It was the weekend, and Liu Qianxiu didn’t have to work. The Liu residence, which was usually empty and quiet, became lively as Mu Wan and Liu Qianxiu stayed over for the night.
When Liu Qianxiu didn’t work, Mu Wan also treated herself to a weekend off. That morning, Liu Qianxiu went for his morning meditation, and by the time he returned to their room, Mu Wan was just waking up.
There was something particularly tender and sensitive about the early morning hours. Wrapped in each other’s arms, their affection and love felt more intense than at other times. Eventually, Liu Qianxiu lifted Mu Wan out of bed, and after helping her put on her shoes and change her clothes, he led her to the dining room for breakfast.
The Liu residence was a traditional garden-style complex. While the building they stayed in was a three-story standalone pavilion, most of the other structures were either two stories or single-story. Long corridors connected the buildings, lined with greenery and pavilions.
The previous night’s engagement banquet had been followed by an autumn rain. The plants in the garden were lush and vibrant, and as they strolled along the corridors, the atmosphere was steeped in a sense of timeless elegance.
The air was fresh, thanks to the abundant greenery. After breakfast, Liu Qianxiu took Mu Wan for a walk around the grounds. The Liu residence was vast, and even after over an hour of walking, they had only just finished exploring.
When they returned to the pavilion, the designer had just arrived with the wedding dresses. Mu Wan went inside to try them on.
There wasn’t just one dress; there were both traditional and Western styles. Mu Wan tried them all, finally settling on a simple red wedding dress. With her striking and alluring features, she looked especially stunning in bright red. The long red dress flowed to the floor, giving her the appearance of a glamorous 1980s Hong Kong movie star, exuding both strength and charm.
Mu Wan had no particular expectations for the wedding dress; she just wanted it to look good. But once she saw herself in the mirror, the significance of the moment hit her, and everything suddenly felt solemn and sacred.
Just as the staff was about to open the door, Liu Qianxiu was still waiting outside. Mu Wan felt a twinge of nervousness and raised her hand to signal, “Wait a moment.” The staff smiled understandingly, knowing that brides often felt shy during their first fitting.
After taking another look in the mirror, Mu Wan smiled and said, “I’m ready.”
The staff opened the door, and Mu Wan stepped out. Liu Qianxiu stood at the entrance, his dark eyes reflecting the red of her dress. She looked up at him, her smile like a flower floating on water, creating gentle ripples across the surface.
Mu Wan couldn’t tell if she was feeling shy or anxious. She twirled her sleeves and spread out her arms, smiling as she asked, “How do I look?”
“Beautiful.” Liu Qianxiu replied, his expression softening as he quietly adjusted the collar of her dress. His voice was deep and calm.
Mu Wan smiled and leaped into his arms, and Liu Qianxiu caught her. He was tall, and even when standing straight, Mu Wan only reached his chin. She stood on her tiptoes and leaned forward. Sensing her intention, Liu Qianxiu placed his hands on her waist.
Her waist was cinched with a red silk belt. Although she wasn’t far along in her pregnancy, her waist was still slender and light.
Liu Qianxiu held her steady as she stood on her toes, bringing her face close to his ear. The faint scent of her red lipstick, combined with her warm breath, gently brushed against his earlobe, sending a shiver down his spine.
“How do I look compared to last night?” she whispered, her voice barely audible but filled with feminine allure. As soon as she spoke, Liu Qianxiu’s hands on her waist tightened ever so slightly.
Mu Wan lowered herself back down, her feet touching the ground, but it felt as if a flame had ignited under her soles, spreading warmth throughout her body. Her red lips curled into a smile, and her cheeks flushed as she tilted her head, exposing the pale, delicate skin of her neck above the red dress, waiting for his response.
He gazed down at her, his eyes darkened by the crimson glow. Slipping his hand into her hair, he discreetly pinched her earlobe.
Her cheeks flushed even more. In a low voice, he murmured, “You looked even more beautiful last night.”
The words, coming from someone usually so composed and reserved, carried an unexpected sensuality that made Mu Wan’s heart skip a beat.
She laughed softly and poked him in the chest, whispering, “Liu Daozhang, you have a keen eye.”
