Chapter 21: Only If It Were Like The First Time

  In the following two days, Liú Yún carefully guided Arle in practicing special skills in the mansion, while Jīng Léi finally couldn't resist the temptation and started to pester this second brother.

  Although he was only one year younger than Liu Yun, he always felt that this second brother seemed to be much older than himself, with a maturity far beyond his actual age. Perhaps it was because the second brother had experienced many twists and turns, he thought. He was curious about the things Liu Yun taught A Lei, and following that, he became curious about Liu Yun herself. The second brother wasn't a martial artist, so how did he suddenly understand these things?

  Perplexed by the sudden thunder, he sought opportunities to challenge Liú Yún several times, but Liú Yún only replied with one sentence: "Defeat the two swordsmen beside me first, then come find me."

  Actually, Liú Yún himself knew his own affairs. The moves and techniques he had learned before were all methods of killing people. He was afraid that if he couldn't control himself for a moment, he would hurt Jing Lei. However, he still taught Jing Lei the special combat skills. He believed that his brother, who was as obsessed with martial arts as he was, would definitely achieve great things in the future. Moreover, regarding Jing Lei's future, he had his own ideas.

  When he had nothing better to do, Li Xun even asked people for some embroidery needles and started practicing his flying needle technique from his past life.

  On the 30th, Emperor George IX issued a decree to hold a grand banquet in the palace on the evening of January 1st, 752, to entertain all officials. At the same time, another decree was issued that since the prince is traveling outside, the princess will host a banquet for the children of officials and young talents in the capital.

  The previous edict was an annual convention, while the latter edict caused a sensation in the imperial capital, making young nobles and some talented young people ecstatic. The princess had reached marriageable age and was originally engaged to Liuxing, but the unexpected turn of events made everyone see hope again.

  And this time, the banquet is an even greater opportunity. If they can win the princess's heart, wealth and glory will be theirs in no time. So these people all began to make meticulous preparations, hoping to gain the favor of the discerning princess at the banquet.

  When Are told Liu Yun this news, Liu Yun was still calm and composed, playing with the flying needle in his hand, as if he hadn't heard it.

  "Second brother, what's wrong with you? I found that you're just a wooden person..." Aretha scolded.

  As for this second brother, she really had nothing to say. The marriage that others sought after but could not get, he said he would quit and then quit. As for the princess's night banquet, everyone else made careful preparations, but he was playing with an embroidery needle.

  "What's wrong? The princess chose all boys, what are you excited about?" Fengyun said with a teasing tone, looking at Are's anxious expression.

  "You... you... Second Brother, although the wedding is off, you still need to get ready. Don't let people look down on you." Are was about to be driven mad by this Second Brother.

  "I didn't plan on going in the first place." Liú Yún said completely disregarding her feelings.

  "You can't not go! Not going would be an insult to the royal family, and Father won't forgive you." Are said in a fluster.

  "This is also true. Alas, why did I choose to come back at this time and encounter such a thing." Liu Yun thought, it can't be helped that she has to go out and show her face again now.

  After the oath of self-flowing cloud and blood, the aristocratic circle in the imperial capital seemed to regard him as another kind. This was also the reason why he had not been willing to go out since his return. After all, being treated as a certain creature in a zoo for people to visit was not a pleasant thing.

  "Why don't we just have a meal? She chooses hers, I eat mine, and then leave. There's nothing to prepare." Liu Yun said absent-mindedly.

  Are felt thoroughly defeated and dropped the sentence "I'm too lazy to care about you, big lazy worm", then left.

  After Are left, Liu Yun looked at the flying needle in her hand, but her mind had already flown to a distant place. "It's New Year's Day, Meizi. Without me, who will be by your side on this New Year's Day?"

  The next evening, Liú Yún entered the imperial palace for the first time under the accompaniment of Jīng Léi and ā Lěi. The imperial palace, as the center of power of a country, was a synonym for grandeur, majesty, solemnity, coldness, and oppression in Liú Yún's memory, but the Huǒ Yún Empire Imperial Palace that appeared before him made him feel very novel.

  It was a building similar to a medieval European castle, from afar it only gave people a feeling of elegance and refinement. After entering, there was no feeling of solemnity or coldness, but rather as if one had entered a large dance hall, with colorful magic lights casting a bewildering array of colors. Compared to the meticulous attire of the young nobles in the imperial capital, Liú Yún felt that her casual clothing was somewhat out of place.

  "It's okay, there is no sign at the entrance that says 'no one with messy clothes allowed'." Liu Yun thought to herself.

  When they arrived at the grand hall where the princess was hosting a banquet for everyone, there were already many people inside. Young men and women of all colors gathered together, chatting in hushed tones.

