Dreams of the Ancient Mountain: The Cat's Masquerade | Chapter 64 | Pearl Red Wine | Novela.app

Without needing a reason to celebrate, we shared a knowing smile and raised our cups, clinking them together for the first toast. I took a deep, hearty gulp, and my eyes widened in surprise. "This really is better than what they sell outside!" The wine I had tasted at the shop that day was mellow enough, but compared to this, it felt thin. This vintage was sweet without being cloying, fragrant without being astringent; it glided down my throat, leaving nothing but a trail of cool, refreshing clarity. As expected, she had chosen it specifically to suit my palate. Wei Qingming took a moment to appreciate the aroma and color before taking a sip. She smiled and reached out, her hand partially blocking the rim of my cup. "Slow down. Wine shouldn't be rushed." I paid her no mind, draining the cup in one go. When she didn't refill it for me, I poured it myself. Wei Qingming, in a rare display of relaxed posture, leaned back against the tree. Seeing my eagerness, she simply shook her head with a smile—a look of indulgence that held no intention of stopping me. From afar, the sounds of pipes and drums drifted over, accompanied by the joyous clamor of the crowd. It was likely the height of the wedding festivities, the moment of the bridal chamber. We sat in silence, savoring the wine, occasionally exchanging trivial words. I lost track of time until the night grew deep and heavy. The guests, the wedding party, and the revelers had all grown weary and dispersed. The world gradually fell into a tranquil hush, leaving only the rhythmic chirping of grass insects. From somewhere unknown, the melody of a flute drifted toward us—lingering, charming, and full of sentiment. I recognized it as the playing of a female musician kept by the household. The sound seemed to come from Wen Wan’s courtyard, not far from where we sat; separated by a stretch of stream, the notes sounded exceptionally clear and beautiful. It seemed the young ladies were reluctant to end the day’s fantasies so early, gathering in their eldest sister’s quarters to continue their private merriment. We were already halfway through the second bottle. I felt a hazy, floating sensation, as if I were drifting through the air. Wei Qingming also seemed to possess a rare touch of intoxication; her body leaned lower, and her gaze grew distant and blurred. She listened to the music for a while, then unexpectedly began to hum along, her voice rising and falling in a soft harmony. I never knew she possessed such a talent. Grinning, I threw myself into her arms and, emboldened by the wine, begged her to sing a song for me. "Very well. I’ll sing a full one when the next tune starts." She was truly in high spirits, granting every request. I lay dizzily against her chest, waiting with itchy anticipation. Finally, as the flute melody faded and the first two notes of a new tune rose, Wei Qingming recognized the poetic meter and began to sing her own selection: "A face like an embroidered lotus, a smile unfolds. Leaning against the duck-shaped censer, pressing against a fragrant cheek. A flicker of the eyes, and her heart is guessed by all." "One side of her grace holds a deep charm; half a page of tender resentment sent from a hidden soul. As the moon shifts the flower shadows, we promise to meet again." She sang softly and lightly, as if without much emotion, yet upon careful listening, the melody was filled with a lingering tenderness. Was it not exactly as the lyrics described? A young girl in her chamber dressing before a mirror for her beloved... Had the little notes she once wrote to me also carried such hidden sentiments? The moon remains eternal, reflecting neither the people of the past nor judging the world of today—could it truly witness our reunion? I smiled silently, yet tears began to fall. How warm and gentle her singing voice was. It was clearly a woman’s tone, only deeper than the usual chirping of songbirds. I thought of how she spoke normally—never intentionally gruff, her voice simply resting in that ambiguous space between man and woman. All the merit she had earned, the respect she commanded, the career she had built—it was all won through her own life-and-death struggles in one perilous case after another... My crying became uncontrollable. By the time Wei Qingming finished her leisurely song, she realized I had soaked a patch of her lapel. Because her summer robes were thin, the tears seeped through the layers of gauze, feeling wet and cool against her skin. "I specifically chose a song that wasn't sad; why are you crying again?" She smiled and wiped my tears, cupping