After the fitting, the designer and Mu Wan discussed and finalized the remaining details. Liu Qianxiu sat nearby, occasionally offering brief but helpful suggestions.
In terms of aesthetics, Liu Daozhang had a far better eye than she did.
With the wedding dress decided, it was time to plan the wedding date and the ceremony details. Naturally, the elders, especially Mei Laotai, needed to be involved in this.
In the end, the wedding was scheduled for mid-October, and the ceremony arrangements were entrusted to Mei Yaozhi. Having mingled in the circles of the wealthy second generation for years, he had attended countless weddings and was well-versed in such matters.
With everything settled, the couple found themselves with some free time before the wedding. Liu Qianxiu took two days off and brought Mu Wan to Qingyuan Temple.
Even in Xiacheng, October brought a touch of autumn chill, and the air at Qingyuan Mountain was refreshingly crisp. Standing in front of the temple, Mu Wan looked out over the towering mountains and deep valleys, feeling a sense of peace wash over her.
They arrived in the afternoon. Liu Qianxiu knocked on the door, and Xiao Qingchan came running to open it, his face lighting up with joy.
“Shidi, Shijie!” he greeted them.
Liu Qianxiu had called his master, Xuan Qingzi, before they arrived, so Xiao Qingchan had been excitedly awaiting their visit all day. Since becoming pregnant, Mu Wan had become more affectionate towards children. The last time she visited, she didn’t know that Liu Qianxiu’s “Shixiong” was a young boy of seven or eight. This time, she came prepared and brought a gift for Qingchan.
“Thank you, Shijie!” Qingchan accepted the gift with delight, his cheeks flushed with happiness. As he led them inside, he said, “Shifu is meditating. He said you should rest first.”
Carrying their luggage, Liu Qianxiu and Mu Wan headed to the room she had stayed in during her previous visit.
The room was neat and tidy, just as it had been when Mu Wan left last time. After showing them in, Qingchan excused himself and left, not forgetting to close the door behind him.
The climb had tired Mu Wan out. The afternoon sun cast a warm glow into the room as she rubbed her eyes. Pregnancy had made her a bit more prone to sleepiness. Seeing her rubbing her eyes, Liu Qianxiu approached her.
When he reached her side, Mu Wan leaned against him, her breath warm against his chest. He gently stroked her hair and said, “Why don’t you take a nap first?”
The tenderness in his voice made Mu Wan’s heart melt. She clung to him, pouting slightly. “Stay with me.”
“Alright.” Liu Qianxiu agreed, giving her earlobe a playful pinch. She giggled and scampered off to the bed.
Liu Qianxiu picked up a book and sat on the edge of the bed, holding her hand. His palm was cool and dry, and Mu Wan intertwined her fingers with his, slowly drifting off to sleep.
The temple was filled with the scent of incense, stronger than at home. As Mu Wan’s breathing deepened, Liu Qianxiu glanced down at her. Once she was almost asleep, he carefully got up to leave.
But as soon as he moved, Mu Wan’s fingers tightened around his.
The room was quiet, the sunlight gentle. Her hand was warm, and even though her fingers held on tightly, she showed no sign of waking up. He sat back down, braced one arm beside her, and leaned down to kiss her forehead.
“Still awake?” he asked softly.
She kept her eyes closed and didn’t answer his question. “Where are you going?”
He kissed her cheek lightly, a reassuring gesture, and said, “I’m going to prepare dinner. You sleep a bit more, and I’ll wake you later.”
Mu Wan didn’t respond; she had already fallen asleep.
She lay curled on her side, her hair fanned out across the pillow, thick and dark. Her small face was pale and delicate, and her eyebrows were slightly furrowed as if she had fallen asleep before finishing what she wanted to say.
With a look of deep affection, Liu Qianxiu kissed her lightly on the lips. After gently releasing her hand, he got up and quietly left the room.
Mu Wan slept soundly and peacefully, waking up to a room filled with shadows. She vaguely remembered Liu Qianxiu saying he was going to make dinner before she fell asleep. Judging by the time, it was probably dinner time.
She got out of bed, put on her shoes, and opened the door to step outside.
As soon as she opened the door, the calming scent of sandalwood filled her nostrils. The sky was painted with a brilliant sunset, the vibrant colors lifting her spirits.
