Chapter 142 Admiring the Snow on Plum Blossom Hill at Night [1]

The ten people, plus carriage driver Yang Jian, saw that their little martial uncle [Shishu], who was most beloved by their master and never looked at a woman, liked a woman for the first time. They remembered that a few months ago, little Shishu was seriously injured saving Zi You. They couldn’t help but be curious about Zi You.

They thought that it was really dangerous that time. Since they followed little Shishu, it was the first time he had suggested that they return to Emei Mountain.

That was because it had been 500 years since Xuanyuan Sect was formed. Little Shishu was deeply guilty because he could not participate. Thus, he ordered, “You go back to see Shifu. Tell him that I’m okay and that he doesn’t need to miss me. I can’t leave the capital to see Shifu. Help me kowtow a few times to him.”

Thus the ten of them returned to Emei Mountain. After they returned, they were reprimanded by Shangguan LingRan’s Shifu, their Shizun [not direct teacher, master]. “How can you listen to your little Shishu? Although your statuses are lower than his, you are still older than him by several years. Don’t you know that he’s still a child? You left him alone? Feng’er, (Shangguan LingRan’s name in Xuanyuan Sect was Shangguan Aofeng) that child is getting more and more daring.”

When they returned and found out that little Shishu was injured, they were more remorseful. Little Shishu was afraid of being punished by his Shifu, so he didn’t dare tell him. But they blamed themselves for a long time

Later, when they discovered that Shangguan LingRan left them behind and secretly ran out to meet Zi You, they complained several times. “Little Shishu, it’s not right that you sneak out to meet a girl. If Shizun finds out, he will punish us again.”

Who would bring ten lightbulbs along when he went on a date? Shangguan LingRan refused to let them go with him.

In the end, they compromised. The four public guards and six secret guards could follow him, but only if they maintained a distance of 200 meters.

With 200 meters, if he was in danger, he could shout and they would hear him.

Because of this reason, other than Yang Jian, the others had never seen Zi You up close. Of course, they were curious about this woman who could warm up their icy-cold little Shishu.

She didn’t make them disappointed. Zi You had draped a bamboo green wolf fur cloak on her. She wore a snow hat. Standing in the snow, her white skin was set against the snow and ice and seemed more lustrous. She looked elegant, calm, and proud, like a Tianshan snow lotus.

No wonder! Although there weren’t a lot of females on Emei Mountain, there were still around fourteen or fifteen. They were all different and talented, but Shangguan LingRan didn’t like any of them. They were even curious about what kind of woman little Shishu wanted. The answer was revealed tonight.

Shangguan LingRan brought Zi You out and introduced his martial nephews. “This is sixth martial nephew Yi Bai. This is eighth martial nephew Yi Feng. This is eleventh martial nephew Yi He. This is……”

After the introductions, he pointed to Zi You and said to them, “This is Mu Xiaojie. Seeing her is the same as seeing me. You have to follow her orders without questions.”

Zi You looked at the ten big men who were older than Shangguan LingRan by five or six years. Then she heard that they were his martial nephews. She almost didn’t know how to react.

Curtsy? She and Shangguan LingRan were peers of the same generation, so that wasn’t appropriate. Not curtsy? These people were older than her, so that was obviously incorrect.

Zi You was stiff for a full five minutes. Before they were about to perform a greeting to her, she curtsied in a fluster. “Zi You pays respects to these warriors. Have a good evening, warriors!”

Her small face turned red. She glared fiercely at Shangguan LingRan.

It’s this man’s fault for launching a sneak attack at me! He didn’t even tell me in advance that he was introducing his martial nephews to me.

Making me so embarrassed! I wasn’t even this nervous when I saw the Emperor in the throne room. How come I can’t even speak tonight?

Shangguan LingRan had never seen Zi You embarrassed. He looked at her small bashful and angry puffed-up face. He couldn’t help but be in a good mood and laugh happily.

Zi You picked up snow from the ground and fiercely threw it at Shangguan LingRan.

In her anger, her snow-like skin was dyed red. Her deep eyes were brighter because of embarrassment. Her beautiful facial features reflected a compelling elegance and coldness. There was also a little bashfulness and liveliness. It was really breathtaking, making people unable but be obsessed.

She was much stronger than Xuanyuan Sect’s female disciples. Her body had Jianghu females’ freedom and easiness. But she had more elegance and refined charm than Jianghu females.

Shangguan LingRan was wearing a blue embroidered robe. He matched it with green silk cloud shoes. A silver sachet on jade silk hung from his waist. A small golden crown held his hair up. He had a white sable fur cloak draped over him.

At this moment, he laughed loudly. The silver snow illuminated his facial features. He appeared more handsome and picturesque.

When they stood together, they looked very fitting. They matched each other.

