Xiao Mo and his party arrived at Jade Spring Lake.
As the largest lake in Zhou Kingdom's imperial capital, it was already the first choice for the capital's citizens to visit for leisure.
Not to mention that the flowers called "Autumn's Arrival" were blooming, attracting even more people.
Willow trees by the lake swayed gently in the wind, their tender green branches like carefully braided hair of young girls.
White-haired elders sat fishing leisurely by Jade Spring Lake, chatting and laughing with fellow anglers beside them.
Young women with hair pinned up led their children by the hand, strolling leisurely along the lakeside.
There were also quite a few scholars and literati sitting in various pavilions, brewing wine and making tea, discussing poetry and literature, composing verses and prose.
Those flowers called "Autumn's Arrival" resembled chrysanthemums but carried a hint of rose charm. However, their stems weren't long and slender, but grew close to the ground, shaped like small, delicate lanterns.
One after another, the "Autumn's Arrival" flowers dotted the emerald green grass.
They were indeed extremely beautiful.A summer breeze blew by, and Xiao Mo indeed felt himself relaxing involuntarily.
"Your Majesty, should this old servant find a place for Young Master to sit, drink wine and enjoy the scenery? That would also be a pleasure," Wei Xun said respectfully.
Xiao Mo waved his hand, "No need, I'll just walk around casually."
"Yes, Young Master."
Since His Majesty had said so, he could only follow behind His Majesty.
The two Foundation Building realm guards vigilantly watched their surroundings while also monitoring Xiao Mo.
Xiao Mo was also clear that these two guards were Yan Shan'ao's people.
After he returned, every move would be reported to Yan Shan'ao.
Xiao Mo walked by the lakeside with his hands behind his back.
Because Xiao Mo's temperament and appearance were truly outstanding, many people, especially women, would secretly glance at him a few more times, wondering whose handsome young man this was.
As he walked, Xiao Mo looked up and saw a kite gradually ascending into the sky but before it had risen very high, the kite string suddenly broke, and it crashed into a parasol tree by the lake.
Xiao Mo withdrew his gaze and looked toward the two women who had been flying the kite.
They walked under that tree and stared blankly at the hundred-year-old parasol tree that was fully four zhang high.
The woman dressed as a maid looked very anxious, but the young lady beside her was very calm, even comforting her. From her lip movements, she seemed to be saying "it's alright."
"It's them."
Xiao Mo recognized them immediately.
Mainly because that woman was truly too beautiful. Even in the era of beauty filters and photo editing on Blue Star, she would still crush all competition.
Xiao Mo glanced at the guard beside him, "Go retrieve that kite."
"Yes, Young Master." One guard flew up in a few steps, retrieved the kite, then flew back down and handed it to his sovereign.
The two women looked in the direction the guard had departed from and saw an elegant and refined young man holding the kite, walking toward them.
Yan Ruxue looked at his appearance, her eyes couldn't help but be stunned, her peach blossom eyes blinking gently, her expression very calm.
Instead, it was Xiao Chun who cried out in surprise, even raising her finger to point at Xiao Mo, "I recognize you, you're that Dao—"
Halfway through speaking, Xiao Chun suddenly remembered what her young lady had told her that day.
This Daoist was actually the current Emperor.
For a moment, Xiao Chun quickly closed her mouth, lowered her arm, and looked at her young lady in panic, her eyes seeming to say "Miss, what should this servant do? This servant has been rude again."
"It's fine," Yan Ruxue said softly to Xiao Chun. "Just treat him as an ordinary young master."
"This..."
Xiao Chun felt somewhat flustered.
Was this really okay?
"Two young ladies, we meet again," Xiao Mo walked toward them both, cupping his hands in salute. "Your kite seems to break its string quite often."
"Greetings, Young Master," Yan Ruxue curtsied generously. "It doesn't break often, it's just that when it does break, we're fortunate to encounter Young Master."
Xiao Mo smiled and held out the kite, "Here."
"Thank you, Young Master." Yan Ruxue took the kite and handed it to Xiao Chun.
"Young Master has twice retrieved kites for this young lady, so allow this young lady to invite Young Master for a cup of tea," Yan Ruxue smiled.
Xiao Mo nodded, "Good, then I won't stand on ceremony."
"Young Master, please."
"Please."
Xiao Mo followed her to a spot under a willow tree.
A cloth was spread on the grass with a small tea stove placed on it.
Xiao Mo and Yan Ruxue sat facing each other on cushions.
Xiao Chun, Wei Xun, and the others stood behind their respective masters.
Yan Ruxue lit the tea stove, poured spring water from a gourd, brewed and served tea. Her series of movements were elegant and skillful, giving a pleasing aesthetic feeling.
Xiao Mo couldn't help but think of the phrases "delicate hands adding tea like a painting" and "fine tea has always been like a beautiful woman."
Seeing it today, it indeed seemed to be so.
"Young Master, please," Yan Ruxue held the cup with one hand and offered it with the other, presenting it before Xiao Mo.
"Thank you." Xiao Mo accepted the teacup and took a sip.
"How does Young Master find it?"
"Good tea," Xiao Mo nodded. "The tea is good, but the young lady's skill is even better."
"Young Master is too kind," Yan Ruxue smiled gently, rolled up her sleeves, lifted the teapot, and refilled Xiao Mo's tea.
Xiao Mo looked at the several books nearby and asked, "Does the young lady enjoy reading?"
"I wouldn't say I particularly love it," Yan Ruxue replied, her voice like a spring breeze. "It's just that someone told me that only by being well-read can one be reasonable, and that women should read more books to become refined ladies."
"I see," Xiao Mo nodded approvingly. "Then I think the young lady has already achieved that."
"I'm still far from it," Yan Ruxue covered her mouth and laughed softly.
Xiao Mo shook his head, "If the young lady doesn't count as well-read and reasonable, then there probably aren't many people in the entire world who do."
"Since Young Master says so, then this young lady will accept Young Master's praise," Yan Ruxue bent down again to brew tea, her skirt outlining the woman's graceful and elegant figure.
"Speaking of which, what kind of books does the young lady usually read?" Xiao Mo took a sip of tea.
"I read miscellaneously, but if I had to say what I read most, it would probably be poetry and verse," Yan Ruxue straightened up, dignified and elegant like the willow tree beside her.
"Poetry, what kind of poems does the young lady like?" Xiao Mo asked again.
Xiao Mo actually felt he was being somewhat talkative but in Xiao Mo's heart, he felt an inexplicable familiarity and affection toward her.
Xiao Mo couldn't explain why.
Though he had never seen her before.
"Hmm," Yan Ruxue thought seriously, "if I had to say, there should be just four lines."
"Oh? May I ask what those four lines are?" Xiao Mo became interested.
Yan Ruxue said softly, "Two of them are, ‘A fair and graceful lady, a fine mate for a gentleman.’”
"And the other two lines?"
"The other two lines..."
The woman looked at Xiao Mo, pausing slightly.
Her clear, beautiful peach blossom eyes were like the mirror-like lake water, rippling with circles of waves.
"The other two lines are..."
"‘I will hold your hand, and grow old with you.’"