The moonlight was so bright that it seemed to be 99.9% pure silver. It was bright and resplendent, like a plate. The blue dome of heaven was clear and blue, like a fine silk satin. The stars were scattered, emitting flickering light from tens of millions of light years away.
It had snowed not long ago, and the air was cool and refreshing. The mountains in the distance overlooked the grand gathering of lights in the small city.
Yuan Zhaoxu walked towards her with a smile.
Her gaze slowly moved from the black boots with silver-trimmed edges among the bougainvillea, to his slender legs wrapped in black trousers, to his tight waist with a silver belt, to his perfectly sculpted shoulders, to the faint smile on his lips, to his elegant, fairy-like brows, and finally to his eyes, which were as deep as the sea.
She raised her brightest smile as she looked into those eyes.
'What a breathtaking Yuan Zhaoxu …'
As far as she could remember, he rarely wore anything other than light-colored robes. This was the first time Fuyao had seen him in a deep black robe. She felt that it would be difficult to find anyone else in the world who could wear black like he did. He wore black with an incomparable air of nobility, magnificence, and elegance. Dressed neatly, he was even more charming and handsome than he usually was, causing all the young ladies in the court to lose their composure and lose their breath.
Beneath his feet, the dark red bougainvillea bloomed vigorously. Even when its branches were broken, the bougainvillea remained bright and unextinguished. It hung low, as if it was willing to hang in the dust.
All the young ladies in the courtyard covered their faces with silk fans and looked at him with blushing faces. Yuan Zhaoxu, on the other hand, only looked at Meng Fuyao.
Meng Fuyao was still dressed as a teenager. She was thin, and even though he had been trying his best to nourish her body, she was still thin in his eyes. Men's clothes covered her perfect figure, but he could still see her slender waist and long legs. She looked heroic, her eyebrows were high, and her eyes were big and bright. Looking into them was like looking into the clearest spring water.
She smiled. Her smile was even more beautiful than the bougainvillea. Compared to her usual smile that would occasionally flash with a hint of worry, her smile had never been as pure as it was at this moment.
The smell of butter, candles, and food drifted in the wind. It was a little smoky, like a person's slightly anxious and restless mood.
Meng Fuyao greeted him with a smile and a standard palace gentleman's greeting. "My esteemed guest."
Yuan Zhaoxu looked at her deeply. After a while, he said, "Fuyao, your men's clothes are very beautiful, but do you have any matching clothes?"
Meng Fuyao smiled but did not reply. She gestured for Yao Xun to explain to Yuan Zhaoxu while she went up to give a speech.
She raised her custom-made crystal goblet. Unfortunately, there was no time to brew the wine, and it was not the season for winemaking. Thus, she only used the famous Zhongzhou wine, Pear Spring White, as a substitute. The wine in the goblet was clear and cold, reflecting her smiling eyes. The atmosphere in the courtyard gradually quietened down. Everyone imitated her and raised their goblets, looking at the young and mysterious City Lord. Yuan Zhaoxu sat far away, his fingertips twirling the goblet as he listened to the youth speak in a clear and crisp voice.
"I've been here for 17 years, and this is the first time I've celebrated the Lantern Festival. Sigh, the last time was in my previous life."
The crowd burst into laughter, thinking that the City Lord was joking again. Only Yuan Zhaoxu did not laugh. He put down his goblet and stared at Meng Fuyao.
"I used to think that the past 17 years were terrible. I lost my most precious thing and came to a place I didn't want to come to. But recently, I've realized that even if God takes something away from you, he will still give you something in return. For example, I've seen some good people and encountered some good things. For example, I've met you and the two of you."
She smiled and raised her goblet. The crowd applauded. Through the crystal goblet, Meng Fuyao looked at Yuan Zhaoxu.
I've met you.
Yuan Zhaoxu looked up at her. His fingers slowly caressed the glossy body of the goblet gently and delicately, as if he was caressing a delicate and considerate heart.