my face. In a tone half-teasing and half-intimate, she whispered, "Could it be that seeing the bride’s glory today has made A-Zhi envious and longing for her own?" I spat at her playfully. "Get away with you! Aren't you ashamed to say such things? Clearly, when you were bowing to Heaven and Earth..." Her skin was truly thick. Her expression was the picture of innocence, yet her words were pure sophistry. "What about me? I wasn't the one bowing to Heaven and Earth today." I was utterly helpless against her. Lord Wei had clearly looked like a person in love at that moment... but I didn't dare ask who was in her heart. For one, I feared she would turn her embarrassment into anger—ten of me tied together wouldn't be a match for one of her punches. And I also feared... I feared knowing for certain that there truly was someone worthy of her longing with such an expression. I don't remember much of what happened after that. I only felt a stifling agitation in my chest, an anonymous fire burning brighter and brighter. I wanted nothing but to gulp down cup after cup of the wine from the jade lotus vessel. When Wei Qingming stopped pouring for me, I took the bottle and drank straight from it. In the end, she finally grew firm, drinking the rest of the wine herself. By then, I was essentially unconscious from drink. She pinned my two restless hands down with one of hers, and I drifted off to sleep. My last hazy impression, amidst the sparse notes of the flute, was of her shaking the fourth bottle of wine—the one I had insisted on adding. She, too, abandoned the cups, drinking wildly toward the sky and murmuring desolately: "'Spring wine from the small vat drips pearl red; do not hurry, fill the golden goblet.' I shouldn't have... I shouldn't have chosen this wine. A-Zhi, don't you... don't you and I... 'become like falling flowers and flowing water, each going our separate ways'..." The moon sank heavily. Petals of fading red fell upon our faces and bodies. They were late-blooming crabapples; even though people had tried to protect them to extend their season, they ultimately could not withstand the cool southern breeze of a summer night. They fell in clusters, scattering away. Before the fourth watch, the small demon servants tasked with cleaning the garden arrived with their brooms. *Swish, swish*—they swept away the fallen flowers and leaves scattered by the wind. I woke with a start, only then realizing I had spent the entire night lying in Wei Qingming’s arms. She, too, lay there peacefully, her arm serving as my pillow. Before sleeping, she hadn't forgotten to set up an illusion array and a defensive ward; she had even wrapped two of her light outer robes tightly around me to keep out the wind. She must have been truly exhausted lately; even with all my movement as I sat up, she didn't wake. One of her arms was pushed aside, but it fell back loosely into the empty space, her palm curved in a gentle arc as if still holding someone’s shoulder. I looked at her with a mix of joy and sorrow. I reached out, stroking her cheek with infinite longing, forcing myself not to let my thoughts wander. Hardening my heart, I decided it was time to leave. As I stood, I stepped on her outer robe, and another wave of warmth flooded my heart. I picked it up and stared at it blankly for a long time. Finally, I reached out and forcefully tore off the long, thin light-blue ribbon attached to the lapel. I hurriedly crumpled it into a ball, tucked it into my bodice, and fled the scene, my heart pounding like a thief’s. Before leaving, I cast a small spell on the ground near her ear. Once I was hidden in the bushes at a safe distance, the spell bloomed softly. As expected, Wei Qingming jolted awake, instinctively leaping up and reaching for the blade at her waist. Realizing she had simply spent the night in the Wen family garden, she pressed a hand to her forehead and gave a self-deprecating laugh. Just then, a small insect wobbled through the air and landed on her finger—it was my Little Flower Lady. Wei Qingming smiled tenderly, teasing the insect with her finger. "When did she run off? Did she leave no word for me?" A lump formed in my throat as I watched. How could there be no words? But not a single one could be said to you. She played with the insect for a while, even using a few harmless little spells, but the Little Flower Lady simply rubbed its thin legs contentedly, offering no reaction. Seeing that there would be no message, she reluctantly let the bug fly away. She shaded her eyes with her hand and looked up at the sky. The horizon was already flooded with light; the northern sky was clear and cloudless, as transparent and