Chapter 225
It seemed that no matter what was given, it all appeared pale in comparison to what he had offered her...
Not far away.
“Huh? Mooncakes with lotus seed paste? I didn’t know that. I haven’t eaten a single one yet.”
Ouyang looked bewildered at his classmate Xiao Li’s inquiry.
“Didn’t you eat any?”
Li Mo was a bit puzzled.
“I swear on my virtue, I’ve been thinking about updates every day. I haven’t eaten for two days!”
“...”
Xiao Li looked at Ouyang, who seemed ethereal, and thought that if he omitted the first part of that statement, it would still be quite convincing.
Li Mo, curious, asked, “Aren’t you painting pretty quickly? Is your workload really that heavy lately?”
“It’s mainly about finding the right scenes. I’ve been out and about every day.”
Ouyang shook his head. “A person can’t draw what they haven’t seen. I’ve been wandering around, capturing the landscapes worth painting.”
“Running around every day and not even eating? Aren’t you hungry?”
“Actually, I don’t feel hungry.”
Ouyang found it strange too.
“...”
Li Mo couldn’t help but imagine the scene.
It was the Mid-Autumn Festival.
As everyone knows, during such grand festivals, the streets are bustling with activity, and the Mid-Autumn Festival carries the meaning of lovers reuniting.
With the smell of sweet and savory treats wafting through the air, Ouyang, a bit of a dork, was out on the streets.
It was a miracle he hadn’t burst.
“So, which places have the best scenery?”
Li Mo changed the subject, avoiding further probing into this matter.
Don’t be fooled by Ouyang’s talent for painting beautiful ladies; he was no slouch when it came to landscapes either.
“You’ve come to the right person.”
Ouyang spoke with an air of authority, elaborating, “Besides the Dragon Gate on Yulong Street, there’s the Magpie Bridge and the Scholar’s Tower in Yunzhuo City. The scenery is absolutely stunning.”
“Your eye for beauty is impressive, Ouyang.”
Wu Chushu nodded in agreement, adding, “The poetry gatherings at the Scholar’s Tower and the river lanterns at the Magpie Bridge are both breathtaking.”
Bai Jinghong, rarely joining the discussion, chimed in, “Oh, and later, there’s the fireworks festival. The whole of Yunzhuo City will be able to see it.”
Li Mo listened to their vivid descriptions, mentally noting the places they mentioned, and couldn’t help but glance to the side.
“Bing Tuozi!”
“Hmm?”
Ying Bing lifted her head, and the moment their eyes met, sunlight filtered through the leaves, illuminating the serene atmosphere around her.
Of course, to outsiders, she remained as cool and aloof as ever.
But Li Mo didn’t see it that way.
“Shall we visit these places tonight?”
“Sure.”
“You haven’t even asked where they are yet.”
Li Mo chuckled softly.
But the girl had already stood up and sat beside him, her hair brushing against his neck.
It was fragrant and ticklish.
“You’ll find out when we get there.”
A hint of softness flickered in Ying Bing’s eyes, perhaps unnoticed even by her.
Ouyang: “...”
How could he not control his mouth? The mooncake he had just acquired suddenly felt unappetizing.
He suddenly understood why he hadn’t felt hungry after running around for two days.
“...”
Bai Jinghong and Wu Chushu exchanged glances.
Everyone was having a nice chat, and he was over here collecting date ideas?
Is that polite?
---
**Chapter 241: The Poetry Gathering at the Scholar’s Tower, Xiao Li’s Mid-Autumn Festival Gift!**
Tonight in Yunzhuo City felt anything but night; thousands of lights blended into a neon tapestry, and the clouds seemed to be intoxicated with color.
Before heading out, Li Mo had visited Murong Xiao.
Well, he was still as stiff as ever.
Sitting in the backyard, he resembled a statue.
“Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, Murong! Don’t say I’ve forgotten you.”
Xiao Li was quite loyal.
He placed a plate in front of Murong, stacked high with mooncakes.
Not only was he loyal, but he was also thoughtful.
The restaurant was by the lakeside, where mosquitoes were plentiful, so he lit three incense sticks, found a burner, and set it in front of Murong.
Murong Xiao: “...”
Emmmmm
Suddenly, it felt quite solemn.
“It’s a pity you can’t go out to play today. Since that’s the case, may the restaurant bless me with good fortune.”
Li Mo earnestly clasped his hands together in prayer.
Many common folks would pay their respects today, worshiping the mountain gods if they lived near mountains, or the water gods if they lived by water.
