On this day, it seemed that from Shang Ruyi’s engagement to her marriage, and through all the ups and downs she had faced in the past six months, it was the most relaxed day.
Enjoyment itself is relaxing.
Chu Yang first took her to explore the entire Jiangdu Palace.
The old Imperial Palace, due to the Emperor’s excessive luxury and indulgence in pleasure, was lavishly built. However, unlike the majestic grandeur of the Western Capital and Eastern Capital palaces, Jiangdu Palace, nestled by mountains and rivers, exhibited exquisite and delicate craftsmanship from the carved beams and painted rafters to the artworks intentionally created on certain pavilions and terraces, enhanced further by the meticulous carving of Southern craftsmen, rendering it as beautiful as a Heavenly Palace.
When Chu Yang had Jiangdu Palace renovated, he added almost whimsical elements to this beautiful landscape — such as erecting two tall towers at winding and secluded paths, connected by a flying corridor.
As they stood on the flying corridor overlooking most of Jiangdu Palace, a flock of sparrows deftly swept past them.
With the sparrows’ flyby, a breeze also brushed past their cheeks, and Shang Ruyi immediately noticed a faint floral fragrance.
She softly said, "What a lovely scent."
Chu Yang, standing beside her, laughed, "What scent?"
Though the fragrance vanished in an instant, it seemed to linger a bit at the tip of her nose as Shang Ruyi inhaled lightly and said softly, "Seems like... peach blossoms."
Just as she finished speaking, a pink peach blossom appeared in view.
She was taken aback but saw Chu Yang holding the peach branch with a smile, offering it to her, "As we climbed the building just now, I saw the peach blossoms blooming below and picked one for you."
Shang Ruyi was still a bit dazed and couldn’t quite recover, and Chu Yang’s fingertips, already pinching the peach branch, made a gentle turn, the peach blossom lightly twirled around her face, as if his fingers were brushing past her skin.
The ticklish sensation made Shang Ruyi’s heart flutter slightly.
Previously, his clothes were stained red with her blood, causing him to change into a snow-white long robe, still wide-sleeved, unstained by dust, coupled with his extraordinarily handsome looks and the silk-like black shiny long hair that fluttered lightly in the wind, resembling an Immortal.
At this moment, this Immortal smiled at her while holding a peach blossom, "Jiangnan has nothing."
"... but a branch of spring."
Shang Ruyi involuntarily accepted the branch of spring, looked at the vividly red blossom, then at his face, as beautiful as an immortal behind the flower, and softly said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Chu Yang’s eyes curved with his smile.
He then turned his head, leaning on the railing in front, squinting slightly as if savoring the floral scent in the wind, while Shang Ruyi cradled the branch of spring and simply watched him.
Chu Yang suddenly said, "Hungry?"
Shang Ruyi was still somewhat absent-minded, wasn’t the one before her an Immortal? Why suddenly ask if she was hungry?
But at the next moment, she immediately felt an emptiness in her stomach, she seemed to really be a bit hungry. Then she recalled that she had only had a few bites this morning, then got caught up meeting him, and accompanied him to tour most of Jiangdu Palace. It was already nearing evening by now, and those bites of food had long been expended.
Odd, why hadn’t she felt it just now?
Observing her brief pause followed by an unconscious nod, Chu Yang smiled, reached out to grab her wrist, and said, "Come, I’ll accompany you to dine."
Shang Ruyi was somewhat dazed, led by him, quickly descended from the flying corridor. Read full story at 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭·𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮·𝙣𝙚𝙩
Before long, they returned to the courtyard.
Unlike before, under the flowering tree now were two low tables adorned with exquisite wine and dishes, as they approached, a unique fragrance attacked their senses, Chu Yang led her to sit down and immediately started eating.
These dishes were mostly commonly used these days, such as Sunflower Meat Cutting, Three-set Duck, Crisp Eel, and even a dish that appeared glossy red, resembling a pile of meat strips the size of flower petals, particularly tempting.
Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but ask, "What dish is this?"
Chu Yang said, "Exquisite tongue."
Shang Ruyi had never heard of it, "Exquisite tongue? What is it?"
Standing by serving wine, Eunuch Yu said, "Madam, it’s sparrow tongues."
Shang Ruyi was startled, looking closely at the thin meat strips, they indeed were tongues! Uncertain how the chef cooked them, each sparrow tongue was crystal clear, shiny, and emitted a rich unique fragrance. Though the plate wasn’t large, sparrow tongues are tiny, making this dish required at least hundreds of sparrow tongues.