USWHC -Chapter 535 Coincidence (Part 5)

“The young lotus just shows its tip, and already a dragonfly perches upon it.”

Looking across the pond, the sea of green was dotted with faint blossoms. Zhu Jie felt a surge of joy and couldn’t help but murmur softly in admiration.

Lanyi laughed coquettishly, “Sister, do you want to row a boat?”

“Row a boat?” Zhu Jie paused, slightly intrigued.

Lanyi gave a mischievous smile. “Just admiring flowers is boring. Rowing across the lake is where the real fun is! You haven’t rowed in a long time, have you, Sister?”

“But how can we row without a boat?” Zhu Jie hesitated.

“Without a boat? Of course we have one!” Lanyi said mysteriously, bouncing over to the lakeshore. She bent down, grabbed a rope, and shouted with delight, “Eighth Sister, look! I told you we had one!”

Zhu Jie went over and saw a small, flat-bottomed boat, probably used by the eunuchs for cleaning the lotus pond, hidden beneath the green leaves.

Lanyi presented it like a treasure, “I’ve long noticed that they always hide this little boat here. Today, I finally saw it!”

With that, Lanyi jumped in first and waved at Zhu Jie, laughing. “Come on, Sister, join me!”

Hesitant, Zhu Jie followed. Wan Yue wanted to go too, but the boat was so small it could only hold two people.

Just then, Liu Rong laughed beside them, “We’ll just stay on the shore. The boat’s too small—let the princesses enjoy it themselves!”

Hearing this, it was clear she wasn’t trying to take the boat herself, so Wan Yue had no choice but to stay.

At this moment, Lanyi excitedly shouted, “Sister, look! That flower seems about to bloom!”

Following her pointing finger, Zhu Jie saw a lotus partially emerging from the green leaves. Even from afar, its half-open bloom was beautiful.

“Let’s row over and take a closer look!” Lanyi said impatiently, handing a pole to Zhu Jie. Zhu Jie sighed inwardly—was she being dragged out for exercise? Still, she pushed the pole and moved toward the direction Lanyi indicated.

“That one’s beautiful too—look!” Lanyi, like a curious child, pointed here and there, dragging Zhu Jie eagerly across the lake.

A faint, serene fragrance drifted across the water, spreading through the lush green expanse, filling the heart with peace. Zhu Jie gently pushed the pole, drifting slowly along the lake.

“Sister, sing a song! Your singing is always so beautiful!” Lanyi said longingly.

In the quiet serenity, Zhu Jie couldn’t help but feel like singing.

“Let time flow slowly, drifting into the moonlight, gently rippling.
Play a tune of faint lotus fragrance; beautiful music falls beside me.
Fireflies light up the night’s stars—who will add a garment of dreams for me?
Push open the window of my heart and gaze afar; who will pluck yesterday’s sorrow?
I’m like a fish in your lotus pond, waiting just to guard that bright moonlight with you.”

Her voice flowed melodiously, ethereal with a hint of melancholy, enchanting all who heard it. The song drifted across the lake, making the waters themselves seem to sway gently.

Then, in the next moment, a deep, commanding voice shouted, “Who’s singing?”

The voice was too familiar. Zhu Jie looked up in shock, frozen in place, and her singing abruptly stopped. Unconsciously, they had rowed too far, reaching the far side of the lake.

And there, a crowd stood, equally stunned, all staring at Zhu Jie. As she lifted her head, everyone seemed to forget how to breathe.

She looked like a celestial being, her melodious voice drifting across the water. Her eyes sparkled like stars, and her delicate features were exquisitely soft, as if carved. Sunlight bathed her in a warm reddish glow, wrapping her entirely in it. For a moment, everything seemed to freeze.

The abrupt halt of her song lingered in everyone’s hearts, the music echoing in their minds, refusing to fade.

Perhaps no one had expected that this moment of beauty would leave an indelible mark in so many hearts. And at this moment, one person, shocked and anxious, stared wide-eyed.