Chapter 216: Being Forthcoming (Part 1)
As the sun headed west, Shen Miao and Xie Jing Xing were walking back to the residence.
Great Liang was more open minded and had more freedom than in Ming Qi thus it was a common sight for husband and wife to be seen in the streets. However because Xie Jing Xing was very famous, everyone in Long Ye knew of him and thus they would be surrounding by astonished eyes wherever he went.
In the previous period, it was rumoured that Rui WangFei and Prince Rui were not of good terms and their relationship was as cold as ice. However they were currently travelling together thus this rumour was broken. If both of them were like the rumours, unfamiliar with one another, how would they travel so intimately? One did not know which family was the one that was spouting nonsense.
Ever since Shen Miao came to Long Ye, it was her first time strolling around. Xie Jing Xing was very familiar with this place and both of them would buy as they walk. She was originally not one who favoured new things but it seemed that he was affected by Luo Tan as she bought so many things that the carriage was filled. Both of them bought stuff in front while Tie Yi and Cong Yang followed behind paying. Xie Jing Xing felt that Shen Miao was somewhat strange being like this and looked suspiciously at her from time to time.
Shen Miao current mood was unpreceding relaxed.
It was like she had experience a dream that undoubtedly unraveled the anger and hatred of her past life. Naturally enmity would have to be avenged but in this rebirth of a lifetime, it was not only just for revenge. Those stars that one shimmered in the dark years made her feel that she was not only left with bad experience in her previous lifetime. As for this lifetime, it was even more precious.
The present her was more determined and candid that she was before. She could face straightforwardly to her own feelings and could embrace her new life with enthusiasm. The current her and the previous her were two different persons.
Her heart was relaxed and naturally she smiled from the start to the end. She was like a child who used a different perspective to look at things and even said to Xie Jing Xing, “Long Ye and Ding capital are really different. One thinks that the different regions of Great Liang have its own uniqueness. If there is such a day where one could travel to the famous mountains and rivers to look at the different scenery, it would be great.”
Xie Jing Xing smiled, “What is so difficult with it?”
“It is easier said than done.” Shen Miao said, “Sometimes one admires those who live at the rivers and lakes. There are no worries and troubles and there are also no unscrupulous things. The experiences would be extremely interesting.”
Xie Jing Xing looked at her thoughtfully.
Shen Miao said, “What are you looking at me for?”
His lips raised and he took Shen Miao’s hands as he smiled, “After Ming Qi’s and Great Liang’s matters are done, I will take you to where you want to go.”
Shen Miao smiled at him, “Is this the wish you give to me in return?”
Xie Jing Xing was slightly in a dazed. Thinking about the wish that Shen Miao spoke of when she woke up, a smug smile suddenly appeared on his face as he said, “You kept on reminding me of that wish today. Could it be that because the two month period was over and you really want…”
Shen Miao turned around and left, “I did not think about anything.”
Cong Yang and Tie Yi were following behind. Cong Yang looked embarrassed and Tie Yi’s dark face became red, as both of them showed an expression of not waiting to see it. It was naturally a good thing when both masters have good relations but it was simply abuse for them serve them.
It was better to guard the tower prison.
When the moon gradually rose, there were much fewer people on the streets. Shen Miao and Xie Jing Xing had shopped around for an entire day and also felt tired. It was rare that she was that excited thus Xie Jing Xing accompanied her. Seeing both of them returning with an atmosphere of ease, Jing Zhe and Gu Yu were relieved.
Xie Jing Xing wanted to bathe so Shen Miao returned to her own room. Jing Zhe had already brought over the hot water and said, “Furen should bath first. The little kitchens has already prepare the food and after a while it can be eating. It must be tiring after an entire day.”
Shen Miao complied. The bathing water was very warm and comfortable that it made one groggy and felt like sleeping. She lay on the bed as Gu Yu wait by the side and said, “This servant had not seen Furen laughed like this for a long time.”
