Chapter 52, Chapter 52, every time it was done with incredible effort...
There was nothing there.
Jiang Shuifu saw nothing; the person had already walked away.
Jiang Wanwan was still holding her cheeks in her hands, her eyes shining with golden light as she lingered on that figure, her heart pounding wildly.
For the first time in her life, she experienced the feeling of love at first sight. Jiang Wanwan smiled, her eyes sparkling like a painting, and ran off, lifting her elaborate dress.
"You stinky hibiscus, I'm leaving! Don't follow me! Don't you dare come within three feet of me! I'm going to find him!"
Jiang Shuifu rolled her eyes. Who would want to follow her? She's heartless, using her and then discarding her like trash!
But who has she fallen for? She's so excited!
Jiang Shuifu was not interested in her affairs and did not want to investigate further. She carried the peaches by herself and had only walked a few steps when she saw a familiar figure.
The figure was walking in the middle, surrounded by three or four men in round-necked robes who flattered and fawned over him. He didn't care about their feelings and chatted and laughed with them.
Upon seeing this scene, she first rolled her eyes as if pondering something, then suddenly a wicked smile curled at the corner of her mouth. Swaying her hips, she walked towards him with the delicate grace of a willow in the breeze.
As he approached, he pretended to hesitate for a few moments, not daring to go forward.
However, her limpid gaze would occasionally drift towards him, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated, afraid of upsetting him.
The man hadn't noticed her gaze at first, until several officials around him keenly observed the frail woman who looked as if she might cry at any moment. They nudged him and gave him a playful look, and only then did he raise his eyes and turn to look.
He turned his head and revealed his face; it was He Beiqing.
He Beiqing was quite surprised to see the woman in front of him.
He was surprised that she would take the initiative to find him, given her temperament, but after the initial surprise, he was extremely puzzled.
Her expression and demeanor, along with the handkerchief covering half her face, just didn't seem right.
If it weren't for her stunning beauty, which, once she caught people's eye, would easily capture their hearts, and once she did, he would never forget to apologize.
Otherwise, he really wouldn't have recognized her.
However, not knowing what she was up to, he still feigned confusion and asked in a drawn-out tone:
"Who are you······"
A thin layer of mist instantly welled up in Jiang Shuifu's clear eyes. She looked at him pitifully, as if she was very sad to hear that he did not recognize her.
He then lowered his head, looking as if he had been betrayed.
The beautiful woman wiped away her tears, her face like a pear blossom in the rain, a sight that evoked pity.
She composed herself before mustering the courage to look up at him cautiously.
"I am so happy to see the General again. I know my status is lowly. I will remember the night we talked in the wilderness until the very end. But why did the General disappear the next day..."
Her words left the peaches standing nearby completely bewildered.
Pan Tao didn't understand the truth. She thought He Beiqing had done something to her young lady. She was also puzzled. She wondered how things had developed like this after only a few days.
She was furious, so much so that her cheeks puffed out and her fists clenched tightly.
Not only did the peach think so, but several officials also stared wide-eyed.
In the wild! Spending the night!
Although it's common for men to be promiscuous, General He always only admired the women when he visited the mansion, never touching them. They thought he was very aloof, but it turned out he was even more promiscuous, going out into the wild! They were incredibly shocked.
After the initial shock, a sense of disdain and balance crept into my heart. I no longer held him in high regard. After all, what's the point of being chaste? Men are all the same, each one more ruthless than the last!
He Beiqing now knew what she was up to. It turned out she wasn't satisfied yet and wanted to punish him physically and ruin his reputation.
Her words were ambiguous, making people's thoughts slip, as if they really did something that night. Outsiders might not care, but He Beiqing was the person involved. He knew it was fake, but he couldn't help but blush.
So he immediately covered his mouth with his fist and cleared his throat, "Cough cough!"
He coughed loudly, trying to distract himself.
He could sense that he had become the laughingstock of the people around him, and that in the future, he would probably be the subject of their gossip.
Fortunately, these officials were all very perceptive. Knowing that they had stumbled upon a romantic affair, they all tactfully clasped their hands and left, not wanting He Beiqing to continue to be embarrassed.
However, their steps were much lighter than before, suggesting they had enjoyed themselves.
Jiang Shuifu naturally noticed their snickers, and dropped the pretense, saying to him in a curt tone, "Long time no see, General He. Did you eat the flower cake I sent you?"
General He?
He Beiqing gave a helpless smile; she now called him General He.
When Shen Jizhao arrived, their familiar way of addressing each other reverted to.
Perhaps, being strangers is their ultimate relationship.
He knew she wanted to see him make a fool of himself by asking if his leg still hurt, preferably so much that he couldn't walk. That would make her happy.
"Miss Fu, let's walk together for a while. My recent situation will make you happy."
Jiang Shuifu proudly raised her neck and let out a fierce breath. She wanted to show him what the consequences would be for betraying and deceiving her.
Although she couldn't really do anything to him, she could at least torment him a little.
He Beiqing led her all the way to the edge of a vast lotus lake.
The lotus flowers are in full bloom, with each lotus leaf spreading out to firmly support the lotus flower in the center. Although it is not the season for lotus flowers, it does not diminish the smiles of the lotus flowers in the lake.
