Chapter 133

Chu Qiao was stunned upon seeing the sight in front of her. She turned around and asked, “How did you do it?”

Li Ce laughed. He pulled on her hand and squatted, submerging it in the water. Chu Qiao exclaimed lightly in surprise.

Li Ce smiled proudly. “Aren’t I smart? I told the people to bury the lotus roots underneath. With the water from the hot spring, the flowers bloomed overnight.”

Chu Qiao covered her mouth and laughed. “Impressive indeed. With money and power, you can do anything you like. Even the flower gods have to listen to you.”

“With money, I can do anything I like? That’s a new phrase,” Li Ce replied with laughter. “Come, follow me.”

The two of them walked by the stone pavement on the side of the lake. Li Ce was evidently familiar with this place. He used the pale moonlight to navigate around, taking Chu Qiao onto a small boat. He stood at the front of the boat and picked up a paddle. The boat drifted away from the shore, sliding gracefully into the pristine lake. The winds blew lightly, carrying with it the aroma of lotus flowers. The lake appeared vast and mighty. With the moonlight, the setting appeared like a portrait.

The small boat made its way through lotus leaves, causing them to be flung aside. Chu Qiao reached out her hand, felt the touch of a few white lotus flowers and smiled lightly. Li Ce let go of his paddle, sat at the front and looked at her while remaining silent. The reflection of the palace lights in the distance appeared on the surface of the water, causing it to appear red and yellow, just like a rainbow after a storm.

Chu Qiao turned around, smiled at Li Ce, and said, “Thank you, Li Ce.”

“Thank me? For what?” The man’s eyes were squinted; his eyeballs looked upwards and carried a unique aura of solemnity and slyness. His half-squinted eyes seemed to hide a lot of things underneath.

“Thank you for taking care of me during this time. If not for you, I would have died.”

Li Ce smiled and replied, “In this case, you should thank me properly. Saving your life is no ordinary favor. How about you stay here in Tang and marry me as a form of thanks?”

The water flowed smoothly, making faint sounds as it passed by them, and burying their voices in the lotus flowers. Chu Qiao looked up brightly and said, “The beauty of the lotus flowers lies in the fact that it is surrounded by mud, but not tainted. I’ve been with you for so long, but I’m still able to think and speak like a normal person. I think that’s the spirit of the lotus flower.”

Li Ce held his hands to his heart and sighed. “Qiaoqiao, you are such a poet. I’m becoming more smitten with you.”

Chu Qiao looked up at the moonlight. “You are smitten with too many things. Greed is not a good thing.”

Li Ce stood up, his sleeves fluttering with the wind. In a casual tone, he retorted, “Some things, no matter how much you want them, cannot be attained. I have to work harder and take an extra few looks at them.”

Chu Qiao was shocked, but her expression remained unchanged. “The lotus flowers can bloom again after they wilt. You managed to get them to bloom an extra time in such a short while. It’s a rare feat.”

Li Ce nodded and sighed. “Yes, they will bloom again next year.”

The boat rocked from side to side, making its way along the river slowly, along with the current.

“Yan Bei is a cold place?” Li Ce suddenly remarked. “I heard there’s snow all year round. Flowers are rarely seen.”

Chu Qiao looked at his long shadow and replied joyfully, “Each season has its own qualities. The snowy plains of Yan Bei are a rare sight too. If you get tired of seeing the scenery in Tang one day, you can travel towards the border to Huihui Mountains. The beauty of the highlands of Yan Bei will surpass your expectations and captivate you.”

Li Ce was stunned, losing his concentration momentarily. He gave a hearty laugh and said, “You understand me the best. You spare a thought for me all the time.”

Suddenly, with a thud, the boat bumped against the shore. The pond was not big; they had managed to get to the other side in such a short period of time.

Both of them got off the boat and walked slowly towards the Mihe residence. The moonlight shone on their bodies, appearing ever so pure, desolate, and bleak. Both of their shadows were reflected onto the ground, coming together, separating, fusing together again, and separating again for good. After all, those were two shadows who were never destined to be together.

In the blink of an eye, they had reached the entrance of the Mihe residence. The two of them stood there, sharing a moment of awkwardness. Li Ce leaned lazily on a pomegranate tree, causing its flower petals to fall and scatter all over him.

Li Ce yawned lazily and said, “It’s too late. I don’t think I can wake up in time tomorrow.”

Chu Qiao nodded and replied, “You’re lazy. I heard from Qiu Sui that during the morning court session today, you did not even put on your boots. That incurred the Tang Emperor’s wrath.”

“What use is there in saying that?” Li Ce waved his hand and remarked. “I don’t want to wake up so early. Can’t they shift the morning court session to the afternoon? Troublesome. How about this? I’ll send someone to escort you out of the palace tomorrow. You can go and fend for yourself then. I won’t be there.”

Chu Qiao nodded and replied, “There’s no need to trouble you.”