Shen Miao recovered to her senses. She actually laughed very often but most likely after staying in the Inner Palace for a long time, with the logic of even if one lose, one could not lose one’s position, even if one’s road is dark or no matter how unfavourable the situation was, one would first display a gentle smile first. If the enemy saw one’s gentle smile, they would not be able to guess what one was thinking. Even if it did not confuse the enemy, it was good to make the other feel disgusted.
Since her rebirth, she was accustomed to it but that smile was consciously displayed and not from one’s ehart so how could it be the same as a smile from one’s heart?
Currently her eyes were bent, like it was filled with satisfaction and as warm as warm jade, making her beautiful face more attractive and one was unable to peel their eyes off.
Jing Zhe noticed the red string around Shen Miao’s wrist. When Luo Tan gave the red strings to Shen Miao, Jing Zhe was not aware of it so now upon seeing it, she was curious, “Is Furen’s red string newly bought on the streets? It is indeed unique but is not matching to one’s clothes.”
Gu Yu also saw it and smiled, “Didn’t Pu Tuo Monastery sell such red strings? One copper coin for a string. It is said that this is to seek for marriage.”
Jing Zhe smiled, “A marriage is only worth a copper coin? This is just too cheap.” She was than somewhat curious, “Furen don’t believe in such things the most so why buy it? However speaking of it, if His Highness see this string, one feared that he would not be happy as he will think that Furen had become WangFei already so why seek for marriage.” Jing Zhe had a lively personality and now learned Xie Jing Xing’s dissatisfied expression, making Shen Miao and Gu Yu laugh out.
Gu Yu scolded while smiling, “Rascal. Is His Highness someone you can joke about?”
Shen Miao waved her hands, “Later instruct people to place the food in Xie Jing Xing’s room.”
Both of them had been sleeping in separate room so Xie Jing Xing had his own bed chambers. Jing Zhe was startled but she then smiled, “Furen want to have a meal with His Highness.” She could not help but be happy for Shen Miao. When Shen Miao and Xie Jing Xing slept separately, these maids saw it but did not know how to persuade. They had not thought that after suffering from such a catastrophe, both of their feelings improved heaps and bounds. It was indeed a blessing in disguise.
Shen Miao said, “This string is very spiritual.”
“Oh?” Gu Yu looked strangely at Shen Miao as she did not know why she suddenly said those words.
Shen Miao however just looked at the string and sighed softly. It is just that this time, her eyes were relaxed.
This day was bound to come and her worries were not like previous. This time she was already fully prepared. This lifetime was different from the last lifetime, be it people or events so she would still be filled with expectations but she would not put all her future on one person.
One’s growth and becoming a person who could fight by one’s side was equally powerful. It was simply protecting the things that one wanted to protecting and resolved feuds that one should resolve.
She instructed Jing Zhe to bring a handkerchief over and said, “Help me to style my hair.”
*****
Xie Jing Xing walked out in his middle clothes.
He bathed for a long time that the water was somewhat cooled. When he was alone, there was no lazy smile on his face and on the contrary, there was some indifferent expression that one could not see clearly at night. He was actually not a warm person and under the appearance of trifling without respect, there was a faint ridicule of the world.
Just as he went out, he saw a few delicate dishes and snacks in the middle of the room.
Xie Jing Xing’s brows wrinkled, “Tie Yi.” He was not used to having a meal in the room. He was one who liked cleanliness and would be very structured and orderly in private. The bed chambers was a place to sleep and the hall was used to have a meal.
There was no response after calling out for a few times when the door suddenly opened with a bang and Shen Miao came in hugging a wine jar.
That wine jar was so big and she wobbled as she carried it. Xie Jing Xing went forward to help her and placed it on the table before he asked, “What are you doing?”
Shen Miao said, “I have searched in your warehouse for a long time and found this earthen jar. It is most likely Shi Zhou Xiang (direct translation: Scent that can be smelt in ten provinces). Most likely that it is of some years so one carried it out.”
Xie Jing Xing paused and opened the jar. Indeed a mellow fragrance of a wine whiff passed. He smiled and said, “It is amazing that you could recognise Shi Zhou Xiang. Tang Shu did not stop you?”
