Chapter 200: Fun

After returning to the palace from the mountain, Lan Wu was still somewhat worried about that peach tree. She kept saying things like, “What if no one waters it and the tree dies?” or “What if insects eat the leaves?”

Hearing such concerns, Chu Mingheng’s heart softened. Holding her, he explained that the house was being looked after and no one would dare let the tree die.

He wasn’t oblivious to the reluctance in Lan Wu’s words. Compared to the magnificent palace, perhaps Lan Wu preferred the life where it was just the two of them.

But he was the emperor, and she was about to become his Empress. Some things simply had to be done.

A few days after returning to the palace, Lan Wu seemed cheerful again, as people kept coming to play with her these days.

Though Lan Wu was young, she had already experienced many things, even life and death, yet when it came to playing, she still had no sense of moderation.

Chu Mingheng came to visit but didn’t see her. Upon asking, he learned she had gone to the lakeside.

“What can she possibly do by the lake on such a hot day?” he asked with a stern expression.

The palace attendants exchanged glances and cautiously replied, “It was Lady Mu Zhaorong. She said she had a flower boat decorated and invited Her Ladyship to enjoy the scenery on the lake.”

“Her Ladyship also took Yun Gao along…”

Ah, that fat cat too.

Chu Mingheng thought for a moment and left Yilan Hall without a word.

Chen Kangan pondered where His Majesty was heading and immediately suggested, “Your Majesty, there’s a gentle breeze today, and it’s not too hot. It must be very cool by the lake. Why not go for a stroll by the lakeside?”

Chu Mingheng glanced at him and nodded slightly. “Let’s go.”

The flower boat Lady Mu Zhaorong mentioned was quite large. Three people sat inside, with Yun Gao lying beside Lan Wu, its deep blue eyes gazing around.

Lan Wu chatted and laughed with them as the boat slowly circled the lake twice before docking.

As soon as they disembarked, they saw someone standing ahead.

Lan Wu paused, handed Yun Gao to someone behind her, and took a few steps toward Chu Mingheng.

“Why did Your Majesty come here?” What are you doing standing here? How long have you been here?

Chu Mingheng glanced at the people behind her and said calmly, “Nothing much. I came to find you, and the attendants said you were boating on the lake.”

“Isn’t it hot, running around like this?”

Lady Mu Zhaorong instinctively felt these words were pointed, as if His Majesty was implying she had dragged Lan Wu around everywhere.

Lan Wu, of course, shook her head. “It’s quite cool today, not hot at all.”

“It’s getting late. Come back with me,” Chu Mingheng said without further ado, ready to take her away.

Lan Wu hummed in agreement and turned to Liang Fei and Lady Mu Zhaorong. “Let’s play together again next time.”

The two bowed respectfully and only relaxed after watching Lan Wu follow Chu Mingheng into the distance.

“What were you playing?” Chu Mingheng asked softly, holding her hand.

Lan Wu felt a bit warm and wriggled her fingers a few times. Unable to free herself, she simply let Chu Mingheng hold her hand.

“Just boating and sharing amusing stories. You’re not a girl, so you wouldn’t understand.”

She answered naturally, and Chu Mingheng didn’t press her for details.

However, though he didn’t bring it up at the time, that night, as Lan Wu was tossed about, she heard Chu Mingheng whisper in her ear.

“What do you mean by ‘girls’ fun’? Explain it to me carefully, A’Wu. If you want to play, I can play with you too.”

Lan Wu couldn’t utter a coherent word. It wasn’t until the next day that she grasped the hidden meaning in Chu Mingheng’s words.

…

“Your Majesty, are you jealous?” Lan Wu’s soft body collided into Chu Mingheng’s embrace, her bright eyes sparkling with amusement as she looked up at him.

“Just because I played with them and didn’t come find Your Majesty?”

Chu Mingheng’s gaze drifted downward, catching sight of a red kiss mark hidden beneath her peach-pink gauze dress. His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, his voice growing a bit hoarse: “What’s so fun about that? I think it’s most fun when A’Wu is with me.”

Lan Wu was certain that the “fun” they each meant was not the same thing.

“Your Majesty is truly petty.”

Receiving this conclusion, Chu Mingheng showed not a hint of anger, nor did he deny her words. He simply turned Lan Wu around in his arms and quietly resumed handling the unprocessed memorials on the table.

Knowing he was unhappy that she hadn’t come to keep him company, Lan Wu had taken the initiative to come and stay with him today.

However, the afternoon was a time for drowsiness, and before long she was tiredly half-closing her eyes. Finding it uncomfortable to sleep on Chu Mingheng, she tugged at his clothes and murmured softly that she wanted to go to the inner room to sleep.

Chu Mingheng set down the memorial in his hand, gently carried her to the inner room, removed her outer robe, and placed her on the bed, covering her lightly with a thin quilt.

Lan Wu soon fell into a deep sleep, while Chu Mingheng watched her for a long time from beside her.

Perhaps others could not understand the sense of fulfillment he felt at this moment. He had placed Lan Wu within his sight, separated only by a curtain or a screen. Here she was, sleeping peacefully in his domain, sound asleep where no one could take her away or disturb her.

Nothing could be more satisfying than this.

Chu Mingheng stood up, placed a kiss on Lan Wu’s hair, and walked out.

As the summer heat faded and autumn gradually arrived, the leaves began to wither and turn yellow. Worried that the peach tree might die, Lan Wu pleaded with Chu Mingheng to take her to see it.

This visit led to them staying on the mountain for two more days.

Fortunately, this mountain was not far from the palace, so the trip back and forth was not troublesome.

Lan Wu finally saw the peach tree.

After a summer, the tree had grown considerably. Although some leaves had fallen, its trunk was visibly thicker and sturdier.

It hadn’t been a seedling to begin with, and with this growth, they might be able to enjoy its fruit in a couple of years.

The autumn atmosphere was thick, more palpable in the mountains than in the palace.

At the very least, the water in the pond was icy cold, and Lan Wu dared not go down to play in it.

She felt a bit regretful.

“Will we come back in winter?”

“Winter…” Chu Mingheng pondered, putting on a thoughtful expression.

“Won’t we come in winter?” Lan Wu shook his shoulder.

Chu Mingheng smiled and grasped her wrist: “A’Wu, did you see the path up the mountain?”

“The road may be flat, but if it snows in winter, the snow will pile up thickly. Carriages probably won’t be able to make it up. How would we get here? Walk? And this house—it gets very cold in winter. Are you sure you want to come? You’re the one most afraid of the cold.”

Hearing this, Lan Wu felt somewhat dejected.

“Let’s come again in spring. Besides, isn’t there a major event to attend to this winter?”

The major event Chu Mingheng mentioned was only about two months away.

Although Lan Wu was the key figure in this event, she didn’t feel particularly affected. After all, several months had passed since the imperial decree appointing her as empress. Chu Mingheng hadn’t made her learn the complex rituals too early, saying she only needed to grasp them roughly before the grand ceremony began.

Now that Chu Mingheng brought it up, she belatedly felt a sense of urgency.

Her nervousness, however, made Chu Mingheng smile.

He chuckled and gently tapped Lan Wu’s nose, saying, “Some formalities are just for show to outsiders. Don’t take them to heart, and don’t worry. I’ll always be by your side.”