Chapter 426: Chapter 165: Arrival
Chen Wanqing had originally planned to wait for Mrs. Zhao and Xiang’er to finish talking before going inside. However, before their conversation ended, Zhao Jing and De’an entered from outside the small courtyard.
De’an saw Chen Wanqing and called out, "Wanqing, are you sunbathing? The sun is quite nice today. We’ve rarely seen such a bright, sunny day since autumn began."
Zhao Jing, however, glanced thoughtfully at where Chen Wanqing was standing, then at Xiang’er, who had just rushed out of the room looking flustered, a guilty ’I’ve messed up’ expression on her face.
He had his suspicions, but he didn’t voice them.
Walking up to her, he asked Chen Wanqing, "When did you wake up, Wanqing? Have you had breakfast yet?"
"Not yet. What about you two? Have you eaten?"
"We’ve all eaten. Only you haven’t. Why don’t you wait inside, Wanqing? I’ll have someone bring you some food."
"Don’t bother. It’ll be time for lunch soon. I’ll just have a couple of pastries to tide me over and eat more at lunch."
Since Chen Wanqing insisted, Zhao Jing had no choice but to let her be.
After she ate a few pastries and drank some warm water, and some color returned to her face, Zhao Jing took her hand and led her outside.
Xiang’er called out from behind them, "Big Brother, where are you taking Sister-in-law? Can I come along?"
De’an tugged her little braid. "Let’s go, let’s go, we’ll follow them together. Jing is probably taking Wanqing for a walk. The people at the post station said there’s a large lake nearby. Since it’s so remote, no one usually goes there, so the lake is full of fish. Let’s go fishing!"
"Mom, Mom..."
Mrs. Zhao said with a chuckle, "Go on, you all. These old bones of mine won’t be going out. I’ll just get some good rest here at the post station."
Seeing this, several of the dart masters followed them out, while a few others stayed behind to guard the ox-carts and the courtyard.
The post station was in a desolate area, with no villages within a thirty-li radius. The environment here was completely untouched, and even the fish in the lake swam in schools.
De’an was serious about fishing. He tore off a branch to use as a fishing rod, twisted some hemp fibers into a line, and finally bent an embroidery needle he had hidden in his shoe to fashion a makeshift hook.
And what do you know, perhaps because so few people ever came here, the fish in the lake were practically foolish. De’an caught one with every cast.
Xiang’er’s face flushed red with excitement, and she looked like she was about to jump for joy.
Chen Wanqing pulled her gaze away and asked Zhao Jing, "Where are you planning to take me?"
"Just for a walk around here."
"I don’t believe you. You definitely have a destination in mind."
"If you say so, Wanqing."
Soon, they arrived at their destination. It was an enormous field of flowers.
Wild chrysanthemums covered the entire mountainside—red, yellow, green, and pink. A riot of brilliant colors blanketed the whole slope.
The scene was so breathtaking that it left Chen Wanqing speechless.
But after her moment of speechlessness, the first words out of Chen Wanqing’s mouth were, "So many chrysanthemums, just left to bloom and wither, wither and bloom... what a waste. If we picked them all, we could make sachets, use them for medicine, and if prepared properly, even make incense. This stuff is valuable."
Zhao Jing: "..."
Seeing Zhao Jing’s silence, Chen Wanqing realized he had surely brought her here to please her, not to listen to her talk business.
So she shook his arm and said apologetically, "I didn’t think before I spoke. I was just kidding. Please don’t be upset, Jing."
"Where is ’upset’ written on my face?"
Chen Wanqing laughed. "As if I don’t know you. ’Upset’ is written all over you right now."
She hooked her finger around his and, while De’an, Xiang’er, and the dart masters weren’t looking, stood on her tiptoes and quickly pecked him on the lips.
"Come on, Jing, cheer up. Do it for my sake."
Zhao Jing’s heart melted. The repressed, suffocating mood that had plagued him since he learned of Meng Jintang passing the provincial exam yesterday instantly lifted.
It was as if after a torrential downpour, the sun had broken through the clouds, suddenly leaping out from their thick cover. He couldn’t help but break into a gentle smile.
"Wanqing, one more kiss."
But Chen Wanqing turned her head away. "No, De’an and the others will see... Mmph..."
Her lips were captured, and as she stumbled, she fell back onto the grassy ground.
The grass was soft, the fragrance of the surrounding flowers filled the air, the sun overhead was brilliant, and the distant mountains and nearby water were crystal clear.
Zhao Jing’s kiss deepened, then softened, then deepened again, but from start to finish, it remained utterly gentle. It reminded Chen Wanqing of the cream cakes her mother used to make for them—fluffy, fragrant, and sweet, so good you just couldn’t stop.
On the way back, a faint smile played on Zhao Jing’s lips. He looked spirited and full of life again, once more the Young Master Triple First who inspired both envy and resentment.
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