~ YUNYAO, JUMP DOWN! ~
As night approaches, there are beautiful flower beds extended to the river’s surface on the Bian River bank near Taoyuan road. Behind the flower beds, the three-story Huan Cai Pavilion standing high.
Huan Cai Pavilion was a famous brothel in the Capital, with high-priced servants and jade-armed pillows for tens of thousands of people. Moreover, there were rumored to be some official ladies who have fallen in the family. I don’t know how many men are attracted to it.
The entire Huan Cai Pavilion is brightly lit. The high platform was built above the water level, and it was about the same height as the second floor of the pavilion. On the third floor of Huan Cai Pavilion, there is an enormous round lantern, which is also painted with the pattern of osmanthus trees. From the front, the lantern looked like a tremendous bright moon, and it hanged low on a high platform.
There were already many people gathered on both sides of the river bank and on the high platform. One by one, they began to speculate about the purpose of building this stage. Just as everyone was getting impatient from waiting, a figure suddenly descended from the sky. She held a ribbon in her hand as she lightly spun it around and landed on the high platform.
There was a sudden cry of exclamation around. The figure slowly descended as if come out of the bright moon, and almost people thought it was a fairy coming.
The lanterns at the back of the high platform were hanging high, making the woman’s figure on the stage appear graceful and elegant. She held a ribbon in her hand and danced in the wind, dancing gracefully like a fairy in the wind.
The souls of the people on both sides of the road were almost sucked out by this figure. They only remembered to cheer loudly for her. The sounds of silk and bamboo became more urgent, and the women on the platform quickly rotated along with it.
If Su Yuyi were here, she would have definitely discovered that this woman’s dance was very similar to hers, except that she was only slightly more charming than hers. These points of the charm made her even more captivating, causing many people to lose their composure.
The sound of the silk bamboo slowed down, the woman on the high platform slowly stopped moving and bowed slowly towards the bright moon lantern on the third floor of Huan Cai Pavilion. She grabbed the silk curtain that hanged on the high platform, then leaped and flew towards the bright moon.
She flew in from the moon and returned to the moon. It was like a fairy from the Moon Palace who came to the mortal world to leave a trail that attracted people’s attention.
“Fairy! That is Fairy Moon Palace!”
“Who is that girl? How come I’ve never seen her perform such a devastatingly beautiful act before?”
Who knew how many people were inquiring about the identity of the dancing girl? The old procuress’s face of Huan Cai Pavilion was full of smiles, but she didn’t mention a single word about the woman’s identity, no matter how much people grinded their lips.
It continued all the way until the moon was in the middle of the sky. There were still many people who lingered on both sides of the high platform, unwilling to leave, waiting to see the beauty of the Moon Fairy again. However, it’s a pity that they are doomed to waste time for nothing.
On this night, countless people were concerned about the fairy from the Moon Palace and dreamt of her. There was even a passionate scholar who drew a picture of the Moon Fairy and made a large sum of money.
Mu Yunyao walked out of the Imperial Palace with her face slightly flushed.
The smell of alcohol in the hall was too strong. Her senses were sharp, and the smell was making her feel uncomfortable. Walking out of the palace and into the carriage, she felt even more disgusted by the shaking, and her expression could not help but look a little sickly.
The Second Madam was a little worried as she asked, “Yunyao, are you alright?”
“I’m fine. It’s just that I have a headache, which made Second Aunt worry.”
“If you feel uncomfortable, then immediately rest after you return to your residence. Don’t overthink about anything.” Although Mu Yunyao had stolen part of the limelight from Su Yuyi, causing the Emperor and Grand Princess Yi De didn’t look up at Su Yuyi in high regard, the influence was still on the two of them. Other officials and descendants of noble families still treated Su Yuyi like a fairy, and she was worried that Mu Yunyao would be affected.
“Alright, I’ll listen to Second Aunt.”
“That’s right.”
After returning to the residence, Jin Lan and Jin Qiao are waiting at the inner gate. When they saw Mu Yunyao, they immediately revealed a happy expression. They first bowed to the Second Madam, and after being called out, they walked over to Mu Yunyao’s side, welcomed her, and said, “Miss, you’ve returned. Madam has been waiting for you.”
“I thought Mother was going to sleep first. It’s already so late. She shouldn’t be feeling well when she gets up tomorrow.” Mu Yunyao felt her heart pained. After bidding farewell to the Second Madam, she hurriedly walked towards Ji Yue Pavilion.
In the room, Su Qing was unable to sit still. When she heard the sound of footsteps, she immediately came out and greeted, “Yao’er, you’re back.”
Mu Yunyao stepped forward and held Su Qing’s hand, “Mother, it’s so late. Why aren’t you asleep yet?”
“Mother is worried about you. How could I sleep?”
Mu Yunyao couldn’t help but throw herself into Su Qing’s embrace, her eyes turning slightly sour. “Mother, I’ve let you worry. I’m fine. The Palace banquet is a big event, and I’m just a minor character who doesn’t have the qualifications to be schemed against at the Palace banquet. Don’t worry. Nothing will happen to me.”
“That’s good.” Su Qing was finally relieved. After she relaxed, she felt a bit more sleepy. Mu Yunyao quickly coaxed her to sleep. She then got up and left Su Qing’s room.
Jin Lan and Jin Qiao stood by the door. “Miss, the water for the baths has been placed in, and the clothes have been placed by the side …”
“Mm, you two can go rest now. It’s getting late. I can do it by myself.”
“Yes, Miss.” Miss had never enjoyed being bathed by others, so they were used to it, but they didn’t insist much.
Mu Yunyao comfortably took a bath, changed into a set of white clothes, and lightly rubbed her forehead.
It was already very late, but she wasn’t sleepy at all. When she thought of the cinnabar osmanthus placed in the courtyard, she couldn’t help but put on her cloak and opened the window.
“Yunyao!”
A voice filled with chilliness rang out. Mu Yunyao slightly widened her eyes as if she had seen an illusion: Yue Wang…
“Yunyao!” The voice sounded again, causing Mu Yunyao to look over with a calm expression. The moonlight was bright and white, and under the moonlight, the cinnabar osmanthus trees looked like a dream. And under the osmanthus trees closest to the window on the second floor, a handsome figure stood there. In the same place, she raised her head slightly. His sharp eyebrows were deep and vast, like a galaxy carrying the horizon, looking straight into her heart.
Yue Wang!
Mu Yunyao unconsciously tightened her fingers. Her heartbeat slightly quickened, and under the moonlight, the coldness around that person dissipated a bit. Looking up at her now, he seemed to have an illusion of gentleness as he lightly called out her name. His voice flowed through her ears and slid into her heart, like a feather falling lightly, causing the peaceful lake in her heart to emit a wave of energy.
Yue Wang’s gaze was focused on Mu Yunyao, his eyes filled with deep determination. After he left Jingling City, his heart slowly calmed down, and there was more time for him to see his thoughts clearly.
He did not regret that impulsive interrogation. It was not only Mu Yunyao who was being interrogated but himself as well. The longing after leaving, the worry after leaving, the joy after meeting each other…
How could he not understand? He had fallen in love with a girl who was much younger than him. But she was as intelligent as a fox and as cunning as a fox.
He slowly raised his arm and faced Mu Yunyao, who seemed to be in a daze, at the window. He softly said, “Yunyao, jump down …”