Chapter 29 Chapter 29 "The language of the peony flower is a special love...
Since that year, he brought her here to plant a patch of carnations, and this place has become a quiet place for the two of them to be alone.
One year, when the dianthus blossomed, she stood in the sea of flowers and said to him, "Let's plant some orchids here."
He roughly guessed her intention, but still asked, "Why?"
She looked up at the sky, sniffing the flowers. "The pinks are for my family, and the orchids are for you. I hope you're all well."
Whether in heaven or on earth, no matter where you are, everything is fine.
He smiled slightly, his eyes sparkling with tenderness. "Why don't we plant some peonies together?"
She looked back at him, blinked slowly, smiled and said okay.
Every spring hunt was close to the Shangsi Festival. Although the peonies were not in full bloom at that time, there were always a few branches blooming beautifully. He would pick them out and give them to her as a Shangsi gift.
"My Lady, look, the peonies are blooming."
Shangguan Xu could clearly see the hand resting on his forehead.
The flower was twisted between the thumb and index finger, blooming outwards, while the blood in the palm of the hand flowed down to the wrist and into the sleeve.
One is prosperous and the other is injured. The contrast between the two is clearly shocking and heartbreaking.
However, the words just now replayed in his mind. Shangguan Xu turned his head and waved his hand away.
“Take it away!”
Xu Qing'an was surprised.
Shangguan Xu said again: "I don't like these."
On the third day of March, Shangsi Day, men and women meet and give each other peonies to show their deep love.
Now that March 3rd has just passed, the man gave the girl peonies, still expressing his love.
But how can he be worthy!
Moreover, since four years ago, the third day of March was no longer a day for men and women to meet, but the day when she was separated from him forever, and it was his death anniversary!
Xu Qing'an naturally couldn't think of such things. He only asked, "Why? Hasn't the Queen always loved peonies?"
Shangguan Xu looked suspicious. As far as he could remember, she had never told him that she liked peonies.
Xu Qing'an saw what she was thinking and explained with a smile, "The incense your Majesty wears is the scent of peonies, and there are so many peonies planted in this garden. I'm guessing that your Majesty loves peonies, right?"
Seeing she didn't object, he looked at the flowers in his hand, his eyes slightly lost in thought. He suddenly said, "The peony symbolizes a special affection. Is that why your majesty loves it?" Shangguan Xu followed his gaze and said in a faint voice, "The Book of Songs often associates peonies with love between men and women. Therefore, from ancient times to the present, peonies have often symbolized deep affection. But in fact, it also represents another meaning - in late spring and early summer, when the red flowers are about to fade, only the peony blooms. It does not compete with other flowers for beauty, so it is also described as the virtue of humility in many literary works."
Xu Qing'an lowered his eyes. "Yes, nothing in the world is one-sided. For example, in ancient times, peonies were often used as tokens of love between men and women. However, people often only focus on the joy of meeting each other, not realizing that after the reunion comes separation, and after deep love comes sorrow. Therefore, after the meeting, lovers often take the peony with them, which is why the peony is called 'about to leave'."
Shangguan Xu stared at him.
Xu Qing'an saw her looking at him and smiled at her: "Why is your Majesty looking at me like that?"
Shangguan Xu said seriously, "I asked you before if you were a frequent visitor to Pingkangfang."
"Yes." Xu Qing'an nodded. "I have also answered that I don't like to go."
"But what I actually want to ask is, why do you know so much and have so many insights into the relationship between men and women and love affairs?" Shangguan Xu asked bluntly.
Xu Qing'an lowered his eyes and remained silent for a moment. When he raised his eyes again, he asked, "I am also a normal man. At my age, isn't it normal for me to have some understanding of these things?"
"No, it's different." Shangguan Xu disagreed. "If love has naturally developed due to age, then one should be more longing for love rather than sentimental. Only those who have experienced hardships would lament as much as you do."
"Hasn't the Queen investigated me?"
"If you don't tell others about your feelings, how can others find out anything?"
Xu Qing'an was silent for a moment, turning the flower branch in his hands. He looked down and said casually, "There was a childhood sweetheart in the past."
"Then you..."
"But she's dead."
He changed the subject abruptly and looked up at her.
