After a few days, his limp body finally regained strength, but his heart was still filled with frustration and boredom. The general's mansion suddenly became much quieter.
Zhao Jie probably knew what happened that day, and he often took time out to visit her these days. Today he brought her good news: there was a poetry and literature gathering in the evening, and Dad had agreed that she could go.
"No, it's boring." Zhao Pei lay on the couch, pouting and not appreciating. If there was a poetry and prose meeting, Xiao Lun would definitely go, and she didn't want to see him now.
Zhao Jie seemed to understand her thoughts and explained, "You can rest assured that the Sixth Prince will not go. He has been sent by the Emperor to supervise the repair project."
Zhao Pei nodded and said loudly: "I'm not hiding from him! I'm just too lazy to go out. What does it have to do with me whether he goes or not?" Zhao Jie responded with a smile: "Yes, yes, yes. That's a pity, I heard that the prince will also go."
"Huh?" Zhao Pei jumped up from the couch when she heard this. "Really?"
Seeing Zhao Jie nod in confirmation, she walked out of the room and shouted, "Ruhua, get dressed!" before he finished speaking. She had to ask him in person and make things clear.
Zuixianlou, the best restaurant in Jiankang City. She hesitated for a moment but finally stepped in. The men's clothes she was wearing were stolen from her brother's room. They were a bit big and inconvenient to move around. She went up to the third floor with her long gown but was stopped by the servant.
"Sir, where is your invitation?"
"Invitation?" Zhao Pei was stunned, frowning and muttering, "There is such a thing?" Her brother didn't even say anything to her, but now it's gone. "Um... oh! I left it at the mansion!" After saying that, she continued to walk inside.
The servant stopped her stubbornly and said with an apologetic smile, "I'm really sorry, sir. According to the rules, you can't enter without an invitation. Otherwise, you can go back and get it."
Zhao Pei glared at him and said, "Do you mean to make me go back and forth a few more times?" Seeing that she was annoyed, the servant laughed and said, "Master, you are making things difficult for me..."
"It's okay, let her in." A clear and sweet voice interrupted him.
Zhao Pei looked in the direction of the voice and saw him standing at the door of a private room not far away, dressed in snow-white clothes. His brows were clear and handsome, his eyes were filled with moonlight, and he was looking at her with a smile.
Her heart ached and she bowed slowly without saying a word.
When the servant saw Xiao Tong, he immediately bowed and apologized, then hurried away.
Zhao Pei stared at him silently for a long time, feeling resentful and worried. Xiao Gang, who was beside Xiao Tong, coughed twice: "Pei Pei is here too? Why isn't Ajie here?"
Zhao Pei came back to her senses and realized that there were two people beside him, the elegant and smiling Xiao Gang and the cold Xiao Yi. She forced a smile and bowed slowly: "Third brother, seventh brother. My brother is busy today and can't come, so I came to see the fun."
"Is Pepe here just to watch the fun?" Xiao Gang smiled, "I've heard that Pepe's painting skills are the best among all the other girls. How come he wants to feast our eyes on us today?"
"Third brother, you are joking. You are all here today, and Pepe has the chance to make a fool of himself."
Xiao Gang shook his head and smiled, but said nothing more. After the greetings, there was a silence. After a long while, Zhao Pei looked at Xiao Tong and said, "I have something to tell you. Can I borrow some space?"
Xiao Tong smiled calmly: "Okay."
The two of them knelt silently on both sides of the low table. She held the teacup in both hands, thinking about how to start the conversation. She looked up at him. The swaying light shone on his soft face, outlining his perfect outline. In all this silence, there was him. She seemed to be in a dream, beautiful but unreal.
Xiao Tong spoke first: "I heard that you were sick a few days ago. Are you feeling better now?"
Zhao Pei responded sullenly.
"Although it is midsummer, it has rained a lot these days. You should be careful not to catch a cold." Xiao Tong said this. Zhao Pei felt bitter when she heard him care about her so much. Finally, she said, "Why did you give my handkerchief to Sixth Brother?"
Xiao Tong was slightly stunned, but smiled faintly: "I thought Peipei was... "
Zhao Pei interrupted him hurriedly: "That's what you think. Don't you really understand?" She paused, bit her lip secretly, and continued, "The one I like in my heart... is... is..."
Xiao Tong seemed unwilling to hear it, and before she could finish, he said, "Liu Zhen likes you."
Zhao Pei was stunned for a moment, her nose felt sore: "But I..."
"Sixth brother likes you." As if afraid that she didn't hear clearly, he repeated it again. Xiao Tong looked at her gently, as if trying to persuade her, "I have never seen Sixth brother care about a woman as much as you do. Why don't you give him a chance?"
Zhao Pei felt amused, and a layer of mist appeared in front of her eyes. Do I have to accept him just because he likes me? Xiao Tong, is this your answer to me
She looked at him with a smile on her face: "What about you? Should you give me a chance?"
Xiao Tong froze when he heard this, and his hands on the table slowly tightened. He lowered his head and silently stared at the tea leaves floating in the teacup. After a long while, he slowly spoke: "I... In my eyes, you are just a younger sister who has not grown up yet."
Although the words were light, they hit her hard. A sister who hasn't grown up yet? I'm already a marriageable girl! Daddy said I can get married! She shouted in her heart, but her lips trembled a few times and she couldn't say a word.
His hands were clinging to the edge of the table, as if he would fall to the ground if he let go. She looked at his face, which was indistinguishable from his joy or sorrow under the soft light, and couldn't help trembling all over. It was really funny. Today, she finally experienced what it meant to bring disgrace upon herself.
There was a feeling of pain lingering in her chest. The mighty waves could almost knock her over.
Zhao Pei couldn't bear it any longer, she stood up suddenly and fled in a panic.
Xiao Tong lowered his eyes, lost for a long time. He decided not to think about the back of the person who resolutely lifted the curtain and left. He closed his eyes, but the hurt expression, the trembling body, and the sad and helpless eyes could not be shaken off. The swaying lights in the house and his wavering heart shattered the moonlight pouring in through the window. (To be continued)