The weather had been pleasant recently, with bright and radiant sunshine. Cicadas chirped loudly in the places where the sun shone intensely.
They spent several days enjoying themselves at the temporary palace.
Although Chi You did not particularly like those men, she got along well with Ye Luan and the others. After spending these days together, the lingering reservations in her heart towards these girls dissipated.
After all, they were them, and these girls were them.
Behind the temporary palace lay a vast lake, with willows planted along the embankment and lotus flowers grown in the water. The surrounding scenery was elegant and serene.
In the center of the lake stood a winding, nine-bend tower. Under the eaves of the tower, Xiao Chizhan and others were fishing.
The surrounding lake water was very clear, and the boats were reflected in the sparkling water.
At the stern of the small boat, Chi You stood by the water, her robes fluttering in the breeze.
Lan Murou was leaning by the lakeside, picking lotus leaves. Ye Luan, holding her belly, sat in the middle of the boat, cradling Xueqiu, and fiddling with a set of teaware on a table.
Wei Qingge lay there listlessly, fanning herself and watching Ye Luan slowly boil the teapot, grind the tea leaves, sieve them, and pour them out.
"A'luan, is the lotus leaf tea good?"
Ye Luan took the fresh lotus leaves handed over by Lan Murou and smiled, "Of course, it's sweet and dispels summer heat, and the flavor remains even after long brewing."
Wei Qingge disliked such delicate work and leisurely basked in the sunlight.
"Qingge, go get some mountain spring water. It will taste even better when brewed with it."
On the side of the mountain cliff, in a secluded valley with a deep pool, clear spring water lapped against the rocky shore. Pavilions and buildings wound around the flowing water.
Wei Qingge picked up the teapot and leaped up.
Li Qiongyu, standing high on the tower, saw her silhouette and immediately drew his bow, shooting an arrow. The trees on the winding mountain cliff were impacted, and leaves rustled down onto her.
Wei Qingge was instantly annoyed. Hearing his shamelessly loud laughter, she drew her saber and leaped onto the tower's eaves, engaging him in a fight.
"Just a joke, don't be angry."
Li Qiongyu grabbed her waist with one hand while holding her saber with the other, a playful smirk on his dashing face.
Wei Qingge, displeased at being restrained, twisted her waist forcefully.
Damn Li Qiongyu, he just loved to tease her and make her angry.
Hmph.
She pretended not to be angry, deliberately putting on a stern face.
'The Huiying Jue you taught me earlier, I've learned two moves. Do you want to check?'
"Oh? Alright."
Wei Qingge felt smug inwardly, but on the surface, she said, "Then you can't attack, only dodge."
Li Qiongyu chuckled, "Alright, come on."
The two suddenly began fighting on the tower eaves, their sounds echoing in the mountain valleys, attracting the attention of several people who peered out to watch.
Chi You glanced at the tea water that was nearly boiling dry and took the kettle to fetch mountain spring water herself.
"Here we go again."
Hearing Lan Murou's helpless remark, Ye Luan smiled, shifted the weight of Xueqiu in her arms, and replied.
"She lives life playfully, and he guards her silently, indulging her tantrums and her laughter. Their unrestrained freedom is enviable."
"A'luan, here."
Chi You handed over the mountain spring water she had fetched.
Ye Luan took it and began to brew the tea.
Chi You, having grown up in court, was not familiar with these refined pastimes. She watched Ye Luan with curiosity.
Seeing her expression, Ye Luan taught her as she worked.
The three of them were having a delightful time here.
When the tea was ready, the men who were fishing also leaped onto the small boat.
The boat was already small, and with everyone crowding onto it, it instantly sank lower.
Xiao Chizhan walked to Ye Luan's side and took Xueqiu from her arms, so as not to press on her.
Ye Luan handed the brewed tea to everyone.
She glanced at Liu Rongruo, who was standing at the bow of the boat, a mischievous glint in her eyes. She deliberately handed him the tea that Chi You had overcooked.
