The cow was very stubborn, and it held onto the clothes tightly. A tug-of-war began between the man and the cow on the riverbank.
Gongzi Xiu watched from afar, and the more he looked, the more he wanted to laugh, but he couldn't laugh out loud, so he held it in with difficulty.
Hua Wuduo brandished his fists, threatening the ox: "Shut up! This is Xiu's clothes. If you bite them, I'll kill you and eat you."
The cow clearly couldn't understand human speech. Instead of letting go, it bit even tighter and dragged itself back a few steps. Hua Wuduo was afraid of tearing her clothes by pulling hard, so she had no choice but to follow a few steps.
Young Master Xiu was holding back for so long that he almost burst out laughing.
Seeing that this plan was not working, Hua Wuduo had no choice but to grab a handful of grass from the ground and wave it in front of the cow's nose to tempt it, saying, "Eat, eat, it's very delicious."
Unfortunately, despite Hua Wuduo's repeated attempts to provoke it, the bull refused to open its mouth, instead biting its clothes and staring warily at Hua Wuduo.
Hua Wudu got angry, threw away the grass in his hand, and started sawing with the ox again.
Unable to get the clothes out of the cow's mouth, and afraid of tearing them too hard, Hua Wuduo tried to persuade the cow while pulling on them, "Brother cow, let go of them. These are Xiu's clothes. I know you are a cow, but you can't do this. If you want to see Xiu, I will lead you to him in a little while."
At that moment, the cow let out a "hum..." sound and loosened its clothes.
Young Master Xiu, who was in the tree, was initially at a loss for words, but later he was completely dumbfounded.
Hua Wuduo hurriedly pulled his clothes back to check if they were torn. Seeing that they were intact, he was relieved. He then glared at the ox, brandishing his fist and angrily saying, "You still want to see Xiu? You're dreaming! I'll kill you and eat your meat right now!"
She pretended to leap up and feinted a palm strike at the bull, but at that moment the bull let out a "hoot..." and lowered its head to charge at her with its horns, coming at her with great ferocity.
Hua Wuduo had no intention of harming the bull, so she hurriedly retreated. The bushes under her feet scraped her dress, hindering her retreat. Just as she was about to leap high into the air, she saw a person leap down from mid-air, sword in hand, about to slash at the bull.
Seeing this, Hua Wuduo hurriedly shouted, "Spare the ox!"
Gongzi Xiu paused upon hearing this, but in that moment of hesitation, the ox turned and charged at him. At that moment, Hua Wuduo grabbed him and pulled him back quickly. Hua Wuduo said, "Run! It's angry!"
Young Master Xiu had no choice but to run after her.
In the mountains and forests, with each leap and bound, she ran ahead, laughing as she went, while he stayed by her side, never leaving her side.
As she turned her head, her hair flew up and brushed against his cheek. Her radiant smile was deeply imprinted in his eyes and etched into his heart.
The two raced through the bushes, running at breakneck speed. By the time the ox disappeared from sight, they had been chased for half a mile.
Stopping on a boulder, her hair disheveled from running, she collapsed onto the rock, opened her arms, and burst into laughter.
Thinking of what had just happened, and how pathetic they had been chased by a cow, he couldn't help but chuckle. He lay down beside her, smelled her scent, and felt a surge of emotion. He reached out and touched her fingers, holding them tightly in his palm.
She stopped laughing, turned to look at him, they smiled at each other, and then looked up at the sky again.
Above him, as far as the eye could see, was an endless expanse of blue sky. He suddenly thought, how wonderful it would be if life could always be like this.
On the way back, the two held hands. Hua Wuduo swung her arm very high, and Gongzi Xiu let her swing and pull him. He held the wooden basin and clothes in one hand, while the other hand was pulled and swung around by her. They turned their heads and looked at each other, their eyes full of tenderness.
As the sun set, it bathed the area behind them in a golden hue.
After washing clothes for several days without encountering the bandits who robbed and murdered women, Hua Wuduo had no choice but to give up, and Gongzi Xiu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
The two traveled back and forth between the bamboo forest and Luzhou for nearly two months before the bamboo house was finally completed.
