Perhaps this is the scene Zhao Pei likes most throughout the year.
The lotus flowers in the pond are blooming enchantingly and vying with each other in beauty, which can't help but drive away all the irritability and depression in the hot summer.
Zhao Pei naturally did not have an idle day, so she asked Shui Niang to find her a small boat and went down to the pond alone. She sat at the bow of the boat and did not care about rowing, throwing the oars everywhere and letting the boat float with the waves.
It was early summer, and the lotus had not yet blossomed, but had just formed buds, which were about to bloom, but it also had a unique flavor. There was a rainbow over the pond, and there was a rockery beside it. Water from the mountain flowed down and hit the water surface, splashing and ding-dong. The mist fell on her skin, causing waves of comfort.
The boat drifted towards the depths of the lotus pond, and she was in a vast expanse of green that stretched as far as she could see. The farther she got from the shore, the denser the lotus leaves became, and Zhao Pei had to lower her head and turn sideways from time to time. Later, she got tired of hiding and simply lay down.
The sunlight was a bit dazzling, so she closed her eyes, casually broke off the stem of the lotus leaf, and took down a green lotus leaf to block her view.
The faint fragrance of lotus penetrated into her nose and stained her black hair.
Zhao Pei closed her eyes, feeling her body swaying gently with the water, the sound of the water flowing in her ears, and the green colors in front of her eyes. It was like being in a soft dream, in the legendary Worry-Free Valley, with indescribable comfort and joy. She withdrew all her strength, longing for such a time, and fell asleep in a daze.
Suddenly I felt the boat shake violently.
Zhao Pei stumbled to the side and bumped into the edge of the boat, hurting her arm. She picked up the lotus leaf for no apparent reason and went to see what was going on, but she was not frightened to death. A man appeared in front of her, with a few bamboos outlined in emerald silk on his dark green clothes, standing straight like his figure. He had a sky-blue scented sachet hanging from his waist, with a crude lotus-like plant embroidered on it, which she had embroidered on a whim a few days ago.
Seeing Zhao Pei fall, he reached out to help her. Zhao Pei got up and avoided him. He looked around and realized that they were still in the center of the lake. He looked at the man who suddenly appeared on the boat. A chill ran down his spine and he stammered, "How did you get here..."
Xiao Yi smiled and said, "I flew here." He was not lying to her, it was true. Zhao Pei's face was sunburned red, and he said, "Sheng Lian, you are in a good mood, running here to have fun."
Ever since he accidentally learned her nickname one day, he said that the name "Sheng Lian" was very good. Sometimes when they chatted, they would occasionally call her that. Zhao Pei had never heard anyone call her that. It was a name that people had forgotten, and it felt very familiar when someone suddenly mentioned it. But she did hear that someone's tone contained a hint of mockery.
Zhao Pei glanced at him and said, "Aren't you in a good mood too? Why did you specially fly here?" There was an obvious rebuttal in her tone.
Xiao Yi was not annoyed, he picked up the oar and started rowing: "You will get tanned if you stay in the sun. You'd better go back."
Zhao Pei glared at him in disappointment: "No way! It's okay if I'm black, what do you care about me!" She didn't know when her words started to have some coquettish and naughty tone.
Xiao Yi paddled slowly, passing through the vast expanse of lotus leaves. All around was quiet, and they were immersed in the green. Zhao Pei couldn't help but look up at him. Under the shade of the lotus leaves, his face flickered. But he was not as calm as usual, and he was as relaxed as she was.
Zhao Pei smiled and stared at him intently. When Xiao Yi looked up at her again, she quickly looked away and lay on the edge of the boat to play with the water. The clear water brought her coolness, and Xiao Yi spoke again: "The water is still very cold, don't play for too long."
She looked at him with a smile and called out softly, "Seven Talismans..."
Xiao Yi looked at her and waited for the next words, but unexpectedly Zhao Pei scooped up a handful of water and threw it at him. He didn't react or dodge for a moment, and when he came to his senses, he was soaked and there were drops of water dripping down his cheeks and hair.
The woman in front of him laughed wantonly, raised her eyebrows and looked at him proudly: "Do you think the water is cold?"
Xiao Yi didn't say anything, just looked at her coldly. The water was really cold, and it froze his brows again.
Seeing that he was really angry, Zhao Pei stuck out her tongue and apologized awkwardly: "I'm sorry, Seventh Brother...you..." As she spoke, she took out a handkerchief from her bosom to wipe him, but as she stood up a little, a puddle of water rushed towards her.
In an instant, she was soaked. The water blinded her eyes. Zhao Pei wiped her eyes with the soaked handkerchief in frustration, knowing that he had fooled her. He laughed softly, Zhao Pei wiped her eyes and glared at him, but what greeted her was another puddle of water.
So Shui Niang and Qiao Yu stood on the shore, looking at the two people who were having a water fight in the middle of the lake. One was splashing water humbly but cunningly, while the other was splashing water desperately.
The corner of Qiao Yu's mouth twitched: "Why didn't I see before that the prince and the princess were so 'in love'."
Shui Niang smiled lightly without saying anything. She looked at him for a long while before turning her head to Qiao Yu and said, "Go and call the maids. Something is going to happen."
Before Qiao Yu could even ask, "What happened?", he heard a loud noise on the water, followed by a high splash. Then, the boat capsized.
Qiao Yu looked at Shui Niang with admiration as she calmly told the maids what to do and what to prepare. He really didn't know whether to call her foresighted or a bad-mouthed woman...
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After a while of work, Zhao Pei changed into clean clothes and came out of the bathroom with wet hair. Xiao Yi was waiting at the door, and Zhao Pei smiled at him: "So soon?"
But he lost his joking expression, looked at her with a complicated look, and said, "A guest is coming."
"Oh." Zhao Pei nodded, "Why don't you go?"
But he said, "I came here specifically to see you."
Zhao Pei was stunned and tilted her head to look at him: "Who is it?"
"Crown Princess." Xiao Yi looked at her and said slowly.
Zhao Pei's heart skipped a beat. What did she want to do with me? She felt a sense of foreboding. (To be continued)