Chapter 56: Eating Melons in Changmen Garden

The Changmen Garden was remote and far from Weiyang Palace, relatively speaking, it was closer to Gucheng Temple and Baling County, but there were still no people around, and it was very quiet.

Seeing her mother enthusiastically wanting to give the Changmen Garden to herself, A Jiao's mood was inexplicably low, but Liu Che, who came after hearing the news, was in a good mood after knowing Liu Piao's intention and accepted this Changmen Garden.

Seeing that the goal was achieved, Liu Piao didn't disturb them anymore and bowed to leave.

Liu Che leaned lazily on the soft couch covered with a straw mat and said: "Aunt's garden was offered at a good time. After sacrificing to Emperor Wen in the middle of July, we can just rest for a night in this Changmen Garden."

A Jiao lowered her eyes and didn't respond. Liu Li, who was on the side, turned her head to look at Liu Che, secretly sighing in her heart at how he had no sense of the situation.

Changmen Palace was an insurmountable hurdle for A Jiao. Although she only lived there for a little over a year, she felt as if she had been trapped in it for a lifetime.

A Jiao arranged for people to prepare for the sacrifice at Gucheng Temple, and incidentally let those in charge of crowns, clothes, food, bathing, and mats in the Shaofu go to the Changmen Garden in advance to clean and prepare.

On the day of the middle of July, A Jiao took Liu Che and Liu Li, as well as some maids and eunuchs, and set off for Gucheng Temple.

Gucheng Temple was in Baling County, in the eastern suburbs of Chang'an, very far from Chang'an City. If they traveled by carriage, it would take more than half a day.

They set off around the *chen* hour (7-9 AM) and would probably arrive at Baling County by the *you* hour (5-7 PM). So Liu Che was very happy that Liu Piao offered the Changmen Garden.

Finally, there was a palace to stay in.

They set off a day early because they decided to stay in the Changmen Garden for one night, so they were not in a hurry on the road. When they were tired of riding in the carriage, they would ask the driver to stop and rest for a while before continuing the journey.

The carriage was equipped with ice, so it was quite cool, but because the temperature was too high, the ice was about to melt.

Liu Li was so hot that she didn't want to move, lying crookedly in the carriage. Seeing her little face flushed red from the heat, A Jiao fanned her with the cattail fan in her hand and said: "I told you to stay in the palace before, but you insisted on coming to suffer."

"I just wanted to see the Changmen Garden." Liu Li curled her lips: "Who knew it would be so hot on the road."

She traveled here in September last year, which was basically autumn, and she hadn't experienced the summer of the Western Han.

Now she truly realized the hardships of the ancients.

Perhaps she could start researching generators from now on; maybe one day in the future, she could use air conditioning, refrigerators, etc. here.

The carriage had already driven past the suburbs. Seeing a forest ahead, A Jiao directed the driver to go to the cool place in front to rest for a while before setting off.

The group stopped under the shade of the trees. Because there were many forests here and a river on the side, when the wind blew, it felt exceptionally cool.

The accompanying cavalry, after getting permission, jumped into the river on the side one after another to take a cold bath, which immediately reduced a lot of the summer heat.

Listening to the noise made by the cavalry, Liu Che felt itchy in his heart and also wanted to jump into the river for a cold bath. He was covered in sweat from the heat, feeling that his inner clothes were stuck to his body.

If only he were a man now.

Thinking this, he turned to look at A Jiao, who was sitting under the shade of the trees feeding her daughter water. Because of the hot weather, there was a thin layer of red on her cheeks, and sweat slid down her face, finally gathering at her chin and dripping onto the ground.

Clearly, what he saw was his own face, but inexplicably, he replaced the person in front of him with A Jiao's appearance in his heart.

A Jiao dripping with sweat.

Liu Che restrained his gaze, got off the carriage, walked to the side of the mother and daughter, and reached out to hand them two peaches.

"Eat, quench your thirst." Liu Li sat on the other side of her daughter and divided the peaches among them.

The peaches had been placed in ice water before, and now they were cold and refreshing in her hands. Liu Li pressed her little face against them and let out a comfortable sigh: "So cool."

