Chapter 32 Wishing Tree "I'll live here with you from now on."

"You'll know when you get there."

Feng Huaihe was more than a head taller than Zhu Qing. He had to look down to see her. She was so small and short that it seemed he could easily hug her with one hand.

His heart skipped a beat, and he reached out to her. Startled, she stepped back, staring at him warily: "What are you going to do?"

Feng Huaihe's hand froze in mid-air. After a long while, he withdrew his hand and asked indifferently, feigning nonchalance, "Have you eaten or taken your medicine?"

Zhu Qing remained silent.

How could she possibly have an appetite? She was afraid that Feng Huaihe would take her to a secluded place where no one could find her.

Then she would truly become Feng Huaihe's exclusive possession.

Feng Huaihe's voice turned cold: "I have already sent someone to Qingxi Village to move all your and your sister-in-law and niece's valuables here. Once we've moved, if you still want to refuse food and medicine, you can think about them first. After all, how they live here depends entirely on you."

He even managed to take control of his sister-in-law and Manman. Zhu Qing glared at him in disbelief, about to curse him, when Feng Huaihe brushed her aside and led a dozen servants toward the secretary's room.

Zhu Qing was furious but couldn't vent her anger. She could only curse his ancestors in her heart. She wanted to turn around and leave, but she remembered that Feng Huaihe had said he would bring his sister-in-law and Manman back to Qingxi Village, so she had to bite the bullet and follow him.

"What exactly did you mean by what you just said?"

"Literal meaning."

As soon as he entered the secretary's office, he personally sorted out the classified documents, neatly stacking them one by one in a locked box.

Zhu Qing followed behind him, about to speak, when Tian Jiuzhu, who was tidying up the bookshelf, suddenly spoke up: "Secretary, this stack of books seems to be some miscellaneous folk tales, should we throw them away?"

Zhu Qing looked up and saw Tian Jiuzhu holding the stack of erotic novels that Feng Huaihe had given her earlier, and her cheeks flushed.

A calm voice came from the side: "Take it with you."

Tian Jiuzhu was puzzled and couldn't understand why the usually aloof and arrogant head secretary would read such a storybook, so she simply put it aside and put it away separately.

After Feng Huaihe finished stacking the last document, bent down to lock the box, and then straightened up to ask Zhu Qing.

"Do you still have something to say to me?"

Looking at the servants and Tian Jiuzhu busily tidying up the room, Zhu Qing couldn't bring herself to voice the question in her heart.

She didn't want anyone to hear that she had developed this improper relationship with Feng Huaihe.

"What do I have to say to you?" Zhu Qing coldly retorted, then turned to leave.

“Wait,” Feng Huaihe grabbed her sleeve. “I’ve prepared food in the small kitchen. Go eat, and then we’ll leave. I’ll let you see your family.”

You better keep your word!

Zhu Qing walked angrily toward the small kitchen, thinking to himself that he really wanted to call the police and tell them that Feng Huaihe had illegally detained him and take him away immediately!

Sure enough, food was prepared on the small kitchen table, along with a bowl of warm medicine as usual.

After Zhu Qing finished eating, Feng Huaihe arrived right on time, stood in front of the table, and tapped the table with his hand: "Let's go."

Zhu Qing casually wiped her mouth, got up, and walked out with him.

“Be good when you get out,” Feng Huaihe told her as they walked. “Don’t be silly and ask people for help. You need to know that I’m the one who calls the shots in the entire shogunate.”

Zhu Qingbai glanced at him and said, "You don't need to tell me."

She scoffed, "I'm not that stupid. There's war going on everywhere, and everyone wants your help. If I run out to ask for help and expose my relationship with you, I'll be captured by those warlords as a hostage tomorrow, won't I?"

Feng Huaihe nodded approvingly: "You're still as smart as you were in your previous life."

"Heh," Zhu Qing coldly replied.

Outside the shogunate, there was a horse-drawn carriage and several oxcarts. Zhu Qing was led into the carriage by Feng Huaihe and set off before the oxcarts could arrive.

She kept her distance from Feng Huaihe, wishing she could sit in the front of the carriage. Feng Huaihe stared at her intently for a long time. Zhu Qing couldn't withstand the pressure of his gaze and slowly moved to his side.

He then looked away, reached out and naturally pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on her hair and nuzzling it like a clingy kitten: "Don't stay so far away from me in the future."

"..."

His strong arms held Zhu Qing tightly in his embrace. Zhu Qing lay on his chest, unable to break free, and could feel his strong heartbeat and the scent of ink in his breath.