Shi Zhou Xiang was a highly regarded wine and was priceless that even if one had money, it was difficult to procure. There was only three jars in the entire residence of Prince Rui and Shen Miao took one jar away. Coincidently this jar was about fifty years cold. One feared that Tang Shu would be so heartache that he was crying silently.
Shen Miao smiled, “I even drank it before.”
Xie Jing Xing was suspicious, “Drank it before?”
Shen Miao did not continue speaking. When she was an Empress, there was no wine that she did not drink in the Palace banquet before. Even though one jar of Shi Zhou Xiang was precious, but it was not to a level that she would view it in a different light. However she had been an Empress but was blinded by so many things that she did not care too much about these stuffs. However in normal families and even official families, an official would not have an opportunity to have a mouthful of Shi Zhou Xiang even after exhausting one entire life.
Shen Miao patted her head, “It seemed that one had forgotten to bring wine cups.” Her eyes landed on the bowls that were used for rice and simply took two over and poured two full bowls out.
Xie Jing Xing looked at her incredulously and questioned, “Shen Miao, are you an alcoholic?”
“I am here to accompany you to eat.” Shen Miao said, “How can there be no wine with dishes?”
Xie Jing Xing folded his arms and looked at her for a while and suddenly remembered a matter before saying, “I almost forgot if you hadn’t mentioned it. On that day in Bi Xiao Lou, you drank a bowl of wine in front of so many people… Shen Jiao Jiao, in the future you have to pay attention to the norms of propriety.”
When she drank wine, she was extremely charming and had an elegant bearing that in that moment, it made everyone unable to turn their eyes away. The numerous eyes of all those men in Bi Xiao Luo are all on her and at that time Xie Jing Xing was sulking badly. If he did not care of his current status, one feared that he would have carried Shen Miao and left.
He tempted to teach his little wife, “In the future, don’t drink outside and if there is a need to drink, I have to be present. Even if I am present, you cannot drink too much, especially in front of other… Shen Jiao Jiao, are you listening to me?”
Shen Miao put down the bowl. She just swallowed a big mouthful of Shi Zhou Xiang and currently her throat was on fire, so much so that tears was about to be spilled. The entire mouthful went down her stomach and made it warm and refreshed. She praised, “It is indeed Shi Zhou Xiang.”
Xie Jing Xing said, “Are you disregarding me now?”
Shen Miao glanced at him, “Are you not drinking?” She then picked the wine bowl up to drink.
Xie Jing Xing said, “Hey. Are you going to be a drunkard at my place tonight? Shi Zhou Xiang is not supposed to be drunk like how you are doing it. You are being like a cow chewing on Peonies.”
Shen Miao squinted at him, “No one dared to say that I am a cow chewing on Peonies.”
Xie Jing Xing, “…”
He had always felt that Shen Miao was a completely different person when she drank, like she was when the Shen family left Ding capital all those years ago, before he headed to Northern Jiang. Could it be that there was another person living in Shen Miao and would only be unleashed when she drank? Xie Jing Xing was really puzzled as she was usually a cautious person but once she was drunk, she would be do things without any reason and might even do something incredulous.
He had felt that the arrogance of the Shen family’s military lineage would only be reflected on Shen Miao after she drank.
Shen Miao handed a large bowl of wine to Xie Jing Xing and said, “You drink too.”
Xie Jing Xing looked at her unfathomably but Shen Miao stubbornly reached her hand out so he could only sit down at the table and took the bowl of wine before slowly sipping it.
Shen Miao stared at him. Indeed when Xie Jing Xing drank, it was not like her, a cow chewing on Peonies, but drinking in sips, like a wine expert. She watched and held her bowl to drink it off.
Xie Jing Xing only drank a few mouthfuls when he saw Shen Miao bringing the bowl up and wiping her mouth, as if she was a soldier of Shen Xin’s drinking. He said, “You have finished drinking?”
Shen Miao coughed lightly twice, “I have something to tell you.”