  "It seems that everyone is very enthusiastic, and the temptation of a beauty is really great." Liuyun stretched out a lazy waist and smiled at Are.

  "Everyone has something they're looking forward to, but who's as lazy as you?" Are said with a smile.

  It should be said that whether it is "ex-fiancé" or "Emperor's evil young master", both identities are very lethal.

  When he walked into the hall with his brother and sister, a wave of eyes fell on him, and the hall suddenly became silent. When the three of them found their seats and sat down, the hall was filled with low whispers again, of course, most of which were directed at him.

  "Heavens! This guy has actually come back!"

  "Wow, that handsome guy who made a blood oath is really handsome!"

  "He actually has the face to come, wait until the princess arrives, his expression will be even more wonderful."

  Liú Yún seems to have not heard these discussions, using her gaze to study the delicacies on the table. While Jīng Léi has a face full of anger, she is pulled by ā Lěi to sit down in a chair.

  "Third brother, if you can't learn to be calm, then give up on pursuing the martial way early. When a mountain collapses in front of you and your expression doesn't change, when the ground splits beneath you and your spirit remains unchanged, that's the demeanor of a master. What are you getting worked up over in this small scene?"

  Liú Yún looked at Jīng Léi and said in a low voice. Jīng Léi was taken aback, lowered his head and pondered over Liú Yún's words.

  At this moment, Liú Yún felt a gaze piercing towards him. He looked up to see Xiū Sī smiling at him from afar, as if saying: "Do you want me to beat you up?"

  Liuyun also smiled. For this Mr. Hughes, he didn't have any resentment towards him, but instead truly felt grateful to him for accompanying him through those desperate days.

  Liu Yun's smile made Hughes feel a little surprised, and then he looked at Liu Yun with an amused expression.

  "The princess has arrived!"

  As the maid's clear voice rang out, the hall became extremely quiet. Everyone's eyes followed the sound to look around.

  Liú yún yě dài zhe jǐ fēn hǎo qí, tái tóu wàng qù. Mù guāng, zài nà yī shùn chuān yuè le qiān shān wàn shuǐ. Yī qiè, zhǐ ruò dāng chū chū jiàn shí.

  Chasing her shadow, Flowing Cloud arrived at the small lake where they first met. It was still that spring morning, she stood there, with skin as white as snow, crystal clear like jade, bright eyes, autumn water for spirit, elegant and refined like plum blossoms in the snow, icy and pure like chrysanthemum covered in frost, serene like orchids growing in a secluded valley, beautiful and charming like clouds reflecting on a calm lake. Her pure white long dress supported her delicate and youthful body; her raven-black hair cascaded down like the freehand brushwork of a landscape painting, fluttering gently as if flying.

  She walked happily along the edge of the small lake, and the pool of emerald water also sang a happy song for her, stirring up sparkling ripples. The wind blew by, bringing with it the fluttering of her sleeves, and she seemed like a fairy in the lake, as if she wanted to tread on the waves and ride the wind away.

  She walked slowly towards him, with just a faint smile, and dominated the atmosphere of that day. The memory was frozen at this moment into a painting. As the years went by, the colors faded away, leaving only a yellowed scroll, but the scenery in the painting remained fresh, making it impossible for him to leave that spring morning ever since.

  "Ah, Moon, you've come? I've been living in hardship alone, and now you're finally here! Come closer, let me take a deep look at you again, my Moon! I originally thought that this life would never see us meet again, but the heavens have taken pity on me after all."

  Great happiness surged into Liuyun's heart, endless longing had turned into cloud smoke, long waiting finally had a result.

  It's just a farewell for this moment, so what if we have to wait another thousand years!

  Entwined in a love of fleeting moments, as if drifting clouds had entered a daze, there was no one else in his eyes but her.

  "Second Brother, I've introduced you, quickly get up and pay your respects." Are's urgent voice sounded in Liuyun's ear, her hand also hastily pulling on his sleeve.

  Dream, woke up.

  That vague figure suddenly became clear in Flow Cloud's eyes, and the ardent gaze also froze instantly.

  "It's not you, Moon. I was mistaken. It was just that fleeting feeling, the pure white long dress, the ink jade-like hair, and those autumn water-like eyes that made me have an illusion." Liú Yún shook his head and sighed, withdrawing his gaze.

  "Maybe it's just me missing you too much."

  Everyone's infatuation fell into Naya's eyes, and she was very satisfied with their reaction. It was just that kind of shy and hesitant look, wanting to see but not daring to see, that made her feel a bit amused at the same time. There was only one fiery gaze that fell straight on her body, burning her with a wave of discomfort, making her feel quite surprised.

