flstandardbreds Chapter 147 Persuasion
Chapter 147 Persuasion
Prince Duan, with his words and smile, was like the warm sun in March, carrying a gentle spring breeze, giving her a very warm feeling.
Having resolved to let go of her lingering affection for Fang Heng, she saw Prince Duan again, and her feelings towards him seemed to have changed. Subconsciously, she no longer wanted to avoid or reject him.
This feeling was very strange, and even she herself found it very surprising.
The eldest princess smiled and said, "I didn't say anything bad about you, don't take it to heart!"
Prince Duan didn't believe it: "Judging from your smile, you must have said something about me!"
Princess: "That's right, I was talking about you. I said you might climb over the wall into the banana grove to steal bananas!"
Prince Duan's eyes widened: "No way? How can you think so little of me? I'm a prince, how could I do something like stealing! When I saw the big lock on the gate of the banana grove, I didn't even dismount, I just turned my horse around and left!"
Yue'er quickly raised her hand: "I promise, we didn't climb over the wall to steal bananas. We just glanced at the door, saw that there was a big padlock on the gate, and left without lingering for a moment!"
Prince Duan: "That's right, we're good people, why would we climb over walls to steal things! Your Highness, the Princess, if you think like that, it shows there's something wrong with your thinking!"
The eldest princess couldn't help but burst into laughter: "Alright, I was wrong. I shouldn't have looked down on you! You're all good, not thieves. Are you satisfied now?"
Yue'er made a face: "What kind of mother are you, suspecting her own daughter of being a thief? Sigh, but those bananas really do look tempting! I saw a bunch of bananas outside the wall, and several of them were already yellow! It's a pity Aunt Li isn't here, otherwise I would be eating bananas right now!"
Zisu: "Bananas should not be eaten on an empty stomach. They must be eaten when you are not hungry, preferably 15 minutes after a meal. That way, you won't feel hungry or very full."
Yue'er nodded vigorously: "Yes, I understand, thank you, Sister Zisu!"
Zisu: "No need to thank me. How about this, I'll have someone go to the banana grove and cut you a few dozen ripe bananas. After dinner, I'll let you eat your fill!"
Yue'er: "I want to go too! I want to go too! I've never cut bananas before, I want to see it!"
Zisu: "Alright, pick a few guards to go with you! Here's the key to the banana grove. Xiangli will go with you too. I'll stay here to cook dinner! Be quick and come back soon, it's almost dark, and the roads will be dark, which isn't a good thing!"
Yue'er happily selected a few guards from her mother's guards, and accompanied by Xiangli, boarded the carriage and quickly headed towards the banana grove.
The princess was tired, so she went to the thatched cottage to rest, and took a bath and changed her clothes.
Zisu went to the kitchen to cook, and Prince Duan followed her, saying, "Let me help you start the fire!"
Zisu glanced at him, then her eyes widened in surprise: "You, a prince, know how to start a fire? If you try to start the fire, you might burn down the kitchen!"
Prince Duan: "No, absolutely not! I learned how to cook when I was in the Northwest military camp! Also, when we were being chased and living deep in the mountains, I lit a campfire and cooked things. It's just about making a fire, it's not that complicated."
As he spoke, he had already lit the thatch with a flint and skillfully placed small dry twigs on top of it. Soon, the dry twigs were also lit, and he added two more pieces of firewood on top.
This fire is indeed burning very well.
Zisu couldn't help but admire him inwardly. She hadn't expected him to be such a versatile talent. A prince who could go to the battlefield, enter the court, and cook was truly a rare sight in this world! What prince would be willing to risk his life on the battlefield? And what prince would "descend himself" to cook?
Prince Duan, this prince of Xiliang, second only to the emperor, is truly extraordinary! No wonder his soldiers are so loyal to him. When he went to the Northwest military camp and seized military power from Song Qiang, he did so almost without bloodshed, recovering all military and political power in the Northwest!
He must have been respectful and courteous to his subordinates, mingling with them and showing them great care. Otherwise, his soldiers wouldn't have respected and obeyed him so much.
Zisu felt that she was very lucky to have met a princess who was kind and generous, and a prince who was reasonable and upright.
In truth, given Prince Duan's status and his position in the Emperor's heart, he could have easily requested the Emperor to grant him and her a marriage decree. However, he did not do so, showing her full respect and understanding. He did not force her in the slightest, nor did he put any pressure on her. Moreover, he must have also contributed to his father's appointment as Minister of War.
Although Zisu disliked her father's position as Minister of War from the bottom of her heart, her father, on the other hand, found it quite desirable. In this world, what man doesn't crave success and recognition? Even a single term as Minister of War would satisfy her father, as he had promised her. He would serve only one term; after three years, he would resign and retire to the countryside.
Prince Duan arrived and stayed at the thatched cottage. The Eldest Princess, along with Hua'er and Yue'er, also stayed at the thatched cottage. To avoid suspicion, they ate separately. The Eldest Princess, Hua'er, and Yue'er ate at the dining room in the Bamboo Pavilion with Zisu. Prince Duan, on the other hand, ate at the thatched cottage with a group of guards, while Shen Laihui ate in his bedroom.
Shen Laihui also lived in the bamboo pavilion, protecting Zisu closely for twelve hours a day. "Close protection" meant never leaving Zisu's side by more than thirty steps. This way, if someone were to assassinate Zisu, he could arrive in time to save her.
The next morning, Zisu took Hua'er and Yue'er to the sunflower farm for a visit.
The eldest princess said, "I'll go too! I've never seen a sea of sunflowers before!" The last time she went to the sunflower farm, only a few sunflowers had bloomed.
