Im reading my spider web scene again..
Chapter 36..
In the Summer Jing set off with Xiao Yao and Jing Ye, Hu Zhen, Hu Ya, Xiao Xiao, and Miao Pu. They traveled until they reached Chi Sui where they boarded a ship and headed into Gao Xing territory.
Xiao Yao was perplexed and asked Jing “Are you going to do business or have something else in mind?”
Jing smiled “Business of course but I do have other plans.”
“What other plans?”
“One of them is to tour the scenic vistas.”
Xiao Yao walked to the ship bow and stared at the familiar scenery “There are so many beautiful vistas in the world, why bring me to Gao Xing? Don’t you know the Emperor and citizens here don’t welcome me?”
Jing handed a jug of plum wine to Xiao Yao and embraced her waist “The year of the Chi Sui Autumn Tournament, when you left I really wanted to send you off. I arrived at the port but could only stay in the carriage and have a servant send the snacks to you. I wanted to see you but only saw Zhuan Xu, Ah Nian, Feng Long, and Xing Yue talking on the ship. Until the ship disappeared from view I still didn’t see you. I knew you were about to reclaim your princess identity and we might not be fated to be together so my heart hurt. I kept convincing myself that I would travel this route again with you someday and tell you that I came personally to see you off that day”
Xiao Yao’s eyes misted and she leaned into Jing’s embrace and drank the plum wine while watching the view pass by.
The entire trip Jing really was just sightseeing with no rush and often docking the ship to shore and taking Xiao Yao to explore.
Even though Xiao Yao wandered for hundreds of years, it was in the Middle Plains and she never explored Gao Xing. Jing was different, being the clan leader designate since he was young meant he traveled for business all over the vast wilderness. Whether it was the dangerous and scary Jiu Li, the unpredictable ocean, he visited everywhere before. This trip he knew where all the fun things were and the delicious food spots and he planned everything so that Xiao Yao was totally taken care of.
Since her mom died, Xiao Yao finally felt like she could be a kid and just enjoy without any worry or planning.
That night the two of them camped out on the mountain top.
Xiao Yao smiled “Let me show you something!” and then she climbed up a tree like a monkey to rest on the branch.
Jing took out a jade container and released spiders who quickly got to work between the branches.
Xiao Yao stared “Are you planning to make a web lace?”
Jing vaulted to Xiao Yao’s side and embraced her, blocking the cold night wind for her “I’ve raised these spiders since I was small, they make light and soft but impervious webs.”
Xiao Yao stared as the spiders worked feverishly until they made a web hammock between the branches. They returned to Jing who fed them bone essence and they happily retreated back to the jade container.
Xiao Yao didn’t know how Jing raised them but the spiders produced a sky blue web that glittered in the moonlight. She asked “Are you planning to take it back to make clothes with it?”
Jing smiled and then grabbed Xiao Yao in his arms to vault down and landed on the web. It was soft like resting on clouds. Xiao Yao marveled at how it even felt warm and laughed “Jing, you’re so clever even as a kid, to think of such a method of camping outdoors. Of course only the Tu Shan clan can afford it.”
Jing smiled wistfully at memories of the past “My mom and my brother really spoiled me.”
Xiao Yao laid on the web and stared at the stars above. Since wandering the world as a child, she slept outdoors countless times and it was never something she found fun. It was because she had no home so she had to sleep outside in a dangerous place where she had to always be on guard. But tonight sleeping outside became something different. Xiao Yao said in a low voice “Jing, these days I feel like I’m a kid again, and being with you feels like having my mom by my side.”
Jing coughed a few times and muttered “That doesn’t feel like a compliment.”
Xiao Yao flipped over and stared at him with a smile “I’m not saying you’re like my mom, it’s more….it feels like when I was small and didn’t need to think or worry about anything. Every day was happy.” Xiao Yao’s smile gradually disappeared “It all feels like a dream and I’m afraid I’ll wake up from the dream like when I was small.”
Jing softly kissed her “This isn’t a dream. We’ll walk the rest of our lives together.”
Xiao Yao smiled “Yes.”
The wind gently rocked their web hammock and the two laid next to each together staring at the glittering stars shining down on them.
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