Chapter 21: The Double Seventh Festival (Part 2)

  At dusk, unexpectedly, we welcomed Amir and beautifully dressed Biying. It turned out that Amir sent Biying to our Xifengyuan to accompany me on the Double Seventh Festival. He respectfully knelt down and said: "Reporting to Third Master, my master has a letter saying that there are still some things that have not been dealt with, and he will be staying in the Western Regions for a while longer, unable to return to accompany Miss Biying on the Double Seventh Festival. Thinking of Miss Mu and Miss Biying's sworn sisterhood, and since the Double Seventh Festival is also a day for children to gather together, I was sent to deliver Miss Biying here, please take care of her."

  Yuanni warmly helped him up, smiling: "Fourth Master, you really think of everything for your mother-in-law, afraid that she can't get through the seventh anniversary alone." He glanced at me and continued: "I've long heard that Fei Jue dotes on Ying Niang deeply, now I see it's true."

  Bai Ying's face suddenly turned bright red, and she looked at me and Song Minghui with embarrassment. Song Minghui just coldly turned his head away, although I was very suspicious that the author of the letter was Guo Erren, but my face probably didn't look good either.

  However, I was still happy to see Biying again. When there were fewer people around, she explained that she just wanted to take advantage of the Qi Qiao Festival to come and see me, but didn't expect Amir to say such things, and somewhat incoherently told me not to misunderstand, yet her eyes drifted towards Song Mingpei. I put my mind at ease, and also found it amusing - clearly she had come to see Song Mingpei, using me as an excuse.

  Then I laughed and pulled Song Mingrui over, just like we did last year when we celebrated the Double Seventh Festival. The three of us worked together to create a "Qiao Niang" made of straw that was over one meter tall, and dressed her in a green jacket and red skirt. We placed her in the courtyard, offered her melons and fruits, and brought out the previously prepared "Zhong Sheng", also known as bean sprouts or clever sprouts. We cut off a section, put it in a bowl of clear water, and let it float on the surface, watching the shadow of the sprouts under the moonlight to divine our cleverness.

  We lit up all the lanterns, candles and displayed the melons and fruits brought by Amir in the courtyard to pray for cleverness. Then Biying and I followed the convention to thread the needle with five thin threads, competing for speed; held a window-cutting competition to compete for wisdom and cleverness, as a result, I lost everything, unintentionally losing face for Xifengyuan, Amir was pleased, and Su Hui stared at me with wide eyes.

  Biyin took out the guqin again and played a piece of Yue people's song for everyone, her eyes occasionally looking at Song Minghui, the meaning was self-evident, but Song Minghui remained unmoved. When the music ended, we applauded and cheered, Yuan Fei was also an expert in guqin, his expression was quite surprised, obviously didn't expect that Biyin was a rare opponent, so he warmly invited Biyin to play together with him a piece of Guangling San, making everyone listen in a daze for half a day. Song Minghui looked at Biyin's face and finally calmed down a bit.

  I smiled and applauded there, thinking involuntarily where Jin Yu was spending the festival now. Unconsciously melancholy, a burst of giggles suddenly came: "A good tune of Hegemon-King Xiang's Guangling San."

  We looked around, and saw a man dressed in a beautiful woman standing in front of the hanging gate. Her purple pupils shone exceptionally bright under the starlight of Qi Xi, her peerless jade face wore a hint of smile, with a single strand of purple crystal long pearl chain on her right ear, wearing white clothes, elegant and refreshing, with a thousand charms between her eyebrows, followed by a robust black-clad guard, with an extremely respectful expression, who was none other than my daily thoughts' Jin Zhuo and Qiao Wan.

  I smiled and approached her, wanting to hold her hand, but she didn't even glance at me and brushed past me. She floated over to Bai Fei, knelt down on one knee, and gave him a deep bow, saying slowly: "On the Double Seventh Festival, I was thinking of my sister and came to visit you with gifts. I hope White Third Young Master will forgive me."

  I stood there awkwardly, feeling uncomfortable as I looked at Jinxiu. Yuan Fei silently gazed at Jinxiu who was kneeling on the ground with her head bowed, then quickly glanced at me and smiled faintly before extending his hand to Jinxiu: "Miss Jin is being too polite, your presence in my humble abode only brings glory, what fault could you have committed? Please get up quickly."

  Jin Xiu finally lifted her head, and Zi Tong looked at Yuan Fei Bai's phoenix eyes. With his help, she stood up. Yuan Fei Bai was originally sitting on my left, while Bi Ying was sitting on my right. When she saw Jin Xiu arrive, she politely gave up her seat to let Jin Xiu sit beside me, and then took the opportunity to go to Song Ming Hui's side. Yuan Fei Bai asked Su Hui to prepare two more tables, chairs, and cases, and set out some small dishes, melons, and fruits. The two sides sat down.

