The Bright Moon, Fragrant Osmanthus Leaves, and the Journey to the Past
With one hand holding the white rabbit lantern and the other hand clasping Xiao Du’s, Yuanxi walked through the bustling crowd. The soft light shone on his back, making her feel warm and secure.
They walked to the side of a painted boat, where a guard in black immediately came forward. Xiao Du whispered a few words to him, and although the guard looked hesitant, he nodded in agreement. Xiao Du turned to Yuanxi with a mysterious smile and led her towards the market in the west of the city.
Curiously, Yuanxi asked, “Aren’t we going back to the mansion?” Xiao Du smiled mysteriously and replied, “Just follow me, I’ll take you somewhere.”
The streets in the west of the city were not as bustling as those in the east, but the warm orange light emanating from the windows of every household added to the Mid-Autumn Festival atmosphere. Leading Yuanxi through the streets and alleys, Xiao Du stopped at a tavern and bought a pot of wine. Yuanxi, intrigued by the journey, followed along until they arrived at a small courtyard with two entrances. Looking up, she saw a lantern with the character “Xiao” hanging under the eaves, swaying gently in the wind.
Xiao Du knocked on the bronze gate, and an elderly man in rough clothes and boots opened it. He looked surprised to see Xiao Du and rubbed his eyes in disbelief before exclaiming, “Young Master, why are you here!”
Xiao Du smiled faintly at him and raised the wine pot in his hand, saying, “I’ve come to drink with Uncle Feng.”
Pulling Yuanxi closer to him, Xiao Du said, “This is my newlywed wife. We’d like to stay here for the night.” Then he introduced Yuanxi to Uncle Feng, “This is Uncle Feng, who takes care of this villa for me.”
Uncle Feng showed excitement and gratitude, bowing to Yuanxi and saying, “I heard that Young Master got married. It’s a pleasure to meet the new Madam. So elegant and graceful.” He then warmly ushered them into the courtyard.
As they stepped into the courtyard, Yuanxi was greeted by a strong fragrance of flowers. The courtyard was filled with rare and beautiful flowers, emitting a pleasant scent. Yuanxi, mesmerized by the beauty, asked, “Did you plant all these, Uncle Feng?”
Uncle Feng chuckled and scratched his head modestly. Xiao Du explained, “Uncle Feng was once a renowned florist. In recent years, he’s been less agile, so he stays here.”
Uncle Feng waved his hands repeatedly, expressing gratitude to Xiao Du. Then, noticing a lonely pot of wine and some dishes on a stone table in the courtyard, accompanied by the full moon and surrounded by flowers, Uncle Feng sighed, “If only Xiao Qi and Xiao Ji were here.”
His eyes turned red, and tears welled up in his eyes. He wiped them away hastily and said, “Forgive me, I’ve had a bit too much to drink. It’s the Mid-Autumn Festival tonight, and I shouldn’t dampen the mood. You two enjoy the wine and moon, I’ll tidy up the house.” With that, he staggered into the house.
Watching Uncle Feng’s back, Xiao Du’s expression turned sorrowful. After a while, he said softly, “Xiao Qi and Xiao Ji are Uncle Feng’s sons. They joined the Xiao family’s army together and died in the battle at Pingdu Pass two years ago.”
Understanding dawned on Yuanxi, realizing why Xiao Du came to accompany Uncle Feng on the festival night. Xiao Du lifted the wine cup and poured it all onto the ground as if offering a sacrifice. Then, with a bitter expression, he murmured, “It’s my fault. I couldn’t bring them back, and even…”
He closed his eyes in pain, unable to continue. Yuanxi gently held his hand, shaking her head. “It’s not your fault. If we hadn’t defended Pingdu Pass, not only would those soldiers have died, but more people like Uncle Feng would have lost their children. So, you did well, there’s no need to blame yourself.”
Looking into her clear and bright eyes, Xiao Du’s heart gradually calmed down. He tightened his grip on the wine cup and gritted his teeth. “Someday, I will ensure their sacrifices were not in vain.” Then, he paused, realizing he needed to tell her something: If he sought revenge, her father would be his greatest enemy.
Yuanxi, however, didn’t notice any difference in him. Wanting to cheer him up, she changed the subject and asked, “How did you spend the Mid-Autumn Festival when you were a child? With so many relatives in the Hou Mansion, it must have been lively with lots of interesting things happening, right?”
Xiao Du swallowed the wine slowly and replied, “It was indeed lively, but there wasn’t much worth remembering. My father was always strict with me, only appearing when I studied or trained. My mother was often unwell, and I can’t recall a time when the three of us sat together and enjoyed the moon. I used to have Yunniang with me, but she went mad later. So, I prefer spending the Mid-Autumn Festival in the army, drinking, and having fun with my brothers. It’s much more enjoyable than in the Hou Mansion.”
Looking up at him, Yuanxi suddenly felt that despite having parents and being watched since childhood, he wasn’t much happier than herself. Perhaps they were fundamentally the same kind of people, that’s why they couldn’t help but draw close to each other for warmth. So, she hugged his arm, leaned her face against his chest, and softly said, “From now on, let’s celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival together, and many more festivals in the future. From now on, we’re each other’s closest family, no matter what happens, we’ll be together, okay?”
Xiao Du felt like his chest was being hit hard by something. The immense happiness and sweetness overwhelmed him, even making him feel the urge to cry. Lowering his head, he saw her blushing cheeks, her smile sweet and innocent as she cuddled against him, like a tipsy little cat.
The wine he had drunk earlier now turned into a raging fire inside him. He gently pinched her chin, lowered his head, and covered her wet and soft lips. Gently parting her teeth, his tongue skillfully entwined with hers, ravaging her mouth as if possessed. Her scent mixed with the smell of wine, and the fire burning in his belly because of her only grew stronger, spreading pain and pleasure to every part of his body.
As he released her, he instinctively explored further inside, feeling satisfied with the smooth texture. Yuanxi’s whole body trembled with him, a strange tingling sensation spreading, making her unable to control the soft moan that escaped her lips.
The unfamiliar sensation spread throughout her body, making her scared but unable to resist craving for more. So, she could only tightly hook her arms around his neck, following his hands and lips as they continued to explore.
A breeze blew through, carrying the rich fragrance of flowers, bringing a moment of clarity to her mind. Blushing, she pushed him away from his invasion, whispering, “No, we’re still in the courtyard!”
Her voice was hoarse and sweet, her eyes seemingly clouded with mist. The collar of her dress was loose, and sweat beads formed on her neck, making Xiao Du’s eyes turn red. He picked her up and carried her into the bedroom.
The bedroom was decorated with bright red bedding, and the soft candlelight flickered in the candle holder, resembling another wedding night. Xiao Du laid her on the bed and quickly removed his outer robe and inner clothes. Yuanxi covered her face with her hands and said, “Blow out the candle.” But Xiao Du leaned over, gently kissing her fingertips, his voice hoarse and seductive, “No, I want to see you.”
The restless desire fermented in the air as both of them were inexperienced and passionate, their young and sensitive bodies entwined and rolled in bed.
As their emotions deepened, they wanted to merge, to the point of not allowing even a slight gap between them. Only in each penetration did their souls feel complete.
Outside the window was the bright moon and blooming flowers, inside was a room filled with romance. The pure moonlight shone through the window, gently illuminating the two intertwined bodies on the bed. Neither of them noticed the purple night-blooming cereus blooming quietly in the corner.