Chapter 135: The Hot Summer Time is the Best Time to Pick Lotuses (2)
“If the Liangs had wanted to do so, this nation wouldn’t have belonged to the Li’s.” Lin Si Yao sounded as if he understood this thoroughly. He cast a glance at Si Chong. “Don’t forget that Liang En Zai’s subordinates aren’t weak. As he can manage an organization that keeps orders and justice in Jianghu that makes everybody admire and respect him, if Liang En Zai wants to replace Li Wen Xiu, he does have that ability. But from what he’s performed, I can tell he doesn’t want to rob this nation of control from the Lis. He has even helped Li Wen Xiu in supervising the ministers and officials in his imperial court.”
“That’s true... And that cunning Xiang Wangye, who is exactly the same type of man as Liang En Zai. From the surface, he’s an easy-going and care-free Wangye, but he’s sneakily built an elite force. If they didn’t plan to seize the throne, what they’ve been doing these years will go in vain.”
“Perhaps it’s their extraordinary strength. They use this to urge Da Hui’s Emperor to work more carefully and care more about his fellows. And, they could be free and have their own times. They don’t need to worry about Li Wen Xiu trying to eradicate them later.” While talking, Lin Si Yao saw four people, two adults and two kids, walking out of the pavilion by the lotus lake. He paused for a while then jumped through the open window. “If you don’t have any urgent business to do, stay here until the end of the Middle-Autumn Festival.” He disappeared even before his voice faded away.
“Psst, there’s a big door but he would rather leave outside the window.” Si Chong shook his head and closed the window of the study room. Slowly, he made his way out of the Pine Garden and walked to Lin Si Yao’s house, which was adjacent to his place. If it wasn’t his wife, then it must have been the kids that caused Si Ling’s sudden change of expression. Though, remembering how Si Luo had taken the twins early this morning, he understood Si Ling’s anxiety.
“What’s going on?” asked Lin Si Yao with a dark face.
“Guye, Master Luo said that he wanted to take our Little Young Master and Little Young Lady to the lotus lake to pick some lotus seeds. This maid was going to report this to our Lady.” As soon as Bai He recognized that the one who stopped in front of her was her solemn Guye, she gave him a curtsy before explaining.
“Pick the lotus seeds? Absurd! They are just eight months old! Not eight years old!” Lin Si Yao paled as he heard that. Immediately he rushed toward the river south of the mansion. “Don’t inform your Lady now…”
Bai He was bewildered, but then she understood. Her Guye was afraid that her Lady would be worried when she got the news. However, if she didn’t report to her Lady now, when her Lady finds out later, she would blame her for not reporting! Sigh, it’s really hard to be a maid!
It was nearing the end of the seventh lunar month, the green lotus leaves seemed to reach the horizon, making the spacious river look packed. Almost seemed that one could walk on the lotus leaves to cross the river.
The lotuses in different colors jutted up and formed masses between the leaves. Some had bloomed beautifully and some still closed, revealing only the tip of the flower. The lotus lake was so clear that they could almost see the bottom. The seed pods hid among the big, green leaves, holding the white and chubby lotus seeds which looked so inviting.
A small black rowboat slowly entered deep into the lotus lake, rattling above the water.
“What do you think? Worth our effort to come down here, right?” Si Luo was holding Lin Xiao, winking at Si Tuo who was holding Lin Long, sitting with a stiff body opposite him. “This is the leisure life I’ve been longing for a long time. Uncle Lao, we have troubled you!”
“No, no trouble at all.” Uncle Lao was paddling, shaking his head. Uncle Lao, who previously had worked mainly on the fields, was now the gardener in the Si House – the four-acre house. His main job was to prune the plants and take care of grass and fruits. Sometimes, the house owner would ask him to do some other temporary chores. And now, Si Luo had lured him to paddle this boat.
“Aren’t you afraid that Si Ling would get mad?” Si Tuo sighed helplessly. Si Luo’s guts were getting bigger, which was inversely proportional to his marital skills. Moreover, his courage was getting even bigger day after day. It was alright that he came here alone. However, he had taken the eight-month-old twins with him.
However, when Si Tuo looked at the twins, who were so excited they could jump into the water to play in the next moment, he couldn’t help but smile. Children at this age always liked to play with water, despite the fact that they can’t walk or talk yet.
“What are you afraid of? We didn’t abandon them here.” Si Luo disapproved. He picked a lotus leaf and used it as an umbrella above Lin Xiao’s head, making the boy giggle, waving his hands to hold the leaf by himself. Si Luo let the boy play with the leaves then fished a seed pod from the lake. He took the seeds and threw them into his mouth. “Umm, fresh and sweet. Wanna try?”
