Misty Rain of the Old Times

It was already afternoon when Chen Xuan brought the two siblings, Xiao Miao and her brother, back. It was the busiest time in Chen Xuan's mansion, with people coming and going, busy but not chaotic.

The front and middle courtyards of the mansion were decorated with red and green, and chairs were placed there. These chairs were all brought from the restaurant. No one could possibly have so many chairs in stock, and red silk was laid on the chairs.

In addition, a stage is being built, and there will be a variety of performances and folk arts on it in the coming days for the guests to watch and enjoy. Being able to perform and appear at Princess Fuyao and Chen Xuan's wedding will greatly enhance the performers' fame. They are all eager to show off their best skills. For performers, fame is equivalent to wealth.

Then there are also rain shelters and the like being prepared, in case it rains, there are so many guests, we can't let them get wet, but Chen Xuan thinks it's unnecessary, he hasn't seen a drop of rain since the beginning of this year.

"Brother Chen, is this your home in the capital? It's so big and lively. Won't you get lost?" After arriving here, Xiao Miao followed closely behind Chen Xuan, looking around and speaking softly. She was nervous and reserved, feeling out of place here, as if she didn't belong here. If Chen Xuan hadn't been with her, she wouldn't have had the courage to set foot in such a place.

When Chen Xuan returned, the busy people greeted him with smiles and cast kind glances at Xiao Miao and her brother. Even though Xiao Miao's messy makeup made people laugh, they didn't show it at all.

Smiling in response, Chen Xuan said, "This is where I'm getting married. It's alright, isn't it? We've been preparing for the wedding these past few days, so there are naturally more people. It'll be even more lively when the guests arrive in a couple of days. You won't get lost; it's your own home. You'll get familiar with it after a while. I'll take you to the back to arrange your accommodations first. You'll be staying at Brother Chen's house for the next period of time."

"Yes, we will follow Brother Chen's arrangements," Xiao Miao nodded obediently. Feeling a little lost in this unfamiliar place, she didn't dare to leave Chen Xuan's side for even a moment.

When they passed by the Intermediate People's Court, Gao Jingming and his friends, who were temporarily free, were drinking tea and chatting in the living room. Gao Jingming, who had sharp eyes, immediately laughed and said, "Ah Xuan is back! Tsk tsk, I really envy you. You can travel all over the country as if you're just taking a stroll. Little Miao, we meet again. You've grown up so much in the blink of an eye. Do you still remember me?"

"Greetings, Young Master Gao. I am deeply grateful for your kindness in the past few years. I have never forgotten it," Xiao Miao said, recognizing him at first glance. Although she was illiterate, she still knew the basic etiquette.

Xiao Miao's makeup made Gao Jingming unable to suppress his laughter. He waved his hand and said, "Xiao Miao, no need for formalities. Just call me Brother Gao. I've been busy with my studies these past few years and have drifted apart from you all. Please don't mind. Come to Ah Xuan's place and feel at home. Relax."

"Yes, I know, I'm not nervous," Xiao Miao said shyly. She could never be as close to Gao Jingming as she was to Chen Xuan. They hadn't spent much time together in the past few years, and besides, he was a high-ranking young master, someone Xiao Miao from a poor family could never hope to reach.

"Hello, little Miao! I'm Deng Lingfeng, just call me Brother Feng. I'm good buddies with Xuan and Jingming, we grew up together. Remember that! If you ever need anything, just let me know, and I'll stand up for you," Deng Lingfeng said, getting up to greet her warmly. Anyone who didn't know better would think they were really close.

Given the close relationship between Chen Xuan and his friends, they extended their affection to Xiao Miao as well, greeting her warmly and making Xiao Miao feel a little overwhelmed. She knew in her heart that these older brothers were really kind.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Chen Xuan said speechlessly, "You guys, Xiao Miao just arrived, don't scare her. Besides, you all talk a good game, but give her something in return."

