Chapter Twenty-Three: The Moon Was Bright Then

Author: Mi Nan
First published on the forum on September 13, 2016
First published on this site: Yes
Word count: 6800
Submitted by: Suffocating
Chapter Twenty-Three
: A Beauty That Could Topple a City The Linglong Water Pavilion was in complete chaos. Bi Bo and Bi He wanted to enter but were blocked by Shui Linlang's confidants
. Just as they were getting anxious, someone suddenly shouted,
"His Majesty has arrived! Quiet down!"
It was Yuwen Che who had arrived. Everyone hurriedly knelt down in panic, shouting "Long live His Majesty!" The two Bi Bo and Bi He were also pulled to their knees
. Instantly, all was quiet.
Yuwen Che, without looking around, hurriedly stepped into the Linglong Water Pavilion. He immediately saw Mingyue leaning against the balustrade.
Even though her face was as white as paper, it couldn't hide her stunning beauty. His heart trembled. It really was her!
"Who can tell me what's going on? Consort Ning, you speak!" Yuwen Che's face was dark,
his anger matching his anticipation. His sharp eyes shot towards Shui Linlang kneeling on the ground.
"Your Majesty, I am also unaware of what happened. I was having a pleasant conversation with Lady Li when she suddenly fainted and collapsed.
Please, Your Majesty, summon the imperial physician immediately to examine Lady Li!"
Shui Linlang's expression was panicked yet concerned, her starry eyes glistening with tears, yet she tried her best to appear calm and strong, protecting Mingyue
. It must be said that her performance was very successful, especially her suggestion to summon the imperial physician, which greatly reduced her own suspicions.
However, it was still not enough to completely dispel Yuwen Che's suspicions.
"Summon Lin Shutong, the Imperial Physician! Jin Shun, take everyone away and question them thoroughly in a separate room!"
Jin Shun heard the anger in his voice and saw Mingyue's face through his slits. Her heart skipped a beat, and she dared not delay
, immediately rising to her feet and quickly taking everyone in the Linglong Water Pavilion away, except for Shui Linlang, who was kneeling in the hall.
Having achieved her goal, Shui Linlang had no reason to stand in the way. She quickly pleaded in a sweet voice, "Your Majesty, may I go and listen too
? Perhaps I can help recall something!"
Yuwen Che looked down at her for a long while, finally nodding. She then followed him out.
With no one else around, Yuwen Che hurriedly went over and reached out to stroke Mingyue's face. Her skin was smooth and delicate;
his hand trembled with nervousness. After a long while, he finally touched half of her beautiful face, feeling a tingling, bone-melting sensation wherever his fingers touched. One
delicate flower after another bloomed from his fingertips into his heart; in a short time, the desolate city burst into bloom.
Mingyue remained motionless, the pallor on her face slowly fading, as if she were asleep. A
blush rose from beneath her flawless, snow-white skin, a rosy hue spreading, and soon even her jade-like neck was flushed.
Yuwen Che held her in his arms, gazing thoughtfully at the cinnabar mark on her forehead. His gaze slowly
slid down from her delicate nose, recalling her mischievous and adorable smile. He couldn't help but touch her dimples with his fingers; her small, full lips were moist and luscious
. Remembering how she had rendered him speechless, he couldn't help but chuckle. He lowered his head and gently pressed his lips to hers, overjoyed.
Ignoring her inability to hear, he whispered in her ear, "You little devil, if you lie to me again, I'll kiss you until you can't speak!"
Shui Linlang's plan was ingenious; she thought she was creating an opportunity for this arrogant and licentious emperor, who would surely seduce Mingyue,
and then expose his immoral and disgraceful deeds, thus fulfilling her cousin's request.
Who knew that this emperor could also have moments of affection, keeping both Yue Qingchen and Mingyue hidden deep within his heart
. The former had given him the chance to live, meticulously caring for and raising him. Constrained by human relationships, even though he harbored intense love, hatred, rage, and passionate love for his mother, he feared
that any action would jeopardize their relationship. The latter, however, was a rare, bright and genuine heart in his short life.
