Chapter 199: Planting Trees

Lan Wu tiptoed across the ground like a thief. If not for the many small stones on the path, she would have taken off her shoes to walk.

Only when she had moved a fair distance away did she stop outside the house to carefully observe the commotion inside.

Although it was a bamboo house, making it impossible to see clearly from the outside, faint, blurred shadows were still somewhat visible.

Lan Wu watched with great interest, standing on tiptoe and craning her neck to get a better view.

Had Chu Mingheng started looking for her yet?

Thinking of him fumbling around inside for so long without finding her, Lan Wu’s smile widened even more.

Let Chu Mingheng grope around inside to his heart’s content—who told him to lose the chess game? He had bullied her so much before; now it was her turn to bully him back.

Listening to the faint sounds of collisions inside, Lan Wu began to hesitate again.

The furnishings in the room weren’t exactly sparse. Having only lived there for two days, if Chu Mingheng wasn’t familiar with the layout, might he bump into something and fall?

Before she could ponder this question further, Chu Mingheng’s shadow reappeared on the window.

He didn’t seem to be acting strangely, but his walking posture was unusually direct, showing no signs that his eyes were covered.

Lan Wu planned to let him search a little longer before going back inside—she couldn’t let Chu Mingheng know she had cheated.

With this thought in mind, she calculated the time and was just about to step toward the door when Chu Mingheng’s figure suddenly appeared in the doorway.

Lan Wu immediately froze in place, rooted to the spot. If not for the cloth still covering Chu Mingheng’s eyes, she would have sworn he knew she was outside.

Hadn’t they agreed he would catch her inside the house?

How had Chu Mingheng made it all the way to the door?

Lan Wu stayed perfectly still, holding her breath.

Then she watched as Chu Mingheng slightly raised his hand, his slender, well-defined fingers slipping into the gap between his eyes and the cloth. Using this small opening, he pushed the cloth upward, revealing one eye that locked directly onto Lan Wu, who was standing dumbfounded outside.

Run!

That was the first thought that flashed through Lan Wu’s mind.

A chill ran down her spine as she turned and sprinted away as if her feet had grown wings.

Chu Mingheng didn’t waste words. Without a moment’s hesitation, he gave chase and caught Lan Wu in just a few strides.

“A’Wu, is this how the game is played?” Chu Mingheng restrained her wrist and softly questioned her.

Lan Wu pursed her lips and replied, “I just… I just felt it was hot inside, so I came out for a walk. I was about to call you out… really—”

If Chu Mingheng hadn’t known Lan Wu had slipped outside from the start, he might have actually believed her nonsense.

But now…

“Then I’ve caught you. Since I’ve caught you, I’ll take my reward as I please.”

With that, he bent down, picked Lan Wu up, and carried her toward the house.

“Wait—wait—this isn’t fair! You opened your eyes! It doesn’t count—it doesn’t count—” Lan Wu protested, kicking her legs.

Chu Mingheng nodded, as if agreeing with her point.

“You’re right. Then this isn’t a reward.” He leaned in closer to Lan Wu, his smiling eyes meeting her clear ones. “This is punishment—punishment for A’Wu breaking the rules, for saying one thing and doing another.”

Lan Wu’s eyes widened as he carried her into the house.

The cloth that should have been tied over Chu Mingheng’s eyes was instead fastened over Lan Wu’s. Her vision plunged into darkness, unable to see, her heart fluttered with panic. She reached out to find Chu Mingheng, and soon her hand was gently taken, a tender kiss landing on her fingertips.

Lan Wu felt slightly reassured, but in the next moment, her clothes were rumpled.

…

As the moon climbed the treetops, Lan Wu finally couldn’t hold back, her voice trembling as she changed her tune.

Chu Mingheng asked her, “Oh, so you’re saying that since I’ve caught you, I can no longer punish you. Is that it?”

