A Dream, A Lifetime
"Senior Yue, Mr. Shi, are you really not going to stay and have a drink before leaving?" said Chou Doufu.
Shi Qiuyan smiled and shook his head. Yue Jiaolong bowed to Stinky Tofu and said, "I'm old and don't like crowds. Thank you for your kindness, City Lord."
"Keep this money for the journey." Chou Doufu handed a purse to Yue Jiaolong. Yue took the purse and choked up, saying, "Thank you, City Lord. Take care."
Shi Qiuyan took out a jade bracelet from his arms and handed it to Leng Yue, saying, "This is a wedding gift for you."
"Thank you." Leng Yue took the jade bracelet and said.
"Let me help you put it on." Shi Qiuyan took Leng Yue's hand and wanted to help her put on the bracelet, but found that he couldn't put it on at all.
"I'm such a failure. I've never given you a gift. I finally bought you a small gift, but I couldn't even pick the right size for your hand." Shi Qiuyan said with a wry smile.
"It doesn't matter, as long as the intention is there." Leng Yue said.
Shi Qiuyan put the jade bracelet into his arms and said seriously, "Since you can't wear it, I won't give it to you for now. I'll give you a big gift later."
"No need to go through so much trouble. I appreciate your kindness." Leng Yue said.
"No, a wedding gift must be given." Shi Qiuyan suddenly lowered his head and kissed Leng Yue's cheek, saying, "Remember, you must be happy."
Leng Yue was stunned for a moment, then returned to her usual expression, smiled and nodded at him.
Yue Jiaolong and Shi Qiuyan mounted their horses. Shi Qiuyan, riding a white horse, looked back with a dashing smile and asked, "Am I handsome?"
"Handsome." Leng Yue said with a smile.
"How handsome is he?" Shi Qiuyan asked.
"Very, very handsome, extremely handsome." Leng Yue said.
"No, that's not enough. I'm about to leave, so why don't you praise me a few more times? How handsome am I? Humph, I won't leave until you praise me to my satisfaction." Shi Qiuyan said with a pout.
"It would be better if you stayed for the wedding. But since you're so handsome, I'll give you some praise!" Leng Yue said with a smile, "You're so charming and handsome, everyone loves you, and you get flat tires when you drive. Women who like you line up from the three northeastern provinces to the Taiwan Strait, like the endless flow of the river and the unstoppable flooding of the Yellow River. From now on, besides the prince and Tang Monk, you, Shi Qiuyan, will also ride a white horse. Is that okay?"
"That's more like it." Shi Qiuyan said proudly, "You really don't know how to praise people. The words you use are too old-fashioned."
"Tsk, you're just being ungrateful after getting the advantage." Leng Yue said with a smile.
"Take care, everyone!" Shi Qiuyan flicked the whip casually, and the horse neighed and walked forward quickly.
"Xiaoyan, you must be happy." Leng Yue murmured as she looked at Shi Qiuyan's back.
Inside the imperial study of the palace.
"Hahahaha... Renhe, Lingxue; Changfeng, Yan'er; Mingri, Lengyue. Find a time to get married to all of you! Three happy events at once, haha!" Ouyang Feiying said with a smile.
Stinky Tofu held Lingxue's hand, and Lingxue blushed and lowered her head. Changfeng smiled at Yan'er, and Yan'er also blushed and lowered her head.
"Uncle, Leng Yue hasn't agreed to marry Ming Ri yet." Leng Yue suddenly said this.
Mingri frowned and said, "I haven't agreed to marry you yet."
Ouyang Feiying looked at Mingri and Lengyue, completely bewildered: "What's going on between you two?"
Leng Yue walked over to Ouyang Feiying and whispered something in his ear. Ouyang Feiying laughed heartily after hearing it: "Hahahaha! Okay, then we won't get married for now!"
"Dad...!" Anxiety flashed across Mingri's face, and then he returned to normal, saying coldly, "Forget it, I don't want to get married now."
"You..." Ouyang Feiying pointed at Leng Yue's nose and laughed. Leng Yue smiled mischievously, stuck out her tongue and made a face at Mingri.
Mingri raised his eyebrows and made an expression of "who's afraid of who".
"The wedding of City Lord Huangfu and Princess Lingxue, and the wedding of General Sima and Miss Shangguan, what a double blessing!"
"City Lord Huangfu also said that he would reduce taxes by half this year, so our lives will be much better!"
"Yes, I heard that the Imperial Master is getting married soon. Sifang City is really full of happy events!"