“No, enjoy yourself.” Si Tuo shook his head. He was sure that Si Luo was enjoying and playing now. So, living here for more than half a year could actually change someone? They could ignore people’s judgment and do whatever they wanted no matter what age they were…
“You don’t want to try? It’s your loss then. I’ve had my eyes on this lake for quite a long time. It’s even more beautiful than the other. There are so many types of lotuses in this lake and most importantly, Si Ling has planted them himself.” Si Luo felt content and explained. When Su Shuilian took him here to spectate the flowers, she told him that Si Ling had planted this lotus lake himself. At that moment, his mouth dropped big enough to swallow a whole egg. However, after realizing that Si Ling had even taken a trip to Hell, it wouldn’t be surprising if he could plant a lake full of lotuses.
“What? Si Ling planted them?” Si Tuo couldn’t believe it, gazing at Si Luo, who was constantly throwing more lotus seeds into his mouth. It was hard to imagine a cold-faced man like Si Ling planting lotuses…
“What? Do you have any objections?” Lin Si Yao turned his body and jumped onto the boat. Steadily, he landed on the boat, asking coldly, glaring at the unfazed Si Luo.
“Boss, it’s good that you’re here. Your Xiao-er loves this lotus lake a lot. Do you want to let him swim one lap around the lake?”
“Don’t even think about it.” Lin Si Yao received Lin Xiao, which gave more room and freedom for Si Luo to pick more lotus seeds.
“We should have lotus seed soup for supper!” Si Luo suggested bravely.
“Up to you.” After making sure that his precious twins weren’t hurt, he turned to see Si Luo, who was peeling the lotus seeds to his heart’s content. He turned and said to Si Tuo, “If you’re not in a hurry, stay here until after the Middle-Autumn Festival.”
“Of course, I came back here to reunite with you guys.” It was rare that Si Tuo would say something with much affection.
They sat on the same boat, holding the kids, and peeling the lotus seeds while chatting. Sometimes, the breezes brought a strong lotus fragrance over them. And the refreshing scent of lotus seeds to their nostrils, which lingered for a while.
Chapter 135: The Hot Summer Time is the Best Time to Pick Lotuses (2)
“If the Liangs had wanted to do so, this nation wouldn’t have belonged to the Li’s.” Lin Si Yao sounded as if he understood this thoroughly. He cast a glance at Si Chong. “Don’t forget that Liang En Zai’s subordinates aren’t weak. As he can manage an organization that keeps orders and justice in Jianghu that makes everybody admire and respect him, if Liang En Zai wants to replace Li Wen Xiu, he does have that ability. But from what he’s performed, I can tell he doesn’t want to rob this nation of control from the Lis. He has even helped Li Wen Xiu in supervising the ministers and officials in his imperial court.”
“That’s true... And that cunning Xiang Wangye, who is exactly the same type of man as Liang En Zai. From the surface, he’s an easy-going and care-free Wangye, but he’s sneakily built an elite force. If they didn’t plan to seize the throne, what they’ve been doing these years will go in vain.”
“Perhaps it’s their extraordinary strength. They use this to urge Da Hui’s Emperor to work more carefully and care more about his fellows. And, they could be free and have their own times. They don’t need to worry about Li Wen Xiu trying to eradicate them later.” While talking, Lin Si Yao saw four people, two adults and two kids, walking out of the pavilion by the lotus lake. He paused for a while then jumped through the open window. “If you don’t have any urgent business to do, stay here until the end of the Middle-Autumn Festival.” He disappeared even before his voice faded away.
“Psst, there’s a big door but he would rather leave outside the window.” Si Chong shook his head and closed the window of the study room. Slowly, he made his way out of the Pine Garden and walked to Lin Si Yao’s house, which was adjacent to his place. If it wasn’t his wife, then it must have been the kids that caused Si Ling’s sudden change of expression. Though, remembering how Si Luo had taken the twins early this morning, he understood Si Ling’s anxiety.
“What’s going on?” asked Lin Si Yao with a dark face.
“Guye, Master Luo said that he wanted to take our Little Young Master and Little Young Lady to the lotus lake to pick some lotus seeds. This maid was going to report this to our Lady.” As soon as Bai He recognized that the one who stopped in front of her was her solemn Guye, she gave him a curtsy before explaining.
