Chapter 197 - 194: Touring the Garden

Chapter 197: Chapter 194: Touring the Garden

After the carefully prepared lunch Li Xiu had made, the couple took a short nap. They showered and changed, and Zhou Lian was eager for a stroll in the garden. The sun was still harsh, but Li Xiu couldn’t bear to refuse her. He grabbed a parasol, took her hand, and led her through the front courtyard into the garden.

Two gardeners had been hired to tend to the garden. When they saw the couple arrive for a stroll, they hurried over to greet them. Li Xiu paid them well and wasn’t the type to throw his weight around—he was just a bit strict with his requirements. The two gardeners were very satisfied with their jobs and took great care of the garden, keeping it in perfect order. Even the old masters and madams from the Imperial Palace were full of praise for it.

Small bridges over flowing water, pavilions and towers, and artfully stacked rockeries—the entire garden was lush with verdant plants, its air filled with the fragrance of flowers. Strolling under the quiet shade of the trees, a gentle breeze rustled the leaves and sent faint ripples across the pond, accompanied by the incessant chirping of cicadas. Arm in arm with Li Xiu, a joyful Zhou Lian said softly, "I really love it!"

Seeing Zhou Lian’s happy expression, Li Xiu felt happy as well. He said gently, "Bao’er, your happiness is my greatest satisfaction."

Listening to Li Xiu’s gentle words and gazing at the garden’s beauty that changed with the seasons, Zhou Lian, in a rare artistic mood, said, "It feels like a miniature Grand View Garden. A new scene with every step, a new look for every season. ’The deep courtyard is quiet through the long day / As beauties emerge in pairs. / Green-waxed leaves are still coiled in spring; / Red-rouged faces are sleepless at night. / They lean on the railing, crimson sleeves draping; / They rest against stone, sheltering a light mist. / Facing each other in the east wind, / Their master ought to understand and cherish them.’ Jin Chen, see? It really fits, don’t you think?"

Li Xiu frowned slightly and said softly, "Bao’er, even though this Jia Baoyu is supposedly the stone left over when Nuwa mended the heavens... well, how should I put it? The book is a good book, but, Bao’er, don’t you think Jia Baoyu is a bit unmanly? His poetry is pleasant enough, but that’s about it. I wonder if Cao Xueqin modeled such a protagonist after himself. Bao’er, do you like Jia Baoyu?"

Zhou Lian shivered at his words. ’Like Jia Baoyu? I’d rather not.’ She shook her head lightly and said, "I don’t. I really don’t like him. Perhaps his behavior was understandable for his time, but I’ve discussed this with my teacher before. Cao Xueqin lived in the early Qing dynasty, I believe. During that period, the Han civilization was oppressed by foreign invaders, but the Han heritage, passed down for millennia, endured. The integrity of Han scholars persisted. The book has many inconsistencies, and I don’t know if the author left them as deliberate mysteries or if they touched on private matters that couldn’t be shown. But as for the characters in the book, I’m not particularly fond of any of them."

Li Xiu smiled and said gently, "I don’t like him either. To be honest, I haven’t found anything I particularly like about that last feudal dynasty. I still prefer the Wei Jin period—the integrity of its scholars propped up the entire Han dynasty!"

"Wait, Jin Chen, we just came to admire the garden. How did we end up talking about this?" Zhou Lian asked in confusion, feeling the conversation had strayed so far off-topic she couldn’t find her way back. ’Weren’t we just talking about our garden?’

"It’s fine. It’s rare for you to be in such an artistic mood, Bao’er, so of course I’ll indulge you," Li Xiu said casually. "It’s just that I know very little about Tang and Song literature, so I hope you won’t mind." The two of them had almost never discussed such topics. Li Xiu knew Zhou Lian’s interests and hobbies intimately, and since it was so rare for her to show such enthusiasm, he couldn’t possibly bear to interrupt her.

"That’s not quite it. I was probably just enchanted by the garden’s scenery," Zhou Lian said, shaking her head. "My teacher once told me I’m not the refined, artistic type. While I do like Tang and Song literature and the free-spirited style of the Wei Jin period, it’s just a casual interest. I’m not obsessed."

