Chapter 36: The Peach is Still Green

  Leaving the Taiji Palace, Fang Yiai returned to the Fang Mansion and went straight to his study. He didn't have the mood to go there earlier. If Cheng Ling'er were to find out that he was back, it would be even more impossible for him to calm down.

  After returning to her own courtyard, Fang Yiai saw Linglong collecting paper and pen, and asked curiously: "Linglong, we went to Meihua Valley for fun, what did you bring paper and pen for?"

  "Second Master, I'm just being prepared, in case you get inspired and write a poem, I can record it for you!" Linglong said with a smile. Fang Yiai scratched his head, thinking this was too much, as if he had such a wealth of ideas, besides, writing poems relied on inspiration.

  After Linglong finished dressing, Fang Yi and the female-disguised-as-male Linglong rode horses out of the Fang residence. Fang De stroked his chin, watching the two ride silently on the main street, and sighed, what a well-matched couple they were, only unfortunately their social status was too far apart.

  Upon arriving at the tea house next to Plum Blossom Valley, the shop assistant greeted him with "Welcome back, sir!"

  "Haha, buddy, I didn't think you'd remember me?" Fang Yiai handed the horse over to the shopkeeper and smiled. The shopkeeper wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "Young master, although you don't come here often, but your impression on me is very deep. People of your status rarely come to a small store like ours."

  "Oh? Pal, this is strange, how did you see that I'm not a simple person?"

  "Master, you may not know that I've seen many people dressed up like this, but few are as polite as you. Most people would scold me loudly, only you treat me with such kindness and respect. So I think your identity must be quite extraordinary, and you also have a good family background!" The partner said with relish. Fang Yu Ai looked at him carefully and patted his shoulder happily, "Partner, you're really wasting your talent doing this job!"

  "Haha, young master is joking, there's no such thing as being talented or not, it's all about making a living!" The servant said and left with the horse.

  Linglong smiled and said, "Second Master, I really didn't expect to meet such a talented person in this small teahouse. Have you fallen in love with talent?"

  "Yeah, but I think that guy is quite comfortable here, so it's better not to ruin his life. This person, really deserves respect." Fang Yiai let out a slightly emotional sigh, and Linglong nodded in agreement, pointing to a nearby location: "Second Master, what you said is right, look at how that guy treats those hobos completely differently."

  Fang Yi Ai followed the direction of Ling Long's fingers and took a look, but that guy was frowning and responding perfunctorily. Just by looking at his face, you could tell he was getting impatient, but unfortunately, the few guests in front of him were still speaking arrogantly.

  Fang Yi'ai led Linglong to walk slowly in the plum blossom valley, and soon they arrived at that familiar small pavilion. Looking at the stone bench where Li'er used to sit, Fang Yi'ai sighed and shook his head. Linglong knew what Fang Yi'ai was thinking about, but unfortunately she couldn't help him with anything. "Second young master, are you thinking of Li'er again?"

  "Hey, who says it's not? You say Lier is quite strange, even if she's already married, there's nothing that can't be said, our Tang Dynasty doesn't restrict women's freedom!" Fang Yiai thought of Lier's excited expression and felt bitter. This won't work as a lover, but being friends shouldn't be a problem, right?

  "Second Master, I think Lier should have her own difficulties." Linglong also couldn't understand why Lier would be like this. Even if there was no fate, what's wrong with being friends? But Lier had hidden herself away, and Fang Yiai couldn't even find her. The more Lier acted like this, the more Linglong felt that Lier's heart was in a panic, because she was afraid that if they continued to interact, she would fall into it.

  Fang Ai took out two peaches from her bosom, wiped them with her sleeve and handed one to Linglong, "Linglong, try it, can you eat it?"

  Linglong saw Fang Yiai eating and also took a bite, but immediately frowned and lightly hit Fang Yiai's arm, saying discontentedly: "Second Young Master, you're too naughty, how can something so sour be eaten?"

  "Haha, it's sour just right, we're going to share the same fate, I've been soured, you should experience it too" Fang Yi'ai couldn't help but laugh at Linglong's pouting face, what a beautiful girl! Fang Yi'ai thought that having Linglong was the most proud thing he had gained since crossing over. She was talented and gentle, a combination that would be hard to find even in the future.

  "Second Master, don't you think these four pillars are a bit too sparse?" Linglong threw away the sour peach in her hand and said with a smile as she looked at the sparse four pillars.

  "Linglong, you wouldn't want to leave a treasure on this pillar, would you?" Fang Yiai took one look at Linglong's eyes and understood that this girl had ideas about the four pillars. It was a habit in the Tang Dynasty to leave poems on pillars, but he didn't know what was going on with these four pillars, which were completely blank, no wonder Linglong had ideas.

