Chapter 40
Did you have fun going out today?
After finishing her milk, Li Jia tiptoed into bed, where Hera was already waiting for her.
As is usually the case, she would wait for her to come home after her routine work, but today the roles were reversed.
Hera was waiting for her at home, and Li Jia inexplicably felt that the role of the little wife had become Hera's, and she felt a little resentful.
"Today I went to the Kutabo Valley with Lina. The irises there were blooming all over the mountains and fields. It was so beautiful."
Of course, Li Jia deliberately omitted the part about Zeus and Demeter's encounter.
"So you picked all the roses from my flower garden?"
She still found out...
Li Jia immediately snuggled into her arms, drawing circles on her collarbone with her fingers. Golden patterns surged, and Li Jia's collarbone also emitted a faint light.
Seeing that her breathing was not rapid and she seemed not angry, perhaps she had just asked casually, Li Jia lowered her voice: "I've always grown roses, and I'm getting a little tired of them, so I picked them all to give His Majesty a change of pace."
"The flower petals were given to the people of Xiangcheng Quandu, who can make flower cakes. When they heard that it was from Her Majesty Hera, they couldn't stop smiling and praised Her Majesty for being considerate of the people. Many said they couldn't bear to eat them and wanted to take them home to keep."
Li Jia used her prepared script and answered all the questions fluently.
Hera's attention was entirely on her hands.
Her hands are so small.
Li Jia drew circles on her collarbone, sending shivers down her spine. Hera covered her cheeks, her ears burning, and gasped for breath.
He then put her down, grabbing her wrist with his large hand to stop her from moving: "Now the flowerbed is completely bare, what are you planning to compensate me for?"
Li Jia thought for a while, but her hand was grabbed and she couldn't move.
He had no choice but to move forward a little and nod vigorously: "Your Majesty, I know what to plant. I swear you will like it. It's something you've never seen before, and it's very practical."
Li Jia wasn't lying; when asked what to plant, the names of many plants instantly came to mind.
She rejected them one by one, and finally kept one that she thought was perfect for planting in the flowerbed.
Li Jia has always wondered why we should plant plants that are highly ornamental but not very practical, or plants that are highly practical but have almost no ornamental value. Why can't we have both?
Like her university campus, which was planted with photinia flowers everywhere, which smelled fishy and stinky. Students protested countless times and wanted to change the species of trees, but all their protests were rejected.
Because photinia is not delicate and is easy to grow.
It can withstand the dampness of the south and the smog of the north. It is drought-resistant, cold-resistant, and can tolerate poor soil and pruning. It basically does not shed leaves, making it a low-cost air purifier.
Most importantly: the seedlings are cheap.
Li Jia wondered why they couldn't plant some mango trees, pomegranate trees, or loquat trees.
It is both beautiful and edible.
Her roommate glanced at her and told her to go wash up and go to sleep.
"oh?"
The woman raised an eyebrow, her hand caressing the delicate skin of the girl's wrist, a hint of interest flickering in her deep red eyes: "More to my liking than roses, and more practical too. Can you tell me what it is?"
Li Jia's heart skipped a beat under her gaze, but she still tilted her chin up, a sly glint in her eyes: "I can't say now, or there won't be any surprise. But Your Majesty must promise me that no matter what you see, you won't get angry."
When have I ever been angry with you?
The woman let out a very soft breath, then couldn't help but curve her lips into a slight smile. The coldness in her eyes shattered into starlight, carrying a hint of indulgent helplessness.
He released her wrist, then gently pinched her chin, his fingertips brushing against her slightly cool lips: "But if you dare to plant any weird things and make a mess of my flower garden, watch your back."
That sounds weird...
Li Jia quickly shook her head and snuggled closer to her: "No way!"
She paused deliberately, then added, "And the flowers are white, and the fruit is sweet. It just takes a long time to bloom, maybe three or five years."
"Once the fruit has grown, I'll invite my sister to taste it together, okay?"
It turned out to be a fruit tree.
Hearing Li Jia's confident words, the woman's lips curled into an almost imperceptible smile, so quickly it seemed like an illusion.
"Since it's so good, then do whatever you want with it."
Hera tightened her arms, holding her tightly in her embrace, her chin resting on the top of her head, her voice lazy and husky, "I'm waiting for your invitation."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Li Jia, having gotten the better deal, feigned innocence and restlessly tugged at the hem of her dress with her fingers: "So, Your Majesty, you're not going to pursue the matter of me picking the roses anymore?"