"This is a festival of reunions. I once regretted that my reunions were broken up. Perhaps my reunions will still be broken up by fate in the future. But I think that having this day, I can probably make up for the many permanent imperfections."
She smiled faintly, but there were tears in her smile that were difficult to be noticed by others.
"I want to take this opportunity to thank the people I want to thank. I want to thank those who met me, helped me, protected me, and gave me. I want to thank those who cherished me, accompanied me, understood me, and forgave me. Because of these, I feel unlucky that I wasn't completely abandoned by God. But at the same time, I'm ashamed of my own selfishness and inability to reciprocate. That's why I've brought so many of you here, hoping to borrow your blessings to broaden the depth of my gratitude."
Some people laughed, but even more were deep in thought. Meng Fuyao lowered her eyelids and did not look at the corner. She only felt that gaze from afar. It was so hot that it burned her will.
Her voice suddenly became deep and gentle.
"I want to thank this person. His life is probably lonely, like looking at the end of the world from the top of a tall building. When he has seen everything, there is no longer any meaning to joy. This is his fate and talent, and I can't do anything about it. I have an ominous premonition that maybe one day my existence will make his loneliness even worse, so I make it up to him in advance by giving him my gift. This is a liveliness, a liveliness that belongs to you. It is a special liveliness that you have never experienced in your life, no matter what you have in your life. It is a liveliness that is joyful, full, unique, and has the most ordinary yet most intimate liveliness in the mortal world."
She raised her glass, closed her eyes, and sighed. "I hope you like it."
The courtyard was silent. The young men and women looked at the usually playful and scheming City Lord emotionally. Their eyes were filled with unfamiliarity and shock, and they could not understand the deep meaning and sorrow contained in her words. The sentimental young ladies had already begun to sigh. They did not understand what Meng Fuyao was talking about, and who she was referring to. They only felt their hearts sink for no reason. Amidst the heaviness was an indescribable feeling of being touched. A thin layer of mist formed over their hearts, as if a layer of dew had condensed over it.
They raised their glasses and said sincerely, "I hope you like it."
The gentle waves of well-wishes were like a small wind. Yuan Zhaoxu's hand, which had always been as steady as a rock, suddenly trembled.
The crystal glass slipped in his palm, almost slipping out of his palm. Some of the wine spilled onto his palm and rolled down along the lines of his skin.
Yao Xun, who was standing beside him, hurriedly handed him a handkerchief. Yuan Zhaoxu took it, but used it to wipe the table that did not have any wine on it.
Yao Xun stared at Yuan Zhaoxu with wide eyes. He could not imagine that Yuan Zhaoxu would actually be in such a state. But the fact was that he was still calm and composed.
Yao Xun suddenly felt a pang in his heart. He suddenly understood the meaning of Meng Fuyao's last sentence. For someone like Yuan Zhaoxu, apart from his natural calmness, he must have grown up in a different environment and education. What kind of person was born with such grace and tranquility? What kind of effort and sacrifice was needed to achieve such a calm and unruffled state? His life would definitely not be as rich, joyful, and sorrowful as an ordinary person.
Yao Xun sighed. Meng Fuyao looked so careless and boorish, but she was actually so meticulous on the inside.
How rare was it for them to understand each other?
Yao Xun sighed and quietly retreated. He wanted to see if the flowers in the quiet room had withered from the smoke of the candles. If not, he would exchange them for a few more. This was a well-prepared gift, and he did not want any flaws to spoil it.
The wine in Yuan Zhaoxu's palm gradually dried up. He watched as Fuyao raised her cup to him and emptied it in one gulp. Then, he slowly raised his own cup, but did not drink it immediately. Instead, he took small sips, as if he could not drink it again after this time, as if he treasured it.
The dance party had already begun. The young men and women who had just learned the dance steps walked down the stage in pairs. Those exquisite riding clothes, those fluttering dancing skirts, those spirited arcs, those clothes created by the mortal world, those fragrant hairs, all were colorful and blurry.
