Chapter 35 The Blessing of Having Two Women? My sister can enjoy the blessing of having two women; truly...
Although the trip to Qiyun Mountain had some unexpected events, it wasn't entirely fruitless. In fact, it could be said that the gains far exceeded her expectations.
Meng Lingyao picked up a new paintbrush and began to depict the magnificent mountain scenery she had memorized. Before long, the mountains, lakes, and peach groves all came to life on the paper.
When Songlan entered, she was immediately captivated by the scenery. After a long while, she exclaimed, "It's so beautiful, exactly the same as the scenery on the mountain."
Meng Lingyao did not respond. She carefully examined every inch of the painting, noting down a few areas that could still be improved before putting down her brush and washing her hands.
"Did you find the item?"
“Found it. Miss, take a look, this should be it.” Songlan held up the exquisite wooden box, its surface carved with lotus patterns, the lacquer already somewhat mottled. Meng Lingyao unlocked the copper lock, and a faint scent of ink rose up, revealing several old items inside the box.
“This is…” She picked up one of the inksticks, her fingertip touching the four characters “Chongwen Jia Deng” engraved on the bottom, and suddenly remembered its origin. At that time, she was playing at her maternal grandparents’ house, and her cousin brought friends home. They were playing chess or pitch-pot, I think. In any case, this Zhao Xiaojiang, who was said to be both a scholar and a warrior, lost, and this inkstick was the prize for the game.
"My cousin's painting skills are superb, perfectly suited to this fine Jin ink," her cousin said, presenting the ink to her like a precious treasure. However, she was used to Hui ink from Xuanzhou and had little interest in this crimson ink from Jinzhou. After thanking him, she put it in her private stash and never touched it again.
Her fingertips touched the gold bracelet again; the filigree work was as fine as a hair, and the inlaid jade still shimmered with a gentle, watery luster. The memory became clearer—that spring, before General Zhao went to the northern frontier, he came to his maternal grandparents' house to say goodbye. Outside the hanging flower gate, his eyes were red as he handed her a brocade box. She had intended to refuse it; although she was young then, she understood the ways of the world and knew not to accept gifts from men outside her family so casually.
His fingers were visibly trembling, and the young man's forced composure only made her feel sorry for him. Moreover, at that time, she was inexperienced and had not yet learned how to refuse firmly yet politely.
There was also a letter in the box, which said that he was determined to make great achievements on his journey and hoped that Miss Meng would wait for his return to the capital.
Meng Lingyao didn't take it to heart at all; why would she place her hopes on a future that had no end in sight?
However, she is currently neither married nor engaged.
How can you say I'm not waiting for him?
"Would you like to wear this bracelet, Miss?" Songlan asked softly when she saw that Songlan was lost in thought.
Meng Lingyao slipped the gold bracelet onto her wrist; the red gold reflected against her snow-white skin, making her look stunning.
“Tomorrow is the Shangsi Festival, it’s time to wear some bright jewelry.” She smiled slightly. “Such a fine bracelet shouldn’t be left unused.”
-
A few days later, the Shangsi Festival arrived.
A spring rain fell during the night, causing the grass and trees to sprout and everything to appear more lush and vibrant.
In the early morning, a meticulously made-up face was reflected in the mirror. It complemented the newly arranged apricot blossoms in the celadon vase beside it, and for a moment it was hard to tell which was more beautiful.
Donning a newly made pomegranate-red ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), Meng Lingyao picked up the phoenix hairpin and tucked it into her hair. The pearl tassels held by the phoenix head swayed gently, making her eyes appear as black as lacquer and her skin as smooth as jade.
“Miss, you look even more beautiful in this outfit than the flowers I picked this morning.” Songlan examined it carefully and sighed, “This dress really complements the phoenix hairpin better than the previous one. Miss has such good taste.”
Meng Lingyao gently stroked the tassel, her eyes slightly upturned.
This hairpin is beautiful, but wearing it today is more importantly a reminder to Pei Xu not to forget their promise.
She stood up. "Let's go."
At the foot of Qiyun Mountain, fine carriages and fine horses came and went in an endless stream, with noble ladies and gentlemen shuttling among them, their presence even more abundant than the flowers and trees on the mountain. As soon as Meng Lingyao's carriage came to a stop, she heard Cang Dian greeting someone outside.
