Moonlit Reunion

In the end, Mei Zhuyu did not go ahead with clearing the mountains in advance. Dealing with the monsters in the wild forests without reason would be too much of a fuss. Although it wasn’t within the city, if the commotion grew too loud and caught the attention of those two Demon Market owners in Chang’an, it would only create unnecessary complications and affect their trip to Azalea Mountain—hardly worth the trouble.

Another important reason was that Mei Zhuyu simply didn’t have the time. On the evening before the outing, he was busy bathing, changing into fresh clothes, burning incense, and paying respects to the sect’s founding master, praying for a smooth journey. In the temple, whenever his junior disciples had to venture out for dangerous tasks, they would bathe, hold incense, and reverently pray to the founding master for protection. Mei Zhuyu had never done such things before, but this time was different—he hoped everything would go smoothly.

After all, the thought of going on an outing with the person he loved filled him with nervousness. His master and senior brothers were all ascetics who never married; they had no experience interacting with women and naturally had never taught him such things. Even though Mei Zhuyu was a fierce Taoist capable of slaying centuries-old monsters with a mere wave of his hand, in this unfamiliar territory, he couldn’t help but feel a little flustered.

After devoutly offering incense to the founding master, Mei Zhuyu sat by the window, gazing solemnly at the stars in the sky, his fingers subtly moving as he performed divinations. After a while, he let out a slight sigh of relief.

Good. The weather tomorrow would be fine—no rain. The trip should go smoothly.

In stark contrast to Mei Zhuyu’s cautious preparations, Wu Zhen had nearly forgotten about the outing. She had been playing polo with someone and encountered a rather skilled opponent, which had sparked her interest enough to keep her on the field for two whole days. Wu Zhen had many hobbies, but her enthusiasm for most lasted only a few days before waning, so almost everyone who knew her was aware that she dabbled in many things but rarely took any seriously—playing around superficially before tossing them aside.

After two days of polo, once she had exhausted her new opponent to the point of collapse, Wu Zhen began to grow bored. As she stepped off the field to rest, Mei Si sidled up to her and asked, “Zhen-jie, I heard you’re going to Azalea Mountain with my elder cousin tomorrow? Are you taking us along?”

Only then did Wu Zhen suddenly remember the arrangement. She took a sip of water and waved Mei Si off. “We’re going alone to spend time together and nurture our feelings. What would we need you all for? To cause trouble?”

Mei Si: “…My feelings are so mixed up I don’t even know which part of this is making me so bitter.”

Now that she remembered her upcoming date, Wu Zhen tossed her polo mallet aside without hesitation. “I’m heading back.” Halfway out, she turned and fixed her underlings with a knowing stare. “Tomorrow, you can go wherever you want—just not Azalea Mountain. Got it?” That young master seemed rather thin-skinned. If they really ended up being watched, he’d probably be extremely uncomfortable.

The underlings: “…Got it, Zhen-jie.” They had originally planned to sneak along and spy, but now that she’d called them out, they couldn’t go—what a shame! They should’ve kept quiet and just secretly followed tomorrow!Wu Zhen had a good night's rest and set out spiritedly on horseback with Mei Zhuyu the next day. Though the East and West Markets hadn't opened yet, the ordinary streets and alleys were already bustling with activity. Hawkers carrying shoulder poles wove through the lanes calling their wares, while breakfast stalls were winding down their morning business amid loud cries. Women washed clothes and vegetables in the neighborhood canals, chatting about domestic affairs. Men heading to work hurried along, while idlers gathered under trees at street corners playing chess or listening to storytellers, their animated gossip flying thick and fast. Wu Zhen caught snippets about last year's Dragon Boat Festival races.

This year's festival was still over a month away, and shortly after it would come Wu Zhen and Mei Zhuyu's wedding day.

The main thoroughfare saw foreign merchants' perfumed carriages and fine horses - all bound for the West Market. Those driving oxcarts were mostly villagers bringing seasonal fruits, vegetables and mountain goods to sell cheaply at the East Market for city dwellers eager to taste the first freshness of the season.

At the city gate, Wu Zhen noticed several large merchant caravans returning with goods from other regions. The procession took considerable time to enter the city. A manager-like man from one caravan spotted Wu Zhen and called out loudly, "Wu Er Niangzi! We've just stocked the latest fabrics - when will you come to order summer robes?"

Without stopping her horse, Wu Zhen replied, "Just pick some good ones and send them to Duke Yu's residence."

"Certainly! We'll select only the finest for you, Second Lady!"

Passing the caravans, Wu Zhen explained to Mei Zhuyu, "Those are cloth merchants I know well - they usually make my clothes." This reminded her of the red round-collar robe currently stuffed under the young man's bed, which had also come from those shops.

Treating this as a leisurely outing, neither hurried their horses. Along the road to Azalea Mountain, various trees and flowers lined the path. As Mei Zhuyu rode beneath one tree, a delicate fragrance caught his attention. After searching the branches, he plucked a small, inconspicuous greenish blossom and inhaled its scent.

Though unfamiliar with the flower, its pleasant aroma made him hesitate before urging his horse closer to Wu Zhen's to offer her the sprig.

Wu Zhen rode with half-lidded eyes, reins slack in her hands. Accustomed to faster riding, the slow plodding gait nearly lulled her to sleep until the sudden fragrance startled her awake. Looking down, she found an unassuming little flower being presented to her.

Straightening in the saddle, she accepted the blossom and sniffed. "Mm, lovely. This road always smells wonderful at this time of year - I never knew the source until now." Examining the sprig, she mused, "So plain-looking, yet so fragrant?"

After enjoying the scent, she tucked a small bloom into her black gauze headscarf and fastened the remainder to her horse's bridle.

