Misty Rain of the Old Times

The hustle and bustle is always short-lived. As night falls, the capital city, which has been bustling for half a day, also calms down. Another exciting aspect of nightlife has nothing to do with ordinary people.

For some people, this is destined to be a sleepless night. For example, a group of successful candidates in this year's imperial examinations have finally achieved their goals after years of hard work. How can they not celebrate?
The young ladies in brothels have already dressed up and are looking forward to it. If they can have a chance to spend some time with the successful candidate, they would probably be happy to do so even if it means paying him. That would increase their status. If there are any calligraphy works left behind, they would laugh in their dreams.

"Xiao Gao probably won't be back home until very late today. Whether he goes back or not is a big deal. When will he find out what I left on the fan that he's been asking about for years?"

Chen Xuan, who had been drinking for the entire afternoon, was not at all drunk, and the wine jars were piled up in a corner of the private room.

The little princess who had been accompanying him was terrified. Brother Xuan's belly was too full. If he hadn't gone to the toilet so many times, his stomach would probably have burst.

The lights were dimming, the night was getting deeper, Chen Xuan said: "Xian Ning, it's getting late, let me take you home"

"Well, Brother Xuan, are you okay with drinking so much?" she asked worriedly. Each of the wine jars in the corner was bigger than Chen Xuan's belly.

Stretching lazily, Chen Xuan exhaled lightly and said in a relaxed tone, "This is nothing. Did Xian Ning forget my three-story high cultivation level?"

"Eh~, what a strong smell of alcohol, so stinky." She waved her hand in front of her nose and fanned it, but she didn't dislike it. She nodded and said reluctantly: "Well, it's time to go back."

After checking out, the two of them strolled towards the princess's residence in the night. The half moon was high in the sky and the lights were flickering.

Maybe it was because she became bolder under the cover of night, or maybe it was because he said he wanted to hold her hand forever, so she took the initiative to hold his hand, very naturally, very close, and was reluctant to let go.

They talked and laughed all the way. When they turned the corner and saw the princess's mansion, she stopped under the osmanthus tree, where the shadows were out and the fragrance of flowers filled the air. She raised her head slightly and looked at Chen Xuan's blurry face in the darkness. She mustered up her courage and said nervously, "Brother Xuan, can I hug you?"

This sentence took up all her strength. As a girl, taking the initiative to make such a request was a bold move that broke the rules of etiquette in that era.

Xia Mei, who was following behind like a ghost, turned around, magnified her senses and paid attention to her surroundings. Anyone who dared to approach would be ruthlessly knocked out and thrown away by her. The princess could express her affection for Master Chen without restraint, but that did not mean that others were qualified to witness it.

Opening his arms slightly, Chen Xuan said, "I couldn't ask for more. I'm not afraid of Xian Ning laughing at me. I've secretly been looking forward to it countless times, but I didn't dare mention it for fear that you'd be angry."

Her cheeks flushed, and she gently kicked Chen Xuan and snorted, "Bad guy, you want to bully me all day long."

Although she said that, she was thinking in her heart, if you ask me, I won’t refuse, but I can only hug you.

So she took a step forward, leaned her sweet and soft body gently in Chen Xuan's arms, rested her head on his shoulder, closed her eyes gently, and felt each other's heartbeats.

Although she didn't drink much, she just felt that she was drunk at this moment. Their hearts were so close at this moment.

She said in a soft voice: "Brother Xuan, your heart is beating so fast"

"Prove that I'm still alive," Chen Xuan suddenly said.

With a chuckle, she gently hit Chen Xuan and said seriously: "Brother Xuan, don't say stupid things, be good."

"Okay, I'll listen to you," he answered seriously.

After hitting him again, the little princess buried her head in his shoulder and said in a muffled voice: "Silly boy, hug me too."

"I'm afraid I won't be able to let go." Although he said so, Chen Xuan stretched out his arms and put his arms around her slender waist.

The delicate and soft fragrance penetrated into the nostrils, as if it was the most precious thing in the world, nothing else. Under the moonlight, the shadows of the two people overlapped, and they just snuggled up to each other without any extra movements.

She said a little dizzy: "Brother Xuan, don't let your imagination run wild."

"it is good"

She added, "What should I do if I can't bear to be separated from you?"

"I can't bear to let you go either, but I still have a lifetime to go, a very long one. Flowers bloom and fall year after year, morning after morning. If you are reluctant now, it won't affect your dislike for me in the future," Chen Xuan said with a smile, resting his chin lightly on her head.

After twisting his waist, the little princess stamped her feet and said, "Oh, Brother Xuan, you are so annoying. You always say things that spoil the mood. I don't dislike you at all."

"Haha, Xianning, you'd better remember what I said now. I didn't have the tools to record it, otherwise I will play it for you when you dislike me in the future," Chen Xuan said happily.

She hummed: "You are saying something I don't understand again"

Time can't stay at a certain moment forever. After a moment of tenderness, Chen Xuan patted her shoulder gently and said, "It's getting late. Go back. I'm not leaving now."

"Well, hold me for a while, just a while." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, the kind that went through her lungs, to remember Chen Xuan's scent deeply.

After a while, he reluctantly separated and raised his head and said, "Okay, Brother Xuan, I'm going back."

"I'll watch you go in. Go to bed early and have a sweet dream." Chen Xuan touched her head. He had wanted to do this for a long time, and now he just did it naturally.

She somewhat enjoyed this kind of intimacy, narrowing her eyes slightly, and excitedly turned around and said, "Well, Brother Xuan, you should also rest well and eat well. No matter how high your cultivation is, don't drink too much. That's not good. Come to me whether you are happy or not, okay?"

