Chapter 404: If there are flowers to pluck, pluck them right away

As for this person, the Deposed Crown Prince Huan, Du Shanü's understanding of him is indeed slight.

She usually lived in the Zhoufu, never having proper dealings with this elder, so naturally she knew nothing about him.

However, relying on Du Shanü's confidence in her own intuition......

She always felt that perhaps the Deposed Crown Prince Huan still had some unknown secrets.

For example, a point that many people overlook but is obvious——

All the titles she can currently boast of come from the Southern Dynasty and the Deposed Crown Prince Huan.

But upon further thought, if Yuan Lang of the Southern Dynasty wanted to display benevolence, wouldn't it suffice to properly settle the Deposed Crown Prince Huan?

Why did Yuan Lang, instead of treating the Deposed Crown Prince Huan well, go on to bestow a title upon this orphan girl of unknown authenticity?

The Deposed Crown Prince Huan himself lived in Lofty Peace just like an ordinary commoner, so how could he obtain that imperial edict?

Du Shanü faintly sensed something was off, but she could never grasp the thread symbolizing the origin.

Perhaps all this still requires waiting for the person involved to wake up and ask in person before we can know......

Snore, snore......

The asker's thoughts are tangled and unresolved, while the one being asked snores thunderously.

Yu Baobao, dazed, was lightly pushed several times before she realized what the Wife Master was asking:

Snore...... No, no, uncle hasn't fully recovered......

But lately I can...... snore...... move my fingers, and even swallow some food on my own...... Wait! Σ(? □? ；)

Yu Baobao's cleverness came too suddenly; as she sprang up, she even accidentally pressed down on Du Shanü's forearm.

Du Shanü's face fell, and she had no choice but to roll over and get up:

"What's going on again......"

Yu Baobao, you must always remember, you are no longer a little cat!

You, you, you are now a super invincible big 'fat' cat!

Paws pressing on a person......

It really hurts!

Yu Baobao had just woken up, feeling a bit dazed and also anxious:

"Before I left, I went to check on my uncle and promised to pick some peach blossoms today to bake, to make him peach blossom pastry!"

"Although we set out early, because we looked at the flowers, ate fruit, and then slept a huge, huge, huge, huge, huge nap here...... now sunset is imminent, and we haven't even picked a single petal!"

Fact proves, whatever Yu Baobao can notice......

It certainly couldn't be anything major!

Du Shanü has never even heard of peach blossom pastry made from peach blossom petals!

The sunset slants west, the setting sun casts shadows.

The ground is littered with fallen blossoms, too beautiful to take in.

At this time of day under normal circumstances, no matter how busy, one should rest.

But since they had already rested for a long time today, Yu Baobao's face showed genuine anxiety, so Du Shanü could only shake her sore forearm while nimbly climbing up from the ground:

"It's fine, we two will pick together; we'll finish and return shortly...... How many petals do we need?"

Yu Baobao couldn't say either, only managing to gesture weakly:

"So many!"

Du Shanü was startled, and she also learned to make the gesture of embracing heaven and earth:

"So many?!"

What's the point of eating peach blossom pastry then!

At this time, even if they used their heads to pick, they couldn't gather that many!

No wonder Yu Baobao earlier lost color in her face......

Who wouldn't be startled if it happened to them?

Perhaps Du Shanü's shock was too obvious on her face, so Yu Baobao could only nod resentfully:

"Yes. The peach blossom petals look plentiful, but after selecting and drying them, there's actually only a little."

"So at the start of picking, we have to gather lots and lots...... (??)??"

It's all his fault!

It's all his fault for oversleeping; if he had woken up one or two shichen earlier, they would definitely have been able to pick that many petals!

Although peach blossom pastry isn't anything rare, this morning before we set out, he said he wanted to bring peach blossoms, and my uncle even moved his fingers—clearly he was pleased back then, right?

Yu Baobao also knows this is just a small matter, but she can't help feeling a lingering sense of guilt.

And as he feels guilty and frowns......

This instead makes Du Shanü, who was beside them thinking about how to handle the peach blossom petals, feel somewhat reluctant.

Du Shanü looked around at the flourishing peach grove, then a idea flashed, and she comforted:

"What's there to be upset about? I have a method, just wait!"

Yu Baobao's eyes lit up at first, not knowing what she had thought of, then she murmured while shaking her head:

"We two came out alone; if we go back now to call for help, it's probably too late, and besides, we shouldn't bother the public just for a moment's appetite......"

Being busy oneself is one thing, but having others run errands for you is another matter altogether.

When he previously was emperor, although he didn't do too well, he also didn't do too poorly......

Basically, it's because he knows this in his heart and adheres to this principle.

Chinu at the time despised him for that reason, yet she did not, like ordinary people assume, 【seize power】 for a long time; perhaps that's also why.

He is not the sort of person who would squander and exhaust the people and wealth......

Yu Baobao felt somewhat downcast, eyes lowered as she was about to sigh, when suddenly her forehead ached:

Ouch! Wife Master, why are you hitting my forehead?

Heavens!

Wife Master went out and came back—how did you turn out so bad!

Wife Master never used to knock his forehead before!

Yu Baobao held her forehead, dazed, while Du Shanü, upon seeing her clumsy, slow‑witted husband before her, couldn't help but want to laugh.

"It's not about going back to call someone; I mean, if we don't have time to pluck a few petals, we might as well break off a branch."

Break a branch?

Bring the whole branch back?

That's even more unacceptable, right?!

If Wife Master brings the flowers back, what will others think?

How is this peach tree supposed to survive, and how will it bear fruit next year?

Yu Baobao instinctively wanted to shake her head, while Du Shanü laughed and let out a whistle, summoning the fine horse grazing and resting beside the peach grove.

The two originally rode out on the same horse, carrying little, and their prepared food had already been finished before the noon nap.

Now, hanging from the saddle were nothing but a half‑jar of fine wine and a sword whose appearance could not be made out.

Du Shanü raised her hand to the side sheath; with a hook of her fingertip, a wholly dark‑black tungsten sword sprang forth.

The sword's body is dark and lusterless, reflecting no heavenly light, showing no edge, yet it exudes a chilling, lethal aura—a peerless weapon that conceals its blade and bluntness.

The wind brushed the peach branches, and pink petals fluttered down softly.

Du Shanü's wrist flipped suddenly; the black‑iron long sword burst forth, its light flashing and slicing through the thin mist in the woods.

The sword's sway was free yet fierce; as the cold light flowed, several blossoming peach branches snapped, laden with full blooms and new leaves, drifting down slowly.

Falling blossoms scattered like rain, landing on the brows and eyes of the lingering affection.

In a dazed, half‑understanding way, just as in years past.

Du Shanü cut off a peach branch, pinched it in her palm, and said with a smile:

"When there are flowers to be plucked, pluck them; don't wait until there are none and break branches in vain."

"I now willingly cut him down—it is his honor."

"Moreover, peach blossoms are like people: smooth sailing does not guarantee lush growth; but give them a little setback, and knowing they will die, they will naturally strive with all their might... you need not worry— the way of emperors is no more than this."

?? I have electricity, I have internet!!! I finally came back!!!