Chapter 218: The Arrival Of Su Jingyi |
The following morning.
Mu Qingshuang woke up from her slumber, and as she groggily opened her eyes, she immediately felt a splitting headache. The lingering effects of her drunkenness were taking a toll on her head. She squinted at the canopy above and her face was filled with confusion and bewilderment.
What happened? She remembered clearly that last night, she had been drinking with him in the pavilion in the backyard. But after just three drinks, she started to lose consciousness. How come she woke up in bed? Could it be… could it be that he carried her to bed?
With these thoughts racing through her mind, Mu Qingshuang, despite her headache, hastily threw off the covers, only to discover she was left in just her undergarments.
"No way."
"Him and me…"
Faced with this sudden and unexpected situation, Mu Qingshuang was initially taken aback. Once the confusion subsided, she even felt a hint of excitement and shyness. She murmured to herself, "Surely he helped me undress, this young man is quite the rascal. Probably took advantage of me while I was drunk."
If you really wanted it, I… I wouldn't refuse you. Why act so sneaky?
The alluring widow clung tightly to the sheets, as if she were holding onto Lu Xun himself. Her mind was filled with fantasies about last night, imagining him removing her clothes, feeling drawn to her curvaceous figure, unable to resist…
Although in the eyes of the world, Mu Qingshuang was seen as a cultured and dignified widow, only she knew that beneath her graceful exterior, there was a heart no less passionate than Su Jingyi's, but no man had ever been able to unlock the many layers of her restraint. Only Lu Xun succeeded, and quite smoothly at that, without any obstacles.
For her current situation, Mu Qingshuang attributed it to her long period of loneliness. When facing a man she admired, she tended to be a bit impatient. There was another reason: Lu Xun's special physique, his pure yang body, had an irresistible attraction to mature women. Not to mention the charming widow, even the enchanting demonesses and women like Fairy Su fell for it.
"Wait…"
"I remember, before I got drunk last night, I… I seemed to have something to say to him." Mu Qingshuang furrowed her brows, staring at the canopy above, bewilderedly asking herself, "Did I say anything to him? But what did I want to say?"
Many questions circled in her mind, but she couldn't find any answers. In the end, Mu Qingshuang gave up. Her purpose had been achieved, and she left the rest to time. One day, she would win him over, even if it meant feeling a bit sorry for the little fox.
"Sigh."
"She will never forgive me," Mu Qingshuang sighed deeply, her face filled with frustration and concern. On one side was her close confidant in the inner chamber, on the other was the man she admired. Unfortunately, they had gotten involved with each other. If she chose the little fox, she would lose Lu Xun. If she chose Lu Xun, she would have to give up the little fox. What should she do? She didn't want to lose anyone.
Just then, the door to the room slowly opened, and a servant girl carried a basin for washing her face as she entered. When she saw that Mu Qingshuang was awake, she greeted her respectfully, "Madam, you're awake. Are you feeling unwell?"
"I'm not feeling too bad," Mu Qingshuang replied softly.
The servant girl placed the washbasin down and said to Mu Qingshuang, who was lying on the bed, "Madam, I'll take my leave."
"Okay," Mu Qingshuang nodded and softly responded before hastily stopping her, "Wait!"
"Did you see anything last night?" She asked.
The servant girl was taken aback for a moment and replied in a hushed tone, "I didn't see anything. The young master found me and asked me to help you to your room. When I arrived, you were asleep on the stone table."
What? I wasn't carried in by him? He didn't undress me?
Mu Qingshuang was going crazy. All her beautiful fantasies had dissipated, leaving behind only helplessness and loneliness, mixed with a trace of displeasure. Is my attraction to him not enough? I was so drunk, but he was completely indifferent to me. Could it be that he doesn't like my type of woman? Or is he put off by my age?
No, no, there's not a single man in this world who doesn't like a voluptuous figure, and he's surely no exception. As for my age… it's true I could be his mother, but the little fox is over two hundred years old. If I'm his mother, the little fox would be his ancestor.
"Madam? Madam?"
The servant girl saw that Mu Qingshuang was in a daze and asked carefully, "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Huh?"
"I'm fine. You, go back," Mu Qingshuang said softly, her lips slightly pursed, and added, "And don't talk about this to anyone, understood?"
"Understood, Madam."
The servant girl left the room, leaving the charming widow alone. She lay in bed, her face filled with complex emotions, but soon her furrowed brow relaxed, and she silently mumbled, "Indeed, the young man I've set my eyes on is such a proper gentleman."
"Despite having a slightly naughty side, why act so upright?"
