#520 - Night wind blows Yaotai
Night fell, and the north of Shuzhou City was quiet.
The mansion located at the end of the alley was not the kind with vermilion gates and high walls, but rather simple, elegant, and exceptionally serene.
This residence was originally intended for Qingxian, but after becoming Ning Yuke's personal guard, he had been living in Weiyang Palace, so now only Yang Liushi lived here.
In this large mansion with three courtyards, there were only four or five people including maids and servants, and the only visitors on weekdays were Xu Qingwan and Lu Jingyao, who occasionally came to chat with Yang Liushi.
Therefore, when Wei Changtian stood outside the gate, looking at the clusters of green bamboo within the walls, he felt a chill.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
Zhang San knocked on the door ring, and soon a little maid opened a small crack in the gate.
"Ah! Young Master Wei!"
She exclaimed softly, her face showing some surprise: "You've come!"
"Yes."
Stepping into the courtyard, Wei Changtian smiled and asked: "Is Liushi at home?"
"No need, I can go myself."
Nodding, Wei Changtian walked towards the backyard following the sound of the zither.
The little maid behind him hesitated for a moment, but finally didn't follow, only whispering to Zhang San.
"Brother Zhang, isn't the young master getting married to Miss Liang tomorrow? Why is he here at this time?"
"The young master hasn't seen Miss Liushi for a long time, he must have something to say."
Zhang San said with a smile: "Please prepare a guest room for me, I'm afraid I'll be staying here tonight."
"Ah?"
The little maid was stunned: "The young master is staying overnight?"
"Probably."
Zhang San scratched his head: "What's wrong?"
"N-nothing, Brother Zhang, please wait a moment, I'll go clean the room."
The little maid blushed, then walked away muttering to herself with her head down.
Although her voice was very soft, Zhang San, as a fifth-rank martial artist, could vaguely hear what she was saying to herself.
"How can the young master be like this..."
"He can't even wait for one night..."
"How heartbroken will Miss Liang be if she finds out..."
"..."
On the other side.
Just as the little maid was secretly complaining about Wei Changtian's "scumbag" behavior, the latter had already stopped beside a bamboo forest.
The melodious sound of the zither came from deep within the bamboo forest, at times like a gentle breeze and soft willows, at times like snowflakes falling on a cold night, as if unaware of autumn's departure and winter's arrival.
Although Wei Changtian didn't understand music, he could tell that the tune was quite pleasant.
Little Lian first played the Yaoqin, and thoughts of the world lingered in the morning.
The night sky quietly shed a faint breeze and waning moon, Yang Liushi casually strummed and plucked, the strings sounded deep, the tune was clear, and the heaven and earth seemed to become infinitely vast, the moonlight vast and desolate.
Wei Changtian didn't step forward to interrupt, just stood not far away silently watching.
Until the woman in plain clothes gently pressed down the trembling strings, smiling and turning her head.
"Young Master, what are you doing standing there?"
"Why did you stop playing?"
Wei Changtian shook his head and walked closer: "I was thinking of not disturbing your practice."
"Hehe, the zither can be practiced anytime..."
Her eyes rippling, Yang Liushi pursed her lips in a coquettish manner: "But this servant doesn't get to see the young master every day."
"Cough, I'm just busy."
Wei Changtian coughed awkwardly, immediately resorting to the classic excuse used throughout the ages: "There are too many things to do right now, I really don't have time."
"Isn't it that I finally got some free time today, so I came right away?"
"Hehe, this servant knows, I'm not blaming you for anything..."
Slowly standing up, Yang Liushi held the Yaoqin in her arms: "Young Master, let's go inside and talk."
"Oh, okay."
Looking at the beautiful scene of the beauty holding the zither, Wei Changtian suddenly stretched out his hand: "Let me help you with the zither."
"Okay..."
Without refusing or being polite, Yang Liushi softly responded, handing the Yaoqin to Wei Changtian, while she picked up a small lantern, and then walked with Wei Changtian towards the house in the distance.
One person holding the zither, one person holding the lamp.
The wick rotated, and the sandalwood halo shone through the eggshell-white paper window, faintly reflecting the faces of the two.
To be honest, compared to any other woman, including Xu Qingwan, Yang Liushi should be the most well-matched with Wei Changtian in terms of appearance.
Whether it was appearance, height, body shape, temperament... the two of them standing together seemed to be a match made in heaven.
Of course, this is not to say that Xu Qingwan and others were not well-matched with Wei Changtian.
But it was indeed a little different from Yang Liushi.
Moreover, the latter was also the woman in this world who knew the most secrets of Wei Changtian, besides Xu Sui.
"..."
"Young Master, did this servant play the zither well just now?"
"It was pleasant to hear."
"Then do you think it sounds a little familiar?"
"Familiar? Now that you mention it... it does seem a bit."
"Hehe, Young Master, this is the tune this servant played when you and I first met."
"Are you talking about that time on the embroidered boat?"
"Yes, at that time, whenever this servant played the zither, there would be a group of men applauding and cheering, but now I can only play it for Young Master alone."
"Hahaha, it sounds like you're not very willing."
"It's not that I'm unwilling... Young Master, can this servant ask you something?"
"What is it?"
"That poem you wrote back then, 'Clouds resemble her garments, flowers her face'... was it written for me?"
"Of course, why do you ask?"
"I just think the poem is too beautiful, this servant is not worthy of it."
"If you are not worthy, then no one in this world is worthy. Why are you laughing?"
"Hehe, this is the first time Young Master has praised me."
"Is it?"
"..."
In the dark of the moon, a soft lamp is seen, a single point of light like a firefly.
The figures of the two were hazy, and their pace was slow.
Although Du Chang and Xu Qingwan had both said that Yang Liushi seemed to have changed a lot, Wei Changtian didn't feel that way at all.
She was clearly still the same captivating, thoughtful, and occasionally actively "seductive" fox demon.
"That..."
Looking at Yang Liushi's smile, Wei Changtian suddenly felt a little guilty.
"Liushi, I know I promised to marry you a long time ago, I was wrong about this."
"But don't worry, when..."
"Young Master, this servant doesn't care about that."
Yang Liushi's smile remained, but she gently shook her head: "This servant doesn't seek a title, only asks if Young Master can take this servant with him when he goes out in the future."
"This servant doesn't want to be alone in this cold and quiet house anymore."
"Young Master, please?"
"..."
"Okay."
Stopping in his tracks, Wei Changtian nodded.
And it was just this one word that suddenly made Yang Liushi show an expression of joy that she had never had before.
Her black hair was like silk, swaying slightly in the wind.
In the moonlight, she looked at the house not far ahead, then suddenly took Wei Changtian's hand, smiling and quickening her pace.
"Young Master, hurry up."
"Huh? What's wrong?"
"Nothing, it's just that this servant can't wait any longer."
"..."
"Dong ~"
As Wei Changtian was dumbfounded and pulled forward, his fingers accidentally plucked a string.
The sound of the zither was crisp, lingering in the silent night.
Soon, the figures of the two disappeared at the end of the bluestone path.
The door opened and closed, leaving only the night wind still.
The night wind, lingering with bursts of fragrance, slowly breathed, brushing over the pear wood threshold, brushing over the crystal dew, and blowing towards the Yao Terrace hidden in the moon.
