Uneasy daily life

"There was a woman named Princess Kaguya, and talented men from all directions inquired about her true meaning. Is it true or false, a mystery within love? How many lines can be derived from the character 'heart'?"

Suddenly, a singing voice came from behind the curtain, high-pitched and melodious.

This is really not following the script... Well, that makes sense, it would be strange if it were all scripted. It seems we'll have to improvise.

"Father, Mother, I'm going backstage now."

Yukino reached out and pulled Yukino Haruno up. After a brief farewell, she hurriedly walked through the chairs and the crowd.

Yukinoshita's father and mother exchanged a glance, somewhat noticing the strangeness in their daughter's attitude.

"I hope it's not one of those weird stage plays we just saw..."

Yukinoshita's father couldn't help but make a comment.

The mother calmly watched the stage curtain beneath the snow.

What will Bai Ying's reply be?

Chapter 133 The Moon Still Shines

Once upon a time, there lived a young girl on the mountain. No one knew where she came from. She had hair as smooth as silk, and her eyes, when viewed from afar, were as deep and gentle as the night, and when viewed up close, as bright and flawless as the moon. She wore magnificent clothes that seemed otherworldly, which accentuated her vibrant and healthy figure. Her beauty was unforgettable at first sight, and she had an exceptionally kind heart. Legend has it that she once saved an injured little fox, and the little fox, to repay her kindness, transformed into a woman and served by her side.

As night deepens, a bright moon rises atop the mountain peak, and in the distance, a woman can be faintly seen wandering in the moonlight. The interplay of the moon and the night illuminates her beautiful figure.

People called the girl Princess Kaguya and gave her the nickname Princess Bright Moon. The mountain where she lived was named Mount Izuki after her.

One day, Princess Kaguya suddenly dispatched a maid to announce some news.

"Do you want to marry me? If you want to marry me, then climb Chuyue Mountain. Whether you are poor or wealthy, whether you are famous or unknown, whether you are lonely or sincere, I will be waiting for you on Chuyue Mountain, waiting for the one destined for you."

At the foot of Mount Izuki, a young man heard the news. He put on his best clothes and decided to go up the mountain to propose to Princess Kaguya. The people around him did not approve of his behavior and mocked him, saying, "Princess Kaguya is such a noble and beautiful person. How many people in the world are better than you? How could she agree to your proposal?"

The boy was a little disappointed, but his enthusiasm quickly dispelled his disappointment. He searched carefully on the hillside, picked a flower, and headed straight for Chuyue Mountain.

The steep mountain path was flattened by his eager heart, and time flew by in his joy. Only when someone called out to him from ahead did the young man realize that twilight had already merged into the night.

"Halt! Who are you?"

The woman blocking the way had a pair of long, pointed ears peeking out from her tied-up, fluffy brown hair, and she was looking at the boy with a stern face.

The boy recognized her; she was the maidservant beside Princess Kaguya. He blurted out, "I want to marry Princess Kaguya!"

"Oh." The maid nodded, then asked after a moment of silence, "Are the flowers in your hand a gift?"

"Yes!"

The boy answered loudly.

The maid asked in confusion, "What kind of flower is this?"

"I do not know either……"

"what?"

The boy quickly explained, "I wandered around the hillside for half a day, and from the flowers blooming all over the mountains, I chose the most beautiful one. I think this is the gift worthy of Princess Kaguya! I love Princess Kaguya! I sincerely want to propose!"

"Come here, the princess is waiting for you."

The maid neither agreed nor disagreed, and turned to lead the way.

Crossing the jungle, a bamboo hut came into view. The young man's face showed unease and hesitation. He had walked quickly and hurriedly on the way here, but as he approached the meeting place with his beloved, he hesitated and became uneasy. Finally, he saw Princess Kaguya standing in front of the bamboo hut.

Princess Kaguya looked over, her gaze slightly surprised, and smiled gently, "You've come to propose?"

The young man hesitated slightly, then gritted his teeth, stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and offered the flowers in his hand: "Yes! Please marry me!"

Before Kaguya could reply, the boy's burgeoning emotions led him to impatiently blurt out, "Miss Kaguya, I don't know when I fell in love with you, but this feeling..."

This feeling... I can't quite sort out my thoughts, where exactly did it come from?

"When I reminisce about the past, perhaps it's because I like you, so I always feel like I like you... I just want to like you, I always like you. Whenever I think of you, you float around in my heart, stirring up ripples, making me want to hold onto you. Now, face to face, I can't say many heartfelt words..."

The boy spoke haltingly, annoyed by his own clumsiness. He looked at Princess Kaguya, his gaze reflecting her and the surrounding scenery, and as if by divine inspiration, he borrowed a phrase: "Because you are here, the moonlight is truly beautiful."

"I'm sorry, I can't marry you."

Princess Kaguya replied gently but firmly.

The boy was taken aback and subconsciously asked, "Why?"

