Thrown out of the house, the wet nurse enters the noble household and becomes a person of high statu

After quenching her thirst, Liu Wenying suppressed her suspicions and waved to Pei Dingxuan, who was tying a red cloud to a tree not far away.

"Come here quickly!"

Pei Dingxuan tied the rope and walked over.

Liu Wenying gestured for him to squat down, and he did as she said.

Suddenly a mischievous thought popped into her head. Liu Wenying scooped up a handful of water and, taking him by surprise, splashed it at him.

Pei Dingxuan was caught off guard and was splashed right in the face.

Water droplets slid down his high, straight nose and dripped onto his front, wetting his hair which clung to his temples, making his eyes appear even more deep-set.

The bright autumn sun made the water droplets sparkle, each one clinging to his eyelashes, seemingly about to fall.

Pei Dingxuan raised his hand to wipe it away, his face showing helplessness, indulgence, and a very faint hint of annoyance.

"Yingniang".

Feeling guilty, Liu Wenying's previous mischievousness vanished instantly.

"Ahem, I just find it kind of interesting. If you don't like it, I won't do it anymore."

She reached out to wipe the water droplets remaining on his cheeks.

Pei Dingxuan remained silent, letting her wipe him, and simply watched her quietly.

After wiping him clean, Liu Wenying felt the atmosphere was a bit somber, so she scooped up some water and handed it to him.

"Why don't you drink some water? It's refreshing and will help cool you down."

Pei Dingxuan lowered his eyes. Her fingers were slender, her palms were soft, and some water seeped through her fingers.

Without thinking further, he lowered his head and simply took her hand to drink the water.

The man's lips touched her palm.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and the waterline gradually lowered. His lips moved down, finally touching her palm.

I left a kiss on your face.

The river flows gently, the reeds sway in the breeze, and the mountain wind whispers in your ear.

Pei Dingxuan was pleased to see her stunned expression, a smile playing at the corners of his eyes. "It is very refreshing."

Liu Wenying snapped out of her daze and shook her hand, but she couldn't shake off the lingering sensation in her palm, and her heart was pounding.

"Let's go, we should go back." Pei Dingxuan stood up and reached out his hand to her.

Liu Wenying hesitated for a moment, but still went up to get on board.

Pei Dingxuan grasped her and gently pulled her up.

The two walked towards the red cloud.

"Just tell me if you want to go out next time, and I'll go with you."

The wind rose again, and the reeds, like snowflakes, danced in the air behind the two of them.

The two returned to their lodgings as dusk had fallen.

Liu Wenying was lifted off the horse by Pei Dingxuan, and only when her feet touched the bluestone ground did she realize how sore her legs were.

This round trip took up most of the day. The setting sun was sinking behind the western mountain ridge, burning the clouds into a golden-red hue.

"Tired?" Pei Dingxuan handed the reins to Zhu'er, who came to greet him, and turned to look at her.

"It's okay, it's just that my legs feel a little weak."

"You haven't ridden a horse in a long time, it's understandable. I'll have Zhu'er massage you later."

As the two walked in side by side, Liu Wenying noticed that the lintel of the villa was empty.

She hesitated before asking, "Doesn't this villa have a name?"

Pei Dingxuan followed her gaze and said, "If you like, you can name it."

After thinking it over, Liu Wenying said, "How about we call it... Peach Blossom Village!"

Pei Dingxuan turned his head to look at her: "Peach Blossom Lane?"

"Mmm-hmm." Liu Wenying nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling as she looked at the lights under the eaves.

"Look how quiet and secluded this courtyard is. If it were springtime, with the peach blossoms in bloom and petals falling everywhere, wouldn't it be like a paradise on earth?"

After saying that, Liu Wenying realized that she had been having wild ideas.

"I just said it casually. There are chrysanthemums, osmanthus, crabapple, and magnolia in the yard, but it seems there are no peach blossoms."

"No, but we can plant them."

Liu Wenying was taken aback: "Now? But it's already September, not the season for planting peach trees."

"Give it a try? How will you know if you don't try?"

He spoke seriously, not in a joking tone.

Liu Wenying readily agreed, "Sure, let's give it a try."

