Chapter 27
Li Jia lay on the rocking chair, looking at the swaying branches and leaves outside the window, feeling a little sad. She realized that she had unknowingly spent three seasons in this world, and now it was early winter.
Actually, she quite likes winter.
It's the perfect season for roasted sweet potatoes.
Li Jia had no real sense of the weather before, but the sudden temperature change made her feel a little down.
A figure blocked her light. Li Jia didn't speak; the changing seasons made her listless.
"Your Majesty, are you here to urge me to study? I'll get up in five more minutes."
Even though winter break had started, Hera hadn't forgotten her studies, and the palace had specially reserved a small space for her as a study.
Thanks to Tohra, her little yellow chick notebook was filled with notes. It has to be said that strict teachers produce outstanding students. She was able to go from failing to scoring 80 points, and Tohra deserves a lot of credit.
There was a small blackboard in the study. Every day before Hera went out to perform her official duties, she would write down what she needed to study and what she needed to do on the blackboard. Winslow would use it as a reminder, and she would come back in the evening to check the homework.
Hera pulled Li Jia up from the rocking chair: "Change your clothes, let's go out."
Li Jia's eyes lit up: "Your Majesty, where are we going?"
"Go to Dongbo."
Li Jia immediately fawned, "Okay!"
She can go anywhere as long as she doesn't have to do homework.
Winslow had previously given Li Jia a crash course on land map divisions. The entire landmass is composed of four major divisions: the Northern Territory, the Southern Marshland, the Eastern Marshland, and the Western Ninglandland. All rivers, lakes, mountains, and cities belong to their respective branches.
Li Jia's understanding is that it's like the cardinal directions, whichever is where you are, just like which province is near which place.
Why the sudden trip to Dongbo?
"What's the climate like in Dongpo? Is it cold or hot? How many days are we going? I need to think about what clothes to bring."
Upon hearing Hera say she was going out, Li Jia immediately pulled her suitcase out from under the bed and opened the wardrobe to browse through her belongings.
"climate?"
"It's spring all year round, and the Nastia Strait is just across from Dongbo."
There is a sea, but Li Jia has never seen the sea.
In the past, Li Jia always wanted to visit cities with the sea, feel the sea breeze, and collect seashells, but she didn't have that freedom. She had to work hard to make a living and struggle to find food for the next meal.
The bohemian-style maxi dress she ordered finally came in handy; she hadn't thought much about it when it was made.
I just feel like I don't have to spend any money. I've drawn all the clothes I've always wanted, and I don't know if I'll ever have the chance to wear them. Just having them hanging in my closet makes me happy.
The textile goddess is highly skilled. Even with such rough drawings, which only have a rough outline and pattern, she can achieve a similarity of nearly 90%. Indeed, she has a special skill.
"Aren't Doreen and Winslow going?"
After Li Jia finished getting ready, she put on a gray fleece coat. Not seeing the two of them at the entrance of the hot spring, she asked them.
"They're not going."
Hera didn't drive the Peacock Chariot. Instead, she had Li Jia sit on the suitcase, and Li Jia pulled the suitcase. With a Shadow Cloak, they arrived at their destination.
That strait is a deep blue crack torn open by the earth, connecting the surging open sea on one end and the tranquil inner bay on the other, while the two of them sit steadily on the mountains.
Hera covered Li Jia with a layer of divine power, concealing their appearances. Now they looked no different from ordinary people. Hera's eyes were a normal black.
Li Jia wanted to go to the beach and gestured to Hera if they could use Shadow Cloak to get there directly. Hera frowned and said no, because if they relied on Shadow Cloak the whole time, it would defeat the purpose of bringing her out to experience life.
Li Jia: "..."
Then why did you use Shadow Cloak to come from the hot spring stream?
Human beings are inherently hypocritical, and it seems that even gods are the same.
She couldn't walk any further after walking halfway, and Li Jia sat on the ground in a huff, refusing to move another step.
"Come up."
Hera's voice rang out above her head, carrying an undeniable certainty. Before Li Jia could react, a steady force came from behind her, and the next second she was lifted up and carried on Hera's back.
The suitcase was shrunk by divine power and placed in Li Jia's pocket.
"Your Majesty, this can't be done, put me down..."
Li Jia struggled to land, but her cheek bumped into her broad, strong back first, carrying the warmth of the sun and a faint scent of pine.
"pay close attention."
Hera didn't turn around, but tilted her neck slightly, her voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible panic.
Li Jia hesitated for half a second, but still obediently wrapped her arms around her neck. Her fingertips inadvertently touched her burning skin, and her hand recoiled as if burned, but she couldn't help but press her face even closer to her back.
