He sat down on the bed, but before he could even warm it, a bold girl pulled him out.
"Come on, we'll show you the beautiful scenery here."
Without waiting for him to object, she dragged him to a separate courtyard garden.
Inside, red roses, white roses, and camellias were planted, a breathtaking sight.
"Is it beautiful?"
A girl beside him asked innocently.
"It's truly beautiful,"
Liu Shinian exclaimed from the bottom of his heart.
"These flowers were all planted by our princess, but unfortunately, she's been ill lately and can't come out to play."
One of them said.
"Your princess must really love these flowers."
Liu Shinian asked casually.
"Yes, she loves flowers very much, and she's as beautiful as a flower."
"Then I really want to meet her and see if she's as beautiful as you say."
"Alright, we'll bring the princess tomorrow."
Liu Shinian laughed heartily and replied.
"Okay, I'll wait for you."
After a day of being dragged around by these young girls, being asked this and that, and looking at this and that, he was truly tired.
As soon as he returned to his room, he collapsed and fell asleep.
In the moonlight, the surroundings were tranquil, and Liu Shinian slept soundly. Half-asleep, he vaguely heard someone singing.
He groggily opened his eyes and looked outside. The sky was dark, so he simply went back to sleep.
When dawn broke, he heard a commotion outside.
He got up and opened the door, only to see a group of girls rush in and drag him out.
"Where, where are we going?"
Liu Shinian was a little flustered.
The person who grabbed him reminded him.
"Have you forgotten? We told you yesterday that we would take you to see our princess."
Only then did Liu Shinian remember. He had just said it casually yesterday, not expecting them to take it seriously.
Liu Shinian was brought back to the sea of flowers from yesterday. He looked around but found no one else.
As he was wondering, he heard a delicate chanting voice.
"Water and moon in the mirror are unstained, with playful brows and smiling lips."
Following this chant, a fresh and elegant beauty slowly rose from the sea of flowers.
She had a delicate and pretty face, with large, clear eyes like water. Coupled with her green dress adorned with hundred flowers, she was even more stunning.
She looked like a fairy among flowers, or Chang'e on the moon. Liu Shinian, for once, showed an appreciative expression.
The people beside her waved and shouted.
"Princess! Princess!"
She turned her head and saw Liu Shinian at a glance. Liu Shinian was pushed towards the princess by them.
"Princess, princess, this is the young gentleman I told you about. Look, isn't he handsome?"
The leading girl said with a smile.
The princess blushed and asked sideways.
"What... what's his name?"
The bold girl directly asked Liu Shinian.
"The princess is asking for your name, and I don't know it either. You tell her yourself."
"I am Liu Shinian, greetings, Princess."
Liu Shinian replied respectfully.
The princess shyly turned her head, glanced at him, covered her mouth, and chuckled, replying.
"My name is Yueyao."
"Yueyao, what a beautiful name."
Seeing them exchanging pleasantries, everyone felt a bit awkward, so they suggested.
"Why don't we go to that secret place?"
Everyone echoed in agreement.
"Yes, let's go, let's go."
The princess and a few bold girls walked at the front, while Liu Shinian walked behind with a group of girls.
They exited the back door of Penglai Immortal Palace and followed a small grassy path.
After passing a fork in the road, they turned left and arrived at a lush green hillside.
The hillside faced the sea, and the green grass was covered with small flowers of various colors.
Looking back from here, one could see the entire Penglai Immortal Palace, as well as the inviting peach blossom forest.
"What are the Four Cities like?"
Someone suddenly asked.
Liu Shinian pointed to Penglai Immortal Palace and said.
"They are not as beautiful as this place, nor as fresh and unique."
"Are there also small hills like this there?"
Someone else asked.
"Yes, but they are a bit different from here. Those places are covered with old trees all year round.
You can't see clusters of flowers, only an endless forest and vast mountains."
"Are there beautiful girls there too?"
"Yes, girls as beautiful as you."
The girls burst into laughter. It turned out that being praised by a young man was so delightful.
"Then aren't you here to propose marriage?"
Another curious person asked. They still couldn't believe that the handsome Liu Shinian was just delivering a letter.
"I am here to deliver a letter."
Liu Shinian stated firmly once again.
"Delivering a letter? For whom?"
Everyone was very curious, resting their chins on their hands, surrounding him.
Liu Shinian did not hide anything and spoke the truth.
"Naturally, it's for the Ten Thousand Ghost King."
They looked confused, not knowing who the Ten Thousand Ghost King was, and asked again.
