Chapter 430 - 361: The Green Mountains Still Stand, But My Hair Has Grown White and Thin
Chapter 430: Chapter 361: The Green Mountains Still Stand, But My Hair Has Grown White and Thin
「In reality.」
In the rear courtyard of the Qin Kingdom’s Envoy’s Mansion in the Zhou Imperial City.
A young woman in a pale pink dress sat on a stone bench in the courtyard.
With her head bowed, she was diligently stitching a pair of shoes.
Her personal Maid, Ming Yue, stood to the side, watching her mistress without blinking.
Ming Yue couldn’t quite understand. Ever since her mistress had arrived in the Imperial City, her days were filled with studying the Zhou Kingdom’s etiquette and customs and handling political affairs from the Qin Kingdom. Why, then, would she spend every free moment sitting in the courtyard making shoes?
But what Ming Yue found most baffling was something else.
In all the years she had served her mistress, she had never once seen her make shoes. Yet looking at her now, it seemed as if she had done it countless times before; every stitch was so practiced.
"There. It’s finally done."
As she made the final stitch, Qin Siyao picked up the pair of shoes. She tugged them, pulled them, and then inspected them closely, checking for any flawed stitchwork.
Once certain there were no issues with the shoes, Qin Siyao slowly set them down.
"Your... Princess, are those shoes made for a man?" Ming Yue asked curiously.
"Of course," Qin Siyao said, the corners of her mouth lifting into a smile. "You silly girl. Have you ever seen a woman with feet this big?"
"Could it be that you plan to give this pair of shoes to the Sovereign of Zhou?" Ming Yue asked, as if she had just figured something out.
’If they’re a man’s shoes, then the only person my mistress could be giving them to is the Sovereign of Zhou.’
"Mhm." Qin Siyao stood up and placed the shoes neatly in a box. "Come on. Accompany me to the Imperial Palace. I’m going to see Brother Your Majesty."
With that, Qin Siyao personally held the box and happily strode out of the courtyard, her long legs moving beneath her dress.
Watching her mistress’s departing figure, Ming Yue quickly followed.
However...
’Is it just my imagination?’ Ming Yue wondered. ’Ever since my mistress came to the Zhou Kingdom, her personality has become much more lively and cheerful. She’s like... a little girl...’
...
"Brother Your Majesty, Mujiu is here to play! Are you there, Brother Your Majesty?"
Outside Yangxin Palace in the Zhou Royal Palace.
A light, pleasant female voice drifted into the room.
Xiao Mo’s Divine Sense slowly withdrew from the Hundred Generations Book and finally returned to his body.
"Huuuh..."
Xiao Mo took a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes.
He had spent far, far too long in the Hundred Generations Book these past few days.
When he awoke this time, the feeling of disorientation and the pain in his Divine Soul were even more intense than before.
Fortunately, Xiao Mo quickly managed to calm his mind.
After his consciousness returned to his body, Xiao Mo tried to recall what had happened in the Hundred Generations Book.
’But to my dismay, I can’t remember anything.’
’In the previous three lives, when I left the Hundred Generations Book, my memories were merely veiled by a hazy mist. They were blurry, but I could at least vaguely recall some people and events.’
’But now, when I try to think back on what I experienced in my fourth life within the Hundred Generations Book, I can’t remember a single thing...’
’I’ve even completely forgotten every single name from that fourth life.’
"Brother Your Majesty, can Mujiu come in?" Qin Siyao called from outside the door.
Xiao Mo nodded. "Of course you can. Come in, Mujiu."
"Alrighty!"
Qin Siyao joyfully pushed the door open and walked into the room, conveniently shutting the door behind her and leaving her Maid, Ming Yue, outside.
"Brother Your Majesty, are you in the room all alone? Don’t you have any Palace Maids to attend to you at night or anything?" Qin Siyao asked, clutching the box. She looked left and right, her eyes filled with curiosity, as if trying to ferret someone out.
"No," Xiao Mo said, shaking his head. "Usually, the Palace Maids wait outside the door. If anything comes up, Wei Xun is the one who reports it to me."
"Oh, I see..." Qin Siyao walked closer. "Then were you cultivating, Brother Your Majesty? Did I disturb you?"
"It was just meditation. You’re not disturbing me."
Xiao Mo smoothed his robes, got off the bed, and poured a cup of tea for himself and Qin Siyao.
Xiao Mo couldn’t help but look at Qin Siyao a few more times.
The first time he had met Qin Siyao, he had felt a faint sense of familiarity.
Now, for some reason, that feeling of familiar intimacy was even stronger.
"So, Mujiu, was there something you needed me for?" Xiao Mo asked with a smile, shaking off his strange thoughts.
"Mujiu has something she wants to give to Brother Your Majesty," Qin Siyao said, happily trotting forward. The hem of her dress fluttered, catching the glow of the warm afternoon sun.
The young woman opened the box, revealing a brand-new pair of shoes inside.
Looking at the pair of shoes, Xiao Mo’s heart skipped a beat.
Although there was nothing particularly special about the shoes...
...Xiao Mo felt a pang of sorrow in his heart, even a faint, sharp ache.
"Brother Your Majesty, what’s wrong?" Qin Siyao’s eyes were filled with nervousness. "Are the shoes ugly? If so, Mujiu can make you a new pair."
As she spoke, Qin Siyao reached for the box.
"No, they’re beautiful." Xiao Mo took the shoes from the box and smiled. "These shoes... you made them?"
"I did," Qin Siyao said with a nod. "What do you think? Am I amazing, Brother Your Majesty?"
"Yes, amazing. You really did a great job," Xiao Mo nodded.
"Then try them on, Brother Your Majesty! If they don’t fit, Mujiu will go back and alter them," Qin Siyao urged happily.
"I’ll try them."
Xiao Mo put on the new shoes Qin Siyao had made.
At first, Xiao Mo thought the shoes would be too big or too small.
But to his surprise, they were a perfect fit and very comfortable.
"What do you think, Brother Your Majesty? Do they fit well?" Qin Siyao asked, wringing her small hands and blinking her eyes.