Chapter 384

At the moment he saw the wooden box, the light in Jiang Mingyuan's eyes dimmed.

Gu Xixi smiled faintly, yet with utmost solemnity: 'This apricot blossom is so precious; thank you, Brother Zi Chu, for letting me have the honor to see its true form—now it should be returned to its rightful owner.'

Even though he had sensed it when Gu Xixi entered the room, hearing her rejection still left him inevitably disappointed.

Yet his bearing remained composed and courteous; he took the wooden box without even asking why he had been refused.

Gu Xixi felt no affection for him, and that is no one's fault.

And he does not regret having sent her the apricot blossoms earlier.

Affection is affection; he followed his feelings but observed propriety, and his conscience is clear.

Jiang Mingyuan roused his spirits and said to Gu Xixi, 'Candidates who pass the metropolitan examination usually first gain experience by taking local posts; I have already expressed to His Majesty my wish to return to my hometown.'

'If in the future… I mean, if it is still possible…'

He trailed off, realizing that Gu Xixi intended to cooperate with the local government office to open a tea plantation.

Suddenly he worried that saying this would add to her burden.

As he hesitated, Gu Xixi laughed and said, 'Brother Zi Chu, why not open the box and see your top scholar's hairpin flower?'

Jiang Mingyuan looked puzzled at the wooden box in his hand.

Apricot blossoms wilt easily; that night, while out on the town, he carefully kept them in a water vase, barely preserving them until the next day.

After all this time, surely the flowers have withered and the stems drooped, right?

Although he did not know what Gu Xixi wanted him to see, Jiang Mingyuan still opened the box.

Seeing the apricot blossom inside the box, his eyes widened in disbelief as he lifted his gaze to Gu Xixi.

'This is…'

'How could this be?'

The apricot blossom was actually intact, and even more robust and three‑dimensional than the last glimpse he had seen before sealing the box.

Gu Xixi said, 'I tried to make it into an everlasting flower, and fortunately it succeeded.'

'Brother Zi Chu, do you like it?'

'I like it.' Jiang Mingyuan was overjoyed; his fingertips lightly stroked the stalk, and the dried petals trembled slightly, as if still alive on the branch.

'Dried goods can be stored for a long time, yet they shrink, wrinkle, turn gray‑brown and dull, losing their original vivid vitality.'

'Yet you have preserved it so lifelike—no wonder it is called an everlasting flower.'

Seeing his reluctance to let go, Gu Xixi smiled and said, 'As long as Brother Zi Chu likes it, that's good.'

She glanced at Jiang Mingyuan, her tone meaningful: 'Such a precious object, if it can be preserved as long as possible…'

'…it will surely one day be delivered into the hands of the person truly suited for it.'

Jiang Mingyuan's fingertips paused; he lifted his head and gazed deeply at Gu Xixi.

At this moment he understood what she truly meant to say.

It was an outright rejection.

It was also a sincere blessing for a friend.

He let out a long sigh, and Jiang Mingyuan gave a relieved smile: 'Thank you, Sister Xixi; I will surely cherish and keep it safe.'

As the two pushed the door open and stepped out, He Jinglan and Dou Rongshan were already standing there.

Gu Xixi told Jiang Mingyuan, 'The everlasting flower must be kept in a cool, dry place.'

'If you can obtain fine pine resin, pour it to encase the blossom, letting it solidify within, then polish the resin surface to a shine.'

'Then you can hold it in your hand to play with, and the blossom's original appearance will be preserved even longer.'

Jiang Mingyuan realized, laughing, 'That's a good method; I'll try it later.'

Gu Xixi nodded, 'Then we won't disturb your rest.'

The three ladies and Jiang Mingyuan exchanged a salute, then bade farewell and went to the inner courtyard.

Having just stepped outside the Jade Bamboo Courtyard, they saw only Light Pearl standing beside Zhang Wang.

Seeing the three return, her apricot eyes brightened, as if she had seen a savior.

