Chapter 38 After the Soil Thaws in Spring
Jinlan's mouth gaped open, her pupils dilated, and she stared at Qiao Xi, speechless for a long time.
Qiao Xi gave him a sincere wink; her attitude already confirmed that it was true.
Jinlan took a long time to catch her breath before finally managing to utter a single syllable: "Huh?"
Qiao Xi said, "I'm not lying to you. Things happened a bit suddenly, so I'm confused. I wanted to talk to you about it. Would you like to listen?"
Jinlan has now confirmed that Qiao Xi did not lie to him. His emotions have gone through ups and downs. After all this time, his CP is real?
Jinlan used to fantasize about what he would do if his crush suddenly got together with him. He never imagined this good thing would actually happen. Wow, what incredible luck!
"Don't tell me yet, wait until I've finished cooking, and let me listen while I eat." Jinlan excitedly picked up the pot, full of energy.
Qiao Xi smiled with narrowed eyes. She thought that Jin Lan really loved listening to stories; she got excited as soon as she heard one.
At the dinner table, Jinlan generously served Qiao Xi a large bowl of rice and added a lot of vegetables. Then, holding the bowl, he said to Qiao Xi, "Quick, I'm ready!"
Qiao Xi wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she felt that Jin Lan's eyes were glowing, and not just any ordinary light, but a laser light.
Thinking of Morax, Qiao Xi still felt a little embarrassed. She said, "I'm not sure what the situation is now, but it seems like we're together."
Jinlan: "If we're together, we're together. What's with all this talk about 'seems like' and 'not seeming like'? Give me a straight answer!"
Qiao Xi: "Don't get excited, it's just that I'm not sure if he likes me or not."
Jinlan shoveled a mouthful of rice onto her face, the grains sticking to her cheeks: "Now that we're together, I absolutely love you. Your Majesty wants to marry you!"
Upon hearing the line "The Emperor wants to marry you," Qiao Xi almost choked on her food.
She shook her head frantically: "That's not how it is, listen to me."
Jinlan was frantic: "You should say something!"
Qiao Xi: "Don't get agitated."
Jinlan took a big bite of rice while holding her bowl: "I'm not excited! Why am I excited!"
Qiao Xi thought to herself, "How could he not be excited? What's wrong with Jin Lan today? He's never been like this when I told him those amazing stories before." Qiao Xi thought about how Morax was Jin Lan's idol, and she could understand Jin Lan's current feelings.
Thinking about it, Qiao Xi felt a little sorry for Jin Lan, after all, she was his good friend, but she was dating his idol.
Qiao Xi sighed and recounted what happened that day. She added, "I didn't want to study at the time, and I was just joking. I thought he would refuse, but he said very seriously that he would give me an answer. He's leaving again today, so he gave me his answer in advance. He said he agreed."
Jinlan swallowed her food: "Stop talking, the Emperor just wants to marry you!"
Qiao Xi felt that Jin Lan had gone mad: "...Jin Lan."
Jinlan calmed himself down, picked up a piece of meat for Qiaoxi, and said, "Little Qiaoxi, based on my understanding of the Emperor, he is definitely not a casual person. In fact, many times I thought he was a heartless rock. Since he agreed to your request, it at least means that he likes you. You can rest assured about that."
Jinlan suddenly frowned. He thought about what Qiao Xi had described. If Qiao Xi meant it as a joke, then what was her real thought?
Jinlan asked Qiaoxi, "Do you like the Emperor? Don't just think about the Emperor; your feelings are also important."
Qiao Xi shook her head.
Jinlan felt a pang of heartbreak when she saw her shake her head: "You...you don't like it?"
Qiao Xi said, "I don't know. Like I told you before, I always feel reluctant to part with him, but I'm not sure if this is love. It's different from how I felt when I liked other people before."
Jinlan slapped his forehead; he had completely forgotten that Qiao Xi had a crush on someone else.
He asked, "You used to get really, really upset when you couldn't see that guy, too..."
Jinlan didn't know how to describe it, but Qiaoxi expressed it for him.
Qiao Xi said, "I miss him when I can't see him, and I feel anxious when we're apart?"
Jinlan clapped her hands: "Yes! You're so good at talking."
Qiao Xi shook her head: "No, I was too busy with my studies before. I was just happy to see him, but I didn't feel anything if I didn't see him."
Jin Lan frowned, thinking about Qiao Xi's attitude towards studying, and expressed his doubt: "You used to be obsessed with studying?"
Qiao Xi said firmly, "Yes, I'm so addicted that I can't help myself."
Jinlan chuckled twice.
Qiao Xi smiled.
"Alright," Jinlan ruffled Qiao Xi's hair, "It's obvious. You only had a good impression of that guy before, but you like the Emperor. Liking someone makes you feel both at ease and uneasy."
Jinlan's words left Qiao Xi confused, and she asked Jinlan, "How should one approach a relationship?"
Jinlan, who has been single for over twenty years, offered her insightful opinion on this issue: "Kiss him. The next time you see the Emperor, kiss him on the lips."
"Honey... Huh? Are you crazy?" Qiao Xi frowned.
Jinlan tapped Qiaoxi on the head: "Did you read all those stories into a dog's belly?"
Qiao Xi slapped Jin Lan: "You know that's just a story? If we follow the story, do I have to bring some props next time we meet?"
Qiao Xi rested her chin on her hand, and Jin Lan also rested her chin on her hand. They looked at each other, their brows furrowed with worry, and finally asked almost in unison, "How long will he be gone this time?"
Morax was so busy fighting that this relationship was hastily established before he left. Will he forget about it when he comes back?