Li Ce laughed and said, “Okay then. It’s a long journey, take care. If…” He suddenly found himself at a loss for words. Li Ce laughed at himself and turned around, his lips forming a smile. “If one day, you find the weather of Yan Bei unbearable, you can consider returning here to recuperate. Although there are no deserts or grasslands here, it’s still a warm place suitable for you to reside.”

Chu Qiao smiled bitterly. “There are ups and downs in life, along with hellos and goodbyes. Everything in the world depends on affinity.”

Li Ce shook his head and said lightly, “I hope that that day never arrives for you. Take care of yourself.”

Her heart suddenly felt a tinge of sadness. As Li Ce’s shadow faded into the distance, Chu Qiao turned away slowly. The moonlight shone in the increasing space between the two of them, enveloping the entire palace eventually.

It was a cold autumn night. Li Ce’s shadow disappeared into the dense row of pomegranate trees, leaving remnants of the fragrant herb aromas on the pavement. The lotus flowers had stopped blooming in front of the Mihe residence, making the night appear pitch-black and desolate.

Chu Qiao was dressed in a thin robe. She made her way back slowly. The wind scattered her hair about, causing it to flutter around like butterflies.

Mihe Residence was a big place. There were over 30 buildings of varying heights. The scenery was good. It could be imagined how majestic it looked before it had been vacated. Chu Qiao walked quietly along the passageway. The branches with flowers at the side fell downwards, making contact with her forehead. The soles of her shoes were thin, causing her to feel cold when she stepped on the pavement. She smelt a faint wine aroma with a passing gust of wind. Chu Qiao looked up at the waterside pavilion on the second floor, seeing a man dressed in green standing beneath a sycamore tree. He was looking at her room.

“Who’s there?” the lady’s crisp voice broke the silence of the night, startling the row of egrets by the lake. The man turned his head around and gave her a strange look. Chu Qiao looked at him, shocked. She was rendered speechless for a moment.

This man looked like Li Ce. In the darkness, they were almost the same person. However, in the next second, Chu Qiao banished this thought from her head as their auras differed greatly.

The man used the sycamore tree as support, standing quietly in the night. The moonlight shone on his handsome face, showing his depressed expression which was just like the frost on the rooftops during autumn. The man stared quietly at her and frowned slowly.

“Who are you?” the man’s voice sounded out in the faint light. His voice was cold and emotionless.

Chu Qiao sensed that this was no ordinary human being. Courteously, she took a step forward and replied, “I’m living here. Who are you?”

The man was stunned; his eyes showed a tinge of ignorance. He sighed, muttering to himself, “Oh, someone’s living here already.”

The moonlight shone on the man’s outfit, causing it to appear crystal white. Chu Qiao knew that she should have said goodbye and taken her leave, avoiding further trouble in the process. However, some words were trapped in her throat, causing her to interrupt the man’s thoughts.

The man took slow steps from the sycamore tree to the pavement. The clear winds swept the sycamore leaves into the air, causing dust to form. Chu Qiao squinted her eyes and covered them with her hands.

“This place faces Taiqing Pond. The winds are always big here. Remember to put on a hat when you’re out here.”

Chu Qiao was stunned as she looked at the man. However, she only saw peace and calm in the man’s eyes.

“Thank you. I’ve been out here for too long. The maidservants must be searching for me already. I’ll take my leave first. It’s windy out here. Please go back early, Mister.”

Chu Qiao knew not to probe further regarding the man’s identity as he might not have revealed it. She said goodbye courteously and prepared to leave.

The man seemingly did not hear her words, standing at his original position and looking at her. His voice sounded foggy, saying, “The Prince must like you a lot?”

Chu Qiao knew that the man was like other people who had mistaken her for Li Ce’s favored concubine. She did not argue further, bowed silently, and said, “Farewell.”

“But you have not answered my question.”

Chu Qiao frowned slightly. She turned around but saw that he was not coltish in his actions. He was just determined in waiting for her to reply.

“Do you know that if I really was the prince’s favored concubine, your actions right now would be very inappropriate?”

The man froze and said, “I have not been back for a long while. I did not know that someone resided here. Sorry.”

Chu Qiao remarked, “It’s okay, you didn’t know. Since you know now, shouldn’t you go back?”

The man nodded and laughed. “There’s some resemblance indeed.”

Chu Qiao frowned and retorted, “Mister, you come here in the middle of the night and say all these vague words, yet you don’t want to reveal your identity. If not for the fact that you are cultured and gentlemanly, I would have taken you for an intruder and tied you up. You’re still wandering around here at this hour, are you not scared of trouble?”

The man froze for a long while before replying, “Sorry. I got carried away while reminiscing about a deceased relative.”

“It’s okay to get carried away, but remember to snap out in time. After all, this is the royal palace. The Tang Empire places a strong emphasis on etiquette. It’s better to be careful.”

The man smiled and nodded. With a wave, he walked away from the Mihe residence. Before he took two steps, he turned around and pointed at the rooftop, saying, “There’s a row of chimes there which have been covered with dust. Miss, if you have the time, you can get the servants to clean it up. The sounds are soothing.”

“Thank you for the reminder.”

The man smiled. With a warm look, he nodded and said, “I’m the King of Luo.”