Zhu Qing felt incredibly uncomfortable, but thankfully they finally arrived at their destination. As soon as Feng Huaihe released her, she leaped out of the carriage as if flying.

The place was a secluded house, with only two or three households on either side, and rows of sturdy elm trees planted on both sides of the wide street.

She could sense that this was a good location, but Zhu Qing didn't know where it was because she was unfamiliar with the area. The oxcart carrying the luggage hadn't arrived yet, so she followed Feng Huaihe inside alone.

Zhu Qing was stunned as soon as she entered.

The house is decorated in a quiet and elegant style, exuding the spirit of literati. In the center of the courtyard, there is a tall locust tree that blooms with clusters of white locust flowers in this season. The branches are covered with countless small red ribbons, making it look like a wishing tree.

Feng Huaihe, who was in front, turned around. A few clusters of pure white locust blossoms fell onto his shoulder. He stood amidst the flowers, his eyes and brows extremely gentle. When the wind blew, the red ribbons on the trees fluttered like rolling sunset clouds, making him look like a celestial being descended to earth.

Zhu Qing was stunned for a moment.

However, Feng Huaihe said, "From now on, you will live here. There are no servants in the house, and I'm afraid you won't be used to it. But if you need anything, you can go to Tian Jiuzhu. She will live in the front yard from now on. As long as you don't run away, you can do whatever you want."

Zhu Qing became agitated: "You're not even pretending anymore, it's blatant imprisonment?"

Feng Huaihe gently brushed the cluster of pure white flowers off his shoulder, his smile warm: "How can you call it imprisonment? Didn't I say I was just protecting you? Now that you've remembered, you should understand how difficult the world is these days. Since you have a safe haven, why don't you go there?"

"Are you a safe haven or a stormy night?" Zhu Qing felt like dying. "How can there be someone like you, making such filthy things sound so noble!"

Feng Huaihe's smile vanished, and his expression suddenly became very serious. This was the first time Zhu Qing had ever seen him so earnest and solemn.

“I can guess what kind of life you had on the moon, and I’ve seen how turbulent your life was in this era in your past life. What you need is peace and stability. Zhu Qing, stay by my side, I can give you that.”

"I..." Zhu Qing suddenly didn't know what to say.

If she had had someone by her side in her past life, she certainly wouldn't have drowned. And in her life before that, if Zhang Yin had been capable enough, she wouldn't have suffered so much, and she wouldn't have even died trying to save him.

Feng Huaihe reiterated, "Stay by my side, and I will help you take any path you want to take." He would never again leave her feeling helpless and alone like she was on the moon.

"If you still aspire to be the true first female strategist, just like in your past life, I can help you. If you no longer desire that, and simply want stability, I can provide that for you as well."

When the Sixteen Prefectures were ceded, Feng Huaihe even impulsively thought of standing in her place when he learned that Zhu Qing had been pushed out by Zhang Yin.

It was Jingwan who pulled him back, and that became the only right thing Jingwan ever did in his life.

Because Feng Huaihe himself had climbed his way up from Qingxi Village, he deeply understood what it meant to say, "When a dynasty prospers, the people suffer; when a dynasty falls, the people suffer."

He couldn't let go of this era riddled with problems, and even more so, he couldn't let go of the people living in this era.

Feng Huaihe wanted to do what he could to improve the lives of the people, and later he even gave away all his wealth to take in refugees.

But in this life, he has realized that he cannot change an era by his own efforts alone, and he wants to live for Zhu Qing.

Help her, support her, and push her forward so that she can embark on the road to success and achieve her goals.

But Zhu Qing said, "Stay by my side? I don't like someone as withdrawn as you!"

Feng Huaihe stiffened: "I made changes. Tian Jiuzhu and Bao Fu, I tried to get them into the Secretariat." He said seriously, "I have taken the first step. It won't be like the last life."

"Who wants to listen to your empty promises? I..."

Suddenly, the sound of an oxcart came from outside. Zhu Qing stopped abruptly, turned around, and saw that it was the family's oxcart parked outside the house.

Zhu Qing hurriedly went to greet her, "Sister-in-law?"

Nie Zhen, leading Manman, jumped off the oxcart and was about to greet Zhu Qing when she realized that this house was no ordinary place. She stopped in her tracks, not daring to move: "Qingqing, this is..."

She carefully examined the large house with its white walls and green tiles.

The gate is painted red, with two large trees hidden at the entrance. Through the wide-open gate, you can see the elegant and refined interior, with pavilions and terraces that are comparable to ten small courtyards in a house!

Nie Zhen was dumbfounded. Qingqing first wrote back asking her husband to join the Shence Army, and then sent someone to tell her that Qingqing had bought a house in Chang'an and asked the whole family to move into the city.

