Chapter 71

After eating and drinking to his heart's content, Qin Feng naturally had to come out and move around. After lying in the house for several days, he felt as if he was turning into a pig, his whole body aching terribly. He couldn't help but curse himself for being so worthless. This was the life he had always dreamed of, but when it finally came, he couldn't bear it.

What a life of toil and hardship!

Peng Wu, the fat man, of course, had to take on the duty of supporting Qin Feng. Now, he was more than happy to curry favor with Qin Feng and Min Ruoxi. Sending charcoal in the snow was much better than trying to flatter them later.

"Lord Qin, let's go to the back garden to see the peach blossoms! County Magistrate Luo Ying loves peach blossoms. He has planted dozens of peach trees in his back garden. It's now the blooming season, a perfect time for flower viewing," Peng Wu said with a smile.

"I didn't expect you to be such a refined person, Peng. I'm just a commoner; when I see peach blossoms, I think of the delicious fruit," Qin Feng laughed.

"How can I be considered refined? But at this time, viewing the peach blossoms is quite fitting," Peng Wu said. "Now, I have a special fondness for the spatula."

Both of them laughed. "Alright, let's go and pretend to be refined."

In reality, Qin Feng wanted to go to the back garden to be alone and think. He had many things to consider. The war was already lost, and how it was lost wasn't something a mere junior officer like him could worry about. What was important was that his daredevil battalion had survived. Although he had lost many good friends, it was still a stroke of luck amidst the misfortune. Now, he needed to think about his relationship with Princess Zhaohua, Min Ruoxi.

During their escape, their relationship had become exceptionally intimate, whether intentionally or unintentionally, willingly or forced. This was an unchangeable fact. In the days since their escape, Min Ruoxi's behavior had clearly given Qin Feng a signal.

But for Qin Feng, this was a problem.

Firstly, how long could he live? The hidden danger seemed to be under control, but he knew himself best. Qin Feng was very clear that the wild and erratic internal energy in his body was constantly attacking the external force. Without a living source to replenish it, the external force would eventually be eroded away. When his internal energy broke through, it would be the moment of his death. When it flared up, it would be even more dangerous. In this silent battle within his body, his wild internal energy was growing rapidly.

Did he like Min Ruoxi? Ha, what a joke. Who wouldn't like a woman who was beautiful beyond measure, skilled in martial arts, and had a good personality? Moreover, they had shared a life-and-death experience, with intimate and close contact. But precisely because he liked her, Qin Feng hesitated. He didn't want the woman he liked to become a sad and lonely widow in the near future, living a life of perpetual sorrow.

Secondly, even if he didn't die, the huge gap in status between him and Min Ruoxi was a significant obstacle. She was the noble Princess Zhaohua, the only daughter of the Emperor of Dachu. As for himself, he was an orphan with no relatives, not even knowing who his parents were, covered in scars and blood. It was like a stinky loach from a mud ditch dreaming of becoming a partner to a true phoenix in the sky. Not to mention her imperial father, even others would find it uncomfortable, like County Magistrate Luo Ying and his wife, whose words were filled with jealousy, which Qin Feng couldn't fail to notice.

Headache, all headache.

Peng Wu suddenly stopped and whispered, "Lord Qin, the princess is also viewing the flowers."

Qin Feng, who was deep in thought, didn't expect Peng Wu to stop. He continued moving forward due to inertia and stumbled, but quickly regained his balance. Looking up, he saw Min Ruoxi's back through the moon gate, standing under a peach tree. She must have heard the noise outside, as she turned her head and smiled when she saw Qin Feng.

"Qin Feng, you're here too! Come in and accompany me to view the flowers!"

The moon gate, the peach tree, and the beauty's smile! A line of poetry suddenly came to Qin Feng's mind: "The beauty and the peach blossoms complement each other, their reds blending together." It perfectly matched the scene.

He turned to look at Peng Wu, who was also looking at him, smiling awkwardly.

This scoundrel, he must have done it on purpose. Qin Feng cursed in his heart.

Now that the moment had come, he couldn't act like a coward. That wasn't Qin Feng's style. Besides, could he really avoid this? With Min Ruoxi's personality, if he turned and ran now, she would definitely chase after him and drag him back by the ear.

He stepped through the moon gate, and behind him, Peng Wu had already turned and fled, his guilt obvious.

"Qin Feng, the flowers are so beautiful!" Min Ruoxi, holding a branch, leaned her face into the peach blossoms and smiled.

"Yes, they are beautiful," Qin Feng could only agree.

"Pick a branch for me to wear in my hair, choose the best and most beautiful one!" She moved through the branches and stood next to Qin Feng, almost touching him, her faint fragrance and the scent of peach blossoms mingling in his nose.

"The flowers look good on the tree. If you pick them, they lose their life," Qin Feng said with a smile.

"Flowers should be picked when they are in full bloom, don't wait until they wither and can only be picked as dead branches," Min Ruoxi said, looking up at Qin Feng, her breath like a fragrant breeze.

Under her intense gaze, Qin Feng awkwardly turned his eyes and reached up to pick a branch of peach blossoms from a tree. Min Ruoxi smiled and tilted her head, waiting for Qin Feng to place the flower in her hair.

"Ruoxi, I..."

"Don't tell me about your illness. When we return to the capital, I'll find the best doctors. Even if it means giving up your martial arts, it's better to live a carefree life. My martial arts are quite good, and no one can bully me. I can protect you," Min Ruoxi said.

"You..."

"Don't talk about our mismatched status or what my father would say. My father loves me the most. As long as I ask, he will never refuse. Besides, what does 'matched status' mean? The Min family is the imperial family of Dachu. Within Dachu, who can match the Min family?"

"This..."

"Don't forget, you, you did that to me. Do you want to abandon me after starting something?" Min Ruoxi turned her head, looking at Qin Feng with a grievance, her face showing clear signs of being wronged, as if she had been greatly wronged by Qin Feng.

Qin Feng was speechless. What do you mean by "did that to me"? Fortunately, there was no one else here, or people might think I was some kind of person. At that time, you couldn't move, right? It was a matter of urgency, not me bullying you. Now it has become evidence of my wrongdoing.

"Is there anything else?" Min Ruoxi asked.

"Uh, no, nothing!" Qin Feng couldn't think of anything to say. Min Ruoxi had said everything. Suddenly, he realized that marrying such a smart and perceptive woman might not be a wise decision. She could guess what he was thinking just by the way he moved. Okay, the metaphor is a bit crude, but the point is valid!

"Then, why don't you quickly put the flower in my hair?" Min Ruoxi smiled, tilting her head back slightly.

Qin Feng gently placed the branch in her hair.

Min Ruoxi laughed happily, reaching out to hold Qin Feng's arm. "Come, let me help you walk around. The peach blossoms in this garden are truly beautiful."

Looking down at her radiant face, he realized that a woman in love was indeed the happiest.

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