Chapter 436: Fireworks (Part 2)

Long Xi Yue said softly: "I just feel a bit stifled, so I came out to have a look; it's getting late, I should go back to rest." She seemed somewhat disinterested.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Tonight is New Year's Eve; according to tradition we should keep vigil."

Long Xi Yue said: "Year after year the flowers are alike, year after year people differ." Reciting this ancient poem, her voice echoed with moving rhythm, revealing the mercilessness of time's passage and the helplessness of submitting to fate.

Seeing Long Xi Yue so sorrowful, Hu Xiaotian felt pity arise; although she was a princess, her background was extremely pitiable, like duckweed tossed in wind and rain, utterly helpless. Hu Xiaotian said: "Princess, return to the palace and wait for me; I'll come over once I've settled things."

Long Xi Yue didn't know what he intended to do, she frowned slightly in surprise, but still followed his wish and returned to the room first.

Not long after, Hu Xiaotian walked in, holding a set of his own clothes, and smiled: "Princess, please change into these clothes."

Long Xi Yue blinked her beautiful eyes and timidly said: "What is this……"

"Didn't I say I would take you out of the palace to have a look? Since I, Xiaotian, have said it, I will naturally fulfill my promise."

Long Xi Yue felt both startled and delighted, yet also somewhat apprehensive: "But it's deep night; if we go out like this, won't we be questioned?"

Hu Xiaotian raised the Coiled Dragon Gold Medal: "Don't forget, the Emperor once bestowed this Coiled Dragon Gold Medal upon me; we can leave whenever we want, and no one will interfere."

Long Xi Yue grew up in the palace from childhood, gentle and refined, well-versed and reasonable. Under her mother's education she always followed the rules, never daring to break any established regulation; even when treated unfairly, though she felt sorrow, she never thought to resist, choosing instead to endure silently. Hu Xiaotian's appearance was like a ray of sunshine in her dim palace life; he acts without regard for rules, even said to be unscrupulous, as if there were nothing in this world he dared not do, and any rule before him could be broken—his courage is precisely what Long Xi Yue lacks.

Long Xi Yue took Hu Xiaotian's clothes to change; emerging from behind the screen, she had become a handsome little eunuch.

Hu Xiaotian gazed at her with a smiling squint; Long Xi Yue felt her cheeks flush under his gaze and softly spat: "Why do you keep staring at me?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "The princess is naturally beautiful, peerless in looks. Even if she wore eunuch's garb she would still be the most handsome little eunuch under heaven—truly, when people compare themselves they feel ashamed, when goods compare they are discarded; compared to the princess, this true eunuch Xiaotian feels utterly inadequate, wishing to disappear."

Long Xi Yue wrinkled her nose slightly in embarrassment: "Flattery!" She thought to herself, you're not a real eunuch either.

Just as they were about to leave with Hu Xiaotian, she suddenly remembered there were others in the palace; hesitating, she said: "Xiaotian, if we go out like this, will the palace attendants have anything to say?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Don't worry, I've greeted Zijuan; I told her I'm accompanying the princess for a stroll around the palace—she should be able to handle any matters."

Long Xi Yue nodded, and followed Hu Xiaotian toward the West Gate. Although it was New Year's Eve, the palace guards showed no relaxation; but for Hu Xiaotian these checkpoints posed no problem. Relying on the Coiled Dragon Gold Medal bestowed by the Emperor, he brought Long Xi Yue through unimpeded, even requisitioning a carriage from the Imperial Stables, which he personally drove out of the palace gate in a grand manner.

Heading south along Zhuque Avenue, the carriage had not gone far when the scent of fireworks drifted from both sides of the street, firecrackers popping here and there. Long Xi Yue lifted the carriage curtain inside, gazing at the lanes where every home hung lanterns and decorations, laughter rising and falling. Her mood was also infected by this unprecedented freshness, her beautiful eyes becoming unusually bright.

Although firecracker sounds rang continuously, the streets had few pedestrians; on New Year's Eve, a night of reunion, most people stayed home to enjoy the moment, few came out to stroll. Hu Xiaotian drove all the way to Heaven Street, tethering the carriage to a hitching post nearby.

Long Xi Yue lifted the carriage curtain and stepped out, gazing at the decorated street, yet saw no passersby; she whispered: "I thought New Year's Eve would be lively outside."

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Today is the thirtieth of the twelfth lunar month; everyone is at home eating reunion dinner, so few go out onto the streets."

Hearing the words "reunion," Long Xi Yue felt a sudden gloom in her heart; the festive scene of lanterns and decorations before her eyes instantly grew much dimmer.

The shops lining Heaven Street were all closed; Hu Xiaotian pointed ahead to a small building and said: "Let's go up!"

Following his pointed direction, Long Xi Yue saw the small building was three stories high, likely the tallest on Heaven Street, and shook her head: "They've closed shop."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "That's why no one will disturb us—come, climb onto my back!"