“You don’t need to tell me, Ah Xuan. We prepared it when you went to pick up Xiao Miao. We originally wanted to surprise her brother, but it’s a little less special now that you told me. Here, Xiao Miao, this hairpin is a small token of my appreciation from Brother Gao. Don’t refuse.” Gao Jingming said cheerfully, and then took out a hairpin from a box from his sleeve and handed it over.

"And here's mine, a pair of earrings. Little Miao will look really good in them. Girls should always be pretty," Zhou Lin said with a smile, pulling out a gift as well.

Luo Taiyun also took out a jade pendant, and Tian Xueyu also took out a sachet. It was obvious that the brothers had secretly planned this beforehand.

"Thank you so much, big brothers. How could I possibly accept your gifts?" Xiao Miao quickly waved her hand, looking a little nervous.

Chen Xuan shook his head and said, "You guys really scared Xiao Miao a bit. Couldn't you have been a little more tactful?" Then he said to Xiao Miao, "Xiao Miao, please accept it. Don't be polite with them. They are all close friends of Brother Chen. Just accept it without any remorse."

Faced with Chen Xuan's earnest gaze, Xiao Miao hesitated before accepting the gift, saying, "Then Xiao Miao thanks you, brothers."

As she spoke, the young girl blushed. She was shy and felt embarrassed to accept a gift so readily, but since Brother Chen had already said so, it would be disrespectful to him if she refused.

Then they didn't skimp on Zhou Fugui's gifts either. Chen Xuan told him to accept them, so he did, grinning sheepishly without even a word of thanks. Gao Jingming and the others didn't hold a grudge; instead, they looked at him with even more kindness.

After finishing, Chen Xuan waved his hand and said, "You guys rest first. I'll take Xiaomiao and the others to arrange their accommodations. We'll talk again later."

"Okay, Ah Xuan, you can go ahead and get busy."

The wedding room had been decorated long ago, but the wedding ceremony had not yet taken place, so Chen Xuan had not moved in yet and was still living in a separate courtyard. He brought the Xiao Miao siblings here and arranged for them to stay in a side room of the courtyard. Since they were unfamiliar with the area, being closer would give them a greater sense of security.

"Brother Chen's house is so beautiful and spacious," Xiao Miao said sincerely after looking around. There was something she didn't say: even just a small courtyard and side room in Brother Chen's house was many times better than her own. No matter how good it was, she didn't belong here. She was just a passerby, and she would eventually have to return to that dilapidated little courtyard, which was where she should be.

The little girl never had any unrealistic fantasies; she was content as long as she was well-fed, clothed, and safe.

After arranging accommodations for them and giving them a brief introduction to the area, Chen Xuan said, "Xiao Miao, since you've just arrived, let me show you around so you don't get lost. I'll be very busy for the next few days and won't have much time to look after you. If you need anything, just ask the people around you, or you can just call out to me."

However, the little girl smiled sensibly and said, "Brother Chen, you go ahead and do your work. You don't need to worry about us. Fugui and I will stay here and won't go anywhere. We won't cause you any trouble."

"It's alright, I don't have anything urgent to do right now. Don't you want to see what Brother Chen's house is like? There's a garden, a pond, a training ground... To be honest, I'm not very familiar with it, and I probably won't be staying here often in the future. I'll probably go back to Yang County to live," Chen Xuan said with a smile.

But Xiao Miao still shook her head, indicating that there was no need to trouble Chen Xuan.

Just then, He Hongyi's voice rang out from the courtyard gate. She looked up and said, "Ah Xuan is back! I just heard from Young Master Gao and the others that you brought Xiaomiao, so I came to see. You said you wanted me to take care of them." As she spoke, she looked at Xiaomiao and smiled, "Little Miao, we meet again. Do you remember me?"

Xiao Miao would never forget such a beautiful older sister, especially since it had only been a little over a month since they parted ways. She smiled sweetly and said, "Of course I remember Sister He. How have you been these past few months?"