Lan Wu’s face flushed hot, her lips trembling as she softly hummed in agreement, desperately hoping Chu Mingheng would stop soon.

But Chu Mingheng said seriously, “In that case, I should claim my reward.”

He carried Lan Wu and walked outside.

Before Lan Wu could react, a gentle breeze brushed against her smooth back, startling her into a soft cry of protest.

“Don’t be like this, A’wu. If you had the courage to say you’d let me do as I please, then you should have the courage to endure it.”

He gently pressed against Lan Wu’s ear, kissing her neck, breathing in her fragrance, and carried her out.

“Don’t worry, there won’t be anyone else here,” Chu Mingheng reassured her before indulging freely in his reward.

“You shameless! Scoundrel! No restraint! Lecher—” Lan Wu blushed as she scolded him one phrase after another.

Chu Mingheng picked up the soft pillow from the floor, adding the word Lan Wu hadn’t finished, then sat by the bed, leaning in to kiss her. “Lecherous scoundrel. What else?”

Lan Wu glared at him.

She was too adorable. Chu Mingheng couldn’t help but kiss her again.

“Alright, I promise I won’t do anything today. We’re returning to the palace tomorrow, so today, I’ll let A’wu have her way. Whatever A’wu says goes, alright?”

Lan Wu, coaxed by him, muttered, “You said that before too.”

This time, Chu Mingheng truly meant to comfort her.

Once outside, Lan Wu glanced around the room and asked him, “Can we come here every year?”

“Yes, this place belongs only to A’wu and me. Whenever you want to come, just tell me. No matter how busy I am, I’ll make time to bring you here to play.”

His attitude was quite good.

Lan Wu nodded and walked around outside as if searching for something.

Chu Mingheng followed her, noticing she seemed to be pondering something, and asked about it.

He was immediately hushed softly: “Don’t disturb me, I’m thinking.”

Chu Mingheng closed his mouth and stayed silent.

The result of her thinking was pointing to a spot between the bamboo hut and the pond, instructing Chu Mingheng, “I want you to plant a peach tree for me here. You have to dig the soil and plant it yourself, no slacking, and no asking the palace servants for help.”

Chu Mingheng glanced at the spot Lan Wu indicated, then at the serious expression on her face, and nodded in agreement. “Alright, I’ll plant a peach tree for A’wu. In the future, we can come in the summer and eat peaches.”

Lan Wu clapped her hands excitedly, speaking magnanimously, “Alright, since your attitude is good, I can help you with watering or something.”

Chu Mingheng chuckled, “Then I thank my lady.”

When the palace servants received this order, they quickly went down the mountain to select the finest peach sapling—not too young, nor a fully grown tree. After much effort, they found one and delivered it that afternoon.

Just as the palace attendants were about to start planting the tree themselves, they heard His Majesty order everyone to stop.

Watching His Majesty dig the soil with their own eyes, the palace attendants dared not utter a word. In the meantime, they could hear Her Ladyship chattering away beside him, praising him with words like “Your Majesty is amazing.”

Following the sound, they saw Her Ladyship squatting down and sprinkling water into the soil.

Well, perhaps this was a little pleasure between His Majesty and Her Ladyship.

After planting the tree for over half an hour, Chu Mingheng had worked up a sweat, and the palace attendants had long since withdrawn.

Hearing him say “Alright,” Lan Wu then stepped forward and used a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from Chu Mingheng’s face.

“Your Majesty must be tired. When this tree bears fruit, the first one will be for you,” Lan Wu said eagerly.

Chu Mingheng understood her meaning at once: “Using me to test for poison, are you?”

“You’re talking nonsense. I’m ignoring you.” Lan Wu threw the handkerchief onto his face, snorted, and turned to leave.

Chu Mingheng took her hand, smiling. “Let’s go. We’re dirty now, time to wash up.”

…

Water splashed out of the pool, spilling onto the soil at the edge, moistening the earth. No wonder the flowers around here grew so much better.