The night in the desert is always particularly rich. Tonight, the area where it meets the lake is filled with orange-red, as the burning bonfire illuminates the sky. Further away, the sky is filled with bright stars, like gems scattered in a long river, so beautiful that it is bewitching.
Legend has it that if you walk one hundred and ninety-nine steps around the Dusk Moon Lake, you can look up to see the starry sky, and look down to meet your loved one.
With some secret thoughts in mind, the graceful figure in red moved lightly along the lake, counting her own steps silently in her heart.
There's no harm in giving it a try...
Linglan followed her master dutifully, taking care not to be touched by the crowd, thinking that her master had come all the way to Nanmo just to see his beloved.
I wonder what kind of man can win the princess's heart. Will Your Majesty agree
On the other side of the Dusk Moon Lake, two young men in black robes were also strolling. Xiao Muyun was dragged by Xiao Muran to walk the boring 199 steps, feeling quite helpless.
"Is this also part of the bonfire party?"
"Of course, if you want to participate in the bonfire party, you must walk one hundred and ninety-nine steps around the lake." Xiao Muran blinked, a smile flashing across his eyes.
"By the way, how many steps have you taken, second brother?"
"Same as you."
"Oh no, brother didn't count!"
"Forty-seven steps."
"You may sound disgusted, but your mind is quite honest. Don't you want to write this down?"
"… "
Although he disliked superstitious activities and his brother who had brain spasms from time to time, he didn't say it out loud. Xiao Muyun was too lazy to say it.
As if he had guessed what his brother was thinking, Xiao Muran smiled brightly and said, "Want to make a bet?"
"What's the bet?"
"The gods and I have made a bet that you will meet your destiny."
"good."
He will definitely win.
The girl he loved had long been a fantasy of his childhood. How could she possibly appear before him
Even though he had not forgotten those clear peach blossom eyes, he had not forgotten that she was Mu Lin.
"How about making a bet and making the other party a condition?"
"Can."
Even though Xiao Muran slowed down his pace, it didn't take long before their step count exceeded one hundred and fifty.
When they reached the last nine steps, Xiao Muran suddenly began to count down aloud.
"Nine… "
"eight… "
"… "
As a competent secret guard, Linglan was also counting silently in her heart.
"three"
"two"
"one"
“Bang!”
A huge explosion sounded out of nowhere, and a bright beam of light shot up into the night sky. The huge light spot instantly burst into a golden and silver glow, as bright as countless stars splashing down.
It was a firework, Mu Lin laughed in surprise.
As countless "bang bang" sounds rang out, countless colorful huge flowers bloomed in the sky, and fireworks fell one after another, seemingly within reach of people.
The King of the Southern Territory really dotes on Princess Ni Ke. Such a grand fireworks display is extremely valuable and is only set off at grand ceremonies.
After she finished enjoying the grand fireworks, she narrowed her eyes and looked forward.
His gaze suddenly sank into the deep sea, with falling and burning sparks.
The figure in black was only ten feet away from her. The handsome man stared at her as if she was trapped in a dream.
Mu Lin wanted to continue moving forward, but the moment their eyes met, she froze in place.
She seemed to know him, no... she had known him for years.
"Lin'er..."
She couldn't hear his voice through the chaotic crowd, but she seemed to hear the surprise and emotion in his sigh.
Then her heart trembled slightly.
When she came to her senses, she had already walked in front of him, looking up at him, but she didn't know what to say.
My emotions are full of complexity.
She didn't know whether she should ask or what to ask...
Haven't seen you for many years. How are you doing
Did he notice that she left without saying goodbye
She lost her mother, and he also lost his mother.
He recognized her, does that mean... he had been thinking about her, so he could remember her immediately
Mu Lin felt as if clusters of fireworks were exploding in his heart, changing rapidly and shining brightly.
She looked him over.
Because he recognized her, she recognized him.
Xiao Muyun doesn't look like his master, but his features and temperament are still similar.
Mu Lin took off her veil belatedly, revealing a beautiful face that was as pretty as a painting, revealing a bit of indescribable complexity, or perhaps a bit of expectation and tenderness.
"How are you doing?" he spoke first.
No one asked her why she was here, or why she was dressed like that.
Mu Lin suddenly smiled, and in an instant, thousands of pear trees blossomed.
"Brother Muyun." Xiao Muyun heard her whisper, "I'm here to find you."
"I'm waiting for you," he replied.
"Cough, cough, cough!" A cough came from beside Xiao Muyun. Mu Lin could hear it was 50% pretentious and 50% deliberate.
She tilted her head slightly and saw a handsome man who looked similar to Xiao Muyun, but with stronger facial features and a more open and easy-going temperament.
"This is you... my brother, Xiao Muren." Xiao Muyun was a little annoyed. How could he be affected by his brother's unstable temperament and almost said the wrong thing.
"Hey! Girl, just call me Brother Xiao. Of course, you can also just call me brother..." Xiao Muran blinked at Mu Lin, then quickly looked at Xiao Muyun, his ears a little red.
This girl is so pretty. When did you hook up with her, brother
Xiao Muyun read what his brother wanted to say from his eyes, so he formally introduced: "Brother, this is my fiancée, Miss Mu Linmu."
Mu Lin didn't shy away and smiled lightly, "Brother Xiao, you can call me Lin'er."
"Hey, Lin'er speaks straightforwardly, I like it!"