As soon as Mu Wan stepped out, Qingchan spotted her, still holding the toy she had given him. He ran over excitedly, calling out, “Shijie, you’re awake?”
The little Taoist boy was dressed in a robe, his hair tied up in a small bun, looking utterly adorable. Mu Wan reached out to pinch the bun on his head, smiling as she asked, “Where are Shidi and Shifu?”
“Shidi is making dinner, and Shifu is meditating.” Qingchan replied.
No sooner had he finished speaking than a voice called out, “Qingchan.”
The voice was slightly aged and ethereal. Mu Wan paused and looked up to see Xuan Qingzi standing at the main hall entrance, dressed in his Taoist robe.
Xuan Qingzi appeared to be in his sixties, with hair that was a mix of black and white, tied up in a traditional Taoist style. His robe was dark, and his figure was lean, with sharp features.
Mu Wan looked at him and politely nodded, greeting him with, “Hello, Shifu.”
Xuan Qingzi knew Liu Qianxiu and Mu Wan were coming. Qingyuan Temple was a secluded place for him and Qingchan to practice, so he didn’t mind having a woman visit. He nodded slightly in response.
Taoist priests often exude a sense of cool detachment, but Mu Wan didn’t feel out of place. Still, standing there with nothing much to say, she was beginning to feel awkward when Liu Qianxiu’s voice came from behind her.
“Shifu.”
Xuan Qingzi turned around, his stern gaze softening as he looked at Liu Qianxiu. Xuan Qingzi had known Liu Qianxiu since he was a child, being an old friend of his grandfather. In Liu Qianxiu’s eyes, Xuan Qingzi was a respected elder.
After they exchanged greetings, Liu Qianxiu introduced Mu Wan to Xuan Qingzi. Xuan Qingzi nodded in acknowledgment, and they all moved to the backyard for dinner.
After dinner, Xuan Qingzi and his disciples resumed their evening meditation. Normally, when Xuan Qingzi wasn’t around, Mu Wan would sneakily try to get Liu Qianxiu’s attention. But with Xuan Qingzi present, she didn’t dare step out of line.
“You should go back to the room and read.” Liu Qianxiu suggested, worried she might get bored. He had brought some books with him. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Focus on your meditation.” Mu Wan replied with a smile. Ever since they’d met, she’d been clinging to him, and he hadn’t had much time for proper meditation.
Now, with Xuan Qingzi here, she didn’t want to interrupt him.
Liu Qianxiu didn’t respond, but he reached out to gently pat her head. Mu Wan felt like a cat being stroked, and she smiled up at him, whispering, “I’ll head back now.”
“Wait.”
As Mu Wan was about to leave, Xuan Qingzi, who was sitting at a low table nearby, suddenly called out to her. Both Mu Wan and Liu Qianxiu turned around as Xuan Qingzi stood up.
He walked over to a bookcase by the main hall and retrieved a small square box. The box looked old but was well-maintained, exuding a sense of antiquity.
He handed the box to Mu Wan.
“This is for you.” Xuan Qingzi said.
His expression was as calm and stern as ever. Mu Wan was surprised to see him offer her a gift. But since Liu Qianxiu regarded him as an elder, she accepted the gift as one would from a senior.
Mu Wan opened the box to find a jade pendant inside, its surface smooth and warm, clearly aged.
After returning to her room, Mu Wan went to sleep, leaving only the three of them in the main hall. Xuan Qingzi, with his eyes closed in meditation, asked Liu Qianxiu a question.
“When is the wedding?”
Liu Qianxiu nodded slightly and replied, “On the eighth of next month.”
“Alright.” Xuan Qingzi responded quietly, acknowledging the date.
Qingchan sat on the other side of Xuan Qingzi, propping his chin on his hands. He looked back and forth between his master and his senior brother before asking, “Shidi, now that you have Shijie in your heart, do you still have room for the Dao?”
Children’s thoughts are often simple; they think the heart is a limited space, where having one thing means there’s no room for anything else.
Xuan Qingzi slowly opened his eyes and looked at his young disciple, speaking in a calm, deep voice, “Qingchan, the human heart is vast. It can hold both the Dao and the people we care about.”
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