"Okay," Chen Xuan walked to see him off.

Seeing the gate of the princess's mansion right in front of her, she suddenly turned around and asked in a low voice: "Brother Xuan, did you feel comfortable when you held me just now?" Of course she did. With her exquisite figure, her fragrance and softness, they snuggled up to each other, and Chen Xuan was simply unable to get enough and was savoring it endlessly.

Without waiting for his answer, the little princess took a step forward and ran towards the door as if escaping, saying shyly: "You are so beautiful, don't let your imagination run wild. I'm going back now, and you should go back early too."

There was something she didn't dare say out loud: If Brother Xuan had married me earlier, we could have been together every day. But how could she say such a thing?

The two parties had only met for a month or two, but they had known each other for seven years. They met about 10 to 20 times in these two months. Under the moonlight, they gradually got closer to each other and unknowingly got together.

A high and mighty princess, the apple of everyone's eye, and a humble servant, helpless and helpless, embrace each other. Fate is so wonderful.

Watching the little princess disappear into the gate, Chen Xuan waved his hand as she secretly looked back, then turned and left in the night.

Leaning against the door, the little princess' eyes were slightly red, with crystal tears flashing in them. She sniffed and murmured softly, "Is this what it feels like to like someone? I wish I could be with you all the time, so happy and joyful, but I can't bear to be apart. It's so hard, my heart is empty, my mind is wandering, as if I'm no longer myself."

Xia Mei, who was silently guarding by the side, sighed in her heart when she saw this. This is what love between men and women is like. It is full of tenderness and tenderness, and it contains all the bittersweetness.

As Chen Xuan left, he took two imperceptible steps, one of his feet taking a long step to the side...

When I returned to Xiaomingju, Xiaogao had not come back as expected. Today was the day when everyone passed the imperial examination and many people were pulling him to celebrate, so he would not come back even if he wanted to.

For a talented person who has won the top three places in the imperial examinations, even if he has now been appointed to an official position in the court, there is no telling how many people will come to visit him for advice, and his door will probably be broken down.

Although Xiao Gao did not come back, it did not affect the enthusiastic atmosphere in Xiao Mingju. The news that Gao Jingming had won the top spot in the imperial examination had been heard long ago, and everyone was drinking until they were drunk.

Wei Song was not here, he must have gone to accompany Xiao Gao. The main person did not come back, but the two rooms were filled with gifts. The manager originally arranged by Gao Jingyu was counting them, and no one knew who delivered them during the day.

Geng Hong and his friends, who were toasting each other, saw Chen Xuan coming back and invited him to join them in the celebration. Chen Xuan was happy to join them in the fun.

While eating and drinking, Chen Xuan asked, "Uncle Geng, has the news been passed back?"

"It was passed back as soon as we got the great news. The master and the mistress were so happy. But the young master has already been appointed to the court, so he can't go back to share this joy with the master and the mistress," Geng Hong said regretfully.

Zhao Erhe took over and said, "By the way, Xuan'er, the news about the young master's success in the imperial examination came a few days ago. Madam and her family have already replied, saying they will hold a three-day banquet to celebrate."

"Of course," Chen Xuan nodded with a smile, and continued, "I remember that after passing the imperial examination, you seemed to have a holiday to go home and visit your family, right? The court would also send ceremonial guards to accompany you as a token of the emperor's grace?"

Shaking his head, Geng Hong said, "We are all rough people, how would we know these things? Young Master, please come back and ask."

After all, this is not the ancient times in Chen Xuan’s hometown, and the system may be different. It is hard to say whether he can return home on vacation, especially since it is an extremely special period now.

Without dwelling on it too much, Chen Xuan smiled and said, "Never mind him. The young master has already passed the imperial examination and said that he would complete the wedding night and small imperial examination this year. The court will still give him a holiday then."

"Yes, in the blink of an eye, the young master has become successful and is about to start a family." Probably due to the alcohol, Geng Hong suddenly felt emotional. He also witnessed Xiao Gao's growth, and he had followed him everywhere since he was a little kid back then.

Late at night, everyone went to wash up and rest.

The next morning, Chen Xuan secretly washed his pants, recalling the simple hug he had with the little princess last night. He felt melancholy. How torturous! He was a young man full of vigor, and this was really killing him...

"Good morning, Xuan."

After that, when Chen Xuan was doing morning exercises, Gao Jingming, who had returned from last night at some point, greeted him refreshed.

"Hey, the top scholar is back, start showing off. I'm not envious at all. I'll give you the chance to show off," Chen Xuan joked.

Gao Jingming raised his chin and said proudly, "Xuan, now you know how powerful I am, right?"

"I know, I know, top scholar, you are still alive, look at what you can do," Chen Xuan said sourly.

Gao Jingming curled his lips and thought to himself that it was boring. Then he thought of something and asked, "By the way, Xuan, were you peeking somewhere during the palace exam yesterday?"

"You know all this?" Chen Xuan was speechless.

Gao Jingming nodded and said, "I guessed right. Ah Xuan, do you know what happened to the strange clouds around the palace yesterday morning?"

"You saw it too? I know it very well because that's what I did."

Gao Jingming: "..."

It seems that being the top scholar is not so good anymore. How can a mere top scholar compare to a grandmaster who stirs up the world?

Just as he was about to say something, Wei Song came over with a large stack of invitations and interrupted him, saying, "Master, these are invitations and visiting cards from various places. Take a look."

"Let me think about it first. Some relationships must be maintained." He had no choice but to go and deal with business. Being famous means a lot of trouble and he has no time to spare.

Chen Xuan also had no choice but to put aside his words of farewell... (End of this chapter)