bright as a pool of pure seawater. She was still smiling, her lips moving. Even from this distance, I could tell at a glance that she was silently mouthing my name. After saying it a few times, she swept her sleeve to dispel the various arrays and vanished from my sight. I expected a scene of chaos upon returning to my courtyard, but everyone was in their place. Muyu and the others greeted me for the morning as if nothing were amiss, as though I had simply gone out for an early walk. Too guilty to meet their eyes, I maintained my composure as the master of the house and went to my room to wash. The moment I sat before the mirror, I was terrified by my own reflection. Had I really spent last night with this smeared makeup, this ghostly face, demanding wine and songs and talking nonsense with her? Shame and anxiety flared within me. I slammed a fist onto the dressing table with a heavy *thud*. Being a man truly is better—at least you don't have to deal with putting on and taking off makeup! Muyu and the others must have seen me through the window. They finally couldn't hold it in anymore; the three of them shoved each other as they bolted out of the courtyard, erupting into loud peals of laughter... Today was the day the bride returned to her parental home, so there wasn't much for our branch of the Wen family to do. However, many children from the relative's families remained, so lunch was still a lively affair. During the meal, the Fourth Master unexpectedly announced his departure to his mother. The old lady stood up unsteadily, her eyes brimming with tears. I supported my "cheap" father, bowing my head as I added, "We have been away for months. The manor in the south lacks oversight, and with the summer harvest approaching, there are many matters to attend to... Grandmother... please do not be sad. Father and I will return to visit you often." The old lady knew her son’s temperament well. Realizing there was no use in persuading him, she said no more. She simply pulled me into her arms and gave me a long list of nagging instructions. With tears in my eyes, I knelt and gave her three solemn kowtows. The next day, I visited the First Madam, Second Madam, and the others one by one to bid my formal farewells. The news of our departure was so sudden that the "Bookish Trio" refused to accept it. It took a great deal of pleading and soft words on my part to convince them to join me at Chunan Restaurant. I hosted the meal, treating them to a proper farewell feast. Having been drunk just the night before, I didn't dare drink too freely today. Moreover, the more I drank, the more I thought of Wei Qingming. I was terrified that if I got drunk, I would lose my filter and say something I shouldn't. Wen Xiang got drunk, grabbing me by the shoulder and breathing hot wine fumes against my cheek. "A-Qi, coming back this time... *hic*... you're really different! When we were kids, you were so... *hic*... lukewarm. If we didn't arrange things for you, you wouldn't seek out any... any fun. But now!" She slapped my shoulder hard and shouted, "It's great! We are... kindred spirits! Next year, let's pull off a few more big stunts!" I realized she and Wen Wu were truly siblings; they even had the same heavy hand when drunk, only knowing how to slap shoulders. I laughed through my tears and slapped her shoulder back, shouting, "Let's pull off hundreds of big stunts!" Wen Gan was also drunk. She held her abacus like a pipa, plucking at it until it rattled. She hummed a little farewell tune about how "a real man has no tears to shed at parting" and "when the spring grass turns green next year, will the prince return?" Wen Shu was the most peculiar of all. While the rest of us were rowdy, she remained silent and exceptionally demure. Suddenly, she bolted upright, startling the three of us into silence. She brushed back her bangs and walked over aggressively, cupping my face and planting a fragrant kiss on my cheek. I was caught completely off guard. Fortunately, I turned my head slightly so she didn't catch me on the lips. Though, being kissed by a beauty isn't exactly a losing proposition for me... Wen Xiang clapped and cheered loudly. Wen Shu then hooked an arm around her, pulling her into an embrace, locking her neck, and planting another kiss on her forehead. Wen Gan didn't have time to escape and met the same fate... Finally, I pressed a hand to my forehead, watching the three of them tangled together in a fit of giggles and kisses. I sighed and shook my head. Before I left, I really had to find time to have a word with Young Master Xiao—I had to warn him that after they married, he must never, ever let his wife drink too much... ***