"Ugh, you're so annoying!" He was teasing me again. I pretended to be angry.
But Yu Chi Cheng said, "If Xi He can't learn, Brother Cheng can teach you personally."
This guy was really pushing his luck. Humph!
Seeing that I wasn't going to talk to him, Yu Chi Cheng looked at the setting sun on the far - off grassland and said, "We probably won't reach the town today. We'll have to camp on the grassland tonight."
I immediately got interested. "So we're going to sleep in tents tonight?"
At this moment, the afterglow of the setting sun gilded the entire grassland. The sky on the horizon was an incredibly clear and pure color, with hardly a cloud in sight.
Yu Chi Cheng said, "Tonight, I'll take you to see the stars on the grassland. You've probably never been so completely in the embrace of the universe before."
I was intrigued by what he said and agreed. "Okay."
That night.
After the soldiers from Bei Han found a suitable place to camp, they quickly set up the tents and lit a bonfire to keep the wild beasts away.
After Yu Chi Cheng assigned the patrol duty, he pulled me into the tent that had been set up for me. He took out a cloak from a box and put it on me. "The nights on the grassland are still very cold. You might not feel it at first, but if you stay out for a while, you'll be freezing."
I said, "Then why aren't you wearing a cloak, Brother Cheng?"
After Yu Chi Cheng tied the belt of the cloak for me, he said, "Of course, I take care of you first, and then myself."
By the time we were all set, it was completely dark. Yu Chi Cheng took my hand and led me to a small mound nearby. Afraid that the ground would be too cold for me to sit on, he even spread a piece of fur on the ground.
I sat down and looked up at the starry sky. The whole sky was ablaze with stars, stretching as far as the eye could see. I couldn't help but sigh, "The sky in Bei Han is really unobstructed."
Yu Chi Cheng said, "Naturally. Don't you feel that when you look into the distance, your heart also expands?"
I nodded. "Of course I do."
Yu Chi Cheng smiled. "That's why I used to like to watch the stars alone."
I looked at him and tightened my grip on his hand. His hand was so warm. I said boldly, "Then I'll accompany you to watch the stars from now on."
Yu Chi Cheng looked back at me and smiled. Under the starlight, his features were so handsome. He said happily, "Okay."
We looked into each other's eyes for a while. I blushed and looked away, continuing to look at the stars. Suddenly, a star streaked across the sky.
"What was that just now?"
"Seems like a shooting star," Yu Chi Cheng said.
As he was speaking, another star flashed across. Gradually, more and more appeared.
"Wow! Could this be the 'shooting stars like rain' recorded in the ancient books? It's so beautiful!" I was completely mesmerized by the silver light constantly streaking across the vast sky and was too shocked to speak.
At this moment, the sky was deep and mysterious. Countless little stars trailed long tails as they shot across the sky. From afar, it looked like a curtain of rain made of starlight. Innumerable star glows fell, merging into a dazzling ocean of light in the boundless sky. It was truly magnificent!
I was completely captivated by this spectacle. Yu Chi Cheng softly said beside me, "Such a grand sight can be called a miracle. Princess, you should make a wish."
I nodded with a smile, closed my eyes, and made a wish. Then I looked at him. "What about you, Brother Cheng?"
Yu Chi Cheng also closed his eyes, made a wish, and then looked at me. "I'm done."
Perhaps the starlight at that moment was too beautiful. When Yu Chi Cheng looked at me, I thought his eyes were even brighter than the stars. He stared at me intently. Somehow, our distance gradually shortened. Then he closed his eyes, and a gentle kiss landed on my lips. At that moment, my scalp went numb. It was a feeling I'd never had before. His warm fingers ran through my hair and held my head. I wrapped my arms around his neck and gently responded to him. He explored my lips continuously. I felt as if I was completely enveloped in tenderness.
I don't know how long it took before he slowly let me go. I immediately blushed and lowered my head shyly. But he just hooked the corner of his lips and said, "Xi He, when we go to Da Yong this time, I'll tell your father about us first. When you come of age, I'll come to propose marriage, okay?"
I was too shy to speak and just nodded. He smiled when he saw me nodding and hugged me, letting me lean against his chest. I instinctively wrapped my arms around his lean and strong waist. Well, this position was quite comfortable.
My heart was pounding wildly. The stars were still falling in the distance, but I had no interest in admiring them anymore. I just felt that being in Yu Chi Cheng's arms at this moment was like having the whole world.
After a while, the number of shooting stars in the sky gradually decreased. It seemed that this once - in - a - century miracle was coming to an end. Yu Chi Cheng and I whispered a few words to each other. Then he pulled me up and said, "Xi He, it's getting late. Let's go back."
"Okay," I nodded and let him pull me up.
On the way back, we walked slowly, hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder. I was just about to say something when suddenly something slippery slithered past my feet. When I saw it was a snake, I couldn't help but scream. I jumped onto Yu Chi Cheng and clung to him. He stiffened for a moment and then hugged me. Looking down, he found that the snake had already slithered away.
He quickly comforted me. "Xi He, don't be afraid. The snake is gone."
I shook my head fearfully and refused to get off. Yu Chi Cheng was helpless. "Then how about I carry you in another way?"
I thought for a while and finally nodded.
So Yu Chi Cheng put me down and then picked me up horizontally. I wrapped my arms around his neck and leaned against his chest.
I said with lingering fear, "Brother Cheng, why didn't you tell me there were snakes on the grassland?"
Yu Chi Cheng said, "There are relatively few snakes in this area. You're really lucky to see one today."
I let out a dry laugh, thinking that I didn't need such "luck".
We walked a bit further. When we were almost back at the camp, he said, "There are no snakes here. You can get down and walk by yourself. Otherwise, if someone sees us, your reputation will really be ruined."
When I heard that my reputation was at stake, I quickly said, "Okay, okay, I'll walk by myself."
Yu Chi Cheng put me down and then tidied up my appearance.
When we entered the camp together, only the patrolling soldiers were around. The others had already gone to rest.
After Yu Chi Cheng escorted me back to my tent, he said, "Go to bed early. We'll probably break camp early tomorrow."
I nodded inside the tent and said, "Thank you, Brother Cheng, for today."
Yu Chi Cheng said, "You don't need to thank me." He stroked my head with a smile and then turned to leave.
That night, exhausted from the day's journey, I fell asleep quickly.
Early the next morning, just as dawn was breaking, I was woken up by my maid. Since the sun hadn't fully risen yet, I felt a chill as soon as I stepped out of the tent. I quickly shrank back into the tent, found my cloak, and put it on. Then, supported by my maid, I got into the carriage and took a short nap. Only then did Yu Chi Cheng come to find me.