  Jin Xiu's sudden visit made everyone feel a bit awkward, and the room fell silent. Jin Xiu and Qiao Wan didn't say anything either. She said she came to see me, but didn't even look at me properly. I felt a surge of resentment in my heart, just as I was about to speak up, Mr. Han intervened to liven up the atmosphere: "I've often heard that Miss Jin Xiu's swordsmanship is unparalleled in the martial arts world. Today being the Qixi Festival, why not ask the young lady to perform a dance to help the mood?"

  Everyone immediately agreed and supported her, Jin Xiu also did not decline, smiling: "Then I'll make a fool of myself."

  As soon as the ugly character appeared, she fell into the arena like a startled swan, her clothes fluttering, out of this world. The crowd cheered again, and she bowed to Yuan Fei: "I don't know if I can ask Third Master to dance a song to help with the sword energy?"

  Yu Fang Bai sank into thought for a moment, then smiled slightly and said: "What's wrong with that?"

  The slender fingers of the jade-like hand danced lightly, and a deep, sentimental melody echoed through the air. I concentrated my mind to listen carefully, and it was indeed his renowned masterpiece that had spread throughout the world - "Longing for Each Other". Meanwhile, the silver sword with intricate designs let out a clear whistle, and followed her as she floated away, flashing its silver light as it danced in the air.

  Under the starry sky, each of us stood there quietly watching and listening attentively. The music of the qin and the sword seemed like old friends reunited after many years, blending together in perfect harmony.

  At that moment, our spirits were captivated and our souls were enchanted. Under the starlight shining like precious gems, the silver sword of the beautiful woman with purple pupils fluttered like a startled swan, danced like a swimming dragon, shone brightly like autumn chrysanthemum, and flourished like lush pines. Along with the unparalleled piano artistry that was not ordinary, it seemed as if light clouds were covering the moon, and floating as if the wind was blowing back the snow.

  As the music ended, each of us was still immersed in that dazzling sword dance. I was so moved that my eyes were brimming with hot tears. Just as I was about to speak to Yuan Fei Bai, I saw him gazing at Jin Xiu, and Jin Xiu was also looking back at him. Their gazes were so deep and entwined, like sparks flying everywhere, but only for an instant. She smiled as usual and returned to her seat, while Yuan Fei Bai smiled in praise of Jin Xiu's sword dance, which had already reached a state of perfection.

  My heart suddenly trembled violently, Jin Xiu was such an extraordinary person, with unparalleled martial arts skills and a gentle warmth that suited Yuan Fei perfectly. I suddenly recalled the cave where he had murmured a name in his delirium - Youyou, Youyou... could it be that I misheard, and it was actually Xiu Xiu?

  Su Hui once said that Yuan Fei had a red-faced confidant, often locked in the Xīn Gé (Heart's Delight Pavilion) with San Ye to play the zither and paint, sometimes even practicing martial arts...

  Is this the reason why they are so compatible with each other, one playing the zither and the other wielding a sword?

  My hand under the table unconsciously tightened its grip on her skirt...

  "Mu'niang, why is your face so pale?" Su Hui's voice came from beside my ear, and I suddenly realized that he was pouring wine for me. I immediately snapped back to reality, joining in the chorus of cheers with everyone else, but in my heart, it was as if a sharp knife had cut open a wound.

  Is it possible that on New Year's Eve, what was said about the person in his heart wasn't General but Yuan Fei?

  That Amier obviously still remembered the last time's naked body grievance, said I was in a daze, while everyone was praising Jinxiu and Yu Feibai's qin sword cooperation as high as wonderful, he suddenly came up with a sentence, don't know what clever thing Mugui girl has to offer to Qiniang on this Double Seventh Festival?

  Everyone looked at me in unison, and I could only stand there with a flushed face. I glared fiercely at Amir, who was proudly smiling on the other side. Suddenly, Su Hui spoke up: "My family's Mu'ge is full of knowledge and has a humble heart. Those ordinary things are not worth comparing to her. It's just that I'm afraid if she were to take them out, it would scare this country bumpkin silly."

  I was about to explain, but Jin Xiu smiled lightly: "My sister likes to play with new and interesting things, I don't know if Third Master has seen her pen, on my seventh birthday, Father asked us what we wanted. I said I wanted the sugar people, but she insisted that she didn't want anything, just asking Father to buy the feathers on the head of the uncle in the neighboring village, later we found out that it was actually a pen."

