Liu Zhenqing was somewhat bewildered. After all, Huo Fenglie had said that morning that he’d be very busy today and might not be able to return in the evening, so he told him to rest early and not wait up for him.

Why was he here now? And with such an odd expression.

Of course, Liu Zhenqing was unaware that Huo Fenglie had suddenly heard the news that the Empress Dowager and the Taifei had arrived at the Imperial Academy. He had originally thought that the two of them wouldn’t meet until the Longevity Festival, not expecting that it would happen ahead of schedule. 

He knew clearly that there was no longer anything between those two people, and intended to endure it, but was unable to. He barely remembered how he got here, and only knew that he had to see Liu Zhenqing as soon as possible.

But in the end, he was a step too late. They had still…..met.

Huo Fenglie stood ten meters away from them. The moment he came in, he found the two of them looking at each other in silence, with the Empress Dowager even crossing over boundaries.

Had they recognized each other?

At the thought of this possibility, Huo Fenglie felt like his brain was exploding.

Yao Hua also sobered up a bit due to Huo Fenglie’s intrusion. She and Liu Zhenqing were actually separated by a tea table, so her reaching out could also be interpreted as grabbing the teapot. There was nothing wrong with this move in the eyes of others, but Yao Hua was still momentarily embarrassed. After all, she had nearly lost her head and thought the person in front of her was Liu Zhenqing.

Yao Hua regained her composure: “What is it, Zhanyuan? Is there an urgent matter? This one is entertaining your future wife.”

Yao Hua spoke with a friendly smile, but it sounded very unpleasant to Huo Fenglie. He could only salute first to calm himself down.

Huo Fenglie’s restless look naturally caught Liu Zhenqing’s eye. He looked at Huo Fenglie in confusion and asked: “Have you come to see me?”

Huo Fenglie nodded silently, but the moment he raised his head, he saw the scene of the two of them sitting together. And in the end, he still couldn’t withstand the panic and uneasiness raging in his heart. Disregarding everything else, he rushed forward and grabbed Liu Zhenqing’s arm. With a red tint to his eyes, he hauled Liu Zhenqing up and went to leave.

Liu Zhenqing was astounded by such rude and impatient behavior. He felt that it was extremely rare, so he didn’t resist.

Yao Hua was somewhat astonished. She stood up and was about to say something, but due to her slight drunkenness, she seemed to have forgotten that the place she was sitting was some distance from the actual ground. She stepped directly into the air and fell forward.

Huo Fenglie focused all of his attention on Liu Zhenqing, completely ignoring the noble Empress Dowager beside him.

But Liu Zhenqing’s eyes still caught it, and he quickly stretched out his arms to stabilize her. Yao Hua placed her hands on Liu Zhenqing’s arms and stopped her downward trajectory. But due to this sudden movement, the jade pendant hidden beneath her robes swung forward.

The familiar jade willow leaf pendant stunned everyone present.

Liu Zhenqing regarded the jade pendant with astonishment. He’d never actually expected that Yao Hua would keep it, and was instantly ashamed and embarrassed.

And Huo Fenglie followed Liu Zhenqing’s gaze toward Yao Hua. When he saw the jade pendant, his entire body froze. It was as if all of the bones in his body had begun to shake.

Before Liu Zhenqing could react, he was abruptly pulled into Huo Fenglie’s arms and picked up somewhat roughly. They flew into the sky in the next second, bounding over peach blossom trees in another direction. 

The guards look on in a fluster. It wasn’t until Yao Hua waved them down that they returned to their original positions and continued to stand guard.

Yao Hua sat down in bemusement and continued to drink. Huo Fenglie’s expression just now reminded her of the scene when Liu Xiting had given her the jade pendant. Looking back on it now, the child seemed to have been jealous, Yao Huo thought with some interest. She put the jade pendant back again.

And at this time, Huo Fenglie had already brought Liu Zhenqing back to solid ground. Liu Qiao would usually stay away in such situations.

