Looking at the face that suddenly came closer, Chu Lan's eyes flickered, and he opened his eyes uncomfortably. Half of his face was hidden in the darkness of the candlelight, "It's so late, what are you doing here?"
Zhang Qingjiu blinked, lowered his eyes, stepped forward again, and held Chu Lan's hand together with the chess piece, "I wish you a happy birthday."
The feeling of fingers touching and souls connecting was so wonderful that Zhang Qingjiu narrowed his eyes in comfort and forgot where he was.
Zhang Qingjiu's arm was violently swung away. Without noticing, Zhang Qingjiu tilted his body and hit the chair heavily. He spat out a mouthful of blood that had been suffocating in his chest just outside the yard.
"You!" Chu Lan's heart suddenly twitched as he looked at the person who had been chatting and laughing with him a moment ago, suddenly like a broken doll. When he came to his senses, he was already at Zhang Qingjiu's side.
No longer caring about so much, Chu Lan carefully helped the person up, "How are you? Why..."
Zhang Qingjiu breathed out, held Chu Lan's arm tightly and said nothing.
Chu Lan was afraid that she would accidentally hurt her again, so she had no choice but to stay still.
After a long while, Zhang Qingjiu finally recovered. For her, soul nourishment is better than any good medicine in the world.
She had already anticipated how powerful her soul would be when she got it back after having been raised in the True Dragon's destiny for so long.
Thinking of this, Zhang Qingjiu suddenly felt that his efforts tonight were worth it. He raised his head and met Chu Lan's eyes: "It's okay. Just give me a scratch and it'll be fine."
Chu Lan:......
"You're just sitting there." Taking a deep breath, Chu Lan made a move to withdraw her arm.
"Catch me, I'm not molesting you." Upon noticing Chu Lan's movements, Zhang Qingjiu let out a "woo", hugged him with both hands, and leaned his face against her.
She thought, if this bastard Chu Lan was really so inhumane and refused to let her touch him, then if she had more contact with her body, she would be able to hold him in tighter!
Chu Lan never expected that the woman in front of her would make such a big move. Looking at that pale face, her heart felt as if something had hit her hard.
"Sit tight, I won't leave..." Chu Lan turned her head, not daring to look into Zhang Qingjiu's eyes.
"I'm just sitting tight." Zhang Qingjiu narrowed his eyes and rubbed his head gently, "A quarter of an hour, a quarter of an hour will be enough."
It's really comfortable, as if bathing in the spring sunshine, with the breeze blowing, and the soul dancing with the leaves.
Chu Lan pursed her lips and finally gave in.
After a quarter of an hour, Zhang Qingjiu slowly let go of Chu Lan's arm.
Looking at Chu Lan's eyes, Zhang Qingjiu raised his chin and said, "I am a man of my word."
Although she wanted to gather more, she couldn't leave the sick sheep without wool.
True to his word? Chu Lan sneered, and when he retracted his hand, he also put away the strange feeling in his heart, "What on earth are you doing here tonight?"
"I just told you that I would celebrate your birthday with you." Zhang Qingjiu blinked his eyes and suddenly thought of something, stood up and walked towards the house.
Chu Lan looked at her steps that were so comfortable that she didn't recognize life at all, and the corner of her mouth twitched almost invisible.
Picking up a sandalwood box from the counter inside, Zhang Qingjiu placed it on the counter with a clatter, with a smile on his eyes and brows, "Let's see if you like it."
Looking at the chessboard that she had messed up, Chu Lan shook her head helplessly, "What is this?"
Zhang Qingjiu glanced at it and patted the box, "Birthday gift."
She couldn't bring her gifts into the palace, so she sent them to the Prince's Mansion along with the gifts from the Prime Minister's Mansion in advance, but she kept it in mind and specifically asked Huo Wu to put it in Chu Lan's room for her in advance.
It's not just for this moment.
Chu Lan shook her head helplessly.
Seeing that he didn't move for a long time, Zhang Qingjiu couldn't help but start to take it apart himself, saying: "Oh, don't be embarrassed, just take a look."
Chu Lan's eyes narrowed, but he finally took the box from her hand and said, "I will do it myself."
Is there any sense in opening it yourself after giving a gift?
The box was very heavy to begin with. Thinking of the happy smile on this slender face when she just brought it over, Chu Lan raised the corner of her mouth and slowly opened the brocade box.
What comes into view is a simple lyre. The body of the instrument is dark and moist, with a faint bright color. As the brocade box is opened, it emits a unique fragrance, which is refreshing.
Chu Lan was stunned for a moment, then slowly uttered two words, "Bell."
"Yes, it's the bell." Seeing that Chu Lan recognized the piano, Zhang Qingjiu showed a smile and took the piano out of the box, "Originally I was wondering if the gift might not be what you wanted, but it seems
That’s right. The kings who followed the carillon were all examples of diligence, love for the people, and wisdom and understanding. If you like it, you can use this one in the future. As for playing around the beams and other things, you should not be able to compare with it, right?"
Thinking of Empress Dowager Xie's smile hidden in her eyes in the main hall, Zhang Qingjiu couldn't help but snorted softly.
Hearing what she said, Chu Lan was startled. She raised her head and looked at Zhang Qingjiu, speechless for a long time.
"You don't have to look at me like that. If you really want to thank me, just play me a piece of music." Zhang Qingjiu blinked.
Putting the piano on the table, Chu Lan slowly sat down and gently brushed the strings with her fingers. The sweet sound of the piano came out like running water, "Where did you go after the birthday party?"
"Where you used to live." Zhang Qingjiu yawned and refused to hide.
Some words don’t need to be said explicitly, but they are already tacitly understood in the heart.
Another piece of piano music flows slowly, like the moonlight passing through a leisurely courtyard and the breeze staining the hills.
Listening to the sound of the piano that sounded like mountains and flowing water, Zhang Qingjiu finally couldn't resist the hard work of these days and slowly closed his eyes.
After a while, the sound of the piano stopped.
Zhang Qingjiu opened his eyes, with a bit of confusion in his eyes. He grabbed forward with one hand. When he touched a soft spot, he raised the corner of his mouth and leaned his head over, "I know you don't believe it.
But Chu Lan... I just want you to live well. Only if you live can I live."
"Why?" Chu Lan's left hand fell from the piano, and Chu Lan's movements were cautious, as if he was afraid of disturbing something.
"Because, because..."
Chu Lan held her breath.
Suddenly, Zhang Qingjiu moved his hand hanging by his side, and then rummaged through his arms, and took out a moon-white sachet, "Oh, I forgot... I want to give this to you too, remember to carry it with you in the future.
, I have spent a lot of effort to ensure that you are safe and sound."
This sachet was pulled off her body casually, and inside it was a formation she had set up on the way here, in order to prevent the backlash of the fate-changing formation.
The moment she broke the formation, she was certain that the world was definitely not as peaceful as it seemed on the surface.
And the moment Chu Lan held the sachet in his hand, a sleeping gaze slowly opened in the distant sky, his eyebrows twisted, as if he was exploring something, but he finally closed his eyes.
In the house, the sound of the piano began again, melodious and filling the room with fragrance.