Chapter Seven, The Xiao Family (Part Two)

She paced back and forth anxiously, clutching her chest, cold sweat dampening her collar, and climbed up to the third floor in a daze, wandering around the small top floor.

The young woman in blue exclaimed in surprise, "Can't speak!" He followed her gaze to Liang Yu, his eyes bright, and a hint of teasing mockery in his smile, "Indeed, she is a burden and quite troublesome."

The attic built in the backyard of the Xiao family measures twelve feet in both length and width, and stands nearly thirty feet high, equivalent to three stories. It features intricately carved beams and painted columns, with eaves that slope elegantly. Constructed from high-quality cedar wood and adorned with magnificent gold paint, it is said to have been personally overseen by the renowned craftsman Wei Yin, who was sought after from the common folk of the Great Xia Kingdom, and does not adhere to conventional styles.

After finally returning to the flower realm, Liang Yu almost became Feng Tong's little tail, constantly following behind him and asking, "Feng Jun, where has this palace caused trouble? Where has it become a burden? Do you truly despise this palace so much? You even sealed my voice; if it weren't for that, this palace would definitely not be a burden..." Feng Tong walked ahead, suddenly stopping in his tracks. She bumped into his back with an "Oh dear," and he turned around, bent down, and looked at her with a slow smile, saying, "Is it beautiful?"

The hibiscus bloomed for half a moment, she chased after his silhouette, his light gray outer robe swayed gracefully, the silver thread embroidery shimmered dazzlingly in the light

Today, the memorial service for the matriarch of the Yinghou residence, Madam Xiao, was delayed by a quarter of an hour compared to usual, reportedly due to a minor mishap during her bathing.

The bathtub was commonly used by Xiao before her marriage, and despite her later status as the wife of the Duke of Ying, she still retained her original habits, personally attending to her bathing and never allowing the maidservants to assist her. Thus, one could only hear the worried voice of Mingxia from outside the door: "Madam, are you alright?"

Feng Jun, can we go and take a look at the marketplace in the human world

Liang Yu glanced at the bathtub, recalling the moment she stumbled inside it. Barefoot and reluctant to step on the ground, she found that the damp cloth on the floor, which she had stepped on several times, was actually her own nightgown

Feng Jun stood outside the door, extending two fingers to flick the flying scroll back onto the table. She then dragged her out of the examination room, observing her for a long time but unable to find a way to approach the situation. Finally, she pinched her face hard and said, "If you continue like this, I won't take you out next time." The pinch made her tears well up in her eyes, nodding her head like a chick pecking at rice.

The woman lowered her head and smiled, her face still flushed. Liang Yu felt that her expression seemed somewhat dejected, yet she did not know what she was feeling dejected about

* * * *

Have you not seen a market in the classics

She casually placed the marigolds, still glistening with dew, on the table, lit some incense, and inserted them into the overflowing incense burner. The fine fragrance wafted out in wisps of smoke, making her feel somewhat tipsy and comfortable. She lingered for a moment, taking a deep breath, and then walked up to the second floor

To ordinary people, it may seem somewhat strange in style, but to Liang Yu, it is exceptionally graceful and ethereal, exuding a celestial aura. Upon entering, one immediately feels a sense of intimacy, indicating that the Xiao family indeed harbors a genuine reverence for the Flower Goddess

Baihua Tower ... . ... She silently recited it several times, furrowing her brows

Mingxia quickly replied, "What happened, old lady?"

Everyone in the flower world fears Yulang, and when they see him approaching from a distance, they hold their breath and quiet down, but only Feng Tong is unafraid. Although the two of them cannot stand each other, their expressions when mentioning the other are strikingly similar: Yulang often sneers disdainfully, saying, "Shameless brat." Feng Tong, on the other hand, wears a mocking smile, replying, "Old stick-in-the-mud."

Liang Yu easily squeezed herself into the bucket, splashed in the basin, and stomped the water back with force, huffing, "It's nothing!"

