Finest Servant

Chapter 408 Peach Blossoms, Seeing Peach Blossoms Again

Destroy this stone statue? Du Xiuyuan was startled, glancing at the Maitreya Buddha, and whispered, "General, is this perhaps inappropriate? To my knowledge, this reclining Buddha was built by Emperor Taizu—"

Lin Wanrong smiled faintly and said, "Brother Du, don't worry. I, Lin San, will take full responsibility for any consequences. I've been disliking this Buddha statue for a long time. A few cannon shots to get rid of it will ease my irritation."

That's a reason? Du Xiuyuan and the men behind him, Xu Zhen among them, looked at each other in disbelief, unable to utter a word. Xu Zhiqing helplessly shook her head, saying, "Just follow General Lin's orders. If anything goes wrong, I'll take responsibility with him."

Lin Wanrong whispered something into Du Xiuyuan's ear, and Du Xiuyuan slightly nodded. Clenching his teeth, he saluted and said, "Your subordinate obeys!" He waved his hand, and the officers behind him quickly led the soldiers into formation, with Divine Machine Unit positioned at the front. Eight brand-new Divine Machine Unit cannons were placed on the ground, their dark barrels gleaming coldly.

Lin Wanrong gratefully glanced at Miss Xu and whispered, "Miss Xu, don't be too kind to me; I fear I might not be able to resist offering myself to you."

Having become accustomed to his mad ravings, Xu Zhiqing had developed some immunity and snorted, "What nonsense. When you find Miss Qingxuan, just contribute more to our Great Hua."

Lin Wanrong sighed helplessly, thinking, ‘Contribute to Great Hua? Have I not contributed enough? Though I claim not to want to do the work, haven't I always handled things when they go wrong? Who do I tell my grievances to?’

"The gunpowder is loaded, and the angle is adjusted. General, please give the order," Du Xiuyuan's loud shout awoke Lin Wanrong from his thoughts. Looking not far away, he saw that Du Xiuyuan had brought a full five thousand troops. Banners waved, blades gleamed, and the force was mighty. Divine Machine Unit's cannons were fully adjusted, waiting for his command to fire in unison, shattering the stone statue into pieces. The atmosphere at the scene was tense and grave.

Xu Zhiqing's small hands were covered in sweat. Bombarding the reclining Buddha, something she never would have imagined before, had she become as mad as Lin San? "Lin San, can't we wait a bit—" She had barely started speaking when Lin San cut her off with a wave of his hand.

"Prepare!" Seeing General Lin's gesture, Du Xiuyuan waved his colorful flag, and the cannon operators focused intently on the Buddha statue.

"Fire!" Lin Wanrong gestured with his hand, and Du Xiuyuan pushed down his small flag, shouting loudly.

"Boom!" "Boom!" Several deafening explosions startled the surrounding warhorses into neighing. The maid, Yuzhu, hastily covered her ears. Xu Zhiqing's face turned pale, and she hardly dared to look at the stone statue. After a round of cannon fire, thick smoke rose in the distance, enveloping the stone statue, making it difficult to discern the situation.

Lin Wanrong stood in his place, unmoved and calm, as if nothing had happened. Du Xiuyuan wiped the sweat from his brow, his heart pounding; every time he followed General Lin, it made his heart race.

When the smoke cleared, Miss Xu mustered the courage to look towards the stone Buddha. To her surprise, the statue was intact, without the slightest damage. Around the statue, several feet away, stones were strewn about, the eaves were blackened, and there were several traces of fire. Could she have seen it wrong? She couldn't believe her eyes and looked again, only to find the statue whole and undamaged.

Poor accuracy? It couldn't be. The newly calibrated cannon she helped improve was not to be underestimated in both precision and power. Puzzled, she looked at Lin Wanrong and found him as composed as ever, without any sign of surprise.

"What's going on?" Xu Zhiqing frowned and asked Du Xiuyuan.

Wiping his sweat, Du Xiuyuan replied, "Miss Xu, it was Master Lin's order to aim in front of the statue first. To tell you the truth, I've been accurate many times before, but this is the first time I've been asked to miss on purpose!"

Xu Zhiqing looked at Lin Wanrong with joy and surprise, "Lin San, did you change your mind?"

"Not a change of mind," Lin Wanrong chuckled, "but rather a show of force first. We'll fire a few shots and see if there's any reaction. If nothing stirs, I'll blast it."

