Looking at the twisted and disfigured characters, Shen Chen couldn’t help but wonder if she could pass the Imperial College’s examination??
Her father was the Chief of Staff, so it wasn’t her place, as the so-called "child of an old acquaintance," to worry.
The Mid-Autumn Festival was his birthday, long forgotten by others; to them, he was just an unnecessary existence.
Thus.
When receiving gifts and notes, Shen Chen showed little emotion.
She also put the note into the square plum blossom-patterned brocade box, closed it, and placed it in the farthest corner of the wardrobe, where the most important things were kept.
As for why she did this? She didn’t know either.
Tonight, she went to Yanming Lake, crossed Qiyang Bridge, and saw Liu Qingxi and Li Du happily playing together.
Even though they wore masks, she could tell from their voices that it was them.
And one other thing.
When night fell, she browsed through the stall with a dazzling variety of masks, one being a white rabbit face with red edges—adorably innocent and delightful, it seemed like her mask. But when she held it, it felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, giving her a bad premonition, so she opted for a red-nosed, green-faced bull mask instead.
The rabbit-shaped lantern she purchased also turned into a purple lotus lamp.
After releasing the lantern, she returned to the Ye Mansion without incident.
Reflecting on the past, she felt that she had missed something, yet felt this was the path she was meant to take.
Just as she prepared to sleep with her clothes on, Shen Chen heard a faint knocking on the door, "knock, knock, knock!"
After three knocks, it stopped.
The night was silent, occasionally pierced by distant cicada chirps and frogs croaking from the lake in the vast grounds of the Ye Mansion, not surprising.
The person outside made no further movement, and Shen Chen paid no mind, closed her eyes to sleep.
The moon during Mid-Autumn Festival was especially bright and round.
Ye Zhi stood in front of the vermilion door, pressed her ear against it, hearing nothing inside, softly asked, "Shen Chen, Shen Chen, are you asleep?"
Inside, there was not a sound.
Ye Zhi, unwilling to give up, called out quietly again, "Really asleep? Shen Chen, are you really asleep?"
Her hands didn’t stay idle, she knocked on the door three more times.
"Knock, knock, knock!" The sound rang again!
Still, no one answered.
Just as the petite figure outside was about to leave, she heard a faint voice, "What is it?"
Ye Zhi thought for a moment, didn’t reply immediately, then rubbed her eyes and hesitantly said, "The dew becomes cold, the scent of sweet-scented osmanthus drifts, the silver toad shines full, let’s enjoy the moon by the porch tonight." Unable to sleep, I wanted to ask you out to gaze at the moon."
Approaching midnight, the round moon hung high in the sky, shining in the darkness, though night it was, objects were visible.
On the Mid-Autumn Festival, late at night, sharing moon-gazing with a beloved one evokes an indescribable feeling of happiness!
Hah, Ye Zhi shook her head, what beloved one, she clearly was unable to sleep, and found herself here subconsciously thinking it’s Shen Chen’s birthday today.
The person outside was lost in thought.
"Creak," the door opened!
Xiao Shen Chen, wearing a plain white cloak, her face impassive, slowly stepped over the threshold, walked outside, until she stopped by a sweet-scented osmanthus tree in the garden.
She said nothing, looked up at the moon.
Uh, saying to gaze at the moon, she really just gazed at the moon. No more movement.
Ye Zhi followed her footsteps, stood beside her, neither spoke, quietly gazed at the moon, at this moment silence speaks louder than words.
"The weather is dry, beware of fire. The weather is dry, beware..."
After standing for a while, the midnight bell’s clanging came from afar.
Hmm, midnight passed, her birthday was over, Ye Zhi casually found an excuse saying she was sleepy, ignored the gaze beside her, and left dejectedly.
Shen Chen also returned to her room afterward, this time truly rested.