The entire Sifang City was filled with a deep sense of joy.
Ling Xue looked even more beautiful in her red wedding gown. Madam Yuzhu combed Ling Xue's hair and praised her repeatedly, "My daughter looks so beautiful today."
Ling Xue's cheeks turned slightly red and she lowered her head shyly.
Leng Yue was combing Yan'er's hair carefully. Yan'er rarely wore girls' clothes, but now in her red wedding dress, she looked so soft and charming that Leng Yue couldn't help but say, "Yan'er, you are so charming! You are so beautiful that I want to marry you."
"What nonsense are you talking about," Yan'er scolded, "What's going on between you and Sai Huatuo? Aren't you afraid that he will be snatched away by another woman?"
"Running ahead? Who can run ahead of him? Unless it's Nong Yue." Leng Yue said.
"You're talking more nonsense than ever," Yan'er said. "I'm asking you something serious. What's going on between you two?"
"It's okay," Leng Yue said, "I don't want to participate in a group wedding. If I have to hold one, I'll hold it differently."
"Ayue, what are weddings like in your hometown?" Yan'er asked.
"It's pretty much the same as here," Leng Yue said, "but there are a few slight differences. For example... the officiant will ask something like, 'Are you willing to marry her and stay by her side forever, for richer or poorer, in sickness or health?' Then the other person will say, 'I do.' And then everything will go according to local customs."
"Ayue, can you be my officiant?" Yan'er said, "Just use the words you just said."
"Ah? Aren't you going to be the host of the wedding tomorrow?" Leng Yue was confused. She had never done a job like hosting a wedding before.
"I want to hear Changfeng say 'I do' to me, okay?" Yan'er said coquettishly.
"Okay, okay, then let Mingri be the officiant at the wedding between the City Lord and Ling Xue, and I will be the officiant at the wedding between you and Chang Feng. Isn't that nice enough?" Leng Yue said with a smile.
"Thank you." Yan'er covered her mouth suddenly before she finished speaking, as if she was unwell.
"Yan'er, are you pregnant?" Leng Yue was overjoyed.
"Shh—keep your voice down." Yan'er said.
"Oh," Leng Yue lowered her voice, patted Yan'er's belly and said with a smile, "Congratulations."
Yan'er blushed, lowered her head and smiled sweetly.
Amid the joyful sound of suona, Chou Doufu walked into the hall holding Lingxue, and Changfeng walked into the hall holding Yaner.
Mingri and Lengyue stood on either side, smiling at each other. They were truly happy for the two newlywed couples.
"First bow to heaven and earth! Second bow to parents!" Mingri shouted.
Then there was no movement.
Everyone looked at each other, discussing: "What's going on?"
Chou Doufu and Sima Changfeng also looked at Mingri with confusion.
Mingri smiled calmly and said to Chou Doufu, "Huangfu Renhe, are you willing to marry Princess Lingxue? Whether in poverty or wealth, in health or sickness, you will always be by her side, cherish her, love her, protect her, and never leave her for the rest of your life?"
"I do." Stinky Tofu said firmly.
"Good!" Everyone applauded.
"Sima Changfeng, are you willing to marry Miss Shangguan and stay by her side forever, whether she is poor or rich, healthy or sick?" Leng Yue asked.
"Sima Changfeng is willing to stay with Yan'er for the rest of his life, cherish her, protect her, and never leave her." Sima Changfeng said firmly.
Everyone applauded again.
"The couple bows to each other! Send them to the bridal chamber!"
The wedding was over, Mingri and Lengyue looked at each other and smiled.
During the banquet, Xiao Douya asked, "Sister Yue'er, when will you and Sai Huatuo get married?"
"Yes, mother is still waiting to hold her grandson." Mrs. Yuzhu said with a smile.
Leng Yue and Ming Ri stared at each other for two seconds, then turned their heads away at the same time: "Humph!"
Nong Yue choked while laughing and coughed for a long time.
"You two are really...haha!" Ouyang Feiying smiled and shook his head.
The palace is full of joy.
Nong Yue was painting, Leng Yue quietly walked to the door and hid outside.
"Why are you hiding? I saw you." Nong Yue said lightly.
Leng Yue walked in with a smile and said, "I'm afraid to disturb your interest in painting."
"I just finished painting." Nong Yue said, "Come over and take a look, how about it?"
Leng Yue looked at Nong Yue's painting carefully and said, "The painting is beautiful, but the painter's heart is a little sad."
"Oh?" Nong Yue smiled, "Where did you hear that, sister?"