Thus, they were the only two in this area.

Huo Fenglie put Liu Zhenqing down in front of a peach tree. This particular tree was a bit strange, as if two of them had merged together.

Liu Zhenqing didn’t recognize anything different about this place, and only sent Huo Fenglie a look of confusion. It was the first time he had seen such an irritable look on him.

“Er-gou, you…..”

Huo Fenglie interrupted in a low voice: “You saw that jade pendant.”

Liu Zhenqing stared blankly for a moment, then became a little amused. This wasn’t the first time Huo Fenglie had drunk vinegar over a willow leaf pendant. The dignified general was unexpectedly so petty and jealous.

But so cute, ah.

Liu Zhenqing leaned against the peach tree slightly. His posture was casual, but paired with the background of peach blossoms, it possessed a sense of style.

“I saw it. Weren’t you right next to me when I gave it to her?”

“She still has it with her!” Huo Fenglie immediately lost control of his tone.

Startled, Liu Zhenqing was caught up in his memories.

Among those in the Imperial Academy, aside from Li Xingruo, Liu Zhenqing was the most familiar with Yao Hua. Although they didn’t spend time together often, they could still be considered friends.

Speaking of this, the first time the three of them became partners was when they teamed up to deal with the bullying incident. The woman who was being bullied, but still refused to admit defeat, was Yao Hua. It was likely after this when Yao Hua became extremely aware of Liu Zhenqing, and often brought him snacks to eat. She was dignified and elegant, but deep down, she was a good, curious and adventurous girl who had to be bound by rules.

Face with such a girl, Liu Zhenqing had opened his mouth and teased her like a little sister.

When she was young, Yao Hua would call him Xiting-gege.

Later on, Li Xingruo had probably told Yao Hua that marriage was not something the two of them were concerned about, and that the engagement would be broken off sooner or later. So Yao Hua didn’t have too many worries, and secretly expressed her feelings at the Peach Blossom Banquet.

Liu Zhenqing had drunk a lot of wine at the time, and was a little numb and overwhelmed in the face of this confession. But when the girl asked him if he liked her, Liu Zhenqing naturally divulged the truth that he had always regarded her as a sister.

He watched the girl cry like raindrops on peach blossoms. She was also a friend, so Liu Zhenqing could only take a jade pendant from his waist and give it to her as a gift. He used some pleasant words to coax her, which immediately made Yao Hua’s tears turn into laughter. At that time, he also discovered that Li Xingruo was peeking at them along with the two Huo brothers.

Yao Hua was somewhat shy. Li Xingruo hurriedly went to comfort her, while Liu Zhenqing had already begun teasing the very tense Er-gou.

His expression at that time was almost the same as now.

Huo Fenglie looked at Liu Zhenqing before him and couldn’t help but think that the Imperial Academy was so big. Liu Zhenqing had clearly been accompanying the twins, but how he had sought out the Empress Dowager. No matter how he thought about it, Huo Fenglie felt ridiculed.

He was like a despicable thief who took away a treasure that had originally belonged to someone else, and discovered that no matter whether he lived or died, he was unwilling to return it. He also feared that the treasure would run away and cease to belong to him.

“Qing-ge…..” Huo Fenglie’s face was tense as he looked directly at Liu Zhenqing and said: “Don’t forget that you asked me to marry you. You said you like me, and that you want to be with me forever.”

He seemed to be deliberately stressing this and warning him.

Such a reaction surprised Liu Zhenqing. 

No way, he was drinking vinegar to this extent. 

“Er-gou, she’s the Empress Dowager, ah!” Liu Zhenqing said with amusement. “What are you thinking? We were never together before.”

“You almost got together, didn’t you?!” Huo Fenglie retorted at once, his gaze so open that Liu Zhenqing thought there was something wrong with his memory.

But what Huo Fenglie said made sense.

