Chapter 37: Human World Heavenly Palace (1)

The sun slanted west, the cloud light was faint, and the flowing mist at the horizon gradually revealed a charming color. The elegant back garden of the Shao Yuan Jun Mansion was a lake of smoky colors, with floating light and fleeting shadows, like a dream and like gold.

A few notes of zither music came from a light boat in the center of the lake, far away. Across the vast smoky waves, it was as clear as falling pearls and jade, making one feel as if they could imagine the posture of the ice strings shaking gently, revealing a bit of leisure and elegance. Several maids in scarlet clothes passed by the corridor and couldn't help but stop to watch, whispering, "I don't know what's wrong with the Young Master today. He avoids the people from the palace, yet he has the leisure to row a boat and play the zither himself."

"It seems he is waiting for someone!"

"Waiting for whom? Tell me quickly, what kind of person makes our Young Master wait like this?"

"I don't know! Go ask the Young Master yourself!"

"Knowing that the Young Master has ordered not to enter the lake..."

The laughter faded away. When dusk fell, a graceful figure appeared in front of the originally quiet mansion. A few wisps of cloud light drifted, and the person's dark clothes fluttered gently at the boundary between light and darkness, almost reaching the front in an instant.

The guards at the door were startled at the same time and shouted, "Who is there!"

"Tell Huang Fei to come out and say that the person he is waiting for has arrived." The woman's voice was extremely soft and charming, as if it had a kind of quiet bewitchment. With a curve of her vermilion lips and a shallow smile, her eyes rippled, but they were as cold as a deep pool. Several guards couldn't help but take two steps back, but then they were stunned and shouted, "How bold! Daring to ask the Monarch to come out of the mansion to welcome you?"

The woman smiled lightly, as if she had already lost patience, "What a trouble. If he doesn't come out, then I will go in!" As she spoke, without any movement, she flashed past them. The next moment, she had already appeared on the high wall of the Shao Yuan Jun Mansion. With a flick of her long sleeves, the guards who jumped up to intercept were shaken off. Her plain hands pressed forward, borrowing strength from two others to fly up, floating into the mansion like light clouds. When she landed, her figure spun, and she retreated gracefully, the weapons attacking her all missing. Zi Rao curled her lips coldly, her jade fingers tapped lightly, and several rays of clear light shot out from her sleeves, agile and flexible in mid-air, dazzling and bright. As she spun, her sleeves danced, and those who got close were all forced to retreat in pain.

Suddenly, an elegant zither sound came, like striking an ice cup. The guards in the mansion retreated one after another, clearing an open space. Zi Rao's phoenix eyes raised slightly, she withdrew her Thousand-Silk Art, and shouted, "Huang Fei, you went to great lengths to get me here, but you only sent these shrimp soldiers and crab generals out. What is the meaning of this?"

The zither sound rose again, its tone clear and harmonious, as if inviting her. In the light boat in the lake, a bamboo curtain hung quietly. Huang Fei, in a light white shirt, looked leisurely, focused on the five ice-silk strings. It was not until the small boat rippled slightly and the woman's clear figure appeared outside the curtain that he raised his eyes and smiled, "It really wasn't easy to invite you here."

Zi Rao lowered her eyelids and squinted at him, "What exactly do you want?"

Huang Fei smiled, "Are you angry already? Since you are here, why stand and talk?"

The curtain fluttered, and Zi Rao turned and entered. Her phoenix eyes flew up to look at the man who was calm and composed, "Shao Yuan Jun truly has good means, even being able to influence that old monster Qi Shi. You ordered him to pass a message to invite me to the mansion—it couldn't be just to listen to the zither and enjoy the singing, right?"

Huang Fei looked at her and smiled, "In that case, I guessed right. You really came to Chu for that Qi Shi. The tone of holding me accountable like this makes it seem as if you and I have some deep hatred. You invited me to drink on Jingyun Mountain the other day, so why don't you allow me to invite you back once?"

Zi Rao stared at him for a long time, then suddenly smiled. The original annoyance in her eyes folded into the depths of her eyelashes with this shallow smile, finely and densely revealing a charming glimmer. Her lotus steps moved lightly, and she sat down before the mat, "Forget it, I lost to you for a while. If you have this interest, I will accompany you. I just don't know how this wine compares to 'Clear Spring'?"

Huang Fei said, "If we talk about wine, there are very few in the world that can surpass 'Clear Spring', and it is at best like this. But there is a good place in my mansion that may not be much worse than that Cloud-Jing Holy Domain. I wonder if you are willing to go with me?"

