443 Weeping Willow (2/2)
Situ Yilan did not take part during the spring war in the Wilderness and was a little upset because of that. However, this kind of frustration was ridiculous in Ning Que's mind.
”I don't understand what you're thinking. What's the point of taking part in a war?”
”Don't you feel bored if you can only read books in the Academy and do needlework at home?”
”I am a man instead of a woman. If I were you, I would not feel bored.”
”This is not in accord with what you've said in the Blue Water Battalion.”
They were walking on the green stone path in an atmosphere that was totally calm and innocent, which is the same as that time when they were beside the blue sea and white beach in the frontier fortress.
”Keep away from her.”
Ning Que opened his mouth and commented suddenly.
Situ Yilan looked up at him. Knowing that he referred to the princess, she was confused and asked, ”I don't understand. What do you mean?”
There were always willow branches fluttering on Ning Que's face which made him kind of annoyed. He picked a branch and said, ”When you were young, you could pridefully ride horses with her. But if you want to be a female general of Tang, you should realize that these are two entirely different things.”
Situ Yilan thought quietly for a long time. Then, she raised her head and said to him, ”I want to be the female general of Tang, instead of a general controlled by anybody.”
Ning Que knew that she understood him and nodded in appreciation. He knitted a locust with the willow branch and gave it to her. He said, ”This is your reward.”
Situ Yilan took over that cute locust made of willow branch and felt happy. She said, ”You made this so quickly!”
Ning Que picked another willow branch and said, ”When Sangsang was young, she always cried from hunger. So I found some branches and knitted them into small toys to make her happy. I've made quite a few these, so I can do them quickly.”
Looking at his face, Situ Yilan made fun of him and said, ”Look at your reflection in the lake. You will notice how detestable your look of pride is right now.”
Ning Que proudly said, ”I am good at it. Why can't I be proud of it?”
Situ Yilan blinked and asked, ”Which one made you feel proud, your ingenuity or coaxing Sangsang?”
Ning Que said. ”Both, but the latter one makes me feel even prouder.”
Situ Yilan coughed twice lightly and asked with smiling, ”There was a time when everyone in Chang'an knew of your affair with the Calligraphy Addict. Many people including Wucai have seen you traveling with her hand in hand. But after a few days, you started dating your little handmaiden. It is surprising that Sangsang suddenly became a lady of the Grand Secretary Mansion. But your relationship is much more surprising.”
Ning Que was shocked and asked, ”Can't we?”
Situ Yilan lifted that locust in front of her eye mischievously. She said, ”You can, but many people said you toyed with the Calligraphy Addict's feelings. They thought you were shameless.”
Ning Que shook his arms and said angrily, ”What? How did I toy with her feelings? I'm already in such a state. What do you all want me to do?”
”What's more, when did we travel together hand in hand?”
Ning Que put his arms in the breeze, and protested angrily, ”I've traveled with her. But I've never touched her, not even her hands!”
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The new houses around the Yanming Lake were completed. Due to Sangsang's ardent request, Ning Que did not hire any stewards or maids or waste any money on a celebration.
But as Li Yu and Yilan came here to congratulate him, Ning Que thought he should still play host. Therefore, he returned to the back of the mountain of the Academy and invited his Senior Brothers and Sisters to his house.
Not surprisingly, his Senior Brothers and Sisters had no interest in this kind of thing. He felt relaxed but also a little embarrassed.
However, the next day, Chen Pipi and Tang Xiaotang came for a visit.
Ning Que pulled the oar and felt angry when he looked at the fat guy lying in the boat who sighed and urged him to move faster. He thought that ordinarily Sangsang was the one who pulled the oar and he was the one who enjoyed, but why he should serve that fat guy when he was here?
He could only keep this complaint in his mind. Because the Academy, to be exact, Second Brother devoted particular care to brotherhood and politeness. Chen Pipi was his Senior Brother, so he could ask Ning Que to do something. Although Ning Que was reluctant to it, he dared not argue with Second Brother.
”Can't you be a little faster? Didn't you have lunch today?”
Seeing that the boat ahead was going to enter the lotus field with Tang Xiaotang on it, Chen Pipi felt anxious and bellowed at Ning Que with rage.
Ning Que threw the oar and raged, ”You've eaten all of the lunch. What can I eat?”
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