Stir, what kind of stir? Seeing Lin Wanrong's inscrutable face, Xu Zhiqing dared not ask more and kept her doubts to herself. Everyone waited in silence for a moment, but the statue remained eerily still, leaving Lin Wanrong uncertain as well.

"Brother Du, aim carefully this time and hit it hard!" Lin Wanrong said through gritted teeth. As his words fell, they suddenly heard a soft sound, and the statue's belly slowly opened to reveal a dark cave. Everyone was too far away to see inside clearly.

The sudden appearance stunned everyone. No one could have imagined that this man-made jade Buddha would contain such a mechanism, with a deep cave several feet above the ground, half the height of a city wall, leading to who knows where. Even well-read Xu Zhiqing had not expected such a secret within the Buddha built by the founding Emperor.

"What should we do?" Xu Zhiqing asked softly, her nose beaded with sweat, her small hand unconsciously grasping Lin Wanrong's tightly.

‘Damn, it really is "all in the jade Buddha." My father-in-law didn't fool me. Since he directed me here, it must be right,’ Lin Wanrong thought, and with a wave of his hand, he ordered, "Prepare the cloud ladders and attack!"

Du Xiuyuan was taken aback. Attack? But since Master Lin had given the order, they had to at least make a show of it. He waved his hand, and the infantry rushed forward with the ladders.

"Who are you attacking?" Xu Zhiqing quickly grabbed his hand, "We can't see anyone right now, where are you attacking?"

"Who says there's no one?" Lin Wanrong gently caressed her small hand, "Miss Xu, think about it, why was there no sign from the statue before we fired, and suddenly a large hole appeared after we fired a few shots?"

Xu Zhiqing, being intelligent, thought for a moment and exclaimed, "You mean, the mechanism is operated by someone? After we fired, they were intimidated by the power of the artillery and had to open the cave?"

"Exactly!" Lin Wanrong said reluctantly, patting her little hand. "That's the power of artillery. Therefore, we should always engage in more cannon firing, for the enjoyment of others and ourselves." As he spoke, a hint of a roguish smile appeared on his face.

Xu Zhiqing was utterly confused, but his public caress of her small hand was clear. She hurriedly lowered her voice and said, "Let go of me quickly, before others see."

"Eh? Isn't this Du Xiuyuan's hand?" Lin Wanrong said in surprise. "How did it become Miss Xu's? Am I dreaming?"

Du Xiuyuan inhaled sharply, hearing Lin Wanrong's ridiculous excuse. "General Lin, I'm eight cannon-lengths away from you!" Lin Wanrong continued to play with Xu Zhiqing's hand before finally letting go, sighing, "One mistake can lead to endless regret. Next time, Miss Xu, don't stand so close to me. This time I mistook you for Du Xiuyuan, but next time, if I mistake you for Qiaoqiao or Ning'er, it will be a disaster."

These words served as a warning, and Xu Zhiqing thought about how she had been taken advantage of by him multiple times because she had stood too close. Oddly enough, even when she was far from him, she always seemed to unconsciously drift closer. That was the real mystery.

"General, shall we attack the cave now?" Seeing the soldiers ready to go, Du Xiuyuan hastily called out, feeling uncomfortable even saying the words "attack the cave."

Lin Wanrong laughed heartily, saying, "Prepare to attack the cave!"

At his command, hundreds of soldiers raised their ladders to the cave entrance, ready to storm upwards. Just as they were about to reach it, a tender child's voice called out, "Who dares to cause trouble at the entrance of the 'Jade Virtue Fairy Hall'?"

"Jade Virtue Fairy Hall?" Lin Wanrong was stirred, thinking, ‘I'm looking for you.’ He knew that Qingxuan and her fairy sister were from the same source, so Qingxuan must also belong to this Hall.

A petite and exquisite figure appeared in the cave entrance, a girl of about eleven or twelve, with two little braids swinging, her face carved like jade, looking incredibly adorable. She held a bright and gleaming treasure sword, standing imposingly at the entrance.

"What a cute little girl," Xu Zhiqing exclaimed, her eyes flashing with a deep affection.

"Cute, yes," Lin Wanrong said with a wry smile, "but she might be a little tiger. Miss Xu, have you ever heard of the Jade Virtue Fairy Hall? What exactly does this hall process?"

