"Petals fall, worldly affairs cease,
Long night’s candle, who is yearning?
Time flows, how many glances back,
How many fates are misplaced.
Moon rises west of the pavilion, the candle remains,
A song of the vast ocean, cleaves the sky.
Amongst all beings, how many achieve,
Beneath the Bodhi, to save all lives.
..."
The melodious and mysterious voice echoed across the lake, and the music from the painted boat nearby abruptly stopped. The entire lotus lake fell silent, even the wind seemed to hold its breath, as if reluctant to interrupt the song.
When Nian Jiaojiao finished her song and looked towards the two, she found Yu Chuan and Tong Ziyao utterly unresponsive.
"Chuan'er, Young Master Tong?"
The two came back to their senses.
Yu Chuan looked at his wife, filled with admiration, but also a sense of unfamiliarity. Was this dazzling woman truly his wife? Could he truly be worthy of such a wife? Thinking of his own plain appearance, lack of special skills, and his usual rigid and uninteresting demeanor... the more Yu Chuan thought about it, the more insecure he felt.
Nian Jiaojiao, unaware of Yu Chuan's thoughts, sighed inwardly at his fluctuating expression, from gloomy to cheerful, and back to gloomy. "A man's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea!" she thought.
With this in mind, Nian Jiaojiao stepped forward and embraced Yu Chuan. Seeing this, a hint of loneliness flashed in Tong Ziyao's eyes, but he quickly and discreetly made space for them, returning to the cabin alone.
With Tong Ziyao gone, Nian Jiaojiao's actions became bolder. Her restless little hands slowly slipped inside Yu Chuan's robes, causing his breathing to quicken.
Yu Chuan, blushing, stammered, "Wife, this, this is still outside." He nervously glanced around the lake, afraid that a passing pleasure boat might witness his state.
Nian Jiaojiao, however, was unconcerned. "We're anchored here, surrounded by lotus leaves, no pleasure boats will pass by. Chuan'er, don't worry, I certainly won't let any other woman see you like this." As she spoke, her movements became more rapid.
Just then, a teasing male voice came from behind them, causing Yu Chuan's blush to spread to his neck. "There are no other women, but there are three other men."
Nian Jiaojiao heard the voice and saw how shy Yu Chuan was. She had no choice but to release him and let him adjust his clothes. At this moment, Nan Qing, Xing Yun, and Xuan Yi had all arrived at the bow of the boat. The one who had just spoken teasingly was Nan Qing.
Xuan Yi dared not meet Nian Jiaojiao's gaze, fearing that his wife might... under the broad daylight. Xing Yun, in contrast to Xuan Yi, stared at Nian Jiaojiao with wide, excited eyes, as if saying, "I want to join in too!"
Nian Jiaojiao felt a headache coming on seeing the three brothers with such contrasting personalities. She asked, "Weren't you all staying at the stern of the boat?"
Xuan Yi and Nan Qing did not answer. Xing Yun, however, perked up at the question and immediately replied, "Wife, we heard you singing just now, it was so beautiful! But... why have we never heard you sing before?"
"Mm, our academy has a music arts course, it's something new I learned." httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Xuan Yi, Xing Yun, and Yu Chuan suddenly understood. Nan Qing, however, did not believe this woman's tall tale. He looked at Nian Jiaojiao with a knowing smile, causing her a moment of awkwardness.
Just then, a nearby painted boat drew closer, rescuing Nian Jiaojiao from her embarrassment.
"May I ask which young gentleman was singing? We invite you to join us for a chat on our painted boat!" a loud call carried over. However, the sender had mistaken the singer for a man.
The group looked over and saw several literati-like women standing on the painted boat that had now docked with their small boat. The women looked at Nian Jiaojiao and the other four, their gazes eventually settling on Nan Qing, who had the best "presentation." Such a beautiful voice must belong to such a remarkable person. Then, the women looked at Nian Jiaojiao, surrounded by four men, and their eyes showed displeasure. Since this woman could only afford such a small, broken boat, she must be from a poor family. How could such a person be worthy of such a beauty?
With this thought, one of the women spoke directly to Nan Qing, "My friend and I were captivated by your singing. If you do not find it too much trouble, please join us for a chat on our painted boat."
Nan Qing didn't even spare the woman a glance, turning directly into the cabin. Nan Qing's reaction caused the woman who had spoken to lose face in front of her friends, so she directed her anger towards Nian Jiaojiao. "Who are you? What is your relationship with that gentleman?"
Nian Jiaojiao rolled her eyes. Did they think she was a pushover to be bullied? Besides, she was the one singing. You people, blinded by lust and only thinking of a handsome singer, didn't even bother to confirm. So she said, "Who I am and my relationship with him are none of your business. We are not interested in your painted boat, please leave quickly."
Nian Jiaojiao's direct dismissal displeased the women, and their faces showed signs of indignation. One of the women's eyes rolled, and she whispered something to her companions. They gave Nian Jiaojiao a meaningful look before turning and returning to their painted boat.
Seeing that they were about to leave, Nian Jiaojiao said to the three husbands still at the bow of the boat, "Let's go inside." The three nodded.
However, just as Xuan Yi stepped into the cabin, the boat began to shake violently. Nian Jiaojiao, with her cultivation, could still stabilize herself, but Yu Chuan and Xing Yun lost their footing and tumbled towards the outside of the lake. Nian Jiaojiao's expression changed, and she quickly extended her arms, embracing one on each side, saving them.
Yu Chuan and Xing Yun, pale with fright, collapsed into Nian Jiaojiao's embrace. Nian Jiaojiao looked up furiously. Indeed, the women on the painted boat had not left but had come out again. Seeing their startled expressions, they pointed at Nian Jiaojiao and the other two and burst into laughter.
At this moment, Nan Qing emerged from the cabin. Seeing Nian Jiaojiao's distressed expression, he said, "Tong Ziyao was at the stern earlier. I went to look and he's nowhere to be seen. He must have fallen in."
Nian Jiaojiao's face changed drastically upon hearing this. If anything happened to Tong Ziyao, how would she explain it to Tong Fu! Without bothering to settle scores with the women on the painted boat, Nian Jiaojiao hurried to the stern of the boat. As expected, only the boatwoman was there, looking unwell. The boatwoman pointed to the surface of the water and said, "That young gentleman fell in from here just now."
Nian Jiaojiao, without hesitation, leaped into the water at the approximate location indicated by the boatwoman, searching for Tong Ziyao. Meanwhile, the women on the painted boat, feeling they had vented their anger and were quite pleased, saw the handsome young man emerge again and quickly said, "Young gentleman, we don't care what your relationship is with that woman. I think you should come over to our side. That woman doesn't seem very capable!" With that, they laughed heartily again.
Xing Yun trembled with anger at the sight. Xuan Yi also clenched his fists, wishing he could go up and punch them a few times. Although they were women, seeing their fragile appearance, he figured he wouldn't be able to defeat them.