The jade hand paints the eyebrows, all of which are destined, and the thief cuts the path to predict good or bad luck.
"Let's start." Xue Jiuyue still closed her eyes and felt it.
Liu Che's left index finger remained at the peak of Xue Jiuyue's right eyebrow, presumably positioning it. Soon, a cool sensation reached him, the trace of the eyebrow pencil. A slight tremor, a reflection of his heartbeat; a touch of puckery, a hint of shyness. He remained still, perhaps adjusting or planning his strokes. He began to write again, his strokes noticeably relaxed and rhythmic.
Xue Jiuyue opened her eyes, unsure if it was an old friend in her dream, or a dream come true. The same smooth, rounded lines, the same jade-like softness. Gentleman, as meticulous and meticulous as a knife, are you the Ming of a thousand years ago, or the Clear of a thousand years from now? Who turned your crystal-clear eyes into the pitch-black silence of the eternal night? Is it the longing of a candle burned to ashes? Who imprisoned the love words you whispered in my ear, "For all eternity, oh"? Has this ethereal vow, shrouded in mist and rain, been blown away by the harsh winds of the mortal world? I long to caress your face, to feel the loneliness and unruliness on the bridge of your nose with my fingers, to feel the poetic elegance of your lips. This intertwined route of reality and illusion is destined to be winding and graceful. Before it even begins, it wrinkles the pool of clear shadows, shattering them into the reality before my eyes.
But the reality was just as intoxicating. The mere inches of distance had already fused their scents, intertwining and swirling, stirring their heartstrings. Xue Jiuyue couldn't get enough of the subtle warmth, the faint herbal freshness, the scent, she couldn't stop tasting it, overwhelmed with shame and emotion, "like a flower, my heart clashed with the silk."
Just as she was "rosy and delicate, like she was drunk," she heard Liu Che's gentle voice, "It's done." The complex and detailed emotions then converged into a silence that filled the room. It took a few breaths for Xue Jiuyue to react and she was about to pull out her phone to check.
"There is a mirror behind my wardrobe door." Liu Che predicted the future again.
"Oh well."
Xue Jiuyue opened the wardrobe door and was greeted by a very light fragrance that seemed familiar, but so faint that it was impossible to trace.
Unaware of these details, the mirror behind the door reflected a face as pretty as a peach blossom. The dim light made the mirror appear coppery, like gazing into the mirror in a dream. Focusing on the two meticulously crafted curves, "brows joined like eyebrows, eyebrows raised," the mountains on either side faded into ethereal beauty amidst the misty clouds. Dreams and reality converged on those two slashing autumn waters.
"It's so beautiful! It's better than mine!"
"As long as you like it."
"..." Xue Jiuyue wanted to say something, but for a moment she didn't know where to begin. She simply kept silent, closing her eyes to avoid the chaotic questions that were like "flying catkins all over the city" and the feelings that were like "rain when plums are yellow."
Night came quietly with the breeze, and in the small courtyard of the inn, I was attracted by the sound of the piano more and more.
Not everyone is as obsessed with music as the night, and the noise of shouting and yelling downstairs was dispelled by the alcohol.
Finally, the zither music stopped, and the sound of reciting aloud followed, like sorrow, thought, and sigh, "Twenty-five strings pluck the night moon, but the clear resentment flies over."
"Bang, bang, bang."
As the poem lingered, a knock on the door suddenly sounded, causing the scholar, who was leaning against the window with his hands behind his back, looking up at the moon, to turn around. He wore a square scarf and a green robe, with delicate features, fair complexion, and rosy lips. He stood tall and straight, then said in a clear voice, "Excuse me, who is this?"
"Bang, bang, bang." He only got three light knocks in response.
Although he was a traveler in a remote village, the inn was crowded with people and eyes, so he thought it would be okay. So he walked forward and opened the door.
The white dress, dazzling against the dim background, makes her graceful figure appear as pure as a willow in the spring moon, or as radiant as a lotus emerging from the water. Although covered by a veil, how can I not recognize this lingering image?
