Chapter 180 - Pear Blossoms Bloom (Part Three)

Wang Lihua strolled to the pavilion, crossed her arms, and stood there, looking Chen Kaiming up and down before rolling her eyes.

Yue Dou, standing behind Wang Lihua, glanced at the emperor, who was still entranced, and discreetly coughed into his hand.

Chen Kaiming suddenly snapped out of his daze and noticed that wine had spilled everywhere, even soaking his pant leg.

Chen Kaiming coughed to mask his embarrassment, then turned away and said, "Since you’re here, come and sit."

Wang Lihua relaxed slightly, walking up to the pavilion and sitting directly across from Chen Kaiming. Looking down, she saw that a glass bowl and gold-painted chopsticks had already been set for her.

Seeing her take a seat, Chen Kaiming turned and gestured toward Yue Dou. Soon enough, palace maids began bringing out a series of exquisite dishes, quickly filling the stone table.

After the palace maids withdrew, Chen Kaiming said nothing, merely gesturing to Wang Lihua to indicate she was free to begin eating.

Wang Lihua glanced at Chen Kaiming, then at the dishes on the table, and couldn’t help but swallow. She was truly hungry, but she still suspiciously said, "There’s no such thing as a free meal."

Chen Kaiming laughed in exasperation. "You, woman, are truly ungrateful. Do you think I, the Son of Heaven, would poison you?"

"They say being near a ruler is like being near a tiger. How do I know you won’t have me beheaded after this meal?" Wang Lihua retorted stubbornly.

"

Hmph

."

Chen Kaiming was getting irritated. He placed his chopsticks firmly on the table, picked up a piece of crab meat, and ate it. When he finished, he looked up to find Wang Lihua still staring at him, not having touched her chopsticks.

Chen Kaiming tapped his bowl with his chopsticks and said, "Then consider this your last meal. Wouldn’t it be better to die on a full stomach?"

It seemed this reason was enough to convince Wang Lihua. Reluctantly, she picked up her chopsticks and began eating vigorously.

Standing behind Chen Kaiming, Yue Dou observed everything with a growing sense of dread. He could tell that this woman didn’t care at all about the Emperor’s status, and even more alarming was that the Emperor didn’t seem to mind.

The Emperor had feelings for this woman.

Whether as a servant or a friend, Yue Dou had no right to oppose the emperor taking a consort. The reason was simple: despite the many beauties in Chen Kaiming’s harem, he was still without an heir.

No one knew why, and despite countless remedies prescribed by the imperial physicians, no concubine had ever shown signs of being pregnant. This was why Chen Kaiming had not yet chosen an empress. It went without saying that if any concubine could bear him a son, the title of empress would be within reach.

This situation was alarming in a royal household, for Chen Kaiming was already thirty-nine, and he had neither a crown prince nor a princess.

However, no matter who the future empress would be, Yue Dou didn’t want Chen Kaiming to make this woman his consort. She had no respect for the rules, was willful and arrogant, and didn’t take the Emperor’s status seriously! If she entered the harem, it would surely be turned upside down!

"Wang Lihua." Chen Kaiming's sudden words, pulling Yue Dou from his chaotic thoughts as he strained to listen.

Startled by Chen Kaiming’s sudden words, Wang Lihua dropped her chopsticks, fearing she was about to be dragged off to be executed.

Chen Kaiming laughed helplessly. "What is the matter with you?"

Wang Lihua lifted her chin defiantly. "Tyrant! Why are you suddenly calling out my name?"

Chen Kaiming was rather displeased at being called a tyrant with the slightest disagreement. He pointed to the calm lake.

"That is the Leaping Carp Lake."

Wang Lihua raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue.

"A thousand carp are kept in the lake, and every time they’re fed, you can witness a spectacular scene of the carp competing for food. I think it resembles the talented scholars of the Ruen Dynasty striving for the nation.

"Every household studies diligently, seeking a path to office, striving to leap over the dragon gate."

Chen Kaiming wore a proud smile, casting a sidelong glance at Wang Lihua.

"What do you think?"

Wang Lihua scoffed dismissively.

"The lake is a fine lake, the fish are fine fish, and the poem is a fine poem, but it lacks life. The resemblance you speak of is probably the only resemblance there is."

Chen Kaiming, accustomed to flattery, hadn’t expected such a response. His face darkened.

"What do you mean by that?" he demanded.

Wang Lihua suddenly broke into a smile that Chen Kaiming found inexplicably dazzling.

"Chen Kaiming, you say the carp in this lake represent the talented scholars of the Ruen Dynasty, all studying eagerly just to stand beneath your throne? And you? What’s your role? Their feeder?

"From the start, you’ve placed yourself in the wrong position, or perhaps you’ve taken it for granted."

The smile faded from Wang Lihua’s face, and her gaze sharpened.

"Chen Kaiming, when I called you a tyrant, was I wrong?"

𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Chen Kaiming was dumbstruck, unable to find words to respond.

Seeing him speechless, Wang Lihua continued, "Perhaps, as you said, many people do study for wealth and honor... but surely there are also those who don’t. There are surely those who study for the people, for the world, for a realm of the people. Not the realm of Chen Kaiming!"

"Impudent!" Yue Dou, who had been listening in terror, could no longer restrain himself and shouted in outrage at her rebellious words.

Chen Kaiming waved Yue Dou off, his expression dark as he looked at this brazen woman.

"To dare say such things... aren’t you afraid I’ll sentence you to death?"

Wang Lihua lifted her head defiantly. "I’m dead after this meal anyway, so a few more deaths won’t matter!"

Chen Kaiming was stunned by the shamelessness this woman suddenly displayed. Gritting his teeth, he replied, "Even if... even if you have a point, no matter how great their ambitions, scholars still need to serve my government to make a difference, don’t they?"

He blushed slightly after saying this... it was, admittedly, a feeble argument.

Wang Lihua sneered even more, rolling her eyes without dignifying him with a response.

Chen Kaiming felt he had never suffered such a blow in his life. After some thought, he asked, "Alright, then. Since you say this lake lacks life... what would you do?"

"Me?" Wang Lihua looked back at Chen Kaiming and then at the entire lakeshore. "If it were me... I would plant pear trees all around the lake."

"Pear trees," Chen Kaiming murmured, gazing at her profile. "But... Why pear trees?"

"Pear blossoms are beautiful without being delicate, fragrant without being overpowering, charming without being vulgar..."

Wang Lihua turned to look at Chen Kaiming, the disdain in her eyes clear. "And, of course, the most important reason is... I’m called Lihua."

Chen Kaiming was speechless.

***

The next day, the shores of Leaping Carp Lake were fully lined with pear trees.