Love Like the Galaxy

Chapter Twenty-Three:
Bamboo Embroidery Ball and Revolving Lantern

Shaoshang looked down at her foot. She saw that the embroidery ball was exquisitely made, the pure white bamboo skewer silk was slightly intertwined in circles with a cross, and the bright blue brocade was wrapped in several places. Two or three small bells were also tied to it, and the rolling sound was crisp and soft, like a cat’s gentle cry.

“Young Lady, forgive my rudeness.”

A clear male’s voice rang out and Shaoshang quickly looked up. She saw a young man standing about seven or eight steps away from her, with a slender figure, straight shoulders and back, dressed in a lake blue curved train, dark clothes with dots of woven gold, and his hands wrapped in his sleeves. Behind him was a huge torch, burning brightly. He stood with his back lit, but Shaoshang couldn’t see his face clearly.

Seeing Shaoshang dumbfounded, the person seemed to smile and slowly approached. The military servants beside her immediately put their hands to their waist. This young man didn’t seem to see the guards and walked up to Shaoshang. He bent down and picked up the embroidered ball, with a flexible waist. When he straightened up, his whole figure enveloped Shaoshang. Shaoshang then saw that his long hair, like a crow feather, fluttered slightly as he stood up, and under the flames, it was like a floating silk thread.

The man gave a respectful bow to Shaoshang, turned around and walked away until his figure disappeared in the crowd.

That’s it? Shaoshang was left scratching her head.

The style of flirting in this era was very unique. Shouldn’t he leave the embroidered ball with her and ask for it in the future? That was how the White Lady and Xu Xian operated. Or, did he just come over to pick up the ball, and she was getting too ahead of herself.

Shaoshang shook her head. She never did well in this aspect of life.

In her previous life, she withdrew from her gang early, no one cared about the underdeveloped, flat bean sprouts, and the small punks in town had their own aesthetic. After that, most of her youthful and restless years were also enhanced by her obsession with the male god next door and hell-style learning.

Even if she hadn’t been blocked in her previous life, Shaoshang was not a passionate person, so she continued to leisurely stroll along the street and watch the lanterns.

The so-called general trend of the world was to divide and merge over time. The Cheng family and their group walked over to a fork in the road, and a disagreement began about where to go next.

Cheng Shi heard enthusiastic cheers from the other end of the street and suggested they go see the acrobatics; Madam Xiao saw the lights in the Fengshi Building was not far ahead, as bright as day, and the voices of people was so bustling, that she wanted to listen to the Confucian scholars discussing scriptures. The couple stood in a faux standoff, pretending to be annoyed and looking down at each other, but everyone could see the mirth in their eyes.

The members of the Cheng family took a few steps to either side as they chose where they wanted to go. Madam Sang, Shaoshang, Cheng Song, Cheng Zhu and Cheng Ou stood behind Cheng Shi.

Cheng Cheng, Cheng Zhi, Cheng Yong, Cheng Shaogong, and Cheng Yang all stood behind Madam Xiao.

The battle lines had been drawn, with clear barriers.

Only Old Madam Cheng found it difficult.

Emotionally, she wanted to stay with her youngest son who was about to leave for a new job soon but intellectually, she wanted to watch the acrobatics. After struggling between reason and emotion, she finally decided to suppress her emotions and follow reason.

Cheng Cheng hesitated and said, “Ou’er is still young and I’m afraid of causing trouble for Eldest Brother. Why don’t you let us do it?” After all, there were many people on the acrobatics side and Cheng Ou could be difficult to handle.

Cheng Ou quickly hugged Cheng Zhu’s arm. “No!” he said in a milky voice. “I want to go with Fourth Brother!”

Kindergarten students always looked up to primary school first graders. These days, Cheng Zhu led Cheng Ou to play all over the house, catching earthworms, fighting crickets, and fighting with wooden swords. In the past, Madam Ge never allowed him to do that and he was making up for it. The cousins were like glue and wanted to have sleepovers every night.

Cheng Zhu was full of energy and put on a big brother demeanor. He straightened up his little belly and said, “Then, you must listen to what I say!”