A Jiao took the peach handed by Liu Che: "Aren't you eating?"

Liu Che pulled up the grass that had sprouted from the ground and took out another peach from his sleeve.

Liu Li curled her eyes, wiped the peach with her sleeve, and took a bite.

The juice of the honey peach was eaten into her mouth instantly, sweet and delicious, and with a hint of icy coolness, dispelling some of the heat. And these ancient peaches were pure, natural, and pollution-free; she didn't have to worry about pesticides.

Liu Che's way of eating was the same as Liu Li's. A Jiao peeled off the hairy skin on the outside of the peach before she started to gnaw on the peach.

Suddenly, Liu Che's hand holding the peach paused, and then he spat out the peach meat he was eating with "pfft, pfft, pfft."

Seeing this, Liu Li hurriedly asked: "What's wrong?"

Liu Che frowned: "There is a worm."

Liu Li tilted her head to look at the peach in Liu Che's hand and saw a small wormhole and half of a twisted worm carcass.

Liu Li laughed: "It doesn't matter, Father Emperor, just treat it as supplementing protein."

Liu Che frowned: "Supplement what?"

Liu Li said seriously: "The body of a worm contains a variety of proteins, and eating it has no harm."

Hearing this, he asked believingly: "Really?"

Liu Li nodded: "Really."

Liu Che looked down at the twisted worm on the peach, thought for a while, and then took a big bite again.

Liu Li: "..." She was dumbfounded; she didn't expect Liu Che to be so bold as to actually eat a worm!

Liu Che chewed twice and tasted it carefully: "It seems... there is no difference."

Liu Li lowered her head guiltily and ate the peach in her hand silently. As a result, just after she took a bite, she also saw a wormhole in her peach.

Liu Che glanced over: "A Li also got a worm, eat it, what can it supplement again?"

The peach meat in her mouth, Liu Li didn't know whether to chew or spit it out. Sob sob sob, she was wrong; she shouldn't have lied to people.

Liu Li silently spat out the peach in her mouth, puffed out her cheeks, and handed the remaining peach to Liu Che: "Father Emperor, I am already full, I don't want to eat the rest, do you want to eat it?"

"You actually want me to eat what you have eaten?" Since Liu Che became the emperor, no one dared to let him eat saliva. He looked at the peach in Liu Li's hand that had been gnawed out of shape by her and was a bit disgusted.

"Isn't it normal for parents to eat what their children have left over?" Liu Li curled her lips: "Father Emperor, do you not like A Li?"

"How could I not like you?" Liu Che said, reaching out to touch Liu Li's hair bun: "You are my eldest daughter."

At least the current Liu Li had already surpassed all his children in Liu Che's heart.

However, Liu Che felt that A Li was too bold. Even Liu Yue, whom he favored the most before, didn't dare to let him eat what she had left, but A Li said it so righteously.

"But Father Emperor, your expression seems to be very disgusted with A Li." Liu Li pointed out and looked very aggrieved: "You don't even want to eat the peach A Li offered you."

What does this have to do with offering? Liu Che was startled: "Is this offering?" Isn't it because you didn't want to eat it, so you wanted me to eat it?

"How is it not?" Liu Li turned the side she hadn't bitten to show Liu Che: "Father Emperor, look, there is still so much left."

A Jiao on the side listened to their conversation and looked at Liu Che's surprised and astonished expression. She secretly curled her lips, waiting for Liu Che's reaction.

Liu Che met A Jiao's smiling black eyes and suddenly said: "A Li, now I am your Mother Empress, your Father Emperor is over there."

Liu Che reached out and turned his daughter's little head, letting her look at A Jiao.

Liu Li: "..."

A Jiao raised her eyebrows and reached out to take the half peach from Liu Li's hand: "I don't dislike my daughter's saliva." As she spoke, she took a bite from the place Liu Li had gnawed.

"Don't..." Liu Li hadn't had time to remind A Jiao that there was a worm on this peach.

"What?" A Jiao looked at Liu Li.

Liu Li stared at the peach in her hand for a while, leaned closer to her, and whispered: "Don't eat it, there is a worm."