“Pick the lotus seeds? Absurd! They are just eight months old! Not eight years old!” Lin Si Yao paled as he heard that. Immediately he rushed toward the river south of the mansion. “Don’t inform your Lady now…”
Bai He was bewildered, but then she understood. Her Guye was afraid that her Lady would be worried when she got the news. However, if she didn’t report to her Lady now, when her Lady finds out later, she would blame her for not reporting! Sigh, it’s really hard to be a maid!
It was nearing the end of the seventh lunar month, the green lotus leaves seemed to reach the horizon, making the spacious river look packed. Almost seemed that one could walk on the lotus leaves to cross the river.
The lotuses in different colors jutted up and formed masses between the leaves. Some had bloomed beautifully and some still closed, revealing only the tip of the flower. The lotus lake was so clear that they could almost see the bottom. The seed pods hid among the big, green leaves, holding the white and chubby lotus seeds which looked so inviting.
A small black rowboat slowly entered deep into the lotus lake, rattling above the water.
“What do you think? Worth our effort to come down here, right?” Si Luo was holding Lin Xiao, winking at Si Tuo who was holding Lin Long, sitting with a stiff body opposite him. “This is the leisure life I’ve been longing for a long time. Uncle Lao, we have troubled you!”
“No, no trouble at all.” Uncle Lao was paddling, shaking his head. Uncle Lao, who previously had worked mainly on the fields, was now the gardener in the Si House – the four-acre house. His main job was to prune the plants and take care of grass and fruits. Sometimes, the house owner would ask him to do some other temporary chores. And now, Si Luo had lured him to paddle this boat.
“Aren’t you afraid that Si Ling would get mad?” Si Tuo sighed helplessly. Si Luo’s guts were getting bigger, which was inversely proportional to his marital skills. Moreover, his courage was getting even bigger day after day. It was alright that he came here alone. However, he had taken the eight-month-old twins with him.
However, when Si Tuo looked at the twins, who were so excited they could jump into the water to play in the next moment, he couldn’t help but smile. Children at this age always liked to play with water, despite the fact that they can’t walk or talk yet.
“What are you afraid of? We didn’t abandon them here.” Si Luo disapproved. He picked a lotus leaf and used it as an umbrella above Lin Xiao’s head, making the boy giggle, waving his hands to hold the leaf by himself. Si Luo let the boy play with the leaves then fished a seed pod from the lake. He took the seeds and threw them into his mouth. “Umm, fresh and sweet. Wanna try?”
“No, enjoy yourself.” Si Tuo shook his head. He was sure that Si Luo was enjoying and playing now. So, living here for more than half a year could actually change someone? They could ignore people’s judgment and do whatever they wanted no matter what age they were…
“You don’t want to try? It’s your loss then. I’ve had my eyes on this lake for quite a long time. It’s even more beautiful than the other. There are so many types of lotuses in this lake and most importantly, Si Ling has planted them himself.” Si Luo felt content and explained. When Su Shuilian took him here to spectate the flowers, she told him that Si Ling had planted this lotus lake himself. At that moment, his mouth dropped big enough to swallow a whole egg. However, after realizing that Si Ling had even taken a trip to Hell, it wouldn’t be surprising if he could plant a lake full of lotuses.
“What? Si Ling planted them?” Si Tuo couldn’t believe it, gazing at Si Luo, who was constantly throwing more lotus seeds into his mouth. It was hard to imagine a cold-faced man like Si Ling planting lotuses…
“What? Do you have any objections?” Lin Si Yao turned his body and jumped onto the boat. Steadily, he landed on the boat, asking coldly, glaring at the unfazed Si Luo.
“Boss, it’s good that you’re here. Your Xiao-er loves this lotus lake a lot. Do you want to let him swim one lap around the lake?”
“Don’t even think about it.” Lin Si Yao received Lin Xiao, which gave more room and freedom for Si Luo to pick more lotus seeds.
“We should have lotus seed soup for supper!” Si Luo suggested bravely.
“Up to you.” After making sure that his precious twins weren’t hurt, he turned to see Si Luo, who was peeling the lotus seeds to his heart’s content. He turned and said to Si Tuo, “If you’re not in a hurry, stay here until after the Middle-Autumn Festival.”
“Of course, I came back here to reunite with you guys.” It was rare that Si Tuo would say something with much affection.
They sat on the same boat, holding the kids, and peeling the lotus seeds while chatting. Sometimes, the breezes brought a strong lotus fragrance over them. And the refreshing scent of lotus seeds to their nostrils, which lingered for a while.
