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墨書 Inktalez
“Mo Xi'er? What happened to you?”
Green Wisteria opened her eyes, slowly sitting up and lighting the candle beside her. Upon seeing Mo Xier's appearance, she was taken aback. Seeing her in a daze, Green Wisteria was alarmed and immediately ordered someone to fetch a basin of water and a damp cloth to wipe her face.
Mo Xier remained motionless, allowing her to dry her off. Her gaze was vacant as she hugged her knees tightly, burying her head deep within them, and began to cry in a hoarse voice. “He’s in trouble.”
“Mo Xi'er? Who is in trouble? What happened?” Green Wisteria shook the delicate shoulders of the woman in front of her, softly asking as she struggled to comprehend the situation.
She curled tightly in the darkness, seemingly lost in her own sorrow for a long time before finally looking up and saying, “I had a nightmare. I dreamed he was stabbed to death by a mob. So many people, so many people surrounded him…”
As she spoke, her emotions became uncontrollable, and her words grew unclear. “That stubborn fool, why didn’t he resist…”
She spoke in a daze, as if trapped in her own world, unable to extricate herself for a long time.
“Mo Xi'er, dreams and reality are opposites.”
Green Wisteria gently reached out to stroke her back and noticed that the woman in the darkness was trembling all over. Although it was a cool summer night that should have been comfortable, the woman before her seemed to be in an icy cellar, shivering uncontrollably.
“Bodhi has no substance; where can dust settle?” she said softly, her voice light and serene, carrying an unshakeable sorrow yet also seeming devoid of emotion.
She lowered her head and let out a bitter smile. It was truly inappropriate for Mo Xier to worry about the general while blaming herself for taking away the emperor.
In the darkness, Mo Xier gradually cried herself into exhaustion, all her energy spent as she fell into a deep sleep. When dawn broke and Green Wisteria began recounting yesterday's events to her, Mo Xier showed no reaction at all; everything felt like a dream.
Yet the heart-wrenching pain remained vivid in her memory. In her dream, she saw that indifferent figure with his stunning appearance. She watched as he was surrounded by so many people, arrows raining down upon him with blinding cold light.
The clash of blades and blood merged into a glaring crimson.
Mo Xier dared not think further and silently patted her chest to comfort herself: “Dreams and reality are opposites.” But where did it all begin? How had she come to care for him so deeply without even realizing it?
"The borderland is filled with sorrowful winds, and the trees stand tall and lonely! Please come back, you stubborn fool." She placed her hand on her heart and prayed to the heavens, hoping that the divine could hear her call and show some compassion for this lonely soul that did not belong to this era.
Early in the morning, Green Wisteria had already gone to the Empress Dowager's side to serve her. For some reason, the Empress Dowager seemed to have taken a particular liking to this young girl.
Perhaps it was her unambitious and hopeless demeanor that attracted her, along with her remarkable intelligence.
Mo Xier thought this as she saw Zhu Xi approaching from a distance, quickly walking up to her and standing still before her with a gentle smile. "Miss Mo Xi, the Empress Dowager requests your presence."
In the Empress Dowager's palace, a faint fragrance of incense lingered in the air, soothing and refreshing. The delicate aroma of Peony greeted Mo Xier as soon as she entered.
The room was illuminated with a warm glow, opulent and grand. Exquisite purple Sandalwood tables and chairs were arranged in the center, with a thick wolf fur carpet covering the floor. In the middle of the hall sat an elegant older woman of noble stature. Her age showed in the severe crow's feet at the corners of her eyes, revealing the trials she had endured over the years.
Her demeanor was dignified, with piercing eyes that exuded an imposing aura. Every gesture reflected royal dignity. Mo Xier sensed that the Empress Dowager must have been an extraordinary person in her youth. With this thought in mind, she felt it necessary to be cautious.
"I called you here today because I wanted to see you copy scriptures with my own eyes. Your Slender Gold Script is exceptional; I have never seen someone so young possess such profound skills!"
The Empress Dowager exclaimed, instructing someone to present ink and brushes. She then added, "I wonder if you would be willing to take care of this old lady by personally copying scriptures for me?"
The Empress Dowager's tone was playful, mixing seriousness with a hint of leisurely elegance as she unexpectedly joked with Mo Xier.
"The commoner does not dare; if the Empress Dowager enjoys it, I would naturally be honored to serve," Mo Xier replied calmly.
With a steady voice, she walked up to the table, faced the Empress Dowager, dipped her brush into the prepared ink, while someone unfurled rice paper for her to begin writing beautifully.
"Green Wisteria, please brew a pot of tea for me; I feel thirsty," said the Empress Dowager.
"Yes." Green Wisteria bowed slightly and turned to leave, playfully winking at Mo Xier before exiting.
Before long, a pot of steaming tea was brought in. The fragrant aroma wafted throughout the room as the Empress Dowager watched intently. She observed the woman with loose black hair skillfully wielding the brush as it danced across the paper.
The standard square characters seemed to come alive, captivating her more and more with each glance.
Her handwriting was strong and vigorous, messy yet not chaotic. It is often said that a person's writing reflects their character, but this woman, with her gentle and serene appearance, how could she possibly master such wild and unrestrained script?
Could it be that another restless soul was hidden within her body?
Thinking of this, the Empress Dowager's murky eyes gained a hint of vigilance; the guard she had just lowered now strengthened by threefold. A woman who could captivate her son must surely be no ordinary person.
"Ah." The Empress Dowager sighed, suddenly feeling disinterested in continuing to watch her write.