"Xiao Yue?!" The voice was full of affection and joy.
"Sir." His tone was as gentle as water, and he was thinking about it all the time.
Hugging each other, the familiar warmth soothes the longing between the two.
After a long while, the scholar's whisper came from the close ears: "Why are you here?"
"I'm afraid you'll be lonely and destitute on your journey, so I've come here secretly..."
"How should we deal with this, father?"
"I want to go home."
"What about the back there...?"
"I've pawned my jewelry, which is enough for a carriage and horses. I want to accompany you to the capital to take the imperial examination. When you're hungry, I can prepare food for you; when you're thirsty, I can boil water and make tea for you; when you're reviewing, I can grind ink and dip your brush for you. When you're tired, I can..."
Before he could finish his words, the scholar grasped her jade-like breasts and whispered softly, "How lucky am I, Wu Liren, to have such a wife?!"
…
The journey of Phoenix Flying was naturally full of scenery, and the next day they both arrived at a ferry.
Traveling from Yonghe Town to Bianliang City requires passing Yuzuisha, the confluence of the Youshui and Tangshui rivers. The water here is narrow, but the currents are swift and full of undercurrents and whirlpools, making it impossible to cross without a boat. Merchants and travelers often stopped here, and gradually a market developed. Initially, it was a place for trading mountain goods and aquatic products. Later, teahouses, wine shops, gambling dens, and brothels also emerged, transforming the Yuzuisha ferry into a bustling destination. With so many people passing through, it naturally brought a mixed crowd of people, both good and bad.
Wu Liren, eager to take the exam, didn't linger in the market, heading straight for the ferry. However, he saw no boats, which used to come in a continuous stream. He learned from an old man nearby that bandits were invading the border from the west, and that the Liao Kingdom was also making unusual military movements, requiring all ships on the western route of Hebei to transport grain.
"What should I do?" Wu Liren sighed helplessly.
"Don't worry, sir. We still have plenty of time. It won't hurt to stay at the inn for a few days. We can also ask if there are other ways to cross the river nearby."
As they were talking, a man came over. He was not very tall, with a hunched back. He wore a black bamboo hat to block out the sun, a chess piece cloth vest, a raw cloth skirt tied around his waist, and a pair of straw sandals. Judging from his attire, he must be a fisherman on a boat.
As he approached, the man raised his head and asked in a low voice, "Sir, are you planning to cross the river?"
At this time, it can be seen that this person has a dark complexion, eyebrows like a paint brush, eyes as small as beans, and while talking to Wu Liren, he kept glancing around.
Wu Liren also replied in a low voice, "Exactly."
"I can escort you two across the river, but how much does it cost..."
"As long as we can cross the river, more money is fine." Wu Liren was eager to cross the river and did not want to miss the opportunity.
"Two people need ten strings of cash."
"Ten strings of cash?!" Wu Liren hadn't expected so much. "Are you robbing me?!"
"Sir, keeping the boats privately right now will be a serious liability. In a few days, if more people want to cross the river, it will probably be even more expensive!"
Wu Liren gritted his teeth and said, "Alright!"
"Master..." his wife beside him called softly, then whispered in his ear, "You look awkward, I'm afraid something's wrong. How about we find an inn to stay in first and make some plans later?"
Wu Liren smiled indifferently, "My lady, you worry too much. In this peaceful world, how could there be so many evildoers? If I were to meet one, I would persuade him to abandon evil and embrace good with the words of a sage."
He didn't shy away from what he said, so the dark man heard it clearly. "That's right, that's right. It's obvious that you are a scholar. Even some scoundrels wouldn't dare to offend Wenquxing. I'll lead the way."
When Wu Liren heard this, he felt full of righteousness and he pulled Xiaoyue beside him and followed.
The three of them followed the river up the path, which became increasingly rugged. After about half an hour, the narrow path was gradually covered by weeds and unrecognizable. On both sides were reeds more than a meter tall. Insects chirped and birds chirped everywhere, but there were no thatched houses or people in the distance. Wu Liren also began to wonder, "Brother, how long will it take?"