Shangguan Xu was visibly stunned for a moment, his emotions stirred by his words, and because of his direct gaze, he turned away and said, "That's a pity."
"What's a pity? It's a pity that life is fragile." Xu Qing'an stared at her and chuckled, but his eyes remained indifferent. "As for friendship, there's nothing to regret. It's just the throbbing of youth and ignorance. I don't know what love is, let alone what true love is. It can't be called unforgettable, let alone unwavering."
"It is true that the deceased was still young, so there must be a lot of sadness." He said this with sadness, which was an answer to her previous question, but she didn't know who he was talking to.
His eyes remained focused on her face.
Shangguan Xu said softly, "I shouldn't have asked too much, causing you to recall the sad past."
But how could it not remind her of her sad past?
She pulled his injured hand towards her, palm facing up, and took out a handkerchief from her sleeve.
As she bandaged him, she said, "You're a little too absolute in some of your words. Even though I was naive when I was young, I also had a certain purity of spirit because of my youth, and that's something you can't find when you grow up."
"Is this what Your Majesty thinks?" He tilted his neck slightly and lowered his head to look at her.
"Of course." She raised her face and looked at him affirmatively, then continued to bandage the wound.
Xu Qingan gave an imperceptible smile: "Your Majesty is right, I absolutely agree."
After bandaging the wound, Shangguan Xu put his hand down. At this moment, the sound of horse hooves came from the distant avenue.
Xu Qing'an heard it first: "What is this...?"
Shangguan Xu stood up. "My Imperial Guards." She looked down at him. "Is your leg okay? Can you still stand?"
Xu Qing'an reached out to feel it. "It hurts a little at first, but it's nothing serious. It's probably just a scrape of the skin, no bone damage. I'll just need to apply some medicine when I get home."
Shangguan Xu nodded: "That's good. Since the Yulin Guards are about to arrive, I will leave first. You can find an opportunity to leave later."
Xu Qing'an bowed in response.
Outside the forest, the sound of a group of forest guards saluting Shangguan Xu could be heard.
Shangguan Xu shouted "No need to be polite", Xu Qing'an stood up and vaguely heard Shangguan Xu say something, asking the Yulin Guards to follow her and not to walk slowly.
The horses' hooves stepped on the ground sporadically, and then, accompanied by a sudden "Gee", there was another burst of rumbling horse hoof sounds outside the forest.
——
On the tenth day of March, spring hunting begins.
All officials still sat according to their ranks.
It goes without saying that Su Wang, as the Prime Minister and Grand Marshal, was accompanying the emperor. However, Su Shang, the Minister of Rites who had just returned to the capital, also sat in the front row this time because he was on a diplomatic mission to Western Yan.
But he was still wearing an elegant gray and white bamboo-patterned robe, looking casually dressed, and he didn't look like he was going hunting at all.
However, others were no longer surprised. Su Qillang was a man of both civil and military talents, and was skilled in riding and shooting. Many young ladies wanted to catch a glimpse of his heroic figure during the spring hunt. However, he had not participated in the hunt since the young emperor ascended the throne, which was a pity every year.
It doesn't look like he'll be participating this year either.
Everyone then turned their attention to the other people who were going to participate in the hunt.
Before the hunt even started, there was a lot of noise and a crowd of people gathered at the edge of the field.
Shangguan Xu and the Su father and son, who were sitting on the viewing platform, were chatting, but were also attracted by the sound.
Shangguan Xu asked the palace maid who had just returned from there: "What happened over there? Why is it so lively?"
The palace maid replied respectfully, "Your Highness, it was Lord Xu from the Ministry of Justice who had changed his clothes and was trying out his bow, and many young ladies gathered to watch."
The people of Dajin were open-minded, and the women of officials were even more unconventional. Spring hunting was a traditional activity that had been passed down since the founding of Dajin. Court officials could participate, and they could also bring their families with them. Therefore, there were many girls who came here to watch every year. However, in previous years, the person they paid attention to was Su Shang, Su Qillang, who was now sitting on the viewing platform.
Su Shang asked, "Lord Xu from the Ministry of Justice, is he the one who won the double championship last year?"
Shangguan Xu hummed: "It's him."
Su Shang: "I have heard of some of his deeds."
