How to distinguish in Chapter 102
Ye Wanning stood aside, watching his serious expression, and said with a smile, "You used to hang military strategies and maps in your study. Now you've hung a child's drawing. Doesn't it seem a bit unserious?"
“No.” Pei Zhi climbed down the ladder, walked over and squatted down beside her, hugging her from behind and resting his chin on her head. “This is more important than any military treatise or map; it’s my medal of honor.” He paused, his fingertips tracing the little tiger in the painting. “The tiger you embroidered, the children’s drawings of us, and everyone in Ci’an Hall—they are all my treasures. No matter how many battles I win or how many merits I achieve in the future, this painting will always be my proudest possession.”
...
Pei Zhi cultivated a small medicinal herb garden behind the general's mansion, planting herbs that Ye Wanning often used. The spring sunshine shone on the garden, and the perilla, mint, and honeysuckle grew luxuriantly, emitting a faint fragrance.
Ye Wanning was squatting in the herb garden weeding when Pei Zhi returned from the military camp, changed into civilian clothes, and came over: "Wanning, what are you doing?"
"I'm weeding the herbs." She smiled and looked up, pointing to the plants around her. "These are perilla leaves, which can induce sweating and relieve external symptoms; those are mint leaves, which can clear heat and relieve summer heat. The mint water you drank last time you had a headache was from mint."
Pei Zhi squatted down, looked at the two green plants in front of him, and frowned: "These two look the same, how can we tell them apart?"
Ye Wanning's heart skipped a beat. She deliberately plucked some perilla and mint from the ground next to her and mixed them in her palm: "Try to identify them? There's a reward if you identify them correctly."
"There's another reward?" Pei Zhi's eyes lit up. He picked up a leaf and smelled it, then picked up another to compare. Perilla has a slightly spicy taste, while mint has a cool fragrance, but he pretended not to be able to tell the difference. He frowned and looked at it for a long time before holding up a perilla leaf: "This is mint, which can cure Wan Ning's headache."
Ye Wanning giggled until tears streamed down her face, then reached out and tapped his forehead: "Silly boy, this is perilla, and this is mint." She picked up another leaf and held it to his nose, "Smell it, this one is refreshing."
Pei Zhi suddenly grabbed her hand, placed a perilla leaf on her forehead, and gently stroked her cheek with his fingers: "Whatever it is, as long as it makes you smile."
Ye Wanning's cheeks flushed instantly. She turned her head away, but couldn't stop laughing. The sunlight cast long shadows of the two of them, and the fragrance of the herb garden mingled with their laughter, creating a particularly warm atmosphere.
"What's the reward?" Pei Zhi leaned closer, his eyes full of anticipation. "I deliberately said the wrong thing, just to make you laugh."
"I'll reward you for helping me weed." Ye Wanning stood up, brushed the dirt off her hands, and said, "If you clear all these weeds, I'll make you red bean buns tonight."
"Deal!" Pei Zhi immediately grabbed the small hoe and started hoeing with great enthusiasm. Although he was a general and skilled in wielding swords and spears, he was clumsy when it came to farm work, often accidentally hoeing up the herbs, which made Ye Wanning both amused and exasperated.
“Pei Zhi, that’s honeysuckle, not grass!” Ye Wanning quickly grabbed him, pointing to the hoe in his hand, “If you keep hoeing like that, you’ll wipe out my medicinal herb garden.”
Pei Zhi scratched his head awkwardly and put down the hoe: "These herbs and grasses look too similar, I can't tell them apart."
“I’ll teach you.” Ye Wanning took his hand and squatted down, pointing to each plant and showing him, “Look, the edges of perilla leaves are serrated, while mint leaves are smoother; honeysuckle vines twine, while weed stems stand upright…”
Pei Zhi listened attentively, nodding occasionally, but his gaze kept drifting towards her face. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, illuminating her face, making her long eyelashes flutter like butterfly wings, making her exceptionally beautiful.
"What are you looking at? Listen carefully." Ye Wanning noticed his gaze, looked up and glared at him, but saw that his eyes were full of tenderness, and her cheeks turned even redder.
"Look at my wife, she's more beautiful than any herb." Pei Zhi smiled and took her hand. "Actually, I already knew the difference, but I just wanted you to teach me a little longer."
Ye Wanning's heart skipped a beat. She turned her head away, but still smiled. She knew Pei Zhi was like that, always expressing his love in clumsy ways.
The two spent the entire afternoon in the herb garden, clearing away the weeds only as the sun began to set. Pei Zhi had beads of sweat on his forehead and his clothes were stained with mud, but he was smiling broadly.
Ye Wanning looked at him, her heart filled with sweetness, and reached out to wipe his sweat: "Are you tired? I'll make you red bean buns when we get back."
"I'm not tired." Pei Zhi held her hand and said earnestly, "As long as I can be with you, I don't feel tired no matter what I do!"
...
After the war ended, the military camp had a rare few days of peace. Pei Zhi saw that Ye Wanning spent almost all her time either at the clinic or Ci'an Hall and rarely went out. Suddenly, he said, "Wanning, shall I teach you to ride a horse? That chestnut horse is very obedient and will never hurt you."
Ye Wanning hesitated—she had ridden a horse once in her previous life and fallen badly, which left her with a lingering trauma.
Pei Zhi looked at her expectantly: "Don't be afraid, I promise I won't let you fall. Hold on tight to the reins, I'll support you from below."
"I'll hold on tight, but you have to promise not to let me fall."
Pei Zhi patted his chest and pulled her towards the stable: "Don't worry!"
“Little thing, you’re really obedient.” Pei Zhi walked into the stable, and the chestnut horse affectionately rubbed against his arm. He carefully helped Ye Wanning mount the horse, tied the saddle for her, and tightened the reins. “Don’t be afraid, hold on tight to the reins, sit up straight, I’ll support you from below.”
"Mmm." Ye Wanning gripped the reins tightly, her palms sweaty.
Pei Zhi led the horse forward slowly. The saddle was very stable, and her legs gradually relaxed.
"How are you? Not scared anymore?" he asked, looking up with encouraging eyes.
"Hmm." She had just nodded and was about to speak when the chestnut horse was suddenly startled by a wild rabbit that darted out, reared up, and neighed.
Ye Wanning screamed in fright, instinctively gripping the reins and leaning backward.
"Watch out!" Pei Zhi's expression changed drastically. He rushed over, steadily supported her waist, and pulled her into his arms.
Ye Wanning leaned against him, her heart still pounding, and tears involuntarily streamed down her face.
Pei Zhi held her tightly, gently patting her back, his voice soft: "Don't be afraid, it's alright, I'll protect you." He lowered his head and kissed her pale face, "It's all my fault, I didn't keep an eye on the horse, and you were so frightened."
"I'm fine, I'm just a little scared." Ye Wanning wiped away her tears, leaned against him, and smelled the sandalwood scent on him, which gradually calmed her down.
"I'll never teach you to ride a horse again." Pei Zhi frowned, his tone full of self-reproach. "What would I do if you got hurt?"
"No, please." Ye Wanning quickly shook her head. "I'm just scared, it's not that I don't like riding horses. Teach me again, and I promise I won't be scared this time."
Pei Zhi hesitated for a moment, but seeing no fear in her eyes, he nodded: "Okay, but this time I'll lead the horse slowly and never let the chestnut horse run wild again."
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