On the misty lake, a small boat slowly appeared in the thin fog. The boat slowly approached the island in the center of the lake. A man in black got off the boat first and then turned back to support the woman in red behind him.
Xiuchun watched from a distance on the balcony, smiling. She quickly lowered the bamboo curtain and sat down next to Xiao Gang. It was rare for Xiao Gang and his brothers to get together in recent years, and they were in high spirits when they talked about the "Wine Classic". Xiao Ji was interested and hurriedly asked someone to warm up a pot of wine.
Xiuchun smiled brightly, pulled Xiao Gang's sleeve and moved closer to him. Just as she was about to say something, the door was pushed open. Everyone looked over and saw the man was stern and the woman was charming, one in black and one in red, which was a perfect match.
Xiuchun raised her eyebrows and said in a complaining tone, "Look who's here." Then she cast a teasing look at him.
Zhao Pei smiled awkwardly, and looked around to see that there were quite a few people. The man in white was sitting in the middle, smiling and looking at them gently. From the left were Xiao Ji, Xiao Gang, Xiu Chun, and on the right were the literati Wang Gui and Yu Jianwu who were around Xiao Tong. He had met Wang Gui before, and he was fair-skinned. And this was the first time he had met Yu Jianwu, and although he was over 40, he had the temperament of a scholar.
Everyone bowed, and Xiao Yi nodded without saying anything, then took her to a seat.
As soon as I sat down, I heard Xiuchun jokingly say, "Seventh sister said she couldn't come this morning, but it turns out she was waiting for her husband to come with her."
Zhao Pei was embarrassed, but she let her talk. Xiao Gang smiled and said, "I was thinking that I would not be able to see my seventh brother before I went to Yangzhou. Now I am satisfied."
The waiter poured a rich tea for Xiao Yi Zhaopei. Through the mist, Xiao Yi looked up at Xiao Gang, who was smiling all the time, and asked, "When will the third brother leave?"
"We'll leave tomorrow." Xiao Gang sighed, "Seventh brother will also be leaving for Jingzhou soon."
Xiao Yi nodded and glanced at Zhao Pei who was keeping her head down. "Father originally wanted to leave at the beginning of the year, but considering that Zhao Pei was pregnant and not suitable for the bumpy ride, he arranged the trip to after Zhao Pei's confinement. I think it will be the end of summer."
Xiao Ji shrugged and said, "Look, everyone has gone out, and it's my turn now. I really can't bear to let go, but my brother will be the only one left in the capital from now on." His gaze turned to Xiao Tong, and he saw him holding the teacup to his lips and blowing gently, with a half-smile on his face. The hot steam obscured his expression, making it hard to tell whether he was happy or sad.
Everyone had their own thoughts, pondering and thinking. This topic was not pleasant, so everyone immediately changed the topic and talked about history books. Xiao Yi was quite knowledgeable about this, so he started talking about it. Zhao Pei looked at his profile, and he looked particularly serious and bold. At this time, he was eloquent, unlike Xiao Yi who was usually frugal with words.
I don't know much about these, I just read them for fun. Listening to their careful and well-founded comments, sometimes regretful and sometimes sighing, Zhao Pei shrugged her shoulders and listened to their enthusiastic discussion in silence. But Xiuchun, she has always been interested in these things and has talked to Zhao Pei before. At this time, she leaned forward and listened while interjecting, looking very excited.
Zhao Pei was still tasting the cakes on the table, eating very slowly, one bite at a time, as if she was afraid of choking. She secretly raised her eyes and looked through the gaps in his hair at the elegant man in white clothes as white as snow.
Three years later, Xiao Tong seemed to be more elegant and handsome. His every smile, gesture and movement were elegant and noble, exuding a charm that could not be ignored or violated, yet made people fall in love with him. She had not looked at him carefully for three years. Sometimes when they met at banquets, she just watched from a distance and dared not approach to talk. She avoided him just as he avoided her. For three years, she was lonely for such a long time, as if she had really forgotten something.
There was always a faint smile on his lips, and his clear eyes seemed to be filled with moonlight. He listened to everyone's conversation silently, gently shaking the luminous cup in his hand, and the amber wine was shining with a transparent luster, reflecting the faint smile on his lips, trying to make her intoxicated.
The whole day in the south of the Yangtze River is cold and misty, and the curtains are drawn to see how far we are from each other. I want to think about my feelings, but the old times are gone. Just a frown and a smile, and it will last for thousands of years.
She thought of these words in her mind for no reason, and raised the wine glass on the table casually, but was immediately stopped by Xiao Yi, who glared at her and indicated that she couldn't drink. Zhao Pei curled her lips, and he handed her a teacup. Zhao Pei wanted to say something, but he had already turned his face away and re-engaged in the conversation.
They were so excited that they seemed to have forgotten the time. About three hours later, Zhao Pei raised her head from the table full of leftovers. It was already dark outside the window. The evening sky was orange-red, purple, and dark blue, pressing down layer by layer like silk threads.
It seemed that everyone at the table, except her, was already drunk. According to Xiao Ji, the purpose of this gathering was, first, to celebrate the completion of Xiao Tong's "Selected Works of Literature", second, to send Xiao Gang off, and third, to welcome Xiao Yi. How could they not celebrate properly
After a look, only Xiao Tong still had some clarity in his eyes. Perhaps because she had been sitting for too long, Zhao Pei felt a little uncomfortable in her stomach. She approached Xiao Yi and said a few words, preparing to go out for a walk. Xiao Yi's face rarely flushed, and he slowly stood up to accompany her. Zhao Pei smiled and pressed his shoulders to make him sit down. Xiao Yi was already six points drunk, and his eyelids drooped.
