The bright moon hung high and osmanthus leaves drifted their fragrance. Yuanxi held a white rabbit lantern in one hand while her other hand was clasped with Xiao Du’s as he led her through the bustling crowd. The gentle lamplight fell upon his back, making her feel warm and secure.
The two walked all the way to the painted pleasure boat, where a black-clad, black-booted shadow guard immediately approached them. Xiao Du whispered a few instructions in his ear, and the man’s face showed difficulty, but he still nodded in agreement. Xiao Du turned back to smile at Yuanxi and pulled her hand to continue toward the western district’s marketplace. Yuanxi asked curiously, “Aren’t we returning to the manor?” Xiao Du smiled mysteriously, “Just follow me. I’m taking you somewhere special.”
The western district wasn’t as lively as the eastern market, but every household’s windows glowed with warm orange light, giving an even stronger sense of Mid-Autumn reunion. Xiao Du led Yuanxi through the streets and alleys with practiced ease, even stopping at a wine house to buy a pot of wine along the way. Yuanxi didn’t understand his intentions but found this journey somewhat fresh and exciting, until they stopped before a small courtyard with two courtyards, and looking up, she saw lanterns with the character “Xiao” swaying in the wind under the eaves.
Xiao Du knocked on the copper door in front of them. A coarsely clothed old man with a red face and white beard opened the door. Upon seeing Xiao Du, he rubbed his eyes in surprise and said, “My lord, why have you come!”
Xiao Du smiled slightly at him, raising the wine pot in his hand, “I’ve come to drink with Uncle Feng.”
He pulled the still-stunned Yuanxi to his side, gazing at her with gentle eyes as he said, “This is my newlywed wife. We’d like to stay here tonight.” He then introduced to Yuanxi, “This is Uncle Feng, who manages this villa for me.”
Uncle Feng immediately showed excitement, bowing to Yuanxi while muttering, “I heard earlier that my lord had married, and today I finally meet the new madam. She’s truly gracious and dignified.” He then enthusiastically led them into the courtyard.
As soon as Yuanxi stepped through the door, she smelled a rich floral fragrance. The courtyard was planted with many rarely seen flowers in brilliant purples and reds, their subtle fragrance floating on the air while birds sang softly, making this small courtyard seem like an otherworldly paradise of elegance.
Yuanxi looked around in enchantment, asking admiringly, “Uncle Feng, did you grow all these yourself?”
Uncle Feng chuckled and scratched his head, showing pride on his face. Xiao Du spoke for him, “Uncle Feng was once a renowned gardener far and wide. These past years, his legs haven’t been so nimble, so he’s been staying in my courtyard.”
Uncle Feng waved his hands repeatedly, then gratefully bowed to Xiao Du, “It’s all thanks to my lord’s kindness, willing to take in this old man who knows nothing but flower growing.”
Xiao Du quickly helped him up, then turned to see a solitary pot and dish on the stone table in the courtyard, accompanied by the high full moon and surrounded by the garden’s abundant flowers, appearing lonely and desolate. Uncle Feng touched his head embarrassedly, “I’m just a lonely old man with nothing much to do, so I admire the moon and drink alone, considering it celebrating the festival.”
Yuanxi found it somewhat strange—where had his relatives gone? But this wasn’t something to ask directly. At this moment, Xiao Du had already raised the wine pot in his hand, “I just passed the Drunken Immortal House and specially bought your favorite premium Daughter’s Red wine to drink a few cups with you properly.”
Uncle Feng’s eyes brightened as he stared at the wine pot. He quickly took it and bustled around the kitchen for a while, bringing out several small dishes and three clean wine cups.
The three of them sat around under the full moon, chatting while drinking under the moonlight. Yuanxi wasn’t good at drinking, so she just ate the dishes while watching the two men drink, yet found it very comfortable and interesting.
After Uncle Feng had drunk several cups, he was clearly somewhat intoxicated. He suddenly sighed, “How wonderful it would be if little Qi and little Ji could be here too.” Having said this, his eyes immediately reddened and he couldn’t help but shed tears. He wiped the tears from his face with his sleeve, his weathered face showing deep pain.
Xiao Du also lowered his head, showing a sorrowful expression. He poured all the wine in his hand onto the ground, as if making an offering, then said softly, “Uncle Feng, do you hate me?”
Uncle Feng shook his head vigorously, “If I were to hate anyone, it would be those bastards. I remember all of my lord’s kindness in my heart. To give me work and a place to live, you specially bought this courtyard, and worried I’d be lonely, you take time to come drink with me during holidays. What fortune they must have cultivated to be able to follow my lord.”
His eyes were red-rimmed, seeming somewhat unable to control himself, so he shook his head, “I’m old, old, can’t handle my liquor anymore. Today is Mid-Autumn night, I won’t spoil the mood as a foolish old man. You two drink wine and admire the moon properly. I’ll go prepare the room for you.” Having said this, he swayed unsteadily toward the house.