Xiao Muran's affection for this girl instantly doubled. He was about to pull her aside to chat for a few more minutes when he suddenly felt a little cold around him. He turned his head and met his brother's chilly eyes.
"... Well, it's rare for you to meet, so you guys can chat slowly. My brother and I will go over there and dance with the old ladies..."
"Okay, Brother Xiao, take care." Mu Lin waved at him.
If it were normal times, Mu Lin would definitely politely ask him to stay, but she finally met Xiao Muyun, and she was a little excited and couldn't calm down. She really didn't want to have another person...
It was obvious that Xiao Muyun thought the same thing, and he watched his brother go away with a chill in his heart.
The big round moon that was a bit of an eyesore between the two of them just left. Mu Lin nodded to Linglan, and Linglan took a few steps back, a little further away from them.
I silently watched the lovely couple walking in front of me. Although they didn't say much, they gave me a feeling of peace and tranquility, which made me feel very warm.
Linglan silently gave herself a thumbs up. It was inevitable that being alone for a long time was a little confusing. She had some questions in her mind. What did the master send Hei Cha to do? Why did he let her guard a relationship alone? It was a bit hard to say.
Mu Lin finally remembered to answer Xiao Muyun's original question, "I have lived a good life these years, don't worry."
"Where did you and Aunt Mu move to? Can I go visit?"
Mu Lin's eyes dimmed a little, and he smiled faintly: "My mother passed away nine years ago."
There was a subtle hint of sadness and fragility in his words.
Xiao Muyun felt deep surprise and regret in his heart. He patted her shoulder, as if to give her some comfort.
After a long while, he said softly: "The sky is long and the earth is long. The reason why the sky and the earth can be long and long is that they do not produce themselves, so they can live forever."
This sentence comes from the Tao Te Ching, which says that the reason why the heaven and earth can exist for a long time is that they operate naturally not for their own survival. Some people die, but they still live forever. The loved ones who have passed away are not necessarily really gone. As long as they are still alive in the hearts of the survivors, they are still deeply alive and continue in their blood.
"Brother Mu Yun, I understand... Thank you."
Mu Lin understood that this was his own realization as he continued to struggle in pain. No matter what, she was happy that he could get out of the shadow of Princess Qianji's death.
She continued, "Although my mother passed away, she left me a younger brother. I will raise him well. Our family has moved to the capital. I'm sorry you can't come to visit me for the time being."
Xiao Muyun understood that the capital she was talking about was the capital of Jingsheng. As a descendant of Tianlan's royal family, it would be very troublesome for him to go there. Going there openly would bring her trouble, but going there secretly would be even more risky. Once exposed, it might complicate the situation between the two countries.
"No problem. Hengyang Palace welcomes you to visit at any time."
Mu Lin shook his head and said regretfully: "Not for now."
Her identity is also a problem.
Xiao Muyun stopped, stared at her and said seriously: "Lin'er, give me some time."
"... What time?" Mu Lin had a feeling that something was wrong.
Xiao Muyun took her hand and said calmly: "It's time to fulfill the engagement."
"I… "
"What are you doing!" With a cry, a figure in red came over here. The red dress fluttered, and a pair of beautiful eyes burned with anger. It was Princess Ni Ke.
In public, Mu Lin felt a little embarrassed and tried to break away from Xiao Muyun's hand, "Let's talk later."
However, Xiao Muyun seemed not to notice the trouble in front of him. He tightened his big hand slightly, still holding her soft and slightly cool little hand.
Mu Lin reluctantly gave up struggling and stood here with him, watching the exotic beauty walking towards him angrily.
"Xiao Er, who is she? Why are you holding her hand!" The little princess looked at them coldly, as if she was looking at an adulterous couple.
Facing the barrage of questions, Xiao Muyun said calmly: "Princess, she is my fiancée, there is nothing wrong with us holding hands."
"You!" Ni Ke's eyes were full of disbelief, but she didn't want to conflict with her lover in public, so she glared at Mu Lin.
Ni Ke looked at her beauty, and she felt endless vigilance and hostility in her heart. Although they were both wearing red clothes, and her clothes were more exquisite and gorgeous than hers, she was still overshadowed and almost became a foil.
Bah, vixen!
She is obviously a Han Chinese, but she wears the gorgeous clothes of their southern region. Is she trying to seduce her Xiao Lang by dressing like this
shameless!
"To tug at a man in public, according to your Han Chinese words, isn't that immoral?"
Every word was full of hostility.
Just as Xiao Muyun was about to speak, Mu Lin loosened his fingers, clasped his fingers together, and said calmly: "The Princess of the Southern Region has cultivated good idioms, but, whether in the Southern Region or in our Jingsheng, it is not excessive for an engaged couple to travel hand in hand."
Ni Ke's eyes turned completely cold, she didn't know whether to live or die!
"In Fengluo City, our princess's words are the rules. Who do you think you are? How dare you disrespect our princess!" The speaker was Ni Ke's maid Martha. Ni Ke allowed her to humiliate Mu Lin with a sinister sneer on her lips.
"I didn't know that the words of the Southern Territory Princess could override the law. Linglan..."
"I am here."
"You can ask the city lord, or directly ask His Excellency the King of the Southern Territory, is this the way to entertain guests in the Southern Territory?"
"yes."
"What a joke! Who do you think you are? You're just a seductive thing that can only flirt with people. You even want to meet our city lord and prince. Don't you think you're worthy of..."
"Shut up!"