The moon is bright and the wind is gentle.

  I sat with Wei in the woods, watching a horse stroll leisurely by our side.

  He opened the wine jar, took a sip himself before handing it to me, and smiled: "Mr. Ouyang didnt deceive me, its indeed the Domain Ghost Wine. I remember you said that during the Lost Scattered Qi Yue period, you loved this wine for its refreshing cold fragrance, and had someone specially find it for you."

  I took it and, with the wine jar, took a shallow sip. On the eve of my wedding day, as a bride-to-be, I was not allowed to leave my boudoir or see any man, even if he were my father or brother. Thinking of this, I couldnt help but smile slightly: "If Mother knew that I was being so reckless with you, she would surely blame me."

  He looked at her with a face of disdain: "If you were bound by etiquette like others, how would I have brought you here?"

  I looked at him, my youngest brother, under the moonlight, he had already become a handsome and elegant young man. In a few years, while chatting and laughing, I dont know how many girls hearts would be broken by his charming thoughts. However, the rebelliousness in his bones has always been a headache for our parents.

  He was exceptionally intelligent since childhood, and his father originally wanted him to enter the imperial court as an official. However, he disliked the intricate formalities of the officialdom and instead often went in and out of the Imperial Guard, where he gained the favor of the great general Ouyang Tingzhuo.

  I dont know how much he learned about the art of war, deploying troops and fighting battles, but his elegant and agile physique, as well as his open and honest personality, are undoubtedly unmatched by his other brothers.

  I dont know if its because of this, but two years ago when my parents found me and brought me back home, although I didnt remember anything about the past, and even felt a little distant from my parents and siblings, I was surprisingly very close to this younger brother.

  "Second sister, will Mr. Su come tomorrow?" Ers question interrupted my thoughts.

  I raised my eyes, and my right hand unconsciously stroked my left arm. Under the thin silk, the phoenix bathed in fire, shaking its wings as if to fly.

  Someone once used vermilion to paint a portrait of me, stroke by stroke, with gentle words and soft smiles.

  The alchemists cinnabar was bright and lustrous, and it didnt fade with time, making it extremely hard to come by. At that time, I was still recovering from my injuries from the fall, and my eyes couldnt see anything yet. All I knew was that he was covering up the scars on my arm that wouldnt go away.

  "What is painted?" I asked.

  He spoke softly and smiled, the phoenix gathered fragrant wood*, and was reborn from the fierce flames. Qing Er, from now on, this is your brand new life.

  He took me on a journey through the worlds famous rivers and streams, teaching me to recognize the stars and medical principles. Under the sea peach blossom tree, golden needles danced in the air like flower rain.

  He created this set of boxing techniques for me, bit by bit, hand in hand. Only because after I fell off the cliff, my body was greatly damaged, and although I had been treated several times, I was no longer suitable for practicing martial arts. But he said that in this world, the only thing that can truly be relied upon is oneself. So he taught me self-defense skills.

  "Second sister?"

  The past was like smoke, and the sound of the wind timely broke my deep memories. Seeing his puzzled raised eyebrows, I smiled faintly, gathered up my own untimely thoughts, and said lightly: "No."

  A hint of longing and regret flashed across her face: "What a pity, Lord Su Xiuwen. I had originally wanted to meet this legendary figure. If I had known earlier that it was Mr. Su who saved you, I would have gone with them to pick you up personally."

  I lowered my eyelashes, hiding the emotions in my eyes. Before I could say anything, Yan had already smiled and said: "There will always be opportunities, wait until tomorrow, when I become famous throughout the land, I can try my sword with him at Mei Shan."

  The space between eyebrows and eyes is an unspeakable elegance and handsomeness, youthful spirit, chasing the wind with one sword.

  I smiled slightly and got up from horseback to take down the Qin zither I had brought with me, plucking it lightly and slowly, and one by one, the notes poured out.

  She raised an eyebrow and laughed loudly: "Second sister, you still understand me best."

  In the midst of words, a long sword is drawn from its scabbard, and where the sword light flashes, a serpent-like dragon is startled.

  "In the ninth heaven, with a lingering intention, I entrust my seven-stringed guqin to the wind, and wield my sword leaning against the high sky. The four seas are calm, the six directions are gathered, alone drunk and laughing on the battlefield, pouring wine into the vast expanse..."

  The zithers sound became more urgent, urging the swords momentum, and the long sword was like a rainbow, accumulating energy before releasing it. The final move of the swords edge solidified, I pointed to the next tune "Generals Order" just ended, the sword dance and zither sound, perfectly coordinated without any flaws.

  I raised my eyes and exchanged a smile with him.

  With a final flourish of his sword, Yan was drenched in sweat, but the sparkle in his eyes couldnt be hidden, and his spirit was as free as the wind. He carelessly wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, laughing: "Its been ages since Ive felt so exhilarated! Second sister, if you leave, who will I find to accompany me in playing the zither and dancing with swords?"

  Before he could finish speaking, his smile faded, and it seemed that he had remembered that I would be marrying into the Wang family tomorrow. His expression turned somewhat somber.

  I didnt say a word, not wanting to utter empty phrases like "well have another chance someday". I just smiled faintly as he lay down on the grass beside me, his hands supporting the back of his head, gazing up at the vast sky.

  "Third sisters engagement, why did you agree to it? The Wang estate is not suitable for you." After a while, his voice came from the side, calm as water.

  I smiled faintly: "This marriage was originally the will of the Tian family, and there is no news from Xuaner. I couldnt just sit back and watch as disaster befalls the entire family."

  A hint of mockery flashed in his eyes: "Youve already forgotten the past, so why bother spending a lifetime with a family that can be considered strangers? Even your third sister knows how to fight for herself."

  "You speak as if youre not a member of this family." I laughed and patted his face, not wanting to continue the conversation.

  He looked at me for a while, turned his head away, and then faced the starry sky again, saying: "Sorry, Second Sister."

  I looked at him in surprise, but he didnt look back at me. His voice just came over, with a hint of helplessness and self-mockery: "I have no way to help you live the life you want."

  I smiled softly at him: "How do you know this isnt the life Ive always wanted?"

  "Your temperament is calm and elegant, not comparable to ordinary women. Marrying into the Wang household may seem glorious to outsiders, but in my opinion, it would be a waste of your talent. And as for the Third Prince," he said without thinking, but paused at this point, continuing after a moment with a hint of sigh: "he may not even bother to appreciate your goodness."

  I smiled and didnt say anything, after all he was still unwilling to make things too embarrassing for everyone to save face.

  Although I have returned to the capital for less than two years, I have never met this third prince, yet his elegant deeds have been endless in my ears.

  She looked at me silently, then turned her head and said: "Second sister, you should be like Mr. Su, free and easy-going, with the mountains, water, and stars as your companions, and shouldnt be bound by these worldly things. Perhaps, if we hadnt come to find you, you would have been better off."

  I lowered my eyelids and smiled, hiding the faint sorrow in my eyes, and suddenly thought of him sending me out of the valley two years ago with a resolute heart, it wasnt that I could stay if I wanted to.

  His life shouldnt be held back, but my unexpected arrival disrupted his for three years, which is already too long.

  I raised my head again, and my eyes were clear. I didnt look at him, but smiled at the bright moon: "Since flowing water is ruthless, why bother with sentimental attachments? Its better to turn into spring mud, at least that way, it can protect those who care about me and those I care about."