Prince Duan also said, "I'll go too, I haven't seen it before. If the scenery there is indeed beautiful, I'll paint a picture for you!"
Yue'er immediately jumped up: "Great! Uncle, you have to draw one for me and Sister Zisu separately!"
Prince Duan: "Alright, I'll do whatever you say!"
Zisu wanted to object, but Yue'er jumped up again: "Thank you, Uncle! You're so good to me! If your painting satisfies me, when I go back to the capital, I'll help you get Grandfather to stop interfering in your affairs! And I'll tell Grandfather that I really like Sister Zisu!"
Prince Duan immediately beamed with joy: "Great! Thank you, Uncle, my little darling!" In his excitement, he lifted Yue'er above his head and tossed her into the air.
The princess's heart clenched: "Hao'er, what are you doing? Be careful not to drop Yue'er!"
Yue'er burst into laughter: "Fun, fun, Uncle, toss it again!"
At this time of year, the sunflowers are in full bloom. Stepping into the sunflower farm, the golden color is overwhelming and refreshing, carrying the scent of sunshine.
Zisu's slightly depressed mood immediately brightened.
That's enough, I don't want to think about it anymore. Let my relationship with Fang Heng end here!
With a mother like that, she'd never have a peaceful life after marrying him. A mother like that, a resentful woman, so eager to get her son a concubine—why would she invite such suffering upon herself? Let her relationship with Fang Heng end here!
However, even Fang Heng wasn't a good match, so would she be able to find a decent man in this world? Perhaps she was destined to be alone for the rest of her life. Oh well, better to be single than in a bad relationship. After all, she had considerable assets and her own career. She could live a comfortable life without marriage.
Having been reborn, she takes marriage in stride. If she meets a good man willing to spend his life with her, she will naturally marry him; however, marriage is not a necessity, and if she doesn't meet the right person, not marrying is no big deal!
Having been given a second chance at life, her purpose was to protect her family, achieve great success, and bring peace and joy to her beloved relatives. She also wanted to avenge her wrongs and repay the kindness shown to her. Now, she has avenged her great grudge and repaid the debts of gratitude. The only thing that remains unsatisfactory is her marital situation.
"Sister Zisu, may I pick a sunflower?" Yue'er's voice interrupted her thoughts.
Zisu suddenly snapped out of her daze: "Sure! No problem, everyone can pick one to take home!" It wasn't that she was stingy, only allowing one, but rather that each one could produce many sunflowers. Having experienced exile, she had a special fondness for crops.
Prince Duan had been secretly observing her every move from a short distance away. Just now, the way she had been lost in thought, her slightly furrowed brows, had broken his heart. He longed to go over and gently smooth her brows, bringing her joy and happiness.
Yue'er: "Thank you, Sister Zisu. I'll pick more when I get back!" After saying that, she rushed into the sea of sunflowers, running and jumping happily.
The flowers followed closely behind, unable to contain their joy. The perilla leaves followed with light steps, their smiles even brighter than the golden flowers of the sunflowers.
The eldest princess followed, strolling through the fields.
Prince Duan had a table and a chair brought over. He sat down at the table, looked at Zisu, and began to paint with great concentration.
In the scene, Zisu smiles radiantly in the morning sunlight, her face beaming with joy and vitality. Flowers and Yue'er surround her, singing and dancing, while the Princess stands at a distance, watching the three with a smile—a scene of merriment, happiness, and warmth.
The atmosphere was very lively.
Zisu played with the two children for a while, then went to the peanut field next door and pulled out the seedlings and peanuts together, pulling out two large bundles in total.
Yue'er and Hua'er obediently followed beside her, helping her pick peanuts.
Yue'er asked, "Sister Zisu, are you picking peanuts to make boiled peanuts for us?"
Zisu: "Hmm, Yue'er is so smart. I was planning to boil salted peanuts."
Upon hearing this, Yue'er was overjoyed: "Great! I'm looking forward to eating the peanuts that Sister Zisu cooks!"
Everyone loves boiled peanuts with perilla leaves. But for some reason, everyone feels that other people's boiled peanuts are missing something.
Even Zisu herself found it strange that no one else could replicate the taste of her boiled salted peanuts. Perhaps, this was one of the perks of being reborn?
There was one thing she forgot: every time she boiled salted peanuts, it was in Wuliping. The water she used was from the Xiaoshitan spring, incredibly sweet mountain spring water. And every time she boiled salted peanuts at Xiaoshitan, she would personally help Xiangli fetch water and start the fire. Otherwise, the salted peanuts Xiangli boiled alone would probably be about the same as those she boiled herself.
As a result, she became even more of a rarity in everyone's eyes.
Yue'er and Hua'er admired her even more. This older sister, who could even make boiled peanuts so delicious, was someone the two little ones couldn't help but deeply admire.
Prince Duan was also very puzzled. From the bottom of his heart, his goodwill towards this woman who was "presentable in the hall and capable in the kitchen" was increasing day by day; his love for her was deepening day by day.
This time, Zisu stayed at Xiaoshitan for a whole month. During this time, she no longer avoided Prince Duan, and the two often discussed the construction of the Wuliping Ecological Tourism Park together under the moonlight. They grew to understand each other better and their feelings for one another deepened.
However, Zisu didn't consider romantic feelings for him. Every time she saw him, she was very open and self-disciplined. They treated each other like friends, like siblings, without crossing any boundaries in their words or actions. Because of this, Prince Duan didn't dare to "take an inch and then a mile," lest he ruin this hard-won harmonious relationship. Otherwise, they wouldn't even be able to remain friends, and he would end up like Fang Heng.