329 Marry
After speaking, he turned to Zhao Zhitong and the others and said, "Let’s go. Don’t bother arguing with them. Mr. ng often teaches us that life is unpredictable. Everything we encounter is a gift and a test on our path. We shouldn’t care about what others think; the most important thing is to be ourselves."
Zhao Zhitong looked up into his eyes. His deep eyes were filled with calmness, causing her heart to clench. She then nodded vigorously.
「 」
After failing his imperial examination, Qiao Muchen acted as if nothing was wrong. Zhao Zhitong and the others followed suit, pretending everything was fine, though everyone was actually very worried.
After their midday al, Qiao Muchen energetically discussed with them how they should reveal the cris committed by the King of Chu and Zhuo An’s faction to the emperor.
Qiao Muchen contemplated for a mont, then said, "Once Princess Anping has subtly revealed the matter of the young prince and the cris of the King of Chu and his associates to the emperor, we will then have an audience with him. At that ti, Elder Zhang and Princess Anping will make the introductions for us."
Everyone looked at Qiao Muchen, as if hoping to see through his facade of strength.
After Qiao Muchen finished speaking, he noticed everyone staring at him without a word. He couldn’t help but wave his hand in front of their eyes a few tis.
"Hey, why are you all staring blankly at ? Is there a treasure on my face or sothing?"
Everyone was stunned for a mont. Then, regaining their composure, they all feigned nonchalance and laughed.
Zhao Yue said, "Hahaha, it’s nothing, nothing! I just... noticed... you don’t seem to have washed your face today."
Wei Shulan and Zhao Zhitong looked at Zhao Yue speechlessly. What a terrible excuse...
How could Qiao Muchen not know about their worries? But if he said he was fine at this mont, they wouldn’t believe him. So, he could only do his best to appear unaffected.
Therefore, he imdiately smiled and said, "How could I not have washed my face? Today is Results Announcent Day; naturally, one must be neatly dressed and maintain a proper deanor."
Zhao Yue coughed, regretting his terrible excuse. It had steered the conversation back to the examination. His eyes darted around, and he quickly changed the subject with a sheepish laugh.
"Oh, right, Qiao Muchen, you said we’re going to the palace. Will all of us be going inside?"
Qiao Muchen nodded. "Yes, we are all witnesses, so naturally, we all must have an audience with the emperor."
Wei Shulan’s eyes widened. "? I have to go too?"
Qiao Muchen nodded. "You do."
Wei Shulan grasped Zhao Zhitong’s hand and said nervously, "But that’s the emperor! I’ve never t the emperor. I’ve heard he’s very imposing. Just thinking about it now makes nervous."
Instantly, everyone started discussing the topic of eting the emperor, and thus, the matter of the imperial examination was smoothly brushed aside.
「 」
「Nightti.」
In the dead of night, Zhao Zhitong lay in bed, thinking about Qiao Muchen. She tossed and turned, unable to sleep. After turning over for the fifth ti, she finally sat up, draped her cloak over her shoulders, and got out of bed.
Just then, she heard the sound of a door closing outside.
Her room was adjacent to Qiao Muchen’s. Judging by the direction of the sound, Zhao Zhitong guessed it was Qiao Muchen who had gone out.
After a mont’s thought, Zhao Zhitong also opened her door. She saw Qiao Muchen standing in the corridor with his back to her room, gazing down at the floor below, seemingly lost in thought.
The sound of Zhao Zhitong opening her door caught Qiao Muchen’s attention. Turning around to look at her, he smiled gently and asked, "Why aren’t you asleep?"
Zhao Zhitong tightened the cloak around herself and whispered, "I can’t seem to fall asleep."
"Thinking about sothing?" Qiao Muchen asked. Seeing Zhao Zhitong nod, he pursed his lips slightly, then asked, "Would you like to watch the moon with ?"
"Huh?" Zhao Zhitong was taken aback. Looking up at Qiao Muchen, she asked, puzzled, "Watch the moon?"
