NOVGO.NET Chapter 297: He's Standing There Where the Lanterns Are Dim, Staring Blankly in a Daze
Hearing the verse the woman recited and looking into her eyes, Xiao Mo was slightly stunned.
The woman’s clear eyes made Xiao Mo’s heart waver. An inexplicable guilt and remorse quietly grew in Xiao Mo’s heart, along with an indescribable emotion that left him at a loss for words.
“What’s wrong, young master? Has the young master never heard this poem before?” Yan Ruxue covered her cherry lips with her sleeve and laughed softly.
“I’ve heard it before, but I didn’t expect it would be this verse.”
Xiao Mo came back to his senses and shook his head with a smile.
This poem not only appeared in the Celestial Dynasty of his previous life, but also existed here. However, this poem “Longing” was written by the Prime Minister of Yun Kingdom, one of the human kingdoms, and was widely circulated.
“So this poem is indeed difficult to guess,” Yan Ruxue said.
Xiao Mo only smiled and said nothing. He knew she was actually trying to preserve his dignity.
“Let’s do it two more times, otherwise people will laugh at us,” Xiao Mo suggested.
“Very well,” Yan Ruxue agreed. “This time, shall I be the one to guess?”
“Naturally.”
Afterward, Xiao Mo and Yan Ruxue took turns guessing several more poems. Both Xiao Mo and Yan Ruxue answered correctly and received two boxes of pastries as prizes.
Before long, that famous lady of Zhen Tea House, Lady Sisi, arrived.
Xiao Mo and Yan Ruxue sat down by the window, drinking tea and eating pastries while listening to Lady Sisi play the zither.
Listening to the music and watching the people coming and going below, Xiao Mo’s thoughts drifted.
The melancholy from staying in the deep palace seemed to suddenly dissipate considerably.
“Speaking of which, if the one in the imperial palace were to choose one person to come out and enjoy the Poetry Lantern Festival tonight, do you think it would be Princess Qinyang or our Zhou Kingdom’s talented lady?”
“I guess Princess Qinyang. The face of Qin Kingdom’s ruler must still be given.”
“I guess the daughter of the Yan family. Regardless, it’s still the Empress Dowager Yan and Yan Shan’ao who control court politics.”
“You’re all too short-sighted.”
Another man said with a laugh.
“Couldn’t it be both together? Recently, people in the imperial city have been speculating about whose bedchamber His Majesty will enter first. If you ask me, His Majesty has a way to handle both, which is to summon the daughter of the Yan family and Princess Qinyang together. Wouldn’t that be most fair?”
“Cough, cough, cough.”
Xiao Mo had just picked up his teacup and tilted his head back to drink when he heard the discussion from the neighboring table and couldn’t help but choke.
“Is the young master alright?” Yan Ruxue quickly handed over a handkerchief with concern.
“I’m fine,” Xiao Mo instinctively took it and wiped his mouth. After reacting, he realized it was her handkerchief. “Later, I’ll buy a new handkerchief for the young lady.”
“How much is a handkerchief worth? The young master is too courteous,” Yan Ruxue smiled.
“They actually dare to discuss matters of the imperial family! Young master, this old servant presumes to teach them a lesson!” Wei Xun said to Xiao Mo.
“Forget it. It’s a small matter. I imagine the emperor in the palace doesn’t care either. Let’s not spoil the mood,” Xiao Mo waved his hand.
“Yes,” Wei Xun could only give up.
Xiao Chun on the side, watching Xiao Mo’s reaction, was also stunned.
She hadn’t expected His Majesty to be so magnanimous. She thought he would be angry. However, Xiao Chun also wanted to ask His Majesty whom he would choose to attend his bed first but just as Xiao Chun was about to speak, her young miss secretly patted her thigh, and she could only close her mouth.
Half an hour later, the zither music ended, and Lady Sisi stood up and bowed respectfully.
Everyone applauded, and Xiao Mo had Wei Xun give some reward silver.
When Xiao Mo and Yan Ruxue left Zhen Tea House, it was already past the hour of hai but the liveliness of the streets had not dissipated, as if it would continue until dawn.
“Miss, we should go back.”
Xiao Chun looked at the moonlight and said softly to her young miss.
Although Xiao Chun didn’t want to disturb her young miss and His Majesty’s time together, Yan Manor had a curfew. If the miss didn’t return, Madam would be angry.
“Mm, I know,” Yan Ruxue nodded and looked at the man before her. “Young master, it’s getting quite late. I’m afraid I must take my leave. I hope the young master will forgive me.”
“Not at all, young lady. It is indeed late. The young lady should rest early. We must also return,” Xiao Mo bowed respectfully. “Having the young lady’s company today has added much color to this Poetry Lantern Festival.”
“With the young master’s company, this evening has also made me very happy,” Yan Ruxue smiled with a nod. “Then I shall take my leave.”
Xiao Mo nodded, “Take care, young lady.”
After Yan Ruxue and Xiao Chun bowed respectfully, they turned and left.
Xiao Mo glanced at the western part of the city, wondering why that Fairy Jiang hadn’t returned yet.
“Your Majesty, should we go look for the National Preceptor?” Wei Xun asked beside Xiao Mo.
“No need. When the National Preceptor has finished handling matters, she will naturally return on her own,” Xiao Mo folded his fan. “Let’s go. We’re also returning.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Wei Xun said nothing more and followed behind Xiao Mo, walking toward the palace.
“By the way, Wei Xun, go find out whose candied hawthorns in the imperial capital taste the best,” Xiao Mo instructed Wei Xun.
“Your Majesty, this is?” Wei Xun vaguely guessed Xiao Mo’s meaning.
“From now on, have a palace maid send one stick of candied hawthorn to the National Preceptor’s Manor every day,” Xiao Mo said.
“Yes,” Wei Xun quickly responded.
“Selling jewelry, last few strings of jewelry…”
Just as Xiao Mo passed by a small stall, an elderly woman was calling out vigorously.
Xiao Mo stopped and turned to look.
“Would the young master like to buy a string? It would be wonderful for your wife or your esteemed father,” the elderly woman asked Xiao Mo.
Xiao Mo didn’t answer but only looked at a necklace displayed on the table.
“Young master, what’s wrong?” Wei Xun stepped forward and asked softly.
“Nothing,” Xiao Mo shook his head and reached out to pick up that necklace.
This necklace was strung with a dice, and inside the dice was a red bean.
Xiao Mo pulled out the woman’s handkerchief from his sleeve. The pattern on it was the same.
“An exquisite dice with a red bean inside, does he know this longing pierces to the bone?”
Looking at the handkerchief, the shopkeeper smiled.
“This handkerchief was given to the young master by your sweetheart, wasn’t it? How thoughtful indeed.”
…
Under the red lanterns, Yan Ruxue and Xiao Chun walked toward Yan Manor but every few steps, Yan Ruxue would look back.
“Miss, you’re doing it again just like last time. You’ve only walked less than a hundred steps and you’ve already looked back four or five times,” Xiao Chun pouted. “It’s useless for you to look back. His Majesty has already walked far away. You can’t see him anymore.”
“Who says I can’t see him?” Yan Ruxue smiled with curved eyes and gently tapped Xiao Chun’s forehead. “I can see him perfectly clearly.”
“Then miss, what do you say His Majesty is doing?” Xiao Chun looked completely unconvinced. His Majesty had already disappeared into the crowd.
“He…”
Yan Ruxue placed her hands before her and looked back once more.
“He’s standing there where the lanterns are dim, staring blankly in a daze.”