"It's in the water branch at the foot of the mountain ahead."
"Sir, I can't walk anymore. Let's go back." Xiaoyue winked at Wu Liren.
Wu Liren was still unwilling to give up his last glimmer of hope. "Brother, it's too far. We can't walk anymore. How about you drive the boat over and we'll wait for you at the ferry."
The dark-faced man looked around and said, "Sir, about five hundred paces ahead there's a puddle where the boat can land. Wouldn't it be easier to wait there?"
Wu Liren was still hesitating, and the man advised, "Sir, it wouldn't hurt to walk back another five hundred steps."
Wu Liren dragged Xiaoyue along again. They were getting further and further off the beaten path, with a dense forest blocking out the sun. Just as Wu Liren was about to ask more, the man in front of them stopped, turned around, and looked at them with his hands on his hips.
"Brother, what is this?"
"I wanted to make a bowl of soup noodles, but you two insisted on eating steamed buns. Well, you two, leave your money to buy your life, otherwise don't blame me for being heartless."
The large man stood with his head held high, his face ferocious. Wu Liren looked around hastily and saw that several large men had appeared, wielding broadswords, their blades gleaming brightly.
Wu Liren was about to argue when a man drew his bow and arrow and shouted, "First, I'll let you hear the wind and know how powerful I am!"
As soon as he finished speaking, an arrow flew past Wu Liren's ear like light and lightning, and with a "grab..." sound, it penetrated into the tree trunk behind him several inches, and the tail of the arrow was still vibrating.
This shock made Wu Liren so frightened that his soul was shaken and his body was numb as if he had suffered a stroke and his legs were like a defeated rooster. All his talents for governing the country and benefiting the people and his passion for persuading people to do good were thrown away to Java.
"Please spare my life, sir, please spare my life..." Wu Liren fumbled for his belongings on his body tremblingly.
"Brother, this female must be pretty, very much to my liking. I want to keep her." A burly man with thick eyebrows, big eyes and a gray face said in a muffled voice to the man who led the way earlier.
The man in the bamboo hat also took a look at Xiaoyue. She was dressed in white, with a light veil covering her face. Although he couldn't see everything clearly, her charming appearance made his throat itch. So the man shouted, "Hey, you bastard! Leave this woman here, and you can go back and ask for another wife."
Wu Liren was even more frightened now, "Grandpa, Grandpa..."
Xiaoyue, who had remained silent the entire time, stepped forward and said, "My dear men, the imperial court is in need of men right now. You are both skilled and handsome. Why don't you fight on the front lines and earn a title, a wife, and children? You will leave a good name in history and your life will be well spent. Why do you have to be a tough guy cutting off the path?"
This speech attracted the attention of the crowd. Then the man in the bamboo hat said, "You are quite courageous, woman. My brothers have taken a fancy to you. Come back with us to the village and enjoy big bowls of wine and big chunks of meat, wear the same brocade, and share gold and silver. Isn't it better than following that idiot?"
"I am deeply terrified by your kindness, my dear fellow. But if a man is rude, what difference is there between him and an animal? My husband and I have been married for generations and are still engaged. There is no reason for me to marry someone else. I beg you heroes to show mercy and spare my life. I have some money on me, which I will gladly give."
After Xiaoyue finished speaking, Wu Liren remembered something and hurriedly searched out all the money he had on him and held it in his hands trembling with fear.
"Brother!" the burly man said hurriedly, "Why waste time arguing with him? Even if we snatch the female and destroy the sour cub, the money and property will be ours. If you like her, I'll give her to you and I'll be happy too."
"You and I have been brothers for many years. How could I be the kind of person who only cares about women?" The man in the bamboo hat immediately gave an order, "Brothers, stand shoulder to shoulder. We will have a wedding night!"
Then, a cold arrow flew towards Wu Liren's face, but Wu Liren seemed to be under a spell, unable to move.
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