Princess Kaguya gazed at him silently. The depths of her eyes were like the night, revealing a vibrant tapestry of life beneath, while the brightness of her eyes was like moonlight, illuminating his heart and stirring up a complex mix of emotions. The boy forced his gaze to meet hers, a blush creeping onto his face, his expression shifting uncertainly.

"Because you are a minor."

The wind fell silent, the moon fell silent, and the already silent audience fell even more silent.

The boy stared wide-eyed, speechless.

"Take your time while you're young and live a life free from worldly clamor."

The boy's strong voice rang out, and he subconsciously turned his head to look. To his surprise, a figure dressed exactly like him strode out. The boy's eyes were filled with pure and intense emotions, and his stride carried a wild and simple spirit.

"Princess! Please marry me! I've tossed and turned for you, I've been heartbroken for you, I've offered you my joys and sorrows, willingly! This urgent love longs for a perfect answer!" The second young man earnestly and passionately reached out his hand, "Please marry me, marry someone who loves you deeply, please don't use age as an excuse to refuse!"

The boy looked bewildered, as if he felt that the person who suddenly appeared was probably a manifestation of his own inner self, otherwise why could he express his feelings so directly and clearly?

I know your feelings, and I can't help myself; they are genuine...

Princess Kaguya moved gracefully, her voice ethereal: "Have you ever thought about yourself when your feelings have cooled? Have you ever thought about the many difficulties that await you? Have you ever known that you will be entangled in gains and losses, fame and fortune? Have you ever considered how you will maintain the relationship you want to forge?"

"Princess, I believe love can overcome all difficulties!" the second young man said sincerely and passionately. "This pure and innocent heart is the treasure that will surely bring victory. You are the one in my heart, and that is enough for me to cross mountains and seas and rush towards a happy ending!"

"So……"

Princess Kaguya returned a cold look: "The problem you face right now is how to win me back. Can you overcome this problem?"

The second boy hesitated for a moment, then said firmly, "So I want you to marry me!"

"True feelings are best seized in youth, when the years are quiet and peaceful. Gatherings and partings bring cold sorrow and joy, and longing and yearning come early."

Princess Kaguya softly added a verse, her voice gentle yet unpretentious: "Love arises without knowing its origin, and deepens with each passing moment—your feelings are not liking or loving, but an impulsive expression and catharsis, a surge of emotions rising and falling. It is passionate and pure enough, but it only resides in your heart. You cannot bear this burning pain, so you pluck it out all at once. It is so intense that it can bring you pain, and it will also burn others."

"Your proposal is an impulsive expression and venting, an eagerness to confide in someone, and an overflowing of emotions from a narrow heart, so I cannot agree."

The second boy's face paled, and he staggered back a few steps, pressing his hand to his chest. He returned the boy's gaze with a complex mix of anger and resentment: "I was being sincere, so why are you mocking and belittling me? Saying I'm unknown and without fortune, that you despise me, that you think I'm not as good as others?! If that's the case, just say it directly, why say things that are incomprehensible to others?!"

juvenile:"……"

Princess Kaguya did not answer, but simply looked at him calmly.

"Today you ignore me, tomorrow you'll be begging for my attention. Let me show you what it means to not bully a young person!"

The second boy snatched the flower from the boy's hand, threw it on the ground, and turned away angrily.

The boy was stunned for a moment, then quickly followed him.

News of someone's failed attempt to marry Princess Kaguya spread throughout the land. A young samurai who was making a name for himself in Kyoto heard about Princess Kaguya and thought that a beautiful woman was a perfect match for a hero. So he rode his horse to Mount Izutsuki. His horse glided effortlessly up the mountain road, the sound of its hooves clear and loud. He crossed the mountain path and passed through bamboo forests. At the end of the road, a maid was waiting.

"Halt! Who are you?"

"The one who will marry Princess Kaguya."

The samurai casually cupped his hands in greeting.

The maid blinked, seemingly puzzled: "Where's your gift?"

“I am the best gift.” The samurai slightly raised his chin.

The maid was taken aback: "Human trafficking? Selling oneself into slavery?"

"...I mean, if Princess Kaguya is truly a beauty, then she is worthy of me."

The samurai corrected him briefly, and then, led by the maid, walked into the depths of the quiet bamboo forest, where he saw the serene figure in front of the bamboo house.

"Are you here to propose?"

Princess Kaguya turned around, and the samurai was immediately captivated by her beauty. He dismounted and nodded steadily, saying, "That's right, Princess, please marry me!"

"In that case, answer me one question," Princess Kaguya asked gently, "Why should I marry you?"

"Because a beautiful woman deserves a hero!"

The samurai said confidently, "I am not very talented, but I have a small reputation in the capital and have won some merits on the battlefield. It is only a matter of time before I am granted a noble title. Besides, the princess and I are about the same age. I want to get married and you want to get married. It is just right."

"I'm sorry, I can't marry you."

Princess Kaguya resolutely refused.

