Chapter 44 Osmanthus Sugar Cake
Back at Peach Blossom Garden, Mu Yao was still dejected, her face full of unhappiness.
To cheer her up, Qin Wuyan took her to the roof of the Falling Star Palace to look at the stars.
The stars and moon shine brightly, and the Milky Way stretches across the sky. The shimmering lights in the night seem to have endured for thousands of years and will never fade, forever radiating dazzling brilliance.
The night sky is cool as water, I sit and watch the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl stars.
Mu Yao leaned on Qin Wuyan's shoulder and sighed, "Do you think the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl can really only meet once a year?"
"It's just a legend, it might not be true."
Do you believe in the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl?
“I believe they exist, but… their stories are not necessarily the way they are told in folk tales.”
"What does it look like?" Mu Yao asked curiously.
“I once read a story in an ancient book that said that in ancient times, the gods still existed. The Cowherd was not an ordinary person, but the son of a god-king from a branch of the gods. The Weaver Girl was the daughter of the most prestigious god-leader at that time—the Heavenly Emperor. She was sent to Kunlun Mountain, where the Queen Mother of the West resided, to cultivate. She was not related to the Queen Mother by blood.”
"At the Queen Mother's Peach Banquet, the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl fell in love at first sight. However, there was also a lot of infighting within the divine race. The Cowherd's divine race ruled the western part of the Heavenly Realm. His father was dissatisfied with the Heavenly Emperor's continued rule over the Heavenly Realm, so he pretended to agree to a marriage alliance, allowing his son to marry the Heavenly Emperor's daughter. In reality, on the wedding day, he took advantage of the Heavenly Emperor's unpreparedness, colluded with the demon race to kill the Heavenly Emperor, and became the new ruler of the Heavenly Realm."
The Weaver Girl believed that the Cowherd had deceived her and murdered her father and clan. She jumped into the Milky Way to her death, and the Cowherd followed her. Since they were both of divine blood, they transformed into stars in the sky after their deaths. The Weaver Girl still refused to forgive the Cowherd, and so the two were forever separated by the river, never to meet again.
After listening, Mu Yao frowned: "This story is even sadder than stories from the mortal world. I don't like it."
Qin Wuyan gently stroked her long hair and smiled, "Their ending is indeed regrettable. But, Yao'er, if you were the Weaver Girl, would you forgive the Cowherd?"
Mu Yao lowered her head and pondered for a moment. She thought of the extremely painful and angry feeling she had when her father died at the hands of Li Xun six years ago.
She shook her head firmly: "No, the debt of gratitude to parents is greater than heaven. No matter how much you like someone, you can't be together without any reservations because of the blood feud between your relatives."
Qin Wuyan's heart calmed down. He put his arm around her, gently kissed her forehead, and said softly, "I'm so glad you think that way."
Mu Yao reached out and hugged his waist, but felt a bulge in his satchel on his back, as if there was something there. "Huh? What's this?"
She took his satchel, opened it, and her eyes lit up.
It's actually a morbidly funny thing!
"Qin Wuyan, you actually bought it?" Mu Yao played with the chubby doll, and her face involuntarily turned red when she thought about how the doll symbolized having many children and grandchildren.
Qin Wuyan smiled and said, "I bought it because you like it."
"What do I like about it? I... I'm just curious because it's my first time seeing it."
"Oh? You don't like it? Then I'll give it to someone else." With that, he tried to snatch the doll away.
Mu Yao quickly hugged the doll tightly, hiding it in her arms: "No! You already gave it to me, how can I take it back!"
Qin Wuyan chuckled and pulled her into his arms, saying with a grin, "Just kidding!"
As the night deepened, a cool breeze began to blow, and then a light drizzle started to fall.
The two had no choice but to return to Peach Blossom Garden, but Mu Yao refused to leave Qin Wuyan's room.
"You've been busy for so long, can't you spend some time with me tonight?" Mu Yao said in a coquettish tone.
Qin Wuyan felt a great headache. He didn't want to be with her, but if the two of them stayed together, it would be a huge torment for him.
He sighed softly and said, "How about this, you go back to your room, and I'll leave after you fall asleep, okay?"
Mu Yao blinked: "Isn't it the same here?"
She held up the Mohele in her hand and smiled maliciously, "Wuyan, you bought me this thing, so what, don't you want to have a baby with me?"
"..."
Qin Wuyan blushed deeply for the first time after hearing her words, and after a long while, he stammered, "I...I didn't mean that."
"I don't care!" Mu Yao acted like a rogue. "I'm in a bad mood today, and I want you to keep me company." After saying that, she even lay down on the couch.
Qin Wuyan sighed, wondering if she even understood matters between men and women.
“Fine,” he finally relented, “then you sleep on the bed, and I’ll sleep on the floor.”
Mu Yao burst out laughing, utterly exasperated. She jumped off the bed and pulled him to sit on the couch. "Are you really that afraid to sleep with me?"
"Cough cough..." Qin Wuyan hurriedly said, "No, Yao'er, listen to me, we..." He didn't know how to explain to her, but Mu Yao took over his words: "Don't say anything, I know what you're worried about. Sister Zhenzhen has already told me."