"Prime Minister, A'wu brewed this, would you like to try?"
Liu Rongruo looked back, his expression calm as he accepted and took a sip.
As soon as it entered his mouth, an indescribable bitterness spread through his mouth and flowed down his throat.
"Does it taste good?"
Chi You raised an eyebrow slightly upon hearing Ye Luan's words.
Serves him right.
That was the tea she had overcooked, extremely unpalatable, with added scallions, ginger, and mint. The proportions were wrong, and it brewed into an unpleasant aroma.
Just as the thought crossed her mind, his clear voice rang out.
"She is a talent."
This statement sounded so much like an insult to her.
Chi You narrowed her eyes and looked at him, her gaze meeting his.
Their eyes met in the air, and his emotions were unreadable.
She snorted coldly and averted her gaze.
Liu Rongruo also withdrew his gaze. After drinking all the tea in the teacup, he set it down.
"The tea has a clear color and a sweet taste. Her skill is commendable."
Xiao Chizhan pinched Ye Luan's cheek and said.
Ye Luan knew he was being petty again and quickly whispered in his ear.
"I'll brew it for you every day from now on."
Xiao Chizhan reached out and pinched her waist, "You never brewed it for me before?"
This sourness was almost filling the air. Ye Luan found it embarrassing and shot him a glare.
Their little interaction was noticed by Tantai Ye. Just as he was about to tease them and provoke Xiao Chizhan,
Suddenly, laughter echoed from above.
A figure in red plummeted down.
He reacted quickly, immediately grabbing Lan Murou and leaping up, flying to the large tree overhead.
The others also scrambled to dodge, but the commotion caused by Li Qiongyu falling into the water was too great. The surrounding lotus leaves rippled, and those watching the show from the boat were inevitably splashed.
Wei Qingge, seeing the disaster, tried to run.
But the next second, the red figure shot upwards, his back neck grabbed, and he was directly lifted and flown into the tower.
Lan Murou became anxious, "He won't bully Qingge, will he?"
Tantai Ye: "----"
With Li Qiongyu's martial arts, how could she have kicked him into the water? It was clearly him playing with her.
"Quick, take me down."
From such a high tree, she couldn't jump down.
Tantai Ye held her waist tightly and leaned into her ear, whispering ambiguously, "If you let me into your room tonight, I'll take you down."
"Does the General like to lie, and now he likes to play tricks?"
The moment she put on a cold face, Tantai Ye dared not act presumptuously.
The little lamb had now turned into a rabbit that could bite.
He sheepishly touched his nose, held her tightly, and buried his face in her neck, sucking forcefully.
Lan Murou's face flushed. Seeing that everyone on the boat had returned to the tower, the heat on her face subsided slightly.
She gently pushed him, "Hurry up."
Tantai Ye wanted to linger for a moment longer, but he didn't want her to worry. He directly held her and flew towards the tower.
From the time it was built, the lake pavilion was fully equipped.
After the group had eaten, they went together to play a game of Bo xi.
Liu Bo chess was a game played as military training. The men were all skilled players, especially Xiao Chizhan and Tantai Ye, whose chess style was fierce, attacking and forcing each other without leaving any escape routes.
Chi You watched them play chess, her eyes narrowing as she observed.
They had no such entertainment in Nanjiang. The people of Zhongyuan truly knew how to enjoy themselves.
However, this Bo xi was extremely exciting, much like a sand table for battlefield combat, with mutual attacks to force the opponent into a dead move.
She looked at Liu Rongruo opposite her, a surge of killing intent rising within her. She directly reached out to help Wei Qingge, who was scratching her head, unsure of how to proceed.
"Oh, you come, I don't know how to move anymore."
Liu Rongruo glanced at Chi You, who had moved to stand opposite him, and raised his eyebrows slightly.
Chi You's chess style was bold, while Liu Rongruo's moves were cautious and strategic. On the chessboard, they both seemed intent on destroying the other.
The others watched silently, smiling but saying nothing.