Ever since they returned from that banquet, the estrangement between Xie 'er and Rong Ruo was no longer deep, but they were no longer as wanton as before. Perhaps it was because the shadow of entering the palace lingered, or perhaps it was because the knot in their hearts had not been untied, but everything had quietly changed.
The days slipped by quietly, like the ginkgo trees falling. The story of autumn was coming to an end. We were always surprised by the power of time to complete everything and take everything away.
Ever since Rong Ruo entered the directorate and became a student, she had become busier. Every day, she would only catch a glimpse of his back when it was time for dinner. After eating casually, she would enter the study and shut herself in the door all night. Early the next morning, Rong Ruo left before the servant had even gotten up. Ming Zhu was happy to see her hard work.
The day of entering the palace was getting closer and closer, but Cousin was getting colder and colder. Xie 'er felt a kind of sadness that was difficult to describe.
On this day, the light of the morning sun was dazzling. When he pushed open the window, oh! In front of him was a bright white. The trees, roofs, railings, everything that could be seen was a white scene. It had obviously snowed heavily last night, and the snow on the ground was quite thick. It was autumn yesterday, and when he woke up, his breath was foggy.
"Young miss, it snowed heavily last night. This servant has already added two winter quilts for young miss. It's just that you slept so soundly yesterday that you didn't notice. Hehe, winter clothes and winter shoes are already prepared. The heater has been burning in the room for a long time, why isn't Young Miss getting up?”Shu Ying smiled as he brought the hand stove in and stuffed it into Xie 'er's blanket.
"This winter has come so early." Xie 'er waved her hand and stuffed the hand stove. A warm current entered her body, and her pale face instantly turned warm red.
"It's getting late, Miss." Dark Fragrance also came in from outside the door. Her shoulders were covered with white flowers. It should still be snowing outside, but the snow was not heavy. She took off her cloak and shook it. She smiled and waved her hand. She said to Xie 'er," In a few months, it will be the new year."”
"Then…what's so fun about the snow?”Xie 'er was overjoyed.
"On this snowy day, we girls should stay in the house and do needlework and embroidery. There was no reason for her to go out. Her face was frostbitten.”Dark Fragrance said angrily.
When Xie 'er heard this, she felt discouraged and fell back.
"Young miss, young miss, don't be greedy for sleep anymore. Biao Young Master has been working hard for who knows how long.”Shu Ying scolded him, but his smile did not diminish.
However, Xie 'er still had no intention of getting up. She just pretended to sleep and closed her eyes.
"Let's go build a snowman! Anyway, Young Lady is still sleeping, so she doesn't need us to serve her.”Dark Fragrance pursed her lips into a smile and deliberately raised her voice.
"Eh, that's good. Savage Film also wants to go.”Shu Ying covered his mouth and laughed, pretending to open the door.
When Xie 'er heard this, she quickly lifted the blanket. She didn't even have time to put on her shoes and rushed to their side. She said excitedly," I'll go too! I'll go too!"
"Miss, if you want to go, you have to quickly put on your clothes and eat breakfast.”Dark Fragrance smiled contentedly.
Xie 'er randomly took a few bites and then unwillingly opened her arms, allowing Savage Fragrance to fiddle with the thick winter clothes. Sitting in front of the dressing table, she applied lead powder, rouge, painted her eyebrows, pasted mother-of-pearl on her face, and applied lip gloss…that was all.
"Miss, for this pair of naturally peerless eyebrows, you have to delete all the eyebrows.”Shuying put the last tortoiseshell comb on Xie 'er's head and looked at the beauty in the bronze mirror with envy.
However, Dark Fragrance said," It's good, but my brows always seem to be slightly furrowed. I can't actually guess what Miss is thinking.”
Xie 'er covered her mouth and smiled." It's interesting to guess people's hearts, isn't it?”
The sparse shadow and the dark fragrance looked at each other, both of them hiding a trace of sorrow that was difficult to dissipate.