Feng Tong said that in the mortal realm, beautiful women are compared to delicate flowers, and the reason it is called the Hundred Flowers Pavilion is that beautiful women gather there, competing in charm and splendor

The room was filled with fluttering red gauze curtains, and many garments were scattered messily on the floor. The cool jade was only as high as the table, and one could see a woman's embroidered shoe beneath the bed. Amidst the half-covered gauze curtains, there were delicate and playful sounds of a woman's teasing and laughter. Before long, a jade-like foot emerged from within the curtains.

Liang Yu closed her eyes: "Where is my ... ... clothing?"

Liang Yu was taken aback and stammered, "No... it's not good-looking, I'm not going, I'm never going again." Feng Tong snorted lightly, turned around and left, saying, "If you run around recklessly again next time, I will no longer come to your rescue when Yu Lang is hitting you."

* * * *

In the end, the woman's eyes were almost constantly glued to him. Her delicate hands played the piano, the melody becoming increasingly chaotic, until it suddenly stopped. Her fingers fluttered like butterflies onto his lapel, her face slightly flushed, her eyes shining brightly, yet her somewhat hurried breaths betrayed her insecurity and tension

She was entranced by that voice, frozen in place, listening in a daze. After a long while, her lips moved: "Feng Jun..."

Only the sound of Jin Dong's low sigh could be heard from outside: "The old lady has even forgotten this..." Ming Xia hurriedly interrupted: "Uh, in response to the old lady, according to the usual instructions, the clothes are right next to your bathtub..."

... ... Do not speak so harshly, it is 'the land of fireworks'

Feng Tong concealed the appearances of the two individuals, transforming Liang Yu into a boy only reaching his waist, silencing her voice, and directly heading to the most prominent and renowned pleasure house in the capital of the Shun Dynasty at that time... Baihua Tower

She leaned half of her body out of the window and shouted in a hoarse voice: "Feng Jun—"

Faintly discernible in the painting is a woman in blue attire and a young boy in purple clothing, alongside an animal that resembles neither a cow nor a tiger. Judging by its stripes, it is most likely a large tiger. The entire painting exhibits a lack of skill, resembling nothing more than a child's scribble.

The old lady has only one son, Yun Ji, who is as hard and foolish as a weapon. Yun Ji and his legitimate wife, Lady Shen, had three daughters and one son. Lady Shen passed away from illness a year ago, leaving only Yun Ji, an elderly uncle, Yun Qing, a child, and three beautiful young ladies in the household

The maids exclaimed in unison: "Baihua Tower!" The two of them turned to look at her simultaneously, their eyes filled with admiration and their expressions brimming with pride, nearly brainwashing Liang Yu, who felt that the name chosen by the Xiao family was both simple and easy to understand, as well as exceptionally elegant.

"Knowing it now is of no use," he glanced back at her and said with a smile, "When you are older and have seen more Peking operas, you will naturally understand."

"Restless." He chuckled softly above her head, his hand carrying a faint scent of grass. One hand covered her eyes while the other swept her into his embrace, turning to leave. She kicked her little legs in the air a few times, but to no avail

It is not sufficient; what is learned from books ultimately feels superficial

Feng Tong carried her and soared to the most prosperous capital of the Qin State during that year. At the market, she looked around, buying a bag full of trinkets. Feng Tong never stopped her; in fact, he would accurately pick out the most beautiful masks from a row of floral ones to buy for her, or at the magic show stall, he would lift her by the collar to let her see.

... ...

Outside was silent and still. The cool jade was submerged in the icy water, and as she looked around, her face felt somewhat flushed. She tried to shout with as much authority as possible: "Hey... anyone there!"

Jianqiu and Jindong, two maidservants, held flowers carefully selected from the back garden. They saw Madam Xiao enter the old attic, which had been around for decades, with great interest. She touched this and looked at that, occasionally expressing her admiration with a few exclamations, and even turned around to ask, "What is this place called?" Jindong immediately replied, "It was personally named by the old lady, it is called—"

Feng Jun, what is a kiln?

