It had rained the night before, but the next day was a bright and sunny day.
The sunlight shone through the clouds onto the grassland, and the black mud under the lush grass emitted a strong earthy smell.
The summer heat was at its peak in Changfeng Weichang.
The carriages rolled over the soft and moist soil one after another, entering the outer periphery of the hunting grounds in an orderly manner.
Tomorrow was the day when the hunt would officially begin.
Therefore, the nobles got off their carriages and only stood outside the tents to take a few distant glances before sighing and praising, and then they took their families into the tents.
In fact, their action of seeking shelter from the heat was already considered fast enough.
But it was still not as quick as someone else’s. While everyone was still standing there, Ye Suyu had already lifted the tent curtain and let Xiao Jin and Chu Shao in.
Empress Shu was slightly surprised and whispered to the two people beside her, “So many people are watching, but Jin’er was the first one to enter the tent. It’s a bit inappropriate.”
Princess Zhao Hua frowned and took the silk handkerchief handed to her by her maid, wiping the sweat on her neck.
She then looked at Xiao Shuang standing beside her and said dissatisfiedly, “Sister, ever since Jin’er got married, she has become even more wilful. Even if the Emperor hasn’t arrived yet, how could she enter the tent ahead of us… I wonder how many more rumors will come out of this.”
Xiao Shuang touched the bracelet on her wrist but remained silent.
“In fact, Jin’er is not a spoilt person. She’s probably just afraid of getting sunburned,” the Empress Shu said, looking at Xiao Shuang’s expression and tentatively persuading her.
Xiao Shuang had no expression on her face. Upon hearing this, she suddenly laughed, “Is that so?”
“Judging from her behavior, she probably just doesn’t want to be too hot,” Empress Shu said.
….
It had to be said that Xiao Shuang’s guess was correct.
Xiao Jin was already feeling hot even before they arrived at Changfeng Weichang.
She endured the heat and forced herself to lift the curtain to take a look outside, trying to divert her attention.
However, the fact proved that her attempt to distract herself had failed.
She was wearing several layers of clothes and there was no air conditioning in the carriage.
Xiao Jin couldn’t imagine what sin she had committed in her previous life to be forcefully kidnapped and taken hunting on a hot summer day.
Chu Shao and Xiao Jin shared a carriage. Seeing the sweat on Xiao Jin’s forehead, Chu Shao couldn’t help but smile and ask, “Your Highness, are you feeling hot?”
Xiao Jin turned her head, her face full of “Don’t you feel hot?”
Xiao Jin didn’t reply immediately, because she suddenly realized that Chu Shao seemed to not be hot at all.
Chu Shao was still dressed in a white robe, with layers of sleeves and dark silver embroidery of flowing water patterns.
Although it wasn’t particularly complicated, it looked quite hot.
However, Chu Shao seemed to not feel the heat at all, as she didn’t wipe her sweat with a handkerchief. She just smiled at Xiao Jin, as if she was her in a jar of cool water, his eyes icy cool.
At this moment, Chu Shao was sitting on a soft cushioned chair, and the maids were walking back and forth carrying horse milk wine and cheese, bringing with them a wave of heat.
And yet, Chu Shao even had the leisure to casually pick up a bunch of grapes from a jade plate, gently tearing off the grape skins.
While Xiao Jin was sweating and removing her hairpin, Chu Shao had peeled more than ten grapes.
The grape flesh was crystal clear and transparent, and putting them on the jade plate seemed to dissipate some of the heat in the entire tent.
Chu Shao looked at the grapes and seemed to find them very pleasing, her lips even curved into a smile.
She held the jade plate in her hand, intending to offer the peeled grapes to Xiao Jin.
However, when she looked up, she saw that Xiao Jin was frowning, tying up her hanging hair with a ribbon.
The glossy black hair was like a thin string on an ancient guqin, passing through her fingers one by one.Â
Occasionally, a few strands fell onto the bamboo joint of the wheelchair, but they were picked up by her white and slender fingers and tightly tied to her hairband.
Chu Shao stood there, holding the plate of grapes, but for a moment, she forgot to offer them to Xiao Jin, probably because she was so mesmerized by her actions.
It wasn’t until Xiao Jin finished tying her hair that she turned around and noticed that Chu Shao was standing in front of her. She was holding a plate of peeled grapes and staring straight at her.
Realizing that Chu Shao had probably peeled the grapes for her, Xiao Jin wanted to say that it wasn’t necessary.
