Chapter 143 Admiring the Snow on Plum Blossom Hill at Night [2]

Zi You looked at the brilliant and gorgeous fireworks. She couldn’t help but sigh deeply. Fireworks only lasted a moment. But how many people could forget their magnificence? They disappeared like ashes to leave behind beautiful memories in one moment.

Shangguan LingRan looked through the haze to look at Zi You. Zi You’s face reflected a layer of red powder. She glittered like a reflection of light. Her snow-white dress was embroidered with bright moonstones. She shone eye-catchingly, like shiny stars,.

Shangguan LingRan was so happy that he almost laughed madly. He could tell that the little yatou was in a very good mood today. This was a huge improvement. In the beginning once she saw him, she would bare her teeth, put up her guard, quarrel with him, and even bit him so many times.

With such development, he still had some hope that he would grasp her in his hands.

Shangguan LingRan was instantly filled with confidence. He was as happy as soap bubbles in danger of constantly overflowing.

He was actually a cold-hearted and seemingly evil person. But only those familiar with him knew how scary he was.

He clearly was not someone with tender feelings towards the opposite sex, but he was very gentle tonight. He used his cloak to put up a screen and blocked the howling winds for Zi You.

This made his martial nephews shocked. Fifteenth martial nephew Yi Chen was originally someone who loved laughing and playing. He was round and chubby.

He was twenty-six or twenty-seven years old. But because he joined the sect late, he became Shangguan LingRan’s third shixiong’s [senior martial brother] eighth disciple. He was the fifteenth “Yi” disciple.

When the fireworks were over, he brought a Kongming Lantern over to Zi You. He asked mysteriously, “Little Shishen, little Shishu never bothers with girls. He never has any tender feelings towards the opposite sex. He can be very ruthless! Tell us, how did you make him treat your wholeheartedly and devotedly?”

Zi You never thought that among Shangguan LingRan’s martial nephews, there was someone so outspoken. She was so bashful that her face turned bright bred.

Fortunately, it was nighttime and the lantern was not too bright. It wasn’t obvious. However, Shangguan LingRan still looked intoxicatingly at her. He was reluctant to move his eyes away.

His little woman’s shy and helpless expression was really cute to the extreme! She was more vivid than her usual cold self.

Shangguan LingRan was happy and immediately told Yi Chen secretly, “When we go back, I will reward you with an internal force manual.”

He smiled foolishly and took Yi Chen’s Kongming Lantern. He winked at him to make him leave. Then he smiled like a big daisy and handed it to Zi You. “You’er, write down what wishes you have. I wrote on the Kongming Lantern to bless you, grandfather, uncle, and your family to live in peace, good health, and good luck.”

Kongming Lanterns were also called Sky Lanterns. It was created by Zhuge Kongming (Zhuge Liang) of the Three Kingdoms. That year, Zhuge Kongming was besieged by Sima Yi in Pingyang and couldn’t send troops out of the city for help. Zhuge Kongming calculated the wind and made paper lanterns to carry out messages for help. He actually escaped danger. Later on, this type of lantern was called Kongming Lantern.

Much later, sending out Kongming Lanterns was mainly used for blessings. Old and young wrote down blessings to symbolize successful harvest and happiness year after year.

So, that’s why Shangguan LingRan said what he had said. But Zi You did not expect that he wrote on each lamp blessings for her and her family. Her face looked very calm, but her heart felt traces of warmth.

Shangguan LingRan was very thoughtful. He even prepared brush and ink for her.

Zi You was grateful for his thoughtfulness. She looked at him and picked up the brush. She turned around and her back faced Shangguan LingRan. She seriously and earnestly wrote, “I wish my grandfather, uncle, aunt, and cousins a life of peace, health, and happiness! I wish them all the best!”

She thought about it and added, “I wish that all of Mu Zi You’s friends will be healthy and happy. I wish them a life of peace!”

She didn’t write about her parents? Shangguan LingRan was taller than Zi You by half a head. His eyesight was also good. He stretched his neck up a bit and could see what Zi You wrote.

He then thought about when he was at the General’s Manor and when Zi You pretended to be injured. Mu YingRui only came to visit her once. His level of cold-bloodedness was comparable to a poisonous snake.

When he thought of this, Shangguan LingRan’s smile disappeared. His body once again exuded a cold aura.

“I’m done writing. How do we set it in the air?” Zi You turned around and immediately felt that something was wrong with Shangguan LingRan. She was concerned and couldn’t help but blurt out, “What’s wrong?”

Zi You’s concern made Shangguan LingRan’s temperature quickly warm up. He pretended to glare resentfully at Zi You. “Did you make a wish for me?”

“Ah?” Zi You was startled. She turned her head and replied, “En.”

“Where?” Shangguan LingRan took the Kongming Lantern. He read for a while and muttered, aggrieved, “You’re lying to me. You didn’t write my name.”