Li Jia felt her ears burning and secretly scolded herself for being so spineless.
Hera's steps were steady, each step firm, and she caught the bumpy road steadily, so Li Jia could hardly feel the sway.
Having lived two lives, this was the first time someone had carried her on their back; even her parents had never carried her.
Li Jia was somewhat dazed; it seemed that all her first experiences were related to Hera, which was quite a coincidence.
"Your Majesty..." Li Jia leaned close to her ear: "Why are you so good to me?"
The warm breath that rushed to her ears startled Hera.
"If I'm not good to you, then who am I supposed to be good to?"
Hera heard Li Jia asking her and said in a hoarse voice, "I only have you as my servant."
"Don't you have any other servants?"
Li Jia asked calmly, but she was very jealous and sad. She didn't want Hera to have other servants.
"No, supporting you alone is enough to keep me busy."
Hera spoke slowly and softly.
I have neither the will nor the courage to offer myself completely to another person again, to see through all her ugliness and foolishness and still love her.
This person can only be Li Jia. In front of her, there is no need to hide any flaws. It is an incredibly similar soul snuggling together, and it is an unprecedented joy.
After thinking for a while, Li Jia said seriously, "That's right, I am a troublesome person, so it's already good enough that you can take care of me. Your Majesty doesn't need to add any more trouble for yourself."
Hera: "You do have some self-awareness."
Li Jia: "..." Can't we just have some fun? She's getting all worked up over calling her fat.
——
The beach under the sun is like a smooth, ironed golden silk. The sand is so fine and soft that you sink into it when you step on it. In the distance, the waves roll with white edges and slowly crash onto the beach, breaking into a foam. A few seagulls skim across the sea, their wings covered with fine water droplets. Occasionally, they land and peck at the small crabs among the sand, which is quite interesting.
Upon arriving at their destination, Hera put Li Jia down, and the little guy immediately perked up. He took off his shoes, stood barefoot in a puddle on the shore, and touched the surface of the sea a little further away with his hands.
Hera wasn't in a hurry. She stood aside and waited for Hera to get tired of playing before finding a place to rest.
——
Fishermen near the Nastia Strait make their living from the sea. To facilitate fishing during the peak season, they usually build wooden houses around the coast or rest on their boats.
Over time, an industrial chain gradually formed, attracting a steady stream of tourists from the strait and bringing considerable income to the local area.
Li Jia ultimately chose to stay on the fishing boat. She had never rested on a boat before, and everything was new and interesting.
Hera had also inquired and found out that each fishing boat had a clearly marked price, with the largest ferry accommodating more than a dozen people and the smallest only having a couple's room for two.
Arriving at the ferry terminal for renting fishing boats, Hera glanced at the models of fishing boats and the corresponding number of passengers displayed behind the vendors and said casually, "Then let's get the smallest one."
Li Jia: "Why can't we live in a bigger place? A bigger place is more spacious."
Hera: "Because I didn't bring that much money with me. All the money was with Winslow. She's in charge of managing the money at Hot Springs, so I have no right to interfere."
After saying that, he gave Li Jia a helpless look.
I don't believe you! It's all because you didn't bring Winslow and Doreen.
Li Jia: "...Anywhere is fine."
Those who don't contribute have no say. It's just a two-person room; no matter how big the space is, you still have to sleep together at night.
After paying, Li Jia held the key, which had a small brass tag hanging on it that read "Number 32".
These are fishing boats that attract customers. The row of them is quite a sight. A long row of fishing boat buoys is nailed to wooden stakes on the shore, and the fishing boats float on the sea.
Li Jia counted the fishing boats one by one and finally found the mark "No. 32" on the last boat.
The hull was painted a bright rust-red, with a white border around the edge, making it look from a distance like a blooming red lotus fallen on the water.
The wooden deck creaked underfoot, and the ship carried a salty, damp smell of wood and seawater.
The fishing boats used for sightseeing were cleverly transformed into tourist boats by vendors who added a wooden shed on top of them.
Li Jia lightly leaped onto the deck, turned the key in the lock, and pushed open the door. Inside, there was a simple bed, a round table, and two chairs. Oars were hanging on the deck, their wooden handles smooth and newly polished.
A string of kerosene lamps hung from the stern, looking like candy decorations during the day. When evening fell and darkness came, Hera lit the wicks, turning them into little lanterns on the water, reflecting a pink and white light onto the surrounding ripples.
Li Jia was exhausted after a long day, feeling sticky and uncomfortable. The climate in Dongpo was like Sanya, neither hot nor cold, making her look like a fool in her cashmere sweater.