A Jiao: "It doesn't matter,

didn't A Li just say that eating worms can supplement protein?" Although she didn't know what protein was.

Liu Li: "..." This couple is truly a perfect match!

After resting, everyone continued on their way. In a short while, the clothes that the cavalry had wetted in the river were dried by the sun.

They arrived at the Changmen Garden at the *shen* hour (3-5 PM).

Because A Jiao had arranged for people to come to the Changmen Garden to clean and prepare in advance, when they arrived, the palace servants were already waiting at the door.

"Your Majesty, Empress." The guards arranged here came to welcome the Emperor and Empress.

A Jiao lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked at the Changmen Garden close at hand from afar, but her heart was filled with emotion.

"What are you dazed for? Get off the carriage." Liu Che reminded A Jiao, who had suddenly become very lonely, from behind.

A Jiao came back to her senses, let out a long sigh of relief, and slowly got off the carriage.

Behind, Liu Che held Liu Li and also got off the carriage.

The eunuch who had prepared here bowed his head and bent his waist to lead the Son of Heaven and the Empress into the Changmen Garden, bypassed the winding stone road, walked through the water corridor, and finally arrived at the house where they could stay.

Because it was summer, the entire Changmen Garden was full of lush grass and trees, and on some branches, there were beautiful flowers blooming, a scene of birds singing and flowers fragrant.

Honestly, Liu Li quite liked it here.

However, because there was only this private garden nearby, it was sparsely populated and quiet. If one stayed here for a long time and couldn't see anyone or talk to anyone, they might be driven crazy.

So how did the A Jiao of the previous life survive living in such a big place alone?

This time was just dinner time, and the kitchen presented the dinner, which were all some refreshing and heat-relieving foods.

"The scenery here is quite good. After dinner, shall we go around the garden?" Liu Che said.

A Jiao lowered her eyes slightly: "The journey was exhausting, and we have to sacrifice at Gucheng Temple tomorrow, so I won't go." She knew everything in the Changmen Garden with her eyes closed, and she really didn't want to see it again.

Liu Che moved his eyebrows. He didn't know if it was his illusion, but ever since entering this Changmen Garden, A Jiao's expression and state had been strange.

Outside the door, Liu Li walked in holding a tray: "Watermelon is here."

Liu Che and A Jiao were both attracted by Liu Li's voice, and they stared at the red thing in the tray in her hand.

"A Li, what is this?" Liu Che was curious: "What kind of melon is watermelon?"

Liu Li placed the already cut watermelon on the table, handed two slices to A Jiao, two slices to Liu Che, and finally kept one slice for herself: "This is a heat-relieving artifact, hurry up and taste it, it has just been iced, it should be very cool."

As she spoke, she couldn't wait to take a bite; the sandy melon pulp, the sweet taste, so delicious.

Things in the system mall are high-quality goods!

According to historical records, watermelon was introduced to the Central Plains during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, and it was likely introduced from Xinjiang along the Silk Road.

There was no watermelon in the Western Han, so if she wanted to eat it, she could only exchange it from the system mall.

"Really delicious." Liu Che praised. In a short while, he had already eaten a slice of watermelon and said: "The red part is delicious, it's sweet. It's just that this white-green part is not very delicious, it has no taste."

Liu Li: "!!!"

"The white part is watermelon rind, you don't need to eat it." She hurriedly said: "The red part is the delicious part, and the black part on it is watermelon seeds. Remember to spit them out when you eat them."

Liu Che: "..."

"Watermelon seeds... what should I do if I have already eaten them?" A piece of the watermelon rind in Liu Che's hand had been bitten off by him.

Liu Li: "It's over, it's over, after eating watermelon seeds, watermelons will grow in your stomach!"

Liu Che: "???"

He stared at Liu Li's expression carefully, and then sneered: "Do you think I will be deceived by you again?"

The "again" here refers to the previous incident where Liu Li lied to him that the worms in the peaches could be eaten.

Liu Li pursed her lips and smiled: "Father Emperor, don't be angry, A Li is joking with you." She said, spitting out the watermelon seeds in her mouth: "Keep these seeds, plant them in the ground in March or April next year, and we will have many watermelons to eat next year."