Xu Zhiqing laughed, scolding, "What nonsense are you talking about? Jade Virtue Fairy Hall is a legendary, mysterious organization with high prestige in various places. During the time when the founding Emperor seized the land, they were relied upon heavily. Afterward, the Emperor named the Jade Virtue Fairy Hall as the 'Holy Hall,' claiming it to be 'Equated with the nation.' Many people, especially the gentry, are their staunch supporters. Is that Miss Xiao of yours also from the Jade Virtue Fairy Hall? No wonder she can sit in the court!"

"Equated with the nation?" Lin Wanrong sneered. Upon hearing this title alone, he knew that the founding Emperor was a person with intentions. A small civilian organization dared to claim equality with the nation. Wasn't this seeking death? The founding Emperor might have refrained from taking drastic measures out of helplessness, but this title of "Equated with the Nation" would undoubtedly be a thorn in the side of subsequent Emperors. No wonder his father-in-law was unimpressed with this immortal hall; there was more to it than met the eye.

"Miss Xu, what exactly is practiced in this hall? Literature or martial arts?" Thinking of the exceptional skills of Fairy Sister, including Sister An, who had betrayed her teacher, Lin Wanrong assumed that this Hall must be a martial arts society that relied on fists to make a living.

"It teaches both literature and martial arts. The Jade Virtue Fairy Hall does have martial artists, but they are more famous for their cultural education, producing generations of great scholars. Many master thinkers who started schools of thought were disciples of the Jade Virtue Fairy Hall. Most of the influential ministers in the current court have been influenced by the Hall. When my father was young, he even studied Confucian virtues under a former master of the Hall. Mei Yanqiu, whom you fought in Jinling, is also a disciple of the Hall," Xu Zhiqing explained calmly.

‘No way?’ Lin Wanrong was greatly shocked. He had originally thought that the Jade Virtue Fairy Hall was just a small martial arts faction, but it turned out to be a forum of master thinkers who made their living through literature, not martial arts. No wonder he had these thoughts. Qingxuan, Ning Yuxi, An Biru—weren't they all top-notch experts?

"So, meeting them can be considered encountering a worthy opponent," Xu Zhiqing said with a slight smile. "You'll find both literary and martial challenges, and their eloquence and wit are boundless. I wonder how you'll handle it."

His head was spinning. If it were just a martial arts faction, he could have easily defeated them with a few cannon blasts. But facing such a master forum, he was not up against one person, but a group of wise scholars. What could he do?

"Are you attacking or not?" Seeing his distressed expression, Xu Zhiqing couldn't help but ask, holding back laughter.

Attack? He was facing a group of scholars. A mere reference from one of those old chaps would leave him sprawling.

"Hey." As he was hesitating, he heard the little girl standing at the entrance speak: "You soldiers, what are you going to do? Are you attacking or not? Who's the leader among you? Come out and answer me."

Being pointed at and questioned by such a young girl was somewhat embarrassing. Lin Wanrong walked forward with a smile and said, "Little sister, how are you? What are you doing here? It's noon already; you should go home for lunch!"

The little girl glanced at him, suddenly clapped her hands, and laughed, "So you're the leader! I saw you sneaking around earlier. You looked like bad news, but I didn't expect you to be the leader. What's your name?"

She could see that? Lin Wanrong was annoyed. If she could tell, he couldn't be that bad. He chuckled, "My name is very special, and everyone likes to say it. My surname is Shu, and my given name is Shuhao [TL: Shu Hao means 'loves reading')!"

"Shu Shuhao [TL: Coincidentally, Shushu means Uncle, and Hao can mean good, and can be used as a form of greetings. So his made-up name can be interpreted as Good Uncle or Hello Uncle]?" The little girl called out, frowning, "It does sound a bit strange!"

The soldiers below had already burst into hearty laughter. Xu Zhiqing walked over to Lin Wanrong's side and playfully jabbed him, scolding, "You can never be serious, not even with such an adorable little girl!"

‘Damn it, I'm the victim here! It's clearly her who's not letting me off,’ Lin Wanrong thought, his face contorted in distress, unsure whether to laugh or cry. The little girl understood the pun in a moment, her face turning bright red, as she pointed at Lin Wanrong and furiously declared, "You, you treacherous minister, I won't let you go!"

"Treacherous minister? That's quite a unique name; I've never been called that before," Lin Wanrong laughed. "Little sister, you're mistaken. I am a loyal minister, a grand loyal minister, known by everyone in Great Hua. What's your name? Tell your big brother."

The little girl snorted and refused to answer. Xu Zhiqing kindly said, "Little sister, don't be afraid. This big brother may look quite vile, but he's good at heart. What's your name? Will you tell me?"