He Beiqing stopped in his tracks. There was a boat by the lake, and he invited her to go boating with him, but Jiang Shuifu refused. She glanced at him:
"You're not deliberately getting revenge on me, are you? You're so petty!"
To show his sincerity, He Beiqing boarded the boat before her. Perhaps he was there to enjoy a boat trip on the lake, for he elegantly held a jade fan and handed it to her.
She carefully studied his expression and, seeing that he was very upright and honest, she raised her eyes again and refused to look at him.
Seeing that she was taking her time coming up, he smiled dismissively and made a few sarcastic remarks:
"Miss Fu dares to spend the night alone with me in the wilderness, but she doesn't dare to go boating on the lake with me. There are more than just the two of us on the lake, so what are you worried about? Don't worry, Miss Fu, I definitely won't run away this time!"
Jiang Shuifu pursed her lips repeatedly, pouting. He was using her words to shut her up.
Alright, let's go then, what's she afraid of!
Just as He Beiqing shook his head and was about to put away his folding fan, she reached out and grabbed it. He then pulled her onto the boat with a forceful gesture.
Just as the peach was about to reach out her hand, he started rowing the boat, preventing her from getting on.
"Miss!"
Jiang Shuifu saw the peaches on the opposite bank waving and calling to her, and she became angry:
"What do you mean! You're bullying my maid!"
He Beiqing accepted her anger completely, but his hands moved even faster as he glanced back at her:
“My legs have been aching terribly on rainy days. After Miss Fu left that day, I knelt for three hours without complaint. My actions were indeed unfair to Miss Fu. Miss Fu is so delicate that she cannot be submissive. It is only right that she should vent her anger. If anyone bullies Miss Fu, I will definitely help you!”
Jiang Shuifu didn't know how he could say such a thing. She was incredulous. Who was it that was secretly monitoring her and informing Shen Jizhao?
"General He, have you gone mad? You're Shen Jizhao's man, and you're helping him to deal with me. I despise him, and I despise you too! Don't think that just because I'm on your side, I'll forgive you. We're enemies now!"
He Beiqing smiled, a smile as gentle as a spring breeze, as if she didn't care at all about the words "enemy" to her.
"What enemy? I am His Highness the Crown Prince's man, doing my duty. In public, I have been dutiful and responsible. I have even performed a sword dance for you and drunk wine with you. In private, I am a decent friend. Otherwise, you wouldn't have applied medicine to me and brought me flower cakes. There is no hatred between friends, and I will not harm you!"
After listening to his blatant lies and empty talk, Jiang Shuifu was so angry she laughed.
"Soliciting nonsense, typical of his people, all crows are black! Since you say I'm your friend, then between friend and master, who do you choose?"
He Beiqing suppressed his smile and did not answer her question immediately.
His gaze swept into the distance, where many small boats floated on the lake. Women were picking lotus flowers and adorning their hair with blossoms, while men drank wine and sang songs, enjoying themselves immensely.
Countless boats meet, miss each other, and meet again.
Not far from his small boat, there was an extremely large and magnificent painted boat. The boat had three decks, each of which was very spacious and had pavilions with upturned eaves and carved flowers and birds.
The bow is a terrace, the cabin is a banquet hall, and there are long floral windows on both sides for enjoying the view.
From a distance, it looks magnificent and luxurious.
The pleasure boat was speeding towards them.
He Beiqing withdrew his gaze, straightened his demeanor, but still did not answer her question. Instead, he solemnly bowed to her.
"Miss Fu, if given the chance, I would like to travel with you, alone on horseback, through mountains and grasslands!"
Jiang Shuifu narrowed her eyes, showing no reaction to his words. From the first day he began monitoring her, he should have known that she would not forgive him.
He Beiqing lowered his waist slightly, striking a pose, and looked directly into her eyes:
"I do not lie, and I always keep my word!"
He once said that he came to help her.
Jiang Shuifu didn't believe it before, and she doesn't believe it even more now.
The painted boat gradually approached, and all the surrounding small boats made way for it. Before long, it passed by their boat.
The pleasure boat suddenly bumped into her, and Jiang Shuifu swayed and lost her balance, but in the next instant, she was supported by someone.
Practice makes perfect. Her past memories were all brought back. Each time, a pair of large, veiny hands covered her waist, and each time they used tremendous force.
She abruptly pulled his hand away and pushed him off.
It's Shen Jizhao again! He's like a persistent ghost!
She was furious, not only because of Shen Jizhao's sudden appearance, but also because someone had lied to her again!
He Beiqing!!
He let her onto the ship to create an opportunity for Shen Jizhao!
Jiang Shuifu glared fiercely at He Beiqing, the man who brushed past her and boarded the painted boat in front of her.
So, he answered her question with his actions: he chose Shen Jizhao!
She sarcastically remarked, "What a lackey! His Highness the Crown Prince is truly blessed to have General He, such a loyal hound!"
He Beiqing bowed to Shen Jizhao without changing his expression, then nodded to her before striding onto the painted boat, leaving only the two of them behind.
Shen Jizhao gazed intently at the person he hadn't seen in so long, unwilling to look away even for a second: "Shuifu, since you refused to see me, I had no choice but to come and see you!"
He swallowed again, expressing his emotions so directly for the first time in his life: "I...missed you!"
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Author's Note: Daughter: Niu Jin'er [Angry]
Shen Gouzi: Yeah, I'm your exclusive cow [shy]
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