"Is it like the potatoes and green peppers you planted before?" Hearing that the seeds could be planted, Liu Che immediately thought of the back garden of the Jiaofang Hall, which had been planted with vegetables by Liu Li.

Liu Li nodded: "Yes." And this time, she no longer needed to try and explore how to correctly plant watermelons.

Because of the system upgrade, she only needed to use the 【Encyclopedia】 skill to ask the system how to correctly plant watermelons.

That 10,000 points spent before was so worth it!

The reason Liu Li wanted to engage in watermelon planting was also because exchanging for a watermelon required 200 points, and she had just exchanged for two.

The family of three ate half of one, and she had the kitchen cut the remaining one and a half into small slices and distribute them to all the palace servants in the Changmen Garden to eat together. She also incidentally instructed the imperial chef to remember to collect all the melon seeds that everyone spat out.

Liu Li was almost full after eating a slice of watermelon, and then ate some cold dishes, and she couldn't eat anymore. Seeing this, A Jiao ordered the maid to take the Princess back to her room to rest.

The Changmen Garden was indeed very, very small compared to Weiyang Palace, but in Liu Li's view, it was still quite large. At least the room arranged for her was estimated to be at least 80 square meters.

The maid prepared warm water for Liu Li to bathe. Liu Li took a bath, changed into clean clothes, and lay on the bed. She rolled comfortably on the big bed, rolling from the head of the bed to the end of the bed, and then tilted her head to look out the window.

The wind blew, bringing bursts of coolness.

Although it was very hot here during the day, it was really cool at night. The only thing that made her unhappy was that there were so many mosquitoes!

Just as she was about to close her eyes to rest, a buzzing sound rang in her ears, disturbing her so much that she couldn't sleep. Strange, why were there no mosquitoes when she was in Weiyang Palace?

Let's talk about A Jiao and Liu Che. After they finished dinner, A Jiao returned to her room with exhaustion, preparing to bathe and rest. Liu Che didn't know where he got the energy, but he really prepared to go around the Changmen Garden.

However, because it was late, Liu Che didn't intend to go too far. He walked forward along the water corridor, watching the golden sunset illuminating the pool of water exceptionally beautifully, and suddenly wanted to call A Jiao to come and see such beautiful scenery.

But how could he know that A Jiao had seen such scenery countless times, day after day, year after year.

When it was completely dark, Liu Che prepared to return to his room.

The maid was guarding outside the bedroom. Seeing Liu Che return, she bowed slightly. Liu Che asked in a low voice: "Has the Empress already slept?"

"The Empress is still bathing."

Liu Che nodded, then pushed the door in gently. He walked into the room and arrived at the bathing compartment in the innermost part. Lifting the bead curtain, he saw A Jiao leaning back in the wooden barrel, closing her eyes as if she had fallen asleep.

"A Jiao?" Liu Che called out, but she didn't respond.

He walked in, and the bead curtain behind him collided, making a crisp sound.

There were some flower petals floating on the water surface of the bathing barrel. Liu Che reached out to test the water temperature and found that there was still a little temperature.

Just right.

The bathing barrel used by the Son of Heaven was naturally very large, and accommodating two or three people was not a problem. Liu Che thought for a while, then suddenly reached out to untie his clothes, deciding to take a bath with A Jiao.

Liu Che had just entered the water when he suddenly saw a faint tear stain on his face. He was slightly startled and couldn't help but lean closer to A Jiao, wanting to see clearly.

But he heard A Jiao muttering in her mouth: "A Che, Changmen Palace is so cold, really so cold..."

Liu Che's expression was slightly startled, his heart seemed to be pinched by something, inexplicably tight, and then a dull pain occurred.

He seemed to have not heard her call him A Che for a long time.

It seemed that after the third year of Jianyuan, her address to him had always been Your Majesty, or directly calling his name. Unexpectedly, in her dreams, she would still call his name so intimately.

It's just... is Changmen Palace this Changmen Garden? Why did she say it was cold again?

Liu Che stared at A Jiao in front of him, and then he watched with his own eyes as a crystal tear slid from the corner of her eye and fell into the bathing barrel with a drip.

She was crying.