"Ten Thousand Ghost King, what a strange name. Is it a man or a woman?"
"A woman."
"Is she like our princess?"
Everyone looked at the princess again, who suddenly became shy and flustered.
Liu Shinian glanced sideways and smiled slightly.
"She's different. Your princess is very cute and beautiful.
But the Ten Thousand Ghost King is different. She is kind, brave, and resourceful. She treats people very well, like family."
"We are also like family to the princess, and many people like the princess."
It was clear that they didn't quite understand what Liu Shinian meant, but it didn't matter.
The princess seemed tired and leaned her head on another girl's shoulder.
Liu Shinian secretly looked at her, seeing her slightly closed eyes, her delicate eyelashes swaying gently in the wind, and her fair face flushed with a hint of red.
He suddenly smiled, as if seeing a glimpse of Muyue's past.
Seeing that everyone was so interested in him, Liu Shinian began to tell them his story.
"Let me tell you my story."
"Yes, yes."
Everyone immediately became excited, their eyes wide with anticipation.
Liu Shinian recalled for a moment and then began to speak fluently.
"I used to love drinking very much. One time, I went to a famous wine house.
On the way, I saw a few people also going for drinks. Two of them I knew, and two I didn't.
So I hid in a tree, planning to scare them. To my surprise, I saw a girl following behind them.
She looked a bit foolish and was quite amusing. I deliberately threw a peach at her.
She got angry, of course, and shouted at the bottom of the tree like a little fool, hahaha..."
As he spoke, he started laughing to himself. Those around him couldn't find anything funny, and they just asked him.
"What happened next?"
"Later, I left. However, I soon met her again and played a trick on her again."
Everyone found it boring. They didn't understand anything, only seeing Liu Shinian constantly chuckling foolishly, as if he were the big fool.
"Anything else?"
They asked helplessly.
Only then did Liu Shinian tell them about his early experiences.
The girls listened intently, their eyes wide open.
"I was no older than a child then, and when I went out to play, I encountered wild fish in a pond..."
Everyone listened raptly, gradually captivated by his stories, fascinated by this man of rich experience and extensive knowledge.
It wasn't until nightfall that everyone reluctantly left, and Liu Shinian finally had some free time.
Back in his room, he was about to close the door to sleep when he suddenly heard a voice outside.
"Young master, the clan leader requests your presence."
He was slightly taken aback, thinking it must be about the cooperation. He looked outside and saw a maid standing by the door.
So he stepped out and said.
"Alright, lead me there."
Then, he followed the maid to a side hall. The side hall was extremely dim, with only a faint candlelight that could barely illuminate a human figure.
The clan leader was waiting for him inside.
He walked in and stood behind the clan leader, saying softly.
"Clan leader, I am here."
The clan leader, with his back to him, suddenly asked.
"That Ten Thousand Ghost King... what kind of person is she?"
"To be honest, she is a smart, capable, brave, and resourceful person.
Perhaps you don't know her capabilities. She once saved Black Mountain from dire straits single-handedly."
"Then what is her purpose in seeking me out?"
The clan leader feigned ignorance, deliberately asking Liu Shinian to see if he could provide a satisfactory answer.
Liu Shinian said.
"The Ghost King hopes that the Mermaid tribe can cooperate with us and jointly dispatch troops to attack the Four Cities.
The lords of the Four Cities are unjust and cause trouble without reason. The Ghost King cannot bear to see her people suffer any longer, so she has decided to attack the Four Cities."
The clan leader was still not satisfied and deliberately said.
"Our Mermaid tribe has lived in peace and tranquility for thousands of years without war. Moreover, what benefit is there for us in conquering these Four Cities?"
Liu Shinian replied without hesitation.
"Although the Mermaid tribe has lived in peace with the Four Cities for thousands of years, the Mermaid tribe is also not allowed to live on land. This is inherently unfair.
The reason the Four Cities have not attacked Black Mountain in one go is because they fear the strength of the Mermaid tribe and want to prevent them from launching a surprise attack.
Now that villains are causing chaos and the world is engulfed in war, the Four Cities are too preoccupied to pay attention to others. This is the time for us to win dignity and status.
Therefore, the Ghost King sent me to invite the clan leader to discuss important matters."
The clan leader was extremely satisfied, but he remained silent, still harboring some reservations.
He took out the letter, held it over the candlelight, and slowly said.
"This matter... I still need to consider it. You can go back and rest now. I will give you an answer."
"Clan leader, please rest early. This junior takes his leave."
