Chapter 719: Where Is It?
Chapter 719: Chapter 719: Where Is It?
"I’m afraid the Marquis won’t return anytime soon, and he’ll be busy. Make sure to have the little kitchen prepare the ingredients. If the Marquis is too busy to return for his meal, send it to him. Send more, as those around him might need an extra meal as well."
Upon learning that a significant threat had been captured, Qin Yuan felt even more at ease.
After Hong Ye and the others had settled her down, they whispered among themselves under the veranda.
Cui Ming said, "Yesterday was so chaotic, I didn’t get a chance to ask you. Seeing you like this, have you resolved things with Sixteen and even accepted Hong Mian?"
"What is there to accept or not? Am I really that narrow-minded?" Hong Ye quietly retorted, "The young lady is already married, and I will get married someday too. I can’t stay as I was when I was young.
As for what happens to Hong Mian in the future, that depends on her own fate.
Of course, if she continues her antics and provokes me again, I won’t hold back."
Cui Ming observed her expression thoughtfully, "It’s best if you think this way. But let me guess, did Sixteen promise you something?
Do you remember how the young lady taught us ’The Peasant’? A gentleman can speak about his love, but a lady should not.
It seems you’ve really become deeply entangled in love!"
Hong Ye lowered her head, her voice barely audible, "Sixteen said that Hong Mian was the one who created trouble, and he will explain it to me! In the future, we all serve the master, each relying on our own skills. Furthermore, his family’s actions were not his intention. I trust him, and I trust the young lady."
Cui Ming took a breath, "All I can tell you is that what Sixteen says now seems right, but you should keep your eyes wide open and be careful in the future. We have grown up with the young lady, so don’t let yourself lose sight and take a narrow path."
Hong Ye grabbed Cui Ming’s hand, "I know you’re worried about me. Don’t worry, the young lady values us, and I will naturally live up to that."
Cui Ming said, "As long as you continue this way, Gu Shiliu wouldn’t dare treat you poorly."
In other words, Qin Yuan is her greatest support; the days are spent with Gu Shiliu, but time will reveal a person’s true nature.
Although her heart felt a bit uneasy, Hong Ye still nodded.
She knew that without deep friendship, Cui Ming wouldn’t say these things.
Cui Ming looked out at the sky beyond the veranda and sighed, "I really don’t know what love in this world is, it can indeed turn a person’s soul upside down."
Hong Ye felt slightly proud, her eyes curving into a smile, "You’ll understand when you meet that person, just like when the Marquis met the young lady, and I met Sixteen."
Cui Ming gave her a sideways glance and said, "Enough, enough. I would rather live my life without ever involving love. Just look at the Sixth Master, to him, love is just a passing cold, and who knows if love or bitterness fills the hearts of the concubines he married."
Hong Ye was left speechless.
After a long while, she finally said, "Earlier, you and the young lady teased me about Sixteen, and now you’re the one speaking so pessimistically."
Cui Ming said, "Marrying Sixteen is beneficial for both you and the young lady; naturally, I won’t hold you back. But if you become consumed with Sixteen, lost in love, I would have to speak these pessimistic words. You must know that a small drink can make you happy, but being drunk daily turns a person into a drunkard, despised by everyone."
Hong Ye was momentarily stunned and playfully asked, "If I turn into a drunkard, what would you do?"
Cui Ming said, "I would try to persuade you, but if I can’t, then I would let you be."
Hong Ye forced a smile, "I guess you’re just saying that; you wouldn’t truly be so cold-hearted."
Cui Ming shook her head, "If I can’t stop you, I absolutely won’t stop you. After all, while everyone may despise a drunkard, he finds joy in it. I’m not you, I don’t know your happiness. If I can’t stop you, then I might as well let you go your way."
Hong Ye shook her head.
"I would never do that. If necessary, I would find every way to make sure you quit drinking. I would keep an eye on you, control you, tie you up, hide all your money, and cause trouble at every wine shop so they wouldn’t sell to you. I would beg you, for my sake, to quit drinking and live a good life. If you can’t survive, I would carry you so we can live together."
Cui Ming earnestly looked at the solemn Hong Ye and smiled gently.
That smile was filled with understanding and skepticism.
Hong Ye became a bit annoyed, "Why do you laugh?"
Cui Ming said, "You’re upset because you think I’ve underestimated your sincerity. But in my view, your firm words are indeed out of current sincerity. Yet it’s because of this passion that you find yourself deeply involved with Sixteen.
If there was only me and only Sixteen in the world, I imagine most of your promises would hold true.
But after you marry Sixteen, there won’t be just one Sixteen anymore.
Your current thoughts will only make things difficult for your future self."
Hong Ye remained silent.
Cui Ming got up and walked towards the veranda, took a few steps, then turned back, and said meaningfully, "This is why many choose to forget their initial promises."
"...You!" Hong Ye cried out.
Cui Ming placed a finger to her lips to signal silence, then turned and walked away.
Hong Ye knew that from now on, Cui Ming would not speak unsettling and pessimistic words, but she was not happy.
Yet she couldn’t, as she once did, talk to Qin Yuan about it and let her judge the situation.
Growing up means distancing and separation.
But without growing up, she wouldn’t have met Gu Shiliu.
At this moment, Marquis Gu also said to Prince Qi, "The rumors about Black Wind Village’s bandits feel like a thorn in my throat, as if I have something to say but can’t express it."
Prince Qi laughed, "I didn’t know that those bandits at Black Wind Village could have such an ability, to make my brother, who is solely focused on military drills and battles, feel this way."
It’s well known that Gu Sanlang is famously wooden.
What does wooden mean? It means only accepting what he believes in, and only those who can enter his heart and eyes. Everything else is like floating dust around him, seen every day but never truly observed.
The Marquis sighed, "In my youth, whatever seemed good filled my heart and eyes. Only when I grew up did I understand that at the time... it was merely like viewing a leopard through a tube."
Prince Qi nodded.
"Why don’t you tell me about it?"
After listening, he mused.
"The bandit leader has read quite a few books. This story is from ’The Liang Book’, the biography of Fan Zhen in the Confucian Forest. Xiao Ziliang, the second son of the Emperor of Qi, was a devout Buddhist, and he asked Fan Zhen why, if he didn’t believe in karma and retribution, was there a distinction between the rich and the poor in the world?"
The Marquis asked, "And why is that?"
Prince Qi smiled, "Yes, why? Fan Zhen said, a person’s fate is like a tree full of flowers, growing from the same branch and tiara; when they fall with the wind, they either brush past the curtain and land on silk bedding, or pass over the courtyard wall and drop into the muck. Those that land on the silk are of noble descent, whereas those that fall in the muck are common folk. The fortunes of people in the world differ vastly, so where is this so-called karma and retribution?"
He paused, looking at the contemplative Marquis, "Brother, what do you think?"