The little girl glanced at Xu Zhiqing and smiled slightly, "Sister, you're really pretty. My name is Li Xiangjun."

"Li Xiangjun? That name sounds familiar," Lin Wanrong squeezed out a friendly smile, "Little sister Xiangjun, is this place Jade Virtue Hall?"

"What Jade Virtue Hall?" The little girl snorted, "It's Jade Virtue Fairy Hall. You, how come you have no knowledge at all?"

"Yes, yes, I'm ignorant," Lin Wanrong wiped the sweat from his forehead, embarrassed by being called ignorant for the first time ever. Xu Zhiqing and Du Xiuyuan and the others secretly held back their laughter, witnessing Lin Wanrong's rare defeat.

"Were you the one who just bombarded our gate?" The little girl angrily asked, "How could you do such a brutal thing?"

"Where, where, little sister, we were just setting off a few fireworks to pay tribute to your esteemed Hall," Lin Wanrong chuckled, "By the way, little sister, can I ask you about someone? You're so beautiful and smart, I'm sure you'll know."

"I won't tell you even if I know," Li Xiangjun snorted, her expression unwavering.

"Actually, even if you don't say it, I know you must be familiar with Xiao Qingxuan, right?" Lin Wanrong casually asked, though his palm unconsciously grabbed Xu Zhiqing's, sweat beading in his palm.

The little girl's face lit up with delight, "You, you know my Senior Sister?"

Lin Wanrong's mind exploded with realization, his eyes moistening as he squeezed Xu Zhiqing's hand painfully. Xu Zhiqing's face turned pale with pain, but seeing his excited expression, she seemed to be infected by his emotion and gritted her teeth to endure it.

Lin Wanrong's voice trembled slightly as he said, "I know her, of course I know her, she's the most important person to me! Little junior sister, where is Qingxuan? Can you tell me?" Realizing that this girl named Li Xiangjun was Qingxuan's junior sister, he hastily changed his address.

"Why should I tell you?" Li Xiangjun huffed, "Senior Sister said that most people in this world are deceitful and insincere. Even Brother Liu of the literary school, Senior Sister does not approve of, let alone you? Just by looking at you, I know you're not a good person."

"The literary school's Brother Liu? What does he do?" Lin Wanrong was shocked, chuckling, "Is he as handsome as me?"

The little girl didn't bother to glance at him and laughed, "My senior sister is the most beautiful woman in the world. Unparalleled in both literature and martial arts, Brother Liu is Literary school's number one scholar. His looks are like those of the legendary beauty Pan An; he's elegant and refined. Despite being repeatedly rejected, he remains infatuated with my senior sister. You could never compare to him."

‘Trying to court my wife?’ Lin San was furious, "Is there anyone in this world more handsome than me? If so, he must be a monster or a freak! What's this Brother Liu's name? Where does he live? How tall is he? I'll go meet him! Whether it's a battle of literature or martial arts, I'll beat him until he can't find his way home!"

Li Xiangjun giggled and drew her fingers across her face, "Bragging! Brother Liu is the number one literary talent in the world. Even our old master praises his elegant demeanor, recognizing him as a true genius. How could you compare to him?"

‘Number one literary talent in the world? Damn it, boasting doesn't cost a thing.’ Lin Wanrong snickered, "Little junior sister, do you know Master Xu Wenchang? How does your Brother Liu compare to him?"

"This..." the little girl hesitated, "Master Xu is a recognized leader among the talented. Brother Liu has not yet left the mountain to compete with him, so it's hard to judge who's better. But I believe Brother Liu won't lose to him."

‘Damn, so this is how you create your so-called number one in the world,’ Lin Wanrong grinned, "Little junior sister, I'm also the number one suave genius in the world. Do you believe it?"

The little girl snorted dismissively, "If you say you're the number one shameless person in the world, I might believe that!"

Xu Zhiqing burst into laughter at their bickering, this little girl had indeed seen through Lin San's true nature.

Lin Wanrong's face turned red, and he stopped arguing with the little girl. Instead, he took out a small bottle from his chest, smiling slightly, "Little sister, do you recognize this? This is called Orchid Fragrance, a unique treasure in this world."

"You, how do you have this?" Li Xiangjun was astonished, "The Orchid Fragrance was obtained by my senior sister in Jinling. She said it was the only one in the world. Where did you get it?"

