The treasure hunt map drawn by Xu Yanxin was very simple. It was so simple that the prince could see it at a glance and felt that he could go looking for it without Pei Shan accompanying him.
It was the front yard of a house in the village. The pond was not big, but it was fenced around, probably because they were worried that children would slip and fall into the water.
There was a bamboo forest on the left of that house and an orchard on the right. The kitchen was under the wall on the left. It was lower and had a large chimney. The prince remembered that he had walked through that area because the chimney was in a very eye-catching position.
He had secretly used it as a marker.
The next day, the prince took Pei Shan there.
There were two women washing clothes there. When they saw them there, they offered some seats.
However, because the weather was getting colder, not many children came out, so the prince and Pei Shan spent a while before going to pick persimmons.
The prince climbed up the tree excitedly. The golden leaves were almost gone, and the heavy persimmons were particularly eye-catching. When the prince picked the first one, he couldn't wait to hand it to Pei Shan, signaling him to take a bite and take a look.
Pei Shan took a bite with a smile and told him it was very sweet.
The prince picked it up enthusiastically, but he didn't see it. Pei Shan looked a little lonely in the distance. He seemed to have something on his mind, but he was restrained and didn't show it.
When they returned, before the prince had time to share the fruits he had picked, he was called by the eldest princess to see the gifts.
It turned out that Jiang Qing, who was far away in the capital, bought some exquisite gifts for the prince and asked her servants to deliver them.
Pei Shan took the persimmons and went to the well to get water to wash them. As soon as he sat down, he heard the eldest princess calling: "Thankfully the prince is here, otherwise what will she do?"
Pei Shan slowly raised his head and saw the mistress accompanying the eldest princess walking out of the inner courtyard, apparently preparing to go for a walk.
But they didn't seem to see him, and the mistress also held the eldest princess's hand and said: "It should be that Ji Ruofu was suddenly sent back to the capital, and she was worried that she asked someone to make this trip. But after all, she is more stable than the princess.
That’s why I didn’t come over immediately.”
The eldest princess sighed: "I would rather she be like Yan Yang and not keep everything in her heart. This is what Pei Shan deserves. If it were anyone else, I wouldn't be able to stand it."
Was it actually talking about him?
Pei Shan stood up directly.
The sudden appearance of Pei Shan made Wang Xiu and the eldest princess stunned. But when they saw clearly that he was washing persimmons at the well, and the water was ready, they felt that this child was stupid and stupid, and everyone else was thinking of him.
He was heartbroken, but he still didn't know anything.
The eldest princess couldn't get angry with Pei Shan, who was ignorant yet pure, so she said to Wang Xiu, "I'm going out first."
Wang Xiu nodded and sent the eldest princess away before slowly walking to Pei Shan's side.
She glanced at the persimmons in the wooden basin, squatted down and started washing them, and asked, "Did you and the prince pick them?"
Pei Shan nodded and said quickly: "Master's wife, the water in the well is very cold, so I'd better do it."
Wang Xiudao: "You brought it here alone, didn't you want to calm down?"
"Tell me, what are you thinking about?"
Pei Shan knew that he couldn't hide it, so he simply squatted down. The position of the wellhead was very high, blocking most of the two people's figures. If you didn't look carefully, you wouldn't be able to see them.
After all the persimmons were washed, Pei Shan said belatedly: "I don't know what I'm thinking about. There are a lot of them, it's very messy."
Finally, he asked again: "Did Jiang Qing bring something?"
Wang Xiu nodded and said calmly: "Yes. When Ji Ruofu was sent back yesterday, she probably thought it was related to you. It was an excuse to send someone to deliver things, and the purpose was to find out what happened in the village."
"Actually, she doesn't have to be like this. I know she is waiting for an opportunity, but that opportunity may never come. But if she keeps waiting, not only will she waste time, but you will also feel guilty."
"Because you feel that your acquaintance with her did not draw a clear line. But have you ever thought that it was because your master wanted to use your marriage as a pretext to help the Jiang family. Speaking of which, you don't owe her anything?"
"Don't be deceived by the people around you, thinking that the person they say matches you is the best choice, but the choice actually comes from the heart. If you still feel reluctant, if the decision has not been made yet, you already feel uncomfortable.
, then stop immediately.”
"Just think about it, how can a girl who is calm, courageous and resourceful be as fragile as you think, and her life will be scarred because she can't get the love in her heart?"
Pei Shan looked at his wife and was speechless for a long time.
But the mistress just calmly wiped her hands with the handkerchief on the shelf, and said calmly: "Pei Shan, sometimes people are too kind and can hurt themselves."
"I hope you can be more selfish and live a more real life. Don't be like an outsider who comes just to see the prosperity of this world, but you still can't fit in."