"You’re wonderful just the way you are, Bao’er. Becoming too obsessed with one thing inevitably changes a person’s temperament. Just liking it is good enough!" Li Xiu gently agreed. He had never been one to admire those who became overly obsessed with a single thing or person.

"Is that so? It’s not good to be obsessed with a thing, so what about being obsessed with a person?" Glancing at Li Xiu, Zhou Lian quietly laid a trap for him.

"That depends on the person. What I feel for you isn’t obsession; it’s the direction my heart points, the place where my love lies. That has nothing to do with obsession. Bao’er, we’re just an ordinary man and woman in this mortal world. It’s best to just appreciate strange people and bizarre events from a spectator’s point of view." How could Li Xiu, a man known for having a "Seven-orifice Exquisite Heart," fall into such a simple trap?

Hearing Li Xiu’s answer, which reeked of self-preservation, Zhou Lian laughed softly. ’This man’s IQ and EQ are just too high. It’s so hard to pull one over on him! Oh, well.’ Listening to the way he seized every possible opportunity to declare his love, Zhou Lian felt a helpless sort of sweetness. ’It really does feel good to be cherished at the very center of someone’s heart.’

"’Guan-guan’ cry the ospreys, on the islet in the river. A fair, gentle lady, a fine match for a gentleman.

Long and short the watercress, to left and right we seek it. The fair, gentle lady, awake and asleep he sought her.

Seeking but not finding, awake and asleep he thought of her. Longing, oh, longing, he tossed and he turned.

Long and short the watercress, to left and right we gather it. The fair, gentle lady, with zither and lute he befriends her.

Long and short the watercress, to left and right we pick it. The fair, gentle lady, with bells and drums he delights her." Li Xiu recited "Guan Ju," and as he did, he plucked a luscious, dew-kissed gardenia and tucked it into Zhou Lian’s hair.

Hearing him recite "Guan Ju," Zhou Lian knew Li Xiu was bringing up an old jealousy. Years ago, a female classmate had sung "Guan Ju" to her, and he had been hung up on it ever since. ’I can’t believe he still remembers it after all these years!’

Gritting her teeth slightly, Zhou Lian began to sing softly: "Look to the bend of the River Qi, its green bamboos so elegant. Here is a cultured gentleman, as if cut, as if filed, as if carved, as if polished. So dignified, so grand, so brilliant, so splendid. Such a cultured gentleman, one can never forget him.

Look to the bend of the River Qi, its green bamboos so lush. Here is a cultured gentleman, his jeweled ear-plugs gleaming, his high cap brilliant as a star. So dignified, so grand, so brilliant, so splendid. Such a cultured gentleman, one can never forget him.

Look to the bend of the River Qi, its green bamboos a thicket. Here is a cultured gentleman, like gold, like tin, like a scepter, like jade. How magnanimous, how at ease! Leaning on his chariot rail. He is witty in his jests, but never cruel in his humor. Such a cultured gentleman, my heart dearly loves him."

"’Qi Ou’! It’s ’Qi Ou’ from the pre-Qin era! Bao’er, did you sing that just for me?" Listening to Zhou Lian’s clear voice, Li Xiu was overjoyed. ’My Bao’er is confessing her love for me, isn’t she? She is!’

Seeing his eyes instantly brighten, Zhou Lian nodded gently. All this time, it had really been Li Xiu who maintained their relationship. Setting aside the grievances of their past life and looking only at this one, Li Xiu had cared for her far more than even her own parents. She wasn’t made of wood; she knew right from wrong. Though she sometimes suspected he might also have memories of their past life, it didn’t matter. In this life, Li Xiu had opened his heart to her completely, striving with all his might to give her a stable and peaceful existence, a life of perfect happiness. What harm was there in letting him know her true feelings? She still had some unresolved issues in her heart, but Li Xiu’s character, consistent across two lifetimes, guaranteed it: he, Li Xiu, Li Jincheng, would never fail to live up to her love!

Overcome with emotion, Li Xiu pulled Zhou Lian into his arms. Zhou Lian had said things similar to a confession before, but never so directly as "my heart dearly loves him." However, no matter how moved he was, Li Xiu remembered they were in the garden with the workers nearby. He simply held Zhou Lian tightly and gently kissed the crown of her head. ’This was his treasure, the darling he cherished at the very center of his heart!’