Cheng Ou learned the fist-holding posture used in the army. He circled his fat arms and shouted, “Yes!”

Cheng Shi looked over at his wife and pretended to be smug. “Looks like my wife’s side is not as numerous and powerful as mine.”

Shaoshang really wanted to remind him that they only had one extra person.

Madam Xiao smiled. “Your mother is old, the children are small and my side are all young. If you encounter a troublemaker later on, shout loudly and we will definitely come to rescue you.”

Everyone in the Cheng family burst out laughing and they began to go their separate ways. Only Cheng Zhi looked back at Madam Sang step by step, muttering, “Why don’t I follow and take care of my nephews…” Madam Xiao couldn’t see him doing that and she winked. The guards immediately stepped forward and dragged Cheng Zhi away. Hearing his younger brother’s exclamations, Cheng Cheng laughed so hard that he couldn’t stand straight.

For the first time in her life, Cheng Yang doubted her mother’s desire to return home was a good thing. Since Madam Ge left, her father’s solemn aura gradually dissipated, and he became more cheerful and lively day by day.

She suddenly became envious of Shaoshang’s firm and resolute approach to things. She never hesitated when encountering people or things. If it were her, she would have an opinion on this within a minute, unlike herself.

The envied Shaoshang was flushed with excitement, watching the skillful people jumping back and forth on the high ropes, flipping freely in the air. She had never seen such a thing up close.

There was a performer who breathed fire and puffed mist. Old Madam Cheng was too close and nearly burned her hair. Cheng Shi quickly pulled her back, telling the martial servant to firmly hold onto her, and lifted Cheng Ou onto his shoulders. Cheng Song wanted to do that as well but didn’t realize Cheng Zhu was a lot heavier than Cheng Ou. He staggered and the brothers nearly fell upside down together, making Madam Sang and Shaoshang laugh.

Among the cheers of the crowd, only Madam Sang was the calmest. She smiled and chatted with Shaoshang, who cheered and asked her why she didn’t go to the Fengshi Building with the others. She felt that Madam Sang was a cultured person.

Unexpectedly, Madam Sang began to joke. “Seeing a sour scholar is enough to make a person dizzy. Seeing more than one sour scholar would be enough to make a person faint to death.”

Shaoshang covered her mouth and smiled.

Among all the members of the Cheng family, Madam Sang was now added to the list of her favorite people. Although she was an elder, they talked and laughed like equals. She and her roommates had never had such a close relationship in her previous life. When Shaoshang first met Madam Sang, she thought she was a nice person, but she now knew that she had an easy-going personality, was witty and intelligent, and belongs to the type of person who is more and more liked as they get to know each other. Third Uncle Cheng had really hit the jackpot with her!

She leaned into Madam Sang’s ear and boasted loudly, “How did Third Uncle get married to you in the first place? You are just like a butcher’s knife, more than enough to deserve him!”

Madam Sang twinkled with laughter and she bent her fingers to knock on Shaoshang’s forehead – how dare she say that about her Third Uncle!

Off to the side, the two brothers got into an argument and Little Cheng Zhu ran to Madam Sang to ask her to judge who was right in their disagreement. Shaoshang slowly withdrew from the crowd and stood to the side, waiting for her family to finish watching the excitement.

Standing by the street, Shaoshang wrapped her thick plush hooded cloak tightly around her body and leaned against the soft and delicate snow-white animal fur by her side. Seeing the beautiful scenery of the flower market lit by lanterns, her heart filled with joy. In her past life, she had seen neon signs, fireworks covering the sky, crowded places and bustling markets, but she had never been so moved as she was today.

She looked up at the serene and profound starry sky. Only after passing away once, she felt that life was precious. This time, she had to savor every beauty in life and never let go of these moments.

While staring up at the sky, she felt something different, and looked back.

Several vermillion round lanterns were hanging from the eaves of the building about five or six zhang away.* Under the lanterns stood a young man in plain clothes, with a crane cloak on his shoulders, hands behind his back, and a tall and slender frame. He wore only black. He stood quietly in the noisy market crowd, along with seven or eight heavily armored guards beside him.
[54-65 feet away.]