Leng Yue pointed to several places in the painting and said slowly: "House, tree, and people."
"Based on these three points alone, can you guess Nong Yue's thoughts?" Nong Yue asked.
"That's right." Leng Yue said.
"Can you teach me?" Nong Yue asked.
Leng Yue smiled slightly: "Sure."
"Sister, aren't you afraid that Nong Yue will hide her thoughts after learning it?" Nong Yue asked with a smile.
"Some things cannot be hidden." Leng Yue paused and asked softly, "Nong Yue, do you hate me?"
Nong Yue chuckled. "Why do you say that, sister? It's not easy for two people to be in love with each other, and it's even rarer to live and die together. Sister and Sai Huatuo are finally together. Nong Yue is truly happy for you two and wishes you all the best from the bottom of her heart. How can you even talk about hatred?"
Leng Yue smiled and said hesitantly: "You are not young anymore, if there is someone suitable..."
"Sister, aren't you a savior?" Nong Yue said, "Sister, you know Nong Yue best. You should know that Nong Yue is not someone who would give in or compromise. I wish to find someone who loves me and stay with me until we grow old together. Nong Yue would rather die alone for the one she loves than spend the rest of her life with someone she doesn't love."
"Why do you torture yourself like this?" Leng Yue said.
"Sister, don't worry about me," Nong Yue waved her fan and said slowly, "There's still a long way to go."
After Nong Yue finished speaking, she stood up and said, "Sister, please wait a moment." Then she carried out a small wooden box from the inner room.
"This is a wedding gift for my sister." Nong Yue said.
Leng Yue opened the box and saw a statue of the two immortals He and He carved from white crystal lying inside. It was crystal clear and in excellent condition.
"The two immortals of harmony and unity, what a wonderful meaning." Leng Yue said, "Hey, don't you like jade?"
"Since my sister likes crystal, crystal is the right gift for her. White crystal is crystal clear and has the power to protect the house, so it's the perfect wedding gift for her." Nong Yue said with a smile, "Does my carving work suit my sister's taste?"
"Excellent carving. Thank you, Nong Yue." Nong Yue carved every gift for Leng Yue by hand, and Leng Yue was deeply moved every time she thought of it. Nong Yue was probably the only one in the world who had such a good brother.
"Sister," Nong Yue suddenly said seriously, "You will always be my good sister."
Leng Yue's eyes were wet with tears at this sudden sentence, and she nodded with tears in her eyes.
Today is a very special day. Twenty years ago today, Mingri was abandoned by Ouyang Feiying. From then on, his birthday was linked to his painful life experience.
More than 20 years later, Mingri married Lengyue and received the most sincere blessings from his parents and relatives. From then on, his birthday became the beginning of a beautiful life.
Tomorrow, the red veil of the cold moon will be slowly lifted, and the moon will be more charming and shy than usual.
"So this is why you want to postpone the wedding." Mingri said with a smile.
"Do you like it?" Leng Yue asked with a smile.
"I like it," Mingri said, holding Lengyue's hand, "Yue'er, I can feel your good intentions."
"Yue'er just wants to leave you with some more good memories." Leng Yue said softly with her head down.
Mingri's eyebrows trembled for a moment, but then he regained his composure and said gently, "Let's not talk about this today. Come, you and I will drink from this cup together, and from now on, we will be united in love and become a loving couple."
"Wedding wine? Is this how we drink it?" Leng Yue asked, crossing her arm with Mingri's.
Ming Ri was stunned for a moment and said, "Yes, that's it."
Mingri and Lengyue drank the wedding wine. Lengyue threw herself into Mingri's arms and said, "It's great. Ouyang Mingri and I are together. Ouyang Mingri is my husband, and I am Madam Ouyang. Hehe."
"Yue'er, what does your world look like? Can you tell me about it?" Mingri asked.
"My world will take a long, long time to tell." Leng Yue said.
"Then tell me slowly. Share your story, your growth, your home, and your little secrets with me, okay?" Mingri said.
"Okay." Leng Yue said with a smile.
A good life, a good start. Tomorrow, Leng Yue, I wish you happiness.
Half a year after Mingri and Lengyue got married.
Leng Yue was sitting on a chair embroidering, while Ming Ru was reading a book.
"Imperial Master, General Sima and Madam Sima are here." The maidservant announced.
"Please come in," Mingri and Lengyue came forward, "Why did you come here in person? You should be going down to the mansion to check the lady's pulse."
"I'm not that delicate. It's too boring at home, I should go out for a walk." Yan'er said with a smile: "Besides, I miss Ah Yue."