He was at the center of a dark and treacherous power struggle, and every time he recalled that kiss in the box years ago, he felt joy and sweetness. Coupled with
the life-saving grace he had received this
time, he cherished her dearly and would never dare to be disrespectful. Holding her like this, he felt immense satisfaction, as if a long-lost treasure had been returned to his hands. Overjoyed
, he was determined that he would never let her go in this lifetime!
"Your subject, Lin Shutong, requests an audience with Your Majesty!"
"Come in, Minister Lin, quickly examine her!" Yuwen Che held Mingyue even tighter.
Lin Shutong came from a family of imperial physicians, whose first family rule was to neither listen, see, nor speak. Therefore, he only kowtowed once upon entering,
then knelt on one knee before the Emperor, took Mingyue's wrist, and began to take her pulse, ignoring everyone else.
This pulse...? Lin Shutong's expression changed, seemingly disbelieving. He then picked up his other hand and examined it carefully before finally
reporting, "Your Majesty, this lady is perfectly fine!"
"Nonsense! If she's perfectly fine, why is she unconscious?"
"Your Majesty, judging from her pulse, she is unconscious because she is drunk!"
Yuwen Che was surprised upon hearing this, seemingly disbelieving.
"To be sure, we need to know what she consumed."
"Jin Shun, have you found out?"
"Your Majesty, according to Princess Ning and the palace maids, Lady Li only consumed the new tea from Fujian,
nothing else. Imperial Physician Lin, the remaining tea is here, please take a look!"
Jin Shun's heart skipped a beat. If there was a problem with the tribute tea, it might mean someone was plotting against His Majesty. The more he thought about it, the more frightened he became
, sweating profusely as he nervously watched Lin Shutong examine the tea.
Lin Shutong examined the jade-colored tea cake closely in the sunlight. Its fragrance was exquisite. His eyes suddenly lit up, and he used a silver needle
to pick something out, twirled it between his fingers, smelled it, and then licked it with his tongue, seemingly understanding something.
"Lord Lin, what's the result?" Jin Shun wanted to punch the old man. What exactly happened? Just
tell me!
Yuwen Che squinted, his mind wandering.
"Your Majesty, there is nothing wrong with the tea! It's customary to use incense with compressed tea, and this tea must have used rare ambergris.
The two complement each other perfectly. I have heard that the Records of the Seven Islands of the East Sea mentions that ambergris is extremely rare, occasionally appearing in foreign lands.
Local shamans use it to treat heart ailments, and when inhaled with narcissus, it causes unconsciousness and loss of sensation. Because travelogues and legends are fantastical and bizarre,
I originally thought they were unreliable rumors. But today's events, in my opinion, are likely due to this!"
Yuwen Che was secretly relieved upon hearing this, looked at Mingyue, and asked, "When will she wake up?"
"At least half a day, at most a day!" Lin Shutong thought to himself, "She'll wake up when she's had enough sleep!"
Yuwen Che ordered Lin Shutong to leave, then looked at Mingyue with complicated eyes. Finally, he lowered his head and captured her lips, sighing in his heart
, "I'll wait for you to come back!"
Jin Shun stared blankly, as if he were blind, but his mind was quick and active. His master was concerned, and he had to help him
think of a solution!
"Have someone carry the Lady in a sedan chair to Consort Mi's palace to rest. Tell Mi'er that I said to take good
care of her, and once the Lady wakes up, send her out of the palace properly!"
Yin Shun personally led the sedan chair to carefully send Mingyue away. Bi Bo and Bi He hurriedly followed. Taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention,
Bi He quickly glanced into the hall and saw Yuwen Che's back. Her heart stirred.
Inside the waterside pavilion, Yuwen Che seemed to be in a good mood. He handed over pen and ink and casually wrote a note.
"Little Jinzi, I heard you got beaten up while helping me select concubines this time?"
Jin Shun's heart skipped a beat, and he knelt down with a mournful face. "I've disgraced my master. I didn't do my job well. Jin Shun
is willing to accept punishment!"