Seeing her appreciation, Mei Zhuyu relaxed somewhat. Their silent journey had worried him that Wu Zhen might lose interest and turn back before reaching Azalea Mountain.The consequence of Wu Zhen expressing her fondness was that by the time they reached the foot of Azalea Mountain, her horse's bridle and reins were adorned with over a dozen flowers Mei Zhuyu had picked along the way. As she rode forward, the breeze carried the fragrance of these flowers to her nose.

Her nose itched, making her want to sneeze constantly.

Azalea Mountain was a small hill near the Southern Mountains, much smaller than the surrounding peaks. However, it was famous for its abundance of azaleas, which painted the slopes in vibrant hues when in bloom, making it a renowned scenic spot often visited by young men and women during spring outings. Wu Zhen had already brought people here once before when the mountain was blanketed in azaleas.

At this time, most of the azaleas on Azalea Mountain had already withered, and the scenery wasn't as splendid as before, so there were few visitors—only Mei Zhuyu and Wu Zhen, along with two or three others.

Wu Zhen and Mei Zhuyu tied their horses at the foot of the mountain and began walking up the main path together. The main trail was well-maintained, allowing an easy ascent to the summit. However, Wu Zhen immediately led Mei Zhuyu onto a secluded side path, guiding him through thickets as tall as a person.

Mei Zhuyu didn’t ask why she had strayed from the main path, simply following behind her and occasionally reaching out to brush away the overhanging branches and thorns from her head.

Wu Zhen navigated the path while turning to explain, "Most of the azaleas along the main trail have already faded, so there’s not much to see. But there’s a hidden path over here where the azaleas bloom later. Right now is the perfect time to see them, and very few people know about this spot, so you can take your time admiring them."

Mei Zhuyu gave a quiet "Mm" in response, then worried it might sound too indifferent and added, "Are there many azaleas there?"

A mysterious smile played on Wu Zhen’s lips. "You’ll see when we get there. I’m sure you’ll love it, Little Lord."

Mei Zhuyu wasn’t used to being called "Little Lord" by Wu Zhen—it made him seem much younger than he was. At the temple, he was responsible for mentoring junior disciples, many of whom were close to his age yet held him in reverence. No one there would dare call him "Little Lord," nor would his masters or senior brothers. But then again, Wu Zhen was a few years older than him, and perhaps she simply preferred addressing him this way.

Well, a title was just a trivial matter—no need to dwell on it. Having settled this thought, Mei Zhuyu pondered what else to say next. But before he could decide, Wu Zhen, who was leading the way, announced, "We’re here."

Mei Zhuyu took another step forward, emerging from the thicket, and suddenly found himself greeted by a breathtaking expanse of deep and pale red.

Just as Wu Zhen had said, this secluded slope was covered in azaleas, their branches intertwined and blossoms clustered into vibrant, fiery balls of flowers, creating a scene of dazzling floral splendor.

Wu Zhen had already started walking ahead along the nearly overgrown path. Mei Zhuyu lagged a few steps behind, watching her figure amidst the sea of blossoms. She moved with such grace, her robes fluttering like a bird skimming over the flowers, her beauty rivaling the blooms around her.

Plucking an azalea and popping it into her mouth, Wu Zhen realized she no longer heard footsteps behind her. Turning around, she saw the "Little Lord" seemingly entranced by the flowers and couldn’t help but laugh. "What are you standing there for? Come over here. There’s another path ahead with even more beautiful flowers."Mei Zhuyu caught up with her and walked side by side. The fragrance of azaleas wasn’t overpowering, but there were so many blooming here that the rich scent enveloped them in an instant, clinging to their clothes.

The atmosphere was so enchanting that Mei Zhuyu felt as if he had drifted into a dream, his mind slightly dazed. That was until he suddenly noticed a mountain specter standing on the narrow path ahead.

Mountain specters were harmless monsters, formed from lingering resentment of people and animals who had died in the mountains. They had no consciousness, appearing as flickering shadows that often lingered on mountain paths. Ordinary people couldn’t see them. If someone walked through one, the living person’s yang energy would disperse the specter, but the specter’s resentment would seep into the person’s body, causing them to fall ill.

Mei Zhuyu remained expressionless. As the two approached the specter, he suddenly quickened his pace and dispersed it himself. At the same time, he plucked a tightly clustered branch of azaleas shaped like a ball from behind the specter and handed it to Wu Zhen. “This one is beautiful.”

Wu Zhen accepted the flowers with a smile, cursing inwardly. Of course, she had seen the specter blocking their path and had planned to step forward just before reaching it to disperse it herself. But her young man had longer legs and beat her to it.

As a Cat Official, even if she collided with a hundred of these minor monsters, she wouldn’t fall ill. But for an ordinary person like him, encountering such filth would surely make him sick. Inviting him out for a pleasant outing only to let him fall ill—how terrible would that be?

Wu Zhen was in a foul mood, while Mei Zhuyu felt relieved. He was glad he had dealt with the specter first. After all, as a skilled Taoist, he paid no heed to such minor monsters. They couldn’t possibly make him ill. But Wu Zhen was different. If she accidentally bumped into one, she would definitely fall sick. If he let the woman he loved get sick from such filth today, he would die of shame.

Each lost in their own thoughts, they walked a little further before Wu Zhen suddenly stopped. She tugged at Mei Zhuyu’s collar and said solemnly, “I’m going to be a little rude.”

Mei Zhuyu was puzzled. “?”

Wu Zhen pulled his head down and gave him a kiss.

To prevent her young man from falling ill later, she had no choice but to give him a bit of her saliva to cleanse the filth he’d encountered. It wasn’t that she wanted to act shamelessly—for his health, she had to play the rogue this once.