The snow continued to fall at night, falling in clusters and clumps. The snow under the silver light was white and soft. The night was so quiet that it made people feel melancholy. His white clothes were whiter than snow, and his tall figure was lost in the vast whiteness, and it was hard to tell them apart. He stood quietly in the yard like a jade mushroom, without an umbrella. He let the flying catkins float on him, gradually wetting his thin clothes. There were also beads of snow on his slightly trembling eyelashes, which were like tears after melting.
There was no moon tonight, and his eyes dimmed.
His cold eyes looked endlessly toward the deep sky, but no one knew what he was thinking in his heart.
There was the sound of footsteps on the snow behind him, but Xiao Tong did not turn around. The person behind him did not make a sound, but gently pulled his sleeve.
He knew who it was and said calmly, "Qinglan, you go back first. I'll be alone for a while."
Qinglan lowered her head and stood aside, as if she wanted to stay with him.
Xiao Tong knew her temper. If this happened, she would not listen to him and leave.
After a long time, Xiao Tong sighed and asked, "Qinglan, have you ever had a feeling?"
When Qinglan heard him calling her, she hurried forward and stood beside him, listening.
"There is a feeling that lingers in my heart. I am always thinking about someone in my heart. The scenes with her keep replaying uncontrollably over and over again, thinking about her every word, every frown and every smile. I also wonder what she is doing now, and whether she is looking at the snow scene like me..." Xiao Tong's voice gradually became smaller, as if he was talking to himself.
Qinglan listened attentively, and every word was like thunder in her ears. She raised her eyes and smiled reluctantly, then nodded after thinking for a moment. Her eyes were firm and sincere, but unfortunately she couldn't speak.
"Qinglan..." Xiao Tong laughed at himself, "I really don't know what I am thinking, saying or doing." Now, she has become his lover. What right do I have to miss her and fantasize about her
"The night is long and I can't sleep, the moon is so bright. I want to hear the happy call, but I can only answer it in vain." With a hoarse and sad tone, it reached her ears through the night, and it was no longer real. Qinglan looked up at him at a loss. The jade-like man had been staring at the sky in the east, his eyes full of emotions that she seemed to understand but not quite. It was a kind of sadness she had never seen before!
The sadness was like an icy blade that instantly pierced her heart, and her whole body began to tremble.
It was a cold night, but it wasn't just the two people in the yard who felt cold.
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Her hair was combed into an elaborate and elegant bun, with a phoenix-shaped jade hairpin with a pearl, a thousand-tail tassels, and pearl earrings. She was covered with layers of clothes. A white lining, a dark red gown, a light red cotton skirt, a water-colored flowing belt, a jade pendant, and finally a wide-sleeved gauze in the color of a concubine. She originally had a black robe, but Zhao Pei refused to wear it no matter what.
But this outfit has made her exhausted. She can hardly walk, afraid that if she walks too fast, her ornaments or even clothes will fall off. Maybe Shui Niang actually did this for this purpose.
Xiao Yi, who entered the palace with her, looked at her sideways, shook his head slightly, leaned over and whispered in her ear: "Don't look like you're being tortured."
"But that's how it is! It's not even convenient to walk..." Zhao Pei protested in a low voice, staring at him unwillingly. Why do women have so many rules, while they men can wear what they like relatively.
"Shh—" Xiao Yi smiled meaningfully and took her hand, "I'll just hold your hand and walk with you."
Zhao Pei was scalded by the temperature of his palm, and her ears turned red. She lowered her head and said, "No, here... there are many people watching." She glanced and happened to meet the emperor's smiling eyes and the jade-like man in the silver-white court robe embroidered with gold thread beside him. She didn't dare to look into his eyes, but her face became redder and she struggled to shake off his hand.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Yi pulled her hard with his hands, causing her pain. Zhao Pei looked at him in surprise, as if nothing had happened and he was smiling faintly. She knew that he was doing it on purpose for others to see, and she was even more angry. However, the difference in strength between men and women made it impossible for her to fight him off.
Finally, he led her to the hall, where they knelt side by side and shouted, "Long live the emperor, long live the emperor!"
The emperor's eyes fell on their clasped hands and he smiled slightly: "Alright, alright. Everyone, get up and take your seats."
Yao Yunshang on the side smiled and said, "Look at these seven brothers and seven sisters. They are very loving. Isn't that right, Deshi?"
Xiao Tong was staring at the two of them, a little dazed. When he heard Yao Yunshang ask him, his throat felt dry and he couldn't speak. He just responded in a muffled voice while sipping his tea. Yao Yunshang was still smiling, sitting upright and saying nothing more.
