26

  The two of us laughed at each other for a while, then gradually stopped. But still smiled at each other. After this laugh, the little hostility between them seemed to slowly dissipate. I took a step forward, and he also walked slowly beside me, with that big black horse following behind us.

  As I walked, I still couldn't help but think that such a ridiculous thing could happen. With a smile on my face, I couldn't resist saying to him: "I don't like the tenth brother either." He was taken aback, stopped in his tracks, and looked at me with a serious expression. Then he couldn't help but burst out laughing again, while I smiled and watched him from the side. After finishing laughing, he sighed and said: "We're even!"

  Two people walked to a slightly higher earth slope. I picked up a slightly flat place and sat down. With both hands holding my knees, I looked at the distant horse racing field. He also sat beside me, following me to look at those vague people and horses. A big black horse stopped randomly beside us, its hooves scratching the ground.

  The two of us were silent for a long time, and I couldn't help but be curious, so I asked: "Why were you sad that night?" He stared at the distance for half a day without making a sound. I waited for a while, then said softly: "If it's difficult to talk about, don't say anything." He was silent again for a moment, then said: "Actually, there's nothing much to say. That day was my mother's death anniversary."

  I let out an "ah" and turned my head to look at him, momentarily unsure of what to say, so I could only turn my head back to gaze silently into the distance. After a while, he forced a smile and said, "On this very day many years ago, Mother married Father."

  I couldn't help but feel a deep sorrow in my heart after listening. A woman had thus spent her entire life. Now, I'm afraid that except for her son, there's no one else who remembers when she got married with a beautiful face like a flower, and when she left during the prime of her youth. And the person who should have remembered all this couldn't possibly recall when he lifted up the red veil to reveal a jade-like lovely face because he was too rich and had four seas.

  Thinking of the big wedding day of tenth brother, thirteen faced a hall full of dazzling red, but in her heart was a vast and painful white. Indeed, how can emotions bear it! The slight dissatisfaction in her heart due to his rudeness that day completely disappeared, leaving only infinite sympathy.

  The two of us sat quietly for a while. He turned to me with a smile and asked, "You don't like Shige, so why did I see you singing a song for him? And why does everyone say you're crazy about him?" I tilted my head and thought for a moment before asking, "Do you know what the Red Nun was doing when she first met the Whiskered Guest?" He hesitated slightly before slowly responding, "The Red Nun was combing her hair!" I smiled and said, "Men and women can be like the Whiskered Guest and the Red Nun! They care for each other, but it's not about romance, only true feelings!" His expression changed as he listened to this, and he gazed at me intently. After a while, he said, "What a wonderful phrase, 'not about romance, only true feelings'!" I saw that he understood my meaning and felt happy, because in ancient times, equal friendships between men and women were rare, and most people couldn't accept them. The two of us couldn't help but exchange a smile.

  I saw the person in the distance as if preparing to leave. He stood up and said, "It's time to go back!" He followed me to stand up, suddenly asked: "How about going for a few drinks?" I stared at him in surprise, he smiled warmly at me. My heart also couldn't help but feel warm, and I said with a sigh: "What's wrong with that?" He looked at the horse and asked: "Ride together on one horse?" I smiled and said: "Not for the first time!"

  He burst out laughing and mounted his horse first, then pulled me up onto the horse, letting me sit behind him. With a shout of "Giddyup!", the two of us galloped off.

  That evening, when Thirteen sent me back to the Belle Estate, the sky had already darkened. Although Thirteen had slowed down the horse's pace, I was still wearing a cloak he had brought for me, yet I still felt a bit chilly. After helping me dismount, I said: "You go first!" He thought for a moment and said: "I'd better clarify things with Eighth Brother myself." I smiled and said: "They won't do anything to me. Sister won't let them." He smiled but didn't respond, instead walking forward to knock on the door ring.

  I saw him insist on it, so I just went along with him. The door opened quickly. Two doormen saw me and the Thirteen Prince standing in front of the door, and they hastily asked for instructions. The Thirteen said lightly: "Get up! Go tell the Beile Master that I've arrived!" One of the doormen immediately ran off, while the other closed the door and led the Thirteen to the front hall. I nodded at the Thirteen and returned to my sister's room on my own.

  When I returned to the house, all the other maids were not there, only Qiao Hui accompanied me. My sister's face was pale, looking at me and saying: "You should still remember what I said 'only this once, no next time'." I stood there, not knowing how to respond for a moment. Going out to play with friends on a whim is something I often do in modern times. But in ancient times, such a trivial matter actually caused such a big reaction from the people around me. I couldn't help but sigh again and again.

  I stood silently because I felt that there was no way for me to communicate with my sister about this matter, we have a gap of over 300 years. My sister also looked at me with a helpless and sad face.

  She stood silently for half a day, and my older sister finally waved her hand wearily and said: "Go down!" I looked at her expression, and my heart felt very uncomfortable too. But I really didn't think I had done anything wrong. Here, I have already lost many things, and I don't want to be deprived of the right to make friends with others, even if it hurts my sister's feelings. In the end, I could only silently turn around and return to my room.

  ――――

  When I woke up in the morning, it was already late. I still lay in bed and didn't want to get up. My eyes gazed at the canopy, thinking about what happened last night with Thirteen outside...