Chang'an has a hometown, and the hometown belongs to Chang'an10
"It's not impossible for me to forgive you, unless you swear to me that you will never leave me again."
Guli raised her lips and smiled, "Okay, okay, I'll do as you say."
After saying this, he put four fingers together next to his head. The smile on his face disappeared, replaced by an unprecedented determination. "I swear, I will never leave this woman in front of me in this life."
He rubbed Gu Qingzhou's head and said, "How about this? Are you relieved now?"
Gu Qingzhou slapped Gu Li's hand away, her heart blossoming with joy, but she was unforgiving in her words. She narrowed her eyes and said, "What do you mean, this woman in front of me doesn't have a name? Gu Li, you're not just trying to fool me, are you?"
"How is it possible that the woman in front of me is not you alone?" Gu Li pulled Gu Qingzhou into his arms. He slowly leaned back on the roof, and Gu Qingzhou's body was buried in his chest.
The night is quiet. Occasionally, a few stars shine through the layers of clouds, with flickering light. The accelerated heartbeat of my hometown can be heard in my ears.
Gu Qingzhou fell asleep peacefully in this quiet and silent environment. Guli took off her coat, covered Gu Qingzhou with it, and held her in her arms.
The next morning, the dazzling sunlight shone directly on Gu Qingzhou's eyelids. She turned over slightly and her nose hit Gu Li's chest. It hurt so much that she stood up subconsciously and almost fell to the ground.
Gu Qingzhou, hungover from a night of drinking, looked at the scene in front of her in confusion. She had completely forgotten what happened last night. She asked in bewilderment, "Why am I here?"
Guli lifted up Gu Qingzhou's long hair that was draped behind her, bent down and kissed her neck.
The sweet fragrance of Gu Qingzhou lingered on the tip of her nose, and a smile appeared on the corner of her mouth. "You don't remember..."
Gu Qingzhou looked at Guli warily and said unnaturally, "What should I remember?"
"You were drunk last night, you said you..." When it came to the most critical point, Guli paused deliberately and rubbed the tip of Gu Qingzhou's ear.
"What did I say?" Gu Qingzhou's hands clenched unconsciously and his body became stiff.
Guli smiled and let her go. "You said you wanted to fly lanterns with me."
"How is that possible?" Gu Qingzhou frowned and rubbed his head, but he couldn't remember anything.
Guli stood up, hugged Gu Qingzhou, and jumped to the ground. "Don't even think about it. I can't lie to you. It just so happens that today is Qixi Festival. I'll take you to release lotus lanterns!"
-
The streets, which were originally sparsely populated, were already crowded with people because of the Qixi Festival. Many little girls wearing colorful gauze skirts were walking on the street in groups of three or five, and each of them held an exquisite lotus lantern in their hands.
Gu Qingzhou looked at the dazzling array of lotus lanterns and felt very happy. However, his excitement only lasted for a second before his stomach started growling.
She rubbed her shriveled belly, turned her head away, and said in a pretentious manner, "I'm hungry. Take me to eat."
Guli smiled, took a step forward, and interlocked his fingers with Gu Qingzhou. "Okay, as you say. What do you want to eat?"
Gu Qingzhou looked around and his eyes stopped at the small restaurant where he and Gu Ruo Liu Lan had eaten before.
A certain vindictive, stingy person grabbed Guli's hand and headed straight for the restaurant. Not only that, she repeated Guli's words from the previous day, word for word: "Boss, give me one serving of sweet and sour pork and one serving of Kung Pao chicken..."
Guli looked at Gu Qingzhou with the eyes of a naughty child, and couldn't help laughing. He scratched the tip of Gu Qingzhou's nose lovingly, "You said you're not jealous."
Gu Qingzhou turned his head, his hands on his hips, his cheeks seemed to be brushed by a blush, leaving traces of it. "If I say no, then it's no."
"Okay, okay, whatever Chang'an says is what it is." Guli looked at Gu Qingzhou with a smile in her eyes. Her every frown and smile warmed the years, was painted into the picture, and became the most colorful stroke.
"That's more like it." The victorious Gu Qingzhou was like a proud little kitten, shaking her head happily, looking extremely happy.
After the two finished their meal, they strolled leisurely. Before they knew it, the sky gradually darkened and everything around them was bathed in soft moonlight.
Guli led Gu Qingzhou to a small stall, and Gu Qingzhou picked out the smallest one from dozens of lotus lanterns.
“Why not pick a big one?”
“Concentration is the essence.”
Guli turned his head and said, "Hmm"
Gu Qingzhou was silent for a long time, "Because..." Because the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. If that's the case, it would be better not to have any hope at all.
Guli keenly caught the flash of disappointment in Gu Qingzhou's eyes. He pursed his lips and picked up the largest lotus lantern. "Boss, I want these two."
The moon and stars in the sky were reflected on the water. Gu Qingzhou bent down, and the lotus lantern in his hand slowly drifted along the water.
