Chapter 532 - 436: Since You’re All Here, Let’s Have a Cup of Tea Together
Chapter 532: Chapter 436: Since You’re All Here, Let’s Have a Cup of Tea Together
Xiao Mo had truly never expected this.
The Yan Clan woman he was marrying would turn out to be the very same young lady he had met several times.
But on second thought, Xiao Mo felt he should have realized it the first time he saw her in the Imperial Palace.
At the time, Empress Dowager Yan was the only one in the inner palace. Any woman who could enter would naturally be a relative or friend of the Empress Dowager.
Furthermore, this had happened just a few days after his engagement to the Yan Family Woman was announced.
So it was only natural for Yan Ruxue to be visiting Empress Dowager Yan in the palace.
"Indeed, it has been a while." Xiao Mo set down the jade scale and sat beside Yan Ruxue. "It seems you and I are truly fated to be together."
Yan Ruxue gave a soft smile. Beneath her long lashes, her beautiful eyes fluttered gently, like a butterfly beating its wings.
"Does Your Majesty not suspect that our meeting in the Imperial Palace was intentional on my part? Or that for our two subsequent meetings, the Empress Dowager learned of your itinerary and deliberately revealed it to me, so that I could ’coincidentally’ run into you and win your favor?"
"There was no need."
Xiao Mo shook his head with a smile.
"My current predicament... Even if it isn’t spoken of openly, most people are well aware of it. Even the common folk in the Mortal World know."
"Your Yan Family already feels you’re getting the short end of the stick by marrying me. Besides, I already agreed to the marriage arranged by the Empress Dowager, and it cannot be changed. So why would you need to go out of your way to win my favor?"
Hearing Xiao Mo’s words, Yan Ruxue gave a slight nod. She said nothing, but her silence was an admission.
A brief silence fell over the room. For a moment, neither of them knew how to continue the conversation.
Yan Ruxue lifted her head, her gaze falling upon the wine cups on the table. She spoke slowly, "Your Majesty, the hour grows late. Shouldn’t we drink the wedding wine?"
"Indeed, we should."
Xiao Mo stood up and poured two cups of wine.
Yan Ruxue took the cup from Xiao Mo’s hand. They linked arms and drained the crystal-clear wine in a single gulp.
When they set down their cups, Yan Ruxue lowered her head, a faint blush gracing her fair cheeks.
No matter how calm and poised Yan Ruxue usually appeared, on the most important night of her life, she couldn’t help but feel a little nervous.
And a woman in red on her wedding night, her heart stirring with love, is the most captivating sight of all.
As any normal man would, Xiao Mo felt his heart pound in his chest as he gazed at her profile.
Just then, a gust of evening wind swept past the windowsill, extinguishing all the candles on the table.
Hazy moonlight streamed through the window, the silvery glow landing on Yan Ruxue’s cheek.
Perhaps the bed curtains hadn’t been properly secured.
A fine, red gauze veil slipped from its hook and drifted down, shrouding them both.
The world outside seemed to vanish, cut off by the light fabric. As they sat on the bed, the atmosphere grew intimate.
Xiao Mo slowly drew near. Yan Ruxue blinked, then closed her eyes and lifted her chin slightly. Her thin, rouged lips held a soft, candle-like sheen.
As Xiao Mo’s hands rested on her fair, delicate shoulders, he felt her body give a slight tremble.
They drew closer, so close that Xiao Mo could feel the faint warmth of her breath.
Outside the door, Si Li sensed that something was amiss.
She felt it was time to intervene.
’If I don’t do something now, my master is going to be devoured by this Mortal World woman.’
But just as Si Li was about to use a Technique to control the Yan Clan woman, her Dao Heart screamed a warning.
Si Li froze, rooted to the spot. She felt a terrifyingly powerful Spiritual Pressure.
Meanwhile, inside the room, just as Xiao Mo was about to touch Yan Ruxue’s lips...
Xiao Mo felt his consciousness rapidly fading, as if the effects of the wine had suddenly hit him all at once.
In a mere instant, Xiao Mo lost consciousness. His head sank, and he collapsed into Yan Ruxue’s soft, welcoming embrace.
Yan Ruxue held the man she loved, her slender, jade-like fingers gently stroking his hair.
Her eyelids lowered as she gazed tenderly at the man in her arms. She looked at him as if he were her most precious treasure, terrified that he might leave again, terrified that he might get scratched or broken...
A fragrant breeze wafted by, and Si Li felt a wave of drowsiness wash over her. If she wished, she could have simply used her Spiritual Power to resist it.
But doing so would certainly reveal her presence.
After weighing her options, and despite her intense curiosity about who had come to Ningxue Hall, Si Li ultimately chose not to resist. She let the fragrance overcome her and collapsed at the door.
Besides Si Li, the Palace Maids on guard outside also collapsed in a heap, not a single one remained conscious.
"For you to visit me in Ningxue Hall tonight, my lady, is somewhat... inopportune."
Yan Ruxue spoke with composure, her tone gentle from beginning to end.
Her gaze never left Xiao Mo’s face.
As Yan Ruxue finished speaking, the door swung open. Qin Siyao entered the room and stood before Yan Ruxue, offering a curtsy. "Siyao greets Sister Yan."
Yan Ruxue gently laid Xiao Mo on the bed and covered him with the quilt. She then folded her hands before her stomach, slowly rose to her feet, and stood face to face with Qin Siyao.
Beneath the moonlight, a gentle breeze swept by. The two women, both dressed in red, faced each other, the hems of their gowns fluttering slightly, their long hair clinging to their slender waists.
The two women stood gracefully, like figures in a painting titled "Beauties in the Moonlight."
Though neither spoke a word, their shared silence seemed to contain a thousand unspoken conversations.
"Never mind. Since you’re here, Miss Qin, please have a seat."
Yan Ruxue gestured toward a chair.
"Siyao thanks you, Sister."
Qin Siyao did not refuse, taking a seat on the chair.
Yan Ruxue poured a cup of tea for Qin Siyao and placed it before her.
"Actually, you shouldn’t call me ’sister’," Yan Ruxue said, smiling at Qin Siyao. "In fact, you’re quite a bit older than I am, are you not, Miss Qin?"
When Yan Ruxue finished speaking, Qin Siyao’s eyes widened in surprise for a fraction of a second, but then her smile grew even more brilliant.
"Whatever do you mean, Sister Ruxue? Siyao has only been in this world for a short twenty years. How could I possibly be older than you? It is only right that I call you ’sister’."
Yan Ruxue paid little mind to Qin Siyao’s defense, simply taking a light sip of her tea. "If little sister Siyao insists, then Ruxue won’t press the matter. It’s enough that we both know the truth."
"By comparison..."
Yan Ruxue gracefully tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, her gaze shifting to the window.
A woman in a white dress sat on the windowsill, cradling a longsword in her arms.
"Sect Leader Jiang, since you’re here, why remain sitting over there? Won’t you come down and join us for tea?"