Wei Dongling returned to the Listening-to-the-Wind Tower and lay there in a daze for a long time.
In a half - dream and half - awake state, all she could hear were Qi Jinxuan's various ramblings, which gave her a splitting headache.
There was a tickling sensation on her lips from the hair tips. Immersed in her sleep, Wei Dongling impatiently waved her hand to drive it away, muttering, "Cuihuan, stop making trouble."
But the person beside her on the pillow refused to let it go and gently traced the outline of Wei Dongling's rosy lips with their fingertips.
Wei Dongling turned over and pinned the person beside her under her body. She reached out to pinch their waist and half - opened her eyes unhappily. "You're so annoying, disturbing my sweet dream."
Taking a closer look, the person under her was actually Yu Zixi.
Wei Dongling was stunned for a moment. She loosened her hand and got up to leave. Yu Zixi curved his lips into a faint smile and nudged her elbow. Wei Dongling's soft body fell into his arms.
Yu Zixi hugged her tightly. His warm breath lingered in her ear.
"Tomorrow is the Qixi Festival. Come out and stroll around with me."
The Qixi Festival?
She still remembered that at this time last year, she had strolled around the night view with Qi Jinxuan. They had eaten all kinds of delicious snacks along the way and laughed and played all the way.
In a blink of an eye, another year had passed. Time really flew by.
Wei Dongling buried her head in Yu Zixi's arms and softly responded.
Yu Zixi gently kissed her neck and murmured, "I want to take you out for a stroll every year from now on."
Wei Dongling let out a long sigh and said to Yu Zixi rather helplessly, "After everything is over, shall we leave the capital?"
Yu Zixi was stunned at first, then said happily, "Does this mean you're willing to go to the south of the Yangtze River with me?"
Wei Dongling indulged in the warmth of his embrace and replied, "It's all good. Let's go and see the gentle rain in the south and the heavy snow in the north?"
Yu Zixi's handsome eyes sparkled with a faint light. He gently pecked her lips. "We've made a deal. You're not allowed to go back on your word!" His hands wrapped around her slender waist and stroked it gently.
The door creaked open. Cuihuan stepped in and called out in a flurry, "Miss Wei! Miss Wei!" At a glance, she saw the two figures on the bed behind the screen who were quickly separating. Cuihuan was stunned for a moment, blushed, and turned around to run away.
Wei Dongling blushed. Embarrassed, she sat up and pushed Yu Zixi away. She let down the bed curtain and rummaged through the quilt to pick up her clothes.
Yu Zixi felt a bit embarrassed and sat down at the table to pour himself a cup of tea.
Wei Dongling absent - mindedly put on her outer clothes and said sullenly, "I won't be able to go back to the General's Mansion in the future."
Yu Zixi brought the teacup to his lips and replied, "It doesn't matter. We don't have to get married from the General's Mansion. Let's keep an eye out and buy another house."
Wei Dongling said angrily, "Is that what I meant?"
Yu Zixi blinked his eyes. "You have me now. If not, we can also hold the wedding procession at the Yunzhu Courtyard!"
Wei Dongling was too lazy to talk to him.
Yu Zixi babbled on, "Besides, maybe in a few days, the people who have lost touch will find their way back?"
Wei Dongling said sullenly, "I'm afraid they won't."
Yu Zixi raised his eyebrows and asked, "Is there any misunderstanding between you? Do you need your husband to help you clarify things with her?"
Wei Dongling got out of bed, put on her embroidered shoes, lifted the bed curtain, and said dejectedly, "I'm afraid it can't be clarified. That night, Young Master Yun was drugged by Princess Seven. When he was pestering me by the Moon - falling Lake, Miss Qi saw it right then and there."
Hearing this, Yu Zixi's pupils shrank sharply. He got up and grabbed Wei Dongling's hand. He asked in horror, "What did you say? Did he do anything to you?"
Thinking of that night, Wei Dongling felt a wave of dejection. She nodded and then shook her head.
Yu Zixi was stunned. With a dark face, he asked, "What do you mean? Did your foot injury prevent you from kicking him?"
Wei Dongling lowered her head and said silently, "I stabbed him with a gold hairpin. I'm afraid I was a bit too heavy - handed."
Yu Zixi put his arm around her slender waist, lifted her chin, and looked into her eyes. "Are you okay?"
Wei Dongling shook her head and sighed, "At that time, my clothes were... in a bit of a mess... And Miss Qi just happened to see it. You know, she has always been eager to marry Young Master Yun. Seeing me in that state with him, she was convinced that I did it on purpose. I went to see her today specifically to explain, but she refused to listen and insisted on driving me away."
Yu Zixi pressed Wei Dongling's head into his broad embrace. His body trembled slightly. "I'm sorry. I failed to protect you well."
Wei Dongling sniffled. Her voice was hoarse. "How can I blame you? That night, you were being punished by your master. Tian Qi and Cuihuan were also punished. Did Master He give you a hard time again last night?"
Yu Zixi shook his head and gently stroked Wei Dongling's satin - like black hair. He whispered, "Silly girl, fate is actually quite subtle. No matter who it is, when the fate is over, it's time to part ways. Respecting each other by leaving gracefully is also a form of respect, isn't it?"
Wei Dongling was speechless for a moment. She had always thought Yu Zixi was heartless, but she was amazed that he could say such things.
Yu Zixi seemed to think of something. He let go of Wei Dongling and said angrily with a dark face, "No wonder he's been lying in bed for so many days!"
Wei Dongling looked up in surprise and asked, "Who? Young Master Yun?"
Yu Zixi snorted, hugged her tightly, and kissed her red lips fiercely, as if he was using up all his strength.
Cuihuan was sitting on the rocky beach by the Moon - falling Lake under the scorching sun. She watched the ripples on the lake surface and chatted idly with Ruan Niang.
Suddenly, Yu Haiming emerged from the lake with a big river clam in his hand. He asked Cuihuan, "What's this?"
Cuihuan smiled and shouted to Yu Haiming, "Catch a few more. I'll cook something delicious for you tonight!"
Yu Haiming nodded, threw the river clam on the shore, and dived back into the water.
Ruan Niang looked at Cuihuan and asked in a soft voice with a smile, "Our Cuihuan is sixteen this year, right? At the age of marriage, have you been betrothed to someone?"
Cuihuan said shyly, "I'm still young, Ruan Niang."
Ruan Niang whispered playfully, "Not young anymore, are you? What do you think of our Luo Xunlong?"
Cuihuan's face was instantly covered with a blush that spread all the way to her neck.
Ruan Niang looked at her red - hot earlobes and covered her lips with a low laugh. "Xunlong is only a few years older than you. He's still a young man!"
Cuihuan was so red in the face that she almost buried it in her neck.
Ruan Niang continued with a smile, "Ruan Niang won't do you any harm. He's really a good man! If you take a fancy to him, you'll be a perfect match!"
Cuihuan was so embarrassed that her face was bright red. She got up and was about to leave.
But Luo Xunlong suddenly emerged from the lake. He wiped the water droplets from his eyes and shook them off. Holding a gold hairpin in his hand, he shouted to Cuihuan, "Is this the hairpin the girl dropped?"
Cuihuan looked up and exclaimed in surprise, "That's the one!"
Luo Xunlong walked out of the water and handed the hairpin to Cuihuan. He lowered his head and said with a smile, "Please give it to Miss Wei for me!"
Cuihuan nodded, shyly took the hairpin, and ran away in a flash.
Luo Xunlong was stunned. "What's wrong with Miss Cuihuan? Why is she in such a hurry?"