“Goddess, please think thrice!” The four elders’ helpless voices echoed, wiping their cold sweat. “I’ve decided. I want to make the ‘Myriad Moon Dynasty’ bloom with cherry blossoms again, restoring its former glory.” Xiaotu, nibbling on pastries, spoke with determination. She hadn’t had pastries in a while, and today, even the ones she used to dislike tasted delicious. “Goddess, with your current magical power, it’s simply not possible.” Their faces were filled with worry, fearing unintended consequences if not handled properly. “Elder Huohu, don’t worry, I won’t let everyone worry anymore. I’ll practice hard.” Her reassuring smile was comforting. “Xiaotu, are you sure you can do this? Your magical power is so unstable, don’t end up doing the opposite.” Qian Lianyu expressed her concern, having just returned from the Lotus Yao Pool, learning of the recent events, and deciding never to leave Xiaotu’s side again, to share the burdens as friends do. “How will we know unless we try?” Xiaotu flashed a mischievous, bright smile, with crumbs at the corner of her mouth adding to her cuteness. “Fairy sister, do you want some water?” A cute head emerged from the pile of pastries, her face now like a little cat with food remnants, looking adorable. She picked up a nearby cup to find it empty. “I made ‘plum juice,’ want to try some?” Xiaotu gave a sly smile to the two. “Yes, I want some.” Hearing about good food, Yingli’s eyes sparkled. “Xiaotu, won’t your cooking kill us?” Lian Lian teased, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “It’s in the kitchen, let’s go taste it together.” With a cunning smile, Xiaotu said, and the three of them ran out in a flash, Lian Lian stuffing some pastries into her pocket. Watching the trio dash away, the four elders were both amused and exasperated; let fate take its course…
“Fairy sister, this isn’t the way to the kitchen.” Yingli knew the route to the kitchen well, having frequented it. But this was clearly the path leading out of the palace. “Silly Li’er, can’t you see your fairy sister is sneaking out of the palace?” Lian Lian patted Yingli’s head gently, her expression knowing. She knew Xiaotu wouldn’t be making ‘plum juice.’ “Leaving the palace?” The word was foreign to her, her pure eyes filled with excitement and anticipation. She had never left the palace before. “Can I come too?” Dressed in moonlit robes, he looked like an immortal, the scarlet lotus mark on his forehead adding a touch of allure. They stopped, not knowing what to say; she still couldn’t face him, even knowing Bai Hua’s death wasn’t his fault, yet she felt… “Of course, having a money bag is nice.” Seeing the awkward situation, Qian Yu Lian said with a smile, calculating in her mind. “Money bag? Can we eat it, Sister Lian Lian?” Yingli asked with innocent eyes. Here is the of the Chinese text into English:
Everyone looked at each other, unsure of what to say. Qian Yu Lian scratched her head and said, “You can’t eat a money pouch, but with that money pouch, you can exchange it for lots of delicious and fun things.” From then on, in Ying Li’s mind, the “money pouch” was a magical thing; with it, there would be many delicious treats and fun activities, and Xia Yu Ye was that magical “money pouch.”
In the Qian Yue Kingdom, the scene was still as prosperous as when they first arrived, but the inner palace had already undergone earth-shattering changes. Walking down the street, stopping at various stalls, and tasting local snacks, the food might not be exceptionally delicious, but the feeling of being part of the community was undeniable. Gazing at strings of sugar-coated hawthorns, the three of them drooled. Xia Yu Ye quickly paid for a large bunch of sugar-coated hawthorns and handed them to the trio. Biting into a hawthorn, the sweet and sour taste made Ying Li squint her eyes in satisfaction. “It’s so delicious,” she couldn’t help but praise. This wasn’t her first time eating them; just a few months ago, she and Wang Xie were on this very street, enjoying the same tangy-sweet taste, which was truly unforgettable.
Seeing her satisfied smile, as clear as a child’s, Xia Yu Ye smiled and took a bite of the sugar-coated hawthorn. The unique flavor also enchanted him, much like her. The initial sweetness was irresistible, and then the sweet and sour sensation seemed to capture his soul.
At each stall, you could see the three figures, like elves, curiously looking around. “Sister, what’s over there?” The sharp-eyed Ying Li noticed a long queue not far away. “I’ll go check it out; it must be some delicious food,” said Xiao Tu, quickly heading towards the stall. Seeing Xiao Tu being pushed away by the crowd, Xia Yu Ye hurried after her.
“Stinky tofu for sale, the real deal, if it’s not stinky, it’s free!” the vendor shouted. “Here you go, miss, your portion.” Seeing that the buyer was an ethereal beauty, the young vendor blushed, puzzled as to why such a lady would buy stinky tofu. Xia Yu Ye, following behind, quickly paid, his body close to Xiao Tu to prevent her from being knocked over. “Thank you,” she said with a sweet smile, momentarily stunning the vendor.
“Tu Tu, let me try some.” Although the smell was slightly off-putting, the long line suggested it must be delicious. Each took a piece of stinky tofu, bit into it, and found the taste, mixed with sweet bean sauce, to be exquisite. “It’s really good. I didn’t expect something that smells bad could taste so good,” Xiao Tu marveled, enjoying the remaining half in her mouth. Ying Li, with her cheeks full of sweet bean sauce, mumbled, “Mmm, it’s really tasty. Brother Xia, you should try some too.” She handed the stinky tofu to Xia Yu Ye. Looking into her pure, water-like eyes, he couldn’t refuse, opened his thin lips, and took a bite. His brows furrowed at the strange taste. Seeing Xia Yu Ye’s peculiar expression, Xiao Tu couldn’t help but laugh. “Brother Xia, is it good?” a tender voice asked. “Not bad,” Xia Yu Ye replied, his face stiffening.
Eating stinky tofu, the four continued their leisurely stroll. The fragrance of snacks mixed with the scent of jasmine lingered in the air, halting their steps. To their left, the golden characters “Listening to the Water Pavilion” caught their eyes. “The pastries at ‘Listening to the Water Pavilion’ are quite famous. Let’s go and try some,” said Lian Lian, grabbing Ying Li’s hand and entering the shop, leaving the two outside awkwardly. Xiao Tu followed them in.
The decor was the same as before, with flowing streams, famous paintings, and jasmine decorations everywhere. It was here where she once tasted the bitterness of heartache, seeing him with another woman, his doting smile no longer for her. As soon as the four entered, they became the center of attention, their extraordinary attire drawing eyes. They sat down, ordered several plates of pastries, which were as delicious as ever. But why did she find no taste in them? Mechanically, she placed the pastries into her mouth, one after another.
“My father went to the palace for Princess Ying’s wedding banquet three days ago and hasn’t returned. I wonder what happened,” a young boy said, his brows furrowed in deep concern.
“My father went too, and he hasn’t come back after three days,” another noble young man added.
Hearing their conversation, Xiao Tu felt a pang of guilt; those officials must have already reached the underworld. Had she killed them? Suddenly, she realized her hands were stained with blood, with hundreds of lives extinguished by her actions. Their families waited anxiously at home, and she felt truly wicked for disrupting families.
Seeing Xiao Tu’s face turn pale, Xia Yu Ye understood her thoughts. He took her hand, leading her outside. In that moment of panic, a warm, moist hand grasped her increasingly cold hands, and he guided her out of the shop. Watching them leave, Ying Li asked, puzzled, “Sister Lian Lian, where did Fairy Sister and Brother Xia go?”
