Chu Qiao followed him to the door. The wind was strong enough to blow up her snow-white cloak. She watched Zhuge Yue disappear into the thick night, and leaned against the door frame with a smile.
In fact, Zhenhuang is not as scary as she imagined.
In the distance, there were the voices of Jingjing and Ping'an making a fuss. No one knew what was going on, but they all burst into laughter. Chu Qiao couldn't help but curl up the corners of her mouth. It's pretty good. It's really pretty good here.
After dinner, she took a bath with the help of her maid.
Meixiang and the others were exhausted from the journey, and Rong'er needed someone to be with him, so Meixiang took two wet nurses with her to take care of the child. The servants didn't know and thought that they were Zhuge Yue and Chu Qiao's children born outside, so they took very good care of them.
The bathroom in Zhuge Yue's house was very large. It was built entirely of mirage white jade and inlaid with hundreds of pearls. With just a candle, the whole room could be as bright as day. The water is drawn from the underground hot springs of Cangshan Mountain, blended with floral dew and royal medicinal powder, giving it an intoxicating fragrance. In order to prevent slipping, the bottom of the pool is carved with large roses, which is extremely luxurious.
Huan'er said that when the emperor gave Zhuge Yue the mansion, he first took a look around and said, "After I leave, I can sell this house for a good price."
Chu Qiao smiled slightly after hearing this. It seemed that the rumors about the vampire Sima were not fake.
After taking a bath, she put on a white silk dress and returned to the bedroom barefoot.
Huan'er was a little nervous at first, but when she saw Chu Qiao's approachable manner, she gradually relaxed and boldly called out "Xing'er, Xing'er". She repeatedly brought up the trivial matters of Zhuge Yue in the past few years, but she only said good things. In short, the bottom line was: Xing'er, you know it's not too late to turn back. It's so wise of you to return to our young master in time. All the gods and Buddhas in the sky will be jealous of you.
Chu Qiao smiled as she listened to Huan'er talk about how Zhuge Yue had kept himself clean in the past few years, how he had not been close to women, how he had made those young ladies from aristocratic families regret and yearn for him; she listened to Huan'er talk about how Zhuge Yue missed her every day, how he cared about her, how happy and excited he was every time he heard news about her or received her letters, how he couldn't sleep at night, how he ate a few more bowls of soup; she listened to Huan'er talk about how miserable Zhuge Yue's previous years were, how he had been abused by others, how sickly he was, and how he had no status in the family...
Gradually, the little maid started to cry. While she was mumbling about Zhuge Yue's goodness, she said sadly, "Xing'er, please don't leave the young master again. The young master really loves you."
The room was filled with the finest incense. Chu Qiao sat on the soft bed, listening to the stories of the past. She felt that the past time was passing by like mountains and seas.
See, he likes her, everyone in the world knows it, even a maid can see it so clearly. But it took her so many years to understand this.
There was a gentle knock on the door, and the servants came to report that General Yueqi's wife had arrived.
Huan'er quickly jumped up and ran out. After a while, a pretty woman came in. She was wearing a goose yellow dress, which looked simple and elegant. She had two dimples when she smiled. She was holding a child in his teens by the hand. When she saw her, she knelt down to greet her.
Chu Qiao quickly supported her and said with a smile: "I didn't expect Yue Qi to be so lucky to marry such a beautiful wife."
Xiao Fei smiled slightly, revealing two cute little canine teeth, and said to the child: "Mo'er, call me mother quickly."
The child looked up at Chu Qiao, stunned for a long while, then suddenly opened his arms and hugged Chu Qiao's legs, shouting: "Sister, you came to see me!"
Chu Qiao was startled, she lowered her head and looked carefully, she saw that the child was pretty and cute, wearing a pine green vest, with sparkling eyes, looking at her happily, and shouted: "Sister, you don't recognize me, I am Mo'er."