The things that belonged to him, the things that she had painstakingly cherished, were lively.
There was a faint fragrance of wine between his fingers, blurred and illusory, like a beautiful drunken dream.
He did not drink, but he was already drunk.
Opposite him, the spirited young woman raised her cup and sat down beside him, still a little rudely. "I'm good with words, aren't I?"
Her face was flushed, and her smile was a little unnatural. She was still a little embarrassed by how emotional she was.
Yuan Zhaoxu did not answer her question. "The wine is delicious."
Meng Fuyao looked at him in surprise. She felt that there was something strange about Yuan Zhaoxu, but she could not tell what it was. Just as she was thinking about how to entice him to dance, she suddenly heard a commotion at the door.
Meng Fuyao craned her neck to take a look, and a beautiful figure flashed by. It was Miss Hu Sang, who had fallen ill after the night of the Sacred Worship Festival. After recovering, she continued to visit Yuan Zhaoxu in the county government every day, but Yuan Zhaoxu never met her. Meng Fuyao did not invite her to the ball to avoid any problems, and she did not dare to face Yuan Zhaoxu's anger again. She did not expect her to be so infatuated that she actually came. Meng Fuyao's eyes were sharp, and she saw that Miss Hu Sang was also wearing a dance dress. She could tell that it was made by herself, and although it was a little out of place, she had cleverly kept all the designs that showed off her figure. Her waist was so thin that it could not be grasped, and her breasts were full and bouncing as she walked, like a pair of pigeons about to take flight.
She was stopped at the entrance of the garden, and when she insisted on going in, the guard cast a troubled look at her, causing her to raise her head in embarrassment.
Sigh, she did not dare to …
Yuan Zhaoxu said lightly, "Fuyao, a little excitement … is this your gift?"
"Huh?" Meng Fuyao turned her head in shock. "I'm so emotional that I almost made myself cry, and you're still not satisfied?"
Yuan Zhaoxu only smiled, and his gaze suddenly turned to a quiet room behind a cluster of flowers. The window was half open, and a beautiful flower was peeking out.
Meng Fuyao laughed and shook her head. "I say, your life is boring …" She stood up and pulled Yuan Zhaoxu with both hands. "Are you willing to go somewhere with me? I might sell you there, so it's up to you whether you want to go or not. "
Yuan Zhaoxu let her pull him away, and smiled. "Just don't sell yourself to me."
The two of them sneaked into the quiet room from behind the flowering shrubs, ignoring Miss Hu Sang who was waiting outside. Yuan Zhaoxu was startled as soon as he entered the room. The room was much brighter than the outside. The walls were inlaid with crystal glass and a row of copper lamps were lit. The light reflected the crystals and created a dazzling effect. A huge light purple curtain hung down from the ceiling and flowed gracefully like water. The floor was covered with a carpet of the same color with intricate patterns woven on it. Fresh flowers were adorned everywhere in white porcelain vases, accentuating the beauty and tenderness of the petals and leaves.
Meng Fuyao walked around the room like a fairy. "I'll give you some other gifts first, and then mine will be the finale."
She smiled and pointed at the wall, winking at Yuan Zhaoxu, signaling him to find it himself.
Yuan Zhaoxu's gaze swept across the room, and he had already discovered a secret door. With a light tap, a drawer popped out, followed by a box popping out of the drawer, and a smaller box popping out of the box …
Meng Fuyao broke out in a cold sweat …
Fortunately, the last box popped out. Yuan Zhaoxu was about to open it when the impatient 'gift' lifted the box by itself, and out climbed the noble, gentlemanly, and plump Lord Ingot, dressed in a black tuxedo.
The smallest tuxedo in the universe looked just like it, and the most eye-catching Lord Ingot looked even more solemn than his clothes.
Today was a grand day. Today was a very important day for it!
