Chapter Nineteenth: The Palace Lanterns Convey Emotions

  Yu Fei Bai returned this time, but brought back Song Ming Lei and also brought several young scholars. They looked at Yu Fei Bai and Song Ming Lei as if they were looking at gods, with no difference.

  The west courtyard is so lively and clean, I was called by Xie San Niang to help, serving a large group of people after lunch. Yuan Fei and his guests were having tea in the front hall, I returned to my room, just wanting to take a nap, when Song Ming Pei's voice came from outside the door, I quickly welcomed him in.

  Song Mingkui pulled my hand and looked at me carefully, saying in a low voice: "Second brother is useless, let Si suffer."

  I understand that he is thinking of the cow demon, looking back and thinking about it, it's indeed terrifying. I can only force a smile: "Second brother, don't mention it again, it's Mu Yi who couldn't hold his temper, giving others something to grasp, and instead implicated Bi Ying and all the brothers."

  His eyes were as deep and mysterious as a beautiful black gemstone, looking at me with a pained sigh, but suddenly he lightly laughed: "However, don't worry, the general found out about this matter, severely scolded his wife, and she gave birth to a son named Fei Yun. Naturally, he won't be able to contend with Big Brother and Third Brother, I suppose he won't bother us five brothers again."

  I nodded and hesitated to ask: "Jinxiu and General......"

  Song Mingkui looked at me and said after a moment of deliberation, "Mukou, you don't have to worry too much. Master Hou...likes Jinxiu very much and treats her well."

  It pains me to think that Yuan Qingjiang, a man who could be her father, can truly bring her happiness. She is my only child after all.

  Song Mingkui pulled me down: "Tomorrow Jinxiu will return to Xi'an, at that time I'll be the host in Guantaoju and arrange for our five to reunite, how about it?"

  "Uh-huh!" I nodded, thinking that I could see the long-lost Jinzui, and my mood improved slightly.

  Song Mingkui sat down in front of me, took out a brocade box from his bosom: "This is the gift I bought for you in Luoyang, but I don't know if it suits your taste?"

  I gently opened the brocade box, and to my surprise, it was a pair of gold-plated jade earrings. I sincerely praised: "Second brother, these earrings are so beautiful, why not give them to Biying?"

  Song Mingkui raised an eyebrow and smiled slightly: "Don't worry, I've already prepared the gifts for San. This is specially bought for you, come, let me put it on you."

  Before I could even open my mouth, he had already bent down and picked up a pair of earrings and put them on my left ear. Taking the opportunity to lean in close to my ear, he whispered: "Mù jiǎo, these earrings contain Snow Pearl Dan, which can counteract any poison in the world. You must wear them every day to protect yourself from being poisoned by Yuan Fei."

  I was shocked in my heart, Song Mingkui had already arrived at my right side and said loudly: "Look, the four belts on our family are finally not like a fake kid."

  I was stunned, good Song Mingkui, isn't this your true words? Only to hear him say in a low voice: "At the beginning, it was not unavoidable, Second Brother asked him to take care of Fourth, but didn't think that within Xifeng Garden there were many hidden passages. In this world, things have always been black and white, good and evil are not absolute, originally this person is not ordinary, be extremely careful."

  Just as I was about to speak, he suddenly pulled away from me and smiled at me as usual: "Muxi, do you like the gift your brother gave you?"

  I looked into his eyes and smiled: "Thanks a lot, Fourth Brother, I really like this wooden pendant!"

  As soon as the words fell, Su Hui's voice came: "Mugui, Song Huwei is with you, and San Ye has sent people to find him everywhere!"

  Song Mingkui winked at me and got up to open the door. Feng laughed and said, "Thanks for your trouble, Su Hui."

  Su Hui's eyes shone with a worshipful gaze, and she repeatedly spoke polite words as she followed closely behind Song Mingkai.

  And I stood there, gazing out the window at the lush greenery, savoring Song Mingyue's words: In this world, all things are not as they seem, black is not necessarily black, and white is not necessarily white...

  He was telling me that Yuan Fei is a devil in angel's disguise, and I mustn't fall for this devil... all of which I can understand...

  I gazed at my new earrings, which contained Snow Jade Dan. Why did Song Minghui think Yuan Fei wanted to poison me?

  In the valley, he left fish bones for self-defense, and I was also on guard. If Zhang Dehuang hadn't arrived in time, then Yulang Jun would have killed me...

  I risked my life to save him, but he used the strategy of moving the Jiangdong to bind me...

  In these few months, he has kissed me twice, but never frankly told me who the child is that he wants to protect.

