Chapter Thirty-Three: A Small Boat Drifts on the Waves, Smoke Fills the Curtain
"Since we've come all the way to Jiangnan, shouldn't we take some water travel?" Yang Xiao turned around and smiled at Bai Ming. "I'm quite skilled at navigating boats."
Bai Ming smiled and nodded slightly to the two of them. "Then I will respectfully accept your offer." He walked to Yang Xiao's side. "Such a beautiful waterside scene is something that Yu De, who is far away in Jizhou, is not fortunate enough to enjoy."
"Let's go then." Seeing that the two readily agreed, Cen Xun led them toward the small fishing boat by the water.
She raised her hand and waved towards the bridge, and a small boat drifted by on the tranquil waterway, creating ripples that spread out a wisp of ink-like light.
The three of them walked to the shore and stepped into the small boat. The small boat immediately swayed from side to side like a leaf fluttering in the wind. Bai Ming sat down, holding onto the hull, and looked at the beautiful scenery of the water town. His mind was also broadened. "I was going to complain that there were not many places to ride horses in Jiangnan. I didn't expect that this small boat would be much more convenient than a carriage."
“Who says otherwise?” Yang Xiao smiled, leaning against the side of the boat and looking up at Bai Ming. “When I first came here from Bingzhou, looking at the endless canals and waterways, I didn’t know which way to go. Even with a local guiding me, I was bound to get seasick.” She rested her chin on her hand, gazing at the countless houses along the shore, and couldn’t help but sigh. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she looked at Bai Ming and said, “Oh right, I forgot to ask you when we came. How was the boat ride? Did you get seasick?”
Bai Ming shook his head gently, "I felt a bit of that when I first boarded the ship, but I'm used to it now."
“Speaking of seasickness, do you remember when you first came here?” Cen Xun propped his head up and looked at Yang Xiao with a relaxed expression. “You had never been to Jiangnan before, and you got seasick as soon as you got on the boat. After you met me, you preferred to take a longer route rather than go by boat.”
Upon hearing this, Yang Xiao couldn't help but rub her forehead and smile wryly. "Don't even mention it. When I first arrived in Jiangnan, I didn't dare to eat anything before boarding the boat, for fear of throwing up." She waved her hand and then proudly crossed her arms. "Now it's all good. I've mastered the art of boating. No matter how rocky the boat is, I won't get seasick."
"Really?" Cen Xun smiled at her. "Then who was it that came with me on this trip at the beginning of the year, got terribly seasick on the boat, and insisted that I find lotus seeds for her to eat?" She looked at Yang Xiao meaningfully, then sighed helplessly, "I don't know where I'm supposed to find lotus seeds for her in the dead of winter."
Upon hearing this, Bai Ming couldn't help but laugh and tease, "Then Miss Cen must have had a tough time."
“Who says otherwise?” Cen Xun chuckled, then, seeing that Yang Xiao didn’t answer, turned to look to the side, “Lingyu?”
Yang Xiaoqing turned around and reached out to paddle something along the side of the boat.
Cen Xun had just leaned over to look when, in the next moment, she turned around abruptly, and a handful of water splashed from her fingertips into the air, turning into crystal-clear dewdrops that fell from the sky.
Before she could even see Yang Xiao's bright eyes reflected in the water, Cen Xun felt a cool, wet touch on her face. She instinctively turned away, only to find Yang Xiao smiling at her again.
"Alright, you are." Cen Xun smiled and tapped her, then turned and flicked his sleeve to brush away the reflections of the misty rain beneath the boat.
The calm water surface was suddenly rippled with countless waves and laughter. The sunlight flickered on the water and melted into the radiant smiles of the young people, like summer flowers in full bloom.
The light boat swayed incessantly. Bai Ming smiled as he watched the two playfully frolicking, but he had to stretch out his arms to barely steady himself.
"Oh no, I forgot you get seasick," Yang Xiao said, quickly stepping on the boat with a soft thud. The small boat, which had been rocking violently, became much more stable. She looked up at Bai Ming, who had calmed down, and asked, "How are you, Zhao Qing? Are you alright?"
Bai Ming shook his head slightly and smiled back at Yang Xiao, "Don't worry, I'm fine."
Yang Xiao put down her foot and walked towards Bai Ming with a smile in her eyes, "How was my boatmanship just now?"
"Impressive," Bai Ming smiled and nodded at Yang Xiao, who was taking credit for him. "You truly deserve it."
The next moment, Yang Xiao took advantage of Bai Ming's inattention and sprinkled the still-damp water droplets from her fingertips onto Bai Ming's face.
Seeing this, Bai Ming quickly stepped back slightly, looking at Yang Xiao, whose "scheme had succeeded," with surprise and helplessness. "Alright, Lingyu, wait for me here."
"Well, you got fooled, didn't you?" Yang Xiao tilted her head, stepped back to Cen Xun's side, and sat down with a smile.
Bai Ming raised the back of his hand and gently wiped the water droplets from his face, a cool sensation immediately spreading across his neck. He chuckled and shook his head, teasingly saying, "Lingyu, you've really been led astray by Yude."
"To even deceive General Bai, that's truly unbelievable." Cen Xun looked at Yang Xiao, smiling as he picked up a handkerchief to wipe the water splashed on his face. "By the way, who exactly is this Yu De you all keep talking about?"
Yang Xiao nestled against the eaves of the boat, leaning to the side and lightly touching the fish in the water. "He is our lord's younger brother, named Zhongli Shuo." She suddenly turned around as if she had just remembered something, and the water splashed from her fingertips accidentally splashed Cen Xun's face again. "Putting aside his military achievements, he is very arrogant. When he first saw me, he thought I looked like someone who could fight, and he grabbed a knife and started to fight."