"Haha, get up, get up. That beating was good. Li Wenze has indeed rendered meritorious service to our dynasty. If there were no reason, I
wouldn't be able to do anything to him."
Yuwen Che placed a note in Jin Shun's hand and gave the instructions. Jin Shun was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly
. "
...
By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Li Wenze, the Governor-General of Liangjiang, was appointed to govern Jiangnan. I placed great hopes on him and entrusted him with my utmost trust
. However,
this Governor-General is incompetent and corrupt, allowing the imperial guards to collapse and treacherous officials to run rampant. As a result, the Yangtze River has suffered greatly, and the people have been plunged into misery... The Governor-General is hereby suspended from his post pending investigation. The relevant officials are ordered to jointly determine his crimes. This decree is hereby proclaimed throughout the land so that all may hear it!"
The imperial edict, adorned with a black rhinoceros horn shaft and brocade, featuring two silver dragons soaring through the clouds, symbolizing the supreme authority of the imperial family
, hung high in the sky. Despite the relatively low sun, Li Wenze was drenched in sweat. He knelt before the edict, the words ringing in his ears like
thunder!
He was unwilling! Utterly unwilling! He had endured humiliation and hardship, diligently working for over a decade, only to be
taken down by such fabricated charges. His life was worthless, reduced to dust. It was a tragedy that his great task was left unfinished, leaving him spitting blood!
"What? Lord Li refuses to accept the decree?"
Jin Shun lowered his eyes, a sinister smile on his face, inwardly gloating! Bah, debts in the twelfth lunar month are being repaid quickly!
"This sinful subject, Li Wenze, accepts the decree!" Li Wenze took the imperial decree, clenching it tightly until his fingertips turned white.
Eunuch, a petty man who has gained power!
He was indeed extremely shrewd, having experienced the ups and downs of two dynasties' officialdom, and had a wealth of experience. In a few breaths, he calmly rose, his expression
as usual, and instead smiled as he ushered Jin Shun into the inner room.
"Eunuch, please allow me a moment to speak! Wenze has some matters to report, and I hope you will convey them on my behalf!"
Jin Shun scoffed, his smile forced, but inwardly he thought, "I wonder how much this fellow is willing to offer. This
task isn't bad; I'm being extorted by imperial decree, truly wonderful!"
Once inside the inner room, Li Wenze invited Jin Shun to take a seat and even ordered tea to be served.
Jin Shun gritted his teeth and groaned again, as if in pain. "We're not here for tea!" Eunuchs
were known for their cunning and wickedness, and Li Wenze knew he harbored resentment over the beating and humiliation he'd suffered the other day. He cursed
the eunuch twice more in his mind, clapped his hands, and two rows of young men and women filed in, each carrying a black wooden tray covered with silk brocade,
the contents of which were unknown.
"What does this mean, sir?"
Jin Shun glanced at the trays and saw the silk brocade being lifted one by one. At first, it was nothing more than gold and silver, but the items became increasingly
precious: a Nanpu pearl the size of a pigeon's egg, lustrous white jade, red and white agate in a crystal jar, a foot-tall
red coral gleaming like flames… He was overjoyed; the beating had been worth it!
"Your Excellency, you don't know, we officials outside the capital, though called high-ranking officials, sitting in the main hall, with a single call from the hall and
a hundred obedient followers below, it all looks glamorous. In reality, we never know which step we take wrong and we'll fall to our deaths!"
Jin Shun listened to his complaints without showing any emotion, thinking to himself, "Pah, if you think it's so hard, then don't do it. If we were
in each other's shoes, you definitely wouldn't be happy!"
"I only have one servant to pour tea and water! I don't understand what you're saying, sir!"
Li Wenze was momentarily speechless, but didn't mind, and continued with a smile, "All land under heaven
belongs to the emperor. To put it bluntly, we are all serving His Majesty. You pour tea and water, and I guard this region; we are all sharing His Majesty's burdens!"