This would make it convenient for Zhu Yubo to take care of Zhuo Yunmeng, who had come to Chang'an for medical treatment, as well as for Zhu Feichuan's business activities and for Zhu Zhengyang to work in the Shence Army. So Nie Zhen packed her bags and came with her daughter.

She brought everything she could from home, thinking she could save money in the city. She thought it would be a place similar to her family's small fenced yard, but she never expected it to be such a big house!

She thought of all the bottles and jars in her bundle and suddenly felt a little embarrassed, as if they were lowering the class of Qingqing's house!

While Nie Zhen was lost in thought, Manman had already shaken off her hand and rushed over to hug Zhu Qing tightly.

Zhu Qing pinched the baby's cheek. Nie Zhen approached them, just about to ask Zhu Qing how she managed to acquire such a large house, when Feng Huaihe came out, stood beside Zhu Qing, and looked at Nie Zhen without saying a word.

He was tall, had a cold expression, and only looked at people without speaking, which intimidated Nie Zhen for a moment.

Nie Zhen remembered her husband's words to be wary of Feng Huaihe, so she cautiously hid beside Zhu Qing and temporarily suppressed her questions.

Fortunately, Feng Huaihe spoke up at this moment: "I have something to do, you two talk. I noticed that you don't have much at home, so I've already asked Bao Fu to take some people to collect it. You can pick and choose whatever you want. If you need anything, just tell me, and I'll take you to choose it myself when I have time."

"You will stay at Xihua Hall. Once the items you selected are delivered, you can decorate it however you like."

Feng Huaihe spoke as if they were a newlywed couple setting up a new home together. Nie Zhen was dumbfounded once again, thinking that he and Zhu Qing had already committed to each other for life. When she went to see Zhu Qing, she saw that she had a look on her face as if she had swallowed a fly.

Zhu Qing said irritably, "If you have something to say, then get lost!"

Nie Zhen was terrified. Why were Qingqing talking to Feng Huaihe like that?

That's Feng Huaihe! Apart from the oblivious Chen Sangguo, everyone would be terrified in his presence!

What's even stranger is that Feng Huaihe didn't blame her at all. He just pursed his lips and looked at her with a hint of grievance before getting into the carriage and leaving.

Nie Zhen was a married woman, and the more she looked at her, the more she felt something was off.

Nie Zhen watched the carriage drive away and quickly asked Zhu Qing, "How did you manage to get such a big house? Also, what's going on between you and Feng Huaihe?"

Zhu Qing sighed and led her and Manman into the house: "This isn't mine, it belongs to Feng Huaihe. It's nothing."

"He gave you the house without any explanation?" Nie Zhen was dumbfounded for the third time. Upon entering the house, she was stunned by its beautiful and picturesque appearance. She cautiously said, "This house looks to be worth about a hundred taels of silver..."

Let alone moving in, she had never seen such a beautiful and exquisite mansion in her entire life!

Nie Zhen looked at the locust tree covered with red ribbons in amazement: "This tree is so beautiful, it's like a wishing tree."

When young Manman heard her mother say this, she quickly put her hands together, closed her eyes, and made a wish.

Nie Zhen looked at Zhu Qing in surprise and asked, "Does he like you?"

Zhu Qing sighed, but before she could speak, Nie Zhen exclaimed excitedly, "Feng Huaihe is handsome, wealthy, and a renowned strategist... It's practically a match made in heaven!"

Nie Zhen looked at the house, feeling both pleased and somewhat apprehensive, as she had never lived in such a nice house before.

The first time she had ever seen so much silver was because of Zhu Qing.

Nie Zhen admired Zhu Qing even more.

Zhu Qing looked at the adoring gaze she received, but couldn't express the bitterness in her heart.

Indeed, Feng Huaihe's current status would be considered exceptionally outstanding even in her society; she is rich, beautiful, powerful, and has a great figure.

Actually, what he said wasn't wrong.

Whether she was his female student or an independent woman in the 21st century, all she sought was stability and peace, and the opportunity to strive towards her heart's desire.

But she was not satisfied both times.

For the first time, she had a yearning to stand on high and comfort the souls of a suffering era, but she fell in love with and married an ordinary man named Zhang Yin.

Despite his turbulent life, all his abilities and skills were used to scheme for the mediocre Zhang Yin and to fight against Feng Huaihe.

She had a life of hardship and displacement, and the Sixteen Prefectures were ceded. Zhu Qing was caught up in the situation at the time and also liked Zhang Yin, but she couldn't see it.

