Chapter 12 The returning youth had a face as white as jade and eyes as cold as stars.
"ah!"
Screams erupted simultaneously from both of them.
Cui Ying screamed because she wasn't wearing shoes. As her foot landed, her soft soles inexplicably stepped on something hard and hot, causing her to lose her balance and fall heavily to the ground.
Xiao Qiyu screamed, but the reason was much simpler.
Cui Ying's kick landed squarely between his legs.
"Cui Ying, what kind of trouble are you causing now!"
Xiao Qiyu was so angry that he woke up from his dream with a start, and roared at Cui Ying while enduring the pain: "Once or twice, when will you ever stop!"
Cui Ying fell flat on her face, landing on top of Xiao Qiyu. She couldn't get up for a long time, her head spinning, and she subconsciously thought she was dreaming.
"Why are you yelling at me!" she roared back. "I didn't do it on purpose!"
It's just that this marriage happened so suddenly that she still can't adjust to her new identity. Every time she wakes up, she feels like she's still in the Duke of Wei's mansion, comfortably being the third young lady.
Upon hearing her reply, Xiao Qiyu was furious. The word "endure," which he had repeated countless times before going to sleep, vanished into thin air. He wished he could grow wings right now and fly a hundred thousand miles away so that he could never have anything to do with Cui Ying again.
"Get up!" Xiao Qiyu tried to get up, but he had no strength left, and the culprit was still on top of him. "Are you planning to stay on top of me?!"
Cui Ying shook her groggy head and propped herself up on her arms: "Fine, I'll get up. Try yelling at me again!"
Xiao Qiyu indeed stopped being harsh with her.
He found it too tiring to even look at her.
After all this commotion, Cui Ying forgot why she had come to the hotel in the first place and only wanted to get back to bed and stay away from the man surnamed Xiao.
But when she saw Xiao Qiyu stagger to his feet and walk with trembling legs to change behind the screen, a pang of guilt welled up inside her, and she asked with considerable concern, "Should I call the royal physician for you?"
Although she didn't know where she had stepped, seeing Xiao Qiyu's condition, it seemed quite serious.
Xiao Qiyu: "Shut up!"
Even his words were chilling, as if he wanted to devour Cui Ying alive. He quickly tore off his inner garment and draped the crimson armor robe over his body. This man, who always valued neatness, didn't even bother to shake his sleeves at this moment. He haphazardly tied his belt, reached out and picked up the light armor, and walked towards the door without looking back.
"Creak—" The door opened, and just as Xiao Qiyu was about to step out, Zhou Mama, who was serving the old lady, came forward.
Granny Zhou said with a smile, "The old lady said that tomorrow is the big day for the new bride to return to her parents' home. You can't go anywhere today. You should carefully prepare for the return and obediently accompany the young mistress on her return tomorrow."
Xiao Qiyu pretended not to hear and took a detour.
Two more old women stepped forward and surrounded them from both sides.
"Seventh Young Master, just give up on the idea of going out. The old lady has already sent someone to talk to the Suzaku Gate. Even if you can't make it through the next few days, they won't cause any chaos there," said Granny Zhou.
Perhaps knowing her young master's temperament too well, Granny Zhou continued, "If you insist on going out, I will have no choice but to ask the old lady to come over in person."
Xiao Qiyu's brow twitched, his thin lips pressed tightly together, and he closed the door without saying a word.
After the door closed, his hand, which was resting on the door, finally trembled slightly, a sign of extreme anger.
"Cui Ying," Xiao Qiyu suppressed his anger, clenching his teeth, "did I owe you something in my past life?"
"From childhood to adulthood, no one has ever bullied me like you have."
"Tell me yourself, what is it about me that you don't like?"
"Of course, even if you tell me, I won't change it."
"Just wash your eyes yourself."
Xiao Qiyu continued to utter harsh words for a long time, but there was no sound behind him. The only sounds were falling leaves and birdsong outside the window.
"Cui Ying, are you even listening to me?"
There was still no movement.
Xiao Qiyu turned his head aggressively.
At first glance, one could see the bed curtains fluttering in the morning breeze, and a bright red gauze veil covering a fair and beautiful face, with long eyelashes moving with her breath—Cui Ying was motionless, clearly asleep.
She didn't hear a word of what was said.
This is no longer just talking to a brick wall; it's being attacked on the heart.
