After returning to the manor, Xiao Mo sat in his study, recalling the conversation he had with the Qin Kingdom’s ruler in the imperial study.
To be honest, Xiao Mo felt that perhaps he shouldn't have said those things now because these reforms covered too broad a scope, and most people who implented reforms rarely had good endings.
However, Xiao Mo felt that Qin Kingdom now had an enlightened ruler, with mutual trust between monarch and subject. This was precisely the ti for reforms. Even if they couldn't be fully implented, at least a foundation could be laid.
Otherwise, if they waited for the next ruler, it truly couldn't be said what would happen.
As for his own safety.
In Xiao Mo's view, with his reputation and prestige in Qin Kingdom, plus tens of thousands of Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry, there really wasn't anyone who dared to move against him. However, whether the ruler would implent the reforms, Xiao Mo didn't know but no matter what, he had already planted a seed in the heart of the Qin Kingdom’s ruler.
What happened afterward could only be discussed later.
"Hmph! Stinky Father Emperor! Stinky second brother! I won't pay attention to them anymore, never again!"
Just as Xiao Mo was contemplating, a young woman's angry voice ca in.
Before long, Qin Siyao walked into Xiao Mo's study in a huff.
"What did the Second Prince do now?" Xiao Mo said with a smile.
Qin Siyao sat beside Xiao Mo, her legs together, her small hands placed on her thighs, puffing out her tender cheeks as she said, "Just now eldest brother sent so books to , all about how to be a good wife, how to take care of one's husband, and personally told to be magnanimous and not hold grudges against Father Emperor and second brother. What does he an! Eldest brother is saying I'm not like a wife and am still like a little girl, and saying I'm petty! It was clearly second brother who took our wedding date."
"It's just a small matter," Xiao Mo said with a smile, "The Second Prince didn't do it intentionally. After all, the marriage alliance between Qin and Jin is no small matter, so naturally it's better to handle it as quickly as possible. Besides, whether you and I marry early or late is the sa. What, could it be Siyao wants to run away? Don't want to marry ?"
"I won't run!" Qin Siyao leaned close to Xiao Mo, firmly grasping the corner of his robe, "Even if you run to the ends of the earth, I'll chase after you. You can't shake off this princess anymore."
"Good, good."
Xiao Mo smiled as he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.
Looking at Xiao Mo's face, Qin Siyao's cheeks flushed slightly as she shyly lowered her head.
In the study, there were only Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao, with no one to disturb them. As the young woman felt the warmth of her beloved's palm, the beautiful blush on her cheeks gradually spread to her ears.
Qin Siyao's heartbeat accelerated more and more. She couldn't help but raise her head, wanting to lean closer to her beloved.
"Siyao, there was fresh snow again yesterday. I thought of a place. Would you like to go see it together?"
Just as Qin Siyao's mind was becoming sowhat hazy, Xiao Mo spoke.
"What, what place?" Qin Siyao ca back to her senses and quietly released the corner of Xiao Mo's robe.
"You'll know when we get there. Let's go."
Xiao Mo pulled Qin Siyao out of the study and rode a Snow-Treading Horse toward the outskirts of the city.
When the Snow-Treading Horse gradually stopped, Xiao Mo had brought Qin Siyao to the foot of a mountain.
"Close your eyes," Xiao Mo said.
"Mm-hmm," Qin Siyao nodded and obediently closed her eyes.
Xiao Mo carried the young woman in his arms horizontally and flew toward the mountain peak.
Before long, Xiao Mo gently set Qin Siyao down on the ground. The young woman's small feet made a "crunch" sound as they pressed into the white snow.
"Alright, you can open your eyes now," Xiao Mo said.
Qin Siyao opened her eyes.
When she saw everything before her, the young woman's beautiful crystalline eyes shimred with a luminous glow.
The pine, fir, bamboo, and cypress trees across thousands of mountains and ravines were all bent deeply toward the ground under the weight of thick snow, quietly prostrate.
The icicles hanging between branches, when illuminated by skylight, refracted a blade-like cold radiance.