The next day, Pei Dingxuan kept his word and brought peach saplings.

The sapling was growing very well, with thick branches and a complete root system; it must have been carefully selected.

"The seller said it's a robust three-year-old seedling; if planted now, it will bloom in two springs."

Liu Wenying squatted down and touched it; the bark was rough, and the intact root system was still covered in soil.

"Okay, let's find a place in the garden to plant it."

The autumn sun was shining brightly, illuminating the garden.

The osmanthus flowers are still in bloom, their fragrance rich, and the chrysanthemums are also in full bloom, white and yellow, a lively and vibrant display.

After looking at it for a long time, the two finally decided to plant it in an open space on the east side of the pond.

"This place is sunny and well-ventilated, and it's close to water. Peach trees like sunlight and need water, so it's perfect."

Pei Dingxuan spoke eloquently, as if he had thought it through long ago.

Liu Wenying looked in the direction he pointed, and the open space was indeed nice. There was no obstruction in front, so the sun could shine directly on it, and there was a rockery behind to block the wind.

"Okay, plant it there."

The two of them got right to work.

Pei Dingxuan had someone fetch a shovel and a bucket, and then ordered someone to fetch some decaying leaves and soil.

He rolled up his sleeves, took the shovel, and began digging a hole at the chosen location.

The shovel cuts into the soil, and with a stomp and a pry, large clumps of soil are turned up.

Standing there doing nothing isn't going to work, so Liu Wenying said, "I...I'll help too."

After saying that, he went to get another shovel.

Pei Dingxuan stopped her, saying, "You can stay standing."

"But……"

"There are pebbles in the soil, they'll scratch your hands, just watch out."

Liu Wenying wanted to say that she wasn't that delicate, but seeing his insistence, she could only keep quiet and not cause trouble, doing small things like wiping his sweat and handing him water.

The pit has been dug, about three feet deep and three feet wide.

Pei Dingxuan placed the sapling in and straightened it, then called Liu Wenying over to take a look: "How's this spot?"

Liu Wenying squatted by the pit and examined it. The sapling stood in the center of the pit, its roots spread out and its trunk straight.

She reached out and adjusted the angle so that the thickest branch faced south.

"Yes, yes, that's it, south-facing is sunny."

Once the location was determined, Pei Dingxuan began filling the soil.

First, lay a layer of leaf mold, then cover it with the original soil that was dug out, layer by layer, and finally tamp it down with your feet.

Since Liu Wenying couldn't help dig the pit, she went to fetch water.

After he filled in the soil, he watered it.

"Alright." Pei Dingxuan put down the shovel and patted the dust off his hands.

Liu Wenying also straightened up and looked at the newly planted peach tree.

Will it survive?

Pei Dingxuan walked to her side, and the sunlight cast their shadows on the ground, very close together.

He answered honestly, "September is indeed not a good time to plant peach trees, but since we've already planted them, we can only do our best."

He turned to look at her and said, "If you're worried, come and see it often, water it, and talk to it. I've heard that plants have spirits and can understand human speech."

Liu Wenying chuckled at his words: "You believe that?"

I didn't believe it before.

Pei Dingxuan's gaze was fixed on her face, deep and unfathomable. "Now you're willing to believe it."

Liu Wenying didn't understand what he meant, but she felt the atmosphere was a bit strange, so she avoided his gaze and turned to fetch the water bucket.

"I'll water it a little more."

The bucket was quite heavy, and she struggled to lift it. A hand reached out from the side and took the handle from her.

"I'll do it." Pei Dingxuan naturally carried the bucket to the tree and poured another ladle of water on it.

Liu Wenying walked over, squatted down by the tree, and gently stroked the trunk. In the end, she still listened to Pei Dingxuan's method.

"Grow up well, and when spring comes, bloom lots and lots of peach blossoms, pink and fragrant."

Pei Dingxuan stood behind her, his gaze deepening.

That peach tree was like a fragile dream he had created with his own hands.

Will the peach tree survive?

He didn't know how long this illusion, which began with a lie, could last.

She made a wish for a sapling, and he found himself having an absurd expectation as well.

I long for the trees to live, for the flowers to bloom, for the dream to last... a little longer, a little longer still.

…………