C10 Mo Ruyan
Lvyu came back to get the cloak, intending to deliver it to the princess. However, a new maid called her away, saying someone was summoning her. Lvyu instructed me to bring the cloak to the princess and to make sure she returned early to avoid catching a chill. Suxiang supported Nan Yanwu's hand, saying, "Princess, your hands are so cold. Please come back with me. Don't stand in the draft; if you catch a cold, we'll be in trouble."
Nan Yanwu looked at the approaching crowd with an unreadable expression. After a moment of silence, she softly said, "Let's go back."
"Who's that on the tower?" Xiao Zhen's gaze was fixed on the tower.
Mo Ruyan, puzzled by the question, looked up and noticed a figure in green about to leave. Frowning, he offered his observation: "Judging by the figure, it seems to be a woman. It's hard to say for sure who it is."
Xiao Zhen's lips curled into a slow smile as he glanced down at the lush greenery, reciting, "Remember the green dress, always cherishing the fragrant grass."
Mo Ruyan's gaze lingered thoughtfully on the tower.
Nan Yanwu and Suxiang took a quiet path back to their quarters. Even from a distance, Nan Yanwu could hear the music playing in the distance. She instinctively pressed her hand to her chest, feeling a chill across her skin.
"Princess, what's wrong?" Suxiang asked, alarmed by Nan Yanwu's sudden pause and unusual expression.
"It's nothing..." Nan Yanwu smiled slightly, masking her emotions.
After a few turns, they returned to the room. The entire palace was bustling with preparations for the visitors, leaving Nan Yanwu with little appetite. Everything seemed normal, except for the strange fact that Lvyu had not returned.
Nan Yanwu and Suxiang exchanged a few words before wandering around the palace.
A light drizzle.
Fine rain threads fell gently onto Yanwu's hair and dress, but she paid them no mind. After walking for a long time, she stopped in front of a small pavilion with a glazed tile roof. Nestled among the flowers, it was neither eye-catching nor gaudy.
The ground was covered with fallen petals scattered across the lush green grass, still glistening with dew. Yanwu stepped into the pavilion and lay down on a stone bench, perhaps because she hadn't slept well in days, she drifted into a deep sleep without realizing it.
She was utterly exhausted.
In a state between dreams and waking, a familiar face appeared, smiling like a flower, reaching out to her. Yanwu grasped the hand tightly, unwilling to let go. "Hongxiang..."
A heavy sigh followed.
When Yanwu awoke, the sun was setting in the west. She opened her eyes slightly, still in the pavilion. A black cloak covered her, and a comforting warmth emanated from her left hand.
Drowsy, she thought of sleeping a bit longer when a deep male voice reached her ears, "How long do you plan to sleep?"
Startled awake, Yanwu instinctively tried to pull back her left hand, but the grip was too strong to break free. She pressed her hand to her forehead, and the grip gradually loosened.
Suddenly, she heard a barely audible whisper—"Princess..."
"Hongxiang!" Yanwu blurted out, gripping the retreating hand tightly.
She felt the hand stiffen slightly, then it clasped hers in return. The hand was rough, calloused, broad, and warm, yet soft and comforting.
"Uh..." Yanwu suddenly realized something. Turning her head, she saw a face she knew all too well.
Her breath caught, and her heart seemed to lose its rhythm. It was him. Mo Ruyan.
A wave of bitterness washed over Yanwu, her eyes slightly reddening. The warmth radiating from Mo Ruyan's hand left her a bit flustered, and she instinctively tightened her grip.
"I am Mo Ruyan. I apologize if I startled you," Mo Ruyan's deep, soothing voice carried a magnetic quality as he calmly explained, "I noticed you resting in the pavilion and thought I'd take a look. As I approached, you grabbed my hand, so I let you hold it. I also noticed this beautiful stone bench might be a bit cold, so I covered you with my cloak. I hope you don't mind..."
