Chapter 63 The Three Perfections Endure, Your Majesty's Joy Today
"Come back," Hugu Xumi called to his attendant.
"If she agrees, you should say that I am willing to set aside our status and forget worldly affairs with her for this day, to enjoy the simple pleasures of life, and to spend every day with her."
"Yes, ma'am."
*
The fifth day of the twelfth lunar month.
Seven days after the winter solstice.
The weather was gloomy and cold, and the sun had disappeared.
Wang Yuying looked at herself in the mirror. She had her hair styled in a low, drooping bun, and the hairpins, necklace, and wrist ornaments she wore were all the purple jadeite headdresses that Hugu had given her. The shimmering red brocade that Chu Ying had given her last time had already been made into a skirt and a matching shawl, and today was the first time she was wearing them.
Knowing there's no future, they still agree to the date and dress up beautifully.
However, it was too cold. Wearing only that shimmering brocade would attract attention, so Wang Yuying wore a lined skirt over it, and then a cotton-padded jacket. The thick clothing not only covered the shimmering skirt but also hid the jewelry on her hands and neck. When she went out later, she would wear a hooded cape, the most common type of hooded cape on the market. Once the hood was fastened, even the two hairpins on her head would be hidden.
Wang Yuying went out at dawn, when it was already dark. Juanxue and Shuangtian had already risen. Holding a lamp, they squatted in front of the camellias. Hearing footsteps, they all turned around. Wang Yuying also stepped forward and asked, "What are you doing?"
"How long have these flowers been blooming? They've already wilted, and many leaves fell last night," Juanxue sighed as she cleared away the still-green leaves from the ground and the pot.
Wang Yuying glanced at the deep basin with the sunflower-shaped opening, where several camellias had simultaneously gone from their peak to their decline, showing signs of decay.
"Why don't we cut them all off? Otherwise, it's not good for the leaves to keep falling off," Juanxue asked.
"Let it wither on its own," Wang Yuying said, raising an eyelid. "I'm going out now."
Having already been informed beforehand, Juan Xue Shuang Tian didn't say much, only bowing their heads in agreement. Wang Yu Ying passed through the hanging flower gate, pushed open the street gate, and saw Hu Gu Xu Mi standing outside.
He dressed as a Han Chinese, wearing a round-necked robe with a sapphire-colored square knot pattern, and a purple jade hairpin in his hair to tie up his black hair. He stood with his hands behind his back facing the street gate. As soon as he heard a noise, he turned around. When he met Wang Yuying's gaze, the corner of his lips moved slightly, forming an arc.
"Why didn't you sleep a little longer?" he asked softly.
Wang Yuying shook her head. Hugu asked to be with her day and night, which meant leaving early and returning late, and having her accompany him for all three meals a day.
This actually reflects her own heart.
Wang Yuying didn't lead her Ferghana horse out. Instead, she hung her arms and looked at the carriage parked in front of her house. The carriage was plain and unadorned, typical of an ordinary family.
She felt a tickle in her palm, and without looking down, she could tell that it was Hugu who first touched her palm with his fingers before taking her hand.
Wang Yuying immediately felt a long-lost thrill and joy.
Hugu led her to the carriage, climbed on first, then leaned forward and extended a hand to help her. Wang Yuying gave him her right hand, and as she stepped onto the carriage shaft, the carriage swayed from side to side. She was skilled in martial arts and stood firmly, but her heart couldn't help but sway with the momentary loss of balance.
She could vaguely sense that Hugu's heart was also fluttering, because he suddenly tightened his grip on her hand.
After the two bent down and crawled into the carriage, he still held her hand tightly, not letting go, but silently extending his five fingers through hers, turning their fingers into a tight clasp.
They sat down in the carriage, very close to each other.
At first, her right arm was a few centimeters away from his left arm.
Then, someone moved it, and it became a bump.
Then, someone used force, and it became stuck together again.
In the end, Wang Yuying secretly exerted force, and Hugu Xumi also exerted force, their arms tightly pressed together, transmitting their burning body temperature to each other through their clothes.