Xiao Du stared at his retreating figure, and only after a long time did he come back to himself, saying softly, “Little Qi and little Ji were Uncle Feng’s sons. They once joined the Xiao family army together. Two years ago, they all died in battle at Pingdu Pass.”
Yuanxi’s heart skipped a beat, finally understanding why he had come to spend the festival with Uncle Feng. Xiao Du picked up his wine cup, his expression full of bitterness: “I’ve spent many Mid-Autumn festivals in the army. Whenever the moon was full, the soldiers would gaze toward their hometowns and sing nostalgic ballads. They were all so young, only hoping to drive away the foreign enemies quickly and return home to reunite with their families. It was my fault for not being able to bring them back, and even…” He painfully closed his eyes, unwilling to recall further.
Yuanxi gently grasped his hand, shaking her head, “That wasn’t your fault. If Pingdu Pass hadn’t been held at that time, it wouldn’t have been just those soldiers who died—many more people like Uncle Feng would have lost their children. So you did very well and need not blame yourself at all.”
Xiao Du stared into her soft, bright, clear eyes, his heart gradually calming, but his hand holding the wine cup slowly tightened as he gritted his teeth, “Someday, I absolutely won’t let their blood be shed in vain.” He suddenly froze again: How should he tell her that if he wanted revenge, the greatest enemy was her father?
Yuanxi didn’t notice his strangeness at all. Wanting to cheer him up, she changed the subject and asked, “How did you spend Mid-Autumn when you were little? With so many relatives in the Marquis manor, Mid-Autumn must have been very lively with many interesting things, right?”
Xiao Du slowly swallowed his wine, “It was lively indeed, but there was nothing worth remembering. Father was always stern with me, only appearing when I was studying or practicing martial arts. Mother’s health was poor, and I never remember the three of us chatting and admiring the moon together. When I was small, Yunniang kept me company, but later she went mad too. So I actually preferred spending Mid-Autumn in the army, drinking and roughhousing with my brothers—it was much more joyful than the Marquis manor.”
Yuanxi looked up at him, suddenly feeling that although he had parents and had been the center of attention since childhood, he hadn’t been much happier than herself. Perhaps they were fundamentally the same type of people, which was why they couldn’t help but draw close to each other, huddling together for warmth. She hugged his arm, pressing her face against his chest, saying softly, “Then from now on we’ll spend Mid-Autumn together, and many, many other festivals too. From now on, we’ll be each other’s closest family, and whether in good fortune or misfortune, we’ll stay together, alright?”
Xiao Du felt as if something had violently struck his chest, and enormous happiness and sweetness overwhelmed him, actually giving rise to an impulse to cry. Looking down, he saw her cheeks flushed red, her smile sweet and innocent, nestled obediently against his chest like a slightly intoxicated little cat.
The wine he had drunk earlier now turned into a burning fire that surged up. He gently lifted her chin and lowered his head to cover her moist, soft lips. Gently prying open her teeth, his tongue skillfully and fiercely entangled with hers, ravaging her mouth like a madman. Her fragrance mixed with the wine’s aroma, and the fire in his belly that burned for her not only showed no signs of weakening but grew ever more intense, burning until his limbs ached.
Just after releasing her, he instinctively explored inward, the silky sensation making him sigh with satisfaction. Yuanxi’s entire body trembled lightly with his touch, a strange tingling sensation spreading through her, making her moan uncontrollably.
The unfamiliar feeling swept through her entire body, making her afraid yet unable to stop craving more, so she could only tightly hook her arms around his neck, continuing to sink with his hands and his lips.
A breeze blew past, carrying the rich floral fragrance into her nostrils, giving her a moment of clarity in her mind. She quickly hid from his invasion with a red face, saying in a small voice, “No, we’re still in the courtyard!”
Her voice was husky and sweet, her eyes seeming covered with a layer of mist, her red collar scattered open, fine beads of sweat appearing on her neck, making Xiao Du’s eyes turn red as he swept her up and carried her into the bedroom.
The bedroom had been thoughtfully made up with bright red bedding, and the soft bright flames in the candlesticks flickered with candle flowers, very much like another wedding night. Xiao Du placed her on the bed and quickly stripped off his outer robe and inner garments. Yuanxi covered her face tightly, “Please put out the lights.” But Xiao Du leaned over her, tenderly kissing her fingers, his voice dark and seductive, “No, I want to see you properly.”
Restless desire continued to burn and ferment in the air. Both were inexperienced and passionate, young and sensitive bodies following only instinct as they entwined and rolled about.
When passion reached its depths, they wished they could scatter and crush each other, melting into bone and blood, unable to tolerate even the slightest gap between them. Only when joining together did their souls feel complete.
Outside the window were abundant flowers and bright moon, inside was a room of sensual beauty. Pure white moonlight filtered through the window, softly illuminating the two burning, intertwined bodies on the bed. No one noticed that in a corner, a purple night-blooming cereus was quietly blooming.