Jin Shun chuckled inwardly, his expression softening considerably, and nodded, "That's true! Speaking of which, serving one's duty
requires utmost care; otherwise, if anything is neglected and His Majesty is wronged, then even a hundred deaths wouldn't atone for it!"
Li Wenze nodded with a sense of sympathy, saying with a sigh, "That's exactly it. Speaking of which..." "We're not even as good as you, Eunuch.
As the saying goes, 'Meeting brings three parts affection,' but at least you, Eunuch, are with His Majesty every day. Even if you have one or two shortcomings, His Majesty
can surely forgive them. Or at least you can plead your case before His Majesty. But for us officials, it's not so easy. We
can hardly even get an audience with His Majesty to present our arguments!"
Jin Shun said sympathetically, "Lord Li, you don't need to be so discouraged. This matter... isn't beyond redemption!"
A glint of light flashed in Li Wenze's slightly cloudy eyes as he fixed his gaze on Jin Shun. He said urgently, "Please, Eunuch, give me some guidance
to help me escape this predicament. I will surely repay you!"
Jin Shun's eyelids drooped. Li Wenze understood and waved away the servant.
Jin Shun chuckled, a strange laugh, and took something out of his pocket, carefully placing it on the table. "It all depends on
whether Lord Li is willing to part with it!" Li Wenze, puzzled, stared intently at the paper. Upon holding it, he saw
powerful, vigorous strokes that seemed to penetrate the paper's surface: "A beautiful flower and a captivating beauty, both pleasing to the eye, often seen by the smiling emperor. Explaining the boundless sorrow of spring,
leaning against the railing north of the Agarwood Pavilion." "Strong and vigorous strokes, fine calligraphy!"
"Lord Li, be careful what you say! This is the Emperor's own handwriting!"
Although Yuwen Che had assumed personal rule, he had not regained the power to issue imperial edicts. Very few officials, both inside and outside the court, had ever seen the Emperor's calligraphy . Li Wenze, with his scholarly airs, held the paper and praised it endlessly
.
Upon hearing it was the Emperor's calligraphy, the paper in his hand suddenly felt like a thousand pounds,
burning hot. Thinking of the poem's meaning, his heart pounded—what he feared most had come to pass!
He forced a smile, his face ashen, understanding the situation yet hoping for a different meaning. He tentatively asked, "Sir,
what is the meaning of this?"
Jin Shun glanced at him with slight sympathy, then suddenly said, "Yangzhou is truly a beautiful place, a riot of flowers.
It's a pity my knowledge is limited; I only know it's pretty, but I don't know exactly why! Alas, we're about to return to the capital
, and I'm afraid we'll never see such beauty again!"
Li Wenze's voice was firm and resonant, but he mumbled, "Sir, you jest. No matter how beautiful Yangzhou is, how can it compare to the Imperial Capital
? The rare flowers and exotic plants in the Forbidden Gardens are far beyond what Yangzhou can offer. It's just that the waters are warmer in Jiangnan, so spring comes earlier, and the flowers bloom
earlier. When you return to the capital, the Imperial Gardens will surely be just as lush and vibrant, a truly intoxicating sight!"
Seeing his feigned ignorance, Jin Shun suddenly smiled, a smile that was both mocking and sarcastic. "The flowers in the Forbidden Garden are beautiful, but unfortunately,
they are all ordinary. I've heard that in Lord Li's garden, there is a peerless masterpiece. Tsk tsk, you are truly blessed
; even the Emperor might not be able to compare to you!"
The Emperor couldn't compare to him? What crime was that? How could Li Wenze dare to admit it? The most sensible thing to do at this moment was
to present it to the Emperor to show his loyalty. But how could he present that peerless masterpiece? How dare he present it?
Li Wenze felt like he was sitting on pins and needles, sweat pouring down his face, his complexion alternating between red and green. Anger and forbearance were like two venomous snakes, simultaneously
gnawing at his heart.
Jin Shun stood up, like a cat playing with a mouse, and took out a document from her sleeve, flashing it in front of Li Wenze before placing it
next to the imperial edict.