When he and Li Xingruo broke off their engagement, many people had come to their manors to propose marriage. The Liu family and Yao Hua’s family could be regarded as friends, and both parties intended for their children to marry. At that time, his grandfather had asked him what he intended to do, but for Liu Zhenqing, the freedom to choose one’s spouse was more important, and he didn’t like arranged marriages. At that time, he felt that if he was destined to be with Yao Hua, the wedding could wait.

At that time, those close to them felt that they were a likely match. After all, they were already familiar with each other, and also very similar. It was a case of the woman chasing the man. Only, Liu Zhenqing dispensed with worldly conventions and was often running around, so they didn’t have many opportunities to spend time together.

Then Crown Prince Jingyang’s first wife, Yuan Jue’s biological mother, died of illness. The former emperor wanted Jingyang to remarry and selected Yao Hua, who was the most qualified to be empress amongst the unengaged noble girls, and she was named princess.

Anyone in the world would have no choice but to obey when faced with an imperial edict. Crown Prince Jingyang didn’t know that Yao Hua had such feelings for Liu Zhenqing. He deeply respected his newly-taken wife, and Yao Hua was a well-behaved, well-bred young lady. Although she was upset and broken-hearted, she concealed her love and sincerely became a good wife to the prince. 

Liu Zhenqing hadn’t had many thoughts about this as he drank the wedding wine.

Now that he gave it some thought, if Yao Hua hadn’t married His Highness the Crown Prince, based on their circumstances, they might very well have…..

His eyes took on a strange look as he pondered this.

Huo Fenglie kept his eyes firmly locked on Liu Zhenqing’s face. Seeing his slight change of expression, he felt as if he’d been struck by lightning.

He had always known that if Liu Zhenqing had not passed away, according to Yuan Jue’s vow, the person standing before Liu Zhenqing right now would not be him, but Yao Hua.

In fact, Huo Fenglie had always been very contradictory. He was unwilling to let go of Liu Zhenqing once he got him, but because he wished so much for this person to be happy, he had subconsciously given Liu Zhenqing an out. 

He was constantly worried that Liu Zhenqing would have regrets after returning to the capital and meeting Yao Hua. Thus, he used the excuse of not being married yet to put off fully possessing Liu Zhenqing, as if using his last trace of sanity to make it easier for himself to let go.

He hadn’t wanted the two people to meet so soon. Although he was afraid of losing Liu Zhenqing, he didn’t intend to actually prevent them from meeting for fear that if Liu Zhenqing wanted to see Yao Hua and he stopped him, he would make Liu Zhenqing upset. He couldn’t do it.

Yet he still overestimated himself, and regretted it upon hearing the news that they were about to meet. It was him who stood before Liu Zhenqing now, ah! Were they not engaged? Liu Zhenqing had slept in his arms the previous night, accepting his kisses and touches.

He shouldn’t feel that he could let go for the sake of Liu Zhenqing’s happiness. After all, it was Liu Zhenqing who had provoked him first and made him a promise. A promise that would be fulfilled. He should have taken possession of Liu Zhenqing long ago so that he would never have the desire to go out and see Yao Hua again.

With this in mind, Huo Fenglie’s expression changed completely. As if he’d lost control, he lowered his head and kissed him.

Liu Zhenqing was caught off guard. His eyes widened. He frowned in discomfort at the heavy force, but the impulsive and jealous Huo Fenglie was quite a boon for Liu Zhenqing.

Not yet realizing the seriousness of the problem, Liu Zhenqing felt this was just a different way to mess around and was a little excited.

But then, Liu Zhenqing was suddenly turned around and pressed against a tree without any gentleness. He was dumbfounded, his eyes blowing wide.

Liu Zhenqing was usually bold and wanton, but was still somewhat fearful at critical moments. Especially now, with Huo Fenglie acting so fierce and strange.

“Er…..Er-gou, I didn’t bring any ointment. Wh….what’s going on with you? Isn’t it bad to do it this way?”

