Chapter 21

Chapter 21 Heartbroken

Suppressing the thoughts in my head, I took the wedding invitation that was so hot that I couldn’t help but want to let go, and immediately put it inside my sleeve, “Certainly.”

After saying that, I just left with a difficult feeling, leaving Qingheng alone in the house. The smile on my face faded and eyes inexplicably intertwined with emotions.

“You didn’t even ask why I am here. Don’t you remember? Or you’re just feigning it…” Qingheng hooked his lips slightly and hung a self-deprecating smile. Even if he raised his hand to cover his lips, he still couldn’t restrain the hint of overflowing red from his lips, “Think of me as a person leisurely living his days. The spell would also probably wear out its effectiveness gradually…”

……………

Everything became clear. I remember what I should and shouldn’t remember. Naturally, my anxiety towards noisy places was also cured. I walked into the bustling and lively Kyoto street market and heard the cheers and whispers of everyone. Without the usual throbbing pain in my temple when there was excessive noise, it made me feel a lot more relaxed. Should I be grateful to the Kunlun Treasure Mirror for this, or what? 

After thinking about it, I was a little annoyed. Doing so many things yet it turned out to be absurd and laughable at the end.

Alas, Si Ran… What should I do?

As soon as I entered the palace door with my forefoot, someone immediately threw themselves on me, accompanied by the familiar sound sobbing and the word ‘master’. I held back the urge to hold my forehead and steadied Xiao Xing, who was clinging to me. I saw his big watery eyes and the tears swirling in their sockets,  I became helpless beyond words.

“Why are you crying when your master is already back? What, you thought your master won’t return and instead go to the West.” I looked at Xiao Xing, not forgetting to joke.

Hearing this, Xiao Xing not only did not burst into laughter, but cried even louder. I couldn’t help but eventually hold my forehead. I was already in a bad mood. Being disturbed by Xiao Xing made it even worse. I left him by the door and entered the mansion. He must have finally noticed that I was in a bad mood, he stopped crying and followed me quietly.

Upon entering the mansion, I stopped. I noticed that the servants were all familiar faces. It was only then that I came to realize, my mother was already sitting in the hall.

This was the end of my father’s case. Officials of Dali Temple must have already learned that all of the servants including my mother are innocent, so they let them go back and return to the mansion. However, I didn’t know when they came back.

It’s ridiculous, who was the unlucky one and became the scapegoat.

I slowly stepped forward and bowed respectfully to my mother. My mother who was seated just held the teacup and poked the floating leaves indifferently. She only replied with a light hum, and didn’t even look at me. She’s still as proud as when father was still alive.

I was annoyed yet smiled nonetheless. I slowly straightened my body, and went back to my room. 

It was the night of the full moon again, the pale moon light illuminated the ground. There was a little silence around. I had brought a pot of good wine from the kitchen yet I just remembered that he didn’t like the smell of wine and was unable to drink it. I put the pot of good wine back where it was and changed it to a good pot of tea. With a silly smile, I carried the tea to the backyard. 

These days, the apricots on the tree have disappeared. It must have been that long ago when they fell to the ground and were cleaned by the servants. I lifted the hem of my clothes and sat down on a stone nearby while stroking the empty space beside me, imagining that he’s seated right beside me.

“Si Ran, I came to see you. I wanted to bring some good wine here. However, knowing that you are incapable of drinking, I replaced the wine with tea, and used tea instead of wine. Is it feasible?” I raised my hand and poured the tea on the soil while smiling, “If you don’t speak, I will take it as your acquiescence. Come, have a drink with me, and listen to my nagging.”

“Recently, I have been very tired. I seem to not recall the days in the past where I used to just relax and be without trouble. As I thought, it was already time to forget you…”

A gust of breeze blew past, brushing the hairs on my cheeks, and crept inside my clothes. It was bone-chilling cold.

In my mind, I imagined Si Ran sulking because of what I said. I smiled and took a sip of tea, “Don’t worry, I’m joking, don’t take it seriously.”

I took out the big red wedding invitation with golden writings from my wide sleeves, and opened it. Two drawings of men side by side were a little dazzling. I closed my eyes, closed the wedding invitation, and put it aside.

“Si Ran, why is my chest tight?” I raised my hand and drank the tea in my hand. Just like drinking wine, I downed it in one go until its last drop into my stomach. Although it was tea and not wine, I still choked. After coughing loudly, I covered my mouth and nose, sneered and became inexplicably irritated.

“The current state of mind is really ridiculously heavy…” With a sigh, I leaned against the tree trunk, raised my head, looked at the faint twinkling stars in the dark blue night sky, and poured another cup of tea.” Si Ran, say, shouldn’t I be………..in love with him?”

If Si Ran heard this, he would be angry. Thinking about how angry he would be was interesting, and he won’t certainly be annoyed by my coaxing.

Alas, this wedding invitation…

Well, if you don’t know what will happen tomorrow, why bother yourself? For someone like me, I’ll just muddle along.

Putting down the emptied teacup in my hand, I closed my eyes. Tonight, the bright moonlight is perfect. Maybe, it can also fulfill my thoughts of seeing Si Ran in my dream.

When I woke up again, I was lying on the bed in my own room, and the wedding invitation was now neatly placed on the table. I closed my eyes again. The sun was already three poles high outside the window. What had I dreamed about last night? I can’t remember clearly. As I thought, I shouldn’t have drank tea last night. 

I got up slowly, put on my socks and shoes slowly, put on the outer robe that was put aside, and looked outside my window again. Xiao Xing should be waiting outside.

“Xiao Xing, what time is it…?”

Before I could continue, the door opened with a squeak. When I caught a glimpse of a purple robe, I was stunned. When I came back to my senses, my legs were already halfway bent and I was about to kneel when a pair of hands stopped my movement.

The usual smile hung on Feng Yin’s lips. He narrowed his phoenix eyes, and said calmly with a slightly annoyed tone, “Uncle, you are still so polite.”

“Your Majesty is wrong.” I laughed dryly and replied with a thick face.

Feng Yin usually likes to wear yellow or white, but it is rare to change to a purple one today. Compared to the usual, he looked much better.

But Feng Yin should be really busy. When did he arrive in the mansion? He didn’t even leave me any time to take care of myself. My hair was still hanging haphazardly behind my back and I am not properly dressed. Although it’s not yet to the point of being shameful, it’s still very disrespectful!

Alas, isn’t the country’s situation urgent? Could it be that everything was already settled?

Looking at Feng Yin, his phoenix eyes were slightly narrowed and the smile on the corners of his lips seemed so unnatural.

I’m afraid the matters in the Imperial Court might have been very difficult.