  Yu Fei turned his head towards me with a faint smile.

  At this time, Su Hui and Wei Huo exchanged a few words in hushed tones. Then Su Hui rushed out and knelt before me, saying: "Miss, Lu Yuan has already made the pearl crossbow you wanted. Why not take it out to compete with Amir in cleverness?" After speaking, he looked at Amir provocatively.

  I came to my senses, looked at Yuanbai and asked for his opinion. He agreed with a smile, so I nodded to Weihou. Ruyuan immediately went into the house, took out an iron box with excitement, and handed it over to me. I secretly sighed, stood up stiffly, wanting to take the iron box, but unexpectedly Ruyuan held it like his own child. I struggled a few times before he reluctantly let go.

  I forced a smile and walked towards Yuan Fei: "Third Master, today is the seventh of July, and I'm afraid that the wooden gift is not very impressive. Fortunately, over the past few days, Wei Zhuangshi, Lu Zhuangshi and I have designed a wrist guard for you, Third Master. Let me present it to Seventh Lady first, and then give it to you in advance!"

  I opened the iron gate, took out a silver wristband with two dragons playing with pearls and sea water, Jiang cliff flowing cloud pattern, roughly looking like an ordinary armguard. I carefully replaced the original white strap, buckled the hidden buckle, then supported his hand pointing to a white hat lantern in the courtyard, gently pressed his hand down, instantly triggering the mechanism, shooting ten small iron arrows, with great force and accuracy, that white hat lantern was shattered into many pieces, falling to the ground, the fire slowly ignited the lamp body, amidst everyone's shock, it had already burned to ashes.

  And I slowly left Yuan Fei's side, calmly returning to my seat, with everyone's gaze falling on me in different ways, some admiring, some shocked, some deep in thought...

  At this moment, I don't care about what others think of me and my relationship with Zhuo Wei. The idea that Yuan Feng and Jin Xiu are in love is having a chemical reaction in my heart, causing it to ache and then quickly scab over, constantly sinking and making me unable to catch up.

  After a while, Yuan Fei Lang burst out laughing: "You little girl, how are you so different from the others? I thought you and Lu Yuan and Wei Hu were working on some new trick together, but it was for this."

  I smiled slightly and said, "Mu Ge made this to protect Mu Ge's loved ones in this life. Although San Ye's martial arts are unparalleled, he is still crippled. If he were to be suddenly attacked by someone while his guards are not around, this pearl crossbow can also serve as a substitute to protect him."

  This is the truth, Zhang De Mao told me that Liu Yan Sheng was a disciple of Jin Gu's true person at the age of ten and became famous all over the world at the age of fifteen. However, in his seventeenth year, he was expelled from his master's door for teasing his master's wife. From then on, he joined Lian Shi's gate, and Mrs. Lian followed her husband to Yuan Shi's gate at the age of fifteen. Her martial arts skills are among the top ten masters in Jianghu, and she is a ruthless and cunning person who likes fishing and is good at poisoning. Her ultimate skill is "Ten Miles Drift", and except for Mrs. Lian, ordinary people cannot approach her within three steps.

  Since it's impossible to get within three steps of him, and he's also skilled in using poison, I thought that only a deadly hidden weapon could kill this beast. She avenged Jin Xiu by letting Zhang De Mao take it away to make a copy for me. The copied version I asked to add poison and fire medicine, making it even more terrifying than the original one given to Fei Bai.

  On the other hand, I once thought that if I couldn't escape unscathed after taking revenge, then I would never see Yuan Fei again. In that case, making this crossbow could also be considered a memento of my acquaintance with him.

  Everyone else couldn't say a word, some of them looked at us with emotion, I guess they all thought my feelings for Yuan Fei were deeper than the Mariana Trench.

  Yu Fei's gaze was fixed on me, and in this moment, his eyes seemed to hold only me, bewildered and profound. He stretched out his hand as if to grasp mine, but I hastily dodged over and pressed down on his hand, sweating at the temples as I said: "Third Master, Third Master, you must be careful, there's something extra on your wrist now."

  Su Hui burst out laughing, and then everyone was amused. Even Yuan Fei Bai couldn't help but laugh out loud and gently asked me if this pearl had a name?

  I looked at his sparkling phoenix eyes, and then at Jin Xiu, thinking that if one day I'm no longer here, and your heart's desire is really Jin Xiu, then please take good care of her.

  So I smiled softly at him and said: "Third Master, this pearl is called 'Long-lasting Love'."

  I looked at Jinxiu, and she also smiled, but her smile was so miserable, without a hint of joy.