Although Liu Zhenqing said so, Huo Fenglie didn’t stop, and he could only go along with it even though it seemed different than what Liu Zhenqing had expected for his first time. There was obviously something wrong with Huo Fenglie’s’ state of mind. If it hurt, then it hurt, but since the person behind him was in such a state, he wouldn’t make a big deal of it.

In order to relieve his inner uneasiness, Liu Zhenqing reached out a hand and pressed it on top of Huo Fenglie’s. Both hands happened to be adorned with their rings, and the moment those metal rings touched seemed to penetrate Huo Fenglie’s clouded mind.

At the critical moment, Huo Fenglie forcibly suppressed himself and shifted his attention.

The two closely entwined peach blossom trees trembled, petals falling with the wind.

Abnormal sounds came from a remote corner of the peach blossom grove without end.

It wasn’t until a long while later that a limp Liu Zhenqing was held in Huo Fenglie’s arms as they rested under the trees.

Liu Zhenqing’s cheeks blushed red as he turned his head to give Huo Fenglie a strange look. Unexpectedly, thunder had roared, but little rain fell. It had taken him so long to mentally prepare himself, but in the end, it was only his legs that hurt. But it was still…..ahem, satisfying. It could be considered a simulation of what was to come.

But why do this? What was he waiting for? In not taking the final step, was Huo Fenglie afraid he would be hurt? Then do some preparation work, ah!

At the sight of Liu Zhenqing trembling slightly in his arms and giving him a look of dissatisfaction, Huo Fenglie, who had gradually sobered up as he vented his anger, was instantly overwhelmed by guilt.

He had nearly forced Qing-ge. How could he do such a thing? What came after also wasn’t good, and he felt he had bullied the other party.

“Qing-ge, I’m sorry, I…..”

Hearing Huo Fenglie’s tone, Liu Zhenqing knew he had recovered. The heat on his face hadn’t gone away, and there was still a wet mist in his eyes. Even though he was all kinds of dissatisfied, he still asked patiently: “What’s wrong? You’re so jealous of me meeting the Empress Dowager. What’s going through your head? I told you before that I’ve given jade pendants to many people, but the wedding ring is for you alone.”

Seeing that Liu Zhenqing wasn’t angry, Huo Fenglie was even more upset. It was as if he’d lost all his strength. He shook his head, not daring to look at Liu Zhenqing.

Liu Zhenqing grasped Huo Fenglie’s fingers and slowly touched the wedding ring, saying: “We’re engaged, the marriage certificate has been written, Sister-in-Law has gone to propose our union, and the emperor will soon grant us our marriage. Is there anything that hasn’t been guaranteed? I know there were a lot of rumors of my past romantic affairs, but have some confidence in me, alright? You’re the only one I’ve been intimate with.”

Liu Zhenqing only felt that Huo Fenglie had drunk a lot more vinegar this time, and didn’t think too deeply about it. 

When Huo Fenglie heard this, he understood Liu Zhenqing’s resolve. After meeting Yao Hua, Liu Zhenqing still chose him.

In an instant, Huo Fenglie was elated and amazed, but also…..remorseful and guilty. When he was angry with Liu Zhenqing just now, he had wanted to attack him on the spot…..

Huo Fenglie looked at Liu Zhenqing, the emotion in his eyes nearly overflowing: “Qing-ge, I like you, I really like you. I’m sorry for losing my temper just now. I swear I’ll never do it again.”

Liu Zhenqing found this all very peculiar, but his recently satiated body made him a bit lazy. He reclined comfortably in Huo Fenglie’s arms and said: “Just now….it was pretty good, Er-gou. I didn’t expect you to be so good at it. Be honest, are you secretly reading little books behind my back?”

Huo Fenglie was currently in a state of agitation. When he was teased so shamelessly out of the blue, he could only stumble over his words: “No…..Qing-ge, don’t say such things.”