"Greetings, General Zhao."
Meng Lingyao lowered her eyelashes, straightened her slightly wrinkled clothes from the journey, and stepped off the carriage with Songlan's help.
Not far outside the carriage, Zhao Xu stood before a chestnut-red steed, his eyebrows sharp and his eyes bright, his posture upright. Upon seeing Meng Lingyao, his eyes immediately lit up, "Miss Meng, what a coincidence, we've run into each other before even reaching the mountain."
Meng Lingyao's gaze swept over the horse; the mud splattered on its mane had long since solidified, and the horse would rub off the mud as soon as it touched it.
Clearly, he was not a newcomer.
Her smile deepened, and she nodded, saying, "General Zhao, what a coincidence."
"Since we have met here by chance, why don't we go up the mountain together?" The young general's eyes were soft and moist, as if they had also been drenched by a spring rain.
Those were truly eyes that made it hard to refuse, not to mention that Meng Lingyao hadn't intended to refuse in the first place.
"good."
Zhao Xu's joy was palpable, and even the horse beside him seemed to be infected by it, kicking its hooves excitedly. The master gently patted the horse's back, and the horse took the reins in its mouth and strolled leisurely to a lush, grassy spot.
After settling the horses, Zhao Xu called out, "Miss Meng, let's go."
The two walked slowly along the mountain path. The bluestone path was still wet, and Meng Lingyao held onto her skirt, walking carefully step by step.
Zhao Xu glanced down several times, his hands clenching and unclenching subtly at his sides, his palms already slightly damp. He exhaled imperceptibly and asked, "Miss Meng, the mountain path is slippery, would you... like to help me?"
Upon hearing this, Meng Lingyao turned her head to look at him, her eyes filled with just the right amount of surprise. She waited until his cheeks turned bright red before looking away. She then casually placed her hand on his wrist and said softly, "Thank you for your trouble, General Zhao."
"Miss Meng, you're too kind."
That hand felt incredibly heavy, pressing down on him so much that he could barely walk. Meng Lingyao was afraid that he would fall on the mountain and it would be her fault, so she immediately started talking, "I just saw that the general's horse was quite intelligent."
“Yes.” Zhao Xu’s expression relaxed considerably when he mentioned something familiar. “Jiangyun has always been very clever. When I first arrived in the Northern Frontier, I almost got lost in the Gobi Desert. It was it that led me back…”
“Jiang and Yun are good names,” Meng Lingyao said with a smile. “They suit the names well.”
With a good start, the conversation gradually became more natural. Zhao Xu talked about the different customs and culture between the northern frontier and the capital, and Meng Lingyao occasionally interjected with a few interesting anecdotes from the capital in recent years. They had a very pleasant conversation.
Along the winding stream, peach blossoms line both banks, their petals falling in profusion.
Zhao Xu looked nostalgic, saying, "When I was young, I learned a poem that said, 'The spring breeze does not reach Yumen Pass.' But after I personally went to the frontier, I realized that the ancients were right. It has been a long time since I have seen such a magnificent spring scene."
Meng Lingyao pointed to one of the trees in the distance, "That peach tree is called the Weeping Peach, and it was named the King of Flowers last year. Although it's really vulgar to rank flowers into different grades, General Zhao can take a closer look..."
When she raised her hand, her sleeve naturally slipped down a bit, revealing the gold bracelet on her wrist.
Zhao Xu's gaze was fixed on the bracelet, her eyes instantly filled with surprise, but she quickly lowered her eyes, a blush creeping up to her ears.
Convinced he had seen the bracelet, Meng Lingyao lowered her hand and leisurely finished the second half of her sentence, "Only then do I understand what 'the peach tree is young and tender, its blossoms are bright and beautiful' truly means. And I can also live up to the most splendid spring day in the capital."
"Yes." Zhao Xu moved his lips, his voice slightly hoarse, "I will certainly not let spring down."
As the two were walking towards the peach tree, a familiar voice came from ahead, "Lingyao!"
Zhou Xiwen walked quickly over, wearing a soft apricot-colored blouse. A hint of weariness lingered between her brows, but her eyes were bright and radiant. Upon seeing Zhao Xu, her expression shifted slightly, a complex look flashing in her eyes, before she quickly regained her composure.
