Chapter 27: When Will the Bright Moon Appear (5)

  I've forgotten how I got down from that big tree, and how far I walked. When I came to, I was by the side of Lake Mochou, with the bright moon hanging high in the sky. The lake's surface was calm, with only my solitary figure reflected on it. Next to me stood a tall elm tree, silent and still. I leaned gently against its rough trunk, and a faint smile spread across my lips. It turned out that, as if by some sort of supernatural intervention, I had arrived at the place where I first met Fei Niao for the first time.

  Some people say that love is just a chemical reaction caused by hormones, and it's only a catalyst for human reproduction.

  Years have passed into modern times, people from ancient and modern times, China and foreign countries are still passionately chanting and singing praises of love. However, in the hearts of many people, love has quietly transformed into a kind of consumption.

  In past lives, many people told me that love can last for no more than three to five years before it disappears without a trace.

  In my past life, I was independent and strong-willed, carefree and uninhibited. However, facing continuous betrayals and changes, I became disheveled and helpless, ending in a state of chaos, just like my fate. In this era, for those who are born sensitive, weak, and helpless, and yearn for faithful love, is it not also an extravagant hope?

  The cool autumn, the bright moon is quietly watching me in the black velvet curtain. I turn my head, and the Jade North Studio has long since disappeared without a trace. However, that joyful music still lingers vaguely in this deep and quiet Mid-Autumn Festival. In front of me is the vast and misty Lake Mochou, and beyond this lake surface is the golden cage that once held me captive, inside which is the most magnificent bird food of Yuan Fei's. That is the long-standing longing that has been haunting me. However, his gaze at me is clearly looking at brocade, my only kin, whom I have sworn to protect but is covered in scars...

  In the midst of hesitation, I kept asking myself, where to go and what to do, all my strength seemed to be drained out at once, a bitter sweetness surged up in my throat, I forced myself to cover my mouth, stumbled and crawled to the lake shore, knelt down with both legs, the bloody tears gushed out from between my fingers, dripping into Lake Mochou...

  I endure the intense pain in my chest, gasping for breath, gazing at the fragmented reflection of myself in the lake, with a sorrowful and pale face like a ghost. The moonlight ripples gently on the lake's surface, just like my wandering and melancholic soul...

  At this moment, I suddenly had a strange feeling that the reason why I wandered through two worlds in a daze, whether it was wearing suspenders and super short skirts strolling on the street or now lying weakly by the side of Mochou Lake with blood splattered on my skirt, seemed to be just searching for someone who could stay with me forever.

  Wishing to find someone with whom I share one heart, and spend our white-haired years together!

  In my past life, I took that person as Chang'an, but was torn apart and left with no complete body. In this life, I again paint the portrait of Fei Yu in my heart, but does Fei Yu have me in his heart? Even if he does, how can we be together when I carry the hatred of country and family on my back?

  Xuan Yuan's brother and Guo Er Ren's words echoed in my mind again, a sharp pain in my heart, I was wrong, I was wrong, how far off the mark...

  It's ridiculous to regret from the start, originally this world never had a long-lasting relationship...

  It's just people deceiving themselves with their own fantasies...

  I can no longer hold on, I fell to the wet mud of the riverbank, my chest and abdomen aching all over, my vision blurry, am I going to die again?

  I wonder what my name was in my past life, how many times have I recalled my name from the past? Ah, I remembered it now, my name is Meng Ying. I thought to myself in a daze, whether it's Meng Ying or Mu Jin, why are you always so stupid, and died with a broken heart just like in your previous life...

  A sigh of despair echoed in my ear, I felt someone lift me up and stuff something into my mouth, it was so bitter, the thing slid down my throat, a pungent sensation spread throughout my body, I had to force myself to open my eyes.

  A young man with an extraordinary appearance gently supported me, looking at me with concern. Behind him stood a man with a kind face, wearing a green robe and having a long beard, which made people forget the world. This man had a charm that transcended age. Although the young man who was supporting me looked much younger and more handsome than him, standing next to this man completely lost his presence.

  "Master, she's awake. I've already given her the lingzhi pill and brought down her blood pressure. I just took her pulse and it seems to be fine." The young man beside me slowly helped me stand up.

  It's really a miracle cure. My chest still hurts, but I can breathe smoothly now. I leaned against the tree next to me and took a few gentle breaths, smoothing out my breathing.

  The man behind walked up, and the young man immediately bowed his head and retreated. The man handed over a handkerchief and asked with concern: "Miss, are you feeling better? Why do you have hemoptysis at such a young age?"

