Chapter 582: Mountain Excursion

Chapter 582: A Day in the Mountains

Song Shouqing and Wei Zihang glared at each other like rival predators, both keeping their distance from Xingxing.

The other family resting in the pavilion had brewed tea and asked if they wanted some tea. They each accepted a cup, chatted for a while, and then left to explore further into the mountains.

The mountains were ablaze with flowers at their peak. Xingxing and Ju Geer chose a spot near a small stream to build a fire. They set up a makeshift stove and placed a pot on it, the tea bubbling away.

The tea was brewed with dried longan, red dates, wolfberries, and plum blossoms that Xingxing had brought from home. As it boiled, the fragrant aroma of fruits and flowers filled the air with an energizing fragrance, mingling with the scent of wildflowers covering the mountains.

The place was a perfect spot, with mountains, water, and vibrant wildflowers everywhere, like something out of a painting. Other young ladies and gentlemen were also enjoying the scenery, so there was no worry about appearing improper.

Ju Geer sat cross-legged on a rock by the stream, watching Xingxing play in the water with contentment.

Song Shouqing approached and crouched beside Xingxing, starting to chat. "Back in Suyang, we had winding bridges and flowing water, with green reflections of pavilions and towers—completely different from here, but equally beautiful. Would you like to visit someday?"

Xingxing nodded. "Suyang is renowned for its beauty. I’d love to see it someday."

Song Shouqing grinned from ear to ear.

Wei Zihang felt a jolt of alarm and immediately interjected, "Xingxing, have you ever seen a stream in the frontier? It’s nothing like the ones in the capital or Suyang. A small stream cutting through barren, rocky mountains, like the only living thing flowing across that vast land—it’s awe-inspiring in its raw beauty."

Xingxing listened and nodded, her eyes filled with longing. "I’d love to see the frontier’s beauty too."

Wei Zihang shot a smug glance at Song Shouqing.

Their eyes sparked with rivalry.

Ju Geer, still lounging on the rock, felt much more at ease. He realized that when two suitors are vying for the same girl, he didn’t need to worry too much. After all, the two would keep each other in check, neither daring to make a move.

Just as the tense standoff intensified, a sudden splash broke the tension. Xingxing, who had somehow found a sharpened branch, lifted it from the water—impaled on the end was a good-sized fish!

Song Shouqing: "!!!"

Wei Zihang: "!!!"

Xingxing could do that?!

Xingxing turned back with a beaming smile, proudly showing her catch to Ju Geer.

Ju Geer clapped enthusiastically. "Well done! Our Xingxing is as impressive as ever!"

Xingxing giggled and handed the stick with the fish to Ju Geer. "You take care of this one. There are a lot of us—I’ll go catch a few more."

Ju Geer nodded, drawing a knife from his boot and immediately starting to gut the fish.

The siblings moved with the smooth teamwork of old hands, clearly having done this many times as children.

Wei Zihang and Song Shouqing stood frozen in amazement.

Xingxing went back to fishing. She lifted her skirt slightly, using the branch like a fishing spear. As she struck the water, droplets splashed onto her fair cheeks, making her delicate, lovely face shine with lively charm.

Song Shouqing was the first to recover and hurried over. "There are so many of us—let me help you spear some fish, Xingxing."

Wei Zihang: "!!!"

Dammit! He got there first!

Not one to back down, he quickly stepped forward: "Xingxing, let me try too."

However, spearing fish looked easy when watching Xingxing effortlessly catch one after another. In reality, both Song Shouqing and Wei Zihang kept missing no matter how hard they tried.

The other young boys who had come along couldn’t help but burst into laughter, not cutting them any slack.

"Ahhh! Stop laughing! If you think you can do better, why don’t you try?!"

"Fine, I will! I don’t buy that it's so tough!"

The teasing and whooping of the boys added a lively touch to the mountain scenery.

In the end, most of the fish were still caught by Xingxing herself. The boys managed only two or three after much effort.

Ju Geer deftly cleaned the fish while scoffing at his friends: "All of you act so high and mighty, yet you can’t even match my delicate little sister!"

Ju Geer was loving it!

Instead of being discouraged by the teasing, Wei Zihang and Song Shouqing were even more impressed by Xingxing’s skill, their eyes lit up with admiration as they gazed at her.

Ju Geer: Wait, what?

His intention had been to make them realize their incompetence and stay away from his sister, but why did they seem even more determined now?

Ju Geer let out a loud snort and began skewering the cleaned fish over the fire.

Wei Zihang reacted swiftly: "Let me handle this! My father and elder brother hunt deer, and I’ve helped roast them. I’m quite skilled."

Ju Geer just went 'Oh' and handed the task over to Wei Zihang.

Song Shouqing freaked out—no way was he letting Wei Zihang steal the spotlight? But there didn’t seem to be any other tasks left...

Was he just supposed to stand there and watch Wei Zihang impress Xingxing?

After scrambling to think, the proper young gentleman could only stammer, "I-I’ll go gather some firewood..."

At least he saved some face.

Ju Geer glanced between them but said nothing.

Once the fish were roasted, everyone got their fish, paired with a refreshing cup of fruit and flower tea. Against the backdrop of clear skies, emerald mountains, and blooming wildflowers, you'd have to be dead inside not to feel good.

Seizing the moment, Song Shouqing busted out a poem right then.

Xingxing gave an enthusiastic round of applause in appreciation.

Song Shouqing, from a scholarly family, was glowing.

Wei Zihang was getting antsy, looking around frantically for a way to one-up Song Shouqing. But as he looked around frantically, he couldn’t think of anything—until he spotted his second sister, Wei Shuangyan, slipping off into the woods with Yu Chongen, the second son of the Duke of Xinguo.

Wei Zihang: Wait, what?

He knew that Emperor Jiazheng had wanted his sister to keep her hair and live as a semi-nun for a few years before granting her the title of Township Lady. This way, though she could never marry, she’d at least have security in her later years.

But Wei Shuangyan was determined to be with Yu Chongen, even without status or recognition. The matter had reached a stalemate.

Recently, Wei Shuangyan had been making a scene about seeing Yu Chongen.

Both the Jiping Commandery Prince and Princess Consort of Jiping Commandery had put their foot down—unless the Duke of Xinguo’s family came around to their demands, their daughter was not to meet Yu Chongen privately.

...So what was this about?

Wei Zihang was totally lost.