Zhao Pei and Xiao Yi sat down, and Xiao Yi still held her hand tightly. Zhao Pei tried to let go but it was in vain, her palms were sweating and she felt uncomfortable. She smiled and looked straight ahead, her mouth slightly moved, and she gritted her teeth and said, "There is no more drama now, can you let go?"
Xiao Yi really let go. She pulled her hand back in anger, only to see the red marks on her fair white hand. She glared at him angrily, but was defeated by his indifferent and nonchalant expression.
What a acting skill.
The maids brought up the wine and food, and the aroma filled the air. Zhao Pei had been hungry for most of the day, and now she was starving, so she took the chopsticks and started to eat without paying attention to the rules. There was a commotion, and someone could be heard calling faintly: "Sixth Prince, Sixth Prince."
She thought she was hallucinating, but when she looked up she really saw him.
Xiao Lun was wearing a dark purple robe with lotus embroidery, and a jade pendant with yellow tassels on his waist. He was wearing a white jade crown and a purple hairband, which was very elegant. He looked heroic and proud. He saluted in front of the emperor with a smile, shouting "Long live father." It was natural and smooth, and his every move was noble.
Zhao Peiwei was a little surprised, and couldn't even hold the chopsticks. Xiao Yi said beside her: "Sixth brother has been restored to the title."
Zhao Pei nodded, sincerely happy for him. After all, such a man could only be born in the royal family and belong only to the royal family. Of course, his huge expenses were also an important factor.
After paying his respects, Xiao Lun stood up gracefully, as if looking for something in the crowd. Finally, he focused his eyes on Zhao Pei. She rarely avoided him, and when their eyes met, she saw clearly the nostalgia, sadness, joy and blessings. In her mind, the lonely and painful figure of the man riding away on his horse in the pouring rain appeared, overlapping with the figure of the high-spirited King Shaoling in front of her. They were not the same person at all.
Zhao Pei deeply felt his helplessness, which was mixed with her own helplessness.
With tears in his eyes, Xiao Lun forced a smile and nodded slightly at her, then hurriedly sat down as if avoiding other people's gazes.
All that was left for her was a thin silhouette. Zhao Pei sniffed, feeling a continuous warmth in her heart.
Xiao Yi took in all these silent exchanges, smiled mockingly, and then turned his gaze away to stare at the raised platform. The beauty danced gracefully and the orchestra played melodiously, but it did not arouse his interest at all.
I felt irritated for no reason. It was a feeling I couldn't explain but didn't want to admit.
When the song ended, everyone applauded, whether they liked it or not. The emperor said, "Deshi, I heard that you have been practicing playing the harp today. Why don't you play a song for me again so that I and everyone else can hear this heavenly music."
Xiao Tong smiled modestly and said, "I never dared to dream of 'heavenly music'. Since my father is so interested in this, I will show my humility." He stood up and calmly went up to the high platform. A maid had already set up the zither, and he brushed his sleeves and sat upright, holding up his hand like an immortal who had left the world.
Zhao Pei had no appetite for snacks. She looked up nonchalantly at the immortal on the seat, but her hands under the table were pressing tightly on her legs, holding her breath for fear that she would not be able to hold back her tears.
There is a tall tree in the south, I cannot stop thinking about it; there is a wandering girl in the Han River, I cannot stop thinking about it. The Han River is so wide that I cannot think about it by swimming; the Yangtze River is so long that I cannot stop thinking about it. The firewood is piled high, I mean to cut the chrysanthemums; the daughter is returning home, I mean to feed her horse. The Han River is so wide that I cannot stop thinking about it by swimming; the Yangtze River is so long that I cannot stop thinking about it. The firewood is piled high, I mean to cut the chrysanthemums; the daughter is returning home, I mean to feed her horse. The Han River is so wide that I cannot stop thinking about it by swimming; the Yangtze River is so long that I cannot stop thinking about it.
The simple and ancient music was just like "Han Guang". Zhao Pei's body was trembling slightly, and her eyes were wide open to prevent tears from falling. She stared at the man who was singing on the stage, the loneliness and desolation on his eyebrows, the paleness and weakness in his mellow voice... and this "Han Guang".
It's a once in a lifetime opportunity. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity…
Zhao Pei didn't dare to stay here any longer. It was a torment, an endless dull pain.
He said hurriedly, "I'm going to the toilet," then got up and ran away in a hurry.
A clear song, a place of longing. Thinking about something, thinking about something, the trembling music shook his heart, just like the fingertips wandering on the strings, the slightest pain and itch. But he didn't see the two lines of tears sliding down her face when she turned around. (To be continued)