Chapter 72 The Magpie Bridge Kisses Amidst a Rain of Flowers
After a few days of rest and recuperation, the Qixi Festival arrived in the blink of an eye.
In the past few days, Yu Wenxue had been in contact with the system and learned that the HE progress was slowly increasing and not decreasing, so she was relieved and not worried about the gold chain on her feet at all.
Anyway, she can open it anytime she wants.
She thought so, but Lin Qingwan didn't.
Lin Qingwan bit her lip, imagining a thousand different scenarios of Yu Wenxue being humiliated, and finally said with difficulty, "Wenxue, why don't you move in with me first?"
"Why are you suddenly saying this?" Yu Wenxue ate a red date and pushed it towards Lin Qingwan: "This is very sweet, have a taste."
Lin Qingwan didn't answer: "I just missed you and wanted to get closer to you."
"Then I'll come see you every day, don't find me annoying!" Yu Wenxue laughed heartily: "Eat more red dates, your complexion will look better."
Lin Qingwan ate one as a token gesture and didn't say anything more. After all, judging from Yu Wenxue's expression, she seemed to be enjoying it quite a bit.
Her complexion was rosy and radiant, her eyes were dark and bright, and her hair was smooth and shiny. The second young master probably hadn't mistreated her; he just couldn't help but worry about her.
Perhaps this is the charm of their relationship; it's best if she doesn't say anything more.
Concerned about Yu Wenxue's illness, she asked, "Did you finish the medicine I gave you last time?"
Yu Wenxue touched her face: "I've finished eating. Look, my skin looks even better."
Lin Qingwan: "I heard that a very famous old witch doctor is about to return from his travels in Luoyang. I'd like to invite him to come and take your pulse. Why don't you let him examine you too?"
Yu Wenxue paused in her eating of red dates.
Chen Rourou seemed to have mentioned an old witch doctor before, but she didn't take it to heart.
Miao territory and such sounds terrifying.
But she couldn't bring herself to refuse, and replied vaguely, "Okay, we'll see then."
Even so, I still had some doubts. I wondered if there was anything seriously wrong with her health...
Lin Qingwan wanted to say something more, but was interrupted by the servant's voice outside: "Sir, Miss Lin is a guest inside."
Gu Yun Shen made a point of coming back early to keep her company since they were going out to celebrate the holiday tonight.
Ever since he returned, the Empress Dowager has been sending people to look for him, whether intentionally or unintentionally, which is very annoying. Only when he is by Yu Wenxue's side can he feel a moment of peace.
Yu Wenxue lay on the rocking chair and called out to the outside, "Don't disturb us while we're having a private conversation."
Upon hearing this, Gu Yun Shen's lips tightened, and he turned and went to his study.
Seeing this, Lin Qingwan smiled faintly: "It seems that the Second Young Master listens to you very much."
"There are times when she won't listen." For example, when kissing her in bed, no amount of begging will work...
Of course, she wouldn't tell Lin Qingwan about this.
As they spoke, the two walked out the door hand in hand.
Just before leaving, Yu Wenxue untied the chains on her feet.
Lin Qingwan noticed this detail, shook her head and smiled.
The event hasn't started yet, but there are already quite a few people on the streets.
Every year at this time, a "fairy bridge" made of wooden magpies is erected over the moat, commonly known as the "Magpie Bridge".
I'd heard of this folk custom when I was in eastern Yunnan, and it's slightly different from the one in Beijing. A man and a woman stand on opposite sides of a bridge. If, after several dozen steps, they can make eye contact in the crowd, it means they are destined to be together; otherwise, they are destined to be together but not to stay together.
Before long, Gu Rongting appeared.
In his hand was a bunch of freshly picked flowers, tied together with silk in a rough manner, clearly made by himself.
Gu Rongting didn't know why he did this; it seemed as if it was destined for him to do so.
Gu Yun Shen followed behind the two girls at a distance that was neither too close nor too far, his expression indifferent.