Long Xi Yue's cheeks flushed; seeing Hu Xiaotian already crouched with his back to her, she obediently lay upon his back. Before she could fully react, she felt her feet leave the ground; in her startled cry, Hu Xiaotian leapt into the air with her, and Long Xi Yue tightly clasped his neck.

Hu Xiaotian employed the Golden Spider Eight Steps, scaling the wall and eaves of the small building, climbing over walls and through windows as if on level ground; in an instant he had brought Long Xi Yue to the roof, where he set her down at the ridge.

Long Xi Yue opened her eyes to find herself on the small roof, involuntarily letting out a soft cry, and instinctively grabbed Hu Xiaotian's arm. He smiled: "Don't worry, with me here you'll be safe."

Long Xi Yue nodded; at that moment a booming Boom— came from the north, and she looked up to see a magnificently splendid firework burst in the ink‑black night sky above the palace, instantly blazing gorgeous, shooting out dazzling five‑colored radiance. She stared unblinking at the bursting firework, but before she could fully imprint it in her heart, it vanished swiftly. Long Xi Yue marveled at the beautiful moment, yet felt wistful because of its fleeting beauty.

After a brief silence, silver, gold, red and green fireworks bloomed one after another in the night sky, competing for brilliance, while thunderous booms echoed across heaven and earth like rolling spring thunder, stirring the soul.

Hu Xiaotian removed his own cloak and draped it over her shoulders, putting his arm around her fragrant shoulders and letting her sit on the ridge; some beauties must be kept at a distance to be fully appreciated. When he had set out for Piaomiao Mountain, he had secretly resolved to bring Long Xi Yue to watch a fine fireworks display, to imprint this New Year's Eve firmly in her memory.

Crystal‑clear tears glistened in Long Xi Yue's beautiful eyes, not from sorrow but from happiness; she silently grasped Hu Xiaotian's hand, her delicate form leaning against his shoulder. At this moment the five‑colored fireworks in the sky became merely their backdrop; she wished to hold this instant forever, to make this beautiful night eternal.

Before this pure‑and‑kind princess Long Xi Yue, Hu Xiaotian would unconsciously rein in his wicked thoughts—near vermilion one turns red, near ink one turns black; when with a pure person, one's mind unknowingly becomes pure as well. At this moment he harbored no improper desire, like the male lead of a pure‑love novel.

Heaven itself seemed to decide to add a touch more romance for this young couple; crystal‑like snowflakes drifted down from the night sky. Large snowflakes fell softly and quietly upon their heads and shoulders. Carefully laid upon the tiles, as if afraid to disturb their bliss, afraid to shatter the harmony of this New Year's Eve, the tiles and ground silently swelled, soon turning into a white world.

"Cold?" Hu Xiaotian asked softly.

Long Xi Yue lifted her gaze to Hu Xiaotian's warm smile, bit her cherry lips, then gave an enchanting smile and shook her head: "Not cold!" She snuggled closer to him, suddenly thinking that as long as they stayed together like this, even bitter cold would be an earthly paradise. But her stomach betrayed her with a gurgling, and she felt hungry.

Seeing Hu Xiaotian's smiling face, Long Xi Yue's cheeks flushed and she whispered: "I'm hungry."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "If you hadn't said so I'd almost have forgotten—I brought a packet of food and a jug of fine wine, all left in the carriage." He had her sit straight, rose, patted her shoulder, and smiled: "Stay put, I'll be right back."

Long Xi Yue nodded with a beaming smile; Hu Xiaotian tapped the tip of his toe, flipped in mid‑air, then spread his arms like a great bird swooping down— the beauty was right beside him, and he clearly intended to show off.

Long Xi Yue let out a soft exclamation, covered her mouth with both hands, her beautiful eyes wide as saucers; her gaze first showed astonishment and concern, then turned to admiration and reverence—Hu Xiaotian had already become her hero in heart.

Hu Xiaotian landed steadily, triumphantly shaking snow from his clothes. The horse tethered to the hitching post seemed to sense his intention, snorting contemptuously and blowing out two puffs of thick white vapor.

Hu Xiaotian, full of pride, opened the carriage compartment; the packet of food he had just brought was placed inside, preparing to bring Long Xi Yue here to watch the fireworks and, incidentally, spend a New Year's Eve that would be unforgettable for his beloved.

Yet what surprised Hu Xiaotian was that the packet he had left in the carriage had vanished without a trace—impossible, since he had been with Long Xi Yue watching fireworks on the roof, and the carriage had remained within his sight the whole time, with no one approaching. He scratched his head in puzzlement, looked up, and saw a black‑clad figure standing on the roof, shouldering a person who was unmistakably the Anping Princess Long Xi Yue in eunuch's garb.

Today I wrote twelve thousand words; when copying to the USB drive I muddle‑headedly copied the contents of the drive into the computer, losing twelve thousand characters just like that. Zhangyu beat his chest and stamped his feet, regretting it too late—he had worked a whole day in vain, seeking solace……Zhangyu faced the wall and burst into tears! (To be continued~^~)