After all, she didn’t mind eating the grape skins.
Moreover, someone like Chu Shao could hold a sword or a flute in her hand, and carrying a plate of grapes was a waste of her talents.
Although Xiao Jin thought this was unreasonable, her mouth couldn’t help but curl up a bit as she said, “Don’t do this kind of thing in the future.”
Chu Shao finally came to her senses and frowned slightly. “Your Highness, why?”
Why?
Xiao Jin originally wanted to say that in ancient times there were no pesticides and grape skins could be eaten, but what came out of her mouth was, “Because you’ve already done so much for me, Princess.”
Chu Shao’s brows furrowed even tighter.
Xiao Jin realized that there was something wrong with what she said, so she coughed and explained, “You have already done so much for me, but I have a leg injury and can’t do much for you.”
In saying this, Xiao Jin was actually hinting indirectly that it was her leg that was injured, not her hand. Something like peeling grapes should be left to her.
After all, in online novels, if someone with hands lets others peel their grapes, they’re either a tyrant or a madman. As a cannon fodder, she really couldn’t bear it.
Furthermore, Chu Shao was going to become an empress in the future, how could she peel grapes for her?
Listening to Xiao Jin’s words, Chu Shao realized another layer of meaning.
Her eyebrows gradually relaxed, and she smiled and shook her head, saying softly, “No, you’ve already done enough for me.”
Before Xiao Jin could figure out what she had done for Chu Shao, she heard Chu Shao’s laughing voice, “Just being in front of me makes me happy, and even those dull things seem to become pleasant.”
“Cough–“
As life is abundant, theoretically, Xiao Jin shouldn’t be coughing up blood anymore.
However, today she covered her mouth with her fist and coughed frequently.
Only Xiao Jin knew why. It was because she was probably allergic to romance.
Whenever Chu Shao spoke sweet words, her ability to organize language would drop to a lower level.
After hitting rock bottom, Xiao Jin could only use coughing as a buffer to think about what she should say next.
After thinking for a while, Xiao Jin felt like her brain was fried. So, she could only tell the truth, “Thank you, me too.”
Just as she finished speaking, Xiao Jin wanted to slap herself in the face.
Fortunately, she remembered something and didn’t do it.
Xiao Jin looked at Chu Shao standing in front of her and smiled with pursed lips, “Shao’er, someone once wrote a poem in my hometown.”
“I’d love to hear more,” Chu Shao smiled and gestured for Xiao Jin to continue. “The poem is called ‘Where the heart is at peace is my hometown.'”
Chu Shao pondered for a while and then praised, “This poem is excellent.”
Xiao Jin nodded, “This poem is my favorite. The poet who wrote it is also someone I really like.”
“Although I am not currently in my hometown, I sometimes feel lonely. However, with you around, I always feel more at ease.”
More at ease? Chu Shao did not understand this kind of peace.
Even though Xiao Jin was right in front of her, she could still feel her heart beating rapidly – both agitated and joyful, more hysterical than a pouring rain, and more unsettling.
All of this originated from Xiao Jin’s mention of her hometown.
Sometimes, Chu Shao wished there was no such place in the world, and she wished that Xiao Jin’s journey home was blocked by the sea.
But these were just her wishes and were impossible.
However, she could be sure of one thing.
Chu Shao looked at Xiao Jin, who was beside her, being watched by her at this moment.
Then Chu Shao smiled, picked up a grape from the jade plate at random, and lightly held it between her teeth before approaching Xiao Jin, who had not yet reacted.
She pressed her lips against Xiao Jin’s before biting into the flesh of the grape.
In an instant, the juice of the grape soaked into their lips and teeth.
The sweetness and sourness intertwined on their tongues, while their mouths were filled with the mellow and sweet scent of wine. The humid and earthy smell filled the tent.
The jade plate was overturned by Chu Shao’s movement, and the grape flesh fell to the ground, covered in dirt and dust.
But at this moment, who would care?
In the stuffy and enclosed tent, the two tasted the summer fruit together.
With the calming of their heartbeats, their breathing was no longer heavy and urgent.Â
Chu Shao raised her fingertips and gently traced Xiao Jin’s moist lips, whispering softly, “You are also my hometown.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Translator’s note: Yeah~. She’s your hometown~~ðŸ˜ðŸ¤ðŸ¤ðŸ¤§ðŸ˜†.
TO BE CONTINUE…
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