A disguised eunuch couldn't help but speak up: "Lord Gu, the Empress Dowager truly hopes you can return to your ancestral home. All the past grievances are in the past; let bygones be bygones..."
Gu Yunshen didn't speak, his gaze remaining fixed on Yu Wenxue.
She's dressed rather lightly tonight; I wonder if she'll be cold.
The eunuch, feeling neglected, couldn't help but follow Gu Yun Shen's gaze. The lively girl in front of him was most likely his future queen.
Even though he looked down on the princess's background, he maintained a calm demeanor and said respectfully, "With just one word from you, you can have mountains of gold and silver, and even women, whatever you desire in the future."
With the Crown Prince dead, the Prince of Pingkang proving to be an incompetent and useless ruler, and the Third Prince still too young, the consequences of a powerful maternal relative seizing control of the throne would be unimaginable. The Empress Dowager and the Emperor would never allow such a thing to happen...
Gu Yun Shen said emotionlessly, "You talk too much."
“I dare not, but…” The eunuch remembered the Empress Dowager’s words and knew that persuading Gu Yun Shen to acknowledge his ancestors was the right thing to do. He forced himself to say, “This young lady is good, but she is of low birth. I’m afraid she might be after profiting from following you.”
Gu Yun Shen finally stopped, a hint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes.
The eunuch, oblivious to the fact that his words had worked, then added fuel to the fire, saying, "There are countless good girls in the world, why waste your time on a scheming woman?"
“Talking to you is a waste of time.” Gu Yun Shen curled the corners of his mouth and glanced at her. “I’m afraid she won’t get anything out of it.”
"If there's profit to be made, then I have value in her eyes, don't I?"
"This..." A sharp pain pierced the tip of his tongue. The eunuch's eyes widened, he covered his throat, and his expression was one of disbelief.
"Ah, it's quiet now." Gu Yun Shen turned his wrist, looked at the eunuch's distorted face, and smiled slightly.
......
After seeing Lin Qingwan off, Yu Wenxue ran briskly back to Gu Yunshen's side and took a bite of mung bean ice from his hand.
"Once they've finished talking, we'll go scatter flower petals, just like last time."
Gu Yun Shen looked at her chubby cheeks from eating, a smile playing in his eyes. "Mmm."
How can any other rabbit compare to the ones I raise and fatten myself?
Although there are many activities during the Qixi Festival, most of them are prepared for unmarried young men and women, which in a sense is another form of matchmaking.
Yu Wenxue had never been on a blind date before, and probably wouldn't have the chance in the future, so she excitedly pulled Gu Yunshen to look ahead.
Gu Yunshen didn't want her to be the center of attention, but he still followed along with her.
The two arrived at the place selling red thread, holding hands intimately, attracting the attention of many people.
The stall owner was taken aback when he saw that the two were exceptionally good-looking and their every move was intimate.
"Sir, the red thread at this stall is only sold to young men and women who are not yet engaged. I'm afraid you two won't need it."
Yu Wenxue released her hand and said without changing her expression, "We don't know each other."
Stall owner: "......"
Gu Yun Shen didn't refute, and the corners of his mouth flattened slightly.
Yu Wenxue pretended not to see it, pointed to the red line on the cutting board, and asked, "Master, how do you play with this?"
"Behind me is a large glass lantern, with several red threads tied to each of the lanterns. Each pair of threads represents the same token."
"But the red threads are intertwined, and it's not certain which two red threads will match. Once they match, it means that the two people are destined to be together. You can go to the stall and choose a small lantern as a gift."
"Shall we give it a try?" Yu Wenxue couldn't suppress her burgeoning curiosity and whispered in Gu Yunshen's ear.
Gu Yunshen's gaze was deep: "Aren't you afraid of getting involved with someone else?"
"I'm not afraid, I believe we are destined to be together." Otherwise, how could they have been bound together by fate? Yu Wenxue thought to herself.