Lord Ingot tugged at the tuxedo to cover his round belly and fat butt, feeling that he was the exact same version of his master.
Of course, the clothes were not made by him, but sponsored by Meng Fuyao. One day, Lord Ingot came to see what Meng Fuyao was doing, only to see her drawing pictures for a needlepoint woman. One of the tuxedos that Meng Fuyao was drawing for fun caught Lord Ingot's eye. He felt that the tail matched his sacred temperament, so he pulled Meng Fuyao to point at the picture. Meng Fuyao agreed on account of his bad luck of having his period twice a month. Thus, Ingot's tuxedo was born.
Of course, that was not the main event. The main event was Lord Ingot's gift.
Lord Ingot happily pulled out a long roll of paper from the box and spread it out on the table in front of Yuan Zhaoxu at lightning speed. Then, he proudly sat on the side and proudly waited for his master to "be surprised, moved, and fall in love".
Meng Fuyao was curious. She did not know what this mysterious rat had been working on for a long time and was unwilling to let her see it. When she poked her head out to take a look, her eyes almost popped out of their sockets.
It was … a love letter.
The paper was covered in messy little pancakes of poria cocos. Some of the pancakes had holes in them, while others had words on them. They were arranged in order. Although they were pasted in a crooked manner, when put together, it could barely be considered a love letter.
"I (Pancake with a hole in it) like you. Every night (Dong Dong Pancake) I (Dong Dong Pancake) want to (Dong Dong Pancake) with you (Dong Dong Pancake) every night. Ignore (Dong Dong Pancake) (Dong Dong Pancake), I am your (Dong Dong Pancake) … Happy (Dong Dong Pancake) Day …
"Rat, you're so smart!" Meng Fuyao exclaimed. "Your keywords are all pancakes with a hole in it. What a subtle and unconventional confession."
Lord Ingot rolled his eyes. 'How would I know which words to use? I've already eaten many of them! '
Yuan Zhaoxu, the one being confessed to, cupped his chin with an unfathomable expression as he carefully read the 'biscuit love letter'. Lord Ingot blinked at him, his teenage heart thumping wildly.
After a while, Yuan Zhaoxu finally finished reading. He slowly folded the paper and put it in his sleeve. Lord Ingot's eyes lit up in surprise.
"Yuan Zhaoxu …"
Lord Ingot pricked up his ears.
"Your literacy has improved. Did you find someone to tutor you recently?"
Lord Ingot nodded shyly.
"It's pretty good."
Lord Ingot's eyes were intoxicated …
"Next time, write 3,000 words and I'll consider it."
…
After sending the heartbroken Lord Ingot away, Yuan Zhaoxu invited him to continue his tutoring in the box. Meng Fuyao sent Ingot off with a pitiful look. She took a handkerchief and tore it in her hands. "Hmm, in the next show, the little loli is going to pounce on the big bad wolf …"
Yuan Zhaoxu leaned on the chair and looked at her lazily. His clear eyes shone shockingly under the bright lights.
Meng Fuyao smiled wickedly for a long time, but when she realized that Yuan Zhaoxu did not care, she could only say resentfully, "Cover your eyes, I'll do a magic trick for you."
Yuan Zhaoxu laughed. "You're full of tricks today."
Meng Fuyao shrugged. "I learned it from Grandma Qiongyao." She covered Yuan Zhaoxu's eyes and smiled. "Wait for me." Then, she went behind a secret door.
Yuan Zhaoxu blindfolded his eyes and lifted his head slightly, a faint smile on his lips. What kind of person was he? A thin piece of cloth could not block his clear five senses. He heard the sounds of clothes being gently taken off, the sound of smooth, soft satin rubbing against smooth skin, the sound of long, dreamy hair falling and gathering again, the crisp sound of heels hitting the ground. There was another sound that he did not understand. It was a drawn-out glissando, as if something was being pulled in. It was accompanied by Fuyao's gentle inhalation. The sound was so rippling that it made one's heart tremble.