  "Hmm, I think this will add a bit of atmosphere to the pavilion!" Linglong tapped her own smooth forehead and fell into quiet contemplation.

  "Hehe, suit yourself, what do you want to write?"

  "Second Master, I've thought of a first line, but I need you to come up with a second line!"

  "Ah, a couplet?" Fang Yiai's face fell when she heard this. This couplet was even more difficult than writing poetry. Even if it were a couplet, he should have let her say the first line; the second line was just too hard.

  "Not bad, Second Master, you'd better think carefully, my first line is 'to taste the sourness, sweetness, bitterness and saltiness of life!'". Linglong didn't give Fang Yilove a chance to react, directly saying out her line, and even gave him a sly glance. Fang Yilove looked at Linglong with annoyance, this girl was too cunning. After thinking carefully, he said, "My second line is 'to see the east, west, south, north and center of the great earth', isn't that a good match?"

  Linglong didn't expect Fang Yiai to figure it out so quickly, and could only admit defeat: "Second Master, I thought you'd have a hard time with this one, but you figured it out in no time." After speaking, Linglong took out her brush, dipped it in ink, and had Fang Yiai support her as she stood on the stone railing to write down the top and bottom couplets.

  Looking at the treasure she left behind, Linglong nodded in satisfaction. Fang Yiai saw Linglong's complacent little face and couldn't help but strike back: "Linglong, this is just two pillars, there are still two more that haven't been written yet!"

  Linglong shot a glance at Fang Yiai, this second young master was really too annoying. However, thinking about the two empty pillars, Linglong also furrowed her brow in deep thought. Seeing Fang Yiai standing aside with a self-satisfied expression, Linglong couldn't help but smile slightly angrily: "Second Young Master, it seems you've already thought of what to write, so the remaining two pillars will be solved by you."

  Fang Yiai's smile on her face suddenly disappeared, Fang Yiai really wanted to slap herself twice, what was she laughing at for no reason? But Linglong had already spoken up, so he could only think of it. After thinking for a long time, Fang Yiai slowly recited: "Like a dream, not a dream, a fairy in the dream. With rain or without rain, fate in the rain. Green peaches are tied to fallen flowers, no black frost opposes the beautiful years."

  Linglong softly recited a poem, stroking her forehead and smiling lightly. She looked at Fang Yiliu's ordinary face with tears in her eyes and said, "Second Young Master, thank you!"

  "What are you thanking me for, silly girl?" Fang Yi'ai didn't expect Linglong to be so emotional. He had originally wanted to make her happy, but instead he ended up making her cry. Linglong shook her head, wiped away the tears on her face and smiled lightly, "Second Young Master, I'm happy. I think I'm the happiest woman in this world."

  "Oh, is that so? In that case, you'd better leave your mark quickly, and we can be on our way. If we're late, others will see us and accuse us of damaging cultural relics!" Linglong didn't understand Fang Yiai's playful words, but she happily left her mark on the two pillars. After finishing, Fang Yiai pulled Linglong away from the small pavilion in a hurry.

  Back at the teahouse, the fellow greeted them warmly: "You two are back so soon?"

  "Hehe, just taking a look around, and the peaches aren't ripe yet, so it's no use staying longer!" Fang Yiai chuckled and quickly changed the subject, "Right, buddy, take me to get the horses first!"

  "Good luck!" The fellow led Fang Yu'er around a bend and said mysteriously, "Young master, I'm here to wish you an early happy marriage!"

  "Huh, what's going on here?" Fang Yiai was surprised and the shopkeeper said with a smirk: "Young master, I figured it out long ago. The one following you is a girl, right? If there was such a handsome young man in Chang'an City, wouldn't it have been spread around already?"

  "Haha, your eyes are quite sharp!" Fang Yi Ai didn't expect this guy to be so observant, but he also didn't mind. "Buddy, thanks for the auspicious words! When I get married in the future, I'll definitely send you a wedding invitation, and you must come!"

  "Really, young master? You really think highly of me! Don't worry, I'll definitely pray for your blessings when the time comes!" The buddy laughed happily, he could feel Fang Yi's sincerity, and he knew that this rich young master wouldn't deceive him.

  Linglong and Fang Yiai rode horses to leave the Plum Blossom Valley, Linglong looked at Fang Yiai shaking his head on horseback, feeling very uncomfortable in her heart. The second young master was still very tender, but she, Linglong, had already ripened, and didn't know when the second young master could pick this ripe peach!

  Linglong is worried because in this Tang Dynasty, a girl who has reached sixteen years old is already considered to be of advanced age.