Then he angrily shouted to his martial nephews, “Bring all the Kongming Lanterns over.”

The martial nephews, who were very far away, each held two Kongming Lanterns in their hands, and came over.

Shangguan LingRan took one and pushed it over for Zi You to take a look. “Look. Each of these lanterns has blessings for you and your family on them.”

Zi You took it and looked. She couldn’t help but be touched. She saw different words written on each lantern. “I wish You’er, Old General Mu, General Mu, and You’er’s family to live in happiness and peace!”

“I wish that You’er will always be happy!”

“I wish that You’er, Old General Mu, and General Mu will win all the battles and never lose!”

“……”

The wind on the hill was cold, but Zi You felt very warm. For the first time ever, she patiently explained to Shangguan LingRan. “Didn’t I write blessings for all my friends? What? You aren’t willing to be my friend? Or is it that you’ve never treated me as your friend in your heart?”

Despite some disappointment, Shangguan LingRan still happily smiled after some thought. She admitted that they were friends. It was already much better than before when she kept him at a distance of 1,000 miles away. He was willing to take it slowly. He believed that sincerity could split metal and stone.

Thinking of this, Shangguan LingRan no longer fussed. He smiled at Zi You. “Then shall we set the lanterns?”

Zi You nodded. Under Shangguan LingRan’s instructions, she lit a Kongming Lantern. She carefully let go and watched the Kongming Lantern fly higher and higher and farther and farther. It changed from a large lantern slowly turn into a small ball and slowly into a small orange.

“Quick, You’er. Let’s make a wish together.” Shangguan LingRan saw that the Kongming Lantern floated far away and rushed to urge her.

Zi You obediently clasped her hands together and closed her eyes. She silently blessed her family and friends in her heart.

When she looked up once again, the Kongming Lanterns had become bright and big stars in the sky. They were part of the unique scenery in the sky. They illuminated the sky with the stars and became beautiful decorations in the night.

Zi You reached out, as if she wanted to capture this wonderful moment.

Shangguan LingRan saw that she was a bit reluctant. He softly said, “If you like it, wait until the Lantern Festival. We will come here again to set off fireworks and lanterns, okay? There are streams over the hill there. We can set water lanterns too.

“You’er, do you know that I’m very happy tonight? That’s because you’re here with me. Thank you! Thank you for giving me this opportunity to admire the plum blossoms with you!”

Zi You gently nodded. Although she did not speak, her expression was tender and she slightly smiled. It was more charming and gentle than her previous coldness.

Shangguan LingRan’s mood greatly improved. He swooped up like a bird and when he went over to Zi You, he had many yellow wintersweets in his hands. “For you. Take them back and put them in a vase.”

This time, Zi You did not refuse. She took the wintersweets and smelled that quiet aroma.

Shangguan LingRan rarely saw her like a gentle woman. He stayed quietly staring at her. One admired flowers, while one admired a person. He thought that she was loveable than flowers.

The two stayed on the hill for another quarter of an hour. Shangguan LingRan looked at the big cape around her and finally realized that the winter night was very cold.

He quickly handed her his own bronze handwarmer. He asked in concern, “Is the handwarmer hot? Why don’t we go back? I’ll bring you back for the Lantern Festival?”

Zi You nodded. She received the handwarmer and did not refuse. This made Shangguan LingRan even happier.

He called his martial nephews over. “We’re going back now. Leave four people behind. The rest of you go back.”

This time, Shangguan LingRan did not ride a horse. Instead, he got onto the horse carriage with Zi You.

Inside the horse carriage, he looked at Zi You’s displeased face. He quickly acted spoiled. “You’er, it’s so late already. No one should notice us. It’s too cold for me to ride a horse outside. I’ll catch a cold.”

Zi You didn’t speak and leaned to the side.

Shangguan LingRan grinned proudly. He stared at her without blinking.

Zi You started getting angry. She pulled her snow hat over her face.

Shangguan LingRan chuckled. “Don’t be like that, You’er. You’ll get stuffy. Okay, I won’t look at you anymore. But you can’t blame me. Who asks you to look so…… ugly?”

“Shush!” Zi You angrily closed her eyes and feigned sleep. Who knew that she actually fell asleep?

When she woke up, she was already in her Hundred Herb Garden.

She just opened her eyes and a little white mouse jumped into her arms. It rubbed its small head against Zi You’s chest and chattered as if it was saying something.

Shangguan LingRan knew that this was a small male mouse. He was so angry that he almost reached out to fling it away, but Zi You’s face changed. The burning anger in her eyes was enough to destroy everything.

Shangguan LingRan asked worriedly, “What is it? What did the small mouse say to you to make you so angry?”

Zi You immediately masked her anger and returned to her calm expression. “Why are you asking about my family matters? Leave now. It’s getting late. I’m going to sleep……”