Holding Your Hand
Of course he was panicked when he was caught by Princess Duanmin, but he was also very happy, probably because of the joy of victory. Despite this, he still did not forget to pull his hand back.
But Xiao Luochen did not let go, instead he pulled Su Musong and turned to face Duanmin County Master, saying seriously
"I just heard Mu Song say that I know the county lady's feelings. Thank you for your love, but as the county lady sees..." Xiao Luochen raised his hand clasped with Su Musong, "This is my choice."
"Brother Luo Chen..."
Princess Duanmin's expression was filled with loss, tears welled up in her eyelashes, but she forced herself not to let them fall and smiled sadly.
Perhaps when it comes to love, those involved are always confused while those who are watching clearly see more clearly.
She should have expected this result when she witnessed Su Musong teaching Wang Zheng a lesson for Xiao Luochen, when she saw Su Musong taking care of the injured Xiao Luochen in Xunzhou, and when she met Xiao Luochen and Su Musong by the lake.
However, she wanted to take a gamble, betting that Su Musong was wishful thinking and that Xiao Luochen would not go against the norm. However, she lost the bet.
"I understand. I hope you won't regret your choice today."
Princess Duanmin had her own pride. Although she was in love with one person, she was not a woman who would cling to him. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly two or three times before calming herself down. She turned around and looked up at the fireworks.
Ji Ziming, who was standing by, witnessed the whole thing but didn't show any surprise.
I don’t know if it’s because he’s been in the same class with the two of them for many years and thinks what he’s seeing is all expected, or if it’s because he’s just cold-hearted and doesn’t care about other people’s affairs.
After nodding to Su Musong and Xiao Luochen, he continued to calmly admire the splendor above his head.
The two returned to their previous position. The third round of fireworks had already ended, and the boats carrying the lighthouses filed out, slowly sailing from the pier to the water in front of the observation deck.
The wind blew from the southeast, bringing resistance to the ships. The ships that were originally lined up in a row deviated from their course halfway through the journey. Fortunately, there were many lightships, so although there was a slight deviation, it was not a big deal.
Su Musong's mood had not completely calmed down. Thinking back to his meeting with County Master Duanmin, he couldn't help but feel a little worried.
"Luo Chen, were your words just now too direct to the County Master?"
"Who was it just now, feeling so aggrieved and about to cry, and now he's showing sympathy for a woman?"
"It's not that I'm being sympathetic, but I'm afraid that the county lady will be angry and do something bad."
Xiao Luochen placed his other hand on the back of Su Musong's hand, patting her gently to comfort her.
"No, the county lady is kind and honest by nature, and has a broad mind. She won't make things difficult for us because of this matter."
"I said it directly because I wanted her to understand that I wasn't pretending to reject her, but that was what I really thought. This would help her give up sooner."
Su Musong did not quite understand what Xiao Luochen said.
"What if she doesn't give up?"
Xiao Luochen played with Su Musong's fingers and explained patiently
"What young girl hasn't fallen in love with a handsome young man or two? I guess the county lady just knew that I was a bit talented and not bad looking, so she attached some of her favorite qualities to me, and that's how she felt she fell in love with me."
"But in truth, she doesn't understand me. She's only attracted to the me she imagines, not the real me. The county lady is intelligent and open-minded, and she will understand this."
Although Xiao Luochen had only met County Lady Duanmin twice, he was willing to trust Duanmin's character.
"You're worried about the county lady, but not Ji Ziming?"
After all, they were classmates since childhood, so Su Musong obviously knew Ji Ziming better.
"Although we weren't close friends, we were classmates for many years, and I could see clearly what kind of person he was. Although he came from a humble background, he was a man of great pride, and he wouldn't do anything that would stab others in the back and harm himself."
"It's not that it's not good for him, but he is indeed an upright man."
Unlike most of the students in Zixue who came from famous and noble families, Ji Ziming was selected to attend Zixue because of his outstanding talents.
Over the years, although Xiao Luochen always had a superior position to him, he never attached himself to the Grand Tutor's faction. Although they did not have a deep friendship, he never had any enmity with Xiao Luochen.
In the imperial examination three months later, Xiao Luochen and Ji Ziming were undoubtedly the most promising candidates to win the top spot. If Xiao Luochen could not take part, the top spot would almost undoubtedly go to Ji Ziming.
The glow of the colorful lights was reflected on the water, creating a dreamlike scene that stunned the people by the lake.
But at this moment, Su Musong had no mind to look at the beautiful scenery in front of him. He felt uneasy.
"Luo Chen, what the county lady said to me is actually true. You are the top choice and have your own ambitions. Your future shouldn't be hindered by anything. If you choose me, what will happen to your future?"
It is still this unavoidable problem, the problem that Su Musong is most concerned about.
Xiao Luochen smiled when he heard this.
"Mu Song, are you overthinking it?"
"What?"
"Did I say I wasn't going to take the imperial examination? I've figured out that my ambitions and career path are completely separate and unrelated to our relationship."
"But……"
"I have no intention of challenging worldly ethics. I just want to be with the one I love. I won't get married. This way, it won't bother anyone. Who can force me to do this?"
The cases of the fourth and sixth brothers may be a lesson for others, but for Xiao Luochen, whether it was the fourth brother who jumped off a cliff to commit suicide for love, or the sixth brother who never left Huo Yanran, they gave Xiao Luochen courage.
Even if the road ahead is full of thorns, we must always move forward firmly for the one we love. As long as two people stand together, even if they are torn to pieces, we will "die together."
"If the world still can't tolerate it, then just go ahead and spread rumors about me. But, are you willing to join me then?"