Liu Shinian returned to his room and lay on the bed, guessing that the clan leader would not respond so quickly, so he would have to stay for a few more days.
The next morning, a gentle breeze blew, opening the slightly ajar window.
A beautiful, ethereal voice drifted into Liu Shinian's ears.
He then remembered hearing the same singing a few days prior.
So he hurried to get up and followed the singing.
As if in a trance, he found himself in the garden again, seeing a graceful figure moving among the flowers. Upon closer inspection, it was the Mermaid princess.
She was walking, picking flowers, and singing.
"Flowers are like her, willows are like her. Flowers and willows in their youth, people part, head bowed, tears fall.
The Yangtze River flows east, the Yangtze River flows west. Mandarin ducks on both banks fly in different directions, when will we meet again?"
Liu Shinian, catching her by surprise, suddenly clapped his hands and praised.
"It sounds wonderful, like a celestial melody."
Biyao turned her head and saw Liu Shinian at a glance. She suddenly became a little shy and hurriedly used the flowers she had picked to cover herself.
Liu Shinian smiled gently, walked down from the flower bushes, and came to her side. He took a brightly blooming flower from her hand, sniffed it carefully, and sighed with regret.
"It smells so fragrant, and the flower is so beautiful. It's a pity that I won't be able to see it again when I return."
Biyao looked confused, moved the flower away, and asked him.
"Are you leaving?"
"Not yet, for now."
"Are there no flowers where you come from?"
She was full of curiosity.
Liu Shinian seemed a little troubled.
"There are, but not flowers as vibrant as these."
Biyao casually pointed and said generously.
"Then which one do you like? You can take it with you."
Liu Shinian looked carefully, then supported his chin, finding none to his liking. He could only shake his head helplessly and said.
"I don't know if they can survive when we get there.
So, I think I should learn how to plant flowers. That way, no matter where I go, I can grow beautiful flowers."
Biyao said nothing more and responded readily.
"I can teach you, as long as you are willing to learn."
Hearing this, Liu Shinian's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Really? If that's the case, I am certainly willing."
She looked around but seemed a little helpless.
"You can come back tomorrow. I'll teach you then. I haven't prepared anything today."
"Okay."
The two made an agreement, one to learn, the other to teach.
After returning, Yueyao took out the gardening tools she had hidden in an old cabinet.
Since the flowers had grown better and better, there was no longer any empty space to plant new seedlings, so these tools became useless.
She sat in her room, polishing them again and again, a smile in her eyes, just like her current mood, full of anticipation.
When the second day dawned, she excitedly went to the garden.
From afar, she saw a blurry figure sitting by a flower bed, looking like she had been there for a long time.
As she approached, she happened to see Liu Shinian's handsome profile.
He was slightly bowed, lost in thought, with a hint of sadness on his face.
She was momentarily stunned and said softly.
"Why are you here so early?"
Liu Shinian turned his head and met the princess's eyes. He smiled slightly and put away his lingering melancholy.
He jumped down from the flower bed, stood up straight, and said with a playful smile.
"Because you are the princess, how could I let you wait for me?"
Hearing this, Yueyao's hidden shyness surfaced, and she couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh.
Just then, Shui Xiao, the bold girl who had just woken up.
As she did every day, she carried water to water the princess's flowers.
Before she could even step into the garden, she heard laughter and chatter from inside.
She paused for a moment, quickly stopped, and cautiously peeked inside with curiosity.
She saw Liu Shinian and the princess standing among the flowers, chatting back and forth. She didn't dare to walk in boldly but carefully hid outside the door to eavesdrop.
Liu Shinian asked.
"Princess, how should one plant flowers to make them grow well?"
Yueyao's brows furrowed slightly, and her face looked a little awkward. After thinking for a moment, she said.
"Call me Yueyao. It feels awkward when you call me Princess."
Liu Shinian dared not be presumptuous and still replied respectfully.
"You are the princess of the Mermaid tribe. It would be disrespectful for me to call you by your given name."
Yueyao was a little speechless, but she quickly thought of a good idea.
"How about this? I'll call you Brother Liu, and you call me Yueyao.
As an older brother, you can't still call me Princess, can you?"
Liu Shinian was slightly taken aback, thinking that this girl was quite resourceful.
He was still hesitating whether to call her Yueyao when he saw Yueyao's expectant gaze.
Yueyao:
"Water and moon in the mirror are unstained, with playful brows and smiling lips."
Yueyao, the princess of the Mermaid tribe, less than six hundred years old, was pure and lovely in appearance, simple-minded, and extremely introverted yet lively.