After her makeup was done, Xie 'er stood up and saw herself in the mirror. She was wearing a bright red Hangzhou silk jacket. There was a thick layer of snow-white fox fur on the hem of her skirt, cuffs, and collar, like a light snow on the peach sky.
"Miss, come." Shu Ying picked up an ocean velvet orangutan glove and carefully put it on Xie 'er. He then stuffed a hand warmer into the bottom of the glove, and it instantly warmed her. As they spoke and laughed, Shu Ying supported Xie 'er and Dark Fragrance held a silk umbrella. The three of them walked out of the room. The snow outside was falling like pear petals, light and clear. Xie 'er unconsciously raised her slender hand and reached out to touch it. Her fingertips were slightly cold.
"Miss, where do you want to build a snowman?”Shu Ying asked. From time to time, jade fragments fell from the branches.
"We will go wherever the place is spacious and the scenery is the most beautiful. Winter is short, if I don't go to a beautiful place, wouldn't I be disappointed?”Xie 'er said excitedly.
"There's a plum garden next to the Green Water Pavilion. Why don't we go there? Maybe the plum blossoms that Biao Young Master planted last year have already bloomed.”Dark Fragrance happily continued, occasionally brushing off the snow crystals on Xie 'er's shoulder.
"Alright, let's go to the plum garden!" Hearing this, Xie 'er happily rushed out of the umbrella and ran in the snow. Her fiery red cloak swayed in the white snow, making her look especially eye-catching, like the earliest blooming red plum.
" Miss, Miss... please slow down... the road is slippery in the snow..." Savage Shadow and Dark Fragrance were shocked and quickly chased after her.
In a flash, they arrived at the plum garden. They saw that the inscription on the horizontal board outside the garden was vaguely visible under the cover of the snow-"Qingqian Garden".
" The shadow is slanted and the water is clear. The dark fragrance is floating in the moonlight at dusk…" Xie 'er looked up and blurted out.
"It's this poem." Dark Fragrance heard Xie 'er reciting it and quickly said," The name of this garden was given by Young Lady when she came here three years ago. How could you forget it just now? You must be playing with us again."”
"Oh? I gave it to you?" Xie 'er was slightly surprised.
"Biao Young Master is still praising Young Lady." Dark Fragrance said proudly.
"Dark Fragrance is right, did Young Lady forget? Our names were given by the young miss. It was from the poem that the young miss read just now. Three years ago, Biao Young Master transplanted plum blossoms from Suzhou and happened to be cultivating the garden. We came here and Biao Young Master brought Young Miss to stroll around the garden. At that time, we followed and heard Biao Young Master ask Young Miss to name the garden. Young Miss blurted out this poem just like before. The young master asked the young lady why she preferred this line when there were so many poems about plum blossoms. The young lady smiled and said, because 'fortunately, there is a small song to be intimate with, there is no need to share a golden goblet with sandalwood'. We naturally didn't understand, but we noted it down. Cousin Young Master understood. He smiled happily at that time and said to Young Miss,"That's right. Hehe, such a method of appreciating plum blossoms is in line with the noble and pure character of plum blossoms. Cousin really understands plum blossoms."”Shu Ying recalled as he brought Xie 'er into the garden.
" I see…" Xie 'er was enlightened.
"Our Young Miss is the most compatible with Biao Young Master. Whether it was talent or temperament, they looked like a perfect match.”Dark Fragrance muttered.
"Yes, it's a pity that Young Lady has to enter the palace to serve the Emperor. I wonder what kind of person the emperor is and if he's worthy of our miss.”Shu Ying said worriedly.
"Shh, don't talk nonsense. If you let others hear you, you will be beheaded.”Dark Fragrance quickly stopped seriously.
"Oh." When Shu Ying heard this, he quickly shut his mouth." The Emperor is so scary. What about Miss?"”
"Who is our young miss? She's smart and quick-witted. She definitely won't suffer a loss!”Dark Fragrance said confidently.
