He held her hand as they walked forward, his voice noticeably more animated: "There are two small lotus seedpods ahead that they missed. Let me take you to see them."
"Huh? Did Jin Cheng and the others do such a sloppy job?" Xu Wan had assumed that when they said they'd picked everything clean, they truly meant not a single one was left. After all, with five boys working, the chances of missing any seemed slim.
Zong Zhao led her deeper in, pushing aside several obstructing lotus leaves before pointing: "Look, here they are."
Xu Wan gasped in delight. "There really are! They're so tiny, no wonder they didn’t notice."
Zong Zhao gestured for her to pluck them. "They might not be sweet, though."
Xu Wan chuckled. "That’s fine. Finding any leftovers is already a win—I’m not picky." As she spoke, she reached out and twisted the seedpod off, the crisp snapping sound oddly pleasing to the ear.
Returning the kindness, she handed the slightly larger one to him. "This one’s for you."
Zong Zhao’s chest swelled with joy as he accepted it. "Thank you," he replied.
Xu Wan was about to pick the next one when she suddenly turned her head, puzzled. "Wait, earlier when you gave me grilled fish, I think I forgot to thank you?"
Zong Zhao paused, quickly realizing the oddity—she hadn’t stood on ceremony with him, yet he’d been the one to act formal.
He corrected himself at once. "Don’t bother. I won’t say it either from now on."
Xu Wan: "??" You’re being overly sensitive.
Amused, she turned back and snapped off the other seedpod with a crack. "Alright, all done. Shall we go?"
"Sure, let me help you up."
Once ashore, they began shelling the lotus seeds. Xu Wan peeled open her small seedpod and popped one into her mouth, only to grimace at the bitterness. "Not sweet at all."
Zong Zhao passed her the larger one he held. "Try this one."
Xu Wan hesitated but couldn’t resist honesty. "I have a feeling this one’s bitter too."
Zong Zhao stifled a laugh. "Then don’t eat them. If you’re craving lotus seeds, we can ask the kitchen to bring some, or we could pick fresh ones from the pond in the south courtyard—there are even bigger ones there."
Xu Wan shook her head, smiling. "No need. We’ve already traipsed all over the estate tonight. This was enough—I’m happy just having experienced it."
Zong Zhao nodded. "Next time you want to go out, just tell me. I’ll take you."
Xu Wan studied him, then blurted out, "Zong Zhao, you’ve changed so much over the past decade. Cui Zhi said you used to be very passive, never initiating conversations, let alone inviting me out like this."
Zong Zhao gazed at her intently. "Because not taking initiative means missing out. Being too passive is my flaw, and I’m working on it."
Xu Wan sighed. "You’re already perfect, yet you’re still fixing flaws? Are you trying to make every other man in the world look bad?"
Zong Zhao smiled. "Ready to head back? You must be uncomfortable in those damp clothes. A bath would help."
"Let’s go. I—ah!" Before she could finish, Zong Zhao swept her up into his arms.
"Your shoes are full of sand. Walking won’t be pleasant—I’ll carry you," he said.
Xu Wan, weighing nearly a hundred pounds, felt as light as a rabbit in his arms. She wondered if she’d lost weight recently.
It was a textbook princess carry. Feeling unsteady, she gripped the fabric at his shoulders, her arm pressed against his chest—where she soon noticed the escalating rhythm of his heartbeat.
Her arm seemed to go numb, hyperaware of the drumming pulse beneath her fingertips. Even in the quiet night, the sound reached her ears.
Zong Zhao’s face was expressionless, but his heart was racing...
On the way back, thanks to Cui Liu clearing the path, they didn’t run into a soul. They parted ways to their respective baths, where hot water awaited.
"I can wash my own clothes," Xu Wan insisted, leaning over the tub’s edge toward Cui Liu.
Cui Liu refused. "No need for such courtesy, Madam. This is my duty."
Xu Wan sighed. "Cui Liu, you’ve worked hard tonight. Our antics kept you busy."
Cui Liu replied earnestly, "Not at all. I’d be glad if you and the General did this daily."
"Huh?" Xu Wan was baffled.
Who asks for extra work?
Cui Liu deadpanned, "The General tripled my monthly pay."
Xu Wan: "............"
He truly understood human nature—no wonder he won so many battles.
Freshly bathed, they resumed their dignified roles as the estate’s master and mistress, with no trace of their earlier improprieties.
That night, Xu Wan buzzed with energy, too restless to sleep. She tossed and turned, chatting with Zong Zhao about everything from child-rearing to capital gossip, then swapping stories of his military escapades.
Already bound by marriage, their meandering conversation deepened their familiarity.
As the night wore on, Xu Wan’s voice grew softer until she finally drifted off.
Zong Zhao lay on his side, watching her. Though darkness obscured her features, he traced her face from memory—this woman who’d once had so little, now thriving because of him.
He felt a surge of gratitude for his father’s intervention in securing their match, and even regret for his earlier hesitation about dragging her into his struggles.
He would win. And he’d never let her lose.
The next morning, Xu Wan woke to an empty bed.
Her early-rising, late-returning husband had vanished like a fleeting bloom—suddenly present, then just as swiftly gone.
"Madam, you’re awake?" Cui Zhi entered with a basin of water. "It’s just past si hour. The General instructed us not to disturb you, so we didn’t wake you at mao hour."
Xu Wan rose. "No matter. I’ll take his advice and laze today."
Cui Zhi giggled. "Madam, this isn’t lazing—it’s your usual routine. You always rise around this time."
As Xu Wan washed her face, she asked, "How are Jin Cheng and the others? What lessons do they have today?"