Dressed in a loose nightgown, Mu Qingshuang strolled slowly towards the backyard. She found Lu Xun sitting in the pavilion, seemingly in deep meditation or cultivation. With graceful steps, she walked over and sat down beside him, maintaining some distance between them.
"Are you sober?" Lu Xun asked softly with his eyes closed.
"Yes," Mu Qingshuang replied, and asked playfully, "How did you know it was me?"
"I could smell it," Lu Xun answered, "You have a strong and non-cloying fragrance, with a touch of freshness and elegance. It's quite similar to the scent of gardenia flowers."
Mu Qingshuang was momentarily stunned. She lightly bit her lip and mumbled, "I didn't expect you to be so observant."
"…"
"Lu Xun?"
Mu Qingshuang inquired with curiosity, "Did I say anything strange last night?"
"Um, not really," Lu Xun replied, opening his eyes and looking at the elegant widow beside him. From this angle, he could see the slightly sensual brassiere holding her up high.
"Nothing strange?" Mu Qingshuang doubted his words but had no evidence. She mumbled to herself, "It's quite surprising I didn't say anything strange."
After a moment of silence, she gazed at him and softly asked, "When are you planning to leave?"
"Tomorrow morning," Lu Xun replied.
Mu Qingshuang felt a bit reluctant. After a long pause, she spoke in a soft, almost inaudible voice, "I'll talk to you through the mirror. Don't ignore me if you see the message."
"I won't."
Lu Xun smiled gently and said, "Madam, don't overthink it."
"Shuang'er," Mu Qingshuang reminded, slightly dissatisfied.
"Forgot."
"Relax, Shuang'er. I'll reply when I see a message," Lu Xun reassured.
Upon receiving this response, Mu Qingshuang felt a great sense of joy that swept away all the previous worries. Even a faint smile appeared on her lips.
In truth, Lu Xun had long understood her intentions. However, he was currently preoccupied with various matters and could not think of flirting with women, such as the issues between Miao Fengxian and Fairy Su, Xuan Yin and Miao Fengxian, Xuan Yin and Xuan Shi, and Fairy Su's relationship with all three demonesses.
These complex relationships left him mentally and emotionally exhausted, and any misstep could lead to a living hell rather than just a conflict.
Of course, he couldn't keep dragging things along like this; it would be unfair to Mu Qingshuang's feelings.
Lu Xun pursed his lips and asked, "Do you usually stay at home?"
"Yes," Mu Qingshuang replied softly, "I don't like going out, which has led to me being single all these years."
Lu Xun didn't say much. He poured himself and her a cup of tea, and they maintained silence in the small garden pavilion. Despite the quiet, it felt like they had exchanged many words.
"The courtyard is deep, how many layers it holds, with clouds, windows, misty pavilions, the spring delayed."
"For whom has your elegance faded and beauty diminished?"
"In the night, sweet dreams bloom, as if the southern branch is blossoming in delight."
Lu Xun stood up, walking towards the outside, continuing to recite lines:
"Jade slender, sandal delicate, infinite regrets, like the distant echo of a flute in the southern tower."
"Whose understanding unveils the vanishing scent?"
"As the warm breeze and late sun linger, parting ways with the apricot flowers' richness."
The pavilion fell silent, leaving only Mu Qingshuang with an expression of infatuation. Her emotions had already surged into a disaster. This poem, titled "To the Plum Blossom," used the plum blossom as a metaphor for her life, expressing her loneliness and the melancholy of fleeting youth in a profound and elegant manner.
This young man… I, Mu Qingshuang, have made up my mind!
In the following time, Mu Qingshuang didn't have many opportunities to be alone with Lu Xun. He was thoroughly stuck to the little fox. They only spent less than an hour together before he left.
"Qingshuang, we're leaving. Take care of yourself," the little fox stood on a flying sword, held tightly by Lu Xun. She said tenderly, "If you can, find a man for yourself."
The man I want is holding you right now. Mu Qingshuang rolled her eyes, "Let's talk about that another time."
Saying so, she cast a casual glance at Lu Xun.
Watching the silvery stream of light in the sky, which eventually disappeared from her view, Mu Qingshuang felt a deep sense of emptiness. She wanted to leave with Lu Xun, but it wasn't possible at the moment.
Sitting in the pavilion all alone, her face filled with sorrow, mind wandering aimlessly.
After some time had passed, a streak of light landed in the courtyard. Su Jingyi, dressed in Daoist robes, holding a staff, walked towards Mu Qingshuang in the pavilion.
At the same time, the threads of fate tightly bound these two sisters together, creating an unbreakable bond.