"Alright." Gu Yun Shen walked up to the stall owner, his extremely imposing gaze causing the stall owner to involuntarily take two steps back, letting out a dry laugh: "Has the young master decided to play?"
"Hmm." Gu Yun Shen glanced at the row of lanterns displayed in front of him and had his answer.
The paper was yellowed, treated with special materials, but traces of age were still visible. Perhaps, no one had ever won this so-called fate with him.
He put down an entire silver ingot and calmly said, "You decide what to do."
The stall owner, who had been in business for many years, had never encountered such a big customer before. His eyes widened, and he instantly understood. He couldn't help but smile and said, "Leave it to me!"
Yu Wenxue chose a red thread with a small pattern at the top, presumably for matching.
She urged Gu Yun Shen to choose one as well, but the stall owner stopped her: "Miss, to take the red thread, you need to walk around this street forty-nine steps, while the young master must come back to take his after you have walked forty-nine steps. Only in this way can it be effective."
"There's such a saying?"
The stall owner narrowed his eyes: "That's exactly right."
If I didn't deceive you, how would I have time to do something shady?
Yu Wenxue had no doubts. She raised the red thread and looked at it against the night sky, then said with satisfaction, "Let's go, let's scatter flower petals first."
When she reached the Magpie Bridge, it was already surrounded by young men and women. Unable to find Lin Qingwan and the others, she tiptoed and peered into the distance.
Gu Yunshen pressed down on her fluffy head: "Gu Rongting's personality probably prevents him from going to crowded places. Why don't you take a look at the other side of the river?"
Yu Wenxue looked up in response and indeed saw them on the shore. She exclaimed in admiration, "It really is them!"
She took out a pre-prepared floral umbrella, broke it in two, kept one in her backpack, and lay in ambush not far away, ready to act at any time.
The moonlight was hazy, and the occasional chirping of cicadas in summer could be heard.
Gu Rongting and Lin Qingwan sat side by side on the riverbank, admiring the lanterns on the river.
Because of the distance, Yu Wenxue couldn't hear what they were saying, and could only judge what she should do next by observing their body language.
When the time was right, she jogged to the bushes behind the two of them and opened the parasol in one swift motion.
Petals drifted down and landed on Gu Rongting's shoulder.
He leaned down slightly, and the petals slid from his shoulder to Lin Qingwan's chest.
Gu Rongting felt a brief, sharp pain in his brain. He covered his forehead and stared blankly at Lin Qingwan.
At the same time, Lin Qingwan was also watching him...
Having finished all that, Yu Wenxue felt she had accomplished her mission and was ready to retire. She touched the extra floral umbrella she had brought with her and took small, quick steps back to her previous spot.
Turning around, Gu Yun Shen was nowhere to be seen.
She clutched the red thread tightly and ran quickly to the Magpie Bridge, searching for his figure in the crowded throng.
Just as she was about to shout, a familiar voice came to her ears.
Gu Yun Shen held up the red thread in his hand: "I'm sorry, I just went to get the red thread."
The two stood on the Magpie Bridge, gazing at each other from afar, isolated from the noisy crowd, their eyes only on one another.
Yu Wenxue stood still, without moving.
Gu Yun Shen smiled and walked up to her. Just as he took the last step, Yu Wen Xue took a step forward and placed her hand in his palm.
Two red lines are laid out, forming a perfect pattern.
"See, I told you we could do it!" Yu Wenxue exclaimed.
Gu Yunshen enveloped her fist and replied with a smile, "Mm."
He doesn't believe in fate or destiny; he only believes that things can be accomplished by human effort.
If she likes it, he is willing to create a beautiful fantasy for her.
The moonlight was intense, casting a silvery-white glow on Gu Yunshen's silhouette.
Yu Wenxue's brow twitched, and she opened the remaining flower umbrella, using the shelter beneath it to kiss him in the rain of petals.
Author's note: This is what confetti looks like! [confetti][confetti]
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