Chapter 9: Do You Like the Me of the Past, or the Me of the Present?
Seeing that he had put everything away, Xiaoyao smiled with relief and said:
"Carry me down, to the middle of the lake, to watch the moon."
The voice was so sweet that it made Xiangliu's heart feel heavy; the smile was so radiant that it caused a flutter deep in the center of Xiangliu's heart...
The two walked side by side toward the lake. Xiaoyao took a few quick steps ahead, channeled her spiritual energy, and floated onto the surface of the water. She bobbed up and down, swaying from side to side, but managed not to fall. She drifted slowly toward the center of the lake, preparing to turn around, flash a sweet smile, and reach out her hand to Xiangliu... just as he had done all those years ago... When she thought about it, it was actually quite... romantic...
The moment she turned sideways, however, her whole body sank straight down into the water... Xiangliu flashed forward in a single stride, scooped her from the water, and pulled her into his arms. Looking at her pretty, unconvinced face dripping with water and bearing an expression of utter bafflement, Xiangliu couldn't help laughing out loud,
Ha... ha... ha...
Xiaoyao was just about to flare up, but when she saw the relaxed lines around his eyes and his carefree expression, she froze in place: in her memory, she had never seen Xiangliu laugh so heartily. Even when he was Fangfeng Bei, his face usually wore a sneer, a fake smile, or a bitter smile, let alone as Xiangliu, where any smile on his face always had bitterness seeping from the corners of his lips... It seemed the last time she saw a genuine smile from the bottom of his heart was still hidden within the Xixing Mirror...
Seeing that Xiaoyao was staring at him without a word, Xiangliu channeled his spiritual energy to dry her clothes and hair while asking with a chuckle:
"What is it? Did you fall out of your wits?"
"You look really good when you smile!" Xiaoyao said in a daze, moisture still lingering at the corners of her eyes.
Xiangliu stopped laughing, gave a light cough, and looked into the distance. By now, a full moon had climbed into the night sky, and its bright moonlight spilled over the rippleless surface of the lake. The water lay as calm as a bronze mirror, reflecting the sky and the moon mingling together...
Xiaoyao slipped out of Xiangliu's arms, took hold of both his hands, and asked:
"Xiangliu, is the moonlight tonight more beautiful, or was the moonlight when we watched it together with Wen Xiaoliu back then more beautiful?"
"Tonight's moonlight is just as beautiful as that night!" Xiangliu looked into Xiaoyao's eyes and answered earnestly.
"Is it because you're watching it with me both times?" Xiaoyao asked with a smile.
Xiangliu's eyelashes trembled. After a long moment, he slowly said:
"Xiaoyao, since you came back this time, you're very different from before!"
"Then do you like the me of the present, or the me of the past?"
"I..."
Xiangliu's lips moved, but for a long time no words came out. If the moonlight had been just a little brighter, Xiaoyao would surely have been able to see that his face was blushing...
"If you don't answer, I'll take it that you like both!"
...
A rumble sounded... Curse this wretched stomach for ruining the atmosphere.
"Are you hungry?" Xiangliu asked with a smile.
"Shall we go catch a few fish and roast them to eat?"
"No, we've been busy all day, so I'll roast some specially for you next time. Let's go back and eat; Shanhu should know how to cook."
"Alright!"
On the way back, Xiangliu asked:
"When did you discover me?"
Xiaoyao gave a sly smile,
"I noticed the very first time I saw Baozhu!"
"Ha! You're clever this time around!"
"After being fooled by you for so many years, I had to grow a bit smarter. Besides..."
As she spoke, Xiaoyao draped one arm over Xiangliu's shoulder, putting on Wen Xiaoliu's flippant air,
"Nine-Headed Demon, don't go around thinking you can trick me all day long. You can't hide it..."
Xiangliu frowned, cleared his throat, and continued to ask:
"What is Qingyu?"
"It's a kind of herb unique to Qingqiu that can be used as medicine. It's not exceptionally rare, but it's not entirely easy to get either. It can resolve this epidemic, working both as a preventive and a cure."
"The thing you had me eat before was Qingyu?"
Xiaoyao nodded.
"Did you think I would catch the epidemic? Or did you think that stuff would work on me?"
"This epidemic infects both the God Clan and the Demon Clan, and once infected, the situation is even more severe than among mortals. Earlier, Haoling already had members of the God Clan and Demon Clan pass away from the illness, and quite a number of them, too. Of course, you're a Great Demon with immense spiritual power, so you certainly won't catch it, and Qingyu won't have the slightest effect on you either, but I just wanted to make you eat it—just like how I forced Royal Father and Anian to eat it too."