"If you miss me, I will come to you every day. You are not allowed to get tired of it." Leng Yue said with a smile.
Yan'er smiled and said, "You are not alone anymore. Stop running around like a child all day long. Be more steady."
"Am I not stable?" Leng Yue asked with a smile.
"Steady? How can you be steady? It's bad enough that you don't take care of yourself, but the general's wife is so pregnant that she has to stand with you in the sun and talk. Why don't you help her in quickly?" Mingri said with a sullen face.
Leng Yue stuck out her tongue in embarrassment. Sima Changfeng and Leng Yue supported Yan'er and slowly walked into the living room.
Mingri placed a handkerchief on Yan'er's wrist, checked her pulse, and said, "The pulse is stable, and the baby is very healthy. The weather is getting warmer now, so try to stay out as little as possible to avoid the heat."
Leng Yue gently stroked Yan'er's bulging belly and said enviously, "It's great, it's already this big."
"How are you?" Yan'er asked with a smile.
"She's still young." Leng Yue rolled her eyes and looked up and asked, "Will you go to help Yan'er give birth tomorrow?"
When Sima Changfeng heard this, he was stunned.
Mingri's face darkened: "Get into the bowl!"
Three years have passed since Mingri and Lengyue got married.
"I built my house in a human world, but there is no noise of carriages and horses. I ask you how you can do that? The heart is far away and the place is secluded. You continue with the next few sentences." Mingri said.
"Picking chrysanthemums under the eastern fence, hanging them on the southeastern branches." Leng Yue said while teasing her son.
"What do you mean by 'hanging oneself on a branch in the southeast'? That's a line from 'The Peacock Flies Southeast'. You got it mixed up. It should be 'Picking chrysanthemums under the eastern fence, leisurely seeing the southern mountains'." Mingri corrected.
"I pick chrysanthemums under the eastern fence and hang them on the southeast branch. Southeast branch, southeast branch..." Leng Yue said with a smile while teasing her son.
"Hang yourself from the southeast tree..." the child in Leng Yue's arms babbled.
"Puff! Hahahaha!" Leng Yue laughed and pulled her son into her arms, saying repeatedly, "You are really my good son!"
"...You've corrupted the child." Ming Ri said helplessly, "How could you even laugh at such a cold joke?"
"I just have a low laugh point." Leng Yue held her stomach and laughed uncontrollably.
"Tsk," Mingri rolled his eyes at Lengyue and said while stroking his son's head, "Nianyue, you must not learn bad habits from your mother."
"Master Ouyang, my wife is just like me. Please take a kind and virtuous concubine as soon as possible." Leng Yue said with a smile.
Mingri snorted coldly: "Don't even think about it."
(Note: Nian Yue is the nickname of Ouyang Mingri's son. Abu thought about the child's full name for a long time, but couldn't come up with a suitable one, so I won't mention it here. You can use your imagination to fill in the blanks.)
Six years have passed since Mingri and Lengyue got married.
"Master, Master Sima is here." The maid announced.
"Please come in." Mingri said.
Nong Yue walked in: "Sai Huatuo, are you okay?"
"It's okay to say yes, and it's not okay to say no either." Mingri said with a wry smile, "Please."
Nong Yue walked to the bedside, looked at Leng Yue who was sleeping on the bed, and asked, "Is your sleep getting longer and longer?"
"Ever since Siyao was born, she's been drowsy all day. Now she sleeps for seven or eight hours a day, but fortunately she's not in any pain. Alas, we can't keep her after all." Mingri sighed, turned to Nong Yue and said, "You haven't been here for quite some time. Are you busy with government affairs?"
"Yes, government affairs are not only complicated, but also very difficult." Nong Yue said truthfully.
"Now I have no interest in state affairs. I am sorry for the hard work you have put in." Mingri said.
"There's no need to feel guilty about being better than Hua Tuo. It's Nong Yue's honor to be able to help her friend solve his problems." Nong Yue said, "In fact, she left at the right time. The world today is no longer as peaceful as it once was."
"Yes, it's the right time. We should be happy for her," said Mingri.
Nong Yue patted Ming Ri's shoulder and said slowly, "That day will come sooner or later."
Mingri nodded, and a tear fell silently.
After sending Nong Yue away, the nurse brought Siyao over, having finished feeding her. Mingri took his daughter, cradling her in his arms and coaxing her gently. The child's babbling voice temporarily made him forget his worries. After a while, he felt a little tired and prepared to put her back in the cradle.