  The ink is not black, the jade is not green...

  And yet there are many secret passages in Xifengyuan, is he implying that someone can come from outside the courtyard to kill me?

  It's obviously a scorching hot day, but I suddenly feel like I'm in an icy cave...

  "Are you uncomfortable somewhere?" A soft voice suddenly came from beside my ear, and I was startled to jump up.

  "A month without seeing you, and your habit of getting lost in thought hasn't changed at all? It's really worrying." The peerless Persian cat was complaining to me, I stood there dumbfounded. After the Luoyang Poetry Conference, he became even more mature and confident, his smile also becoming more ethereal and otherworldly. Why would such an angelic youth want to poison me?

  He took out his handkerchief and gently wiped the sweat for me: "You're such a big girl, why don't you understand how to take care of yourself? It's really worrying." I grasped his hand and forced a smile: "Congratulations, Third Master, this trip to Luoyang was a great success."

  He gave me a faint smile, didn't respond to my words, instead grabbed the hand I was about to pull away and took my pulse, saying helplessly: "You've been neglecting your martial arts practice lately, and you've been eating greasy food again, haven't you?"

  I smiled slyly and pretended to be foolish: "How could that be, Third Master is wise and discerning."

  The fact is that after Yuan Fei left, Su Hui and I often went to Yu Bei Zhai to play with Bi Ying. Zhao Menglin once swore to thoroughly cure my old injury, saying that I must cultivate my body, balance yin and yang, and not eat spicy or greasy food. He even made me hungry in Xi Feng Garden, so during this period of time, at Bi Ying's place, You Pinzi really didn't lack anything.

  He gave me a displeased glance and turned back to call out to Su Hui: "Bring it in."

  Su Hui responded with a grunt, panting as he and Wei Hu moved in a large box about one and a half people high. I stood up curiously: "Third Master, what are Su Hui and Wei Zhuang doing?"

  Yuanni Yixiao smiled: "Your second brother, Bao Yu Xiang in Luoyang, specially ordered this pair of earrings for you. How can I, as your father, return empty-handed to see you?"

  What does it mean? I turned back in doubt, only to see Su Hui and Wei Hu already holding up a small, exquisite crystal palace lantern in front of me. It was then that I remembered, the palace lanterns of Luoyang are renowned throughout the land.

  The sky gradually darkened, and my room was brightly lit with a single lamp. The lamp had a beautiful painting of a peony flower that slowly rotated, and I stared at it with wide eyes, great!

  Su Hui shouted outside: "Muyutou, come out and take a look, Master Ye let us replace all the lanterns in Xifengyuan with Luoyang palace lanterns, it's beautiful."

  I rushed out, really, Xifeng Garden had never been so bright before. Su Hui and I jumped around everywhere, the white hat square lamp, red gauze round lamp, six dragon head lamp, walking horse lamp, butterfly lamp, two dragon playing bead lamp, arhat lamp, etc., all emitted brilliant light, each with a different shape and style, the brocade paintings in the lamps, the first poem of each lamp was not the same, but they were all popular poems and famous paintings. For a time, Xifeng Garden was full of colorful lights, it seemed like we were at the Lantern Festival.

  I turned back excitedly, and Yuan Fei was already letting Wei Hu push him out, smiling lightly to ask me: "Does Muxin like the Luoyang palace lanterns?"

  I nodded happily, jumped in front of him and squatted at his knees: "I like it very much, thank you San Ye, our courtyard is now bright and spacious."

  He gently brushed away a strand of hair that had fallen across my forehead and smiled warmly at me: "You're not afraid of the dark now, are you?"

  My heart is filled with tender feelings, how did he know I'm afraid of the dark and always need to light a lamp before falling asleep at night?

  At this time, Su Hui came over and pulled me to look around everywhere. Her little mouth kept chattering non-stop, saying that this lamp is beautiful, that lamp is pretty. Even San Niang was giggling with delight, Wei Hu had a smile on his face, and Han Xiuzhu stroked his beard with a gentle smile.

  Su Hui laughed loudly in my ear: "Look, Mu Qi, our home is so bright today."

  Home? My heart skipped a beat. Ever since I heard the news three years ago, that massive flood would flatten Jianzhou, and all the people in our village went missing. Home is such a distant and luxurious thing for me and Jincheng!

  I recall Su Hui saying that in this world, only Xifengyuan can be my home. If that's true, then how should I proceed on the path with Fei Ge?