  "Who is so bold?" Along the line of sight, she saw a young man in white. And that gaze also dimmed at the moment she looked over, and he too lowered his head with a desolate expression.

  "Second brother, what are you spacing out for? The host is introducing you!" Are couldn't help but remind him again.

  The host called out "Viscount Flowing Cloud" twice, but Flowing Cloud didn't react. Everyone's attention was focused on Flowing Cloud now.

  "Oh," Liú Yún replied wearily, propping himself up against the table to bow, before collapsing back into his chair.

  Jīng Léi looked at Liú Yún and whispered, "You said that even if a mountain collapses in front of you, your expression won't change. But look at yourself now, suddenly becoming like this. It seems that Second Brother, you're not a master after all."

  "Is that him?" Princess Naya looked up and gazed at the dispirited young man in the distance, her former fiancé, and said softly.

  "It seems that the divorce back then had a great impact on him, and now he's become like this when he sees me." Princess Naya withdrew her gaze and let out a sigh. After what happened back then, she had always felt some sympathy for him.

  "Second Brother, what's wrong?" Arei asked anxiously as she noticed something was off about Liuyun.

  "Nothing, little sister, just suddenly remembered some things." Liú Yún shook her head.

  Are didn't speaking again. In her view, any normal man who saw his former fiancée as such a beautiful woman and yet looked down on herself would become disheartened and depressed.

  "It seems that Second Brother's usual carefree and calm demeanor was just a disguise, his heart is actually very bitter." Ah Lei thought to herself, unable to help but wish for the banquet to end soon, so she could have her normal Second Brother back.

  Nalan Gongzi

  When the host read out this young master's name, a soft murmur of surprise rippled through the hall. This young master was known to everyone in the imperial capital. It is said that he encountered an extraordinary person at a young age and learned a profound martial art, later entering the Imperial Academy under Yideno to study literature, with talent for governing the world. Recently, he rose like a comet in the imperial capital, his momentum unmatched by anyone for a time. Everyone believed that although he was not of noble birth, achieving great things was only a matter of time.

  Nalan Gongzi stood up elegantly, smiled and bowed to the princess, then bowed to everyone else. Not only was he handsome, but his gaze was like a warm spring breeze, making everyone feel comfortable and warm, as if his eyes had been focused on each of them from the very beginning. A hint of admiration flashed in the princess's eyes.

  After the host finished introducing, the princess walked onto the stage in front of the hall, and her gentle voice slowly echoed.

  "It's an honor for me to host this banquet on behalf of my brother today." Naya bowed her head and curtsied to the crowd.

  "As the new year arrives, I, on behalf of my father the Emperor, my imperial brother and the Imperial Family, extend to you all festive greetings and good wishes. Among those present are descendants of noble families and talents from the Imperial Capital, but all of you are pillars of the Empire's future. We look forward to your greater development and achievements in the new year."

  As a royal princess, Naya indeed has something extraordinary. If she initially gave people the feeling of being haughty, then at this moment, she made everyone feel her closeness and eager anticipation, which was inspiring.

  Of course, this does not include a certain man who has lost his soul.

  "Now, let us raise our glasses together and make a wish: In the new year, may the Emperor's health be sound, the country prosper and flourish, and the people live in happiness!"

  The princess's words fell to the ground, and the crowd burst into applause. Arete pulled Flowing Cloud again, who stood up helplessly, raised his cup.

  "A toast for the Empire's tomorrow!" The princess's voice rose once more.

  "Cheers!" The crowd responded in unison.

  "Wishing you happiness, Moon." Liuyun finished the wine in his cup, but only felt a bitter taste.

  After everyone sat down, Naya said: "Tonight is a celebratory banquet, you all don't have to be polite, you can drink and talk freely, and leave when the excitement ends."

  Although the atmosphere in the field was warm and cheerful, Liú Yún still felt an unparalleled desolation and loneliness, and he drank up all the wine in his cup. When that familiar feeling was suddenly shattered by the reality before him, Liú Yún was like being awakened from a beautiful dream, his heart feeling light and empty, without a place to settle.

  "The bustle is theirs, and I have nothing. Moon, you may know how much I miss you?"

  Look up and see that figure in the distance with a hint of divinity, and another wave of heartache hits.

  Forget it, and don't think about it anymore. Liuyun buried his head and started devouring the food on his plate, although it was tasteless, but he felt that if he didn't find something to do, he would go crazy.

  "It seems you've already forgotten that you're an elegant noble." Naya's eyebrows slightly furrowed as she saw Liuyun eating without any refinement.

  At the gathering of imperial nobles, eating is not the main purpose, but rather chatting and discussing, that is to say, socializing, while getting familiar with each other's faces, show off your talents.