Chu Qiao suddenly remembered that this was Ouyang Mo whom she and Zhuge Yue had taken in on their way to Tangjing. It has been more than six years. The little kid from back then has grown so big today.
She quickly hugged the child and said in surprise: "Mo'er has grown so tall, I almost can't recognize him."
Moer hugged her affectionately and said, "Where have you been, sister? Why haven't you come to see me in all these years? If father hadn't talked about you so often, Moer would have forgotten about you."
"Father?" Chu Qiao frowned and looked at the two people beside her in confusion.
Xiao Fei quickly said to the child, "Don't yell randomly, call me mom."
Mo Er looked at Chu Qiao and asked, "Did my sister marry my father?"
"Who is your father?"
"My father is the military commander of Daxia. Don't you know him, sister?"
Huan'er quickly explained, "After the young master came back, he adopted Master Mo as his adopted son."
Chu Qiao suddenly realized it. After chatting with Mo'er and Xiao Fei for a while, she found out that Xiao Fei had given birth to two children for Yue Qi. This woman always looks shy and will blush after speaking a few words, which makes her very likable.
Because Chu Qiao just returned home today, they couldn't stay longer. After chatting for a while, Xiao Fei took Mo'er away. Before leaving, Mo'er repeatedly asked Chu Qiao to promise to visit him when she had time, as if he was afraid that she would turn around and leave again.
After everyone left, Zhuge Yue still hadn't returned. Chu Qiao felt a little tired, so she dismissed the servants and went to bed to rest.
Chu Qiao's health has not been good in recent years. She has been traveling all the way these days and is not in good spirits.
The bed was warm and soft. Not long after Chu Qiao lay down on it, she closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
She didn't know how long it had been, she vaguely felt someone kissing her, but she stubbornly didn't want to wake up. She said "hmm" lazily and crawled deeper into the bed.
A cold arm suddenly hugged her, and warm breath sprayed on her ears, as if laughing.
Her neck felt itchy, so she frowned and opened her eyes. She saw Zhuge Yue wearing a lavender nightgown, lying on his side on the bed, staring at her with his bright black eyes, and said with a smile, "You are so vigilant that you don't even know that someone is taking advantage of you. Are you still the Xing'er I know?"
Chu Qiao smiled and stretched out her hands to hold his neck, saying: "There is a little thief who is very skilled. He always comes and goes without a trace. I can't catch any trace of him."
Zhuge Yue chuckled, lowered his head and kissed her, then asked, "Did you sleep well?"
"It's okay." Chu Qiao leaned in his arms and said mischievously, "I would sleep better if you didn't come back."
Zhuge Yue laughed and scolded, “You’ve been kicked for three days and you’ve climbed up the roof and tore off the tiles. Looks like I really need to teach you a lesson.”
After saying that, he raised his hand. Chu Qiao was so scared that she closed her eyes immediately. But after waiting for a long time, she didn't hear the so-called family punishment coming down. She opened her eyes, only to see Zhuge Yue looking at her leisurely. She couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you going to enforce the family rules? Why aren't you doing it?"
Zhuge Yue hugged her, lowered his head and kissed her neck. With a slight movement of his arm, the ribbon around her waist was opened, and her clothes slid down her shoulders, revealing a piece of snow-white skin.
Zhuge Yue slightly increased the strength in his arms, and slowly covered them with his body. He spoke in a low voice, “How can I bear to do that?”
On the candlestick with two cranes holding flowers in their mouths, a pair of red candles are burning quietly. The candles are covered by vermilion lanterns, and only the faint red light can be seen.
The night was long and silent. Chu Qiao's first night back in Zhenhuang City passed slowly in such warmth and tenderness. This autumn passed slowly in such sweetness and joy. Although the autumn leaves fell, the golden chrysanthemums bloomed in clusters, making the Sima Mansion, which was decorated with gold and jade, even more magnificent. The days are like a spring lake in March, flowing through fingers bit by bit, but leaving the sweetness and hope of spring in the palms, which linger for a long time.
