Behind Puguo Temple, there is an extremely beautiful place. It is a secluded and quiet place deep in the mountains. As night falls, the soft moonlight shines on the entire mountain lake, making the surrounding area appear and disappear.
A fast horse gallops through the deep mountains, with birds flying overhead and lush vegetation in front, reflecting on the still lake with shimmering waves.
Sitting on her horse, Wang Wan could see fireflies dancing in the sky from afar. The glowing fireflies darted among the leaves, their tiny wings fluttering lightly like the flowing sleeves of a woman on a theatrical stage, illuminating the entire earth.
She stared in astonishment, her mouth agape. Before she could say anything, he scooped her up from the horse and pulled her inside.
The night wind was a bit strong, blowing her long black hair, and fireflies surrounded the two of them like a sky full of golden dust, ethereal and dreamlike.
He pulled her along, running past clear springs and leaping over bamboo forests, with colorful butterflies and shimmering fireflies dancing behind them. She listened as he told her about the snow foxes of Kunlun Mountain, the murals of the northern deserts, and the snow lotus and horses of Tianshan Mountain, singing and laughing all the way.
"Then can you take me there sometime? I haven't seen the murals in the Northern Desert Palace yet."
"Alright, call me husband and let me hear it."
Suddenly, he stopped and turned around abruptly, looking down at her with a sly smile, like a fox.
Wang Wan's face was flushed and she was panting. When she heard his words, her eyes reddened. "You're so frivolous."
Xie Xuan laughed heartily and kissed her moist lips. "Will you call me that or not?"
"I won't call it."
She refused outright and walked past him into the building.
Xie Xuan snorted and grabbed her wrist.
Wang Wan was slightly startled. A dizzying sensation ran through her as he swept her up in his arms. She instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, her eyes widening. "What are you doing?"
"I'll let you down whenever you call me."
"---"
She pouted but didn't say anything; she was tired from running anyway.
Xie Xuan saw through her intention, lowered his head and bit her lips, lingeringly exploring her mouth.
Wang Wan was breathless from his kisses, trying her best to suppress the broken sounds that escaped her lips, and looked at him with a flushed face.
Fireflies fluttered their wings and danced all around. He held her in his arms as they stood in the woods, kissing each other passionately. The night wind ruffled their clothes, making them look disheveled.
Afraid he would go on and on, she quickly pushed him away and asked, "Where are we going?"
"How about watching the sunrise?"
"ah---"
For so many years, she had always followed the rules and regulations, and because of her poor health, she could only stay in Qushui Garden to recuperate. This time, being by his side was the most unconventional thing she had ever done in all her years.
Thinking back, ever since she met him when she came of age, all the novelty had been brought to her by him. Her family didn't want her to go far away, and her brother didn't want to carry her as a burden. Only he would smile and ask her, "Want to go play?"
As the night wind blew, fireflies danced on the hills at sunset, and twinkling lights illuminated the entire night across the river. Xie Xuan stood on the ridge, facing the wind, his red robe billowing in the wind.
Wang Wan looked at the zither in front of her, gently reached out and stroked it. With a clear sound, the moon in the mountains seemed to startle the birds, and shimmering butterflies fluttered from all around, clustering around her.
A gust of wind whistled past, and she blinked as she looked at the firefly perched on her shoulder.
"So understanding."
Hearing the sound, Xie Xuan turned around to look at her. Under the moonlight, she was as beautiful as a painting, with shimmering butterflies fluttering around her, like shy flower buds delicately blooming.
This is the Southern Xinjiang Tracking Butterfly, which he had specially brought from the Southern Xinjiang region. Following its scent can create a dreamlike and enchanting illusion.
"Ah Wan, play a tune for me."
He came over and took off his cloak to drape it over her.
Wang Wan smelled his scent and felt her heart flutter. "Can you accompany me?"
Xie Xuan was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and took out his jade flute, placing a kiss on her smooth forehead.
"bring it on."
The night was pitch black, and a gentle mountain breeze blew. He held a purple flute in his hand, stood against the wind, and his tall figure stood quietly beside her, exuding an innate nobility.
The moonlight enveloped the two of them, and the clear and melodious sound of the zither echoed in the mountains like a cool breeze. The sound of the xiao flute was plaintive and sorrowful, like a lover's tender melody flowing and swirling.
Wang Wan listened to his melodious flute music, her mind wavering slightly. She had seen him kill people with his flute music before. It was during the dead of winter in the Great Jin Dynasty, just after the New Year. She was on her way back to the capital after visiting the Princess when she was assassinated, and he saved her.
His figure moved through the forest, the sound of his flute bursting forth like a thunderclap, startling birds and leaving debris scattered on the ground. She was held protectively in his arms, but she could still hear the murderous sound that seemed to pierce her eardrums, so loud that it made her bleed from all seven orifices and her ribs twist and break.
This was the first time she had ever seen someone kill someone effortlessly with the sound of a xiao (a type of Chinese flute). Her eyes shone like stars, and she even wanted to become his disciple. However, he said she was too weak and didn't want her.
"I can exercise, and I will definitely study hard."
He chuckled softly, "Little girl, just find a husband like this to protect you."
Memories of the past flooded back like a tide, and their harmony grew increasingly lively. She glanced at him, recognizing his familiar face, eyebrows, and mouth. She had no idea that a joke she made back then was about to come true.
She felt as if something was about to leap out of her heart, so she lowered her head to hide her racing heart.
After an unknown amount of time, the music suddenly stopped, and the surroundings gradually quieted down, while the fireflies around us continued to dance merrily.
Xie Xuan turned around, squatted down, and held her soft hand. "Are you cold?"
Wang Wan's heart skipped a beat. She was about to shake her head when he picked her up in his arms. She heard him mutter, "Come see the sunrise when you're feeling better. Don't get too cold."
Are you leaving?
Xie Xuan lowered his eyes, a sly smile playing on his lips, and looked at her, "You don't want to leave?"
"---"
"Alright, put your hands back in your robe and go home."
Wang Wan kicked her foot, her voice no longer gentle and soft, but with a hint of crisp playfulness, "Let's just camp here for the night, it's quite novel."
Xie Xuan raised an eyebrow, his eyes half-closed as he looked at her. "Going wild?"
She bit her lip, raised her eyebrows, and said, "Isn't this all what you taught me?"
"---"
He smiled smugly, tightened his grip on her arm slightly, and said, "Tomorrow I'll have someone build a Sunset Palace here, with towering mountains, waterfalls, flowing water, and pavilions. You can enjoy the sunset and sunrise every day, okay?"
Wang Wan was taken aback and exclaimed, "Then I want to raise a male lion, just like the Western Region lion you hunted in the Sacred Beast Hunting Grounds back then."
"no."
"Why?"
He said awkwardly, "It just won't work."
She gave him a strange look, "I want it."
"Even if you want to, I won't give it to you---"
"Then I'll go to the animal farm to buy it myself."
The mountain wind howled, gently lifting the hem of their clothes. Their childish, sullen words echoed long and drawn out over the hills. The shadows of the trees swayed, leaving two long shadows.
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