The peach blossoms in the courtyard were in full bloom, their pink color mirroring Huo Jin's indescribable state of mind.
He actually agreed to go to Ryuin Temple with Iris!
What are they going there for? To find a spouse? To have children?
I find it inexplicably laughable.
But he is a man of his word; once he has made a promise, he will not go back on it.
So after finishing some urgent official business, Huo Jin asked the Emperor of Ming for leave.
Longyin Temple isn't far; a day's ride on horseback is enough to get there and back. But the young woman's pace is different from that of these grown men.
It would be best to stay overnight at Ryūon-ji Temple. The vegetarian food there is delicious and the scenery is charming. It should be quite a novel experience for Iris, who hasn't been outside since entering the palace.
Without realizing it, Huo Jin had started to consider Chu Yuan's feelings.
However, he himself was unaware of it.
As she thought about these things, her right hand unconsciously stroked the iris tattoo on her left hand. What came to mind were Chu Yuan's graceful and charming eyes and the flowers swaying all over the mountains.
*
Chu Yuan dressed up meticulously today, wearing a light lotus-colored riding outfit that not only made her waist look incredibly slender but also accentuated her fair complexion and striking features. She looked so young that people would believe she was eighteen.
The cuffs, embroidered with pale white irises, are neatly fitted, making riding easier and giving a dashing impression.
Huo Jin's eyes lit up without her realizing it.
These were clothes that Chu Yuan had brought from the palace, and they were clearly not new. Realizing this, he felt somewhat embarrassed.
He raised his hand, pressed the back of his hand to his lips, and coughed lightly. "Now that you've entered the Huo family, you're a member of the Huo family. If you need anything, you can ask the little actress."
Chu Yuan winked playfully, "What, Admiral, is this the treatment every girl sent here receives?"
She did it on purpose, constantly reminding Huo Jin that his heart might no longer be pure.
But clearly, Huo Jin had no intention of paying any attention to Chu Yuan.
She pursed her lips, noticing that her chest looked noticeably sunken today, and raised an eyebrow in surprise.
This thing can change size at will?
Is he similar to his younger brother Huo Jin?
Chu Yuan noticed the change in his expression and frowned in displeasure. "Where are you looking!"
Huo Jin said, "It's too small."
Chu Yuan, “???”
Is it okay to say such things in front of a large audience?
Chu Yuan angrily rolled her eyes and looked around. Fortunately, there was hardly anyone at the gate of the mansion. The only gatekeeper was far away. As for the little actress's resentful and gloomy expression, as if Chu Yuan had abducted some respectable man, Chu Yuan automatically ignored it.
What the heck? Huo Jin looks like a better person than her?
How could that be!
"Riding a horse is inconvenient, so I made some minor adjustments," Chu Yuan said softly.
As she spoke, Huo Jin could already picture the strange little garment she had seen in the room that day, in her hand.
Is it a chest binder?
Huo Jin had seen the illustrations of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, but with a casual glance, she thought that someone like her would be extremely unrecognizable even when dressed as a man.
It stands out too much.
Even a blind person could see it.
Even with a chest binder, the two bulging mounds were still quite noticeable, and the neckline of her clothes was stretched much wider than that of an average person.
After glancing over it, Huo Jin dared not look any longer. He stepped forward and pulled on his horse, saying, "Let's go. Don't dawdle and waste this admiral's time!"
Chu Yuan smiled and asked, "Admiral, is there only one horse?"
"You can ride?"
Chu Yuan hesitated for a moment, then, remembering the frightened horse from that day, she relented, "Alright."
However, when she couldn't see him, Huo Jin slowly smiled, his peach blossom eyes sparkling.
Chu Yuan was conflicted throughout the journey.
Should she warn the sleazy man behind her that his hand was really offending her?
The horse wasn't moving fast, but Chu Yuan's bottom felt like it had nails stuck in it, constantly shifting and rubbing restlessly.
Huo Jin tightened his jawline. "What are you doing? Move again and I'll throw you down!"
Chu Yuan tilted her head slightly, her wet eyes looking somewhat aggrieved. "Um... can I sit in the back?"
She strongly suspected that Huo Jin was taking advantage of her, but she had no proof.
I thought it would be better to sit in the back.
Huo Jin didn't refuse outright, and readily switched places with Chu Yuan, but... why did she suddenly speed up without a word?
In order not to be thrown off, Chu Yuan had no choice but to resign herself to clinging to Huo Jin's waist.
The man's waist and abdomen were flat, yet supple, and his movements were surprisingly powerful.
Chu Yuan inevitably misunderstood, her face turning as red as an apple. Afraid of being noticed by Huo Jin, she tilted her head and awkwardly hid behind him.
Huo Jin said, "Hold on tighter, or don't blame me if you roll down!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he squeezed the horse's flanks with his legs and galloped even faster onto the official road.
It was almost noon when the two finally arrived at the foot of Longyin Temple Mountain.
The road up the mountain was rugged and uneven, and even though Longyin Temple was only halfway up the mountain rather than at the top, the horses could not make it up.
There was no other way, so Chu Yuan and Huo Jin had to walk.
While climbing the mountain, Huo Jin muttered, "I just don't understand you women. What's so great about places like this? Instead of burning incense and praying to Buddha and pinning your hopes on useless things, you should work harder every day."
Chu Yuan crawled in front of him, her nose already damp with a thin layer of sweat from exhaustion.
It sparkled on her fair, snow-white nose, making her look cute and playful.
Before she could say anything, the older woman in front of her became unhappy and turned around to berate Huo Jin.
"You're hopeless, young man. Do you know what's most effective when praying at Longyin Temple? It's marriage and children! Why did your wife travel all this way? Isn't it all for you? You expect her to work hard? Can she achieve the thing of having children by herself?"
Huo Jin was dressed in a dark purple casual outfit today, without the dog skin of the Eastern Depot or a sword, so he didn't look so fierce.
The older woman treated him completely like an ordinary junior.
Seeing Huo Jin's face turn black from being yelled at, Chu Yuan couldn't help but chuckle.
As they climbed over a ridge, the older woman reached out and pulled Chu Yuan along, whispering in her ear, "Young lady, how many years have you been married? Haven't you had a child yet?"
Tsk, what a jerk. Ignore him. We women can't do without having children. Without any support, we'll probably be looked down upon by them.
"We'll burn incense and pray to Buddha; only with children will we have hope for the rest of our lives."
Although Chu Yuan disagreed with this view and the idea of imposing responsibility on a child who hadn't even been hurt yet, she nodded vigorously in order to provoke Huo Jin, "Yes, yes, thank you, Auntie. I will definitely pray sincerely to the Goddess of Fertility in a little while."
"Yes, yes, never believe a man's complaints. He'll be overjoyed when you have a child."
The two were speaking at a moderate volume, and Huo Jin, who was following behind, heard them even if she didn't want to.
He scoffed inwardly, "They haven't done anything, what are they talking about?"
Besides, when did she become his mistress?!
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