"Letter of Divorce," the ink dripping like knives and arrows. Li Wenze was filled with rage and was about to slam his fist on the table.
Jin Shun pointed at the imperial edict, threatening with a contemptuous yet sinister tone, "Your Excellency is merely suspended from duty pending investigation.
It's truly hard to say what the Three Judicial Offices will find out. Perhaps they'll confiscate your property, perhaps they'll exterminate your entire clan. Your Excellency might as well guess what it will be!"
After saying this, Jin Shun rose to leave. Just before reaching the door, as if remembering something, he turned back and said, "Thank you
for your kindness, Lord Li. It would be impolite of me to refuse, so I'll gladly accept it! His Majesty has heard that the Bodhisattva at the Great Buddha Temple is efficacious; perhaps he'll go to
pay his respects. It's a pity the temple's scenery is rather lacking. Your Excellency has excellent flowers at home; it would be best to send them there sooner rather than later!"
With that, he strode away.
Enraged, Li Wenze kicked the chair Jin Shun had been sitting on, shattering it into pieces.
Inside the room, an eight-treasure cabinet quietly rotated, and a person emerged—it was Pei Yanli, who had been listening in for an unknown
amount of time.
Li Wenze was furious, his beard trembling. Seeing it was him, he roared, "You heard everything, didn't you? Debauchery and shamelessness
! A tyrannical ruler! I'm enraged!"
"Why do you say that? We knew this would happen when we agreed to let the young mistress see us!"
Li Wenze deflated like a punctured balloon, slumping down and groaning, "This time we can't hide it from the young master anymore
. Zihan, Zihan will definitely disagree!"
Thinking of his adopted son's heartbreak and anger, he felt a pang of fear. Among these people, perhaps only he still held some genuine affection.
"No, he will agree!"
"No, I won't agree!" Li Zihan's face was ashen, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes.
"I originally thought that although the world had changed hands to the Yuwen, the hearts of the people were still loyal, and
the grace of my Great Rong had not yet faded, so there were still some who remembered the Li family. I never expected that our own people would betray us first! How ruthless! Even the mistress of the house could silently
surrender to the enemy. Will it be my turn tomorrow?"
These words were sharp, incisive, and utterly piercing. Those present paled in fear and rose to their knees in repentance.
Li Zihan was furious, but his face grew even colder. He reached out to help his adoptive father up, ignoring Pei Yanli and his advisors
.
Pei Yanli remained expressionless, kneeling before them, saying, "Young Master..."
Li Zihan wouldn't allow him to speak, sneering, "I didn't know I was the Young Master! Whose Young Master ca
n't even protect his own wife, resorting to using her to appease the enemy! Mr. Pei, you are well-read and learned, why don't you find me
a few examples!"
His mentor had become Mr. Pei! "In the past, 　　Empress Dowager
Dou, the mother of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, was beaten to death in the Forbidden City by Empress Wu. Xuanzong had already married and established his own family at that time. Did he not know the enmity of his mother's death? Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, and Xiang Yu were stationed at Guangwu. Xiang Yu wanted to cook Liu Bang's father 　　alive, but Gaozu said, 'My father is your father. If you insist on cooking your father, then please share a cup of soup with me.' Did he not know the enmity of his father's death? The enmity between parents and children is irreconcilable . 　　How can the kindness of giving birth and raising children be compared to the bond between husband and wife? If Emperor Xuanzong and Emperor Gaozu had not been able to endure for a time, their power was not yet strong, and the opportunity was not yet ripe, 　　and they had fought to the death with their enemies, they might have felt a moment of pleasure, but who would have been the one to inherit the foundation for the next hundred years?" 　　A restorer of a dynasty, a founding emperor, riding the wave of power, restored order, cleared the imperial realm 　　, ascended to the throne, and established unparalleled achievements. The situation then was indeed comparable to the present. Li Zihan's eyes flashed with brilliance, and his heart suddenly 　　skipped a beat. 　　