Lin Wanrong's voice caught in his throat as he slowly said, "Take this to her and tell her: On Mount Dangtu, in front of the Jade Buddha Temple, on the seventh day of the seventh month, husband and wife will reunite."

The little girl was eager to ask but finally spoke, her voice soft, "You are one step too late. Senior sister just returned and was called by the Master for a chat."

Master? Lin Wanrong probed, "Is the master Ning Yuxi, the Fairy Ning?"

"Hold your tongue!" Li Xiangjun's eyes widened, "My master's name is not something you can call!" Her expression darkened as she continued, "My master is the head of the Martial school. The Master of the Hall comes from Literary school and oversees both literary and martial schools."

So Fairy Ning was Qingxuan's master. No wonder she protected Qingxuan so strongly. According to the little girl, the head of Jade Virtue Fairy Hall had a background in literature. What did she want with Qingxuan?

"Are you really my senior sister's friend?" the little girl suddenly asked, "Do you know someone named Lin San?"

Lin Wanrong nodded hurriedly and said, "Know him? How could I possibly not know someone as handsome as that? What do you want with him?"

The young girl gritted her teeth and said, "I want to kill him. It's all his fault that my senior sister is in such a state."

"Little junior sister, please clarify what you mean. How did he harm Qingxuan?" Lin Wanrong's eyes narrowed, and he spoke loudly.

Li Xiangjun wiped away her tears with her little hand and said, "My senior sister has changed completely since she returned from Jinling last time. She has become much more haggard and thin, sometimes looking worried and sometimes secretly smiling, never letting go of that bottle of orchid perfume. My master found it strange, so she went to Jinling and found out that it was that Lin San who had ruined my senior sister. In her anger, she descended the mountain to kill Lin San. When my senior sister found out, she fainted on the spot."

Lin Wanrong's eyes turned red as he listened, and he clenched his fists, saying, "Little junior sister, please do me a favor and take me to see Qingxuan. I must see her."

Seeing the fierce look in his eyes, Li Xiangjun jumped in fright and hurriedly waved her hands, saying, "No, no, the Hall's master has ordered that no one may visit my senior sister without permission. Violators will be expelled from the mountain. Even when I visit her, I must do so secretly. Besides, you are not a disciple of the Fairy Hall; you cannot even enter the mountain gate, let alone see my senior sister."

"Not a disciple of the Fairy Hall, so I cannot enter the gate?" Lin Wanrong said with a cold smile, "All under heaven is the Emperor's land. If the Emperor were to come, would he not be allowed in either?"

Seeing his imposing manner, the young girl replied, "If one has an imperial order, that would be another matter."

"Very well!" Lin Wanrong pulled out a golden token and shouted, "Today I am here on imperial orders to enter the Fairy Hall. Please, Miss, do me this favor." Xu Zhiqing glanced at it; the golden token was the one bestowed by the Emperor before he left for Shandong. She hadn't thought it would come in handy now.

Li Xiangjun hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "Please wait a moment while I consult with others." She returned shortly and said respectfully, "The Fairy Hall welcomes the imperial envoy!"

As Lin Wanrong was about to enter through the opening, Du Xiuyuan hurriedly grabbed him and said cautiously, "General, be careful. There may be a trap. Let me take my brothers with you."

Lin Wanrong laughed heartily and said, "Brother Du, don't worry. I have the Emperor's mandate. Would this Jade Virtue Fairy Hall dare to rebel?"

Xu Zhiqing bit her lip and said, "I will go with you. I also want to see this world's foremost Fairy Hall."

This girl was stubborn, and refusing her would be futile. Lin Wanrong smiled helplessly and indulged her.

After the two entered the cave mouth, Li Xiangjun led them up the steps. The Jade Virtue Fairy Hall stood on the steep peak next to the Jade Buddha Temple, surrounded by water on three sides, with only one side connected to land. The entrance was within the reclining Buddha at the foot of the mountain. The valley was steep, with many peculiar peaks, surrounded by green pines and cypresses, and misty clouds, resembling a paradise in the clouds. The jade-like towers and pavilions that Lin Wanrong had glimpsed from afar during his first visit to the Reclining Buddha Temple were perched on this insurmountable peak, looking like a heavenly palace.

"Big, Brother Lin," the young girl Li Xiangjun suddenly spoke, calling out timidly.

Lin Wanrong was surprised, "How do you know my name?"