"It's fine, but alas, the flowers are in full bloom, only able to admire their own beauty, without a lover to stop and lower their gaze," He Hongyi said with a smile, giving Chen Xuan a slightly resentful look before changing her words: "Xiao Miao, you're still young, you wouldn't understand even if I explained. I heard you say earlier that you didn't want to trouble your brother Chen. Is this your first time in the capital? How about I show you around? I have nothing else to do anyway."

He Hongyi knew that Xiao Miao liked her brother Chen, but she only vaguely understood romantic love and didn't comprehend the profound longing of someone who couldn't see their beloved day after day. Hearing this, she shook her head and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Sister He, but I'll stay here with Fugui. I won't trouble you any further."

Of course, she wanted to see the prosperity of the capital, but she didn't want to cause trouble for others, especially since she wasn't familiar with He Hongyi. "It's alright, no trouble at all. Little Miao, are you afraid I'll sell you off? Your Brother Chen wouldn't forgive me if that happened. Besides, it was your Brother Chen who instructed me to take good care of you. And the capital is the center of your Jing Kingdom's rich resources. Don't you want to see it for yourself?" He Hongyi walked over gracefully and took her hand.

At this moment, Chen Xuan also spoke up: "Xiao Miao, just listen to Hongyi. She doesn't have any friends here and is all alone. Why don't you keep her company for me?"

Brother Chen wanted her to keep him company while he spent time with his friend, and Xiao Miao also wanted to see the grandeur and prosperity of the capital, perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Intrigued, she hesitated but nodded, saying, "Alright then, thank you, Sister He. I'll definitely be good and won't cause you any trouble."

“Yes, that’s more like it. Come on, we won’t keep your brother Chen any longer. Let’s take you out for a stroll first. Fugui will come along too, so he doesn’t get lost,” He Hongyi said.

Xiao Miao didn't delay any longer and called to her younger brother to follow.

Chen Xuan then said, "Come back for dinner soon."

"Ah Xuan, you can rest assured to leave them to me," He Hongyi said with a smile as she turned around.

Nodding, Chen Xuan secretly transmitted his voice, saying, "Hongyi, Xiaomiao and the others don't know anything. Don't laugh at her for making her face look like an opera singer. Teach her later."

He Hongyi returned a look to her upon hearing this.

After they left, Chen Xuan returned to the Central Courtyard. With nothing else to do for the time being, he sat down and chatted with Gao Jingming and the others.

He was called away by Madam Gao after sitting for only a short while, and asked to personally check if there was anything that had been overlooked, including the decoration of the bridal chamber, the arrangement of the banquet, the wedding process and route, the entertainment program, and so on. There were a lot of tedious things to do, but fortunately he didn't have to do them himself, he just needed to make the confirmations.

Madam Gao was meticulous in every detail, personally overseeing everything to ensure there were no mistakes or oversights. Her seriousness towards Chen Xuan's marriage was probably comparable to that of even biological parents.

By the time the trip was over, the sun had already set, so everything was arranged, and the next few days would be filled with excitement until the wedding day.

For Chen Xuan, every day of being single was one less day he could have. As night fell and he had some free time, he prepared a table of food and drinks, intending to have a good time with Gao Jingming and the others, hoping to make the most of his single life.

This time, Madam Gao and the other elders didn't come together. They went to rest early after a busy day. There would be even more things to do in the next few days, so they needed to get plenty of rest. It's just that young people are full of energy and seem to never get tired.

As darkness fell, He Hongyi returned with Xiao Miao and her brother. They sat down together and recounted their travel experiences. Xiao Miao was clearly very excited, chattering incessantly. For a poor person like her from a remote area, the capital city was nothing short of a pilgrimage.

However, Chen Xuan noticed that she had changed her makeup when she returned. Her face was no longer covered in dye, but was delicate and lovely. She intentionally or unintentionally showed off her makeup, which earned her constant praise from Chen Xuan and the others, making the young girl blush with embarrassment.