Unfortunately, it was quickly interrupted by a certain someone's murmurs. "… So tight …", "F * ck … I need to lose weight …", "This collar … this collar … that goddamn Yao Xun …", "Is that a shoe? That's a leg extruder! "
Yuan Zhaoxu could not help but laugh. Then, he heard the sound of a skirt dragging on the carpet. A pair of hands reached over and gently untied the cloth.
The blooming bougainvillea lost its color in an instant.
Yuan Zhaoxu's first sight was a snow-white and exquisite cleavage.
It was a shallow arc that carried the color of the distant mountains, the color of untouched snow, and the warmth of the finest jade. It was the most seductive outline that the Creator had given to the world. Just this one stroke was enough to show off one's charm.
On top of that alluring arc was a large, dazzling expanse of white, a slender neck and jade-like chin, like the most perfect jade carving.
Even someone as calm as Yuan Zhaoxu blushed slightly. The careless Meng Fuyao did not even realize that she had unintentionally revealed her breasts as she bent over to untie the cloth. She straightened up, took two steps back, and unfolded her dress, giving Yuan Zhaoxu a graceful palace salute.
Amidst the dazzling crystal light, an even more dazzling figure appeared. She was wearing a fiery red brocade embroidered court dress. The upper body was tightened with black pearl tassels, accentuating her slender waist and erect chest. The hem of the dress was folded from the waist down, accentuating her slender waist. At the bottom, a large part of the dress was spread out, and each fold was embroidered with a complicated pattern with pearls and dark thread. As she moved, the dress fluttered and flickered, like layers of an amorous dream.
Her cloud-like black hair was elegantly tied up with a simple but expensive agate hairpin, only slightly curling in front of her forehead, accentuating her jade-white forehead.
Meng Fuyao smiled faintly. Her body shone brightly, suppressing the room full of crystals. She was dazzling, mysterious, noble, elegant, and gorgeous.
She was so suited for the fiery red color. Be it her ivory white skin, pure black hair and eyes, or the natural bright temperament in her blood, everything complemented each other to perfection.
Yuan Zhaoxu looked at her as if he was looking at a goddess statue that had been covered by a veil for a long time.
He inhaled lightly, and after a long time, he said in a low voice, "Fuyao …"
"Hmm?"
"This dress …"
She looked at him nervously. Did he think it was too weird and ugly?
Yuan Zhaoxu's gaze swept over her exposed snow-white neck. "Can you just wear it for me to see?"
She raised her eyebrows and smiled.
"Damn it, do you think I like wearing this? Isn't it just for dancing? Sigh, it's so tiring to wear this. I didn't even dare to eat dinner. I'm not one to suffer for no reason. "
She blinked, leaned over gracefully, and extended her hand. "Respected Sir, may I have a dance with you?"
As soon as she finished speaking, the sound of a musical instrument rang out. It was an elegant and poetic melody, but the tune was unfamiliar to Yuan Zhaoxu.
"'The Blue Danube'," she said softly with a hint of nostalgia in her eyes. "It's a classic by Johann Strauss Jr. It's a little out of style, but I haven't heard this tune for many years …"
Yuan Zhaoxu looked at her expression. At this moment, she looked sad and distant. Her eyes seemed to be separated by a distant mountain, hazy and unclear. A layer of darkness flashed across his eyes, but he only smiled and held her hand. "Your Majesty, I await your guidance."
Meng Fuyao snapped out of her trance and smiled. She focused on the music and taught Yuan Zhaoxu step by step: forward, backward, sideways, back, turn, swing, tilt …
Time passed quietly. Yuan Zhaoxu learned everything at an astonishing speed. An hour later, he let go of Fuyao and smiled. Following the waltz etiquette that Fuyao had taught him, he bowed politely and extended one hand to his back and the other to Fuyao.