Suddenly, Hugu Xumi let go, wrapped his left arm around Wang Yuying's back and tightly embraced her waist. She couldn't stop herself, and her right arm pulled her upper body down into Hugu Xumi's arms.
The carriage turned around and left the alley, the sound of the wheels masking the flushed faces and pounding hearts of the two people inside.
Hugu Xumi still held her hand with his other free hand, his fingertips gently rubbing against Wang Yuying's palm twice. He had calluses from martial arts practice, but she didn't feel any pain; instead, she felt quite comfortable.
He pulled her hand to his face and carefully examined her nails, which she had dyed with balsam flowers the day before, making them a vibrant, luscious red.
"It's beautiful," Hugu Sumi exclaimed with a smile.
Wang Yuying stretched her hand forward a little more, revealing the purple jade bracelet on her fair wrist, and Hugu's eyes visibly brightened. She then untied the hoodie, revealing the hairpins in her hair and the jade earrings below her ears.
Hugu lowered his head even further, his eyebrows curved down, but the corners of his lips rose in a smile. He gazed into her eyes, both of their eyes shining like stars, and they smiled silently.
He extended two fingers and lifted Wang Yuying's right earring from behind; it was a long earring made of five purple jade beads. Wang Yuying smiled and said, "This pair is very cleverly designed, grand yet lightweight, elegant yet not tattered."
It's the kind of flamboyant style she likes, but not so heavy that it pulls on her ears.
Hugu responded softly, "I'm glad you like it."
"You went to the Winter Solstice Ceremony, what did you think?" Wang Yuying asked. This was a grand event held every three years, and she couldn't attend because she didn't hold an official position.
"The demeanor of a superior nation." Hugu lowered his eyes, his gaze lingering on her face, always smiling. "If you want to know, I am willing to explain in detail to you, but mentioning the grand ceremony inevitably involves someone. Today is precious, and I personally do not want to waste time on this."
Wang Yuying curled her lips in his arms: "Then let's talk about something else. Where are you planning to take me today?"
“There’s a famous wonton shop, supposedly a signature restaurant in the capital. I ate there once before, and it lives up to its reputation. We can have breakfast there.”
The car stopped at the alley entrance, and before the wonton stall could be seen, the aroma of rich bone broth and lard filled the air.
Hugu jumped down first to take her hand. After Wang Yuying landed, he extended his arm towards her, and she naturally took his arm. Hugu also raised his other free hand and placed it on the back of her hand hidden in his arm.
As they got closer, they saw that there were seven or eight diners in line, and the two of them were actually queuing at the end of the line just like ordinary people.
"Be careful." The alley was narrow, and Hugu protected Wang Yuying's shoulder to prevent her from being squeezed.
Wang Yuying looked ahead and saw Qiu Ji Wonton's carrying pole held high, a huge pot boiling with milky white soup, waiters bustling about, and four master chefs sitting around a square table making wontons, picking out fillings, pinching them together, and tossing them with their hands. In the blink of an eye, the wontons filled a plate like little silver fish.
"I have absolutely no recollection of this store..." Wang Yuying said blankly.
"It opened the year before last," Hugu said lightly, without saying more.
When it was the two of them's turn to order at the counter, Wang Yuying scanned the menu and asked, "What flavor did you have last time?"
"shrimp."
Her gaze lingered briefly on the menu featuring fresh meat, and Hugu said, "Manager, please bring two bowls of fresh meat."
“Sigh—” Wang Yuying stopped him and corrected him, “I want a bowl of fresh meat and a bowl of prawns.”
Hu Gu was taken aback. She looked at him and smiled, "I'd also like to try the shrimp."
Hugu immediately understood the deeper meaning and smiled.
There were many diners, and tables were being turned over frequently. Two people shared a table with an elderly man.
"Whose fresh meat?" The waiter first brought over a bowl of fresh meat wontons, which Hu Gu Rang placed in front of Wang Yuying.
She picked up the spoon to scoop some up, but Hu Gu gently reminded her, "Be careful, it's hot."