He didn’t have any particular faith, but he did appreciate the sense of ritual.
As he left the restaurant, he spotted a girl by the lakeside, lost in thought as she gazed at the bustling street. The noise swirled around her but seemed to bypass her, perfectly illustrating what it meant to be independent from the world.
When a certain boy caught her eye, a spark of life flickered in her gaze.
“Where do you want to go first?” Li Mo asked.
“To the Scholar’s Tower.”
Ying Bing tied her hair up neatly.
Earlier, while eating, she had heard the lively atmosphere at the Scholar’s Tower. The market was the most vibrant in Yunzhuo, filled with stalls selling all sorts of trinkets, easily accessible via Yulong Street.
She still hadn’t decided what to give Li Mo.
And she wasn’t sure what to do on a date.
But that was okay; she could go and “see the pig run.”
“Alright.”
The two walked into the street, the vibrant world enveloping them.
Ying Bing took her first serious look at the street, her gaze sweeping over the various little trinkets.
Li Mo didn’t pay much attention to the colorful sights of Yulong Street; after all, he was quite familiar with the vendors...
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Ying Bing had changed into a shorter dress after their meal, revealing her long, fair legs. Her dark hair was tied with a red ribbon, and her delicate features sparkled, making it hard to focus on the bright moon above.
She was breathtakingly beautiful and aloof, and standing next to her felt quite daunting.
Yet, Li Mo’s mind drifted back to the memory of her first cooking attempt, where she had ended up looking like a calico cat.
Noticing the smile that suddenly appeared in her eyes, Ying Bing recalled seeing many couples earlier, all chatting and laughing.
“...The moon is really beautiful tonight,” Ying Bing said.
“Indeed.” Li Mo’s gaze remained steady.
“...”
Ying Bing suddenly found herself at a loss for words.
His unwavering gaze made her feel as if he had made a definitive statement.
The two fell into silence.
Neither spoke again, but walking beneath the dazzling lights, Ying Bing felt a sense of calm.
Not saying anything felt surprisingly comfortable.
Perhaps this was simply going with the flow.
If one wanted to speak, they could; if not, silence was just as fine, and even a lack of words wouldn’t feel awkward.
Before long.
They arrived at the Scholar’s Tower, which was even more bustling.
The tower stood eight stories tall, towering among the pavilions, surrounded by a throng of people, their voices mingling like rain.
“What’s going on here?”
Li Mo glanced around and spotted a few familiar faces.
It was the Hengyun Trio, who had visited him earlier that day.
Among them, Wu Chushu wasn’t alone; he had brought a female companion, elegantly dressed, likely a young lady from a wealthy family.
He was confidently saying something, as if everything was under his control.
Beside him, Bai Jinghong and Cao Mu shot him death glares.
Damn, no wonder this guy had been so eager to invite them out for the lantern festival.
He had a date!
How inconsiderate.
“What are you guys talking about?”
Li Mo suddenly interjected.
“...”
Wu Chushu’s smile instantly vanished.
He recalled some unpleasant memories.
The smile didn’t disappear entirely; it merely shifted to Bai Jinghong and Cao Mu’s faces.
“Uh, I brought Miss She out to enjoy the poetry gathering at the Scholar’s Tower.”
Wu Chushu cleared his throat and turned to the young lady beside him, saying, “This is...”
“Wangqi Douhun!” Miss She answered eagerly.
Li Mo: “...”
So, can the comments on the Qianlong List be changed for a fee?
Just a little something, perhaps?
He shifted the topic and asked, “What’s a poetry gathering?”
Wu Chushu, eager to showcase his knowledge in front of the lady, began to explain.
Li Mo listened and began to understand.
It was said that there once was a swordsman in Yunzhuo, not only exceptional in swordsmanship but also gifted in literature. He topped the imperial examination but, during the banquet for the successful candidates, got drunk and penned a poem criticizing the government, which angered the former emperor, leading to him losing his title.
So, he resigned from his official position and built the Scholar’s Tower in Yunzhuo.
“Every year during the lantern festival, there’s a poetry gathering here, and those who write poems that fit the theme can win prizes.”
“This year’s prize is a jade hairpin, and it’s quite nice.”
As Wu Chushu spoke, a smile returned to his face.
As someone who enjoyed showing off, he considered his literary skills to be quite good (at least in his own opinion).
The Scholar’s Tower was a place he had specifically chosen...
“Brother Chushu, I want the prize from the poetry gathering!”
Miss She said sweetly, her voice soft and charming.
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