Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality

Chapter 179: Chapter 161: Actually, I’ve Liked Your Majesty for a Long Time

“To hold your hand, to grow old with you.”

Yan Ruxue smiled at Xiao Mo and spoke slowly.

“I’m also very fond of those two lines,” Xiao Mo said, nodding as he took a sip of tea.

“I thought you might laugh at me for that, sir,” Yan Ruxue said, the corners of her lips curling up slightly.

“Why do you say that?” Xiao Mo asked.

“Because it’s all about love and romance. It seems rather sentimental.” Yan Ruxue lowered her gaze, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

“I’m afraid you’re mistaken, miss.” Xiao Mo smiled and shook his head. “Of the eighty thousand characters in the world, ’love’ is the most lethal. Though the vast sea may become land and ages may pass, the one thing that never changes is love.”

“…” Yan Ruxue’s eyes wavered slightly as she gazed quietly into Xiao Mo’s.

“Is something wrong, miss?” Xiao Mo looked at the woman before him. He felt that for a brief moment, the way her eyes met his was a little… off.

It was as if there was a sudden impulse in her heart.

But she forcibly suppressed it.

“It’s nothing.” Yan Ruxue shook her head. “I just think you make a very good point, sir. Allow me to toast you with this tea in place of wine.”

“You’re too kind, miss.”

Xiao Mo raised his teacup, clinking it with Yan Ruxue’s from across the space between them, and drained it in one go.

About an hour later, Wei Xun glanced at the sky, decided it was getting late, and stepped forward. “Sir,” he said softly, “it’s getting late. Shouldn’t we be heading back?”

“Understood.” Xiao Mo stood and bowed to Yan Ruxue with clasped hands. “Miss, I must take my leave now. I’ve very much enjoyed our conversation today.”

Yan Ruxue rose and returned a slight bow. “Take care, sir. I was just about to leave myself. This box of pastries… if you wouldn’t mind, please take them and have a taste.”

“In that case, I’ll graciously accept. Be careful on your way, miss.”

“You as well, sir.”

Without any false modesty, Xiao Mo accepted the pastries and turned to leave.

Only after Xiao Mo’s figure had vanished in the distance did Yan Ruxue finally pull back her gaze.

“Xiao Chun, let’s head back as well,” Yan Ruxue said with a soft smile.

“Yes, my lady.”

Xiao Chun quickly gathered the cushions, kite, and tea set. As for the charcoal from the tea stove, she poured it into the lake.

The water hissed, sending up a small patch of steam, and the embers gradually sank to the bottom.

「…」

On the way back to the palace, Xiao Mo looked at the box of pastries in Wei Xun’s hands and said:

“Wei Xun, I want to try one.”

“Of course, sir.” Wei Xun quickly unwrapped the oil paper and carefully offered it to His Majesty.

Xiao Mo picked out an osmanthus cake and took a bite.

“Hm?”

Staring at the half-eaten osmanthus cake in his hand, Xiao Mo couldn’t help but frown.

“Sir, is something wrong with the osmanthus cake?” Wei Xun asked.

“It’s nothing. It’s just that the flavor of this osmanthus cake feels a little familiar.”

“Familiar?” Wei Xun was even more confused.

“It’s a bit like something I’ve had before, but not quite. This one tastes better.”

Xiao Mo stopped and turned to look back in the direction of Bichun Lake.

After three breaths, Xiao Mo shook his head with a smile, as if mocking himself for the unrealistic thought that had just crossed his mind.

“Forget it. I’m just overthinking things. Let’s go, time to head back.”

“Yes, sir…”

「…」

After tossing the tea set, kite, and other items into the carriage, Xiao Chun didn’t get in with her lady to return to their estate.

Her lady wanted to stroll through the market, so of course, Xiao Chun accompanied her.

It was a bit tiring to walk, but she loved shopping with her lady.

It was just that whenever they went out, all sorts of people would stare at her lady with all sorts of gazes.

Xiao Chun wished she could just gouge out all of their eyes.

“My lady, my lady.” Xiao Chun shook her lady’s hand, her eyes filled with a gossipy glint.

“What is it?” Yan Ruxue asked with a smile.

“My lady, why didn’t you tell His Majesty your name?” Xiao Chun asked, full of curiosity.

She had thought several times that her lady was about to reveal her name, and she had been eagerly awaiting His Majesty’s reaction.

But her lady never did, always referring to herself with demure modesty.

Yan Ruxue reached out and flicked Xiao Chun’s forehead lightly. “Well, Xiao Chun, did His Majesty ever ask for my name?”

“No, he didn’t,” Xiao Chun said, shaking her head.

Yan Ruxue asked again, “And did His Majesty ever mention his identity?”

“No, he didn’t do that either…” Xiao Chun shook her head again. “Oh, that’s right! Why is that? Logically speaking, since you’re so beautiful, my lady, shouldn’t His Majesty have revealed his identity and swept you off to the palace?”

“Silly girl.” Yan Ruxue smiled gently. “Since it was a chance encounter, why ask so many questions? Why add a layer of complexity to such a pure, chance meeting?”

“But, my lady,” Xiao Chun said, rubbing her forehead, “it won’t be long before you have to enter the palace anyway.”

“That’s true. But today is today, and tomorrow is tomorrow. Today, I am his friend. In a little while, I will be his wife. He ought to be quite surprised, don’t you think?”

“Mhm, mhm! His Majesty will definitely be very surprised, and very happy too.”

Xiao Chun said with a giggle, a sense of anticipation already blooming in her heart.

She looked forward to the wedding night, when His Majesty would lift her lady’s red veil and realize that his Empress was, in fact, the woman he had met by chance.

’How surprised His Majesty will be…!’

’It’s just like a story from a novel!’

But then again… Xiao Chun looked at her lady, a hint of worry in her eyes. “My lady, what do you think of His Majesty? Do you like him?”

At first, Xiao Chun had felt it was a great injustice for her lady to enter the palace.

His Majesty’s reputation wasn’t very good, after all.

Rumor had it that he was a fatuous, incompetent ruler with a violent temper, who would beat and curse the Palace Maids at the slightest provocation.

But after seeing His Majesty twice, Xiao Chun felt he wasn’t that kind of person at all.

He had a refined and scholarly air about him, like one of the scholars—dashing and handsome, and not the least bit arrogant.

In short, His Majesty was completely different from the rumors.

“I do like him,” Yan Ruxue answered with a smile.

“Eh?” Xiao Chun froze for a moment. She hadn’t expected her lady to answer so directly. ’How forward!’ she thought.

“And I’ll tell you a secret, but you mustn’t tell His Majesty, Xiao Chun.”

Yan Ruxue said mysteriously, a hint of playfulness in her voice.

“Tell me, tell me, my lady! This servant will never tell His Majesty!” Xiao Chun’s eyes sparkled.

“The truth is… I’ve liked His Majesty for a very long time.”

“But my lady, wasn’t the first time you met His Majesty three months ago?”

“Who says?” A smile played on Yan Ruxue’s lips. “I’ve seen His Majesty before.”

Xiao Chun scratched her head. “Then, my lady, how long have you liked His Majesty?”

Yan Ruxue smiled and pinched Xiao Chun’s nose. “For about seven thousand years.”

“Seven thousand years?”

Xiao Chun stopped in her tracks, watching her lady’s retreating back and pondering her words.

A moment later, it dawned on her, and she quickly ran to catch up.

“You’re lying, my lady! You’re only nineteen years old!”