Wang Yuying ate one; the skin was thin and the filling was generous, fragrant and not greasy. She then said to Hugu, "You should try one too."
Hugu picked up his spoon and scooped a wonton from Wang Yuying's bowl, reminding her, "Be careful, it's hot!"
Soon, steaming hot shrimp wontons were served, and Hugu said, "Give them to me."
Wang Yuying immediately handed him her spoon, which he took, scooped up a large shrimp wonton, spun it a few times in the air to let it cool down, and then handed it to Wang Yuying.
Wang Yuying was chewing with a smile when she and Hugu overheard a conversation among diners nearby: "Look at that young couple, how sweet they are! And look at you! You won't even help me get the vinegar!"
They were a young couple. The wife scolded her husband: "Can't you learn from other people's husbands?"
"Take it, take it, take it!"
Wang Yuying and Hugu both lowered their eyes, and their smiles unconsciously faded a little.
The man in the couple lowered his voice and continued muttering, "Sigh, that man... he's not Han Chinese, is he?"
"It doesn't look like it."
"Then their future child won't be a mixed-race barbarian—"
Before the word "bastard" could be fully uttered, the woman scolded, "Shh! What are you saying? They might understand Chinese!"
Wang Yuying and Hugu became increasingly silent. She had scooped up another wonton from the bowl to eat, but seeing that Hugu was holding the spoon without moving and that the smile on his face had completely disappeared, Wang Yuying couldn't help but put the spoon and wonton back into the bowl.
The old man at the table had wrinkled skin and white hair. There were already a few strands of red oil floating in his bowl. He lifted the lid and added two more spoonfuls: "These wontons taste better with chili oil." The old man explained to the two of them, "The chili oil fried here is especially fragrant. Many people come here to eat wontons just for this spicy flavor."
After a moment, Hugu smiled and replied, "Thank you for your kind offer, but my wife really can't handle spicy food."
Wang Yuying's mind went blank for a moment, and then all she could hear was his voice calling her "wife." Her eyelashes trembled, and the rush of blood turned her neck crimson, which then spread to her cheeks.
She secretly glanced at Hugu, whose expression seemed somewhat unnatural.
I ate breakfast very slowly, but I was extremely happy.
After the two finished eating and went outside, a gust of wind picked up. Hugu, being tall, reached out and helped Wang Yuying put the hood of her cloak back on.
"Where to next?" she asked.
Hugu tightened his grip on her hand and took a step forward. This time, she noticed his reddened ears: "Come with me!"
He actually rented a private house in the same alley as Qiu's Wonton Shop. Inside, the woodshed was piled with firewood, the water tank was half full, and the rice tank was half full. It looked just like an ordinary family home, and the two of them were just the male and female owners returning home every day.
"Is your birthday coming up after the New Year?" Hugu asked with a smile as he pushed open the door to the side room. The tables and chairs inside were spotless.
The Northern Barbarians celebrate their New Year on the summer solstice. Wang Yuying was momentarily unsure whether the "New Year" he spoke of referred to the current dynasty or the Northern Barbarians.
Hokuya stepped in: "I'm talking about your New Year."
"Yes." She followed him into the room one after the other. "My birthday is in spring."
"Then I'll give you a birthday gift in advance—"
"No need!" Wang Yuying waved her hand. "You've given me enough gifts. On the contrary, it seems like I've never given you anything."
The two of them unknowingly walked to the table together, separated by a corner.
Hugu remained silent for a moment, then looked up at her and smiled, "Then embroider a purse for me."
A purse?
Wang Yuying unconsciously opened her eyes slightly.
Hugu smiled again, walked over, put both hands on Wang Yuying's shoulders, and pressed her down to sit on the bench: "You stay here and embroider, I'll go make lunch." He paused, his hands still on her shoulders, "Isn't this what a typical day for a married couple is like?"
Upon hearing this, Wang Yuying's heart pounded uncontrollably. Just as she was adjusting her breathing, she suddenly felt Hugu's broad, thick hand gently pinch her shoulder, and then all ten fingers stretched out straight, as if about to move downwards.
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