Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 205 Fleeting Clouds 1 After parting, years flow by.

(Please allow the author's personal preference to dedicate a full chapter to the story of Zhou Bai and Huan Yun's long-awaited reunion.)

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The moment Huanyun received Madam Yun's message and boarded the carriage at the Tang residence, outside Tonghua Gate, three market streets away from the Disi Pavilion in the East Market, a thin man in a white robe was leaning against the carriage, gazing at the bustling crowd at the city gate.

The once dashing young man has returned, now past twenty.

After passing through the city gate, the carriage moved slowly along the road.

Perhaps it was the fear of returning home that made Zhou Bai's heart clench inexplicably, and the surging longing and pain of long separation overwhelmed him instantly. He subconsciously reached into his pocket, and only when his fingertips touched a strand of hair inside his purse did he calm down slightly.

After he asked several times, Chen Lin's senior brother, Xu Shu, finally couldn't hold back any longer and pouted, saying:

“My dear young master Zhou, just two more streets away is Fuqian Street. You’re quite strange, aren’t you? If you hadn’t insisted on staying in Guangyang Prefecture for a day, we would have arrived in the capital yesterday.”

Zhou Bai looked embarrassed. Having lived on the grasslands for many years, he was afraid that his disheveled appearance would offend his beloved's eyes. Therefore, after leaving the border, he suggested staying in Guangyang Prefecture for a day to shave and wash away the dust of his journey.

Tang Xian, having been through similar experiences, naturally understood Zhou Bai's thoughts. He also desired to befriend Zhou Bai, so he readily agreed. However, during his stay in Guangyang Prefecture, he didn't remain idle; he sent people to inquire about the current situation of the former disgraced official...

Meanwhile, inside the carriage, Dingxiang stared blankly at her mistress, who looked distracted and unsure of what to do with her hands.

"There is nothing wrong with the young lady's makeup and clothing."

As Huanyun touched her hair several times, Dingxiang looked away and sighed inwardly.

After being redeemed, the young lady had long refrained from wearing makeup. However, upon hearing news of Zhou Bai, she was repeatedly sent to buy all sorts of rouge and face powder from the capital. Dingxiang, who was illiterate, had gained a profound understanding of the saying "A woman adorns herself for the one she loves" over the past two weeks...

Upon arriving at the Tang residence, Wei Mama led Huanyun and her servant to the guest courtyard.

The fifth young lady was shrewd and had already guessed her mother's thoughts. She pulled the sixth young lady to the inner room of the guest courtyard ahead of time and secretly hid to the side.

The sixth young lady felt it was inappropriate, but then she heard the fifth sister say, "Aren't you curious about what kind of person Huanyun has been in love with for so many years?"

"Fine, I'll indulge Fifth Sister's folly this once and for all. If Mother punishes me, I'll bear the consequences myself."

Although the sixth young lady had such thoughts, she was also very curious: could Zhou Bai really be compared to her older brother, who was a third-ranked scholar?

In the front courtyard of the Tang residence, Tang Xian and his entourage entered the gate almost simultaneously with Dong Ming.

When someone from the palace came to deliver the imperial decree, Lady Yun had not received any prior notice. The couple exchanged a glance and immediately understood—it was clearly an imperial decree that had just been issued.

Before the old lady led everyone in the household to kneel and receive the imperial decree after setting up the incense table, she glanced at the table and frowned slightly. Where were the fifth and sixth daughters?

However, there was no time to worry about that now. After Dong Mingxuan finished announcing the decree that Tang Xian was to be enfeoffed as the Marquis of Lin'an, the old lady held the hands that Madam Yun was supporting her, and repeatedly praised the emperor's boundless grace, feeling that she could die without regret.

By this time, he had completely forgotten about his two granddaughters...

Madam Yun noticed that Fifth Sister was not there as soon as she arrived. She knew her daughter's personality best, so she gave a few instructions to Wei Mama beside her.

Zhou Bai was happy for the Tang family, but the person he longed for had not yet appeared. He was anxious but could not show it, and he looked anxious and uncertain.

Madam Yun first had the steward and palace servants entertain the guests, and then calmed her agitated mother-in-law before she finally had a chance to look at Zhou Bai seriously.

With just one glance, Madam Yun raised an eyebrow, thinking to herself that Hua Yan's uncle was indeed handsome and refined, no wonder Huan Yun fell in love at first sight and waited for many years.

Chen Lin had spent several months with Zhou Bai, so he quickly led him to meet Tang Lin and other masters.

Zhou Bai greeted Madam Yun, who then deliberately exchanged a few words with him. Zhou Bai bowed first to thank the Tang family for their kindness in treating his niece Meng Shu. His words were sincere, and his concern for her was genuine. Madam Yun nodded slightly.

Seeing that there was no one else by his side, and that his eyes and brows were extremely clear and upright, Madam Yun then instructed Tang Lin to lead him to the garden.

Inside the guest courtyard's flower hall, the Fifth Miss faintly heard a commotion coming from the front, and in the middle, she seemed to hear the voice of a eunuch. Her heart skipped a beat, wondering what was happening in the front courtyard. She wanted to go out and see, but she felt embarrassed if her sister Huanyun saw her... so she patiently waited.

As the footsteps drew closer, Huanyun turned to look at the doorway, where Wei Mama led two maids in.

“Miss Huanyun, Madam has instructed this old servant to invite you to Tingyun Pavilion in the mansion for a meeting.”

Tingyun Pavilion is built in the garden, with open space on all sides.

After Huanyun and Dingxiang left with Wei Mama, the two head maids simultaneously called out to a four-panel landscape screen, "Fifth Miss, Sixth Miss, come out quickly. Madam requests that you two come with us to the ancestral hall."

Fifth Miss: "......"

The sixth young lady's face turned deathly pale, and she said in a resigned voice, "Fifth sister, I've always said that our little schemes are completely exposed in front of Mother..."

Huanyun stepped alone into the garden along the gravel path, and as she looked up, a tall, slender figure came into view. Only then did she finally feel like she was walking on solid ground.

Then my heart started pounding like a drum, and I felt as if I had been frozen in place, unable to move an inch.

Zhou Bai seemed to sense something and slowly turned around, their eyes meeting.

The heat of summer has not yet completely subsided, and early autumn still carries its warmth. The wind that blows by is imbued with the scent of the other, and time seems to stand still, with the surrounding flowers turning into a hazy background.

Since our parting, ten years have passed like flowing water.

The image of that dashing young man with bright, clear eyes in my memory has gradually merged with the figure that has remained in my mind for many years, transcending the long passage of time.

Huanyun felt as if she had returned to the painted boat many years ago. Through the shimmering water, where light and shadow intertwined, the young Zhou Bai walked towards the light, his eyes filled with a gentle smile. He had stared at her intently for a long time.

At that time, Zhou Bai, seventeen, and Huan Yun, sixteen, were a handsome young man and a graceful washerwoman. Their eyes met across the distance, and they fell in love with each other.

Now, after many years, Zhou Bai, 26, and Huan Yun, 25, have finally reunited.

Huan Yun's eyes seemed to shimmer with light, and her hand trembled slightly as she reached into her bosom and gently took out a strand of hair. Zhou Bai did the same.

Fortunately, we met again and you remained unchanged; our deep affection will never be betrayed.

A gentle breeze stirred, ruffling the hair between their hands. All was silent. The two looked at each other and smiled, their eyes brimming with tears.

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