Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
The next day, the Bai Residence shook off the gloomy atmosphere of the past few days, adorned with colorful decorations and red lanterns hanging everywhere. The windows and doors were plastered with large characters of "Joy," radiating a festive spirit.
The wedding procession marched through the streets, lively and boisterous, filled with music and laughter.
However, Wan Shaobai, mounted on his horse, wore a serious expression, showing no signs of the joyous occasion. Today’s task was not to capture an ordinary bandit but to confront the elusive Shark People. He couldn’t say he felt completely confident about how things would unfold.
Ting Yu gently lifted a corner of the bridal curtain to sneak a glance at Wan Shaobai riding beside her on his chestnut horse. Noticing his worried demeanor, she couldn’t help but smile teasingly. “Hey, it’s a wedding today! You riding next to the bridal sedan with such a stern face really kills the mood.”
Wan Shaobai glanced down at Ting Yu. The jeweled curtain of her phoenix crown partially obscured her features, but the slight upward curve of her red lips and the lively glimmer in her dark eyes sparked curiosity about how stunning she must look behind that curtain.
Seeing Wan Shaobai lost in thought while staring at her, Ting Yu felt her cheeks flush deeper with color. She paused for a moment and feigned calmness as she said, “What are you staring at? I must look incredibly beautiful right now, don’t you think?”
Embarrassed, Wan Shaobai turned his head away without answering. After a moment of silence, he softly replied, “Today, you look beautiful.”
Taken aback by his unexpected compliment, Ting Yu momentarily lost her playful demeanor. The teasing smile faltered before she gently lowered the curtain again and said warmly, “If you weren’t wearing this blue robe today, do you think others would mistake it for you being the one getting married?”
“They might,” Wan Shaobai replied quietly.
The two fell silent again as the raucous sounds of celebration and firecrackers drowned out all other noise. If only this were truly a wedding procession; alas, it was merely a trap set to lure out the Shark People.
Everything proceeded smoothly according to plan. After the wedding ceremony, the bride was escorted into the new house in the backyard.
Outside, the crowd was bustling with excitement, while the tranquility within the courtyard highlighted the liveliness outside.
During the wedding ceremony, the Second Lady maintained her usual indifferent demeanor. After bowing to the bride, she left with a faint cold smile.
The Third Madam had been feeling faint since that day and had remained in a daze for the past two days. Today, she was not allowed to come out; it was said that she had been given medicine and was sleeping soundly in her room.
Ting Yu sat bored in the brightly decorated bridal chamber, faintly hearing voices outside calling for "a toast" from time to time, which only added to her sense of ennui. She turned slightly and whispered, "I wonder when those Shark People will show up; I'm about to starve. Do we really have to consummate the marriage?"
Hiding behind the bed curtains, Wan Shaobai choked slightly at the mention of "consummation," clearing his throat before replying, "I agreed with Old Master Bai that he would go to Madam's place later."
"So tonight, it will just be us here?"
"Hmm?"
"Nothing." Ting Yu seemed to think of something but hesitated to speak. She initially intended to let it go but couldn't help saying, "What if those young masters hear that I've bowed to an old man and spent a night with a Constable? Wouldn't they be too scared to marry me? Then I would never get married!"
"I will marry you." After a moment of silence, Wan Shaobai said earnestly, word by word.
Ting Yu was taken aback, relieved that Wan Shaobai couldn't see her flushed face at that moment. She feigned indifference and replied, "Who said I want to marry you?"
"..." Wan Shaobai was at a loss for how to respond to Ting Yu's answer. He could only sigh inwardly at how unpredictable women's thoughts could be.
"Unless you agree to one condition." Ting Yu's mischievous laughter reached Wan Shaobai's ears, and a smile appeared on his face as he replied, "You say it."
"You have to sing me another song and then ask me to marry you as your wife. It's not that easy to bring a bride home!"
Upon hearing the word "song," Wan Shaobai's expression changed dramatically. The embarrassing scene from last time when he had sung was still fresh in his mind, especially the way Ting Yu had laughed. He couldn't bring himself to sing again. Wan Shaobai felt as if he had been choked, clearing his throat a few times.
"Shh!" Ting Yu interrupted Wan Shaobai's coughing, holding his breath and listening intently for a moment before speaking with a tense expression. "The Shark People have come out; it's singing... The night Fourth Lady and Cui'er died, there was a haunting melody carried by the wind..."
"Drumming its rhythm, eager for battle. In the Earth Kingdom City Canal, I travel south alone. From Sun Zi Zhong, I traverse Ping Chen and Song. If I do not return, my heart is filled with worry. Do I love where I dwell? Do I mourn for my horse? How can I seek it? Beneath the forest. The Life and Death Contract, we make our vows together. Holding your hand, with you until old age. Oh, how vast it is; will it not let me live? Oh, how true it is; will it not trust me?"
The song reached Ting Yu's ears with remarkable clarity; it was a woman's voice, melodious and lingering, yet filled with boundless sorrow and desolation.
Wan Shaobai could hear nothing but tried to slow his breathing so that Ting Yu could listen more clearly. At the same time, his right hand quietly rested on the sword at his waist, ready to strike at any moment.
The sound grew clearer and closer, close enough that he could hear the drops of water falling to the ground mixed within the melody.
Ting Yu whispered to Wan Shaobai, "It's coming."
Comment 0 Comment Count