The lake not far below the mountain had beco a single piece of pure jade, with ice patterns cracking into delicate veins, like the earth's frozen blood vessels.
The outlines of the mountain ranges appeared softer in the twilight, as if rendered with extrely light ink on plain silk.
The snow-covered ridgeline undulated and wound, connecting with the iron-gray clouds at the horizon, making it impossible to distinguish what was mountain and what was sky.
In the mountain hollows, light cold-colored twilight mist had risen, rising in wisps and threads from the frozen lake and from the shivering groves, as if wrapping this crystalline world into its hazy dream.
"That night you took to the lakeside and gave a lake view. I was thinking about how to reciprocate. When I set out for the Northern Frontier last ti, I happened to pass by that lake, so I wandered around the area and ca to this mountain peak. I thought this place would surely be beautiful during the snow season. How is it? Is it beautiful?"
Xiao Mo stood beside the young woman and asked gently.
"Yes! It's beautiful!" Looking at the towering mountains, Qin Siyao's eyes brimd with delight.
After a while, Qin Siyao's eyes moved, withdrawing her gaze from the distance. She turned around to face Xiao Mo and said, "Xiao Mo, sit there for a mont."
"What's wrong?" Xiao Mo asked.
"Just sit there."
Qin Siyao pulled Xiao Mo's hand and walked backward, pressing him down to sit on a rock at the mountain peak.
After Xiao Mo sat down, Qin Siyao ran forward again, walking to the cliff edge. She picked up a branch from the snow, cleared her throat, and bowed to Xiao Mo holding the "sword," "With such beautiful scenery, how can there be no dance? This young woman will make a humble display."
As her words fell, Qin Siyao used the branch as a sword and danced gracefully in the white snow.
Each ti her pink-white palace dress lifted, it carried translucent white snow.
The white snow was like petals, dancing from the young woman's sword tip and slowly falling.
Looking up, there were white clouds interwoven against the azure sky.
Looking down, there were snow-covered towering mountains.
Looking ahead, there was a graceful woman dancing with a sword, every movent full of gentle elegance and beauty.
"How is it? Is it beautiful?"
As the corner of the young woman's skirt finally fell, the woman in the snow smiled softly, like a snow goddess asking, "Is winter beautiful?"
"Beautiful," Xiao Mo ca back to his senses and nodded.
Hearing her beloved's praise, the young woman happily walked forward but soon, as if thinking of sothing, the young woman lowered her head sowhat despondently, pinching the corner of his robe.
"Xiao Mo, actually I know. I know that I'm only sowhat presentable in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. I can't do many other things well. Before, I learned cooking from Auntie Zhou for so long, but it still tastes terrible. I wanted to make you a pair of shoes, but no matter how I make them, they look ugly. Moreover, I'm not magnanimous enough as a wife. Because our wedding date was delayed, I was angry for many days. But..."
The young woman raised her head, looking into Xiao Mo's eyes.
"But Xiao Mo, I will definitely learn well. I'll still learn to cook. I'll still make shoes and clothes for you. I'll also try to be more magnanimous, keep my composure, and be a sensible Frost Prince Consort. Xiao Mo, you... will you despise ?"
"Even if I despised you, it wouldn't help. His Majesty has already decreed the marriage," Xiao Mo joked.
"You..." Qin Siyao pouted, tears glistening in the corners of her eyes, as if they would fall at any mont.
"Silly girl, I'm joking," Xiao Mo smiled and reached out his finger to wipe away the tear at the corner of Qin Siyao's eye, "How could I despise you?"
"Really?" Qin Siyao blinked as she looked at Xiao Mo.
"Of course it's true," Xiao Mo responded, "Besides, who said you're good for nothing? Siyao's sword dancing is also very beautiful."
"But sword dancing can beco tireso to watch."
"I won't tire of it."
"But what if you do get tired of watching?"
"Then what does Siyao say we should do?"
"Well..."
Qin Siyao thought carefully, then her eyes lit up.
"I've got it! If you get tired of watching dance with a sword, then you must like for a lifeti and can never tire of ."
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