"Yes. Coming?"
Wanting to comfort him, Zhao Zhitong nodded and asked, "Where are we going to watch it?"
Qiao Muchen said mysteriously, "I know a great spot. Co on, follow ."
With that, they descended the stairs, one after the other.
Zhao Zhitong followed Qiao Muchen out of the inn. Looking at the quiet street, she was puzzled.
Qiao Muchen looked at Zhao Zhitong. "Co, close your eyes."
Ordinarily, Zhao Zhitong definitely wouldn’t have listened to him. But today, she sensed Qiao Muchen must be feeling down, so she obediently closed her eyes.
Imdiately afterward, she felt an arm wrap around her waist, followed by a sensation of weightlessness.
Accompanied by the sound of Qiao Muchen’s breath near her ear, she felt her feet touch the ground. However, the surface was uneven, and she struggled to keep her balance.
Qiao Muchen chuckled softly. "Alright."
Hearing this, Zhao Zhitong opened her eyes and found herself on a rooftop. Startled by the sudden height, she instinctively grabbed Qiao Muchen’s arm.
"The view of the moon from here is exceptional."
Qiao Muchen said, pulling Zhao Zhitong down to sit beside him. He leaned back, half-lying on the rooftop, and said softly, "Look, aren’t there so many stars?"
Zhao Zhitong initially sat rather stiffly but gradually relaxed. Looking up, she saw the indeed beautiful night sky and nodded. "Mmm, the night sky is so beautiful."
Qiao Muchen agreed, "Yes, it’s very beautiful."
After that, silence returned. Zhao Zhitong couldn’t help but turn to look at Qiao Muchen and saw him tilting his head, looking at her.
Zhao Zhitong asked, "What are you thinking about?"
Qiao Muchen looked away, back at the night sky, and said with a smile, "I was thinking, it would be wonderful if we could always watch the night sky quietly like this."
Zhao Zhitong chuckled. "It’s rare to see you so sentintal. Isn’t the night sky always there? If you want to see it, you can see it every day."
Qiao Muchen turned back to look at Zhao Zhitong, his gaze serious. "Then, if I ask you to co, will you always accompany to watch it?"
Zhao Zhitong nodded without hesitation. "Of course."
Qiao Muchen looked away again, a slight smile playing on his lips. "You’re quick to agree. The future holds many uncertainties. Perhaps one day, you won’t be by my side anymore."
As he finished speaking, there was an inexplicable sense of loneliness in his tone.
"That won’t happen!"
Zhao Zhitong blurted out almost instinctively. Then, her eyes lit up as she said, "Ah, I have an idea! Qiao Jiaojiao, you can marry ! That way, we’ll be family, and we’ll never be separated."
Upon hearing these words, Qiao Muchen was so shocked he nearly fell off the rooftop.
After steadying himself, he turned to look at Zhao Zhitong, a mix of disbelief and a pleasant surprise in his eyes. "Do you know what ’marry’ ans?"
Zhao Zhitong nodded vigorously. "I know! It’s like when Father married Mother. Two people beco a family and can be together forever."
Qiao Muchen chuckled. I thought this young girl had finally figured it out. Alas, it seems this will take ti.
So, he adopted an educational tone. "Tongtong, marriage is a very, very serious matter. It’s not sothing that happens just because you want to be together. Such things cannot be promised lightly, understand?"
Zhao Zhitong blinked at him, thought for a mont, and said, "But I am being very serious."
The tips of Qiao Muchen’s ears turned slightly red, but he patiently continued, "Alright, then let ask you: besides wanting to comfort right now and saying you want to be with forever by having marry you, do you have any other reason for wanting to marry you?"
Zhao Zhitong actually began to think about it seriously. After racking her brains for a long ti, she shook her head.
Qiao Muchen said, "See? Apart from wanting to comfort , you have no other reason to want to marry . So, I can’t marry you yet."
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