Poetry Gathering Turmoil Shocks Old Dreams
The next morning, Mo Xiaoyu got up early to prepare Xie Yunzhi's clothes for his trip. She carefully ironed the blue shirt that had been washed the day before, every movement exceptionally gentle. This was the first time she had prepared clothes for him to wear to the poetry gathering, and perhaps the last.
"Miss Mo, there's no need to go to such trouble." Xie Yunzhi had been standing by the door at some point, watching her busy figure.
She looked up, and in the morning light, his face remained handsome as ever, only his attire today was particularly refined—a blue robe and jade belt that accentuated his exceptional elegance. In that instant, she seemed to see again that divine ruler standing on the clouds.
"Young master will surely win first place today," she said softly, smoothing out the last crease in her dress.
He nodded slightly, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment: "If you... feel bored today, you can go for a walk."
She understood what he meant. The poetry gathering was attended by many high-ranking officials and dignitaries, and she, a woman of "unknown origin," should indeed not have appeared at such an occasion.
After Xie Yunzhi left, the courtyard suddenly became eerily quiet. Mo Xiaoyu picked up a broom and began sweeping the yard. Each sweep carried an inexplicable sense of loneliness, as if she were sweeping away thoughts that shouldn't exist.
In the afternoon, as she was drawing water from the well, she suddenly heard the voices of several women talking outside the wall:
"Have you heard? At today's poetry gathering, Miss Lin specially played a piece on the zither for Young Master Xie!"
"Indeed, my nephew just returned from the poetry gathering. He said that Lord Lin spoke highly of Young Master Xie, which is likely to become a celebrated story."
"To be honest, this Young Master Xie is indeed a handsome and talented man, but there's that woman of unknown origin living in his house..."
"Shh—keep your voice down, I heard it's in this yard..."
The chatter faded into the distance, and the bucket in Mo Xiaoyu's hand fell back into the well with a "thud." She gripped the well's edge, her fingertips turning slightly white. Even though she was prepared, hearing those words still made her heart tremble with pain.
She recalled Xie Yunzhi's expression last night when he said "don't worry about it," so nonchalant, as if he were talking about something trivial that had nothing to do with her.
Just as she was lost in thought, the jade pendant in her bosom suddenly began to burn. This time, the heat was more intense than ever before, accompanied by a wave of dizziness. She quickly grabbed the edge of the well, and her vision began to blur—
Memories flood back like a tide:
The peach blossoms by the Jade Pool were in full bloom. She had only recently taken human form and was playfully chasing a butterfly. Yunxi sat in the pavilion reviewing the Book of Fate, glancing at her every now and then with tender eyes.
"My Lord! My Lord!" She skipped and hopped to him, holding a handful of freshly fallen peach blossoms. "Look how beautiful these flowers are!"
He put down his jade pen and gently brushed the flower petals from her hair: "Not as beautiful as you."
At the time, she didn't understand the deep affection in his eyes, taking it as a joke and running away with a laugh. Now, thinking back, she realizes how many unspoken thoughts were hidden in his hesitant expression.
Scene changes:
Celestial music drifted through the nine heavens. She hid behind a pillar, watching Yunxi play chess with the Old Man of the Moon.
"Has the God of Destiny been tempted by mortal desires?" the Old Man of the Moon asked with a smile, stroking his long beard.
Yunxi paused slightly, holding her son's hand: "The Old Man of the Moon is joking."
"I have overseen marriage for a thousand years, how could I be wrong?" The Old Man of the Moon looked meaningfully in the direction where she was hiding. "However, gods and demons are different, so you should still think twice, Star Lord."
At the time, she didn't understand the deeper meaning behind those words; she just thought the Matchmaker was meddling. Now she realizes that he already knew their fate.
Memories flow again:
It was a star-studded night. She was drunk and leaned against him, counting the stars.
"My Lord, will you stay with Little Fish forever?"
He gently stroked her long hair, his voice carrying a bitterness she had never heard before: "If one day I'm gone, you must learn to take care of yourself."
"How could the Divine Lord not be here?" she laughed, her eyes glazed with drunkenness. "You are the Star Lord of Destiny, who lives as long as heaven and earth."
He didn't answer, but gently pressed her head against his chest. At that moment, she could hear his heart beating rapidly, but she didn't know how much unspeakable pain was hidden within it.
The image suddenly became fragmented:
Ling Yuan approached her with a seductive smile: "Little Fish, do you want to know the God Lord's secret?"
The Key of Reincarnation emitted a faint light in her hand. Yun Xi's eyes were filled with shock and heartache, and finally, as her soul shattered, she let out a soft "I'm sorry"...
"Ah!" Mo Xiaoyu suddenly woke up and found herself sitting on the edge of the well, her vision blurred by tears.
These memories came so suddenly, so vividly; every detail was heartbreakingly clear. He had known their fate all along, yet he still selflessly protected her. Those encounters she thought were chance meetings were all meticulously planned and inevitable.
The jade pendant in her arms was still burning hot, as if responding to her surging emotions. She finally understood why this jade pendant resonated with those memories—it contained not only a wisp of his soul, but also all the memories they shared.
As the sun set, footsteps sounded outside the courtyard gate. Mo Xiaoyu quickly wiped away her tears and got up to greet them.
Xie Yunzhi returned, still dressed in the same blue robe, but looking somewhat tired. To her surprise, he was carrying a small food box.
"This is..." she began hesitantly.
"These are some snacks from the poetry gathering, I thought you might like them." He handed her the food box, his gaze lingering for a moment on her slightly reddened eyes, but he didn't ask any further questions.
She took the food box, her fingertips inadvertently touching his. This time, the jade pendant in her arms wasn't hot; instead, it emitted a gentle warmth, as if comforting her.
"Thank you, young master," she said softly.
He nodded and walked toward the study. In the instant he turned around, she saw a peach petal stuck to his lapel—a unique mark of the peach orchard where the poetry gathering was held.
At that moment, Mo Xiaoyu suddenly understood something. She looked at the food box in her hand, then at his departing figure, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
He remembered to bring her snacks, remembered to ask if she was feeling down, but he couldn't recall their thousand-year companionship. He would recite poems with Miss Lin at poetry gatherings, and he would receive Lord Lin's appreciation, but he would never know that a woman was in the courtyard, guarding those memories that only she remembered.
As night deepened, she opened the food box, which contained several exquisite pastries, all of which were her favorites. She picked up a piece and put it in her mouth; the sweet taste melted on her tongue, but she tasted a bitter aftertaste.
Was it a casual gesture of kindness from him, or a subconscious memory? She couldn't tell, nor did she want to.
Outside the window, a bright moon hung high in the sky. She took out two jade pendants and examined them closely in the moonlight. The genuine jade pendant gleamed with a warm luster, as if telling countless stories of the past; the imitation jade pendant was exquisite but cold, just like their current relationship.
That night, Mo Xiaoyu couldn't sleep. Those suddenly awakened memories replayed repeatedly in her mind, each scene like a dull knife, cutting into her heart again and again.
The next morning, while she was preparing breakfast in the kitchen, she overheard a conversation among several pageboys, which plunged her heart into despair:
"I heard that Lord Lin is hosting a banquet for Young Master Xie tomorrow!"
"It seems this marriage is practically a done deal."
"That's the daughter of a garrison commander! Young Master Xie is truly blessed..."
The spoon in her hand fell into the pot with a "clatter," and the scalding porridge splashed all over her hand, but it was nothing compared to the pain in her heart.
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