Ink Burns

Chapter 221 Flying Birds
After a long pause, Shan Yue hurriedly lowered her head, but shook it firmly: "If you feel safe, you can say whatever you want."

"You trust me that much?" Xue Xiao smiled, a hint of pleasure in his eyes. "Because I'm an 'ally'?"

Shan Yue pursed her lips, her gaze fixed on the shoes: Why did she sense a mocking tone in the word "ally"?

What's so funny? They were allies from the start.

As the water clock dripped down, Xue Xiao mentally checked the time, lowered his gaze, and then spoke of the conversation with Emperor Yongping during his visit earlier that day: "Everything is developing in the direction we predicted. With Bai Yusi's help, Songjiang Prefecture has become the key to breaking the deadlock. Liu Huan is not deeply involved, so she is naturally afraid of getting burned and keeps quiet. Others may not be so. Han Chengrang, the former prefect of Suzhou Prefecture, has no sons, and none of his clan's descendants have entered officialdom. If we use him properly, we can expose the truth behind the Duzhou dike breach case."

They also talked about Cui Bainian, who had just returned to Beijing, and Chang Lin, who was under house arrest.

It was getting late, so the two got up and walked along Mirror Lake toward the inner courtyard.

Perhaps because the lake breeze was so pleasant and it was getting late, the two talked about whatever came to mind, which was more like a casual chat than a discussion.

As they passed through the main gate, a snowball parrot with fluttering wings flew straight to Shan Yue's shoulder, its fluffy head rubbing against his chin.

Shan Yue suddenly remembered what she had been doing by the side of the water: "This morning, Luo Feng brought two people to move books. They made about ten trips back and forth, and now your room is full of books, stacked densely with volumes. There are books on the bed, on the table, on the cabinets, and on the floor. Xue Tuan's paws are too afraid to step on the books, so she has stayed in the west wing all day—"

To be precise, it was the fat bird that kept stepping on her head.

He stomped on the books while yelling, "So many books! It's terrifying! It's terrifying!"

That must have scared the bird to death. Xue Xiao didn't teach it well.

Shan Yue suddenly remembered seeing several rows of empty bookshelves by the water's edge.

"Did you move all the books from the waterside to the main courtyard?"

Xue Xiao put his hands behind his back and hummed in agreement: "The side of the water is near the water, and there are book bugs. We need to burn some mugwort to kill them, because we're afraid the books will catch fire. It's going to rain these next few days, so we can't air the books out. We can only put them back in the side room."

Shan Yue was somewhat speechless: "What about the other courtyards and rooms?"

Xue Xiao wrinkled his nose: "We moved here together. Including the two of us, there are only eight or nine people in the Nan family. Let's take stock and see who had time to clean the courtyard and tidy the house before?"

Shanyue:.
Yes, they are a very busy couple.

"There are books all over the bed, and no empty room. Where are you going to sleep?" Shan Yue asked, frowning.

Xue Xiao looked away and gazed at the distant Fragrant Hills: "I'll just sleep by the water's edge—I moved a deck chair there, I'll just make do with that."

That's a pitiful thing to say.

"Then why are you coming back to the main courtyard with me?" Shan Yue frowned even more deeply. "Although our residence isn't very large, it's still a long journey back and forth, and it's getting late—"

"Digestion."

Xue Xiao replied matter-of-factly, "Didn't we just finish drinking mutton soup?"

Shan Yue was utterly speechless.

what
This is a series of interconnected events, one sentence after another, both pitiful and funny—how could someone not have a place to sleep in their own home?

Just like last time at the suburban villa, this tall, slender man was huddled in a short recliner, shoulders pressed together, chin against chest, making do with what seemed like aggrieved compromise?

Are you able to sleep well?

These days, he's constantly racking his brains, scheming to kill others while protecting his own. His head is practically pounding away – at this rate, is he really going to make do overnight? He probably thinks he's too strong and too young.

Shan Yue tilted her head and looked at Xue Xiao with a scrutinizing gaze.

Could he have done it on purpose?
"you--"

How can I ask that?
Are you suggesting she ask, "Are you deliberately plotting this, using the same old tricks, to try and sleep with me?"

She is indeed a cunning and ruthless person, but that doesn't mean she can say such things so casually.
The mountain moon swallowed its voice and fell silent.

Xue Xiao tilted his head back and moved his head, making "crackling" sounds from his neck, knees, and wrists.

"Oh, it's nothing, it's nothing."

No one asked him anything, but Xue Xiao answered himself: "It's just that after going through files for several days in a row, my neck, waist and hands are a little numb - you know, we martial arts practitioners all have a lot of injuries when we get older, we can't avoid them, alas, we can't avoid them."

Shan Yue: Truly untouched by worldly affairs, she could simply leave. But she couldn't do it.

On second thought, since everyone was already asleep at the other house, there was no point in being sentimental now.

Compared to the other courtyard, the bed in the west wing is larger and wider, and it wouldn't be difficult to accommodate another person.

Shan Yue looked up at Xue Xiao: "Your bedding."

“Mother Su just washed it and put it in the cupboard.”

"Pillow."

"It's freshly made and smells like soapberry."

Let's make room for each other and share a bed.

After a quick wash, Xue Xiao changed into a long white silk robe, her hair still styled in a high bun. Her casual attire washed away her usual coldness and solemnity, giving her a more relaxed and ordinary air.

He didn't have many opportunities to enter the West Wing. The last time he applied medicine to Shanyue was one instance, and this was the second. Just like in his memory, it exuded a light and faint magnolia fragrance.

The room was larger than the east wing, and used draft paper and brushes were scattered on the table.

Xue Xiao bent down to look.

The painting on the paper was almost identical to the plain silk that Shan Yue had given him.

The only difference is that a proud eagle soars through the continuous mountain range.

Falcon.

Birds.

Xue Xiao stared intently, remaining motionless for a long time.

After washing up, Shan Yue drew back the bed curtains and sat in front of the bronze mirror to comb her hair, but her mind was on Shui Guang's matter: "If I enter the palace under the name He Shui Guang, what about my background? Do I need to change it? Should I sever my connection with 'Qing Feng'? Should I inform those girls from Qiu Shui Ferry in advance?"

Shan Yue's tone revealed an undisguised excitement.

Xue Xiao gradually straightened up: "...So happy to be back to your original name?"

"Yes! Mountain Moon and Water Light are the names our mother gave us."

Shan Yue turned around and smiled, her clear and calm eyes sparkling: "Although they are all common things, they are all timeless and have existed for a long time. Country folk don't understand fancy words, they just feel that what is old is good, and what is good should be given to the children."

Upon hearing this, Shan Yue's smile faltered.

薛枭
Unfilial bird.

Xue Xiao's name was an insult to him from his father.

She shouldn't have said that.

Shan Yue clicked her tongue in surprise: "...No...not all...I...I didn't mean that. I..."

Xue Xiao leaned on the wooden table with one hand, tilted his head, looked at Shan Yue's rare embarrassment, and listened to her incoherent expression and regretful attempts to make amends.

Tonight, Xue Xiao's lips never left his mouth.

"I understand your idea."

Xue Xiao's smile reached his eyes. He crossed his arms and leaned against the pillar next to his desk. His voice was soft, but the emotions in his eyes were deep and intense.

There's nothing wrong with my name.

"Only birds love the mountain moon."

　The attempt to reach midnight failed.
ooh ooh

(End of this chapter)