Dark Fragrance and Scattered Shadow were talking one after another, but they didn't notice that Xie 'er had already run far away. When they turned their heads again, they saw that the white land was really clean, and there was no sign of Miss. They were anxious and went back to look for her.
The white and light snowflakes sprinkled on every petal of the plum blossom in the garden, lighting it up slightly, creating a fragrance of its own. Xie 'er picked up a pile of white snow. Just as she turned around, she saw a tall and familiar figure standing under the red plum tree.
Rong Ruo was standing there with an umbrella. The snowflakes outside the umbrella were slightly stuck to his black velvet cloak.
Rong Ruo slowly walked in front of Xie 'er and covered her with the umbrella. She also carefully brushed away the snow crystals on her forehead and looked at her with infinite love.
" Cousin, why is it you…" Xie 'er stammered and lowered her eyes shyly.
"Haha, Cousin was too busy recently. I haven't seen you for a few days and Xie 'er has become a stranger. "I must miss Cousin Sha…" Rong Ruo smiled lightly.
"Biao Older Brother only knows how to bluff people, how can he miss and not meet? There's no news at all." Xie 'er could not help but complain because Rong Ruo did not come to see him for a few days.
Rong Ruo saw Xie 'er's angry words and knew that she was wrong, but she smiled and said," It's not that I don't miss you, it's not that I don't have any talent. I'm wandering around the Qingjiang River, but I can't buy heavenly paper."”
"Puchi!" Xie 'er couldn't help but laugh, but her anger turned into joy." Who asked you to write it?"”
"Hehe…If you don't write it, then I'll circle it all the way to the end, and I'll fill up the paper that's as big as that day.”Rong Ruo laughed.
Before Xie 'er could fully react, Rong Ruo went forward and said emotionally," Where can I send my longing? Draw a circle for me." Words are outside the circle, thoughts are inside the circle. The single circle is me, the double circle is you. You have me in your heart, and I have you in my heart. The moon would be round when it was waning, and the full moon would be waning. I'll keep it a secret, and you'll know what I mean. And that endless yearning, circling all the way to the end…"
Xie 'er's expression suddenly changed, and her face instantly turned as red as a plum blossom. She suddenly placed a pile of snow in Rong Ruo's hand, but her face turned red as she walked away. "Cousin, this is for you!"
Rong Ruo was shocked. She looked down and saw that she was holding a heart-shaped piece of snow. It was slightly cold in her palm, but it was small and exquisite. The two ends of the heart were not symmetrical.
Xie 'er saw Rong Ruo's hesitation at a glance. She quickly pursed her lips and smiled innocently, but said," It's famous. It's called' Heart-to-Heart.'”
" Qingxin…" Rong Ruo's heart skipped a beat. She was probably the only one in the world who could give away such a precious thing…Xie 'er was as shy as a tree of plum blossoms, but Rong Ruo's eyes were filled with tears. She could not help but hug Xie' er and pull her loose cloak over. She instantly wrapped Xie 'er in Rong Ruo's broad and warm embrace.
Xie 'er did not notice it for a moment. Her side profile was already pressed against his broad chest. Every pore on their bodies emitted the passion and desire that they had not been able to embrace for a long time. In an instant, it surged. At this moment, even if the world collapsed, they were unwilling to be separated. He was willing to fall into the abyss of eternal damnation for that little bit of attachment in the sky.
For the first time in his seventeen years of life, he had a clear way out of all the feelings and infatuations he had nurtured. The woman in his arms was his entire world and life from now on. She was the source of all his joys and sorrows.
She was like a fish that had been sleeping in the dry sea for many years. At this moment, she was moistened by the clearest sea water in the world. Every part of her skin began to breathe and she had a new life. In his gentle embrace, she waved her soft fins.
" After a thousand sails, I'll never forget when I'm drunk…" Rong Ruo hugged her tightly in the snow.
" Just let me be greedy once and warm your coldness for a moment…" Xie 'er choked up, but she was very affectionate.
