Ci Jinzhi

“I met Shi Shi when I went to your bookstore, and I thought he was somewhat similar to an old friend of ours…”

Shopkeeper Hu immediately became excited: "Where is your old friend now? Maybe he is the husband Shitou is looking for!"

Sun Yan was heartbroken and didn't dare to show anything on his face: "We were friends many years ago, but we didn't know where to go afterwards. We'll send someone to look for her later. The shopkeeper shouldn't mention it to Shi Shi and her son, lest they have a problem." Hope and disappointment.”

At this time, Sun Yan was glad that Shitou looked the same as Cuiniang, so that he could recognize her at a glance and no one would suspect his relationship with Shitou.

Shopkeeper Hu sighed: "You can't mention him if you haven't found him. In the early years, Mrs. Shitou heard people say that the person she saw looked like her husband, but she ran to look for her but it was not her husband. She felt uncomfortable for several days when she came back..."

Sun Yan felt uncomfortable hearing this and returned to the palace in a depressed mood.

After a few days like this, he reported to Emperor Xingyuan: "The Marquis of Changle has always had the habit of going to Qingsong Bookstore to read. According to the investigation of the slaves these days, the Marquis of Changle probably did not know the true identity of Princess Ayou at that time..."

By saying this, Sun Yan was tantamount to tying himself to He Qingxiao. If it was found out that this was not the case in the future, he would definitely be left with nothing to eat. But Xinyou was kind to him, and his wife and children were with Xinyou. Regardless of conscience or other reasons, he could only do this.

And Sun Yan did this, which means that if someone wants to investigate this matter in the future, he will do his best to prevent interference.

Emperor Xingyuan never expected that Sun Yan would protect He Qingxiao. He knew that Sun Yan had tripped up He Qingxiao before. He naturally had no doubts when he heard this: "He still remembers his duty as the envoy of Jinlin Guard Town."

Sun Yan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that the matter was over, so he found an opportunity to send a message to Xin You.

Xin You's anxious heart was relieved at this moment.

 It was peaceful and quiet after that, and it was already the Mid-Autumn Festival when I saw He Qingxiao again.

There was another banquet held in the Mid-Autumn Festival, and Xinyou refused without any burden. At night, she carried a lantern and went out, wandering aimlessly, and walked onto the Mingyue Bridge not far from home.

 She met He Qingxiao by chance on the bridge.

There were people coming and going on the bridge, the breeze was bright and the moon was bright. At this moment, everything became the background. Only the girl holding the lantern became the most beautiful scenery in He Qingxiao's eyes.

The two looked at each other for a moment, and Xin You came over and said, "Master He, what a coincidence."

He Qingxiao didn’t carry a lantern, her hands were empty, and her eyes were full: “What a coincidence. Miss Xin, please call me by my name from now on, and don’t call me Mr. He.”

Without the post of envoy of Jinlin Weibei Town, he would just be Changle Marquis He Qingxiao. He didn't even have much sense of reality about the title of Marquis of Changle. He always felt that it didn't really belong to him.

 The only thing that truly belongs to him is the name given to him by his parents.

Xin You was silent for a moment and nodded: "Okay, I will call you He Qingxiao from now on."

 The man's face, which looked deserted in the moonlight night, showed a faint smile.

“Let’s go over there, standing on the bridge is too conspicuous.” Xin You pointed at the long embankment.

Willows are planted all over the embankment. At this time, the leaves turn yellow and fall with the wind.

 There were many people crossing the bridge, and there were even more boys and girls walking slowly along the causeway. The lighting here is darker, making it a suitable place for dating and chatting.

The two of them walked slowly side by side. The lantern in Xin You's hand emitted dim light, illuminating the road ahead for more than ten feet.

“He Qingxiao, are your injuries healed?” Xin You said his name like this, and her face felt a little hot for no reason.

Perhaps it would be more appropriate to call him Lord Hou?

"It's been fine a long time ago." He Qingxiao's voice was different from usual on this reunion night, with a hesitant and vague tone.

Xinyou heard it and said softly: "I didn't watch it that day, don't worry."

She was talking about the day of the imperial cane. She didn't look at He Qingxiao's miserable appearance as he was stripped of his clothes and pants and beaten with the cane.

 “I know.” The man’s voice was softer.

 He knew that she cared about his dignity, and while he was grateful, he felt powerless. Living under the eyes of the emperor, there is no real dignity at all. None of them can decide their own destiny.

Xin You lowered his eyes and stared at the shadows of the two people on the ground. They sometimes overlapped and sometimes separated.

 “He knows—” she started, but couldn’t continue.

  She and He Qingxiao had already tacitly expressed their affection for each other, but they had never made it clear when both parties were sober.

He Qingxiao was different from usual and asked directly: "Do you know that I am in love with Miss Xin now?"

Xin You's feet suddenly stopped and she raised her eyes to look at him.

 In the night, his eyebrows and eyes were like warm dark jade, filled with affection that was no longer concealed.

 “Congratulations to Qingxiao—”

He Qingxiao's ears turned red and she apologized softly: "Then I will definitely send someone to investigate what happened when Miss Xin was still Miss Kou. He has caused you trouble again..."

 He is safe and sound so far, it must be Ayou who helped again.

"No trouble." Xin You lowered the lantern in his hand and raised his head slightly, "When I was still a Kou girl, you helped me many times. Do you think it's trouble?"

"No." He Qingxiao blurted out.

“So don’t feel sorry, and I won’t either.” Xin You paused, and for the first time she expressed her true feelings clearly, “He Qingxiao, I’m glad to meet you.”

They were walking to a thick willow tree. The low-hanging lantern illuminated the ground, but blurred each other's faces.

Such a hazy Mid-Autumn night is always easier to inspire people’s courage. He Qingxiao looked into the girl's bright eyes, and her reason was defeated by her words.

He leaned closer, his tall figure enveloped her, and pressed his lips to hers.

 They are very sensible, but also very young. Those feelings will be suppressed, but they cannot always be suppressed.

Countless nights of tossing and turning, feeling dejected, were all vented at this moment in the increasingly passionate kiss between the two.

The lantern swayed low and fell to the ground at some point. The flames flickered and then went out completely.

 It gets darker here.

Xin You’s back was pressed against the rough and hard tree trunk, and her hands had nowhere to place but could only wrap around He Qingxiao’s waist.

He Qingxiao originally had a tall and thin figure, but recently she lost a lot of weight, and her waist was as narrow as that of a teenager.

Xinyou then held on tighter and raised her head to let him take what he wanted.

 She heard her own heavier breathing, and also heard his. Everything seemed like an unreal dream, like the mist in the forest, or the clouds in the sky that couldn't be dispersed. She could hear and feel it, but it was all blank.

Her body suddenly flew into the air and she subconsciously let out a low cry.

This low cry brought the man back to his senses. Her feet quickly fell back to the ground, the strong arms holding her were retracted, and the hot and lingering kiss was no longer there.

He Qingxiao closed her eyes, not daring to recall what she had just done.

He really deserves to die, knowing that he and Ayou cannot be married, yet he approaches her, despises her, and even cannot restrain himself from wanting to have her.

The bright moon in the sky emerged from the clouds, and the bright moonlight poured down.

The girl's voice sounded in her ears: "He Qingxiao, do you regret it?"