Shangguan Xu said to the palace servants, "Go and call him over."
When Xu Qing'an came to pay his respects, he was wearing a round-necked robe that was half exposed, with the cuffs rolled up with wrist guards, which was the popular style of civil and military sleeves.
This outfit looks neat, elegant and graceful, and Xu Qing'an is already good-looking, so this outfit adds to his appearance.
Shangguan Xu took a few glances and thought that it was no wonder that he attracted so many girls' attention.
After the formalities were waived, Su Wang was the first to speak: "It seems that Master Xu is going to the hunting grounds to practice his skills today. Is the wound on his chest healed?"
Xu Qing'an replied, "Thank you, Mr. Su, for your concern. I'm all right now."
Since their conversation in the teahouse that day, the two of them exchanged more polite words.
Su Shang also said: "Although the forest farm has been closed in advance, there are still many ferocious beasts in the forest. If you go hunting, you must be careful."
Xu Qing'an bowed, "Lord Su is right to remind you, but I am only a scholar, and I know my own limitations. I wouldn't dare hunt wild beasts, so I haven't planned to go hunting deep in the forest. I've heard pheasants are delicious and nutritious, and they're especially delicious when used to make soup, so I'd like to hunt a few to present to you gentlemen."
After he finished speaking, Shangguan Xu raised his brows and looked down at the ground.
She naturally knew what he meant.
But she didn't know that Su Shang beside her was looking at her intently, taking in every subtle change in her expression.
Su Shang had heard Su Ran talk about the Censorate, and he also knew that Shangguan Xu had asked Qinghe to deliver soup to Xu Qing'an.
At that time, the incident of the Lantern Festival boat leaking had just happened. Even Su Ran thought that Shangguan Xu asked Qinghe to deliver the chicken soup because he remembered Xu Qing'an saving her from the water. As for what Qinghe said to Xu Qing'an later, it was nothing more than to express how precious the bowl of soup was and how angry Shangguan Xu was for what he had done.
However, Su Shang heard other meanings. It was Liu Chang's blood letter that caused a sensation in the Censorate at that time. Because of the Lantern Festival, Shangguan Xu's sending of soup at that time was understandable, but combined with the teaching of the method of making chicken soup, there are other explanations -
She was helping him, she was reminding Xu Qing'an of the clues behind the blood letter!
Su Shang turned his head again and stared at the people below the stage.
His mention of using pheasant to make soup was simply a response to that incident!
Su Shang's fingers turned white as he gripped the wine glass.
The horn sounded, and the time to set out hunting was approaching.
Shangguan Xu then said to Xu Qing'an, "The hunt is about to begin. Go down and prepare first."
Xu Qing'an should withdraw.
However, Su Shang, who was standing by, also bowed to Shangguan Xu and Su Wang and said, "Your Highness, Father, I will also go and prepare."
Shangguan Xu was surprised: "Xu Bai is going too?"
Xubai is Su Shang's pen name.
Hearing her call back his name, Su Shang's lips curled up: "I haven't hunted for a long time. Today is the spring hunt, so I want to share in the festive atmosphere."
Su Wang nodded: "Spring Hunting is a great day set by my ancestors of the Great Jin Dynasty. Qilang, you should go."
Shangguan Xu: "It's just that Xu Bai is having trouble wearing it right now. I'll send someone to get him some riding clothes."
Su Shang smiled and declined, "Your Highness, please do not worry about me. The auspicious time is approaching and there is no time to waste. I will just roll up my sleeves and put on my wrist guard to tie it up."
He said goodbye and turned around, his expression suddenly serious. As he walked, he rolled up his sleeves and ordered his followers: "Go and bring my horse over, and get a bow."
——
At the spring hunting ground, after the little emperor fired a flare arrow, all the people participating in the hunt ran out together.
Shangguan Xu stayed in the camp and waited for the result.
However, less than half an hour after the hunting team set out, a palace servant came to report that Su Shang and Xu Qing'an had returned to the camp and were preparing to unload their equipment and come to pay their respects.
Shangguan Xu was surprised: "Why are you back so soon?"
The palace maid replied, "I heard that the two masters returned after hunting enough prey."
This was the first time Shangguan Xu had seen a spring hunt that ended in just half an hour.
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