"..."
Qin Wuyan's face darkened. Who knew what kind of nonsense Su Zhenzhen would teach her?
What did she say to you?
"I already mentioned that men and women sleeping together can have children."
"..."
At that moment, he even had the urge to kill Su Zhenzhen.
Mu Yao found his appearance hilarious, and, hugging his waist, became even more eager to tease him: "Qin Wuyan, you wouldn't dare, would you?"
Qin Wuyan was both amused and exasperated: "It's not a matter of daring or not, it's a matter of not being able to."
He sighed, pulled her into his arms, and said earnestly, "You're still young, and we're not married yet. If we cross certain lines, it won't be good for you."
Qin Wuyan wasn't exactly a person who strictly adhered to worldly customs and etiquette, but he still wanted to show her as much respect as possible. Besides, their future was uncertain, he couldn't make any definite promises, and he certainly couldn't allow himself to have anything happen with her that he shouldn't.
Seeing that he was thinking of her, Mu Yao's heart was filled with tenderness. But a hint of disappointment still showed in her expression, and she pouted, "Then you can sleep on the floor!" After saying that, she let go of his hand and even pushed him.
The warm embrace that had just been there suddenly felt empty and cold. Qin Wuyan felt as if his heart had also gone empty, and a cold wind was whistling through it...
After a long while, he suddenly embraced her again and lay down on the couch fully clothed. Mu Yao was startled, "Didn't you say..."
"Shh!" He kissed her cheek and whispered, "As long as you don't move around, I'll be fine."
Mu Yao was speechless. What does it mean to not move around?
She reached out and hugged his waist again. "How about this?"
Qin Wuyan took a deep breath. "Okay, but... this is fine. Don't move around anymore."
Mu Yao chuckled in his arms, suddenly finding teasing him incredibly amusing. So her arms, which had been holding him, began to wander, stroking his back. "How about this?" she asked.
Despite the clothes obscuring his view, the tingling, itchy sensation still spread throughout Qin Wuyan's body. Feeling the hand sliding lower and lower, he quickly grabbed it, his voice hoarse as he said, "I told you, don't move..."
Noticing that his voice had changed, Mu Yao laughed gleefully: "Who told you to tease me before? I'm just getting my revenge now."
"Sigh!" Qin Wuyan sighed. "Is she really that vengeful?"
Fortunately, Mu Yao finally calmed down, holding his hand with her right hand and wrapping her left arm around his waist, and stopped moving around.
As drowsiness washed over her, she found it so comforting to lie there holding him, and soon she drifted off to sleep.
Qin Wuyan gently pulled the blanket up for her and suddenly noticed the pink spider lily mark behind her ear.
That was a soul-binding spell he cast on her to protect her.
However, this technique is not yet complete. Only when the color of the red spider lily turns completely deep red will it truly be able to protect her for a lifetime.
He gazed at her peaceful, sweet sleeping face for a long time, feeling a sense of tranquility, followed by a heavy worry. Zhou Yixian's words today reminded him once again that someone could see through her current divine tree form.
He had no idea how long he could stay with her like this, and he didn't know if it was right or wrong to let their relationship develop so freely.
But who could wait for more than a decade and then resolutely reject the affections of the one they love?
He can't do it.
He could only try everything he could to stay with her as long as possible...
August arrived in the blink of an eye, and many osmanthus trees were planted on Fox Hill. The golden osmanthus blossoms filled the air with fragrance, and the rich aroma was like a wine that had been brewing for many years, intoxicating people wherever it drifted.
To prepare osmanthus cake for Mu Yao, Qin Wuyan ordered many osmanthus flowers to be picked and dried, and a batch of candied osmanthus was prepared in advance and stored in an ice cellar. On the fifteenth of August, the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Tianli Divine Sect allowed its disciples to go down the mountain to return home and reunite with their families. As a result, many people were suddenly absent from Fox Hill.
Mu Yao missed her mother very much, but she knew that Yunniang had long since married and had two sons and a daughter. Although she had received letters from Yunniang and knew where she was now, she had never gone to see her.
It's not that she doesn't miss him, it's just that when they meet again, she doesn't know how she should face him.
Fortunately, she still had Qin Wuyan.
At this moment, Qin Wuyan was busy in the kitchen of Taohua Garden. Although this kitchen was rarely used, it was well-equipped with cooking utensils, and he had also brought over a lot of rice, flour, and cooking oil from the dining hall.
When Mu Yao came in, Qin Wuyan was sifting rice noodles. He was particularly focused when he was working, and at this moment he was quite relaxed, so he didn't even notice Mu Yao walking behind him.
She peeked forward cautiously, wanting to see what he was doing.
Unexpectedly, Qin Wuyan suddenly stood up, "Ah!!" His shoulder slammed into Mu Yao's head, and she cried out in pain.
Qin Wuyan was startled and dropped what he was holding. He rushed to look at her and asked, "Where did you bump into? Let me see."
Mu Yao was rubbing her forehead when Qin Wuyan took a closer look and saw that she had bumped her forehead and gotten a small bump.
