweet, cloying aroma wafted from the bag from time to time, permeating the fabric and turning even the young marquis into a large pastry. Under the lush lamplight, his face was as white as jade, and it seemed as if a bite would release a honey-like filling.
Cui Yao asked gently, "Do you want me to hold you while you watch?"
Ji Chengnin casually replied, "Okay."
Before he could finish speaking, Ji Chengnin suddenly realized something was wrong.
This is Cui Yao! She's a young woman.
Ji Chengning bit his tongue and gave Cui Yao an embarrassed smile. "I thought it was Pingzhi and Mufang. I'm sorry to have made you laugh, cousin."
On second thought, it was clearly Cui Yao who brought up the topic. Although he answered without thinking, Cui Yao, who deliberately asked the question, was even more despicable.
Cui Yao smiled and said, "So this is how the Crown Prince and his friends are close."
A note from the author:
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