Chapter 335

I insisted he give a reason, and he said he didn't want you to feel pressured.

He Jinglan said, unable to help clasping her hands over her heart, feeling deeply moved.

He's always been aggressive and capable; from childhood, whenever I saw him want something—power, position—there was nothing he couldn't get his hands on.

I never expected that in my lifetime I'd see him step back for someone.

Oh dear, at the time I was just looking outside—is the sun supposed to rise from the west this morning?

Gu Xixi said calmly, "Good thing it didn't."

He Jinglan knew Gu Xixi's mind was in turmoil at the moment, and thoughtfully didn't press her further about her thoughts.

After walking a few steps, Gu Xixi said, "You haven't finished telling the origin of this land."

He Jinglan blinked, "Oh right, I was just saying that Mu Nan Zhao told His Majesty the reason, so let's continue."

His Majesty guessed that the 'she' Mu Nan Zhao mentioned was a woman, saying he originally thought the Regent Prince wasn't greedy for wealth nor fond of women, and feared that one day he might suddenly see the light, resign young to go eat vegetarian in a temple, causing the Imperial Court to lose a vital limb.

Upon learning that the Regent Prince also harbored the passion of 'peach blossoms luxuriant and radiant,' His Majesty was actually quite pleased.

When he tried to continue questioning, Mu Nan Zhao only said that the girl was just an ordinary woman, and moreover she had not yet agreed to him; even if His Majesty asked, it would be in vain.

Why not give him some time? Perhaps later he could let His Majesty taste the first batch of fresh peaches from that peach grove.

It is said that His Majesty then laughed heartily, saying he never expected there to be a woman in the world who would keep the Regent Prince waiting, and immediately granted this whole plot of land to the Regent Prince's manor.

Gu Xixi sighed, "Even someone as high-ranking and powerful as he must act this cautiously in the face of imperial authority."

He Jinglan nodded, "My brother also said Mu Nan Zhao's move was clever."

Being frank with His Majesty about one's own embarrassing unknown matters can somewhat close the distance with him.

It can also further dispel His Majesty's suspicions.

The new emperor's foundation is not yet solid; if Mu Nan Zhao were to rush into marriage alliances with powerful officials and aristocratic families at this time, it would inevitably arouse suspicion.

Therefore he told the emperor that his heart belonged to someone, and that woman was of humble origin.

Compared to a flawless, lofty immortal.

What the emperor prefers are close attendants who are flesh and blood, capable of joy and sorrow.

Obviously, Mu Nan Zhao understood this long ago.

Gu Xixi thought, "It seems she hasn't even arrived in the capital yet, and I've already taken the place of this pawn."

He Jinglan regarded Gu Xixi with some hesitation, saying, "Although he has other calculations in this matter, killing several birds with one stone, I still believe what he said is true."

Gu Xixi lifted her eyelids and returned a smile to He Jinglan, "I also believe."

However, Mu Nan Zhao could not possibly abandon his scheming for power and influence for Gu Xixi's sake.

Just as Gu Xixi would not give up her dream of an agricultural empire for Mu Nan Zhao.

When the two walked into the peach grove.

An Qinghe came running excitedly, clutching a freshly plucked peach blossom in his hand, some in full bloom, some still budding.

"Xixi, this is the prettiest I saw at first glance; I'll put it on you."

In ancient times, both men and women could wear flowers in their hair, considered elegant.

An Qinghe had already inserted two into his own temples.

Gu Xixi saw his bright smile and expectant gaze, and really couldn't bear to refuse.

"Thank you, this flower is indeed beautiful; give it to me and I'll wear it myself."

An Qinghe couldn't personally place the flower in Gu Xixi's hair, feeling a bit disappointed inside, but he still smiled and placed the peach blossom in her hand.

Watching her fumble a few positions awkwardly, she finally inserted it beside her right ear, filling his view with her flower-wearing appearance.

An Qinghe nodded with a smile, "Looks good, just as I imagined, it suits you."

He Jinglan watched from the side, her gaze shifting, feeling amused, thinking this kid might have fallen a bit deep.

So she laughed and interjected, "How come you only plucked one for you and Xixi, but none for me?"

An Qinghe put away his foolish smile and spoke seriously, "Back home, although it's also flowers with beauties, a man giving a flower to a maiden isn't something just anyone can do."

He Jinglan retorted, "Am I just some random person? Aren't the three of us close friends?"

An Qinghe glanced sideways at Gu Xixi, about to say something.

But Gu Xixi had already entered a business-minded state; she patted the peach tree beside her and exclaimed in surprise, "The tree is at least twenty years old."

As she walked forward, she closely examined each peach tree she encountered, saying, "This one must be twenty-five years old."

……

This peach grove grew up gradually, with the oldest trees even reaching thirty or forty years.

He Jinglan couldn't help but wonder, "Since they've been growing here for so long, why have they never borne peaches?"

If there were fresh peaches, they could at least draw nearby villagers; as it is, this place wouldn't be so obscure.

Gu Xixi said, "Look, the trees are growing in a haphazard mess, and their ages vary greatly, showing they weren't planted by humans."

An Qinghe temporarily forgot his amorous thoughts, focusing his attention entirely on the peach trees.

"Not planted by people—where did all these trees come from? They don't bear fruit themselves, and with no peach pits falling to the ground, where did these peach trees grow from?"

Gu Xixi thought for a moment and guessed, "Perhaps some small animal ate the peaches and carried them here."

"There are their habitats nearby, and also farms that grow peaches."

To verify the guess, the three continued walking forward from the center of the peach grove.

Beyond the peach grove by a hundred meters lies the boundary of the Regent Prince's estate.

Only upon reaching this side did they see the private property, marked with a sign forbidding outsiders.

An Qinghe still didn't know this was Mu Nan Zhao's territory; seeing the sign, he couldn't help but exclaim:

"Oh no, we've intruded without permission and even picked someone's flowers—taking without asking is a sin, a sin."

He Jinglan glanced sideways, "It was you who plucked it; we didn't pick any."

Gu Xixi said, "You just stop teasing him."

She confessed to An Qinghe, "From the willow-shaded path we walked on after landing, all the way to the sign we saw when we just left the peach grove—all those places belong to Mu Nan Zhao."

An Qinghe froze, the joy of the spring outing fading.

Gu Xixi gave a light smile to comfort him, "Today Jing Lan went and got his permission on her own, inviting us to come play, so you don't need to feel indebted to anyone."

An Qinghe suddenly understood, "Exactly, we were invited by Miss Jing Lan; if we owe anyone, we owe her."

He Jinglan smiled, squinting as she waved her hand, "No debt, no debt—I received plenty of your care when I was in the northwest; it's only right."

Not far ahead, we indeed saw vast stretches of peach orchards.

He Jinglan looked around, then realized, "This place is Immortal Fruit Village! I've been here before, but this time I took a different route and didn't recognize it at first."

An Qinghe's eyes lit up, "Immortal Fruit Village? With that name, could it be that the whole village grows peaches?"

He Jinglan laughed, "Exactly."

"Every summer, half of the fresh peaches supplied in the capital's markets come from their village."

She followed Gu Xixi's gaze, "But they also grow grain, just less of it."

Gu Xixi didn't respond; she didn't even glance at the splendid orchards, quickly crossing the path and heading toward the verdant fields opposite.

She bent down and picked something from beneath the wheat seedlings.

Then she opened her palm; there was a string of sticky stuff, its edges showing reddish-orange granules, each one like an elongated grain of rice.