"Beautiful lady, may I have a dance with you?"
Meng Fuyao smiled and gently placed her hand in his. "It would be my honor."
The silvery moonlight shone over the roofs, over the pearls, and illuminated the dazzling men and women amidst the myriad of lights. It shone on their interlocked fingers, their hands on their waists, their drifting dance steps, and their gazes met with smiles.
The music was as gentle as water, drifting in the room like ribbons. They embraced each other amidst the rhythm, feeling the beauty of their bodies, feeling each other's soothing and excited heartbeats in this quiet and romantic moment, feeling the light fluttering skirts, undulating and undulating. Every time they swayed, it was a dazzling painting.
Yuan Zhaoxu's palm landed gently on her waist. The skin under his palm drifted like a swimming fish. This fairy-like, magical woman had also swum into the river of his life like a fish. She was so nimble and lively that she disappeared in a flash. He used all of himself to contain her, not wanting to let her completely leave his territory.
Before meeting her, he had thought that everything in his life would be boring and uninteresting in his hands. It was like looking at a tall building alone, with a single glance.
But she had surprised him, a surprise that he would never be able to obtain again even if he exhausted all his wisdom.
Heaven and Earth, when the beauty appeared, they would be drunk together tonight.
Even if he was drunk, he had never wanted to be free from the subtle emotions that plagued his heart.
Yuan Zhaoxu was drunk. He had been sober for the past 25 years, but on this unforgettable birthday, he found the feeling of intoxication. For the first time in 25 years, he completely shut off his five senses, not wanting any irrelevant people or things to disturb this moment of luxury and warmth.
Because of this, he did not realize that there was a commotion in the garden outside. He did not notice that Miss Hu Sang had rushed into the garden, did not notice that she had tripped over herself due to her bloated dress, and happened to push down the flowers that were blocking the quiet room. Thus, she, who was lying on the ground, and all the guests in the garden, who were in the midst of singing and dancing, saw the scene in the quiet room through the half-closed window.
They saw that the room was filled with flickering lights, silk curtains dangling down, fresh flowers blooming in white vases, and crystals glistening on the walls. All of this was beautiful, but it was not the most eye-catching scene.
They saw the beautiful woman in the arms of the picturesque man. They saw his heroic and elegant dance steps. They saw the continuous swirling shadows of the fiery red dress. They saw the gorgeous patterns flying between the layers of exquisite dresses. They saw the endless spinning and swaying of the dress. They saw the shapes that seemed to have absorbed the essence of the moonlight and the light of the sun. They saw the jade-colored arms that drew a beautiful arc, carrying the brilliance of the stars in the room. It was like a poem.
They saw the man slightly bend his head and stare, and the girl smiling and raising her delicate chin, saw the surging gazes, saw the girl continuously spinning and leaping in his arms, like a fish leaping in the blue sea, saw the perfect curves of their bodies, and saw each other's peerless beauty that no one could surpass at this moment.
Miss Hu Sang maintained that wretched posture of lying on the ground. She had forgotten to get up. She kept staring in a daze at the two people in the window. In that non-stop dance, her self-esteem and confidence were completely twisted and shattered. This most beautiful girl in Yao City had enjoyed the pursuit of her people for many years. She thought that she was worthy of everyone in this world. But today, she finally understood that there were some people that she could never catch up to. The distance between them was as far as the deep valley to the sky, like him, and her.
She just lay there, suddenly started to cry, for the love that was destined to die before it even started.
No one noticed her crying, and no one even remembered to pull her up. Everyone maintained their initial posture, staring fixedly at the long window, looking at the beautiful man and woman embracing each other, looking at the waves of novelty in the night, looking at the wind, under the moonlight, and under the radiance of the light.
A dance that shocked the world.
*****
At this moment, time froze, everything was silent. No one knew that a few miles away, a horse swept through the long yellow road. The sound of hooves clattered, shattering the mountain and cold moon as it galloped over.
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