From rafting bamboo to building the house, from knowing nothing to seeking advice from all sides, every nail and rivet in the house is the result of the two people's hard work and wisdom. They even discussed which bamboo to choose, which direction the window should face, what color the curtains should be, what color to paint the fence, where to put the stools, chairs, and archery targets in the yard.
As the entire house came into view, Gongzi Xiu embraced Hua Wuduo in front of him, their fingers intertwined as they gazed at the bamboo house together. Sunlight streamed through them, reflecting off the spring beside the house and onto the bamboo, casting shadows that nestled together.
The two smiled at each other, and she suddenly jumped up, rushed forward, and shouted as she ran, "I want to be the first one inside!"
He then chased after him, laughing, "It's not that easy."
The two of them were squeezed at the doorway, neither willing to give way to the other, and neither could get in for a while.
He raised an eyebrow, suddenly stretched out his arms and pulled her into his embrace, then turned and went into the house at the same time.
Inside, there was everything: a bed, curtains, tables and chairs, wooden boxes, tea sets... all exuding a fresh bamboo fragrance.
He hugged her from behind, rested his chin on the crook of her neck, and said softly, "I want to marry you."
She blushed slightly upon hearing this and said, "Then you'll have to come to my house to propose marriage."
He seemed somewhat surprised, as he had never heard her mention where she lived before, and asked, "Where do you live?"
Her eyes sparkled as she said, “My home is in Jinling. Just take a boat along the Qinhuai River from east to west, and when you count to one hundred in your mind, you will arrive at my home.”
Young Master Xiu was taken aback, then frowned and asked, "What if I count too fast or too slow, and then go to another family to propose marriage?"
Hua Wuduo's gaze flickered, and he said, "Then it means we're not meant to be."
"You're playing me." Gongzi Xiu finally realized what was happening and kissed her fiercely.
At the time, Gongzi Xiu was unaware that the Fang family of Jinling was located on the banks of the Qinhuai River and occupied a vast area. Whether he counted quickly or slowly, it was still the Fang family of Jinling. How could he have made a mistake in proposing a marriage?
Life is like flowing water, leisurely, clear, and happy.
One day, as the sun was setting, Prince Xiu finally set three arrows on the target at the same time. The first arrow hit the bullseye, the second arrow broke through the first arrow that hit the bullseye, and the third arrow broke through the second arrow that hit the bullseye.
Hua Wuduo, who had been watching from the sidelines for half a day, excitedly shouted and jumped, clapping for him, his eyes and brows brimming with undisguised pride, as if he himself were the one who could do all this.
She exclaimed sincerely, "Cultivation is amazing! Cultivation is the most amazing!"
Seeing her overjoyed expression, he chuckled and said, "It's all for you."
"For what?"
"So that I can protect you."
He gently stroked her hair and pulled her into his arms.
*********
Winter, with a continuous drizzle.
That day, Hua Wuduo and Gongzi Xiu returned from Luzhou. They were walking happily together, with Gongzi Xiu considerately holding an umbrella for her. However, for some reason, when they reached the woods at the foot of the mountain, Gongzi Xiu suddenly became serious. After walking for a while, seeing that Gongzi Xiu's expression was getting worse, she was about to ask him a question when he suddenly pressed her pressure points. Her eyes were full of questions when she saw him pick her up and place her on a tall tree by the roadside, using the dense branches and leaves to shield her. He whispered to her, "Stay here and don't make a sound."
Hua Wuduo glared at him, thinking to herself, "You've sealed my acupoints, so I can't speak now." But seeing how nervous and serious he looked, she couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. She hadn't even noticed that someone was following them.
He had barely landed when he saw a group of people appear in the distance, with a large and magnificent carriage leading the way.
The wheels stopped in the mud. From his vantage point, Hua Wuduo could clearly see a group of people stop in front of Liu Xiu. A noblewoman alighted from the carriage. A maid was originally holding an oil-paper umbrella to shield her from the rain, but she took it and ordered, "Wait a hundred paces away."