There are no showers here, but there are wooden tubs on the beds for soaking. Perhaps to encourage spending, the boat only has beds for sleeping and chairs for resting, nothing else. Everything else needs to be purchased separately from the ferry terminal.
This is the same principle as mixing compressed biscuits into the dipping sauce at a buffet, or selling drinks next to hot pot restaurants. The cost is ultimately borne by the customer; no merchant is honest.
But since she's already here, she shouldn't be stingy when it's time to enjoy herself. Besides, this money isn't hers, so she shouldn't be stingy at all.
Hera asked the ferryman to deliver a bucket of hot water and two dinners to the fishing boat "No. 32".
Li Jia pulled out the white pajama set with a puppy pattern that she had brought. After hesitating for a while, under immense pressure, she placed another black pajama set with the same puppy pattern on the table: "I... I asked the Goddess of Weaving to make a set of pajamas for His Majesty as well. I don't know if it will suit him."
Hera held her as she fell asleep every night, so she had a general understanding of Hera's figure and dimensions, which was pretty accurate.
I don’t know if she took any clothes or not. Li Jia turned around and went into the innermost part of the fishing boat, where a wooden partition had been set up for washing and using the restroom.
She didn't dare look at Hera's expression. What if Hera disliked her? Li Jia felt empty and regretted her actions. Hera was a god; she had seen all kinds of good things. She might not even like what she gave her.
Li Jia wanted to thank her from the bottom of her heart for everything she had brought her, and as if possessed, she gave the sketch and size of the pajamas to the Goddess of Textiles.
Li Jia was a mess. She stripped herself naked and buried herself in a wooden tub filled with hot water. The water reached over her collarbone, leaving only her small head steaming.
With her eyes closed, Li Jia felt increasingly regretful. She shouldn't have brought that set of pajamas, let alone given it to her. Now, it was awkward for her to wear it or not. Wearing it would feel like she was forcing her, while not wearing it would be a loss of face for her.
dilemma.
Suddenly, a large hand caressed Li Jia's fair neck, which was exposed to the air. Li Jia didn't dare to open her eyes. She heard the sound of her dress slipping down. There were only the two of them on the entire fishing boat.
The other person stepped into the bathtub, and the originally spacious tub became narrow and cramped. The water pressure surged up and submerged Li Jia's nose, causing her to choke on the water.
The woman pulled her out of the water and placed her on her knees, elevating her body. Her back, still warm from the water, pressed against the skin of the person behind her, and Li Jia felt a burning sensation on her back, as heat gathered and converged within her body.
"Open your eyes and breathe," the woman said softly.
Li Jia's heart was pounding. She was so nervous that even her breathing was tense. She opened her eyes, slowly exhaled and inhaled, trying to calm herself down.
"What are you thinking about?" Seeing her blank expression, Hera's cold and deep tone was like a poisonous drug, making her involuntarily blurt out, "I'm thinking, will you hate me?"
"No, why would you ask that?"
Hearing the little guy replace "you" with "you," the woman smiled, wondering if he wasn't so afraid of her anymore.
When Li Jia heard her say no, her eyes suddenly stung with tears. Afraid of being seen by the woman, she lowered her head and didn't dare to say a word, but tears kept falling down her cheeks and into the bathtub.
The more Hera indulged her, the more guilty and uneasy Li Jia felt.
Her motives for approaching her were impure; she was a selfish person who, in order to survive, went against her conscience and said ambiguous things to her.
"What happened? Did someone bully you?"
Hera stroked her thin back, and the next second, her soft lips pressed against her cheek, gently licking away the hot tears.
It wasn't arousal of lust, but rather a kind of devout appreciation. Wherever her tongue swept across, the salty and astringent taste lingered between her lips and teeth, yet she seemed to be tasting some precious treasure, patiently kissing away the broken moisture bit by bit.
He didn't stop until he kissed the corner of her eye, his nose touching her temple, his voice low like a sigh: "If you keep crying, my heart will melt from your tears."
For a fleeting moment, Li Jia wanted to abandon everything; she wanted to tell Hera everything, but when she opened her mouth, she found that she couldn't utter a sound.
Li Jia remembered the system's warning; she couldn't do anything that would disrupt the plot.
If Hera knew that she approached her with ulterior motives, would she still treat her so well?
Once she discovers what kind of person she is, she will definitely leave him and will no longer be willing to let him be her servant.
Thinking of this, Li Jia felt a little disappointed. She felt the answer was definitely yes; who would like a liar?
Tears streamed down her face again, because she couldn't bear to part with Hera's kindness to her.
Hera saw her crying like that and comforted her for a long time. Finally, when she was tired from crying, she picked her up from the water, dried her off, and changed her into her pajamas.
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