Chapter 400: Moon Over the Willow

Chapter 400 The Moon Above the Willow Branches

"When I visited your bookstore, I met Shitou (lit. 'Stone') and thought he resembled an old friend of mine."

Manager Hu immediately grew excited: "Where is that old friend now? Perhaps he’s the husband Shitou’s mother has been eagerly searching for!"

Sun Yan’s heart ached terribly, but he dared not show it on his face: "He was a friend from many years ago, and I lost touch with him later. I’ll send someone to look for him, so they don’t get their hopes up. Please don’t mention this to Shitou and his mother."

In that moment, Sun Yan was actually grateful that Shitou looked so much like Cui Niang—it allowed him to recognize the boy at a glance without raising suspicion about their relationship.

Manager Hu sighed: "Better not mention it until the person is found. Years ago, Shitou’s mother heard someone say they’d seen a man who looked like her husband. She ran to find him, only to realize it wasn’t him. She was devastated for days afterward..."

Sun Yan listened, his spirits sinking, and returned to the palace in dejected silence.

A few days later, he reported to Emperor Xingyuan: "The Changle Marquis often visited Qingsong Bookstore to read. Based on my investigations these past days, the Changle Marquis likely did not know Princess Ayou’s true identity at the time."

By saying this, Sun Yan had effectively tied himself to He Qingxiao. If it were later discovered that this wasn’t the case, he would face serious trouble. But Xin You had shown him great kindness, and his wife and child were under her care. Whether out of conscience or other reasons, he had no choice but to do this.

And by doing so, Sun Yan also ensured that if anyone tried to investigate this matter in the future, he would do everything in his power to obstruct.

Emperor Xingyuan could never have imagined that Sun Yan would shield He Qingxiao—after all, Sun Yan had previously caused trouble for He Qingxiao. Thus, the emperor had no reason to doubt him now: "At least he hasn’t forgotten the duty of the Jinlin Guard’s Supervising Envoy."

Sun Yan inwardly sighed in relief, knowing the matter was settled. He seized an opportunity to pass the message to Xin You.

Only then did Xin You’s worried heart finally ease.

Afterward, things were quiet, and the next time she saw He Qingxiao was during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

The palace held another banquet for the occasion, but Xin You declined without hesitation. That night, she carried a lantern and wandered aimlessly until she reached the Moonlight Bridge, not far from home.

It was on that bridge that she ran into He Qingxiao.

The bridge was crowded with people, a gentle breeze under a bright moon. At that moment, everything faded into the background—only the girl carrying a lantern became the most beautiful sight in He Qingxiao’s eyes.

After a brief glance, Xin You approached: "What luck, Lord He."

He Qingxiao carried no lantern, his hands empty, his gaze full: "Fancy meeting you here, Lady Xin. Just call me by my name—not ‘Lord He.’"

Without his position as the Jinlin Guard’s North Town Supervising Envoy, he was simply He Qingxiao, the Changle Marquis. Even the title of Changle Marquis felt unreal to him, as if it didn’t truly belong to him.

The only thing that truly belonged to him was the name his parents had given him.

Xin You paused briefly before nodding: "Very well. From now on, I’ll call you He Qingxiao."

The man’s usually cool and reserved face softened into a faint smile under the moonlight.

"Let’s go over there. Standing on the bridge is too conspicuous," Xin You suggested, pointing toward the long embankment.

The embankment was lined with willow trees, their leaves yellowing and falling with the wind at this time of year.

Though many people crossed the bridge, even more young men and women strolled leisurely along the embankment. The dimmer lighting made it a suitable place for quiet conversation.

Walking side by side, the soft glow of Xin You’s lantern illuminated the path a few steps ahead.

"He Qingxiao, have your injuries healed?" Xin You spoke his name, her cheeks inexplicably warming.

Perhaps calling him "Marquis" would have been more appropriate?

"They healed long ago," He Qingxiao replied, his voice carrying an unusual hesitation in the night of reunion.

Xin You heard it and said softly, "I didn't look that day. Don't worry."

She was referring to the day of the imperial flogging, when she hadn't gone to witness He Qingxiao's humiliation of being stripped and flogged.

"I know," the man's voice was even softer.

He knew she cared for his dignity, but more than gratitude, he felt powerless.

Living under the Emperor's eye, there was no such thing as true dignity. Neither of them could decide their own fate.

Xin You lowered her gaze to the shadows of the two on the ground, now merging, now parting.

"He knows—" she began but found it hard to continue.

She and He Qingxiao had an unspoken understanding of their feelings, yet neither had ever openly spoken of it when both were clear-headed.

But He Qingxiao, unlike usual, asked directly, "Does His Majesty know that I have feelings for Lady Xin?"

Xin You stopped dead in her tracks and looked up at him.

In the night, his features were like warm, polished jade, filled with undisguised affection.

"He Qingxiao—"

His ears reddened as he murmured apologetically, "Then His Majesty must have sent someone to investigate the time when you were still Miss Kou. I've brought you trouble again."

That he remained unharmed must have been due to Ayou's intervention once more.

"No trouble," Xin You murmured, her lantern held low as she tilted her head slightly. "When I was still Miss Kou, you helped me many times. Did you think of it as trouble?"

"Never," He Qingxiao answered without hesitation.

"So don't apologize, and neither will I." Xin You paused, then for the first time, laid her heart bare, "He Qingxiao, I'm very glad to have met you."

They had reached a thick willow tree, the lowered lantern illuminating the ground but blurring their faces.

On such a hazy Mid-Autumn night, it was easier to find courage. He Qingxiao gazed into the girl's bright eyes, his resolve crumbling at her words.

He leaned in, his tall frame enveloping her, and claimed her lips.

They were rational, but also young. Those pent-up feelings could be contained, but not forever.

All those sleepless nights of longing poured into their increasingly fervent kiss.

The lantern swayed low, then fell to the ground at some point, its flame guttering out.

It grew darker.

Xin You's back pressed against the gnarled tree trunk, her hands finding nowhere to rest but around He Qingxiao's waist.

He Qingxiao had always been slender and lean, but recently he had grown even thinner, his waist as narrow as a boy's.

So Xin You held on tighter, yielding to him.

She heard her own quickened breaths, and his. Everything felt like an unreal dream—the mist lingering in the woods, the unmoving clouds in the sky. She could hear, she could feel, yet her thoughts scattered.

Suddenly, she was lifted off her feet, escaping in a startled gasp.

That sound jolted him back to reality. Her feet quickly touched the ground again, the strong arms around her withdrew, and the burning, lingering kiss ended.

He Qingxiao shut his eyes, not daring to recall what he had just done.

He was truly despicable—knowing full well he could never marry Ayou, yet drawing close, overstepping bounds, even succumbing to his desire for her.

The bright moon emerged from the clouds, its silvery light spilling down.

The girl's voice whispered by his ear, "He Qingxiao, are you having regrets?"