"Is that so?" Cen Xun couldn't help but laugh, ignoring the splashes of water on his face, and looked at Yang Xiao with interest, resting his chin on his hand. "Go on, tell me."
Yang Xiao recalled, resting her chin on her hand, "Later we almost fought to a draw, and it was only thanks to the Lord that he intervened." She thought for a moment, then chuckled, "Do you remember the warhorse that Old Master Cen gave me? I hadn't even been broken in with it for a few days when I went to fight Yu De. The warhorse had a little trouble, and I almost accidentally hurt him."
“Yu De is indeed impetuous,” Bai Ming nodded, adding from the side, “I’ve known him longer than you. He and the lord are almost complete opposites. The lord is fond of literature, while Yu De excels in martial arts; the lord is refined and easy-going, while Yu De is unrestrained and free-spirited.”
Yang Xiao leaned over and looked at Cen Xun with a smile, "You don't know, besides all that, he also often bickers with the lord. As long as he's in the command tent, there's no need to worry about military affairs being boring."
Bai Ming looked at Yang Xiao and couldn't help but smile as he added, "That's how they used to be, but ever since you came, Yu De has gone from just bickering with the lord to something else entirely."
“Yes, who can argue with that?” Yang Xiao shook her head, feigning helplessness. “Ever since I outmaneuvered him, he’s been so resentful. He’s always coming to challenge me and teasing me every few days. Even the lord can’t control him.” She sighed softly. “I wonder who can stop him and make him shut up.”
Upon hearing this, Cen Xun couldn't help but chuckle. "Even the most lively person will settle down if you give them a lotus seedpod to peel and eat. If one isn't enough, give them two."
Everyone burst into laughter upon hearing this. Yang Xiao smiled and leaned against Cen Xun, "Speaking of which, are there any lotus pods left? Shall we go peel some?"
“You’re late,” Cen Xun said with a smile, tapping Yang Xiao’s nose. “The harvest just finished this season.” She gazed at the shimmering water reflecting the surging sky. “Although there aren’t any in the pond, there are still plenty in the kitchen.” She smiled at the two people on the boat. “When we get home, I’ll have the servants bring lotus seeds to cook porridge for you.”
“Okay, lotus seed porridge,” Yang Xiao stretched her arms and looked at Bai Ming, “Zhao Qing, have you ever had it?”
Bai Ming leaned down and looked at Yang Xiao, "I ate it a few times when I was little, but I haven't had it since."
"The flavor in Jiangnan is a little different from that in Yuzhou, but it's absolutely delicious." Yang Xiao nodded confidently at him. "Trust me."
“Okay,” Bai Ming smiled at Yang Xiao, “then I’ll wait and see.”
The light boat drifted by, brushing past the reflections of countless pavilions on the water's surface, swaying and rocking as it circled around to the Cen residence, where it slowly came to a stop in the backyard.
“We’ve arrived.” Cen Xun nodded to the two of them, then stepped out of the small boat first, turning back to Yang Xiao and saying, “Our master must be at the mansion as well. Tell Mr. Qi about what just happened later.”
"Okay." Yang Xiao jumped off the small boat and stretched. "Ah, it's been so long since I've felt this good. I remember when I first came here, you splashed water at me from the boat, and I couldn't fight back at all."
Cen Xun looked at Yang Xiao, who was still having a great time, and waved his hand with a smile, "You can have another one when you take the boat north."
"Hey, Lingyu, have mercy," Bai Ming said, turning back to smile at Yang Xiao. "I'm completely powerless right now. Don't let me end up soaked before we even cross the river."
Both of them couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this. Yang Xiao shook her head and looked up at Bai Ming, "How could that be? But when we get to the riverbank, we can work together to splash Yu De."
“Okay,” Bai Ming nodded with a smile, “but by then, Yu De will probably have found a new reason to challenge you to a duel.”
Cen Xun chuckled and walked ahead with her hands behind her back. She leaned out of the side door to look into the house and saw wisps of incense floating up and lingering in the air, making it impossible for her to see the expressions of the three people inside.
“Never mind,” she shook her head gently, turned around and waved to the two people behind her, “Let’s not scare them anymore, let’s just go in like this.”
Yang Xiao smiled and nodded, walked to her side, bent down and lifted the curtain to enter the tent, "Mr. Cen, Master," she lifted the curtain to let the two behind her in, "we're back."
“Father, Master, Mr. Qi,” Cen Xun walked gracefully into the house, but when she looked down, she saw Cen Fei’s slightly surprised look. She couldn’t help but frown. “What’s going on? What are you talking about?”
"Tongxi, you're back," Cen Fei immediately forced a smile. He turned to look at the three of them and greeted them with a forced smile, "Please sit down and have some hot tea."
Xue Chang looked at Cen Xun's furrowed brows, exchanged a glance with Qi Kun beside him, and looked at Cen Xun as if he wanted to say something, but the words on the tip of his tongue turned into a sigh, which he swallowed with his tea.
Yang Xiao and Bai Ming also noticed the strange atmosphere. Yang Xiao exchanged a glance with him, then her smile faded. She sat down and looked at Qi Kun, "Master, what exactly is going on?"
"Don't rush," Qi Kun gently shook his head at Yang Xiao, "It's not a bad thing to listen to Mr. Cen slowly."
Cen Fei chuckled and patted his daughter, who had sat down beside him, his eyes filled with tender affection as he looked at her. He looked away, letting the steam from the tea blur his vision. "Tongxi."
Cen Xun turned his head and listened carefully.
“In a couple of days, when the three of you head north,” Cen Fei turned to look at Cen Xun, “you should go with them.”
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