  There's also Non-White, what should I do with him? Secretly remembering Song Minghui's words, a hint of shadow flashed across my heart again. Was this palace lantern also made to protect the person he loved? However, this seemed too grandiose, making me feel genuinely pampered. I couldn't help but turn my head towards Yuan Feibai, only to find that the jade-like snowy youth was also quietly gazing at me.

  The next day, I asked Yuan Fei for leave and Song Mingkui came to pick me up personally. Heaven knows how many times I had stepped into the streets of Xi'an City before, let alone Biying who had been ill for a long time. Along the way, Biying and I were extremely excited to comment on the street scenery, just like two noisy sparrows. Fortunately, Song Mingkui was just smiling at us there.

  Upon arriving at the residence of Guan Tao, the shopkeeper respectfully welcomed us into a refined room on the second floor, where an extraordinary person was already seated.

  His eyes were like bright purple crystals, with a small mole on his forehead that looked like agate. He wore a luxurious dark green silk robe lined with white jade silk, and as he moved, the folds of his clothes rippled like waves on a lake. A pearl the size of a grain of rice was inserted in his right ear, while a single strand of emerald and gold pendant hung from his left ear, making his face shine like a full moon and his eyes sparkle like autumn water. It was none other than my long-unseen dear brother, Jinxiu.

  I rushed forward and hugged her: "You little rascal, why haven't you written to me for so long, it's enough to worry me to death."

  As I spoke, I had already burst into tears, and Jinxiu slowly wrapped her shoulders around me. We three children sat down, wiping away our tears, while Song Minghui busied himself ordering dishes. But I couldn't wait to ask Jinxiu what was going on with the general?

  "Yes, they're all right, I'm already the young master's person, just waiting for the madam's child to be a month old, and the general will take me as his concubine." Jin Xiu smiled slightly, with a hint of complacency, and when she looked at me again, there was also a hint of coquetry and laziness that I had never seen before: "But do you want to lecture me?"

  My heart aches, why? My dearest, from her eyes, where is the happiness that she should have?

  "I've never met the original young master, I don't know what kind of person he is, but I do know that his heart holds his flesh and blood, yet he's a man who can have an affair with a child who could be his daughter, isn't this chilling?

  I looked into her eyes, speaking softly to her, as if also speaking to myself, and her lazy smile gradually disappeared: "Think about it, the original general is from a family of wealth and power, taking three or four concubines is a common thing. You are the second wife, so what if he takes another third wife, fourth wife who is younger, more beautiful, and more capable than you? How will you handle yourself? Alright, let's take a step back, even if the young master truly likes you, this kind of man who fights for power at the top, with fame, wealth, and honor always being first, in the future when facing south and backing north, when the harem is not allowed to interfere with politics, won't you become just another golden bird in his harem? When you're old and faded, what will you use to compete for favor with the three thousand beauties in the harem?"

  I took a step forward, and said with a sincere tone: "A person of such extraordinary talent and beauty, can easily find someone who wholeheartedly respects, loves, and cherishes you, and puts you in the first place, without any ulterior motives or material attachments. Why bother to get entangled in human relationships and look at people's faces?" I held her delicate hand, tears streaming down my face as I smiled: "You see, big brother said in his last letter that he has already bought land in a rich and prosperous area of the Western Regions. The five of us might as well leave this family and its troubles behind, and find a place without war or power struggles. We can live our lives freely and find someone who truly loves us. My reputation is already tarnished, I don't plan on marrying anyway. So let's just stay together forever, happily and joyfully spend the rest of our days, just like you used to say, 'Jin Xiu and Mu Yin will always be together.' We won't end up lonely and old, okay?"

  A faint smile appeared in my heart, I gritted my teeth and shook my head to forget. I looked at Jinxiu with full expectation, her beautiful purple eyes reflected me, the jade hand held by me trembled slightly, her tears slowly flowed out, she opened her mouth but couldn't say anything. Her eyes were so sad and desperate, why, Jinxiu? Why, my heart hurts so much.

  She suddenly flung open my hand, looked up at the sky and laughed. I stood there, staring at her smile that didn't seem to hold any joy: "Muxin, why are you always so naive? Do you think I can be like you, shrinking into your own small world, enjoying the protection of big brother and second brother, taking care of a sickly person, indulging in a dream of deep emotions and loyalty? That's just foolish thinking. I'm different from all of you."

  Jin Xiu choked back a sob and said slowly: "I was born with a pair of purple pupils, people are afraid when they see me, I look better than others, and it's become a rumor that I'm the reincarnation of a water demon, a demonic creature reborn."