  I took a few glances at him, and seeing that his eyes were bright and clear, I didn't think he was a bad person. I thought he must be a guest invited by Zi Yuan, but these two people were dressed so simply, and they also seemed like the original family's attendants.

  I took the handkerchief and gently wiped away the blood from the corner of my mouth, bowed slightly and said in a low voice: "Thank you both gentlemen for saving my life."

  "Miss, don't be polite, it's just a small effort, but the heavy dew is not good for your old illness. Which garden are you from? Let Fengding send you back to rest quickly!" Qing Shanren said with a hint of sympathy, looking at me with warmth in his eyes, making my heart feel a little warm. He said it was a small effort, but the medicine he used to treat me was clearly the precious Lingzhi pill, how could I take advantage of someone's kindness for free?

  "I," I said gruffly, reluctantly pointing to the other side of Lake Mochou: "I live in Xifeng Garden."

  That man in green clothes glanced over with a hint of surprise: "This Xifeng Garden is the residence of Bai San Ye... Could it be that you are Mu Jin?"

  Alas! It's all because of the rumors, and this time I've really become a famous person. I nodded humbly: "I'm Xiao Mu, but I don't know how to address you, sir. I'll definitely visit your home to thank you in person for the Lingzhi pills."

  The man in the green robe didn't respond, but instead gazed at me with a hint of something unusual in his eyes. The young man called Fengding looked at me with flashing eyes, making me increasingly uncomfortable. I forced a gentle smile: "These two gentlemen must have seen my embroidery before!"

  The man in the green shirt smiled lightly and nodded slowly: "Just now at the Mid-Autumn family banquet in the Purple Garden... it was Miss Jin who blocked the way."

  I chuckled and said: "I guess you must be thinking that I don't look anything like her, she's much prettier than me!"

  The man in the green shirt was taken aback, and his expression changed: "Mu Ge is indeed clever," he said, turning around: "Feng Ding, quickly send Mu Niang back to Xi Feng Yuan."

  Feng Ding nodded in agreement, picked up a white hat lantern that was placed on the ground, and slightly bowed his head towards the surrounding area: "Mu Niang, please follow me."

  He walked in front of me, holding a lantern to light the way. I saw that he was walking with a light and easy gait, obviously having excellent agility skills, but he was moving forward very slowly. He must have been considering my recent recovery and didn't dare walk too fast. I felt a twinge of emotion and followed him quietly from behind.

  "I still don't know this gentleman's surname and given name, Mu Ge also said that he would come to visit and thank him another day." I remembered that I had not asked the benefactor's full name yet.

  "My surname is Yuan, and I am a member of the Yuan clan. Since Mu Niangzi is not an ordinary person, you mustn't be polite to me, Yuan Mou." The man in green robe replied extremely politely beside me.

  I am clear in my heart, where am I a non-white person?

  But still politely called him Mr. Yuan, and Mr. Yuan didn't say much along the way either. I was also thinking about what I had seen and heard at Yubei Zhai, and walked silently with a gloomy face.

  As soon as the main gate of Xifengyuan was in front of me, two figures suddenly appeared out of thin air at the side of the door. They were the two cold-faced guards who had just been transferred here. They looked exactly like the ninjas I used to see in cartoons, with a flash of light when they appeared. But as soon as they saw me, their faces turned pale and they knelt down in fear.

  At this time, the door creaked open and Su Hui saw that it was me. She immediately jumped out from inside and rushed forward: "My aunt, you're back! Do you know how anxious you made Third Master?"

  He stared at me blankly, "rushed" for half a day but didn't "rush" out, I couldn't help but burst out laughing: "Rush, rush, rush, what are you rushing about?"

  "Miss, take a good rest, it's almost winter, don't go for a walk in the cold anymore." Mr. Yuan said kindly and didn't notice Su Hui's stunned expression, smiled at me and Su Hui, nodded, and turned to leave.

  Su Hui continued to stare blankly, I was exhausted from the whole day, my heart and mind were worn out. Thinking that since Su Hui knew this Yuan Gong, I would ask him again tomorrow about who this Yuan Gong really is, so I directly entered my own room, not even lighting a lamp in the darkness, and lay down on the bed with a stuffy feeling.

  A warm breath sprayed onto my face, and I found that someone had been lying inside all along. I was so scared that I crawled up, just about to scream, and wondered whether to use a quilt or a blanket...

  A pair of ape-like arms had already taken a step ahead, holding me tightly in their broad and sturdy chest, the originally white dragon's saliva was now rushing straight to my forehead.

  I trembled with fear and closed my mouth, looking up to see two cold stars twinkling in the darkness with endless anger. I stuttered: "Third Master, Third Master, people are scaring people, it's going to scare us to death."