Qiao Xi didn't know.
*
It snowed again between the New Year and the beginning of spring. After Morax left, Yixiao and Liuyun continued to take over Qiaoxi's studies and cultivation.
During this time, Qiao Xi practiced calligraphy using the calligraphy practice sheets that Morax had written for her. Over time, as she wrote each stroke, Yi Xiao was surprised to find that the girl's calligraphy actually had a touch of the Emperor's style.
After the soil thawed, Qiao Xi and Jin Lan went down the mountain to help the farmers plow the land. Jin Lan skillfully picked up a hoe and broke up the clods of soil turned over on the dry ridges. Qiao Xi, wrapped in a cloak, followed behind and used an iron rake to pick up the large stones that were turned over. The soft soil had been dormant all winter, and the overwintered vegetables were about to turn green again.
After doing all that, Qiao Xi carried a rake and a hoe to a nearby farmer's house to get some water. There was a huge locust tree at the entrance of the village. Qiao Xi stopped under the tree and looked up.
Jinlan looked at her, then looked up at the tree. The bare branches against the backdrop of the clear blue sky were like a few strokes drawn on a huge curtain.
Jinlan said, "They won't bloom for a while. Locust flowers stir-fried with eggs are delicious, and locust flowers with sugar are also tasty."
Qiao Xi walked to the tree and carefully wiped the branches with her hand. Hidden under the gray bark was the green of spring.
Qiao Xi smiled slightly. Morax, when exactly is he coming back?
Will he still remember their relationship?
Qiao Xi said to Jin Lan, "Let's go."
Jinlan nodded.
Almost everyone in the area near Tianheng Mountain knows Jinlan and Qiaoxi. Today, when the two of them went to ask for water, they happened to arrive during the village's spring festival.
The "Beating Spring" ceremony takes place on the day of Lichun (the beginning of spring). A clay ox is made and then broken with colorful whips to pray for a bountiful harvest in the coming year.
Qiao Xi and Jin Lan each carried a bowl of hot tea and stood in the crowd watching. Granny Li, who had given them the hot tea, came over with two slices of green radish.
“Children,” Granny Li said to the two of them with a smile, “Come on, let’s bite the spring.”
Jinlan skillfully took it, put it in her mouth and took a bite, then smiled and said, "Thank you, Grandma."
Qiao Xi followed Jin Lan's example, took a bite, and said with a smile, "Thank you, Grandma."
The aroma of green radish filled her mouth, and the lively sounds of the crowd celebrating the Spring Ox surrounded her. The steam from the tea condensed into white mist in the air. Qiao Xi looked up at the sky. She had been studying with her head down year after year, completely ignoring the scent of trees sprouting new buds each year.
The seasons have begun a new cycle; it's spring.
After some time, the weather gradually warmed up, and Qiao Xi stopped wearing her bulky clothes and changed into a long wool coat. The colors were still either pink or red. These clothes were prepared for her by Liu Yun or Gui Zhong. They both thought that Qiao Xi looked good in bright colors.
That day, when Liu Yun was practicing swordsmanship with Qiao Xi in the courtyard, Yi Xiao came over and told them that Morax had returned.
Qiao Xi paused, her hand holding the sword hilt still. Ever since he left, she had been constantly thinking about the day they confirmed their relationship. Now he was back.
Liu Yun and Yi Xiao were unaware of what had happened between Qiao Xi and Morax, so they urged Qiao Xi to change her clothes and go with them to greet the Emperor.
Qiao Xi nodded and ran back into the house. In front of the wardrobe, she hesitated for a moment before changing into what she thought was her best outfit. Before leaving, she passed by the table and saw the lipstick on it. She paused for a moment, picked up the lipstick, and dabbed it on her lips a few times in front of the mirror.
Her skin was very fair, which made the rouge stand out even more. Qiao Xi frowned, then took a piece of paper, dampened it with water, and wiped off the lipstick.
She ran out and followed Liu Yun and Yi Xiao down the mountain.
Down the mountain, Morax walked at the front, followed by Five Yakshas and others. The Thousand Rock Army of Tianheng Mountain greeted them along the way, while Qiao Xi and her two masters stood at the very back.
Regarding the war, neither Liu Yun nor Yi Xiao told Qiao Xi the details, but it seemed to be a large-scale war related to the western part of Liyue.
After everyone had left, Morax led the Yakshas to Qiao Xi and the others.
Liu Yun and Yi Xiao greeted Morax.
Qiao Xi stood behind, staring intently at Morax, forgetting to speak.
Yi Xiao nudged her: "Girl, say something."
“Oh,” Qiao Xi realized what was happening and said, “Hello Morax.”
Morax glanced at her because of these words, but quickly looked away and continued talking to Yixiao.
Qiao Xi was a little annoyed. She waved to the Yakshas and asked, "How are you? Are you alright?"
Yingda smiled and said, "No problem at all, trust the Emperor."
Seeing Yingda's smile, Qiao Xi's unease subsided considerably. She smiled slightly and couldn't help but look up at Morax.
Morax never looked at her. He was talking to Yixiao and Liuyun with a serious expression. After a while, Yixiao came over and said to Qiao Xi, "Liuyun and I have some things to take care of with the Emperor, so we'll be leaving now."
Qiao Xi nodded, then looked at Morax with a thoughtful expression.
Morax also looked at her at this moment. His gaze remained calm. He nodded slightly to her and then led the group away.
-----------------------
Author's note: See you tomorrow.
Looking at the outline, this story, including the side stories, will still be a short story of about 200,000 words. The side stories are set in Teyvat and the modern era.
It should be able to finish before mid-November.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