On the third floor of the attic, there is a place called the Moon Viewing Platform

Enough! Feng Tong, unable to endure any longer, straightened up from the bed, pulled her in front of him, and forcefully flicked her forehead. "No wonder that old man Yu Lang hits you every day. After teaching you so many poems, you only remember this one line? If I were Yu Lang, you wouldn't have lived to see today"

She took advantage of Feng Tong's inattention, quietly got up and slipped out of the door, wandering aimlessly in the corridor, and inadvertently entered a half-open room.

Ascending the stairs to the second floor, the clamor of toasts and revelry from the first floor faded away. Before her were wooden private rooms, half-draped with bamboo curtains, through which a spacious tea table could be faintly seen. She wanted to approach and take a look, but her hand was firmly grasped by Feng Tong, and despite struggling for a while, she could not break free.

Feng Jun, do you know what the imperial examination in the human world looks like

The air seemed to be stagnant, and she could hardly endure the turmoil within her heart. Uncontrollably, she tore open her outer garment, yet still felt discomfort. The air was heavy as lead, and she found it difficult to breathe

Feng Jun, knowledge gained from books is ultimately superficial; to truly understand this matter, one must put it into practice

The onlookers discreetly observed the seemingly unusual Xiao, noting that although her hair was somewhat disheveled and her face slightly flushed, her expression was full of vigor. Just by observing her imposing and spirited stride, one could feel relieved that the old lady, despite the incident of falling from her horse, was hardly affected aside from a slight decline in her memory.

Liang Yu covered her forehead with both hands, her black and white eyes blinking as she looked at him, making him think he had spoken too harshly, a hint of regret evident in his gaze—he then heard her articulate question: "Shall we go in the afternoon?"

It was a dim and vague memory, only recalling that the building was adorned with silks and satins, with a constant flow of elegantly dressed figures. The women swayed their waists, and the air was filled with the fragrance of cosmetics. A woman with a heavily powdered face treated them with great courtesy, speaking in a somewhat peculiar tone.

She extended her emaciated hand to support her forehead

Yulang knew that Feng Tong had taken her out secretly. Although he would scold her dozens of times as a "shameless child," he could do nothing to her. Liang Yu thus firmly believed that Feng Tong was her great support, always there to take the blame.

In the past, Liang Yu was lazy, and all governmental affairs were handled with the assistance of the officials. She could rest early in the evening, lying down and eating the fruits handed to her by the maidservants, not wanting to move at all... unless... Wen Yu or Ji Beichen came to find her

That is different; what is learned from books is ultimately superficial. To truly understand this matter, one must engage in practice.

Liang Yu was surrounded by this group of people, spending a lively and fulfilling month in such a manner. Every day she was exhausted to the bone, and even lying in bed could not spare her from feeling dizzy and disoriented. Hearing someone call her "Grandma" made her shiver inside

On the second floor, there was a small table, a bed, and a screen depicting a lady, which surprisingly served as a temporary residence. As she passed by the surrounding furnishings and was about to head to the third floor, she suddenly felt an unbearable tightness in her heart, as if something was about to break through the surface.

After speaking, he sent them all away. ... The surroundings fell into silence, and Liangyu saw a table covered with white jade, above which hung a painted scroll bound in ebony, depicting ... . ... Not worth praising.

On the third floor, there was nothing, only two windows remained. She stumbled to the window, forcefully pushed it open, and a huge crescent moon suddenly leaped into her view, illuminating the entire attic with its bright glow

Xiao was tall and robust, with long limbs. He was not accustomed to the cool jade, and during his first bath, he bumped against the tub with a loud crash. After a while, he managed to recover and cautiously stepped in, only to trip and fall into the tub, splashing water all over his face

The woman bent her waist and stepped back, while Feng Tong also released her hand. She obediently sat to the side, watching quietly and without revealing her emotions

She merely thought out of boredom—so this is the land of fireworks. Although there are indeed many beautiful women, playing the piano, drinking tea, and engaging in idle chatter, isn't that just a celestial gathering? I really don't understand why the author of that play would describe this place as "soul-stirring".

