The night was as bright as day, with palace lanterns every five paces. Fist-sized luminous pearls were placed on the gilded bases of the dragon pillars. Rows of palace maids entered in single file, carrying exquisite food and placing it on jade tables.
Beside the jade table sat a heroic man in bright yellow, and a charming, peerless maiden.
However, the maiden was pouting, as if angry.
The man picked up food with his chopsticks and placed it on the maiden’s plate as if trying to appease her, but she turned her head away, ignoring him.
“My dear, are you still angry with your Daddy?”
“Daddy has been so busy, he hasn’t visited for half a month. I’m angry and don’t want to talk to you today.”
“Oh dear, what shall I do? Daddy won’t be able to sleep tonight.” The man lowered his head pitifully, wiped away non-existent tears from the corner of his eyes, and secretly watched the maiden’s reaction.
The maiden stirred and hesitantly turned her head.
“My dear, eat something before you stay angry?” the man coaxed.
“Hmph! If you don’t visit for this long again, I’ll find you in the main hall. I’ll forgive you today.”
“Alright, alright, my dear is truly Daddy’s precious darling.”
The father and daughter were harmonious. The palace maids served diligently. Beyond the layers of pearl curtains, several guards stood solemnly. The marble floor was as bright as a mirror, adorned with golden gauze curtains and lush floral arrangements.
Xue Niang woke from her dream. The bed curtains above her head were simple and rough. The dim candlelight cast a faint glow. She couldn’t immediately tell what was dream and what was reality.
Faint voices could be heard from outside. She listened for a while and only fully woke up when she heard that familiar, deep voice.
It was Xiao Shan speaking. Who was he talking to in the middle of the night?
“I am very satisfied with my current life. Those matters have nothing to do with me. Don’t come looking for me in the future.”
“Big Brother, I know. I’m happy for you now that you’re married. I have nothing else today, I just felt stifled for a long time and wanted to talk to someone.”
“Coming to talk in the middle of the night, you really know how to pick your timing.”
“Isn’t it because I was afraid of causing you trouble? Big Brother, you really are something. If Madam hadn’t seen me today, I wouldn’t have known you were married.”
“Hurry up and leave. I have to go hunting tomorrow.”
…
The voices outside gradually faded. Xue Niang heard footsteps stop in the courtyard, followed by the creaking of a bed. She was puzzled. Why did the sound seem to come from the courtyard? Wasn’t he sleeping in the storage room?
Xue Niang quietly got out of bed and peeked out the window.
There was no moon today, and it was pitch black, making it impossible to see clearly. However, she could see a dark shadow rising in the courtyard.
Xue Niang cautiously opened the door, and the dark shadow outside stood up.
Xiao Shan rolled over and sat up, looking at Xue Niang standing at the doorway.
Good heavens, it was fortunate he slept outside. He really sleepwalked again.
He quickly got out of bed and quietly approached Xue Niang.
It was indeed Xiao Shan, but he walked without making a sound. He came over without speaking and stood a few steps away, staring at her. What did this mean? What did he want to do?
In the middle of the night, Xue Niang felt a chill run down her spine, and goosebumps covered her body.
Had he been possessed by a ghost?
Did someone really talk to him just now? Perhaps it was a ghost…
Xue Niang took a few steps forward, and Xiao Shan followed. Xue Niang’s lips tightened, and she took another step forward. This time she saw clearly. It was the small bed in the storage room. Xiao Shan had indeed been sleeping here just now.
Why did he run out to sleep in the courtyard?
“Xue Niang, what are you doing?”
At this moment, Xiao Shan spoke, but his voice was truly terrifying, floating and ethereal, making her heart pound in the deep darkness.
Xue Niang shivered.
This scared Xiao Shan quite a bit. He stretched out his hands, making a soothing gesture, not daring to breathe, for fear of startling her awake.
“I, I need to go to the privy.”
To the privy? Does sleepwalking involve going to the privy? Will she? Don’t fall into the pit.
“Okay, go ahead. After you’re done, will you sleep soundly, my dear?”
“……Okay.”
Xue Niang walked blankly to the privy. Damn Xiao Shan, he was still following her.
Could this man have some kind of mental illness, the occasional kind? What should she do? She couldn’t relieve herself in front of him!
Besides, she didn’t want to go to the privy.
The privy had no door, just a pit surrounded by wood on three sides. Xue Niang stood still, and Xiao Shan showed no sign of leaving.
Xue Niang became angry, forgetting her fear, and glared at him, “Xiao Shan! What are you doing?”
Xiao Shan was startled and blurted out, “You know me?”
This, this was different from the previous two times. Xue Niang’s eyes flickered in the night, reflecting moisture. Could it be that she wasn’t sleepwalking?
Xue Niang took a step back. What did he mean? Had she really been possessed by someone else? Then who was he?
“You, who are you?”
Xiao Shan, where did Xiao Shan go? She hugged her shoulders, her eyes filled with panic. How could such a powerful man be possessed by someone else? Wasn’t he a煞神 (Shàshén - a fierce god)?
“Xue Niang, don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. You are dreaming. Come, let’s go to bed. Follow me, walk forward.”
What was going on? Xue Niang’s reaction was a bit strange, but she was truly scared now and didn’t dare to take any risks.
Xue Niang hesitantly followed Xiao Shan, and he led her all the way to the bedroom.
He tidied the quilt on the bed, took her hand, led her onto the bed, took off her shoes, and helped her lie down.
His movements, his eyebrows, were clearly Xiao Shan, but just now, he was so strange.
“Will you wash clothes for me?”
“Yes.” Xiao Shan stared at Xue Niang. She still seemed scared, her gaze showing a hint of unease.
“What is your zodiac sign?”
“Tiger.”
“Do you like to eat peaches?”
“……Yes.”
“Don’t scare me.” Xue Niang pouted aggrievedly. Heaven knows how scared she was just now. She was truly afraid of losing Xiao Shan. What would she do then?
Xiao Shan was surprised to find tears welling up in Xue Niang’s eyes. He could no longer care about anything else. He took off his shoes, got into bed, and held her in his arms, gently comforting her.
“Don’t be afraid, I’m here, you don’t need to fear anything. I am a Shàshén, and no ghosts or evil spirits dare to approach.”
“Wuwuwu—” Xue Niang reached out and hugged his neck, crying loudly.
Xiao Shan’s clothes on his chest were quickly soaked. How much grievance had she suffered to make him feel so heartbroken? Oh dear, what was going on? Was it sleepwalking?
“Good Xue Niang, don’t cry, don’t cry.”
“You bullied me, you scared me, I’m angry! Wuwu—”
Xue Niang complained and cried, but her arms held him tighter and tighter. Xiao Shan’s mind couldn’t keep up. His nostrils were filled with the faint scent of lotus. Her voice was nasal, soft as cotton, and her body felt boneless.
“Good Xue Niang, don’t cry.” Xiao Shan licked the tears from her face.
It was the first time she had cried so miserably, and it made his heart ache. Her little face, like a begonia in the rain, was so pitiable.
With his tongue licking her face, Xue Niang came to her senses, feeling a bit dazed. The tears in her eyes were about to fall when they were rolled into his mouth by his big tongue.
“You, you… are you a dog?”
Xue Niang hastily pushed him away, touching her face. “How disgusting!”
Xiao Shan: “……”
It was too embarrassing. She had just, just actively hugged his neck and cried so loudly.
She, she actually depended on him so much now?