"Yes." Everyone responded in unison and retreated a hundred paces as instructed.
The woman slowly walked up to Liu Xiu and stopped in front of him. Her delicate embroidered shoes were stained with mud, which made her frown slightly.
Hua Wuduo suddenly heard Liu Xiu kneel down and say, "Your Majesty, I, Liu Xiu, pay my respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and live a thousand years!"
Only then did Hua Wuduo realize who was standing before Liu Xiu. Her pressure points were sealed, rendering her speechless and immobile. She could only let the wind and rain gradually soak her body, chilling her from the outside in. A profound unease surged within her, slowly transforming into fear. She stared intently at Liu Xiu.
Beneath the tree, Gongzi Xiu's figure remained stiff yet ramrod straight. Empress Liu Ya then said, "Come back with me."
"No." The umbrella in his hand had been thrown aside, and the rain was gradually wetting his hair.
Liu Ya slapped Gongzi Xiu hard across the face and said sternly, "How did I teach you when I was alive! You abandoned your sister, betrayed the Liu family, and gave up everything for a woman!?"
Gongzi Xiu's eyes darkened, and he remained silent.
Liu Ya flung her sleeve and angrily said, "If you don't come back with me, I will kill her." She raised her hand and pointed in the direction where Hua Wuduo was. At this moment, there was another person next to Hua Wuduo, whose fingers were pinching her throat. With just a little force, Hua Wuduo would die on the spot.
Young Master Xiu's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly said, "Sister, let her go." In his desperation, Young Master Xiu blurted out that he was calling the Empress "sister," hoping that she would consider their sibling relationship and show mercy.
Liu Ya was indeed startled, her sharp gaze softened, and she approached Liu Xiu, helping him up and advising, "If you want her, I'm not against it. You can go back with me first, and we can bring her into the manor in six months. It's common for men to have three wives and four concubines, and I'm not an unreasonable person."
Gongzi Xiu remained silent, but his stiff back spoke volumes about his stubbornness and disapproval.
"If you don't come back with me, I'll kill her right now," Liu Ya said coldly.
Young Master Xiu trembled slightly as the drizzle soaked his cloth robe. From childhood to adulthood, he had probably never felt so powerless.
Liu Ya suddenly said, "You betrayed your family, you betrayed me, all for this woman. Is she really worth it?"
Without the slightest hesitation, Gongzi Xiu replied, "It's worth it."
Liu Ya's body stiffened, her face drained of color, and then she snorted coldly, saying, "The Emperor woke up a few days ago and knew that his days were numbered, so he secretly summoned Grand Tutor Liang and others into the palace and made a will behind my back. Xiu, the Emperor may very well pass away in the next few days."
Upon hearing this, Young Master Xiu was taken aback.
"Over the years, our Liu family has wielded immense power, offending many. Since you fell off the cliff and disappeared, do you know how many people have been searching for you? There are quite a few who want to kill you." Liu Ya sighed, continuing, "The Li and Fang families have always been lukewarm towards us, clearly not interested in us. Now, with their successful marriage alliance, they are even harder to shake. In recent years, the Marquis of Xijing has commanded tens of thousands of troops, colluding with the Liang King of Beidi in the Northwest, eyeing us covetously. In the South, there are also the outwardly friendly but inwardly hostile Song and Chen families. You know perfectly well how many people want to take advantage of the chaos to destroy our Liu family and replace us. Now, even on his deathbed, the Emperor hasn't forgotten to issue a will; Wu Yi's identity is ultimately a major obstacle..."
"Xiu, your sister needs you. Come back with your sister." Liu Ya's words carried a hint of pleading.
Liu Ya continued, "You know, all these years, I've been walking on thin ice every day. There are very few people around me I can trust. I'm always worried that if I make a wrong move, it will bring disaster to the Liu family. I haven't had a peaceful night in so many years. I have no children, only you as my younger brother. Although there are many people in the Liu family, most of them are content with enjoying life. Only you can assist me, and I only trust you."
The persistence in Liu Xiu's eyes slowly faded.
