Chapter 107: Offering Peach Blossoms

Chapter 107: Offering Peach Blossoms

Peach blossoms, peach blossoms.

These two words echoed in her mind, gently tapping at her heart and filling her senses with a subtle sweetness, transporting her back to a scene from her past life.

In the spacious bathtub of Ren'an Palace, pink and red peach petals floated up and down amidst the billowing steam. A man and a woman were entwined, their bodies seemingly inseparable. Water overflowed from the tub, scattering petals across the floor.

Her heart pounded like a frightened deer, her fair, lotus-white complexion flushed with a rosy hue.

Back then, she was playing a game of love, capturing his heart and body, making him desire her relentlessly and intoxicatingly. She watched as he fell deeper into the web of emotions she had spun, all while reminding herself to remain composed.

She had deceived his feelings, cunningly plotting to trap him with pretended affection for a lifetime. Despite believing that her previous self was insincere, why did she now stand here blushing?

A gust of wind carried the chill of winter turning to spring, snapping her back to reality and dispelling her fanciful thoughts. In her newfound clarity, she seemed to grasp something.

This man mustn't have mentioned it casually; perhaps there was hidden meaning behind his words? He had redirected the conversation but still brought it back, could he be hinting at something?

Offering peach blossoms!

"Does Your Excellency have a fondness for peach blossoms?"

Even if she were willing to give him flowers, where would she find peach blossoms in this season? It was surprising that an upright man like him would be charmed by such romantic gestures. No wonder she had won his heart so effortlessly in her previous life. Who could have imagined that the formidable and feared General, known for his decisiveness, would be so easily swayed when it came to matters of the heart?

She bit her lip, trying to suppress the uneasiness within her.

The smile on Gongye Chu's forehead faded as he gazed intently at her seemingly earnest expression. Her face was filled with genuine confusion, making it impossible for anyone to doubt her innocence.

His expression was inscrutable, "Is that all you thought of?"

What else was there to think about? She looked at him with her big, bewildered eyes, their clarity reflecting her sincerity. Her long eyelashes fluttered innocently, conveying her confusion.

After a moment, he said, "That's good too."

What did 'that's good too' mean?

Did he mean that receiving peach blossoms would be fine?

"If Your Excellency is fond of peach blossoms, I am more than willing to offer them to you. Please bear with me for a while longer, as spring has only just begun and the peach trees have yet to bloom. When the time comes, I will surely pick the finest blossom to present to you," she spoke with utmost seriousness, as if taking on a solemn responsibility.

Yet, his gaze was even more intricate, profound and enigmatic, defying comprehension.

It was unclear how long had passed before he gave a faint, indifferent nod.

A young lad, filled with joy, dashes toward us from a short distance away. His vibrant yellow dragon robe is adorned with a golden dragon that seems to come alive with its sharp claws and roaring posture. Coupled with his short hair, he resembles a genuine, dynamic dragon in motion.

The youth's uninhibited behavior truly embodies the exuberance of youth, filling one's heart with delight.

"Father, Mother, you're here, I've been searching for you." The young lad's dimples were deep, his eyes curved like crescents, but the faint tinge of blue beneath them spoiled his youthful vitality.

His arrival was most opportune, Pei Yuanxi thought to herself, her son was indeed a timely rain.

She pulled him closer, turning her back to Gongye Chu, "We've already enjoyed the tofu flower soup, and it was indeed excellent. In the future, there will be others to take care of such tasks. Since you have to attend the early court sessions, you shouldn't be burdened with these chores. You are still in the process of growing, and it would be unwise to compromise your health for trivial matters."

The young man wore an adoring smile as he replied, "Not at all, I'm full of energy."

"Strength of spirit isn't employed in such a manner." Seizing the opportunity, she engaged her son in conversation while strolling away effortlessly. "In the folklores, there are said to be three most arduous livelihoods: rowing boats, forging iron, and making tofu. Making tofu is an exhausting endeavor, requiring one to rise at dawn and work until dusk without respite. You may not feel it now, but you'll come to understand its rigors in time."

The young man's eyes shimmered with amusement, but a shadow flickered beneath his lashes. How long could 'later' be? He didn't even know how much time he had left to accompany his parents, let alone dare to make long-term plans.

He turned to look at his father, who stood motionless. Their father-son bond was extraordinary, and despite his father's appearance being the same as usual, he could sense his father's low spirits.

"Mother, what's wrong with Father? Did you have an argument?"

"Who knows what's on his mind," Pei Yuanxi whispered, grumbling to her son. "I have no idea why your father suddenly went crazy and asked me to fetch him peach blossoms. How am I supposed to find peach blossoms at this time of year? I told him I'd bring them when they bloom, and maybe that's why he's sulking."

Shangxing stared in disbelief. Was this really the kind of person his father was?

"My father...he..."