Mingri turned around and saw Lengyue had sat up at some point, looking at Mingri with tenderness in her eyes.
"A man who can coax children is the most charming man in the world," she said.
"You're awake." Mingri said with a smile.
"I want to go out for a walk. I'll give you a chance to show off. Please help me get dressed." Leng Yue said with a smile.
Mingri put Siyao back into the cradle, rocked her a few times, and said to Lengyue with a smile, "Okay."
Leng Yue is now snow-white and thin, but her pretty face and fresh temperament cannot be concealed. She is like a young girl who has never grown up. For seven years, she has remained the same.
Leng Yue opened a rectangular brocade box on the dressing table. Inside lay the jade hairpin and jade pendant that Nong Yue had given her. "After I leave, return it to Nong Yue for me."
"Okay." Mingri said.
Mingri picked out a few of Lengyue's favorite clothes and asked, "Which one do you want to wear?"
"The red one." Leng Yue said.
As the social situation was not optimistic, in order to facilitate the discussion of political affairs, Nong Yue, the imperial teacher, had moved into the palace to live, and Chunfengdeyi Palace had long become an empty house.
"I'm afraid I won't be able to wait until the crabapple blossoms bloom." Leng Yue leaned on Mingri's shoulder and murmured.
"It doesn't matter. You have crabapple blossoms there too," Mingri said.
"It's different. The flowers over there don't grow as well as here." Leng Yue said, "The water and air aren't as good as here either."
"Then don't leave." Mingri said.
"Although there are many bad things there, it is my home after all, with my family and friends there." Leng Yue gently stroked Ming Ri's cheek and cried, "But I can't bear to leave you."
Mingri reached out his hand to wipe the tears from Leng Yue's cheeks, and said slowly: "If there is an afterlife, I would like to go to your world and look for you."
"What if you can't find it?" Leng Yue asked.
"No." Mingri comforted.
"Tomorrow, do you remember a story I once told you?"
"What's the story?"
"The Story of Plato."
"Remember." Mingri said.
"Are you ready to find your next happiness?" Leng Yue asked.
Mingri frowned and slowly replied, "It's almost ready."
"I must find the next happiness." Leng Yue said.
"You too, you must be happy." Ming Ri said, "Don't take everything on yourself. Don't always get caught in the rain. Find a man who loves you and understands you. Don't bottle everything up in your heart and don't let yourself be wronged."
Leng Yue burst into tears.
After a long time, Leng Yue finally tired of crying. She wiped her tears, stroked Mingri's face with a smile, and said in a hoarse voice: "This long dream of three and a half hours has been so unforgettable for you and me. Who would believe that a dream can last a lifetime?"
"Life is like a dream, and time is ruthless. Although time is ruthless, people are affectionate." Tomorrow said.
"Take good care of yourself." Leng Yue said.
"You too," Mingri said.
Leng Yue's hands finally dropped, and Ming Ri's tears finally fell as well.
"I'm going to miss you."
Ouyang Mingri lowered his head and kissed Leng Yue's forehead, speaking softly.
One year later.
It's the season for crabapple blossoms again. Tomorrow, I'll set a cup of tea and a pot of wine on the stone table in the villa, along with some snacks.
"When you painted her portrait, Nong Yue was still a lonely ghost, floating around freely, unlike today when she is helpless." Nong Yue said with a smile.
Mingri also smiled and said, "Although you are not in control of your body, you have a free heart. Nong Yue, do you really plan to remain single for the rest of your life?"
"Isn't it the same as being better than Hua Tuo?" Nong Yue asked with a smile.
"I still have Nianyue and Siyao," Mingri said, "but you..."
"It is enough for the Sima family to have two descendants, Rufeng and Ruyan. There is no need to maintain the Lingfeng lineage." Nong Yue said with a smile.
"Is it because of her that you remain single for the rest of your life?" Mingri asked.
Nong Yue smiled and said, "Like Hua Tuo, it's better not to say some things clearly."
"Why are you doing this?" Mingri advised.
Nong Yue recalled the conversation she had with Leng Yue that day----
"Nong Yue, do you hate me?"
"Nong Yue would rather live out her life alone with the one she loves than spend the rest of her life with someone she doesn't love."
"Why do you torture yourself like this?"
Nong Yue came back to her senses and said with a smile, "It's not bitter, it's sweet."
Mingri and Nong Yue looked up at the bright moon in the night sky. The night was filled with the fragrance of crabapple blossoms, quiet and beautiful.
Leng Yue, I hope everything is going well for you.
(End of text)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