  He looked at me with a thousand years of frost, and coldly snorted on my head: "You originally knew this principle? Then why did you take what I said as a mere rumor and dared to sneak out privately? It's clear that you wanted to scare me to death!"

  "What's that got to do with me?" I told him about how Qibertian had taken me hostage and escaped, as well as the injustices they had suffered. However, I changed the part about the two brothers surrendering to say that I had already persuaded them to become law-abiding citizens.

  I met his icy gaze, sat up straight and spoke with flying spittle, but he leaned on one hand, still looking at me with suspicion.

  I showed him the wound on my neck, then raised my hand again: "Third Master, look at this, it was cut by his Qingfeng sword. Although I'm cunning and treacherous, I also value my life, so I wouldn't cut myself, please be clear-sighted, Third Master!"

  He stared at me for a long time, and finally snorted: "You're really a godly person, even two fugitives who have killed people are willing to listen to your advice, put down their butcher knives, and become Buddhas on the spot..."

  He suddenly thought of something, collected his enchanting and happy smile, and looked at me with a narrow and long phoenix eye: "You're not... are you using them to see Yuan Fei Jue?"

  Wow! You're so clever! But what's the point of being so clever?

  Luckily, he wiped the sweat from my face, so I cleared my throat: "Third Master, don't laugh at me, I'm busy escaping with my life! I don't have such a romantic heart," I emphasized, thinking to myself that actually, Mu Yi is even more romantic than you. "Those Qi brothers may be guilty of great crimes, but they are also poor people who were forced into desperation and took this path. Mu Yi's family was destroyed, and he has no home to return to, so Mu Yi can understand them. From the bottom of his heart, Mu Yi hopes that Third Master can be a heroic ruler who brings peace to this chaotic world, allowing us poor commoners to live in peace for a few days without having to flee our homes and suffer the hardships of displacement." I spoke with sincerity and emotion, and he looked at me with a moved expression for a while, his eyes gradually softening.

  He sat up straight in the sedan chair, and under the bright moonlight in front of me, I only now discovered that he was still wearing the same azure brocade robe as when he left home. It was clear that after returning, he hadn't even had time to change his clothes before rushing over to me. My heart couldn't help but tremble, and with a soft sigh, he pulled me into his embrace: "Where is this 'no place to call home' of yours? This Xī Fēng Yuàn is your home, Mù Jǐn! What can I do to make your heart settle down? I often ask myself what's in my heart, but when it comes to you, I'm at a loss... You, you little girl... what are you thinking about?"

  He gently stroked my black hair, his chin resting lightly on my head, and my tears fell one by one, dripping onto the front of his expensive brocade robe. In the midst of this inexplicable heartache, I involuntarily wrapped my arms around him, and his body trembled slightly as he held me even tighter.

  After a long time, he leaned in close to my ear and whispered softly: "Mugunghwa, will...will you marry me?"

  I suddenly raised my head, leaving his embrace. Under the moonlight, his eyes shone with determination and expectation. I finally understood why he asked me what I wanted before he left: "Third Master, it's late, let me help you back to your room to rest."

  He turned around, thought for a moment, and then pulled me back. His eyes flashed with endless anger, as well as a thread of humiliated hurt: "Look at Mr. Guo saying it wrong, ha! You're asking for trouble yourself. You, you, how can you not know what's good for you..."

  My hand was pinched to the point of pain, but I fearlessly looked back at him: "Thank you for your kindness, Third Master. Mu Jin is just a humble and rustic person, born in the wilderness, and has never dared to imagine flying up to the branch to become a phoenix. Please find someone who knows their place to be your pillow companion."

  His eyes were filled with endless fury, and in the moonlight, I was terrified. His hand tightened its grip, and just as the bleeding from the sword wound had stopped, it split open again, and fresh red blood flowed out, staining our clothes. I was sweating profusely, turned my head away, but stubbornly refused to make a sound.

  Just as I thought I was going to bleed to death, he finally let go of me. I immediately collapsed to the ground, clutching my wound and curled up into a ball, sobbing uncontrollably.

  After a while, I felt that Yuan Fei had gone down, and just as I secretly let out a sigh of relief, he returned to the top. I was afraid to shrink back, but he easily pulled me closer, and I saw that his hand had a bottle of iodine.

  His gaze returned to calmness, quietly applying medicine for me and carefully bandaging my wound.

  Then, I fell into a deep sleep in Yuan Fei's warm embrace, and welcomed my 15th birthday. My heart was broken and my soul was hurt, but in the midst of confusion, I only remembered that Yuan Fei kept kissing away my tears, seemingly whispering in my ear: "Muxin, this life, I will never let you go, just give up..."