In the prosperous place of fireworks and incense, strings of red gauze lanterns were hung at night. The prosperous Qinhuai River was filled with music and singing, and the birds were chirping. The soft and transparent water was rippling, and the waves were scattered. Under the light of the lights, it was gorgeous and colorful, both real and illusory. The misty night was dyed with beautiful prosperity, which was soul-stirring.
Xiao Ji, wearing a long gown with wide sleeves in a light moon color, stood at the bow of the pleasure boat, looking at the beautiful women on both sides of the river, with a smile on his face. He accepted all the seductive glances from the beauties, and when some women threw down handkerchiefs or fruits with a smile, he also accepted them calmly.
The pleasure boat slowly approached the dock. He looked up and saw Xiao Yi standing by the side, and a young man in blue clothes beside him. He raised his eyebrows and smiled, making a gesture of invitation.
Xiao Yi turned around and whispered a few words to the young man beside him, and then they boarded the pleasure boat together. Xiao Ji could see clearly that the young man was fair and handsome, and his movements were elegant and noble. His eyes were softer, brighter and more charming than the Qinhuai River at night, and his lips were more rosy than the red lanterns. After Xiao Ji saluted Xiao Ji, he smiled and teased, "Seventh Brother, it's rare for you to come out and show off your elegance and elegance. Why do you bring a servant who looks so much like your Seventh Sister-in-law with you? Aren't you afraid that it will be boring?"
The young man glared at him and said angrily, "Eighth brother, you are in such a good mood to invite your seventh brother to such a place of entertainment. I want to follow you and see how you pretend to be refined."
Xiao Ji spread his hands and said, "Sister-in-law Qi is here, but I can only pretend to be cultured." His expression was ambiguous, teasing, and full of disappointment. Xiao Yi smiled faintly and turned his head away to look at the Qinhuai River in the light of the oars, which was full of charm.
Zhao Pei bit her lip, knowing that she couldn't win the argument, so she stopped talking. The three of them stood at the bow for a while, shuttling through the waterway filled with laughter, with bouquets of flowers and embroidered handkerchiefs thrown to them from both sides, all over the ground. Some handkerchiefs flew directly to Zhao Pei's face, and a faint fragrance immediately hit her forehead. She hurriedly took off the handkerchief covering her eyes, and received the woman's endless glances, full of affection.
Her face flushed and she lowered her head. The bright lights reflected on her shy face. At that moment, she suddenly felt that the prosperous and beautiful Qinhuai River was dimmed.
Xiao Yi unconsciously stretched out his hand to hold her shoulders and lean against her in his arms, blocking the baptism of the flower rain. He thought she would definitely curse a few words and then struggle to get away in a panic. Unexpectedly, Zhao Pei looked up at him, her face flushed even more. She smiled coquettishly and let him hold her obediently. Her smile and frown were even more charming under the dim light.
He was distracted, wondering if he was hallucinating in such a beautiful scene. However, the beautiful girl in his arms was so real.
Xiao Ji coughed twice and said with a smile: "Seventh Brother, you are going to hurt the girls' hearts by doing this."
"Why?" Zhao Pei looked up at him.
"Think about it, two handsome men like this are actually gay, wouldn't that be sad? Besides, they just threw so many things down for nothing." As soon as Xiao Ji finished speaking, Zhao Pei straightened up and spit at him: "You are so dishonest."
Xiao Ji shrugged, not even looking at you. He originally invited Xiao Yi to this place of fireworks to feel the beauty and tenderness of Qinhuai women, so that he would not be confined in the mansion. He didn't expect that there would be an extra Xu Zhaopei. Isn't this just adding to the chaos? He glanced at Xiao Yi's cold and indifferent face, and met his silent eyes, and then he suddenly understood his intention.
Suddenly feeling bored, he was the first to get into the pleasure boat.