  She lifted the wide sleeve of her right hand, revealing a pale wrist with a gruesome scar crawling up more than half of her arm: "In this Zi Yuan, almost every child has been molested by Liu Yan Sheng. You are the mistress of Zi Yuan, yet you turn a blind eye to it because they call it 'training', because we will all become deadly tools for Yi Zong's sake... and Second Brother, do you know what happened to him?"

  "That's enough, Jinxiu! Don't say another word..." Song Mingkui, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly burst out in anger. I had never seen him so furious before, and yet I was only shocked to the point of almost being unable to stand upright. Biying rushed over to support me, sobbing uncontrollably as she stroked my back, whispering something in my ear, but I was like someone who had been struck by a thunderbolt on a sunny day, too stunned to hear anything."

  My only, brocade, she was born by Liu Yansheng, by this pervert, this beast...

  Jin Yu stood in front of me, tears streaming down her face: "The year we entered the Imperial City, there were over 200 children from all directions who were bought to the Zi Xuan Manor along with us. But only fifteen of us survived, including Xiao Wu Yi. Do you know how many of the three thousand young soldiers survived after the Sima Gate incident? Only about a hundred or so returned to the Imperial City for New Year's..."

  Jin Xiu wiped away her tears and said to me firmly, "I just want to survive. Others may risk their lives nine times out of ten, but they can't even get a glance from Li Ye. But I can have all the wealth and glory, why should I refuse?"

  Her purple pupils glanced at me, and she sneered: "You claim to be noble and high-minded, always talking about that nonsense of past lives in Chang'an, saying you won't marry for life. But why do all the people in Purple Garden say that you're flirting with Third Master? Even Lord Hou knows that Third Master and Fourth Master are fighting over you, and Third Master is willing to indulge you alone, gathering rare birds and precious feathers, ordering people to rush and build thousands of Luoyang palace lanterns just to make you smile... What a wonderful move indeed..."

  "I said, that's enough, Jinxiu, don't torture yourself anymore..." Song Minghui shouted even more fiercely than before, taking big strides to walk in front of her, wanting to grab onto Jinxiu's arm. Suddenly, a black figure darted out and attacked Song Minghui with a palm, forcing him back to my side. Through my tear-filled eyes, I saw a young man with scars all over his face, wearing a black outfit that accentuated his powerful physique, his muscles bulging, giving off an icy cold aura as he stared at us."

  Song Mingkui sneered: "So it's Master Qiao, who is by the side of Lord Hou. This is a family matter for us five brothers, I wonder if Master Qiao also wants to get involved?"

  Qiao Wan said coldly: "The young master has given orders that no one is allowed to harm Jin'niang, please forgive me, Song Ye."

  Song Mingkui's face sank, and he stared at Qiao Wan, who was suddenly slapped in the face by Jin Xiu, who had walked up to him: "That's my second brother Song, you have a big nerve."

  Qiao Wan immediately knelt down and said coldly: "The subordinate's affairs are not beneficial, please punish Miss Jin. However, the young master has ordered it, and Qiao Wan cannot disobey."

  "Fine, now that you're Lord Cao's favorite, I can no longer order you around, Master Qiao."

  Qiao Wan saw Jin Xiu get angry and hastily said: "Miss, please calm down. Qiao Wan has just offended Master Song, please forgive him."

  Jin Xiu gave me a cold, hard look again, then turned and leaped out of the second floor without looking back. Her clothes fluttered behind her like a fairy's. Qiao Wan followed immediately after, and as soon as he got out from under the eaves, he held an oil-paper umbrella over her head. He gazed at her in a daze, but she spoke coldly to him in the rain: "If Master Ye finds out about even half a word, I'll make sure you die without a burial place."

  Qiao Wan bowed his head and nodded, then turned around and gave us a fierce glance. I stood there, tears streaming down my face like broken pearls. Biying supported me: "Muxi, don't be sad, your body hasn't fully recovered yet, don't listen to Jinxiu's hurtful words, she's still just a child... let's go back first, anyway Jinxiu won't leave Xi'an for the time being... Muxi."

  I didn't move or say a word, I just stood there stiffly, staring in the direction where Jin Ge had disappeared, repeatedly savoring every word she said, as if tens of millions of knives were torturing my heart.

  Baiying suddenly covered her mouth and exclaimed, looking at me with tears streaming down like a broken dam. Song Minglei also called out my name in shock and pain. It was only then that I realized my mouth was filled with bitter blood, and my chest was stained with crimson. It seemed as if someone had drained all the energy from my body. My legs went weak, and I fell into Song Minglei's arms. A massive darkness rushed towards me, but before my eyes were Baiying's tear-stained face.