"Since the Monarch invites, how dare I not obey?" Under the shadow of the smoky waves, the woman's jade-like face revealed an elegant charm, and the innate noble spirit made people forget her aggressive appearance just now. Huang Fei raised his eyebrows, reached out to the ice strings, and the zither sound flowed out clearly. A small boat turned through the light smoke and drifted past the calm water, floating toward the depths of the lake.

Floating along the waves, the small boat drifted through the winding waterways. The deeper it went, the more quiet and beautiful it became. The vast Shao Yuan Jun Mansion had no noise, and it seemed to have no end, even deeper and farther than the palace and royal city, and this vast inner lake alone was enough to make people marvel.

Zi Rao leaned against the side of the boat, concentrating on listening to the zither music turning through the modes, flowing and rising and falling. She had heard of Shao Yuan Jun's romantic talent long ago, but today she finally saw a little of it. After much deliberation, she didn't know what method he had used to make even the ghost-fearing Qi Shi willing to be used by him. He truly could not be underestimated.

The boat moved leisurely, winding through the clouds. Later, the lake water became deep and gradually turned emerald, almost like a piece of beautiful jade reflecting the clear waves, rippling and shining. With another turn, green rocks and emerald mountains appeared, and the lake was covered with thousands of lotus leaves, revealing a clear green. The small boat stopped among the boundless lotus leaves. The lotus leaves brushed against the side of the boat, making a slight rustling sound, and for a moment, it became silent again.

Standing at the bow of the boat, the world was filled with green, from far to near, from thick to light, deep emerald and light green, lush and green. When the zither sound stopped, it was a silence of all things, only the faint setting sun pouring golden brilliance, leaving soft light on the emerald round leaves. At a glance, it was colorful and crystal clear, clear and beautiful.

Huang Fei smiled and said, "The boat can't go any further here. Follow me."

Zi Rao glanced at him and saw him suddenly lift his energy and lighten his body, skimming over the lake waves. In mid-air, he didn't know how to change his breath, sliding forward lightly and landing steadily on a transparent water pavilion in the center of the lake. Even though she had long known he had good martial arts, Zi Rao couldn't help but cheer. Seeing him look back, she naturally didn't want to lose to him. With a flick of her wide sleeves, she stepped lightly on the waves and moved forward.

Huang Fei waited quietly in front of the water pavilion. She leaped into the corridor, bringing a clear, dark fragrance like the wind, her steps graceful and floating. He could no longer hide the look of amazement in his eyes, "This is a quiet place in my mansion, most suitable for drinking wine and enjoying the moon. You can't find such beautiful scenery anywhere else in the Chu capital."

Zi Rao followed him deep into it, her elegant skirt brushing against the delicate and smooth jade. She raised her finger to tap the exquisite carved railing and turned her eyes faintly, "Even a separate garden is like this. In the Chu capital, palaces and mansions stand side by side. Aren't you afraid of being too sharp and having merits that overshadow the master?"

Huang Fei smiled without saying a word, leading her to sit on a platform made of crystal stone at the end of the water pavilion. He poured wine, drank a cup himself, and then said carelessly, "Can the three words 'Shao Yuan Jun' not be worthy of these three thousand acres of green water and this magnificent mansion?"

I don't know if it was because of his arrogant attitude in his words or a bit of wine, but his bright jade face was full of spirit, instantly forcing people's eyes. Zi Rao's eyes and brows were fine, and her fingertips circled lightly on the emerald jade cup, smiling, "Shao Yuan Jun looks down on the world, can seize cities with war, and can overturn the country with anger. Naturally, he is worthy of everything. I just don't know what the King of Chu thinks?"

Huang Fei raised his wrist, the wine was as green as a spring, and ripples were born. Amidst the light gauze, one could only see the romantic attitude of the man, "I only love beautiful wine, beautiful women, and magnificent gardens, and have no other intentions. What does my King have to worry about?"

Zi Rao's gaze turned on his face, "You are quite frank, Young Master."

Huang Fei slowly filled the wine and raised his cup to her, "Some thoughts are nothing more than advancing or retreating. Why should I hide anything in front of a smart person like the Nine Princess?"

Zi Rao was startled, her bright phoenix eyes suddenly raised, falling into the bottom of his eyes. Huang Fei's gaze paused slightly at her wrist, still smiling, "It seems I guessed right again."

After a moment of astonishment, Zi Rao had already regained her composure. She rested her chin on her hand and was quiet for a while, then suddenly smiled softly, "When did you know?"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 38 =====