Xiao Qiyu took a deep breath, slowly raised his hand, and pinched the philtrum.
...
As noon approached, the sky brightened and the sun shone brightly.
Since tomorrow is the big day for the bride to return to her parents' home, Madam Wang prepared a gift list early in the morning. In addition to the usual items required according to custom, she also personally went to the storeroom to select gifts for the bride's visit. From the carriages and horses for the journey to the hairpin for the bride, she personally oversaw and carefully selected everything.
After a busy morning, Wang returned to the Bodhi Hall, drenched in sweat. After drinking her medicine, she lay down on the couch for a short rest. Two beautiful maids fanned her with round fans, while her daughter-in-law, Qin, stood by and massaged the old lady's calves.
Half-asleep, Wang suddenly seemed to remember something, opened her eyes and instructed the head maid: "I have a pair of Shu brocade screens with golden roosters crowing at dawn in my storeroom. Add them to tomorrow's homecoming gift list. The golden rooster crowing at dawn symbolizes good fortune and auspiciousness, and its meaning is excellent."
The maidservant responded and set off to do so.
Madam Qin's face stiffened slightly, but she pretended to be relaxed and said, "Although the bride's homecoming is a big event, Mother's generosity is a bit too much. That Shu brocade screen was part of your dowry, and you are willing to use it."
Qin had long coveted those two screens, intending to ask the old lady for them as part of her youngest daughter's dowry when she got married. She never expected them to fall into someone else's hands so easily. Qin was not willing to accept this.
First, there was the gold filigree and jade-inlaid headdress that her eldest daughter had her eye on, and then there was the Shu brocade screen that she herself had chosen for her youngest daughter. Although Madam Qin knew that as an elder, she should be magnanimous, she simply couldn't bring herself to like Cui Ying.
Madam Wang coughed twice and said, "When the Duke of Wei's family married off their daughter, they provided ninety-nine cartloads of dowry. The Princess even brought out all her most treasured possessions and added them to the dowry carts. Now that we're returning to our parents' home, I naturally can't let the Marquis of Dingyuan's family lose out, or at least I can't let the Princess laugh at us."
When the eldest princess was mentioned, Wang, with her full head of silver hair, became somewhat childlike and said with a touch of bitterness, "I have been inferior to her in every way since I was young. Now that I am old, I can't say that I can turn the tables, but I must at least be on par with her."
Madam Qin smiled and said, "Mother is right. The homecoming gift is a matter of face for our Dingyuan Marquis's family. It is good to prepare something expensive. However, you have been working hard all morning. It is almost noon now. The imperial physician said that not resting after noon will shorten one's lifespan. You should rest for a while and make arrangements when you wake up."
Wang nodded, closed her eyes to rest, but as soon as she closed them, she felt that she had forgotten something. After thinking for a moment, she called her maid:
"Go and tell Granny Zhou to personally choose clothes for the two children to wear on their homecoming. They should be appropriate, elegant, and dignified. Don't let them wear ordinary clothes anymore. They look so childish and lack any sense of propriety."
The maid agreed and went to the bridal chamber to deliver the message.
In Qiyun Pavilion, Granny Zhou learned of the old lady's intention from the maid and immediately began preparing her attire. From head to toe, every detail of her two outfits, from color to pattern, down to the curve of her sleeves as she walked, was perfect.
Looking at the two impeccable outfits on the clothes rack, Granny Zhou took a sip of tea and nodded with satisfaction: "Now the only thing left is to let the two little masters come in and try on the clothes."
In the courtyard, dragonflies skimmed across the pond, tree shadows were reflected on the water's surface, and a paulownia flower fell with the wind, plummeting straight into the water.
Suddenly, a long spear pierced the still water, creating a strong gust of wind that swept up paulownia blossoms, rippled the pond, and scared away the koi.
The young man, dressed in crimson robes and black trousers, with his black hair tied high, held a nine-foot-six-section spear. The spear moved like a swimming dragon, its tip like a cold star, and the raised red tassel was as red as flames. In an instant, it transformed into countless forms, unstoppable.
Sweat covered Xiao Qiyu's handsome brows, but he was completely unaware of it. His eyes were firm, his chin was taut, and his moves were controlled with ease. His soul seemed to be one with the spear in his hand.
Across the pool.