The three of them ordered some food and wine, and leaned against the half-open window to watch the lights reflected on the water and the mist outside. It was Zhao Pei's first time to come to such a place, and she came with Xiao Yi. Such a charming scenery captured Zhao Pei's heart early on, and she sighed: "Such a beautiful scenery and beautiful women, how can people not be intoxicated in the gentle land and linger?"
Xiao Ji was about to laugh when he heard Zhao Pei say, "Qi Fu, you are not allowed to come here anymore. If you come, you must take me with you." The command was coquettish, like ripples spreading out layer by layer. Xiao Ji shook his body and smiled at Xiao Yi. He wanted to see how his icy face would make him even more hungry. It seemed that the King of Xiangdong had never been ordered by anyone.
However, his hopes were dashed again. Xiao Yi actually smiled. There was a slight ripple on his stern face, and the corners of his mouth rose imperceptibly. Xiao Ji opened his mouth slightly, staring at the tenderness and doting written in his eyes. Xiao Ji thought he was dazzled, shook his head and blinked. The two "men" were still sitting in each other's arms, their eyebrows were gentle and affectionate, and their figures were hidden under the changing lights, evoking a trace of tacit understanding and lingering. One was cold and resolute but tender, and the other was shy and beautiful but affectionate. Such a warm picture seemed to make time stand still, and the noise and laughter seemed to be driven away.
Xiao Ji's eyebrows twitched unconsciously. He thought he was crazy, or Xiao Yi was crazy. A chill ran down his spine. He had discovered a shocking secret! This cold-faced king...
He didn't dare to disturb her anymore and went straight to Qinghong Pavilion on the shore.
There were only two of them left in the pleasure boat. Zhao Pei chuckled, "This guy is quite sensible."
Xiao Yi smiled calmly, stared at her for a while and asked, "What happened to you today? You suddenly changed your personality."
Zhao Pei raised her eyebrows, the smile on her lips faded, and she said softly: "I suddenly saw something clearly. I decided not to be angry anymore." Her words were half true and half false. She didn't look at Xiao Yi's expression, but leaned quietly beside him, "So, Qi Fu, your life will probably be difficult in the future."
"What?"
"I will keep a close eye on you." Zhao Pei nodded and said harshly, "Don't even think about learning bad things from Xiao Ji."
Zhao Pei rested her head on his chest, feeling his chest rise and fall slightly, and a rustling laugh came from his chest: "It's not wrong to say that you are a jealous woman." Then he added, "I like it very much."
Because of the words "I like it very much", her chest stagnated and her emotions became complicated. Some were relieved, some were sweet, some were lost, and some were sentimental... .
"Look at this ferry." Xiao Yi suddenly stood up and pointed out the window. Zhao Pei tilted her head and looked along his slender finger, only to see the pier with five red lanterns hanging on it. It didn't seem to be anything special.
"Peach leaves, peach leaves. No need for a pole to cross the river. No need for hardship. I will come to greet you." He slowly chanted Wang Xianzhi's "Peach Leaf Song", his chest felt heavy. Zhao Pei's ears were a little itchy but she smiled knowingly and chanted along: "Peach leaves reflect red flowers. Even without wind, they are graceful. Spring flowers reflect so many things. I am grateful that you picked me alone."
The two of them were silent for a while and suddenly smiled at each other. The lights intertwined, and his smile deepened. Zhao Pei asked him: "Will you wait for me there with a lamp?"
Xiao Yi did not speak, but nodded solemnly amid the ethereal music. His eyes were filled with deep emotions, and she would be sucked in if she lost her balance.
Zhao Pei smiled softly, like a red lotus blooming enchantingly in the dark night, captivating and silent. She believed in his promise without a doubt.
Perhaps it was the intoxicating fragrance of the night, wandering in the boundless tenderness and lingering. She gradually immersed herself in his solemn promise. She forgot to ask him why he was so intimate in front of Xiao Ji, forgot to remind herself that the grudge between them had not been sorted out, forgot that she was just acting a play with all her heart, and forgot that there was a man hidden deep in her heart.
At that time, she indulged her own thoughts and stayed with him. But the reason has gradually become blurred. (To be continued)