Shaoshang looked at him with extreme eyes, but this person was too tall. His face was covered by a rotating lantern by the side of the building, and the light and shadow were floating and moving. The charming rouge-colored lights were dyed on his indifferent curved train robe, which was extremely bright and elegant.

Shaoshang remembered the place where he was standing had a rotating lantern depicting a family reunion.

Madam Sang suddenly patted her on the shoulder. “What are you looking at?”

“…It felt like someone was looking at me,” she said suspiciously. Was he looking at her? She couldn’t tell.

“My Niao Niao is so beautiful. It isn’t unnatural for a gentleman to look at you,” Madam Sang smiled.

Shaoshang hesitated and, when she looked back, she saw the vermilion lamp was still there and no one was visible beneath it.

Well, she had two romantic encounters in a night but couldn’t see a single face clearly. Wasn’t she lucky?

It was about to reach curfew and the sound of the bell from the palace tower was heard. The Cheng family began to head home, but they all had gotten something.

Madam Xiao had made friends with several Confucian scholars and their female relatives at Fengshi Building. After a conversation, she invited them to a banquet at the Cheng household in the future, adding some scholarly atmosphere to the banquet. Cheng Shi fell in love with the mixed tricks team and planned to have them perform during the banquet to add some excitement.

The soles of Shaoshang’s feet felt like they were on fire, and she fell asleep on Madam Sang’s shoulder in the carriage. Madam Sang wanted to rest her eyes for a while, but she caught a glimpse of the dissatisfied gaze of Madam Xiao sitting opposite of her. She knew the reason in her heart, smiled, and tilted her head to take a nap.

Sure enough, the next morning, Madam Xiao paid a visit and complained about why Madam Sang only gave Shaoshang brocade to make clothes.

“The brocade is really good,” Madam Sang said slowly. “The weavers in Shu are the best in the world, but under the eyes of the tyrant who claims to be the Shu Emperor, the boarders have been sealed and it’s difficult for things to flow out. This was a gift received by my mother during her birthday celebration two years ago, but unfortunately only one was needed. The color doesn’t match my skin, so I naturally gave it to Shaoshang.”

“You are treating her favorably over the other!” Madam Xiao whispered.

No matter what she thought, the food and clothing supply for the two girls had always been impartial. At the beginning, she was partial to helping Cheng Yang, and she also took into account the entrustment of the Ge family. At first glance, Niao Niao was suppressed but her father and brothers always remembered to take good care of her every day. If they saw anything they thought she would like, they would always get it for Niao Niao. The servants were not blind, how dare they be negligent.

“The color didn’t match Yang Yang’s skin, either,” Madam Sang said. Cheng Yang’s skin was light honey, her own complexion yellow, and her daughter followed her husband’s white skin, but it was a waste to use such a precious brocade to make a child’s outfit and it wouldn’t be durable.

“Such a tender emerald color, only Niao Niao could wear it.” In fact, Madam Xiao’s skin was also very white, but she was nearly forty years old and it wasn’t suitable. After thinking for a while, only Shaoshang could wear that brocade in the entire family.

“Why don’t you think about whether Yang Yang will be sad?” Madam Xiao asked.

Madam Sang pretended to be shocked. “Why did Sister-in-law say that? How could such a benevolent and sincere child think so narrowly?”

Madam Xiao choked. Well, she always praised Cheng Yang for her good character.

“Just give it away.” She fought back vigorously. “But why did Niao Niao have to wear it last night? I obviously prepared a matching set of clothes for them…”

Madam Xiao choked again.

She stared at Madam Sang, who stared back at her, her eyes pure and honest. In a moment, Madam Xiao was defeated. People had their own strengths and weaknesses, and her bickering had never been a match for Madam Sang.

…

SDFLKSDF:LKSJFL:KSJF THEY FINALLY SORT OF KINDA MET!

A note on the color of Shaoshang’s outfit. The author kept using different colors to describe it, I’m just following what was written so that’s why it might feel inconsistent.

Next Chapter: Guests of the Cheng Family Banquet (Part 1)