"Don't rub it!!" He quickly stopped her, then swiftly took a piece of ice from the box containing osmanthus sugar on the table, wrapped it in a cloth, and pressed it to her forehead.
"Why didn't you make a sound when you came in?" he said helplessly as he applied a cold compress to her.
Mu Yao pouted, "I was just trying to scare you, but who knew you'd suddenly stand up like that."
Qin Wuyan laughed and said, "You've got a case of trying to steal a chicken but losing the rice instead."
"How dare you make fun of me!" She angrily pushed his hand away, not wanting him to come near her.
"Okay, okay, I won't say anymore." He quickly moved closer and continued to apply ice to her skin. "It's quite swollen, you'll have to keep applying it for a while."
Mu Yao glared at him, "It's all your fault!"
"Yes, yes, it's all my fault, it's all my fault." Qin Wuyan coaxed her gently, applying the medicine for a long time. Seeing that the swelling had subsided a lot, he took out another bottle of medicine to apply to her.
As the pain in his forehead gradually subsided, Mu Yao noticed that his clothes, face, and hair were covered in white powder, making him look like a dirty little cat. She burst into laughter.
"What are you laughing at?" Qin Wuyan asked, puzzled.
Mu Yao took out her handkerchief and wiped his face while saying, "Why don't you look in the mirror and see how dirty your face is?"
"Isn't it all to make osmanthus cake for you?"
"Osmanthus cake?" Mu Yao exclaimed in surprise, "You're making osmanthus cake!"
Qin Wuyan nodded, turned around and picked up the sieve from the ground. Looking at the glutinous rice flour that he had painstakingly sifted for so long, he sighed: "All that work for nothing. I have to start all over again."
Mu Yao asked, puzzled, "Why was it so complicated the last few times you did it?"
While pouring the rice noodles, Qin Wuyan replied, "Didn't you say the taste wasn't good last time? I did some research this time and found that the rice noodles weren't as smooth as before, so I ground them myself and then sifted them."
Mu Yao was overjoyed and sat beside him, watching him work. He sifted the rice flour with great skill, carefully dividing it into even portions. It reminded her of when he taught her how to make medicine and poison; it was the same way, requiring meticulous attention to every detail, and he could even weigh out the exact amount of rice flour by hand.
Qin Wuyan is usually busy and doesn't cook often. But Mu Yao thinks that if someone like him were to cook, he would definitely be able to make a delicious meal.
As she pondered, she even thought about the future. Perhaps in the future, the martial world would be peaceful and stable, and the righteous and the demonic paths would coexist peacefully. They could then live a life full of everyday joys, just like they do today.
Before long, Qin Wuyan finished making the rice cakes, drizzled them with the osmanthus sugar he had prepared earlier, and even before steaming them, the faint fragrance of osmanthus wafted out.
He deftly lit the fire, covered the pot, and waited for it to steam. Turning around, he saw Mu Yao staring blankly at him.
"Does it still hurt?" Qin Wuyan walked over and looked at her swollen forehead, still very worried.
She gently shook her head, pulled him down to sit, and leaned in to kiss his cheek. "With our miraculous healer, Sect Master Qin, here, this little injury wouldn't hurt anymore!"
Qin Wuyan was amused by her words. Looking down, he saw his own reflection in her bright eyes. His gaze warmed instantly, and he pulled her into his arms, kissing her tenderly.
It was just an ordinary kiss, but wisps of white steam rose from the steamer basket on the stove, the boiling water and the swirling steam seemed to isolate them in a dreamlike world where only they existed.
They kissed passionately, almost losing themselves in the moment. Qin Wuyan even pulled her onto his lap, cradling the back of her head in his hands, kissing her intensely and lingeringly until she was almost breathless. He finally stopped, but still reluctant to part, his forehead pressed against hers, his breath coming in short gasps as he said, "The osmanthus cake...it'll be ready soon, won't it..."
"Hmm..." Mu Yao responded softly, then giggled.
Qin Wuyan knew what she was laughing about; her body was pressed against his, so it was impossible that she hadn't felt it at all.
This is absolutely agonizing.
He sighed inwardly, but reason prevailed in the end. Just as he was about to put her down, Mu Yao suddenly cupped his face and kissed him. Their lips and tongues intertwined again, bringing out a moist breath. The mist in their eyes grew even thicker, it was hard to tell whether it was their own or the mist emanating from the steamer on the stove.
"Wu Yan," Mu Yao looked down at him and asked in a coquettish tone, "Isn't it all the same whether we get married early or late? Why won't you marry me?"
Qin Wuyan pulled her arms down and put them on his shoulders: "Since it's the same sooner or later, then it's okay to wait a little longer!"
Mu Yao protested: "It would have been better to do it earlier!"
Qin Wuyan blinked: "Are you in such a hurry to marry me?"
"I..." Mu Yao blushed. She wanted to say yes, but then she felt that she was indeed too hasty. However, her intuition told her that he was dragging his feet on this matter because he had other intentions.
A woman's intuition is always strange. Even when there is no evidence, once she has such a strong intuition, she can't help but doubt and want to confirm it again and again.
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