Liu Ya gripped Gongzi Xiu's hand tightly and continued to persuade him, "Since you've made up your mind about her, how could your sister possibly hurt her again? Your sister doesn't object to your wish to marry her; she'll grant your request. Let's go back together first and then discuss this further."
Seeing Liu Xiu remain silent, Liu Ya continued, "We are all in this together, for better or for worse. The fate of our Liu family is uncertain, and as a descendant of the Liu family, how can you stand idly by? Can you really bear to hurt your sister? Can you really bear to disregard the Liu family and only care about your own carefree life? Even if you watch someone else ascend the throne, kill your sister, kill your father, and even bring about the deaths of over a thousand members of the Liu family, can you still be content with your own pleasure and ignore everything? As a descendant of the Liu family, can you truly let go of all this and live a life of ignoring everything?!"
The light in Gongzi Xiu's eyes vanished.
Liu Ya said sternly, "Go back with your sister, or even if I kill her today and force you to go back, don't blame your sister for being ruthless."
Liu Xiu's expression changed, and he said in a deep voice, "If she dies, I... will not live alone either. I knew this day would come when I took this step. If you kill her, I will go with her. If we cannot be together in life, we will die together!"
The flowers on the tree, which could not move, trembled upon hearing this, and tears streamed down their cheeks.
Liu Ya's breath hitched. She hesitated for a moment, then sighed again and said, "I never thought you were such a fool. If she truly loves you as much as you love her, what's wrong with your sister granting your wish? But, Xiu, since she can bear to let you abandon your family, give up everything, and endure the torment and condemnation of your conscience just to live a carefree life with her alone, do you really think that such a selfish woman who doesn't think about you and only lives for herself would willingly die for you? Xiu, perhaps she will blame you for causing her to die young."
"Xiu, you're so naive. I'm a woman, and I understand women best. Actually, all women in the world are the same. They are vain and selfish. They use love as an excuse and their bodies as capital to deceive men into living and dying for them and giving up everything for them. But deep down, they are unwilling to give more to men. Every woman you've seen and come into contact with since you were a child is like that."
Gongzi Xiu looked up at Hua Wuduo in the tree. Her eyes were misty with tears, and she seemed deeply saddened. A pang of pain shot through him. He knew Hua Wuduo wasn't the kind of woman his sister had described, but one thing he couldn't be sure of: though he wasn't afraid of death, if he caused her death, would she blame him? The thought that he had risked his life to save her, only to have her die because of him…
Thinking of this, Liu Xiu's reluctance and painful struggle poured out without any attempt to hide it.
“Even if you love her, you have nothing now. What can you give her? A title? A peaceful life? Happiness? Xiu, you can't give her anything.” Liu Ya sighed, clearly seeing the persistence in Liu Xiu's eyes crumble and disappear completely.
After a long pause, he said in a deep voice, "I will go back with you, but you must promise me that I will not hurt her."
Liu Ya sighed, "I will wait for you outside the woods."
The guards and Liu Ya retreated from the woods, leaving only the sounds of wind and rain. But Hua Wuduo could sense the lurking danger all around; they were completely surrounded, with no way to escape and no other choice.
With a light leap, Gongzi Xiu sat down next to Hua Wuduo, staring at her with his pupils constricted, as if enduring torment and unbearable pain.
Hua Wuduo tried to signal to him with her eyes, but he never took the time to release her pressure points.
Hua Wuduo burst into tears, but then heard him say in a soft, hoarse voice, "Don't cry."
She cried even more urgently. He was somewhat at a loss and cupped her face in his hands, saying urgently, "Don't cry, Wudu. I pressed your pressure points because I was afraid you would bump into her in your panic. I was afraid she would really hurt you. I know her ruthlessness too well, I'm really scared."
"I never expected her to come looking for me in person. Today, I am destined to be unable to protect you..."
She gestured to him with her eyes that she wasn't afraid; the worst that could happen was death.
He understood, and moved, he pulled her into his arms, saying, "Wu Duo, in this world, no one's life is more important than yours, including my own."