Cui Ying was dressed in a green silk shirt and white silk skirt, with her sleeves tied to her armpits with a light red shawl, revealing two fair and delicate arms. Her hands were busy and her expression was focused.
In this scene, with the young man wielding his spear and the beautiful woman by his side, it would be truly perfect if a guqin were placed in front of Cui Ying.
Unfortunately, what was placed in front of her was not a guqin, but a pot of charcoal walnuts that was smoking.
Her busy hands weren't plucking the strings, but rather sprinkling pepper powder on the chicken wings on the wire mesh.
A gentle breeze swept by, and the paulownia blossoms fell in a soft patter, their pungent aroma drifting across the pond to the other side.
Achoo!
Xiao Qiyu suddenly sneezed, almost choking on his own tears. In a flash, he sheathed his spear, stood tall and straight as a pine tree, and faced Cui Ying, his thick brows furrowed: "Couldn't you have gone somewhere else to grill?"
Cui Ying's face flushed from the smoke, and she retorted with her wide almond-shaped eyes, "Can't you practice somewhere else?"
Granny Zhou stepped out of the room, helplessly trying to mediate: "You two, please have some mercy and stop arguing. The clothes you'll wear for your homecoming tomorrow are all prepared. Why don't you come in with me to try them on?"
Xiao Qiyu turned her face away: "I haven't finished practicing with my gun."
Cui Ying snorted: "I didn't finish grilling the chicken wings."
Granny Zhou immediately changed her expression and said, "This servant is acting on the old lady's orders. If the young master and young mistress are unwilling, they can go and tell the old lady. This servant cannot make the decision."
Xiao Qiyu looked at Cui Ying.
He himself didn't care, but if she showed any signs of reluctance, he could simply go along with her.
Cui Ying looked at the roasted chicken wings.
After a brief moment of thought, Cui Ying handed the bamboo tongs to Cui Jin and carefully instructed her: "Remember to flip it over every now and then. It needs to be roasted until the surface is golden brown and sizzling with oil. When you can easily pierce it with chopsticks, you can take it out and let it cool."
Seeing this, Xiao Qiyu subconsciously put the gun back on the weapon rack and prepared to go to the Bodhi Hall with Cui Ying to find his grandmother.
But when they followed her steps, their footsteps were not heading towards the courtyard gate, but towards the house door.
"What are you doing?" Cui Ying stepped into the room, turned around and looked at Xiao Qiyu, who was following closely outside the door. Her almond-shaped eyes narrowed slightly, and she had a look of catching a thief. "Want to change clothes with me?"
Xiao Qiyu's breath hitched, and he took three steps back, almost falling off the platform. He pointed at Cui Ying, clearly wanting to say something harsh, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He could only snort, turn around without looking back, and continue practicing his spear.
After Cui Ying changed into her elaborate clothes and put on hairpins that were almost bigger than her face, the chicken wings were already roasted. She couldn't wait to taste her own cooking. Then it was Xiao Qiyu's turn to go into the room to change.
Xiao Qiyu had never been used to having maids around her since she was a child, so she only kept two clever young servants by her side to help her change clothes, which took a little longer.
After Cui Ying finished eating the last bite of the chicken wing, the door finally opened.
A ray of sunshine slanted into the corridor and landed right in front of the door.
The young man had a face as white as jade and eyes as cold as stars. He wore a bamboo-green wide-sleeved, round-necked robe with upturned shoulders, and a silver-red shirt with gold trim underneath. His hair was tied up with a golden crown, and he wore a white jade pendant at his waist. When he took a step, the pendant jingled, and the red coral brooch on his chest swayed slightly. He was made of gold and had a radiant spirit.
Cui Ying was used to Xiao Qiyu wearing riding attire and a ponytail, and this was the first time she had seen him dressed so formally. She was stunned when she saw him at first glance.
Xiao Qiyu noticed Cui Ying's stunned expression and awkwardly looked away, a slight flush appearing behind her ears.
Brocade robe, golden crown, jade face.
On a hot summer day, with cicadas chirping in the air, Cui Ying looked at the unfamiliar yet familiar young man in front of her and suddenly didn't know how to describe him. After struggling for a while, she finally said, "Like someone performing in a grand opera."
Xiao Qiyu was taken aback, and the flush behind his ears vanished instantly. He turned to look at the house-sized hair ornament on Cui Ying's head, his eyes indifferent, and said abruptly, "You look like a shaman."
A note from the author:
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