Bonus Chapter 1: The Place I Want to Go
The rain in Jiangnan is different from that in the capital.
The rain in Beijing is like a torrential downpour in the height of summer or a continuous drizzle in autumn.
The rain in Jiangnan is fine, soft, and misty, enveloping the entire water town in a hazy mist. The bluestone pavement is soaked and shiny, and the white walls and black tiles appear even more pristine.
Lou Jin and Ye Xunyang arrived in this small town on a rainy day.
They did not alarm the local government, but simply rented a small courtyard by the river like any other wealthy young man.
The courtyard is small but very elegant. You can see the winding river when you open the window. Occasionally, a black-awning boat will rock by, and the boatwoman's clear singing voice will drift on the water.
“This place is wonderful,” Ye Xunyang said, pushing open the carved wooden window and taking a deep breath of the air, which was filled with moisture and the fragrance of earth. His face was filled with undisguised joy. “It’s much more comfortable than those rigidly structured mansions and villas in the capital.”
Lou Jin stood behind him, looking at his temples that were slightly damp from the drizzle, and reached out to brush them away, his eyes filled with indulgent smiles: "If you like it, stay a few more days."
The two shared a large oil-paper umbrella as they left the courtyard and strolled along the slippery bluestone path.
The raindrops slanted across the umbrella, making a soft, rustling sound as they fell.
Ye Xunyang was like a bird released from its cage, finding everything new and exciting.
"Brother Jin, look, these lotus root starch dumplings look really good!"
Ye Xunyang was then attracted by a small stall with a canopy.
The lotus root starch balls were crystal clear, drizzled with sweet osmanthus sugar, and shone with an alluring luster in the misty rain.
"Hmm, have a taste." Lou Jin paid naturally, watching Ye Xunyang scoop one up with a small spoon, his eyes narrowing in satisfaction, and the corners of his lips unconsciously curving upwards.
As we were eating, a beautifully decorated pleasure boat slowly sailed by on the river not far away.
The melodious sound of a pipa and a woman's soft, gentle Wu dialect drifted from the boat. She was singing a Jiangnan folk song, her voice so sweet and tender it seemed to drip with moisture.
The singing girl, dressed in a light pink dress and holding a pipa, inadvertently fixed her gaze on Lou Jin on the shore.
There's no other reason than Lou Jin's exceptional temperament.
Even though he was wearing an ordinary brocade robe and had toned down his imposing presence, his tall and straight figure, unparalleled handsome appearance, and deep, calm eyes still made him stand out from the crowd like a crane among chickens.
The singer's gaze lingered on him for a moment, filled with admiration and curiosity. She even slightly adjusted her posture to make her figure appear more slender.
Ye Xunyang was engrossed in eating the lotus root starch balls in his bowl when he keenly noticed the gaze lingering on his master.
He immediately looked up, his gaze sweeping across the painted boat, just in time to catch the singer's gaze before she could fully withdraw it.
snort!
A small bubble suddenly rose in Ye Xunyang's heart, a sour feeling welling up inside him.
He took a half-step forward without making a sound, precisely blocking the singer's view of Lou Jin with his body.
Then, he turned around, looked up at Lou Jin, and pointed to the sky in a serious tone: "Brother Jin, you see, the rain seems to be getting heavier. Shall we find a teahouse to sit in and take shelter from the rain?"
As he spoke, he naturally took Lou Jin's arm, pulling him closer with an undeniable force.
Lou Jin saw through his little scheme perfectly.
The smile in his eyes almost overflowed, and he nodded readily, "Okay, whatever you say."
Instead of breaking free, he tightly grasped Ye Xunyang's hand that had reached out to him, their fingers intertwined and palms pressed together, conveying an undeniable warmth and determination.
He even turned his head slightly, his gaze gently falling on Ye Xunyang's face, and asked in a low voice, "What kind of tea would you like to drink? I heard that the Biluochun tea here is quite good."
The two walked hand in hand into a nearby riverside teahouse and asked for a private room.
Outside the window, the rain pattered softly, while inside, the aroma of tea wafted gently.
Holding the warm teacup, Ye Xunyang watched Lou Jin elegantly pour tea across the street. The slight sourness in his heart had long been replaced by a huge sense of satisfaction and security.
"Your Highness," he suddenly spoke, changing his form of address in the confined space, his tone tinged with a hint of smugness, "didn't I look particularly impressive just now?"
Lou Jin looked up at him, his eyes full of doting affection. He pushed the tea he had poured in front of him and said seriously, "Hmm, quite the air about you. Especially... when you're possessive of your food."
Ye Xunyang was taken aback at first, then realized that he was being teased, and reached out to pinch Lou Jin's hand: "Who's being possessive of food! I was just... I was just preventing some ill-intentioned people from coveting my prince!"
Lou Jin let him pinch him, and chuckled softly. His laughter was particularly pleasant in the quiet private room.
He took Ye Xunyang's hand, pulled it to his lips and kissed it gently: "Yes, thank you for your excellent protection, Your Highness."
Ye Xunyang's hand burned from the kiss, and his heart skipped a beat, but he still refused to admit defeat: "Good to know!"
After traveling for more than half a year, they finally arrived at the coast of the East China Sea.
Standing atop the high cliff, the salty and fierce sea breeze rushed towards me, making my robes flutter loudly.
Before them lay a scene they had never seen before.
The vast blue sea stretches to the horizon, meeting the equally azure sky.
Waves surged in, crashing against the rocks below with thunderous roars and splashing up countless white foams.
The setting sun was slowly sinking in the west, dyeing half the sky and a large expanse of sea into a magnificent golden-red hue, shimmering like countless pieces of gold scattered on the water.
"So beautiful..." Ye Xunyang gazed at the magnificent scenery and exclaimed sincerely, his heart seemingly expanding as a result.
He had seen the vastness of the Northwest, the gentleness of Jiangnan, and the mystery of the Southern Frontier, but none of them could compare to the impact of this boundless blue expanse before him.
"Your Highness, what do you think is on the other side of the sea?" he couldn't help but ask, his voice filled with longing and curiosity.
Lou Jin stood beside him, also gazing into the distance.
The sea breeze tousled his dark hair, but it only added to his untamed and composed demeanor.
His gaze seemed to pierce through the waves and see into a more distant place.
"Perhaps it's new land, or perhaps it's another country."
His voice sounded somewhat ethereal in the sea breeze, yet it carried a sense of certainty.
“There are scattered records in ancient books about fairy mountains and foreign lands overseas. In previous dynasties, there were also fleets that attempted to cross the sea to the east, but most of them disappeared without a trace.”
As Ye Xunyang listened, his eyes shone with an even brighter light.
He suddenly turned his head and looked at Lou Jin.
"Your Highness, after we've traveled all over this land and seen enough of the mountains and rivers, how about... we build a big ship, a really big one, and go see what's on the other side of the sea?"
Lou Jin looked at him.
Looking at his profile, gilded by the setting sun, and at the light in his eyes.
He did not hesitate for a moment, nor did he consider any possible dangers or obstacles.
He reached out and grasped Ye Xunyang's hand tightly, their fingers intertwined, the warmth from their palms dispelling the chill of the sea breeze.
"good."
A single word clearly reached Ye Xunyang's ears and was imprinted in his heart.
"I'll go with you wherever you want to go."
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