The samurai frowned. "Hmm? Why?"

"Because you started abusing me before I even married you."

Princess Kaguya sighed softly.

The samurai reflected on his actions and felt that the other party was making a mountain out of a molehill.

He softened his tone and said earnestly, "Princess, I have already fallen in love with you, so how could I do anything vulgar or rude? I am proud of my abilities, and your beauty, like my abilities, is something I admire. I have also heard of your virtuous reputation. How could I not like such a gentle and noble woman? To show my sincerity, I am willing to do whatever you ask, to prove my deep affection for you!"

Princess Kaguya said, "Then please pick a flower for me."

After descending the mountain, the samurai pondered for a moment, then, through the numerous quests and tasks assigned by the Nine Rings, he found a beautiful and stunning rare flower, praised and admired by all. He brought the flower back to Mount Izutsuki and presented it to Princess Kaguya, believing he had completed his test and was ready to marry her.

Princess Kaguya said, "Then I have one last request: take this flower with you down the mountain. I refuse your marriage proposal."

The samurai was stunned for a moment, unsure of what to do after such a ruthless move.

How can you act like this? Aren't you going to pull them apart?

"absurd!"

With a sharp shout, Samurai Number Two strode onto the stage with imposing steps: "If the princess had no intention of marrying me, why would she have released the news of your marriage proposal? So ruthless, without asking why. I found the most beautiful flowers for you, whom I love, and you directly rejected my feelings. Don't you find that ridiculous?"

Princess Kaguya calmly said, "The first flower you picked was a treasure of the world. The one you love is a princess who would admire and appreciate rare flowers, and you are someone who has the ability to find rare flowers—samurai, you have superb skills, a bright future, and a confident will, but you have not left me a single opening."

“I asked you to find a flower, and you found the flower in your heart—expensive, rare, the center of attention, and showered with praise… In your heart, I am just like this flower.”

"Your affection is the embodiment of your inner desires; the brilliance I shone in your eyes was merely a backdrop to your achievements."

Princess Kaguya sighed softly, "I cannot agree to your desire to marry me."

Samurai Number Two's expression was uncertain. He suddenly strode forward, raised his hand and drew a katana from the samurai's waist. In a flash, the blade was already at Kaguya's neck.

clang!

Within the long sleeves, one knife was pressed against another.

"Samurai, your desires have bared their fangs." Princess Kaguya held her sword and asked slowly, "Do you want to prove to me what you are capable of?"

"I can get what I like and what I want, and I won't let go of it!"

Samurai Number Two shouted in a deep voice.

Under the somewhat bewildered gazes of the maid and the samurai, the two appeared to be dancing gracefully, yet their blades flashed and clanged against each other.

"The glory of war is heavy, and the sharp edge of a sword is honed by ambition. The moon is never complete, and a tyrant cannot mend the heavens."

Princess Kaguya raised her hand and slashed upwards with her sword, sending Samurai Number Two's weapon flying. Samurai Number Two raised his hand in a daze, as if what had been knocked away was not his sword, but his very spirit. He had failed.

"If one day, your arrogant and conceited heart falters in the face of worldly affairs—when you look at me again, how much of your unwavering sincerity will remain?"

"..."

Samurai Number Two remained silent, a complex mix of resentment on his face. He bent down to pick up his sword, then led his horse away in a desolate manner.

The samurai, on the contrary, relaxed and prepared to leave. But before leaving, he turned back and asked, "Princess, what kind of sincerity can win your favor?"

Princess Kaguya did not answer, but simply raised her head slightly and quietly looked at the moon in the sky.

The news of the young samurai's failed marriage proposal immediately became the headline news in Kyoto. People were talking about who would be able to marry Princess Kaguya. A nobleman became curious about Princess Kaguya and led his men to the vicinity of Mount Izutsuki.

The nobleman had no intention of proposing; he merely wanted to see others propose to Princess Kaguya and find some amusement in his mundane life. Since his wife's unfortunate passing from illness, he had been constantly depressed and found it difficult to cheer up, only finding solace in playing musical instruments, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

One day, while the nobleman was strolling and appreciating the scenery in the mountains, he happened to see a woman walking along a mountain path, which gave him a sense of familiarity. The sparse and intertwined bamboo made the view appear mottled, and when the nobleman looked closely, the woman had already disappeared from the mountain path on the other side of the bamboo forest.

Clearly, the beautiful woman on Mount Izutsuki was Princess Kaguya.

The nobleman changed his mind. He ground ink, composed a poem, and sent a servant to deliver it to Princess Kaguya on the mountain.

[A chance encounter beneath the bamboo grove, as if bathed in the bright moonlight. Longing, like a seed sown, when will the spring breeze arrive?]

Not long after, Princess Kaguya's maid delivered a reply.

Spring breezes bring forth summer flowers, autumn rains condense into winter snow. Each season has its own charm, no need to ask about the time.

"What a talented and intelligent woman..."