Zi You got on the horse carriage. Although Shangguan LingRan wanted to ride with her, he considered her reputation and rode a horse.

Yang Jian drove the horse carriage quickly and steadily. Ten people on horses followed closely behind. They soon arrived at Plum Blossom Hill.

Once they went up the hill, Zi You could smell wintersweets. There were a lot of lanterns hung under the wintersweet trees. They were clearly prepared earlier.

Zi You couldn’t help but look at Shangguan LingRan. Her heart felt like she drank a bowl of hot milk. She felt warm from the inside to the outside.

The plum blossoms were covered in snow, but seemed as if they weren’t afraid of the cold. They bravely stuck their buds out. There were yellow, pink, and white plum blossoms.

Plum blossoms were originally beautiful. Wintersweets in the snow were even more beautiful! The flower petals opened and seemed exquisitely carved. Each flower was golden and bright, like it was soaked in honey.

The white plum blossoms weren’t outdone. The color was very similar to snow, so they tried hard to bloom and display their charm. White plum blossoms bloomed very well.  A branch of white plum blossom gathered a bunch of white snow, exuding refreshing fragrance.

Of course, the red plum blossoms didn’t lose out either. The difference between them and the snow were striking. They showed their graceful buds in the snow. They danced in the wind and falling snow, sometimes fast and sometimes slow. The whole hill was immersed in the plum blossoms’ fragrance and charm.

Zi You’s smile was suddenly blooming in the wind. She usually gave people the feeling of being an elegant and cold snow lotus on top of an iceberg.

But now, her smile was like the sun in the sky, with a strong sense of warmth. It was fresh and clean like begonias blooming after the rain. It was like gentle and soothing breeze in the spring. It was hard for someone to look away from that smile. Because of that smile, one’s heart would pound and jump. That smile would forever be engraved in one’s heart and never forgotten.

Shangguan LingRan saw her smile happily and it was like a feather gently sweeping over his heart. His heart felt soft and itchy before finally settling down. “You’er, I knew that you will like plum blossoms. In fact, there aren’t as many varieties of wintersweets here as An Wang fu in Pei City. I will take you there to admire the plum blossoms in the future. The winter is long there, so there’s more snow. When the wintersweets open, they’re dazzling.”

He turned to his martial nephews. “Okay, go set off fireworks. Then bring the Kongming Lanterns over.”

Ten people looked at Shangguan LingRan in displeasure. What elders? He was obviously a lecherous fellow! He brought us here on his date so that we will set off fireworks for him and bring the Kongming Lanterns over. Despicable!

If Shangguan LingRan didn’t need them to set off fireworks and send the Kongming Lantern into the sky, he would never bring them along to interfere with him and Zi You admiring the plum blossoms in the snow that night.

Zi You heard him order his martial nephews who were older than him as impolitely as he ordered servants.

She couldn’t help but frown and whisper in embarrassment, “They’re older than you and you’re from the same sect. Don’t go overboard.”

Shangguan LingRan wasn’t a little bit embarrassed. He immediately leaned over to Zi You and laughed. “It’s useless if they’re older. My status is higher than theirs. They don’t dare to disobey me. You’er, order them around if you need to in the future. You will be their little Shishen [martial aunt] in the future.”

“What nonsense are you saying?” Zi You bashfully and resentfully glared at him. “I said that we’re allies. Don’t let your imagination run wild. Otherwise, don’t blame me……”

“You’er.” Shangguan LingRan saw that Zi You looked shy, so he immediately leaned closer and acted spoiled. “Don’t be so heartless, okay? Look at me. I was preparing since the afternoon so that you can enjoy the plum blossoms tonight. I’m still chilled from being cold. If you don’t believe me, feel my hands.”

Zi You had interacted with him for a long time now. She knew that he was a rogue. They more she took him seriously, the more enthusiastic he got.

So, she no longer paid attention to him. She walked away to a wintersweet tree. She admired the wintersweets’ charm using a lantern’s light.

At this time, a “pop” sounded. Zi You looked up and saw a red fireball rose into the sky. It soon exploded and turned into colorful flowers. Then they turned into a sky full of little stars. After it flashed in the sky, a long tail was dragged behind and slowly fell. It was like a flying butterfly spinning in the air and like a dandelion blowing in the wind.

Zi You clutched her small cherry mouth in amazement. She hadn’t reacted yet, when she heard a “whoosh…….” Beams of dazzling light flew into the sky.

Then “pahpahpah” noises sounded…… The beams of light suddenly exploded. Gold, silver, red, green, and blue star-like flowers flew all around. Some were like marigolds in full bloom. It was like a fairy scattering flowers. Each little flower fell from the sky.

Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. All the colors were there. The night sky was beautiful and graceful. Earth shone like the daytime.