Mo Xier paused at the sound, organizing the thick scriptures she had copied, then looked up to present them. "Why does the Empress Dowager sigh? Is it because the commoner's writing is poor?"
The Empress Dowager ordered someone to take the scriptures and flipped through a few pages casually before setting them aside, muttering, "It is because I am getting old; my focus is not as sharp as it used to be."
The Empress Dowager smiled at her, her squinted eyes revealing a sharp glimmer of insight.
Looking at the Empress Dowager's face always gave her a strange feeling that she couldn't quite place; it felt familiar yet not quite right.
Could it be that one of her friends from the twenty-first century resembled the Empress Dowager? That would be too amusing—traveling through a thousand years just to find an Empress Dowager who looks like a friend.
As Mo Xier thought of this, she couldn't help but let her lips curl into a smile. Misconduct in front of the court could lead to severe punishment; otherwise, she would have laughed out loud by now.
What she didn't expect was that everything was captured in the Empress Dowager's gaze. The Empress Dowager frowned and spoke with a hint of warning in her tone, "What are you laughing at?"
"I know the Empress Dowager must feel bored, so I thought of a clever plan to amuse you," she said, pursing her lips and looking at the Empress Dowager, her pure and clear eyes reflecting a crystal-like brightness.
"What is it?" the Empress Dowager replied coldly.
"The Empress Dowager must enjoy drinking tea. How about I personally brew a pot for you?"
As she spoke, her tone rose, and her chest unconsciously puffed out, exuding confidence, resembling a proud rooster ready for a challenge.
The Empress Dowager nodded in agreement, picked up a cup of tea made for her with Green Wisteria, took a sip, and thought that there was nothing special about this tea. She might as well give it a try; if it was unsatisfactory, she could simply punish her with a few dozen lashes to teach her a lesson to stay away from the royal family in the future.
Many servants entered, preparing the tools for brewing tea.
Mo Xier smiled as she approached the table, facing the Empress Dowager. She discarded the tea leaves into boiling water and added fresh water, repeating this process three times.
Holding a cup in one hand and the teapot in the other, she skillfully added tea leaves and rinsed the cup. Although her actions were somewhat elaborate, she completed this entire routine in just half a minute, moving so quickly it was almost dazzling.
Before the Empress Dowager could fully grasp what was happening, a steaming cup of fragrant tea was already prepared and accompanied by a plate of sour plum snacks.
"That was fast?" The Empress Dowager looked skeptically at Mo Xier, who was deeply adored by her son yet appeared quite ordinary apart from her alluring demeanor. She had no desire to drink the tea brewed by her.
"Brewing tea is all about the temperature of the water and the order in which ingredients are added; it has nothing to do with time. Empress Dowager, please give it a taste. If it doesn't suit your palate, you can command me to do anything," Mo Xier said humbly while raising the tray. Though her words sounded arrogant, her submissive demeanor contradicted that arrogance.
The Empress Dowager lowered her gaze to examine the cup of tea, revealing an expression of surprise.
Green Wisteria followed the Empress Dowager's gaze and was equally astonished. She suddenly realized that as long as one got within a foot of the tea, they could immediately smell its enticing fragrance.
As the saying goes, good wine does not fear being hidden in deep alleys.
Now applied to this tea, it seemed equally valid.
In the delicate white porcelain cup floated green tea, and surprisingly, a Crabapple Blossom appeared on top of the liquid, infusing it with a hint of its fragrance.
"What... how did you do this?" The Empress Dowager exclaimed in astonishment as she lifted the cup and took a small sip.
"I brewed the finest Longjing tea and also infused Crabapple Blossom. Finally, I adjusted the infusion to achieve varying depths and placed it in the tea to depict the shape of Crabapple Blossom, naturally presenting it this way.
The Empress Dowager has recently been unwell, often experiencing a loss of fluids. This Crabapple Blossom quenches thirst; it is not only delicious but also suitable for the Empress Dowager's health."
She answered carefully, thinking to herself that this was simple. She had learned the principles of brewing milk tea at the age of fifteen or sixteen, knowing that the quality of petal water is lighter than that of tea, causing it to float.
In the twenty-first century, this is common, but in ancient times, it must have seemed fresh. Surely, the Empress Dowager would feel enlightened.
As she expected, the Empress Dowager was greatly impressed and exclaimed, "This tea is indeed top-notch; one must have at least twenty or thirty years of experience to brew such a flavor. How did you achieve this?"
While saying this, the Empress Dowager glanced at the tea brewed by Green Wisteria, which had long since cooled down and tasted completely different.
Green Wisteria noticed the Empress Dowager's gaze and felt a sudden tightness in her heart.
"Replying to the Empress Dowager, I once suffered from amnesia and cannot recall past events. However, understanding the methods of brewing tea is not difficult in pharmacology. I hope you won't find it amusing, but previously Night General also loved tea, so I practiced quietly on my own and thus acquired today's skills."
Mo Xier did not say this to boast about her exceptional understanding; she merely wanted to indirectly convey to the Empress Dowager how much she cared for Night Star, hoping that the Empress Dowager would not misunderstand her intentions towards the Emperor for her future safety.
The Empress Dowager was naturally perceptive and understood immediately. Unable to contain herself, she clapped her hands in delight and laughed heartily, "Haha, what a clever woman!"
An uncomfortable feeling quietly rose from within Green Wisteria as she looked at the woman standing below with her chest held high. The woman's features were delicate, her rosy cheeks tinted like evening clouds.
Her long black hair was loosely tied up, and her clear eyes sparkled with brilliance. Her face gave off such a natural aura, appearing so innocent and harmless.
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