Now that I've distanced myself from the situation, I suddenly understand that Zhang Yin was cowardly and afraid of death. When everyone was angry, he tacitly allowed Zhu Qing to go to Chang'an to find Feng Huaihe, subtly pushing her out.

...Zhang Yin used a trick to kill someone with a borrowed knife.

Zhang Yin knew that the two of them, teacher and student, had been fighting for half their lives. Feng Huaihe loved Zhu Qing, but in the years of struggle, hatred had developed. The emotions of love and hate were the most complicated, the most difficult to distinguish, and the easiest to generate anger. Given the opportunity, he would definitely use his knife.

No wonder Feng Huaihe hated him so much, almost to the bone, even though it was Feng Huaihe who used the knife.

Feng Huaihe must have also realized that Zhu Qing and he himself had been set up by Zhang Yin in an extremely secretive scheme.

In such a chaotic era, if only the wife dies, it must be because the husband is incompetent.

And the second time? She was born into that kind of family.

This is the third time.

Feng Huaihe said he could provide it, and he was indeed capable, wealthy, and resourceful. She no longer needed to think about how to support her incompetent husband every day, just like when she married Zhang Yin.

This is the beginning of their life together; much of the love and hate has yet to happen.

This is her third chance.

However, Zhu Qing wanted to get what she wanted herself and was determined not to be tempted by Feng Huaihe!

-

Qingxi Village.

In the dimly lit room, Chen Sangguo stood by the window and drew the curtains, letting in light that illuminated her father's gaunt and sickly appearance on the hospital bed behind her.

He had been paralyzed in this room for many years and had not left it. The moment the light poured in, his slightly longing gaze turned to the window, where he saw the sunlight, the river, and the swaying willows.

Everything was exactly the same as before, except that Yang Liu had grown much taller. He wouldn't have cared much about these things before, but after lying in this small space for so long, he now really wanted to feel what it was like to have the willow branch brush against his palm again.

On the village path, a man suddenly rode by on horseback, and when he reached his doorstep, he reined in his horse and stopped.

Father Chen strained to open his pupils and see the person who had come in. His lips trembled slightly.

"Sangguo, go and break off some willow branches for your father..."

Chen Sangguo nodded. In the past, she would always bring her father some things, such as sand and stones on the ground or wildflowers by the roadside, hoping that this would make her father feel that there was more than just this sickbed in the world.

She pushed open the door and went out, only to see Feng Huaihe tethering his horse under the mulberry tree in front of her house. He looked up as if sensing her presence, and when he saw her eyebrows and eyes that resembled Li's, Feng Huaihe frowned almost imperceptibly.

Chen Sangguo had never interacted with him before and didn't know why he had come to her house. Before she could ask, she heard him say, "Your father and I have something to talk about."

"When did you and my dad become so close?" Chen Sangguo laughed. "Besides the Zhu family, you're the first person to visit him. Let me get you some water."

"No need, I'll be leaving soon."

Feng Huaihe walked past her and went into the house on his own.

He stood by the door, his cold gaze sweeping over the emaciated old man, Chen. The moment Chen saw him, his cloudy eyes filled with wariness. "Why are you here?"

“I want to make a deal with you,” Feng Huaihe said slowly as he walked to his bedside, glancing meaningfully at his legs. “Can you still get out of bed?”

Father Chen hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

Feng Huaihe said, "I know that you pretended to be sick and hid yourself here for many years in order to protect Chen Sangguo."

This secret was unknown to anyone. Father Chen's pupils constricted slightly. "You..."

“Feng Ruling has already discovered you and your father,” Feng Huaihe tilted his head, gesturing for him to look out the window. Chen Sangguo had already returned with the willow branches she had broken off. Perhaps fearing that it would worsen her father’s illness, she carefully washed the willow branches with water and hung them on the fence to dry.

"I won't save you, but I will protect Chen Sangguo."

Feng Huaihe, fearing he wouldn't believe him, said, "I mean what I say. If you agree, I can let you see my mother's body."

With difficulty, Chen's father opened his chapped lips, and after a long while, he managed to utter a few words: "What do you want me to do?"

"I will tell you when my mother comes to the Feng residence on the day of her funeral."

Father Chen gazed at his daughter in the courtyard.

Back then, to escape Feng Ruling's clutches, he brought his daughter here to live a life of hiding and humiliation.

No one knew that he was once a renowned swordsmith. In exchange, he taught Zhu Feichuan the art of sword forging, and Zhu Feichuan helped him conceal the truth and 'take care' of his daughter, defying the criticism of his daughter in Qingxi Village.