Echoes resounded through the night

Feng Tong held her hand, paused for a moment, and gently placed it back on the strings of the guqin. He looked at her and smiled affectionately, saying, "The young lady's guqin is out of tune." After saying this, he helped her adjust the tuning peg and carefully tuned the instrument.

* * * *

The cool night breeze flowed in, and she heard the distant sound of the sheng and xiao, lingering and melodious, as if someone were softly comforting her

Did Yu Lang not tell you about the imperial examination in the mortal world

Liang Yu has traveled to many places in the human world, mostly accompanied by Feng Tong. These places were unknown to her originally; she only learned about them quietly through the operas in the human realm, and then she would run to pester Feng Tong. Among the entire flower realm, only Feng Jun from Sangqiu Qingwa Cave is bold enough to take her out without anyone noticing, wandering through mountains and rivers all day long, and then returning in a grand manner as if nothing had happened.

Xiao's daily life is quite fulfilling. After having dinner, he goes out for a walk, maintaining the habits of his youth, walking all the way from the Yinghou residence to the military camp two li away, and then briskly returning. He inspects around the residence and waits in his room for his son and granddaughter to come and pay their respects.

What is the place of fireworks like

Subsequently, Feng Tong followed the woman into the largest and brightest room, where a woman dressed in a blue gauze garment was kneeling beside a few tables, possessing considerable beauty

Liang Yu's voice was silenced, only her pair of eyes stared at her, while her hand unconsciously played with the round fruit. Feng Jun responded: "He cannot speak"

These individuals come every day to engage in a meticulous routine, with complex formalities and lively conversations. After all, they belong to a family of military generals, discussing various topics, and they even spend half an hour in idle talk about military strategies.

She did not expect that the rules of the human world were even more complicated than those in the realm of flowers. Just keeping track of the rich daily life of Old Lady Xiao was already quite vexing, not to mention that she, without any magical powers, had to persist in walking four miles every evening, to the point where she could hardly lift her feet yet still had to pretend as if nothing was amiss

She had never heard this piece before, but she recognized the timbre of the xiao; it was the jade-ping xiao that Feng Tong carried with her.

Although he is smiling, there is no joy in his eyes, and there is even a hint of anger.

In the past, whenever she wanted to go out to play, she would inevitably seek out Feng Tong. After pestering Feng Tong for no more than a quarter of an hour, the latter would surely relent, rubbing her head that had been hurt by the incessant nagging, and it could almost be said that she was always accommodating to her requests

Subsequent events became rather dull; the woman in the blue attire played the guqin while Feng Jun sipped tea. They discussed poetry and literature for a long time. The woman's expression shifted from ease to unease, and finally to one of complete admiration. She began to pour tea for him repeatedly, while Feng Jun sat opposite her, nodding his thanks like a graceful young gentleman, yet he hardly drank any tea.

Having returned to the previous chamber, the young lady in green had already adjusted her demeanor. She bent down to offer him a fruit to eat and then looked at Feng Tong with a smile, saying, "Young master is very kind to the household servants." Noticing that Feng Jun only smiled faintly without responding, she felt a bit disappointed and turned to converse with her, asking, "Young master, how old are you?"

Forget it, the world has changed, and everything is different now

... ...

Liang Yu suddenly thought of Feng Jun, feeling an emptiness in her heart, unable to suppress her melancholy. She took the half handful of marigolds from Qiu's hands and said: "The name 'Baihua Tower' is not good"

She was extremely curious, and just as she was about to take a step forward, someone suddenly covered her eyes

Feng Tong actually agreed, taking her to stealthily infiltrate the examination venue. She thoroughly reviewed the entire thesis and blew away the paper of the one who had written the best. The scholar stretched out his arms, his face flushed, chasing the paper around the venue, like trying to catch a flying bird, and the laughter nearly brought down the roof.