Liu Zhenqing said promptly: “You dare to do it, but you’re afraid to say it? Don’t say no, ah. I thought you’d finally decided to do me, but this is the result? I can’t say this wasn’t good, but you’re going to seriously make me doubt my charm.”

Regarding the situation just now, Huo Fenglie truly couldn’t hold his head up: “I was wrong, Qing-ge. I’ll wait…..until we get married.”

This time, Huo Fenglie didn’t subconsciously leave himself a way out. It was just that he felt terrible about this situation, and he must still give his future wife the respect he deserved.

Liu Zhenqing pouted, a little speechless, but was coaxed by a kiss from Huo Fenglie.

Thinking deeply, Liu Zhenqing feared leaving potential doubts in Huo Fenglie’s mind and just gave a simple explanation of the day’s events. He finally understood. Huo Fenglie had just found out that he was meeting with the Empress Dowager, so he left his official duties and hurried over. It seemed he really regarded Yao Hua as his love rival, perhaps because among his friends back then, she was the one closest to him.

“So, I didn’t come here specifically to see the Empress Dowager. It was Bai Su who was showing me around. I was casually taking a stroll and recalling interesting stories about your brother and Sister-in-law when I accidentally came to where the Empress Dowager was. I didn’t plan to go in, but when she heard that your future wife was here, she invited me inside. I suppose she wanted to help vet me for you. We had just spoken briefly when you arrived.” Liu Zhenqing spoke with a smile, his teasing expression lacking the slightest burden.

Although Huo Fenglie listened to this sourly – after all, in his opinion, the Empress Dowager was still Liu Zhenqing’s former sweetheart – he’d made a firm choice just now. Now that Qing-ge had explained it in such a way, what more could Huo Fenglie say? He could only hug this person tightly like a large dog: “En, I understand.”

Liu Zhenqing had no intention of speaking any more about Yao Hua. After all, she was still wearing the jade pendant, which was a bit embarrassing. He simply began to tease Huo Fenglie about some of the rumors he’d heard from Bai Su and interrogated him about whether each one had actually happened. 

Huo Fenglie blushed at these questions. All of them were stupid, childish things he had done before, and he was embarrassed to have them revealed before his beloved.

In the end, he had no choice but to block Liu Zhenqing’s voice until his bullying mouth softened and became well-behaved.

Liu Zhenqing said resentfully: “I’m familiar with this trick.”

Huo Fenglie couldn’t stop the curve of his lips.

Liu Zhenqing shifted his posture and continued to lean against him. He looked at the trees opposite that had been involved in the matter between them, and could only laugh: “I don’t know who planted them, but they deserve an apology.”

The peach blossom grove was so enormous because students had continued to plant trees here for generations.

Huo Fenglie was taken aback: “Have you forgotten?”

“Ah? Should I remember?” Liu Zhenqing couldn’t think of anything at the moment.

“This is where the three of you planted trees back then,” Huo Fenglie said.

Liu Zhenqing retorted at once: “Impossible. We planted three trees in the same spot back then, how can there only be two…..”

Liu Zhenqing paused for a moment and saw two trees to the far left. Although they were a little closer, they weren’t so close that their branches became entangled, much like when Li Xingruo and Huo Feihan planted trees and she deliberately placed hers close.

The trunks of the two trees they’d faced just now were practically touching, not to mention the entangled tree branches. From above, they were basically the same tree, but there was a gap in age and maturity between the two.

Liu Zhenqing quickly stood. His legs were still trembling slightly, and he was supported by Huo Fenglie as he walked forward. Rounding the trees, he found his name engraved on the trunk, with Huo Fenglie’s name on the younger tree next to it.

He looked at Huo Fenglie in astonishment.

Huo Fenglie reached out and touched Liu Zhenqing’s name on the tree trunk, saying: “I secretly planted it when I was studying here. Bai Su didn’t know about it.”