The two stood side by side, Su Musong was a head taller than Xiao Luochen. Xiao Luochen raised his head slightly, and the fireworks came into his eyes, shining brightly and full of hope for the future. Su Musong was stunned and couldn't take his eyes off them.
Xiao Luochen's words were clear and straightforward. Once he made up his mind, he would not change it easily. Just as his fourth brother said, don't be afraid of the future, live in the present. He didn't know what the future would be like, it was just a matter of fighting back and making preparations.
"Even if the sky falls, I will bear it with you. I promised to protect you forever. A gentleman's word is as good as gold."
Su Musong was as firm as ever, and expressed his determination again without hesitation. He shook Xiao Luochen's hand with unconscious force, causing him pain.
Although it hurt, Xiao Luochen was unwilling to let go even a little bit. Interlocking his fingers with Su Musong made him feel inexplicably at peace.
Seeing Su Musong's generous and resolute expression, Xiao Luochen felt that he might have thought too badly about the matter and scared Su Musong, so he couldn't help but make a joke.
"Fool, if I die, will you still guard my grave?"
Although Xiao Luochen was joking, Su Musong was still cautious. He had witnessed a sudden disaster in his family when he was young, and matters of life and death were not something he could easily joke about.
"Pah, pah, pah, you are young and in the prime of your life, how can you say such unlucky words?"
"Everyone will die eventually. Who can live for a thousand years? If that day ever comes, you will be sad for a while, then forget me and live your life well. If you die, I will do the same."
The deep affection between Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai is indeed touching, but in Xiao Luochen's opinion, it only moves the spectators and is not worth it for them themselves.
But many times, we can't understand it until we reach that step. Although Xiao Luochen said so now, who knows whether he will still be as free and easy as he said today when the time comes.
Su Musong did not respond.
He had experienced this before in Mo Xue's house in Zhangcheng when he was holding the injured Xiao Luochen and waiting to die.
At that time, the worst that could happen was that the two of them would die together. If he had to watch himself and Xiao Luochen being separated by life and death, he knew that he could not do what Xiao Luochen said.
The wind was getting stronger. I don’t know if it was because it was blowing across the lake or because it was really raining. The wind was full of moisture and it felt damp when it hit people’s faces. It didn’t have the refreshing breeze of an early summer night. It was probably going to rain.
Fortunately, this event is coming to an end, and only the lantern lighting is left. Otherwise, if it starts to rain heavily, we will be trapped in the surging crowd and will be drenched by the rain.
The light boat sailed to the other side, and the crowd on the lakeside gradually dispersed, each finding a good spot to release the lantern.
The followers took out the prepared river lanterns, and Su Musong and Xiao Luochen took their younger brothers and sisters to write down their wishes and put them into the river lanterns one by one.
Su Muliu really compared her river lantern with her brothers' and found that the paper of her lantern was different from that of other lanterns. Xiao Luochen then said that he made this lantern specially for Su Muliu, and Su Muliu did not ask any more questions.
Su Musong and his group did not plan to go far. The location where they were was convenient for placing the lanterns, and the direction of the water flow was just right to carry the lanterns into the Lishui River.
Su Muliu excitedly rushed to the water's edge with her river lantern, and Su Mubai, who was holding her hand, almost couldn't hold her back.
On the way, Su Muliu saw Xiao Luochen with empty hands and stopped.
"Big brother, where's your lamp?"
"I was in such a hurry to go out that I forgot to bring it with me."
Xiao Luoqian looked at the innocent little girl in front of him, and a gentle smile unconsciously appeared on his face.
He had just come here on impulse, intending to just take a look and then go back. He had not expected to meet Xiao Luochen and Su Musong, nor had he thought that he would stay until the time when the river lanterns were released.
Su Muliu looked at the river lantern in his hand, and waited for Su Mufeng to catch up. The two little guys whispered for a while, and Su Muliu handed the river lantern in his hand to Xiao Luoken.
"Big brother, this is mine for you."
"Then you yourself have nothing?"
"It's okay. Mu Feng and I are twins. We can share one."
"Thank you very much."
Xiao Luoqian patted Su Muliu's pigtailed head and accepted the kindness of the two little ghosts with a smile.
Soon, the lake was filled with colorful river lanterns, twinkling and shining like stars, carrying people's hopes and wishes.
I pray for the prosperity of the family, smooth sailing and good health, I pray for a good marriage and companionship, I pray for a bright future and a smooth road ahead, I pray for everlasting family happiness.
The crowd gradually dispersed. Su Mufeng and Su Muliu fell asleep on the shoulders of their followers. Xun Molin and Su Mubai were also already sleepy. Su Musong had no choice but to take these little kids back to the mansion. Fortunately, Xiao Luochen could go back with his fourth brother, so he didn't have to take a detour to see them off.
Along the way, Su Musong saw several fires. Most of them were caused by strong winds that blew down the lamp stands on the street and ignited the colorful silk. The fire then spread along the colorful silk. The Jingzhao Yin and the patrol camp rushed back and forth to put out the fires.
Fortunately, it soon began to rain heavily, which put out the fire caused by the wind. However, although the heavy rain put out the fire, it also extinguished the colorful lanterns all over the city. The river lanterns carrying people's wishes were all overturned by the raging wind and rain. Only one or two lonely lanterns remained, swaying and being carried by the flowing water into the endless darkness.
The capital city of Yongjing, which was brightly lit and bustling with people just a moment ago, suddenly seemed to sink into a nightmare, with only darkness and silence left.
Su Musong's waiting seemed to finally bear fruit that night. At this moment, he still thought that he and Xiao Luochen would have a long and happy future together, but he had no idea what it meant to be separated by ten years of life and death.
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