Chapter 181 Resonance: Pressing (1/2)
In the blink of an eye, spring had gone by and summer had arrived.
The graceful Mudan flowers covered the whole of Chang'an's main streets and small alleys. The Pink Evening Primroses were also not to be outdone while the pure white Bird Cherry flowers adorned every house. The Chinese Peony and China Pink became the most popular plant in several medical centres while the Chinese Trumpet Vine crept onto the walls of wealthy households.
Everything became peaceful once again and the misfortune that had twined around the Xuan Kingdom gradually vanished, but the Emperor's illness didn't alleviate due to this.
Feng Luodi faintly sensed that Situ understood the actual situation but he didn't inform anyone. She didn't mind. Things such as murdering and betraying the monarch and persecuting the good and loyal were things that Situ would absolutely never do. She knew that Situ was planning something in secret and the only thing she could do now was to accompany him during this period.
She had already gotten wind of Resonance's location but obtaining it was a headache. What gave her a greater headache was that her mother was picking an auspicious date for her wedding all day long and couldn't wait to marry her off. Her mother seemed like an entirely different person compared to when she couldn't bear to part with her.
Seeing her mother like this, Feng Luodi's head started to ache. She could only run to the Jiang Residence to accompany Jiang Moyin who was once again ill in bed.
As for Situ, Feng Luodi was feeling a bit shy to meet him. Although she wanted to accompany him, it didn't mean she wanted to be together with him every single day, from morning to night. This made her increasingly guilty and uneasy.
It was the season for wisteria flowers to bloom again. The small pavilion in the Jiang Residence had long been surrounded by the lively purple and white wisteria flowers. Only a little green would peak its head out from within occasionally. One look at this bustling scenery would instantly alleviate one's mood.
When Feng Luodi placed the book in her hand down, she noticed Jiang Moyin's gaze settled on the wisteria flowers outside the window. She suddenly recalled that before everything had settled down and when Jiang Moyin was still the Heir's Grand Tutor, she, Jiang Moyin, Situ, Xue Yiqi, as well as Gan Qingjia and Qi Jianqiu who always bickered, would gather together to play the zither, drink wine, taste new dishes and chat about the joyful matters of Chang'an in that small pavilion with wisteria flowers.
Without knowing it, a year had pa.s.sed again and everyone had their respective fates and own paths to walk.
Qi Jianqiu and Gan Qingjia were undoubtedly the most blissful pair. Xue Yiqi was still at a loss until now while Shangguan Yan had long left Chang'an to handle the matters in the Xiaoyao Sect. Although Situ and she were engaged, it was very likely that they wouldn't end up together.
Amongst them, the person who had always been alone was Jiang Moyin. His great undertaking wasn't accomplished and he didn't meet someone he fancied. He didn't possess a healthy body and sadly didn't have much time left on this world. The Heavens was really too cruel towards an extremely talented person like him.
When her gaze landed on Jiang Moyin's picturesque countenance, Feng Luodi suddenly remembered what the Shadow Agents had once informed her: Jiang Moyin supports the deposed Heir while Situ supports the First Prince.
If the deposed Heir had followed Jiang Moyin's guidance and hadn't been blinded by his desire for power, he would have definitely become the future emperor of the Xuan Kingdom. He had a maternal clan, the Emperor's trust, the support of the officials and Jiang Moyin guiding him. However, the affairs of the world were unpredictable and constantly changing. The deposed Heir forgot his original aspirations and ended up dying in the prison tragically.
If the deposed Heir hadn't done all that, he would have been the First Prince's biggest contender for the throne. If that were the case, Situ and Jiang Moyin would've been pitted against each other and part ways due to their different political views.
If that were to happen, who would be the final victor?
Feng Luodi didn't know. When the Shadow Agents heard her question, they merely stared at each other blankly, not knowing what to say.
Jiang Moyin and Situ themselves also wouldn't know, right?
“Have you fixed your wedding date yet?”
A gentle, aloof voice suddenly sounded, pulling Feng Luodi back from her thoughts.
The warm sunlight fell on Jiang Moyin's light eyebrows. Under the faint radiance, his skin complexion appeared extremely pale.
Feng Luodi wanted to cry but she'd endured it and just smiled elegantly.
“Why is everyone asking me this question? This is something that won't be happening any time soon, so let's talk about it when the time comes.”
If there's a future, that is… Feng Luodi inwardly added.
But Jiang Moyin seemed to have understood the undertone in her words. His gaze swept across Feng Luodi who was sitting with her back facing the sunlight and he smiled lightly. “Could it be that you still have misgivings?”
Feng Luodi shook her head.
From his angle, it looked as if Feng Luodi was sitting under the wisteria flowers and she looked just like the last time he'd seen her when they were in the small pavilion outside the city and when she'd played that 'Blue-Flower Porcelain' piece in Moonglade. After a moment of silence, he added, “Since that person is Situ, I'm also relieved.”
It's Situ, a person he can trust. He's glad that his good friend can accompany the woman he loves when he's not around anymore.
He would never have the chance to verbalise the love he'd deeply concealed in his heart.
He'd wanted to be willful once, and to have no regrets before he pa.s.ses away, he'd wanted to take this woman into his arms and tell her that he'd developed feelings for her even earlier than Situ. They were feelings that could gush out anytime and anywhere.
But he couldn't. He was unwilling to see the woman before him caught in a difficult situation. He couldn't bear to. He couldn't bear to see the woman he loves suffer in the least.
Since that person is Situ, he can rest a.s.sured. These were words that came from the bottom of his heart and, at the same time, words that made his heart ache.
It was unclear whether Feng Luodi had understood the connotation in his words. She looked down slightly and no longer spoke nor did she fiddled with the bamboo slips[1] in her hand.
The fragrance of the wisteria flowers outside the window wafted into the room with the cool breeze. The sweet scent that suffused the whole room concealed all emotions.
When dusk fell, Lu Bo sent Feng Luodi out of the residence. He was about to say something but hesitated. He didn't want to see his Young Master suffer, so he wanted to say something at first, but similarly he didn't wish to place Feng Luodi in a difficult spot.
When Feng Luodi abruptly turned her head back, she happened to take in Lu Bo's expression. A faint glint flickered across her eyes but she didn't say anything.
When she returned to the Feng Residence, Scarlet saw Feng Luodi take out a sewing kit and asked in puzzlement, “Miss, are you embroidering a sachet or handkerchief for someone?”
Then, a mischievous look flashed across her eyes. She was certain that it was for Situ.
However, Feng Luodi gently smiled and shook her head. She placed the sewing kit down and raised her head to look at Scarlet, asking softly, “Scarlet, do you still remember the first time I've embroidered a handkerchief and what I've sewed on it?”
“Of course I remember.” Scarlet nodded confidently as she continued tidying up the dried flower petals.
“Miss, you normally wouldn't touch the needle and thread because you wanted to play the zither and cherished your hands very much but you still personally embroidered a handkerchief that has green bamboo patterns on it and sent it to Gentleman Jiang. You even said that you wanted to revere your Elder Brother and inscribed both of your names on it.”
Feng Luodi was lost in thought and only squeezed out a pained smile after some time.
“It has been hard on you. You even remembered these small details.”