"No matter what, you have to understand that the person next to you is with you day and night. If you are unhappy, no one can take care of the consequences for you, including me and your master."
Pei Shan's soul was baptized again. He felt that just like these washed persimmons, the heavy fruits always echoed the late autumn, and every winter, when everything is silent, there is a bit of the beauty of recuperating and recuperating.
Once the winter snow comes, the vitality of spring will be ready to bloom in the soil, which is the result of a whole winter of cultivation.
Therefore, no matter what choice he faces, it is actually a new starting point. He should not be decadent, but should move forward bravely and seize his own vitality.
After thinking about it, Pei Shan affirmed: "I have no romantic feelings for Miss Jiang. I will write to her personally to tell her."
In the days since he came to the village, he had never thought about her. Now that she was suddenly mentioned, he remembered what he had always been worried about? That is, he had never spoken out his heart to Jiang Qing.
He didn't want her to show her affection by mistake, and there was never a good time. But he now understood that rejecting such a thing didn't require a good time at all, because the longer it was delayed, the more detrimental it would be to the girl.
Jiang Qing is very good, and he also sees how good she is. But...it's not in his heart.
Wang Xiu looked at Pei Shan's relieved smile, which was completely new and eye-catching.
What a good young man, he should be full of life, but he has frowned for so long.
It's also her fault. Under the influence of Lu Yunhong, she felt that Jiang Qing and Pei Shan were quite suitable. Now think about it, the two people grew up in very different environments. Jiang Qing was raised like a princess, although she could learn from it.
She is considerate of Pei Shan, but only if she can understand him. If there is a gap between the two in the future, it will not be so easy to repair.
After all, one person is not good at explaining and the other is sensitive, which is really not a good match.
"Hurry up and divide the persimmons. They were picked with great difficulty. Let everyone be happy."
Wang Xiu said, urging him to take action.
Pei Shan nodded naively, hugged the wooden basin and left. The yellow persimmons looked even more dazzling against the light.
…
It gets dark early in the capital, and dinner is served early in the kitchen.
Jiang Qing looked at the bright lights in the room, but her thoughts were far away.
I wonder how Pei Shan is doing now?
I wonder if Ji Ruofu’s sudden return to Beijing has something to do with him?
I wonder if he...has someone he likes?
Just as she was deep in thought, a voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts.
The nun she sent to the village came back today and said she had brought her a letter.
Jiang Qing said quickly: "Bring it to me quickly."
The little maid went to pick it up. She stretched out her hand to take it before it was handed over.
But when she saw the writing on the envelope, she suddenly hesitated.
It was written to her by Pei Shan. Pei Shan never wrote to her easily. Even if something happened, he would ask his brother to take the lead.
What's more...it's such a letter that is very likely to leave a scandal.
"You all go down!"
Jiang Qing dismissed her servants and held the letter in her heart.
Maybe it’s the last one. Should I open it or not?
Jiang Qing smiled bitterly, but after a brief hesitation, she quickly opened the envelope.
The shadows of flowers in the mirror are invisible to everyone.
I hope you will take it seriously, and it will have its own clear flow.
Jiang Qing was stunned for a moment, her cheeks quickly became cold and her body became stiff for a while.
But she repeatedly rubbed the handwriting and confirmed that it was written by Pei Shan himself. Then she slowly raised her lips and smiled bitterly. At the same time, her heart dropped, and she knew that she could no longer have extravagant hopes.
In fact, she had already guessed that this day would come, because Pei Shan's eyes when he looked at her were too clear, without any trace of lust.
He looks at a flower, a kitten, and a child with the same look.
It’s not that she doesn’t know, but she just feels that since he’s not in love yet, it’s better to wait. Maybe one day he’ll get the idea and fall in love with her?
But it turns out that this day came so early, but instead of liking her, he clearly rejected her.
In fact, this was good, she could still convince herself to give up.
"Pei Shan, I can no longer secretly think about you in the future. You have to be nice."
Jiang Qing murmured, holding the letter to her chest, tears falling...
It was the first time she was so sad, and she knew how it felt to have her heart cut into pieces, but that person... that person would never know that she had felt heartbroken for him like this.
In a daze, she recalled the first time she saw Pei Shan at the Chinese Valentine's Day Lantern Festival that year.
That shy and immature boy, that shy and panicked idiot...
It would be great if they fell in love at first sight at that time. So many things had not happened in the Jiang family, and she was not as sensible as she is now. She would beg her father and mother to make the decision, and clamor to marry him.
So, had they already become husband and wife, and she wouldn't have to suffer so much?
Pei Shan, Pei Shan, why don’t you like me?
Even if it's just a little bit, I will run towards you without hesitation.