18. Pruning

◎ "I will never take a servant in this life!"◎

Jiang Yan walked briskly towards the dormitory. She stepped through the threshold with her hands behind her back and stood firm. Zheng Pu bowed to her first.

Jiang Yan tilted his head and said, "Since you are here, stay with your master."

"Yes." Zheng Pu lowered his head.

"Go find Shi Liu, and have him take you to your place to familiarize you with it. If there's anything you need, have Xiang Jin prepare it for you."

"Yes, thank you, Your Highness." Zheng Pu bowed again, looked up at Cui Huaifeng before leaving.

"What's wrong?" Jiang Yan asked with a smile.

"Nothing." Cui Huaifeng glanced at the wardrobe and then looked away calmly.

Jiang Yan didn't think much about it and was only thinking about giving Cui Huaifeng a surprise.

"Guess what good stuff I brought you?"

"I can't guess." Cui Huaifeng's tense nerves relaxed because of her childishness and attempt to seek credit.

"Guess what."

"Snacks?" Cui Huaifeng still asked according to her.

“It’s not food.”

"jewelry?"

“Not really.”

Jiang moved his hands, which were hidden behind his back, to the front of his body, and a smooth and clean branch suddenly appeared.

She laughed out loud and said, "On my way home I happened to pass by a pear blossom forest, and I broke off a branch to give you as a gift."

Cui Huaifeng was stunned for a moment, "Shouldn't it be a spring?"

"Spring comes after winter goes, doesn't it show that I am very creative?" Jiang Yan said shamelessly.

Cui Huaifeng took the dead branch, his eyes softened, and he said softly, "Thank you."

"Just a thank you, is there nothing else to say?" Jiang Yan tilted his head and turned one cheek towards Cui Huaifeng.

"Don't push your luck."

Jiang Yan smiled and contentedly found an empty Guanyin bottle in the room.

"Huaifeng, how about using this bottle to grow flowers?"

"good."

"When the buds bloom in spring, they'll be absolutely stunning," Jiang Yan paused, then continued, "I was thinking of picking one from the ginkgo forest I met before the expedition, but for a vase, branches with pear or peach blossoms would be better."

One year ago.

Autumn is in full swing, and the ginkgo trees at the foot of the mountain are filled with bright yellow.

The ginkgo trees on both sides of the path have thick trunks and lush leaves. The land, which was originally a mixture of yellow and green, is now covered with ginkgo leaves of varying shades.

Jiang Yan and Cui Huaifeng walked in the ginkgo forest, and their steps made crisp sounds from time to time.

Jiang Yan was leading the horse, looking listless.

"What's wrong?" Cui Huaifeng was a little uncomfortable with Jiang Yan's silence and couldn't help but ask.

"Do you know that I'm going to the war?" Jiang Yan was unhappy.

"I know."

"I'm afraid it will take some time before I can see you again." Jiang Yan couldn't help but sigh.

Cui Huaifeng was silent for a while, then said comfortingly, "We'll see you again when you return victorious."

"Hmm..." Jiang Yan nodded listlessly.

Cui Huaifeng bit his lower lip and said, "Wait a moment."

Jiang Yan stopped and asked, "Hmm?"

Cui Huaifeng took out a deep red scented purse with exquisite embroidery. The white and pink peonies on the purse were lifelike, showing the embroiderer's meticulous care.

Cui Huaifeng handed it to Jiang Yan and said, "This is for you."

Jiang Yan paused, his eyes gradually brightening, "Could it be that you made this purse yourself?"

Cui Huaifeng replied casually, "Yes."

Jiang Yanru took it carefully as if it were a rare treasure, and flipped through it with great interest. She turned to look at Cui Huaifeng with bright eyes, "I like it very much!"

"That's good." Cui Huaifeng said calmly.

The more Jiang Yan looked at it, the more he liked it. He put the purse on his waist and gestured, "Does it look good?"

Cui Huaifeng couldn't help but curl the corners of his lips and nodded.

Jiang Yan received a positive answer and tucked her purse around her waist, feeling excited. She jumped on her horse and pulled the reins. Bright yellow ginkgo leaves danced around her in the autumn wind, like a golden snow.

Jiang Yan shouted, "Huaifeng! When I return victorious, I will marry you in a sedan chair carried by eight men!"

"I will never take a servant in this life!"

Cui Huaifeng looked up at the woman who was as dazzling as the sun and responded softly:

"Okay, I'll wait for you."

【Author’s words】

I will revise the text as I update it, so some details may not match my memory. QAQ. Major revisions or key changes will be marked, while partial revisions or minor repairs will not be marked. (Bow)