" Loving Rong Ruo is perhaps the greatest grievance in your life…" Rong Ruo sighed in self-reproach.
"No, even if from now on we are as lonely as snow, I will not regret the moment I promised you. " For that moment, even if I have to live a lonely life, it will be worth it…" Xie 'er cried.
"Xie 'er…after entering the palace, you have to live well. Just treat it as if Rong Ruo is still by your side.”Rong Ruo looked down at her.
" Yes, yes…" Xie 'er choked and could not answer. She only nodded.
Rong Ruo raised her head and held back the tears in her eyes. She gently stroked the hair on her neck and said pitifully," You belong to Rong Ruo alone…right?”
" Yes…" Xie 'er finally cried. She did not want to leave this place. She did not want to enter the palace. She did not want to be alone. She did not want to leave her cousin's embrace…She was afraid. She was afraid that Rong Ruo would have someone else after entering the palace. She was afraid that the Emperor would choose her. She was afraid that the wait would be too long and unbearable. She was afraid that she would never see Rong Ruo's warm smile again…
At this moment, I'll pour out my lifetime's warmth and cover your lifetime's coldness. The next day, Tian Ya did not care.
Ever since that time in the Plum Garden, Xie 'er and Rong Ruo had deeply understood each other's feelings. Soon, they had returned to the innocent feelings they had in the past. They spent every day together, never leaving each other. Eat at the same table, drink tea face to face, sing poetry and answer, study books and talk about ancient times, taste the moon and flowers, drink wine and order, go out in pairs and go in pairs. Every moment they spent together was so peaceful and long, like the dense afternoon breeze. They were like a couple who had spent their entire lives together. He calmly accepted the impending separation…
The snow was already very deep. The festive atmosphere in the capital did not notice the sorrow of the two children who were about to be separated. Once New Year's Eve passed, time had turned a page, and the year's joys and sorrows had all been exhausted.
Although Xie 'er was dressed in a festive red dress, her face and heart did not have the festive look of the new year at all, and neither did Rong Ruo.
Today was the seventh day of the new year. Rong Ruo brought Xie 'er for a walk in the plum garden.
"Scattered into mud and ground into dust, only the fragrance remains.”Xie 'er held Rong Ruo's arm and looked up at the falling plum blossoms. She couldn't help but think of her fleeting youth and her unwillingness to follow the flow like other women. She wanted to be favored by the Emperor and be rich and glorious. She only wanted to spend her life quietly and peacefully with this man beside her with a slight frown and melancholy eyes. If she couldn't, she would rather be like this proud plum blossom, never succumb to the nobles and collude with them. She would rather lower herself to the dust to retain her pure and firm love for Rong Ruo.
"Having you is enough for this life. What else can Rong Ruofu ask for?”Rong Ruo pulled Xie 'er's soft hand and sighed softly. How could he not understand the deep meaning behind Xie 'er's words? He deeply understood Xie' er's plan. Although entering the palace was inevitable, she would definitely do her best to not let herself be chosen by the Emperor. She would rather stay in the palace than agree with the nobles. She was a pure woman who did not covet vanity or wealth. She only wanted the little bit of passion of an ordinary man and woman in the world.
"Cousin, you will wait for me, right?”Xie 'er's delicate eyes stared at Rong Ruo, gentle and fierce.
"Yes, if you don't come back, cousin won't leave. Rong Ruo's heart is with you. Wherever you are, Rong Ruo's heart will be there.”Rong Ruo smiled and comforted her.
"What Xie 'er is afraid of is not waiting for no results, but that after eleven years, she will become someone else.”Xie 'er lowered her head with a sorrowful expression.
"If you don't cross the sea, how can you know? "I haven't passed Wushan yet, how can I know that life is like an ant…" Rong Ruo raised her head and sighed.
"'The sea is not water, but Mount Wu is not a cloud'…Now that I'm reciting it, it's actually so beautiful…But this Yuan Zhen's poem doesn't match.”Xie 'er sighed faintly and said," It's indeed not as good as,' Love comes from nowhere, and one is deeply devoted. The living can die, and the dead can live...'"