Seeing Zhu Feichuan grow up and develop feelings for his daughter, and about to embark on a business career, personally forging swords and selling weapons, Chen's father felt relieved.

Even if Feng Huaihe wanted him to assassinate Emperor Xizong of Tang and usurp the throne, he would agree.

Unlike Feng Ruling, his only daughter, Chen Sangguo, was his everything.

After a long while, Father Chen nodded with difficulty.

Feng Huaihe said, "After you die, I will bury you with her."

After saying that, he turned and left.

As soon as she stepped outside, she saw Chen Sangguo sitting in the courtyard. Hearing the voice, she turned around and said happily, "You're done talking so quickly?"

Her candid smile and excited tone made Feng Huaihe pause for a moment before nodding.

Chen Sangguo held a paper package and walked up to him, handing it to him: "These are dried mulberries I made. Thank you for helping Feichuan store grain."

Feng Huaihe instinctively wanted to refuse, but when he looked at the paper package that smelled of mulberries, he remembered Chen Sangguo from his previous life.

In his previous life, Feng Huaihe did not provide any assistance to Zhu Feichuan's trade routes. After his grain hoarding failed, he took a risky approach. During the chaos of Huang Chao's attack on Tongguan and Chang'an, he claimed to have a paradise where people could take refuge and sold it to countless people at high prices.

Whether the Peach Blossom Spring was real or not, when the people flocked there, they encountered Huang Chao's rebel army, who massacred them all.

Zhu Feichuan was attacked, and his whole family was driven to hide in a cave in the mountains. Zhu Feichuan was criticized by everyone, and even Chen Sangguo stopped talking to him.

He then vanished overnight, and no one knew where he went. Chen's father died in the chaos of war in Chang'an, and Chen Sangguo also wandered among the war refugees, never to be seen again.

Later, Feng Huaihe met her during the Battle of Youzhou. She had been abducted by Abaoji and taken to Hancheng in Khitan, where she became Abaoji's concubine.

At that time, a generation of swordsmiths had appeared out of nowhere. She probably guessed that this swordsmith was Zhu Feichuan, who had been personally taught by her father. He was currently forging weapons for Li Cunxu and might appear near Youzhou. So she insisted on following Abaoji to the battlefield.

She died in the Battle of Youzhou and never got to see the swordsmith.

In his previous life, Feng Huaihe promised Li that he would find her daughter. Many years later, he finally found her, but she turned out to be Chen Sangguo, who had been dead for decades.

When she died, Feng Huaihe was also in Youzhou. He had the ability to save her, but he was so distracted by seeing Zhu Qing and Zhang Yin together that he didn't want to care about anything. Besides, he wasn't familiar with Chen Sangguo, so he didn't offer any help.

When Feng Huaihe realized this, he only felt regret.

Later, as he grew old and lived alone by Zhu Qing's grave, he suddenly saw Chen Sangguo's bell and burst into tears.

If he had offered help then and protected his only sister, he would at least have had a relative by his side in this world.

"Feng Huaihe?" Chen Sangguo suddenly called out to him.

Feng Huaihe pulled himself out of his memories and looked at her, just in time to see the bell in her hair.

She laughed loudly, "I thought someone as capable as you wouldn't be in a daze."

She held the paper package closer.

Feng Huaihe suppressed the turmoil in his heart and slowly reached out to take it.

This is the only gift I've ever received from a family member in my entire life.

He glanced at Chen Sangguo with mixed feelings, then said, "I'm leaving."

Feng Huaihe carefully put the paper package away, walked to the mulberry tree to lead his horse, and for some reason, he felt a strange trust in the smiling Chen Sangguo. He instructed him, "Don't mention my visit to anyone."

"clear!"

Feng Huaihe mounted his horse and rode away.

-

As night fell, when Feng Huaihe returned to his house in Qingyi Lane, Zhu Qing had just finished dinner.

Sister-in-law and Manman went back to their respective rooms to rest. Zhu Qing lay contentedly on the low couch in Xihuatang. Looking out the window, it must be said that Feng Huaihe had a lot of leisure and taste. The Xihuatang he chose had a wishing tree in the courtyard that could be seen from the window.

The warm glow of the hexagonal sheep lantern in the courtyard illuminated the path where Feng Huaihe was returning.

Upon seeing him, Zhu Qing immediately sat up straight, alert. A moment later, she heard the door open behind her, and Feng Huaihe walked to her side. "Have you eaten? Take a bath and rest."

Zhu Qing turned around and glared at him angrily: "What do you mean by 'bathing and resting'?"

Feng Huaihe said calmly, "I'll live here with you from now on."

Zhu Qing: ?