This made the pedantic scholar’s face flush red with embarrassment.
Another example, “Rowing in the middle of the current, a small boat floating through the lotus pond,” described how on a summer day, the Princess and Prince Consort sat in a small boat surrounded by emerald green lotus leaves. Pink lotus flowers bloomed in layers, vying to display their beauty. The Princess plucked a lotus flower and held it next to the Prince Consort’s jade-like face, smiling: “Although the lotus is beautiful, it doesn’t compare to the Prince Consort.”
The Prince Consort didn’t mind but took the lotus flower and inserted it into the Princess’s hair, smiling: “Neither compares to the Princess.”
On the last page of “Notes on Gazing at the Moon,” was written: “Fortunate to know you, accompanying each other through eternal reincarnations.”
Li Ying closed “Notes on Gazing at the Moon” with embarrassment and anger. She threw the thread-bound book into Cui Xun’s arms: “Take a look.”
Cui Xun said, “I’ve already seen it.”
“This notebook has spread not only throughout Chang’an but to the Western Regions.” Li Ying said angrily: “Hateful thief.”
Recently, the Cui mansion had been burglarized. At the time, Li Ying and Cui Xun had gone to release sky lanterns and weren’t at home. The thief had snuck into their bedroom, was discovered by a servant, and fled in panic. Before leaving, he had taken a notebook written by Li Ying.
Yes, this “Notes on Gazing at the Moon” was written by Li Ying.
Li Ying’s original intention was merely to record the worldly details of her and Cui Xun. Everything about them was too beautiful, and she couldn’t bear to forget, so she recorded it daily and named it “Notes on Gazing at the Moon.”
“Wang” referred to Cui Wangshu, and “Yue” referred to Mingyuezhu. So the two characters “Wang Yue” actually concealed their names.
But who would have thought that this hateful thief would steal nothing but this notebook!
Stealing it was one thing, but this thief happened to be semi-literate. He flipped through the notebook and felt that the emotions within were genuine, with marital affection overflowing from between the lines. So he sold the notebook to a bookstore merchant for a high price.
After reading it, the bookstore merchant also saw profit in it. Besides, Princess Wan’an and her husband were known throughout the Great Zhou for their deep affection, like paired mandarin ducks. The common people were very interested in the life of this young couple. The bookseller made some deletions and edits, then published and sold it widely as an unofficial history.
Later, although the thief and bookseller were caught, the printing blocks were already everywhere and couldn’t be destroyed.
Li Ying covered her face: “I don’t care, you get this book back! It’s so embarrassing!”
Cui Xun sighed helplessly: “Originally, the people thought this book was just unofficial history. If we make a big show of destroying it, the people might think it’s all true.”
Li Ying was on the verge of tears: “Then what do we do?”
When “Notes on Gazing at the Moon” first began circulating in Chang’an, Li Ying was so embarrassed that she didn’t leave the house for a full seven days, afraid of being mocked. She said with a gloomy face: “Now the entire Great Zhou knows.”
But Cui Xun smiled gently. Li Ying said, “How can you still smile?”
Cui Xun said, “I see that from the court to the common people, no one thinks this is a laughing matter. Instead, they see it as a beautiful story.”
Li Ying wasn’t quite convinced: “Really?”
“Really.” Cui Xun nodded: “If you go out now, you’ll hear it.”
Li Ying was hesitant. Cui Xun smiled again: “Mingyuezhu, what’s shameful about a husband and wife being affectionate and deeply in love? In the past, you kept this notebook hidden and wouldn’t even let me see it. If you had let me see it, I could have added several more interesting stories.”
Li Ying’s cheeks flushed red. She lowered her head and said nothing. Cui Xun took her hand and said, “Keep writing, Mingyuezhu. Let’s write together. We have a lifetime to write.”
Li Ying raised her head slightly, her eyes bright and clear, looking at Cui Xun. The corners of her mouth curved into a smile as she said, “Yes!”
By the banks of the Naihe River, “Notes on Gazing at the Moon” was turned to its last page.
A voice like jade and gold rang out: “Why do I feel that this Cui Wangshu has been bullying our Mingyuezhu all along?”
“Is that so? But it seems like Mingyuezhu bullies him more.”
“Are you still Mingyuezhu’s father? Why do you always speak for Cui Wangshu?”
“Lingye, haven’t you heard a saying: ‘Not deaf, not blind, not a good father-in-law’? When a couple is so sweet together, don’t interfere.”
“No, I still think…”
Whispers in the mortal world, whispers by the banks of the Naihe River.
Seasons came and went, with reincarnations spanning a thousand years.
In a quiet library, a girl wearing a white dress stood in front of a tall bookshelf.
The girl in the white dress was a freshman, her face bearing the characteristic confusion and innocence of a new student. She pulled out a book titled “History of Zhou” and opened it, reading intently.
She was quite familiar with Zhou history, but she was still drawn to that brilliant, glorious period when all nations came to pay tribute.
Princess Yong’an Li Ying, Sage Emperor Li Ji, the female Emperor Jiang Lingye, Prince Consort Pei Heng, Princess Wan’an Du Zhenyue—one by one, these magnificent historical figures from the golden age unfolded before her in the history book.
And there was also her most fascinating historical figure, that loyal minister who walked alone through wind and snow—the Lotus Gentleman, Cui Xun.
She read through Cui Xun’s life story once more before sighing and putting “History of Zhou” back on the shelf.
As she looked at the bookshelf, her eyes were suddenly drawn to an ancient, yellowed book.
She murmured: “Notes on Gazing at the Moon?”
What kind of book was this?
Though she didn’t know, she felt a strangely familiar sensation in her heart. She reached out to pull the ancient book from the shelf.
At the same time, a male student’s hand also reached for the same book.
Their fingertips touched, and both were startled.
The girl in the white dress looked up. What met her eyes was a pair of soul-stirring peach blossom eyes and a lotus-like face of extraordinary beauty.
Scenes from the past flashed before them—the beast mask at the Lantern Festival, the red plum blossoms in white snow at Ximing Temple, the amber sugar frost at Fuman Hall, the flute playing on a night boat in the Gui River—all appearing simultaneously before the two of them.
“With you, I am a pair of mandarin ducks; no need to seek return to the mortal world.”
She looked at him and smiled: “You’ve come?”
He looked at her and smiled: “Yes, I’ve come.”