Chapter 56

Chapter 56: When He Comes to See Me

“Miss, there’s a letter for you from the Wu Kingdom.”

Just as Zhu Cici was diligently embroidering stitch by stitch, a maidservant walked in.

Upon hearing the letter was from the Wu Kingdom, Zhu Cici’s eyes lit up instantly.

The young lady put down her embroidery and quickly moved her legs beneath her skirt, rushing forward eagerly: “Give it to me quickly, please!”

Zhu Cici opened the package, inside was a letter and a small shuttlecock.

The snow-white goose feathers on the shuttlecock were beautiful and clean, like snow.

And whenever anything happens in the future, Xiaqiao will surely help me.

Body like floating clouds, heart like scattered willow fluff, breath like wisps of silk. Only a trace of lingering fragrance remains here, while the beloved one has already disappeared without a trace?

“That’s great~” Xiaqiao happily approached and flipped open the white paper with the poem written on it.

When does the most intense phase of the longing syndrome arrive?

It’s when the lamp is half-dim, half-bright, or when the moon is half-lit, half-dark.

“After this birthday, I probably won’t receive any more gifts,” Zhu Cici shook her head.

But upon careful reflection, geniuses mature early, let alone that the poem Xu Ming wrote at eight years old was already very precocious. This line “Never having experienced longing before, once I started to yearn, I fell into its trap” was somewhat normal.

Later, due to living in different places, they could only meet through letters, exchanging gifts during birthdays.

“Because Xu Ming said he would join the army,” Zhu Cici sighed softly, “the military discipline in the Wu Kingdom is strict, and the training is arduous. Where would there be time to write poems? I just hope he stays safe.”

“No.”

“Not giving.” Zhu Cici’s eyes curved gracefully, the elegant young lady with a hint of mischief, “I simply won’t give it.”

First, Zhu Cici pulled out a piece of white paper, unfolded it, and saw some words Xu Ming had written to her.

“What about the gift you prepared for Scholar Xu?”

After reading, Xiaoqiao’s face turned rosy.

“I will still prepare it.”

Being born without knowing longing, once one learns to long, one falls ill with longing.

As she read, a blush appeared on the girl’s cheeks, and her hands involuntarily tightened their grip on the letter. Her long lashes fluttered gently, reflecting the morning sunlight. The elegance and propriety of the young lady, along with the inherent innocence of a girl, naturally blended within her.

“Miss! Miss!!!” Xiaqiao, who was seven years older than Zhu Cici, kept pleading incessantly, “Scholar Xu must have written you a poem. Please let me see it. Your maid really wants to see it!”

Xu Ming was famous in the Wu Kingdom, but what Xu Ming didn’t know was that in the Qi Kingdom, his phrase “Most difficult to retain in this world, youthful beauty fades as flowers fall from the mirror,” made countless women in the Qi Kingdom lament the fleetingness of youth.

Just like this time helping deliver the letter.

Heart like flying fluff,

Xiaqiao knew well that these past few days, the miss had been learning needlework to sew a nice outfit for Xu Ming.

Not to mention that Xiaqiao also knew about the correspondence between herself and Xu Ming, though she hadn’t told her about the betrothal.

This poem was simple and easy to understand. How could Zhu Cici not comprehend its meaning?

As she looked on, Xiaqiao’s mouth had already formed an “O”.

“Why?” Xiaqiao felt like the sky was falling!

That single poem “Longing” had completely transformed Xiaqiao into a die-hard fan.

“Miss is so stingy.” Xiaqiao pouted slightly, “Even though the package you sent was all done by your maid risking punishment from Master and Mistress”

Body like floating clouds,

Breath like wisps of silk,

Such pure affection, if after growing up, Young Master Xu Ming achieves fame and fortune, coming to fetch Miss with a grand procession…

Just imagining it, Xiaqiao wanted to twist herself into knots.

Zhu Cici originally thought showing her the poem wouldn’t matter much.

“Alright, alright, stop looking.”

“Well, then… okay… I’ll let you take a peek.”

Zhu Cici’s cheeks turned slightly red as she pushed the poem lying on the table forward a bit.

“Miss, what are you looking at? Can I take a look?” Maidservant Xiaqiao blinked expectantly.

“This… this… how can Scholar Xu Ming be so mature at nine years old…”

Opening the envelope, there were two sheets of white paper inside.

“Could it be that Xu Ming already misses me so much?” Zhu Cici’s eyes were dazed, the more she read the poem, the more she liked it.

Xiaoqiao was greatly astonished in her heart, doubting if this was truly written by a nine-year-old child.

“When lamps are dim, when moons are bright.”

Thinking and thinking, Xiaqiao’s mind had already conjured up a bunch of melodramatic plots from novels.

Zhu Cici turned around, carefully storing the poem and the letter, then held the white-feathered shuttlecock in her palm, gently playing with it, filled with joy.

And Miss and Xu Ming make such a good couple!

They met as children, falling in love at first sight, both talented and beautiful.

If the poem “Butterfly Lovers Flower – A Gift to Zhu Cici” (a name later given by the world after Zhu Cici left) gave Xiaqiao a strong liking towards Xu Ming.

Xiaqiao looked at the embroidery on the table.

Compared to the phrase “Youthful beauty fades as flowers fall from the mirror,” this poem might be less literary, but in terms of emotional expression, it was no less impressive.

The Qi Kingdom values literature, so whenever a good poem or verse appears, it spreads throughout the Qi Kingdom.

The only trouble is, with Miss being naturally endowed with literary courage, how could the Qi Kingdom possibly let her marry someone from the Wu Kingdom?

“Will Miss run away with Scholar Xu Ming someday?”

Many people were looking forward to Xu Ming’s new works, but recently, Xu Ming hasn’t composed any new poems.

But seeing her gaze fixed intently, it was truly making her blush.

“Can I read Scholar Xu Ming’s poem every time it’s Miss’ birthday in the future?”

As for that shuttlecock, it was personally made by Xu Ming, a bit rough, hoping Zhu Cici wouldn’t dislike it.

Zhu Cici unfolded another letter, on which there was a poem.

“If that day ever comes, I will definitely help Miss run away!” Xiaqiao clenched her fists and silently determined in her heart.

For the young lady, Xiaqiao had grown up with her since childhood, and Zhu Cici trusted her immensely, so letting her take a look was fine.

In the letter, Zhu Cici learned that Xu Ming was about to join the army soon, and in the future, there was no need to send him birthday gifts anymore because Xu Ming wouldn’t be able to receive them in the army.

Zhu Cici’s eyes curved gracefully.

“Throughout life, I never knew longing,

Once I began to yearn,

I fell ill with longing.

Xu Ming said the shuttlecock was a bit rough, but in Zhu Cici’s eyes, it was extremely exquisite.

“I will make a birthday gift for him every year.

When he comes to see me, I will give them all to him.”