Li Xiangjun said, "My Senior Sister once said that if one day someone breaks into the mountain gate to see her, disregarding all means and fearing no death, it must be Lin San without a doubt. Big Brother Lin, my Senior Sister regards you like these green pines and cypresses; if you betray her, I, Li Xiangjun, would rather lose my life than not kill you with my sword."

Following behind them, Xu Zhiqing whispered a sigh, Lin San was right; the one who understood him best was none other than Miss Xiao.

Lin Wanrong laughed loudly, "In a person's life, there are things that can be done, and things that cannot. Those who abandon their loved ones and forsake their children are loathed by both man and god!"

Li Xiangjun nodded slightly, hesitated at a fork in the road, then suddenly bit her lip and gently pulled Lin Wanrong like a nimble cat, "Big Brother Lin, Sister, follow me and keep silent."

This was a small path leading to the mountaintop. Halfway up, they came across a garden in full bloom with peach blossoms. Li Xiangjun suddenly stopped, looked around to see that no one was paying attention to her, and nodded, whispering, "Big Brother Lin, I can only take you this far. Inside the peach garden is my sister's favorite place. Try your luck in there." She paused, almost spoke again, then sighed softly, "You are fortunate to come today; Heaven blesses my sister. If you miss today, you and your wife will have no more fate."

What did she mean? Just as Lin Wanrong was about to grab her to ask for an explanation, Li Xiangjun had already run far away.

This was a small courtyard, with only a tiny archway for entrance and exit. From outside the garden, a few large trees peeped out, flourishing and lush.

Xu Zhiqing hesitated for a moment, then slowly said, "You go in. You and your wife should reunite; I should not disturb."

Would Qingxuan be inside? Could he see her? Lin Wanrong's heart pounded, as if he were back on the night of his first date with his girlfriend. The difference was that Qingxuan was his dearly beloved wife and confidante, and as he approached home his courage faltered. He did not dare ask about her, feeling a mix of happiness and pain that threatened to suffocate him.

Lin Wanrong slowly moved forward. Miss Xu watched his back, her heart aching, her feelings indescribable. "Lin San—" she suddenly called out.

Lin Wanrong quickly turned around, smiling, "You should come in with me, and I'll introduce you to Qingxuan."

Miss Xu shook her head firmly, saying softly, "What am I to do at your reunion? If you see Miss Xiao, just stay inside. If you don't see her, come out quickly; I'll wait for you here."

Her voice was soft and low, showing a vulnerability that sharply contrasted with her usual competence. But under these circumstances, Lin Wanrong had no time to pay attention to that.

Lin Wanrong nodded, his footsteps heavy as though weighing a thousand pounds, and slowly moved forward. Xu Zhiqing stared blankly at him, tears sparkling in her eyes. The mountain wind caused her long skirt to dance and flutter, and from heart to body, she trembled slightly. Her lips stammered a few times, and the words "We'll not part unless we meet" slipped from her mouth, so faint that only she could hear them.

Upon entering the garden, the first sight that met his eyes was a yard full of peach and plum trees, with the ground strewn with a riot of colorful fallen petals. Red, white, yellow, and multicolored petals seemed like a shower of blossoms raining down, swaying and falling through the air, dazzling to the eyes. The peach blossoms atop the sheer peak bloomed so vividly, and recalling Qingxuan's painting of the falling flowers, his heart twitched with a pang. He seemed to see Qingxuan sitting alone in the courtyard at sunset, her delicate hand slightly raised, gently scattering the lonely peach blossoms.

With a gentle slap on the tree trunk, the blooming peach blossoms drifted down onto his face and body, and a faint fragrance assailed his senses. He slowly continued, his footsteps taking him deeper into the garden.

He had only taken a few steps when he looked up and was struck as if by thunder. He froze, unable to move another inch.

A graceful woman sat quietly in the center of the garden, surrounded by a riot of fallen petals that accentuated her jade-like, radiant cheeks. The gentle breeze lifted her pale yellow dress, and her long, graceful hair danced with the wind, making her look like a fairy, pure and ethereal.

Her slender, fair hand gently lifted, catching the falling peach blossoms, as brilliant tears slowly trickled from her beautiful eyes. She murmured, "The late dawn of spring, known before all the flowers—"

"—Year after year, planting peach blossoms, blooming at the time of heartbreak!" A clear yet deep voice resonated behind her, both strange and familiar.

Xiao Qingxuan's body trembled, and the small bottle of perfume she tightly held in her hand dropped to the ground with a soft clink.

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