What did she dream of? Why was it so... sad?

Liu Che always felt that the A Jiao in front of him was not quite like A Jiao, or rather, not like the A Jiao after they swapped bodies.

Ever since they swapped bodies, he had seen a very different her. Her courage and intelligence were far more than he had imagined.

Liu Che knew that now when A Jiao faced him, she was wearing a hypocritical mask. Just like when he faced her, he was also wearing a mask. Because if there was a chance, he would not hesitate to choose to swap bodies with A Jiao.

Then what was A Jiao sad about at this time? Didn't she already get his body?

Liu Che slowly knelt down beside A Jiao, reached out to gently wipe the tear stains on her face, and a moment of tenderness increased in his heart. He couldn't help but ask: "Why are you crying?"

As the words fell, A Jiao, who was immersed in a nightmare, slowly opened her eyes, and a pair of black eyes that should have been deep and ruthless were now full of confusion and misery.

Her gaze focused on the face of the person in front of her, seeming unable to distinguish between dreams and reality. Her hand slowly came out of the water to gently touch the face of the person in front of her, and then she asked hoarsely: "Who are you... and who am I?"

The person in front is herself, then who is she? A Jiao thought in a daze.

The atmosphere here was too misty. Liu Che slowly leaned over and gently pressed his forehead against her forehead: "I am A Che."

A Jiao's voice was a bit hoarse: "A Che?"

"Yes, it's me." There seemed to be some movement in his heart, Liu Che felt his heart beating irregularly, and he reached out to gently hold A Jiao's chin, their noses facing each other, their breaths intertwined.

And then Liu Che did an act he himself hadn't thought of; he tilted his head and kissed A Jiao's lips.

A Jiao was startled, suddenly widened her eyes, seeming to have woken up, and looked at Liu Che in disbelief.

"Wuwu..." She struggled, but Liu Che leaned over directly, not letting her move, and then deepened the kiss.

Liu Che's kiss had always been domineering, even if he was in A Jiao's body, he was still the dominant one. He stretched out his tongue to pry open her lips, his teeth gently bit her lips, and intertwined with her lips.

A Jiao's breathing gradually became rapid, because in the water, all her resistance movements seemed to have no effect. It wasn't until Liu Che ended the kiss that he leaned into her arms and laughed lowly: "A Jiao, your reaction just now was very much like the way we kissed for the first time."

A Jiao: "..." At this time, A Jiao had completely woken up. She glared at the naked Liu Che in front of her: "Why are you here?"

Liu Che answered naturally and generously: "I saw the water was still warm, so I took a bath with you."

Such a frank answer immediately made A Jiao not know how to react.

"If you want to bathe, why don't you let the maid prepare it for you again, why do you have to squeeze here with me?" A Jiao said angrily: "You get out."

Liu Che leaned against the side of the wooden barrel: "No, I just came in. My body is full of sweat during the day, and I want to soak for a while too."

Shameless! A Jiao gritted her teeth: "Fine, then you soak, I'll go out, that's fine, right?" As she spoke, she stood up from the water with a splash and left the bathing barrel.

Liu Che's gaze stared at a certain place, his voice carried a bit of teasing, and he lay on the side of the barrel: "A Jiao, you have a reaction again."

A Jiao put on clean undergarments, then turned to glare at him: "Shut up."

"There are no children now, why not..." Liu Che also stood up from the water, his expression charming: "Why not let's try it."

That kiss just now made his mood a bit rippling, and he really wanted to do something.

A Jiao's expression was startled, her hands subconsciously tightened her sleeves, and she was also weighing in her heart whether to try it tonight. She was inexplicably dry-mouthed, licked her lips unconsciously, and said hoarsely: "Try, try what?"

She asked knowingly.

Liu Che was just about to walk out of the bathing barrel, but when he looked down, he saw the water in the bathing barrel turn red

, and then a heart-piercing pain came from his lower abdomen, as painful as when he had a miscarriage.

His expression became strange: "A Jiao, I seem to have had a miscarriage again."

A Jiao: "???" ===== CHAPTER 57 =====

His expression turned strange: "A Jiao, it seems I have miscarried again."

A Jiao: "???"