"This is General Zhao from the Marquis of Wuxing's residence," Meng Lingyao introduced calmly. "General Zhao, this is Miss Zhou."
Zhao Xu respectfully cupped his hands in greeting, "Greetings, Miss Zhou."
Zhou Xiwen stared at him for a moment, then suddenly bowed solemnly. “A few days ago, I was fortunate that General Zhao stopped my father and brother outside the city. If they had been allowed to escape with their crimes, it would have been a terrible mistake.”
"You flatter me, Miss." Zhao Xu was taken aback for a moment, then stepped aside. "This humble general was merely doing his duty."
Meng Lingyao raised an eyebrow slightly; the Zhou family father and son had actually escaped right under the nose of the Dali Temple.
Luckily, he was caught.
She felt a surge of pleasure, and her gaze towards Zhao Xu held a newfound appreciation.
Zhao Xu subconsciously straightened his back even more.
Meng Lingyao pursed her lips, exchanged a glance with Zhou Xiwen, and both suppressed the smiles on their lips.
As they exchanged pleasantries, cheers erupted from afar. It turned out the young gentlemen had set up a game of pitch-pot by the stream, and someone had thrown an arrow into the pot, winning thunderous applause. Meng Lingyao spotted Zhao Ruxuan among them, her brow furrowing imperceptibly. The time was too short; she didn't want Zhao Ruxuan to see her getting close to her brother, fearing it might cause unforeseen problems.
"Why don't you try your skills, General?" Meng Lingyao suggested.
Zhao Xu hesitated and said, "I..."
“General Zhao, my sister and I have some private things to discuss.” Zhou Xiwen’s eyes sparkled as she took Meng Lingyao’s arm.
Meng Lingyao smiled and said, "There's always a prize in the pitch-pot game every year. I wonder what it is this year?"
These words somehow touched Zhao Xu, and he quickly agreed and left.
After he walked away, Zhou Xiwen covered his mouth with a round fan and said, "Lingyao, it's only been a few days. How come General Zhao, who just returned to the capital, has already fallen deeply in love with you?"
Meng Lingyao remained noncommittal, saying, "Perhaps it's just youthful impetuosity."
Zhou Xiwen gave her a meaningful look, "I originally thought that with Pei Shaoqing in front of you, it would be difficult for other men to catch your eye."
Before Meng Lingyao could speak, she continued, "However, this young General Zhao is indeed quite remarkable, a rare and clear-headed person in the capital. My sister will be fortunate enough to enjoy the blessings of having two men..."
"They are truly blessed."
Meng Lingyao: "?"
She was momentarily at a loss for words, and after a long pause said, "...I don't have a wealthy and powerful family like my sister's, so how could I enjoy such good fortune?"
Zhou Xiwen chuckled twice and pressed on, "Since you don't intend to enjoy the blessings of having two women, then the winner should be Shaoqing, right?"
“Sister, you may have misunderstood.” Meng Lingyao’s eyes were indifferent. “My relationship with Lord Pei is merely official.”
Seeing the disbelief in her eyes, Meng Lingyao offered a few more words of explanation, "Sister, you saw it just now too. In General Zhao's eyes, eight out of ten parts are me. But if it's Pei Shaoqing..."
She thought for a moment and said, "At most, he can only give 20% to Madam."
“That is not what I seek,” Meng Lingyao said firmly.
Zhou Xiwen remained silent for a moment, saying nothing.
"The peach blossoms are in full bloom right now, why don't we go admire them together?" Meng Lingyao changed the subject.
“I can’t refuse your kind invitation, sister,” Zhou Xiwen said, shifting his feet. “It’s a pity I arrived early and have been wandering around inside for quite a while. I’m a little tired now and would like to rest for a bit.”
Meng Lingyao did not insist and walked straight towards the peach grove.
Peach branches leaned against the stream, their pink petals fluttering like snow, landing on the shoulders of onlookers. Deep within the peach grove, Meng Lingyao heard a clear, cold voice.
Through the flower branches, Meng Lingyao saw Pei Xu, who was talking to a man who looked like a servant.
Dressed in white, tall and elegant, he seemed to embody the pure essence of the entire peach grove.
He seemed to sense something, looked up, paused for a moment on the phoenix hairpin in Meng Lingyao's hair, and then calmly looked away.
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