"The flower petals I sent out have brought smiles to the faces of my people, so why should I pursue the matter further?"
Hera looked down at the fluffy hair on the head of the person in her arms, and the melancholy in her eyes faded a little: "But next time you want to touch my things, you have to tell me first."
Li Jia nodded vigorously, nuzzled Hera's neck, and smelled Hera's unique scent, like honey dried in the sun, lingering around his nose.
Lina was also on tenterhooks.
Artemis held the little penguin and noticed a cut on her short hand, which she had made during the day from a transparent fishing line.
Lina was in a state of excitement at the time and did not feel any pain. Now that it was late at night and her body had reverted to animal form, the sensation of pain was suddenly amplified to the maximum.
She pitifully held up her little hand in front of Artemis, showing her the small cut that had been made.
Artemis examined the furry wound by the moonlight, her brows furrowing sharply, her gentle eyes suddenly turning frosty, and even her voice deepened: "How did this happen?"
"I cut myself by accident..."
Artemis rarely gets angry; her expressionless face indicates that she is extremely angry.
Lina shrank her round body, burying her head even lower, her voice barely audible: "It was...it was when we were looking for irises in the Kutabo Valley, that I got caught on a fishing line on the ground..."
"It didn't hurt at the time, really!"
Artemis didn't speak, but gently touched the wound that was oozing a thin layer of blood with her fingertips. The little penguin whimpered in pain and instinctively curled up its little claws.
Artemis silently opened the medicine box she carried with her and took out ointment and gauze.
When the cool ointment was applied to the wound, Lina couldn't help but tremble, but she obediently remained silent.
She looked at Artemis' focused profile, the moonlight outlining her tightly pursed lips. Her usually gentle eyes were now filled with anger, yet she moved gently while bandaging her, afraid of hurting her.
"If you act recklessly again, don't even think about going out with Li Jia again."
His tone remained cold, yet concealed a barely perceptible tension: "Why didn't you say so when you came back? Did you have to wait until the wound became infected before you made a sound?"
The little penguin rubbed against her palm and whispered his apology: "I was wrong, don't be angry... I'll listen to you next time."
Artemis looked at her pitiful appearance, her brows relaxed slightly, but she still said irritably, "There won't be a next time."
Li Jia and Lina sighed; being a servant (spouse) of God was not an easy thing.
Afterwards, Li Jia and Lina went to the Valley of Cetabo several more times and observed for a period of time, confirming that Zeus and Demeter had fallen in love.
The book's premise cannot be changed; one can only push the character step by step toward her destiny.
Li Jia lay among the irises, gazing at the azure sky, and asked, "And what about me? What will my fate be?"
Lina lay down next to her, feeling a little saddened by Li Jia's words. Li Jia was the only fellow countryman she knew in this world.
Perhaps the atmosphere was too heavy, Lina turned to the side, propped her elbow on the grass, and looked at her, making a joke.
"Once the mission is complete, you can return to your original world. Isn't modern technology more comfortable than here? You can eat snacks, watch TV dramas, and even ship couples and follow celebrities."
Sunlight filtered through the petals, falling on Li Jia's eyelashes and casting dappled shadows, adding a touch of melancholy to her usually smiling eyes.
"But I will never see her again."
Lina was stunned. She opened her mouth, her throat tightening, and said helplessly, "Li Jia, you know, as adults, we have to learn to accept things."
"Rina, I've already accepted and understood that."
"It's just that I can't bear to part with it."
Li Jia was incredibly calm, as if recounting someone else's life story: "When I first came here, I chose to approach her in order to survive. I thought that someone like me, who had struggled in the ashtray of society, wouldn't have any ulterior motives."
"But I love her. At first, I didn't know what love was. When I fell in love with her, I found that she had been waiting for me for a very, very long time."
Li Jia chuckled self-deprecatingly, "I'm so stupid."
"Sometimes I imagine that it would be great if I could be with her forever. She's so wonderful, she would be happy with anyone."
The conversation shifted abruptly, and Li Jia's voice lowered, filled with undisguised bitterness.
"But I am just a mortal, just a servant. She will be ridiculed by the outside world, and her life will seem to be stained because of my appearance. Thinking about this makes me wish I could die right now."
The first reaction to liking someone is feeling inferior.
"Fortunately, I stopped her, I stopped her from marrying a jerk. Fortunately, she married me."
At this point, a glimmer of light flashed in Li Jia's eyes: "I've only been married once in my life, but I don't regret it."