Pei Yanli ignored Li Zihan's expression, staring at the diagonal patterns on the floor tiles, and suddenly asked, "The Borjigin Mujin 　　Emperor, in his later years, after his wife Xue Chan was captured by foreign enemies for nearly half a year, the Emperor retrieved her and cherished her. When the Mongol Dynasty 　　was first established, Xue Chan became the Empress, and later generations posthumously honored her as Empress Guangxian Yisheng. Her life can be described as one of glory in life and sorrow in death, shining 　　brightly." 　　Li Zihan hesitated. If the previous words were merely a way to appease him, this example truly touched his heart. His face 　　flushed and paled, showing great struggle. After a long while, he said, "You should all leave first. Let me think about it some more!" 　　No one dared to provoke him further, and they filed out one by one. Pei Yanli gave a wink to the person in the shadows and also left the study. 　　"Feiyan, sometimes, I really hate my identity. How much better it would be if I didn't have the surname Li!" Li Zihan's eyes were filled with deep 　　pain as he looked out the window at a flock of egrets flying freely. 　　"I'm so annoyed by you people, so indecisive, always worrying about this and that, wanting to eat crabs but afraid of getting pinched! 　　If you're not willing, I'll just kill Yuwen Che and make sure he can't return to the capital. We'll deal with the rest later!" 　　Liu Feiyan leaned against the shadows, a large, gleaming gold coin sliding between her fingers. She spoke of assassinating Yuwen Che as 　　casually as killing a chicken or a fish. 　　Li Zihan's eyes were sharp as snow-white swords, his murderous intent rising. Now was indeed not the best time, but when 　　would the best time be? If Yuwen Che died in Yangzhou, it might not be a bad opportunity for him! 　　"What are the chances?" 　　"If it's just us acting, at most 30%! The eldest prince from the capital, who failed last time, has also come to 　　Ruyi Tower. With their people as insiders, that adds another 30%!" 　　"Then let's keep him here! This time, I'll go too!" 　　Night enveloped Baiyunwu, making the shadowy, dense forest even more mysterious. 　　Li Zihan remained standing by the window, his back ramrod straight, holding a small jar of Xifeng Bai liquor. It was a strong liquor, 　　the kind of strong liquor that a young man from Jiangnan wouldn't be used to; it burned from his throat to his stomach, making his heart pound. 　　Yan Jiu excitedly pushed open the door, the strong smell of alcohol making him wince, and then a small jar of liquor flew towards him 　　. 　　"You're back just in time, have a drink with me!" 　　Often, men need a reason to drink; more often, men don't need a reason! 　　Yan Jiu readily raised his head and drank deeply. The hot liquor entered his stomach, and his blood surged. "Good liquor, thirty-six..."

" Where did this Xifeng Bai wine come from?" "
In the sixteenth year of the Mingde reign, Wang Mian, the governor of Shaanxi, ordered the Fengxiang Distillery to secretly produce a batch of imperial wine
to celebrate the emperor's birthday. Eighty-one jars were presented to the emperor, but the distillery secretly buried thirty-six jars. Later, when war broke out, the wine was buried in Liulin
Town!"
Yan Jiu laughed heartily, then gulped down several more mouthfuls. Wiping the wine from his chin, he exclaimed with delight, "Brother
, guess what I found?" "Do
n't ask about fortune or misfortune upon entering; one look at his face will tell." He had been spending his days in the underground palace; he must have found something.
The moonlight slanted down, and Yan Jiu, radiant and spirited, seemed like a completely different person
. His Jian'an spirit was undisguised, captivating all who looked at him.
He pulled something from his robes and tossed it to Li Zihan. It gleamed with a golden light, tinged with a purple glow. Li
Zihan caught it; it was unusually heavy—a gold ingot. His heart skipped a beat. He flipped the ingot over to examine it closely. The handwriting
was clear; it read "Inner Treasury Gold and Silver."
Li Zihan played with the gold ingot, sighing at the unpredictability of fate. This batch of gold and silver had finally found its whereabouts.
Li Zihan's eyes locked onto Yan Jiu. The man before him had clear eyes and a broad, open mind. He was neither greedy nor arrogant. Such
a huge fortune hadn't moved him. What did he want?