"Then did you eat it yourself?"
"Anian forced me to eat it. She said it's called sharing adversity together!"
"What did you want so many ice crystals for?" Xiangliu asked next.
"They're of no real use, but if I only asked for Qingyu, wouldn't it have looked a bit too abrupt?"
"Knowing Tushan Jing's cleverness, he's sure to figure out what you wanted Qingyu for."
"Let him figure it out. One way or another, I'm using it to treat illnesses and save lives, so there's nothing shameful about it."
Xiangliu thought for a moment and said:
"It seems you suspect this epidemic is not accidental?"
"My Lord Xiangliu, surely you don't suspect it? Did you come to Huichuntang just to help out?" Xiaoyao retorted. Xiangliu smiled faintly and asked:
"Then do you have any leads?"
"Not yet, but since I've disrupted someone's plans and stood in their way, they'll definitely make a move later. Still, we have to investigate, and Royal Father's side is already looking into it. Having results will let us take precautions in advance; otherwise, waiting for them to make a move leaves us too passive."
"It might not be possible to find out anything. But if the result far exceeds your imagination, then perhaps it will never be found out at all."
Xiaoyao glared at Xiangliu and let out a cold snort,
"Whether they're human or ghost, the truth will come to light eventually. If they really are ghosts, then they aren't fit to be human."
"Very well, let us wait and see."
Arriving at the gate of the small courtyard, Xiaoyao and Baozhu pushed it open and went inside. Hearing the noise, Shanhu came out to look.
"Shanhu, go fix some food. I'll be dining with Young Master Bao."
"Yes, Royal Princess."
Xiaoyao continued walking inward. This was her first time entering the inner rooms. The suite consisted of an outer and an inner room. Facing the door in the outer room was a low couch, with a table set in the middle and soft cushions placed on either side. Against the wall on the right stood a row of low cabinets containing very small compartments that seemed to have no practical use, and all of them were currently empty. Xiaoyao scrutinized them for a long time, finding the cabinets looking familiar—somewhat like the row of cabinets used for storing medicinal herbs along the wall of Wen Xiaoyao's bedroom in Huichuntang.
Xiaoyao continued further inside and came face to face with a bed. Looking at its color, pattern, dimensions, and even its scent—hawksbill turtle shell? Xiaoyao spun around abruptly and crashed straight into a pair of clear, watery eyes that were gazing at her with deep affection at that very moment. As if caught off guard and unable to dodge in time, Xiangliu's gaze flashed with panic for a split second.
Mist gathered in Xiaoyao's eyes. Lowering her gaze, she saw a vanity table placed beside the bed, upon which Shanhu had presumably arranged the cosmetics and jewelry she routinely used. Opposite the vanity table, against the wall, stood two large wardrobes meant for storing clothes.
"Do you... often come back here to sleep?"
"I only come back occasionally. Most of the time I live on the mountain."
"Do you have a vanity table on the mountain too? How come I never saw it when I went there before?"
Xiangliu was left speechless for a moment. The two stood facing each other in silence, the atmosphere turning somewhat awkward.
"Royal Princess, dinner is ready." Shanhu's voice rang out from the outer room.
Xiaoyao walked out of the inner room and sat down on the low couch outside. The table was already laden with food.
"Come eat." Baozhu quietly sat down opposite Xiaoyao,
"Are you still going to help out at Huichuntang tomorrow?"
"I can still go help you for one day tomorrow; the situation should stabilize quickly anyway. I'm going back to the mountain to sleep tonight and will return early tomorrow morning."
"Then stay here tonight. It'll save you all the back-and-forth tossing, you've been tired enough these past two days." Seeing Baozhu's expression turn slightly strange, Xiaoyao continued:
"What's wrong with two grown men living together? Besides, I'm staying in the inner room and you're in the outer room, is there any problem?"
"Why do you get the inner room?" Xiangliu challenged,
"Because I feel that hawksbill turtle shell bed was prepared for me!"
...
Baozhu ended up staying in the outer room. When washing up that night, Shanhu inadvertently caught sight of the hickey on Xiaoyao's neck, and her heart was filled with shock. Just what kind of background did this Young Master Bao have? In just a few days, he had grown this intimate with the Royal Princess?!