Seeing Huo Fenglie like this, Liu Zhenqing’s heart palpitated and he couldn’t help but reach out to touch Huo Fenglie’s name. He teased with a smile: “Such a schemer, ah. Did you have to touch everything that pertained to me?”

Huo Fenglie was given a jolt, and looked at Liu Zhenqing with some embarrassment, afraid that Liu Zhenqing would think that he…..had gone too far.

However, this was indeed what he had done.

He had not yet grown up, and couldn’t express his feelings, so he could only do this to relieve the ache of his secret love.

Liu Zhenqing suddenly skewed his gaze, recalling that Bai Su had said that Huo Fenglie often….. “Er-gou, ah, you used to come to the peach blossom forest alone at night. Was it just to sit beneath this peach tree?”

Huo Fenglie fidgeted a bit awkwardly: “En, I did. I just…..missed you.”

Having learned from the previous interrogation, Huo Fenglie admitted this honestly in order to prevent Liu Zhenqing from saying more embarrassing things.

But he still underestimated the degree of Liu Zhenqing’s wit.

“Then under the moonlight and peach blossoms, did you take advantage of the silence of night to secretly look at it and think about me, helping the peach tree grow, ah?

Huo Fenglie’s breath momentarily stagnated. He quickly grabbed Liu Zhenqing’s hand: “Qing-ge?”

“Answer honestly, did it ever happen? How many times?”

Huo Fenglie blushed with embarrassment. He embraced Liu Zhenqing and went to kiss him again, but Liu Zhenqing pulled a branch in front of him, his smile more charming than the peach blossoms as he raised an eyebrow and said: “If you don’t explain it clearly, you can’t kiss me.”

Huo Fenglie froze. In the end, he could only lower his head obediently and say: “I did…..”

“How many times?”

“I really…..really don’t remember.”

Liu Zhenqing couldn’t help but smile, and said teasingly: “No wonder my peach tree looks so different.”

Seeing that Huo Fenglie couldn’t take it any longer, Liu Zhenqing took away the peach blossom branch and approached gently, comforting him: “What are you ashamed of? Qing-ge is happy to hear that, and a little regretful. I had obviously come to the Peach Blossom Banquet when you were studying here, and you carried me back to the house. Why didn’t you know to bring me here and do something while I was drunk?”

“At that time, I drank so much that I almost passed out. You could have done whatever you wanted. Why were you so unenlightened?” As Liu Zhenqing said this, he couldn’t help being suspicious. “That’s not right, ah. You dared to take my first kiss at your brother and sister-in-law’s wedding banquet, so…..tell me honestly, did you secretly do something at the Peach Blossom Banquet?”

This time, Huo Fenglie shook his head: “You were so drunk that you hugged me like I was a pillow and fell asleep.”

Sounding rather regretful, Liu Zhenqing said: “You silly dog. Not only did you not take advantage, but you suddenly decided to go to the battlefield. What was going through your head?”

Huo Fenglie just looked at him with affection and kissed him softly, his love and adoration undisguised.

He hadn’t told the truth.

When he’d carried Liu Zhenqing back to the room to sleep, he had genuinely just wanted to quietly be with his sweetheart.

But that night, Liu Zhenqing had hugged him and said that he was afraid. He talked a lot, never worried that it would leak to outsiders.

Huo Fenglie only felt a deep helplessness. He loved Qing-ge and just wanted to get rid of all of Qing-ge’s worries, so he could only leave temporarily to grow up, and then return to Qing-ge when he had become stronger.

But he was still a step too late. Fortunately, the heavens gave him a chance to make amends, and Qing-ge was still by his side.

. . . . . . .

And Liu Qiao, who wasn’t needed to guard Liu Zhenqing at this time, discovered an acquaintance. He felt like something was off when he laid eyes on Prime Minister Jiang, so he continued to follow him until the man snuck into the courtyard where the Empress Dowager and the Taifei were resting.

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Chapter 129 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 131