"Xia Yuan, I have a question that's stuck in my throat. I have to ask it. Can you answer me truthfully?"
His eyes were cold as blades, like frost piercing the skin, but Yan Jiu seemed unaffected. He smiled and swallowed another mouthful of wine, saying nonchalantly,
"Brother, ask away!"
Li Zihan flicked his wrist, and a golden light flashed like lightning, embedding itself firmly into the wooden table. The bottom face up, and the words "Inner Treasury"
were clearly visible.
"A commoner seeks wealth, a gentleman seeks righteousness. The secret treasures of the previous dynasty number in the millions; piled up, they could blind the world,
stir the hearts of heroes, and unleash a torrent of bloodshed. Yet Xia Yuan has no greed, his ambition lies elsewhere! What do you want?"
Yan Jiu walked to his side, standing beside him, looking out the window.
"Wealth is but an external thing; more is merely icing on the cake. If I have none, haha, don't laugh at me,
brother, I have a worn-out pen in hand, and I've never worried about such things!"
Yan Jiu glanced at Li Zihan, his gaze filled with shame but no regret, then looked towards the universe. Above, the bright moon hung high in the sky
.
"The Yan family has been obsessed for generations, unable to overcome the hurdle of love. Xia Yuan came for her!"
Li Zihan's heart trembled. Yue'er, it was for Yue'er again! The Yan family, what a deeply entangled family! The night sky
was a deep, almost demonic blue. Fate? A karmic entanglement?
Stars like chess pieces, the heavens like scales, the opportunities are unpredictable!
"Who is Yan Shipu to you?"
"He is my ancestor!" Yan Jiu replied proudly.
A swallow by the clear stream, a swallow of passion, wandering among the flowers—whose courtyard?
Heaven has ordained this man to appear at this moment; it is fate!
Li Zihan's mouth was dry, the effects of the alcohol rushing to his head. In an instant, he made a decision he would regret for the rest of his life. He grabbed
Yan Jiu's wrist. "Come with me! "
The moonlight stretched their shadows long. Yan Jiu recognized that they were heading towards Suxin Hall. Her heart pounded.
Could it be? Could it be...?
The men's feet crushed fallen petals, their cold fragrance penetrating to the bone. The bamboo bells hanging under the eaves trembled without wind.
"Little Jiu, paint a picture for me?" "
What picture?" "A painting
of unparalleled beauty!"
Yan Jiu looked up in astonishment, her eyes filled with disbelief. A painting of unparalleled beauty? How could it be a painting of unparalleled beauty? She thought
only her father and she knew about it. How did he know? Who was he?
Li Zihan didn't give him time to think, and seemed unwilling to give himself any. He hurriedly said,
"I know the Yan family uses beauties as their canvas, only the most exquisite can be painted. Since you've set your heart on Mingyue, you must be willing!"
The words "moon," "celestial maiden," and "national beauty" connected in the mind instantly captivated Yan Jiu. His mind was
filled with countless beautiful scenes, and he had no other thoughts. His eyes were fixed on Li Zihan, afraid he might be
joking.
Li Zihan paused for a moment, startling Yan Jiu so much that his heart pounded wildly. He then pulled two small porcelain bottles from his pocket and,
without a word, shoved them into Yan Jiu's hands, saying in a deep voice, "Since you are a member of the Yan family, you should know how to use them. I'll call
you later, then you can go in!" (Author's
Note
: There's a reason why the author is named Mi Nan, but
we'll leave that as a mystery for now! If one day this story is halfway through, we'll celebrate and reveal
the answer. As for why it's always posted on behalf of others, it's because the author doesn't have a forum account. Also, I originally wanted to
update twice during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, but my mentor warned me not to let others think I was writing too easily. I agreed, so the next
chapter will be posted on National Day, although I still don't quite understand the difference. Finally, thank you to all the friends who left comments, readers
, and editors. Wishing everyone a happy Mid-Autumn Festival!)

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Chapter Twenty-Three: The Moon Was Bright Then

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