Before Xie 'er could finish, Rong Ruo's heart suddenly jolted and she quickly stopped." Xie' er, I don't want you to say that word. Even if we can't be together in the end, don't ever think of that word." That word doesn't suit you. It's too heavy and not something you can understand and carry. Rong Ruo doesn't want you to not cherish your life because of the so-called oath, do you understand? No matter what the outcome is, Rong Ruo still hopes that you can live a good life.”
"But cousin, Xie 'er is like everyone else. She only has this one chance in her life, and true love only has this one chance. Just once, he would use all his courage. Just once, he would be covered in bruises. " This time, I don't care about anything. Even if I die in the future, it's enough for the rest of my life…" Xie 'er's emotions were deep, and she could not help but tremble with excitement.
"Xie 'er!" Rong Ruo was angry. She held her shoulders tightly and said," Don't be so silly and willful. Even if you don't do it for yourself, you have to live well for me, understand?!"”
" I'm afraid that after I enter the palace, I won't be able to control myself anymore…" Xie 'er was sad and speechless. She turned her head and said quietly," But Cousin, if I'm still there, I'll leave first. You have to live well for me, live the happiness and joy that I haven't experienced for me, and enjoy the warm morning light for me every day, just like today…"
" Xie 'er…I won't allow you to let your imagination run wild like this…" Rong Ruo caressed Xie' er's flushed face lovingly and said softly," Cousin, don't be so pessimistic. It's just eleven years of waiting. We will definitely be together in the future…"
Xie 'er's frozen red face was immersed in Rong Ruo's palm and gently rubbed against it. She craved such warmth and could not help but shed tears.
" I'll wait…I'll wait…" Xie 'er nodded and choked.
" I'm afraid I'll have to spend the rest of my life with you..." Rong Ruo sighed thoughtfully.
" Young Master, Young Master…" It was not known when Ting Ming had run in from outside the garden. She saw the Young Master and Biao Young Miss tightly hugging each other and could not help but lower her head and stand there silently.
Xie 'er noticed it and blushed. She quickly broke away from Rong Ruo and shyly turned around to run away.
"What is it?" Rong Ruo smiled as she watched Xie 'er leave and asked Ting Ming.
"Young Master, Miss Qiyue sent an invitation.”Ting Ming took out the invitation from her bosom and presented it to Rong Ruo.
Rong Ruo took the invitation and flipped through it." Yes, I understand. You can go back to your work."”
"Yes, Young Master." Ting Ming retreated.
It turned out that Mr. Xu Yuanwen was going to hold a small gathering in a few days and invited famous scholars in Jiangnan. Rong Ruo's good friends Gu Zhenguan, Chen Weisong, Zhu Yizun and others were all invited, as well as some famous singers in the capital to come and join in the fun. In addition, he asked Rong Ruo to invite a few more friends to add to the liveliness. Rong Ruo smiled, thinking that Xie 'er would definitely like such a lively gathering, so she took the invitation to the Leng Xiang Pavilion, wanting to get to know her.
"Cousin, are you inside?" Rong Ruo gently knocked on the door.
"Cousin, come in." Xie 'er heard it from the room and quickly called out.
Rong Ruo walked in with a smile and handed the invitation to Xie 'er." Cousin, do you want to go? It will definitely be very lively."
"Yes." When Xie 'er heard that there was something interesting to join in, how could she not go? She quickly nodded.
"Hehe, then you're not allowed to argue with Miss Qiyue anymore?”Rong Ruo joked.
"No, no, I've already forgotten!”Xie 'er waved her hand and smiled.
"Why don't we invite the Shang Ao brothers?”Rong Ruo asked with a smile.
"That's right. It had been a while since they last saw each other.”Xie 'er said excitedly.
"Okay, then I'll immediately draft an invitation.”So he picked up his pen and wrote.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]