On the day of the Autumn Festival, Chu Qiao followed Zhuge Yue out of the mansion and went to Xiangzhi Mountain, which was thirty miles away, to play, and also visited Anyuan Temple on the mountain to pay homage.
Although Chu Qiao had lived in Zhenhuang City for seven or eight years, she had almost never been to some of the scenic spots and historical sites around the imperial city. Firstly, my status did not allow it at the time, and secondly, I did not have the mood to do so. However, now that things have changed, everything is different from the past, so she opened her arms.
The weather was very good that day. Although there was a slight breeze, it made the air even more refreshing. Chu Qiao wore a moon-white pleated satin long skirt and a satin velvet cape, and set off with a group of followers who were excited to hear that they were going out to play.
Xiangzhi Mountain is located in the south of Zhenhuang, rising from the plain. The top of the mountain is covered with snow that never melts all year round, like a lying dragon, lonely and isolated. The mountainside is covered with maple forests. Now, at a glance, they are as bright red as fire and the scenery is beautiful. Today is the Autumn Festival, and all the wealthy families in Zhenhuang City are out traveling together. The mountain is crowded with tourists, and there are sounds of laughter and joy, making it very lively.
Climbing up Xiangzhi Mountain, you will be surrounded by red maple trees. The scenery is breathtaking. Jingjing and Ping'an led the way in front, shouting and chasing each other, while He Xiao and a group of Moon Guards guarded on both sides. Yueqi also brought Xiaofei with her, taking advantage of the festival to let this good wife and mother have a holiday.
Zhuge Yue held Chu Qiao's hand and walked up the stairs, chatting and laughing with everyone from time to time, quoting scriptures. This young master was rarely so happy and easy-going, and everyone was happy to join in the fun, protecting them like the moon surrounded by stars. Occasionally, a tourist passed by and everyone looked sideways, wondering which noble family he was traveling from.
Zhuge Yue has always been very busy. He is the military commander of Daxia and a vassal king of Qinghai. Now he has become the leader of the Zhuge clan, holding several positions and handling important military and political affairs. He also has to guard against attacks from both Zhao Yang and Yanbei at all times. These days, although he returned home on time every day, accompanied Chu Qiao to eat, chat, and rest with her, every time Chu Qiao woke up late at night, he was not by her side. When she opened the window, she saw the light in the study that was burning all night.
At such times she always pretended not to know, went to bed and continued to sleep peacefully until the next morning, then asked him with a smile if he had slept well, and looked at his squinting blue eyes and smiled and replied that he had slept very well.
His physical condition was not as good as he showed. He had suffered such a serious injury and had been swimming in the water for a long time. He had almost died. It was a blessing from God that he survived. Now that the weather is getting colder, his illness is becoming more and more obvious.
The autumn rains get colder and colder, and whenever it's cloudy and rainy, his complexion will be very bad. Occasionally, when I woke up in the middle of the night, I could hear his low, suppressed breathing, see the fine beads of cold sweat on the back of his neck, and his soaked pajamas sticking softly to his back.
At such times, she could never say anything. She could only open her eyes wide in the darkness, looking at the gleaming pearl ceiling, her fists clenched, her lips pale, counting the fine sand in the clepsydra bit by bit, quietly waiting for dawn, and then desperately carrying the brazier into the house the next day. She even directed the craftsmen to build a heater in more than ten days, making a bedroom look like a fire room.
Yesterday morning while having breakfast, Jingjing and Ping'an were talking about the excitement of the Autumn Festival. She just casually agreed with them and he took note of it. He didn't say anything at the time, but the next day he put aside all his work and took her out for a trip under the pretext of going up the mountain to worship Buddha.
Over the years, he has always been a stubborn and proud person, never believed in gods or Buddhas, and was as rebellious as a child. Chu Qiao laughed at him for changing his mind and wanting to worship Buddha, but he smiled at her and said mysteriously that it was not necessary to worship other Buddhas, but there was one Buddha that he must worship.