A gentle breeze blows, and the irises sway softly, making a delicate rustling sound.
"To love someone is to be unwilling to possess even a single aspect of their life."
"I love the stars and the moon, but if I were to pluck the stars and the moon from the sky, they would no longer be the stars and the moon, and the love I have would no longer be the stars and the moon."
"Some people are like stars and the moon in the sky; they should be in the sky. I am already satisfied as long as I can look up and see them or know that they exist."
Li Jia couldn't utter the rest of her words. The system's cold warning still echoed in her mind, and the unfulfilled plot was like a forbidden shackle, tightly gripping her throat.
Lina listened silently to the girl's rambling incessantly.
Looking into her overly bright eyes, Lina felt a void in her heart. She touched her best friend's forehead and comforted her.
"It's okay, it will all pass."
Li Jia didn't speak, but sat up and gazed into the distance, in the direction of the hot spring stream.
This is her home.
...
Lina came to see Li Jia more and more frequently, so Hera directly recorded Lina's fingerprint for the hot spring pool. All she had to do was touch the door of the hot spring pool, and the door would open automatically for her.
Artemis joked, "Why don't I get this treatment? Every time I come to your house, I have to use my divine sense to ask you."
"If you're not coming in, then get out."
The blonde woman remained as indifferent as ever; Hera wouldn't have bothered opening the door for her if Artemis weren't Lina's guardian.
Li Jia has few friends here, and being able to have such an open and honest chat with Lina is enough for her to cherish this friendship.
Although Hera didn't want too many people around her, Li Jia liked it, so she tacitly allowed this exception.
This time, Hera did not marry Zeus; her name and his name were not recorded in the marriage annals, and divine punishment had no right to befall her.
Once she understood this, Li Jia breathed a sigh of relief. She had to expose Zeus's true colors, and Hera would no longer be the one to do so.
She will be the one to expose this.
Disturbing Demeter abruptly would offend her, so Li Jia and Lina discussed it and, with the help of the system, learned that the annual Saturnalia festival was coming soon.
It was a festival in ancient Greece to celebrate the agricultural harvest and pray for a bountiful crop in the coming year, and it was also one of the most important festivals in ancient Greece.
During this period, grand banquets and parades were held in various places, and slaves could sit at the same table as their masters, reflecting the carnival atmosphere of "everyone is equal during the harvest season".
Demeter, as a member of the Saturnian Society, attended the altar of Veredia, where she enjoyed a grand feast, received praise and hymns from all sides, and resolved the problems of farmers throughout the country.
The Sacred Temple of Veredia is located in the western part of the Southern Zeal and is directly under the jurisdiction of the Polomere Fields. Each priest is personally selected by Demeter and is very loyal and reliable.
Artemis and her little penguin have been staying at the hot springs for meals lately. Lina has nothing but praise for Winslow's cooking. She likes to eat here because she doesn't have to eat vegetarian food anymore!
Winslow also enjoys having people come to the Hot Springs to eat, as it's a recognition of her culinary skills. So she always cooks five or six portions, just enough for everyone to eat together.
"Can I go play? Please, sister."
When they gathered for dinner that evening, Li Jia made the request.
Hera, who was casually scooping a spoonful of borscht for Li Jia with her fingertips, paused upon hearing this and looked up at her.
Li Jia was looking up at him, her eyes shining like they were filled with shattered light, carrying a hint of cautious anticipation.
"The festival of the God of Agriculture is crowded and noisy."
Hera's voice was devoid of emotion as she pushed the soup bowl towards her, her fingertips lightly brushing against Li Jia's cheek: "You want to go?"
"I did."
Li Jia nodded quickly and took a couple of sips of soup.
“I want to see everyone celebrating the harvest, and... Lina wants to go too. With her and the Goddess of the Hunt with me, she won't cause any trouble.”
After saying that, he glanced at Lina and blinked.
Okay.
Lina readily agreed.
Artemis chuckled from the side, "So I was just an afterthought?"
Li Jia immediately smiled apologetically: "How could that be? It's mainly because His Majesty the God of Marriage can feel more at ease with you here."
Hera was silent for a moment, her gaze falling on Li Jia's expectant face, and finally relented: "Okay, I'll go with you, but you must stay by my side and not run around."
Li Jia's eyes crinkled with laughter instantly, and she nodded vigorously, "I understand! Thank you, sister!"
She only calls me "sister" in a nice tone whenever she needs something from me.
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