He Jinglan rushed over in a flurry and casually said, 'What's up? Standing here and not going in—is someone at home trying to eat you?'

As she spoke, Light Pearl began shaking her head and covering her mouth in gestures.

He Jinglan turned her head toward the courtyard, and the corners of her mouth slowly rose.

'How did an uninvited guest show up again without being invited?'

She briskly took hold of the still‑peeking Dou Rongshan and walked off, saying, 'I suddenly remembered the guests are still drinking tea; come with me to greet them.'

'Hey!' Dou Rongshan was forced to follow, having no power to resist.

As they walked away, she still chattered, 'This is a good show to be continued next time—shouldn't we keep watching?'

He Jinglan said, 'Do you think the top scholar didn't notice you eavesdropping just now?'

'Your cousin, that living Yama, doesn't have the top scholar's good temper.'

'Hearing less about his affairs is all to your benefit.'

……

The two of them thus tugged and pulled as they walked away.

Light Pearl glanced at Gu Xixi, then darted into the courtyard like a puff of smoke to clear the area.

The ladies all said, for the sake of their lives, they should hear less of the Regent Prince's private affairs.

In the Jade Bamboo Courtyard there are also those big and small maidservants; they need to be made to dodge out of the way quickly.

Gu Xixi walked slowly toward the figure in the bamboo grove.

Mu Nan Zhao had his hands behind his back, gazing up at a tall bamboo stalk.

Gu Xixi stood beside him, looking in the same direction, and saw a green‑feathered bird perched among the bamboo leaves.

Because the kingfisher feather craft exists, such beautiful-feathered birds are rarely seen in later generations.

The kingfisher sang sweetly, hopped a few steps on the slender branches, spread its wings and flew away.

Gu Xixi said, "I hope it won't fall into the hands of birdcatchers."

Mu Nan Zhao withdrew his gaze, "I'm back."

Gu Xixi hummed, still looking upward, and said, "I returned the apricot blossom to Elder Brother Zi Chu."

Mu Nan Zhao startled.

Her choice, he was not surprised.

What surprised him was that she would bring it up to him on her own.

Mu Nan Zhao glanced to his side, clasped his hands behind his back again, and together with her looked at the sky where the bamboo branches crisscrossed above.

Although his expression remained calm, flowers quietly bloomed one after another in his heart.

As if a string of vines grew with the wind, the flowers nurtured in the spring breeze.

After a moment, Mu Nan Zhao said, "By the Lotus Pond, I spoke a few words with Jiang Mingyuan."

"I said I once disliked the name Chen Fang, but later I gradually came to like it."

"I said, whatever Gu Xixi wants to do does not need to rely on a man. But anyone who wishes to stand by her side must be someone who can accompany her in fulfilling her cherished wish."

Gu Xixi smiled askance, "What else did you say?"

Mu Nan Zhao lifted his chin, turned his head away so Gu Xixi couldn't see his expression.

"I told him, Gu Xixi has responsibilities toward me, and I have responsibilities toward her."

"Don't let him indulge in wild thoughts just because of the clichéd talk about cousins."

Gu Xixi laughed helplessly, "Hey, aren't you being a bit childish, Regent Prince?"

Mu Nan Zhao's lips were tightly pursed, yet he had a kind of tsundere cuteness.

At this moment he recalled He Jinghui's sighing words from before at the Jade Bamboo Pavilion.

"You're just too repressed, not even daring to show your own likes."

"You act so indistinctly, how can a girl be sure of your feelings?"

"Not to mention your two rivals, one enthusiastic and lively, the other a modest gentleman, both are far more likable than you..."

Mu Nan Zhao frowned, "Am I really that bad?"

Suddenly feeling tense in his heart, he turned to Gu Xixi, "Tomorrow is a day off; why not go to Dongshi for a stroll?"

"I'll come pick you up in the morning."

"If it were another maiden, receiving the Regent Prince's private invitation would at least bring delighted surprise."

Gu Xixi also reacted, but only with astonishment, "You want me to accompany you to buy what?"