She didn't make a wish, but stood up. When she was about to leave, she was grabbed by Guli. Guli handed the largest lotus lantern to Gu Qingzhou and said, "Chang'an, come with me to light it!"
Gu Qingzhou was stunned. Before he could say anything, he was pushed to the shore by Guli. Guli and Gu Qingzhou both held a lantern and sent it to the water.
As the candlelight flickered, Guli closed his eyes and clasped his hands together. "I hope the girl who lit the lanterns with me will be happy every day and always have a smile on her face."
The candlelight outlined his beautiful profile, softened his indifference, and made Gu Qingzhou startled.
After making a wish in his hometown, he turned his head and looked at Gu Qingzhou sincerely, "Changan, do you think my wish can be fulfilled?"
The candlelight reflected in his eyes, swaying and shining.
Gu Qingzhou nodded as if possessed by some unknown force. "Yes."
Guli curled her lips, "That's good."
After a long time, Gu Qingzhou came back to his senses, "You made a wish for me, don't you have a wish yourself?"
Guli pinched his chin and said thoughtfully, "Yes."
"What?" Gu Qingzhou's steps paused. Somehow, at this moment she really wanted to make a wish, hoping that her hometown's wish would come true.
"My wish is..." Guli looked at Gu Qingzhou mysteriously and smiled, "I can light lanterns with you. Now it has come true."
Gu Qingzhou kissed Guli's lips, and it was as if a candy appeared in the sky. The candy penetrated into the layers of clouds, exploding with a sweet taste, and everything was dyed in it.
An evening breeze blew across the water, and the lotus lanterns that Guli and Gu Qingzhou had released together slowly drifted forward along the water, and the flames became brighter and more charming...
-
"Your Majesty, the battle is intense at the front, and our army is losing ground. I recommend General Guli to lead the charge."
Everyone present knew that this trip would most likely lead to their death, and Prince Heshuo even specifically recommended Gu Li, clearly wanting to put him to death, but no one dared to speak out to stop him.
Firstly, if our army is defeated, it will endanger the city and jeopardize our reputation. Secondly, Prince Heshuo is in a high position and has great power. To go against him is to die.
After some deliberation, several ministers agreed, "I second the motion."
The emperor looked at Guli in a dilemma, "General Guli, this..."
Guli took a step forward and said, "I am willing to lead the troops to the battle. If I return victorious, I hope Your Majesty can grant me one wish."
"Okay, then I agree."
Except for Guli himself, the rest of the people, while feeling fortunate, all lamented that General Guli's action was extremely foolish, and that no wish could be compared with his own life.
But only his hometown knew that wish was his lifelong pursuit.
The news that the hometown general was about to go to the battlefield and had a narrow escape from death spread throughout the capital in a short time.
Gu Qingzhou stood under the shade of a tree, looking at Guli who was walking towards her. She hugged him tightly, her head pressed against Guli's chest. Her eyes, looking at Guli, were clear and bright. "Guli, don't leave me this time!"
"Okay, I promise you. In exchange, An An also has to promise me that she will wait for me to return victorious, okay?"
Gu Qingzhou was like a helpless child, with his head lowered, his hands clutching his clothes, and hesitant to speak.
Guli held her cheek and repeated, "Changan, whatever you want, I will do my best to get it and give it to you. So, Changan, tell me, do you want me to come back?"
Gu Li's eyes seemed to have a spell, making Gu Qingzhou unable to help but sink into them. She nodded, "I think I will wait for your triumphant return."
Guli kissed her lips lightly, his nose touching Gu Qingzhou's. His eyes were filled with doting and indulgence. "Okay, I promise you. I will return in triumph, with three letters and six ceremonies, and a sedan chair carried by eight people, to welcome you home and make you the happiest woman in the world."
This time, Guli did not ask Gu Qingzhou for a real kiss, but Gu Qingzhou took the initiative to stand on tiptoe and kiss Guli's thin lips.
The red and black clothes were intertwined. A breeze blew past the treetops, and a few leaves danced and spun in the wind, landing on Guli's cloak.
Gu Qingzhou let go of Guli, pinched the leaves with his slender white fingers, and blew gently, and the leaves floated to the ground.
"Don't move." Gu Qingzhou pulled Guli's wrist, took out a red rope from his sleeve, and carefully put it on Guli's hand.
The sunlight filtered through the gaps between the leaves and softly fell on Gu Qingzhou's cheek. At this moment, the girl, whom he held dear to his heart, was tilting her head and carefully putting the red string on him to let him know he was safe.
Gu Li's heart was moved, and he wished he could hold the girl in front of him tightly in his arms and never let go.
But the time has come.
"General, it's time to set off."
Guli took Gu Qingzhou's hand and kissed her fair and translucent hand. "Changan, wait for me."
Gu Qingzhou watched Gu Li leave and silently said in his heart, "Yes, I will wait for you to come back and welcome me into the family. You must be safe and sound."
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