FRIVOLOUS SNOW

06|Moon Cake

A messenger has arrived in Yao Sect of Xueguo about the commotion in Yong Sect of Dashan. The Yao Sect leaders and Yong Sect leaders were long friends. So close that anything that came up in each Sects were to notify each other, even the smallest thing.

Sect leader Yao Jian called both his sons. Yao Xue and Yao Chun both walked inside the hall and bowed in sync to their father.

Yao Chun, as the oldest of the two and had always been going in and out of both sects boarders wanted Sect leader Jian to go and check the situation.

Yao Chun bowed. "Father, I have been to Yong sect a lot of times and it doesn't mean that Yao Chun doesn't want to go back, after all, Yao Chun experienced how great their hot springs there and Dashan is a great country but wouldn't it good if we let Xue-didi go since he has been secluding himself for too long and doesn't have any experience of traveling to Yong sect for years."

Yong Xue bowed. "Father, I understand Chu-gege's good intention but I only wish to stay here and continue my meditation." Yao Xue emphasized the word gege (elder brother) because Yao Chun was teasing him for calling him didi (younger brother).

Yao Xue didn't want to go and get involved in anyone's matter.

"Ah Chun has a point." Sect leader Jian said as he touched his chin, thinking.

Yao Chun gave Yao Xue a triumphant glance and Yao Xue just looked away from his brother.

"Reasons." Yao Xue muttered.

"Then, I'll send Ah Xue to Dashan for a month and do everything to be of help in Yong Sect."

Yao Xue froze on his feet.

A month? He thought.

Yao Xue wanted to protest but he just kept it inside. He could hear Yao Chun's silent laughter for winning over him.

"Yes, father." Yao Xue bowed as he answered and Sect leader Jian nodded in satisfaction.

"As for Ah Chun who choose to stay, instead of slacking during your training and looking at picture books why won't you help with the farmers to cultivate the land. The farmers are going to start planting around this time of year. Go and help them."

Yao Chun blushed from the mention of his erotic picture books. "Father, ah, please don't punish me for slacking. Your humble son has been practicing in advance. Can't Yao Chun change his mind and travel with Xue-didi?"

"No need." Sect leader Jian said.

Yao Xue returned the triumphant glance to Ah Chun.

"Pathetic." He muttered.

×××

Yong Jie (Chu Lian decided to himself as Yong Jie) stared at his reflection in the mirror after dressing properly. The black hanfu looked good on him. No wonder the old Yong Jie only has that color in his closet. There were a few green clothes but he too prefers black. At least there is one thing that Chu Lian and Yong Jie liked in common.

Yong Jie flapped the long and wide sleeves like a bird ready to take off and laughed at himself. The clothes were annoying and suffocating.

"Why ancient times don't have normal shirts?" He muttered and looked at his hair. The clothes Yong Jie was wearing were hot enough and his hair wasn't helping.

Yong Jie grabbed a jade color ribbon on top of the drawer and tied half of his hair. It took him several times before he successfully tied the ribbon firmly without slipping.

"This is so troublesome!" He exclaimed and went out of the room. He was glad the door was fixed already.

Yong Jie was surprised to see someone outside his room. It was Yong Yi, the second son. After living as Yong Jie for three days, he was already familiar with the people around the palace including the maids and guards which was his only company aside from Madame Meixiu who continuously checks how he was doing.

They weren't strict with Yong Jie's training thinking it was the reason why the old Yong Jie got strained. So, all he has done this past few days were getting familiar with the place and slacking off with the guards, asking for information.

"Third brother Jie, I couldn't see you in the last two days because I was sent to the next town to check for any suspicious activity. Did Yong Jie missed his mischievous brother?" Yong Yi grinned.

First of all, old Yong Jie and Yong Yi weren't close but Yong Yi has been admiring Yong Jie for long and wanted to be close to him but Yong Yi couldn't pass the cold barrier around Yong Jie. Now that Yong Jie changed into another person, Yong Yi couldn't miss the chance to get closer to his brother.

Chu Lian and Yong Yi, after all, had almost the same personality so they got even closer.

Yong Jie flicked his sleeves and snubbed Yong Yi. Seeing Yong Yi's reaction, Yong Jie stifled a laugh when he saw Yong Yi turned rigid.

"Third brother Jie, did you regain your consciousness?" Yong Yi asked.

Yong Jie couldn't hide his shaking shoulders and laughed surprising Yong Yi and other maids who heard Yong Jie's precious laugh echoed around the area. It was enough for some of the maids' knees to turn into jellies.

"Ah Jie! You tricked me!" Yong Yi threw himself to Yong Jie and smacked him.

"If you could just see your face!" Yong Jie continued with his laughing that his stomach starts hurting.

Yong Yi just blew his cheeks and watched Yong Jie laughed to his fill.

×××

"Tell me the reason why you were sent to Huang Hun?" Yong Jie refers to the next town.

Yong Jie and Yong Yi were sitting on the roof, eating loquats. They got it from a fruit vendor who generously gave them a basket upon seeing the two sons of Yong Sect passing by. Lucky them!

"There was a recent demonic possession in that area but don't worry, it had been long taken care of the matter." Yong Yi said.

Yong Jie frowned. That's scary! He thought. He heard that demons are common in that time and he also heard an old legend about the great siege between demons and cultivators which resulted on sealing the strongest demon and never to return back.

"What happened if a demon possesses you?" He asked.

Yong Yi started peeled another loquat. "You will lose your ability to control yourself and will get a lot stronger and not to mention your face will become ugly, branching black line will crawl around your whole body like a curse and your eyes will turn into complete black."

Yong Jie nodded. He was about to ask about the old Yong Jie when someone called Yong Yi.

A maid bowed before them below the ground. "Second brother Yi has been summoned by Madame Meixiu in the hall."

The brothers looked at each other then Yong Jie excitedly asked. "How about Third brother Jie?"

"Third brother Jie, Madame Meixiu only asked for Second brother Yi. Madame Meixiu wishes Third brother Jie to recuperate." She said and Yong Jie slumped back on the roof.

Yong Yi patted his shoulder. "I'll see you later, Ah Jie."

Yong Jie gestured his hand shooing Yong Yi away.

×××

Yong Jie heard from the maids that someone from another sect will be visiting and Madame Meixiu was so happy that she wanted to throw a celebration for the guest. Must be a high rank from the other sect.

After dinner, Yong Jie didn't stay in his room so he sneaked in the palace kitchen and he could smell something amazing. It was coming from a basket filled with freshly baked Yue Bing, moon cakes. Despite not listening to the lessons, Yong Jie still know the meanings behind moon cake and he guees that they baked it since Dashan had a good harvest that week.

He thanked the stars and grabbed some and walked out of the kitchen back to his room.

Chomping on the piece of cake, he suddenly felt a strange aura. Aside from him, someone was there. With the moon shining at its fullest, the entire place was well lit and above the roofs, Yong Jie saw an angel.

Angel since the stranger was dressed in white robes and was radiating with the moonlight. The man was holding a white sword with him and he was handsome. If he was a woman, then Yong Jie would be on his knees and ask her to marry him right away. Yong Jie could see half of his face clearly. So handsome that the moon cake in his mouth fell to the ground and he couldn't move as if his feet were glued.

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