Chapter 071: Female Supremacy 10

Feigning illness and being exposed by the physician was inevitable.

Upon discovering that his patient was merely pretending to be sick to garner sympathy, Doctor Liu was furious. With his hands clasped behind his back and his herb basket swinging, he left without so much as a backward glance.

Seeing this, Le Yixian naturally could not allow him to storm off alone. She led her horse and followed closely behind.

When Doctor Liu climbed the mountain to gather herbs, she enthusiastically assisted him with the digging. Yet, when he inspected her work, he found that the roots of the medicinal plants meant for transplantation had been severed, and the rest were limp and lifeless.

"Enough. You carry the basket—I’ll do the digging," Doctor Liu said, determined to prevent further destruction of his precious herbs.

After a long day, Liu Qingyun wiped the sweat from his brow and glanced at the sky. "Let’s head back," he said.

Le Yixian nodded. As they passed the mountainside, she caught sight of a patch of pink not far off and called out to her dear companion, "Let’s take a walk over there."

"The sky’s nearly dark; we shouldn’t linger on the mountain," Liu Qingyun replied, his brows furrowing, not noticing the scenery she referenced.

"Then wait here for me," Le Yixian said, setting down the herb basket and darting toward the peach blossom grove.

"Wait—" Liu Qingyun tried to call after her, but her silhouette vanished among the foliage.

He looked around, sighed, and found a clean stone to sit upon.

Before long, Le Yixian returned.

"The sun’s nearly set; you shouldn’t wander off..." Liu Qingyun began, worried she might get lost, but his words trailed away.

Several branches heavy with peach blossoms were held out before him, clustered and pink, exuding a delicate fragrance.

"Here, these are for you," Le Yixian said, offering him the blossoms she’d picked.

Liu Qingyun was silent.

"Peach blossoms belong on their trees. Why did you pick them?" His gaze wandered, avoiding hers.

"Because they’re beautiful, and I wanted you to see them too." Le Yixian noticed the flush on his ears and smiled.

"Nonsense! Is that your excuse for picking flowers?" Liu Qingyun replied with righteous indignation, yet his hand reached out to take the blossoms.

Le Yixian’s smile deepened. Ah, her beloved’s contrary words and actions were so irresistibly adorable.

How could she resist teasing him further?

"Now that you’ve accepted my flowers, you belong to me," she said.

The evening mountain breeze was cool.

Her words, though softly spoken, reached Liu Qingyun’s ears with perfect clarity.

"Who... who belongs to you?!" Liu Qingyun exclaimed, turning to descend the mountain, peach blossoms still gripped in his hand.

—

When Liu’s husband came to summon their son for dinner, he found that after a day of gathering herbs, his son was not sorting them as usual. Instead, Liu Qingyun sat in his study, gazing intently at the vibrant peach blossoms on his desk, oblivious to his father’s entrance.

"Son?"

"Ah—Father!" Liu Qingyun snapped back to reality and rose.

"What were you thinking about?" Liu’s husband waved him to sit, taking a seat beside him.

Liu Qingyun’s mind instantly conjured the image of Le Yixian offering him the peach blossoms. He shook his head vigorously. "No, nothing at all."

"Really?" Liu’s husband, sensing something, felt there was more to the story.

"Did something happen when you went for herbs today?"

"No," came the swift reply.

Liu’s husband raised his eyebrows, but before he could speak, Liu Qingyun hesitantly asked, "Father, how did you and Mother meet?"

"Well," Liu’s husband mused, "your mother shamelessly pursued me."

Liu Qingyun was speechless.

"Back then, I was helping the elders at the clinic and encountered her—she’d been stabbed and was unconscious. After much effort, I revived her. She’d lost her memory and had nowhere to go. The elders, being kind, let her stay and work at the clinic, feeding her meals."

"After that, she clung to me, gifting flowers, hairpins, and snacks. She insisted on joining me when I gathered herbs, and ruined many of them in the process."

Liu Qingyun felt a pang of guilt and glanced at the herb basket in the corner of the courtyard.

"Later, we fell in love. The elders arranged our betrothal, and as soon as it was settled, she regained her memory, and I became her young husband."

Though his father’s account was brief, Liu Qingyun could picture it clearly.

Was this how women always pursued men? he wondered silently.

"Qingyun," his father called, "is there someone you like?"

"No," Liu Qingyun replied hastily. "I did like her at first, but now she seems far too frivolous. She’s shamelessly clinging to me, doesn’t care for books, pretends to be ill—though she is beautiful, I just... just..." The words ‘don’t like her’ could not escape his lips.

Liu’s husband laughed, patting his son’s shoulder. "If you like her, you needn’t worry."

"But Mother might find her difficult, considering her status as the Princess Royal. If I were to marry her, Mother—who has always remained neutral—would have to pick a side."

Liu’s husband pondered. "What sort of person is she?"

—

Liu Qingyun remained silent.

"Our family isn’t lacking in power or status. Your mother and I only wish for your health and happiness."

"Father!"

"Your elder brother is no concern, but you’ve always been frail, prone to overthinking and exhaustion. It’s rare for you to like someone, so of course I’m pleased."

"Thank you, Father," Liu Qingyun said, deeply moved.

Then his father dropped a bombshell: "Is she nearby? Have her come for tea tomorrow!"

That woman would need to be thoroughly investigated. If she proved unsuitable, she’d be sent away.

Liu Qingyun was dumbfounded. So soon?

The next day, Liu’s husband sat calmly in the main hall, sipping tea.

A servant reported, "Husband, Second Young Master has brought someone."

"Very well," he nodded, making no move.

Footsteps sounded outside.

His son entered first, then—

"Pfft!" Liu’s husband spewed his tea in shock.

"Father!" Liu Qingyun rushed forward to pat his back.

"Sir Liu," Le Yixian greeted, bowing with fists clasped.

Her gesture made Liu’s husband nearly leap to his feet. "Your Highness, Princess Royal?!"

As the consort of a high-ranking official, Liu’s husband entered the palace several times each year and was well acquainted with the Princess Royal’s appearance.

"It’s me, Sir Liu," Le Yixian nodded.

Liu’s husband was speechless.

—

When Prime Minister Liu returned home, the servants reported that his husband and son had come back from outside the city. He was puzzled, but more so, concerned. On hearing from his husband that their son had found his beloved and that the feelings were mutual, he was overjoyed. "This is wonderful. Let’s arrange the wedding at once."