Xiao Ji beside him pulled his sleeve and kept mumbling, sometimes crying and sometimes laughing. Zhao Pei pointed at Xiao Ji, meaning that you should stay with him.
Xiao Yi looked at her apologetically. Zhao Pei shrugged indifferently and walked out slowly.
Xiao Ji pulled Xiao Yi to have another drink. He suddenly pushed away the drunk man who was leaning on him with some annoyance, and leaned over the table himself.
———————
Xuanwu Lake in the evening is as graceful and charming as a shy bride. The white clouds and blue sky, the distant mountains are like dark layers, and the golden lake surface reflects the dark blue sky, sometimes smooth and sometimes turbulent. Suddenly, a few warblers fluttered by and disturbed the spring water.
Zhao Pei held her waist and walked slowly along the shore, the willows brushing against her ears, like the gentle caress of a lover. She stood in the sunset for a long time in silence, breathing deeply and trying to remove the heaviness that had been pressing on her heart that day.
Such a pleasant scenery... She chuckled without knowing what it meant. The wind was stronger near the water, blowing her crimson gauze skirt up and down, and the blooming red lotus was vivid, and there seemed to be a faint fragrance. Her hair was a little messy, and she was too lazy to reach out to tidy it up. She just half-closed her eyes and looked at the distant mountains, and saw Tongtai Temple on the mountains from afar. It was just a fragment of her life, but it changed her fate.
"Seventh sister, the wind is blowing." A clear and elegant voice came from behind, "Go back quickly."
Zhao Pei's body trembled slightly. She knew whose voice it was. Without turning back, she continued to look into the distance: "The scenery here is beautiful."
He walked slowly with his hands behind his back and stood beside her. With a smile on his lips, he followed her line of sight and said, "Indeed." The setting sun was like blood, shining brightly on the rustling blue waves. There were a few small boats on the lake, floating in the golden color, like silhouettes. "But no matter how beautiful the sunset is, it will eventually sink into the dark night." He said softly, as if he was just talking to himself.
Zhao Pei heard the sadness in the voice, and her heartstrings were touched, so she asked without thinking: "Deshi, why are you always so sad..." After she said this, she realized she had overstepped her bounds and quickly shut her mouth.
"I thought you understood me." He still smiled and looked sideways at her, with sparkling light in his eyes.
Zhao Pei was stunned, and subconsciously met his gaze. He had drunk some wine, and was now a little drunk, with a hazy look in his eyes. Zhao Pei didn't say anything, staring into his eyes, and suddenly felt like crying. How could she not understand him, how could she not understand him... His loneliness, his forbearance, his considerations, his left and right, his helplessness... How could she not understand. However, from beginning to end, she was powerless.
I understand... The two words stuck in her throat, unable to spit them out or swallow them down. Finally, they turned into a self-deprecating smile on her lips, and Zhao Pei lowered her eyes and remained silent.
"How long will it take for the baby to be born?" Xiao Tong asked her.
Zhao Pei didn't raise her eyes, staring at the ring on her waist and replied, "I will be born when the lotus fills the pond."
He nodded slightly, then smiled and said, "Before I came here, I heard Huan'er and Zhu'er talking about Han Zhen. I heard that she is a cute and smart girl. When can I bring her here for you to see?"
Zhao Pei didn't say anything, just nodded silently. She didn't dare to shake her head hard, for fear of shaking out the tears in her eyes. It turned out that they could only talk about topics like this. She was so close to him in her heart, but so far away from him in reality.
A gust of wind blew by, and Zhao Pei was a little unsteady. She choked and whispered, "I... It's a little cold outside, I think it's better to go back."
Xiao Tong stared at her, nodded and said, "Okay, you go back first. I... will stay for a while." Zhao Pei turned around silently and walked towards Guansheng Tower. She walked very slowly step by step.
But suddenly he called her again: "Pepe..." It seemed that he had made a great decision before calling out, so urgently and panickily.
"Hmm?" She turned around quickly and looked at the man in white through the green willow leaves. His face was like jade, and his thin body was exceptionally tall and slender. His eyes, as flowing and graceful as the moonlight, stared at her for a long time, so long that Zhao Pei thought he was playing a trick on her. Then he slowly said, "If I had promised myself a long time ago that I would not care so much. Maybe everything would be different now." Those clear eyes suddenly poured out infinite sadness, melancholy, and indelible emotions.
Zhao Pei was horrified and felt a chill in her heart, as if the red-hot blade had suddenly pierced into her chest and pierced through her body.
She quickly lowered her head to avoid the sad look. However, the moment she lowered her head, her tears soaked the ground beneath her feet.
"Pepe, have you ever hated me?" Xiao Tong's breath was weak, as if he had used up all his strength.
Her lips trembled, and a slight fishy-sweet feeling welled up in her throat. Her body trembled involuntarily, and she thought she had to leave immediately, the farther away from him the better. He only said, "You are drunk." She turned around and left in panic, her feet felt weak as if she was stepping on a thick and soft cushion, unable to support her shaky body.
She glanced slightly to the side, and saw the still graceful figure from the corner of her eye. She couldn't bear to see the sadness lingering around him anymore, so she left in embarrassment.
How can I not hate you? I hate you because I love you. (To be continued)