"Don't be fooled by the fact that he was once an emperor and grand marshal," she continued in an even softer voice. "People only see his brutality and coldness, but they don't know how sentimental he truly is. He hates bitter medicine and loves sweets. He enjoys receiving gifts and flowers from others – isn't that pampered?"

Shangxing's scalp tingled, and he hastily agreed. "Mother, if you were to send Father peach blossoms now, it's not impossible. I know where to find some."

Pei Yuanxi blinked her big eyes – this was indeed Gongye Chu's biological son.

"Where can we find them?"

There were some in the royal retreat.

The manor was situated six miles south of the city, within which there were greenhouses filled with an array of flowers. Among them, two peach trees vied for attention, one hesitantly blooming while the other already exuded a rich fragrance.

Shangxing observed the peach trees with an unparalleled devotion.

Once, he had adopted a tree as his foster mother – it was precisely this peach tree. It mysteriously sprouted within Ren'an Palace, unnoticed by all. It grew silently, without drawing any attention.

Had it not blossomed overnight, filling its branches with pink blooms, he might never have known of its existence in the palace. The Master Diviner, upon seeing it, declared that it possessed a spiritual essence and urged him to pay respect to it for protection and good fortune.

Indeed, the tree seemed to have a mystical quality, or perhaps it was just his imagination. Whenever he passed by, he could detect a scent more potent than any other flower, yet strangely invigorating.

He whispered softly to the tree, his words lost in the air.

Pei Yuanxi, gazing at the vibrant colors within the greenhouse, was also flooded with memories. Eventually, this manor shifted from cultivating flowers to growing vegetables.

During snowy winters, she would sit in Ren'an Palace and enjoy hot pot. Fresh green vegetables and ripe fruits were delivered daily from the manor at dawn.

Back then, she was the only one in the palace, holding the title of Empress but enjoying the freedom to do as she pleased. She lived a carefree life, indulging in food and drink, awaiting her days. Perhaps what she saw as a mere duty, someone else took seriously.

Gongye Chu...

Does he truly fail to grasp her nature?

His unwavering devotion and profound affection after her passing were deeply touching. She couldn't fathom the bitterness of someone tending to a cold corpse daily, nor the emotions that accompanied him through those endless nights.

A swirl of guilt, sorrow, and confusion stirred within her.

The human heart was the most intricate of all, so complex that even one's self could not fully comprehend it. She felt as if an invisible barrier stood before her, preventing her from moving forward.

The peach blossoms were in full bloom, their pink petals and red buds vibrant.

She carefully selected the most beautiful branch and placed it securely in her basket.

As they entered the city, she found herself amidst the queue, unsure if it was mere coincidence or some deeper intuition. Glimpsing through a gap in the carriage's curtain, she spotted two familiar figures by the city wall - one in green and the other in white.

The green-clad man wore an impatient frown, none other than Chen Ling, the eldest son of the Chen family. He was engaged in a tug-of-war with a veiled maiden in white, who could only be Chen Yaozhi.

Yaozhi seemed highly reluctant, forcefully pulling away from Chen Ling's grip. "Big Brother, why must you curry favor with that person? He's lost his power, he's just a discarded chess piece now."

"What do you know? Even a skinny camel is bigger than a horse. You underestimate him at your peril," Chen Ling restrained his anger. If Yaozhi thought Cheng Yu was a worthless chess piece, then in his eyes, this sister of his was the true waste.

"I don't care what you're planning to do. I refuse to serve that Yu Gongzi. Even if he's the Prince Cheng, he's still a disgraceful traitor hiding from the light." Chen Yaozhi's face beneath her veil had turned livid. She couldn't understand why her elder brother was so eager to curry favor with the Prince Cheng. The Cheng family may have been prosperous in the past, but the Chen family was no less distinguished. As two equally renowned families, why should the Chens humbly submit to the Chengs?

In the past, it might have been acceptable, but now the Cheng family was in decline, and the Prince Cheng was like a living ghost, barely distinguishable from a dead man in the eyes of the world.

He had already failed in his last attempt, so what was the point of talking about avenging the Chengs or dealing with Gongye Chu? In her previous life, she had never seen anyone depose Gongye Chu from the throne, nor had she witnessed the Prince Cheng succeed.

The thought of fawning over such a fallen and unappealing man repelled her.

Frustrated and angry, Chen Ling couldn't vent his emotions openly. His sister was utterly useless; since arriving in the Eastern Capital City, she had only brought him trouble. If not for her remaining utility, he would have sent her back to Yuncang long ago.

"You know nothing. Do you think the Prince Cheng has been financing those people all these years with mere scraps? Do you truly believe he's so destitute that he relies on others' charity?"

"What do you mean?" Chen Yaozhi asked.

Chen Ling sneered. "Exactly what I said. Despite the Cheng family's apparent demise, there are likely countless loyal followers secretly protecting him. And the Cheng family's accumulated wealth, of course, goes beyond what Gongye Chu seized."