Girls are naturally drawn to beauty, and it's a mystery how He Hongyi managed to accept the changes so naturally in just one afternoon. She probably learned a lot of her best makeup techniques.

Makeup is a rather strange thing. As long as you're willing to spend the money, even someone who's ugly can be made to look beautiful. Going further, it can even be a kind of almost sinister disguise. That's why they say there are no ugly women, only lazy ones.

When boys get together, after drinking and getting into the mood, it's inevitable that the conversation will escalate to "Let me speak first," and they'll start chatting about all sorts of things.

Somewhat shy, Tian Xueyu, emboldened by the alcohol, said that he had been engaged last year to a well-bred woman of equal social standing, but recently he had fallen in love with another woman. They were mutually attracted and he was very conflicted, not knowing what to do. He hoped that everyone would not laugh at him.

It's easy to say things when you're drunk, but thinking about it afterwards is incredibly embarrassing. As the saying goes, being drunk isn't scary, but the memories are.

What's there to hesitate about? Everyone should give him advice and suggest he marry them all. In this day and age, marrying multiple women isn't illegal; on the contrary, it's a beautiful story that everyone envies.

Zhou Lin said he planned to take the imperial examination in two years, but he was not confident. If he failed, it would be another three years, and then another three years, which seemed like an endless journey. Gao Jingming said that he could ask him if he didn't understand anything, and even offered to write a letter of recommendation for him to study under a highly respected teacher.

A thought flashed through Chen Xuan's mind: there might be a chance to become a Jinshi this year. If nothing unexpected happens, the Crown Prince will ascend the throne this year and probably hold a special imperial examination. But that would be too hasty. Zhou Lin probably wouldn't stand a chance. He wasn't confident to begin with.

Luo Taiyun said he strolled around the capital at noon and found that the city was very lively these days. Most inns were fully booked. This was neither a festival nor a major event like the imperial examinations, so where did all these people come from? Moreover, the level of patrols in the capital was several levels higher than usual.

Deng Lingfeng thought that so many people came because of Chen Xuan's wedding. As for whether they came for him or Princess Fuyao, he didn't know. Chen Xuan thought it was very unlikely, since he only knew a few people.

Then the group talked about the cave world beneath Wanku Mountain, expressing their longing to see it. However, they hesitated because they had heard it was extremely dangerous. Upon learning that Chen Xuan had been there, they all pressed for details. Chen Xuan then described his experiences in the cave world to them, eliciting gasps of amazement from the crowd.

Gao Jingming then spoke about important national and family affairs. As an official, he knew far more about these matters than Chen Xuan and the others, but he didn't hold back.

He said that Rongguo was in even greater chaos due to last year's drought, with rebel armies in various places causing chaos throughout the country. The Rongguo court lost control of nearly half of its territory. If this continued, Rongguo might face a change of dynasty. This was not an exaggeration, but a fact. A drought, through a chain reaction, directly shook the rule of a country.

He also said that the war between Yuhua Kingdom and Shuangyue Kingdom over gold mines had reached a truce, but the specific details were unclear. He added that envoys had been sent to Jing Kingdom, but the purpose of their mission was unknown and required further investigation.

Hearing this, Chen Xuan thought of the Frostmoon Kingdom envoy team he had encountered in Mo City during the day. Such a large entourage couldn't possibly be there to offer congratulations.

They asked He Hongyi if she knew the reason, since she was from Yuhua Kingdom. He Hongyi shook her head and said that she was a person of the martial arts world and would not know about such important national affairs. Moreover, she had been in Jing Kingdom for several months and did not know anything about the situation in Yuhua Kingdom.

The group chatted until late at night, drinking more than ten jars of wine, and only dispersed when half of them were drunk.

Time flew by, and it was already the first day of the third month… (End of Chapter)