Maintaining connections and supporting those people required money. Cheng Yu still had devoted followers, and that couldn't be achieved without wealth. He had once heard his grandfather mention that when their ancestor conquered the Eastern Capital City, they had acquired untold riches. The Cheng family's ancestor, being a leading general, had received the largest share. Although many items were officially surrendered, who knew how much had been secretly retained? Moreover, the Duke Yan's residence had occupied the capital for years, quietly accumulating vast wealth.

Chen Ling knew that all those treasures were now in the hands of the Prince Cheng. This was precisely why he sought to ingratiate himself with the other man, all for the sake of that fortune. For a man to achieve great things, money was the foundation of power. Yes, the Chen family owned shops, but their refined businesses didn't yield substantial profits annually.

Thoughts swirled within Chen Yaozhi's mind, and eventually, she recalled the man she had met. With great reluctance, she said, "It's his business if he has money; it has nothing to do with me. Our Chen family is no less prominent, so why should we have to depend on his favor? Besides, with his appearance, even if he had more than just a few coins or even became the emperor, I wouldn't be impressed."

In the end, her disdain was rooted in Cheng Yu's perceived ugliness.

Chen Ling frowned and asked, "So you're saying you don't like him because he's unattractive?"

After speaking, he himself found it hard to believe that there could be a woman in this world who would reject Prince Cheng due to his looks. Recalling Cheng Yu's disguised appearance, he began to understand his sister's reluctance.

Feeling speechless, he inwardly cursed women for their superficiality.

"Are you aware that he was once the Eastern Capital City's most admired gentleman, praised for his elegance and refinement like a fragrant orchid or a graceful cypress? Do you truly believe him to be unattractive?"

"What do you mean?" Chen Yaozhi asked hastily. "He... Could it be that he has disguised his appearance?"

Chen Ling nodded. "If you had seen his true face, you would comprehend the term 'clear skies after a storm.' Now, will you consent to this arrangement?"

Chen Yaozhi fell silent for a long while, seemingly in deep contemplation.

The governor's carriage rolled gently into the city, and Pei Yuanxi slowly lowered the curtains.

In the bustling Eastern Capital City during the first month of the year, excitement filled every corner. The streets were crowded with people entering and exiting the city, making the main road leading out congested.

By the time the carriage stopped in front of the Governor's residence, the sky had already turned gray.

Upon entering the mansion, Shangxing, perceptive as always, suggested taking a rest.

Inquiring about Gongye Chu's whereabouts from a servant, Pei Yuanxi carried her basket filled with peach blossoms to find him. He sat behind his desk, dressed in a simple black robe, exuding an air of detachment.

His hair, like raven feathers, and his face, carved from ice, gave him an icy demeanor.

Since she walked in, his deep, perpetually cold eyes, resembling a still pond, never lifted from the book in his hands. Each line of vertical characters on the page seemed to leap into her sight, and she recited them flawlessly from memory.

At this, Gongye Chu finally gave her a glance. He was well aware of her photographic memory.

"Sir, do you think these flowers have bloomed beautifully?" She took the peach blossom from the basket, holding it before him.

The branch of peach blossoms was striking in her hands, with roughly seven buds, four fully open and three yet to bloom. The dark brown stem contrasted with the pinkish blossoms - the black representing the lingering winter, while the pink eagerly announced the arrival of spring.

"Well, it's acceptable." His expression was indifferent.

She was puzzled. He was the one who had asked her to send him peaches. She and Chong'er had carefully selected the flowers at the manor, yet he found even a glance at them too much of an effort. Wasn't this torturous?

"I picked these for quite some time, Your Excellency. It wasn't actually long, though, since there was only one peach tree. It didn't take me much time to choose."

He gazed at her. "How long?"

She was dumbfounded. This man truly knew how to push his luck. He was the one who made the request, yet now that she fulfilled it, he put on such a demeanor. Compared to the easily appeased man from her previous life, this one was truly difficult to please.

It took her half a day's effort, and this was all the attitude he showed.

"Going back and forth between the Eastern Capital City and the manor took several hours. If you didn't like them, you should've said so earlier. Why make me run in the cold and suffer, even dragging my son along with me?"

The peach blossom branch was discarded on the table but was then picked up by a slender hand.

"So you can get angry too. So you didn't offer me these willingly. So a few hours seem long to you," he said softly, as if speaking from afar.

Did she know his countless hopeless days and nights? Did she comprehend those endless moments? Even in dreams, he could empathize. He was himself, but also that other him. Since when did he stop distinguishing between the two?

Feelings stir without cause, emotions run deep without a known end.

He yearned to grasp something, yet felt helpless and devoid of strength.

Her heart skipped a beat. "It's not that I'm unwilling, it's just that I feel my sincerity is being spurned. Tell me, did you ask me to bring you the peach blossoms? I picked them with great effort just to give them to you, yet you're displeased. I fail to understand why."

"Because I'm capricious," he replied in a low, sulky tone.

She was initially taken aback, then couldn't help but chuckle.