“I did not expect the figures to be so complete.” Lu Zheng laughed.
Shen Ying also smiled. “I had them all added. If it was just me alone, it would look lonely and lack any grandeur.”
By now the group had arrived in front of the main hall of Peach Blossom Temple. The hall’s plaque bore an inscription by the previous prefect of Yizhou. In the very centre stood a life-sized statue of the Peach Blossom Immortal, resembling Shen Ying by about eight parts in ten.
What drew everyone’s eyes most, however, was a stone stele positioned to the left front of the main doors. A poem was carved upon it.
“Peach Blossom Beauty”
The peach tree is young and elegant, its blossoms brightly glowing. This maiden weds, bringing harmony to her husband’s home.
The peach tree is young and elegant, its fruit plump and real. This maiden weds, bringing harmony to her household.
The peach tree is young and elegant, its leaves lush and green. This maiden weds, bringing harmony to her family.
…
Si Lingxi studied the stele closely, then her eyes brightened. She extended a finger and flicked it gently.
In the next instant, the stele emitted a soft glow, flickered twice, and the light faded away.
Shen Ying’s lips curved as she asked with a smile, “Has the Palace Lord discovered it?”
Si Lingxi nodded. “Its potential is remarkable. If possible, try not to disturb it.”
Shen Ying smiled. “I understand.”
Wang Xiaowan and Yi Xiaoqian had far too little cultivation, so they looked utterly bewildered. Du Yueyao only half grasped it, but Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan saw everything clearly.
Bathed daily in incense offerings, this stele had already become the embryo of a magical treasure. It resonated with Shen Ying, was of excellent quality, and would grow stronger the longer time passed.
…
Shen Ying had placed spells upon the Peach Blossom Immortal statue. If the incense offered by someone was particularly sincere, a charm would automatically activate to replenish vitality and strengthen the body, serving as the Immortal’s reward.
The group merely strolled briefly around the temple and witnessed seven or eight people receiving such blessings, which showed the deep devotion of the common people.
…
At midday, the group returned to Peach Blossom Manor. Xiao Cui had already prepared lunch. Though it did not reach Lu Zheng’s level, after years of practice it was quite impressive.
During a pause in the meal, Lu Zheng drew Shen Ying into the rear hall. They emerged after a short while, then Shen Ying leaned close to Si Lingxi’s ear and whispered a few words. Si Lingxi raised an eyebrow and nodded.
After finishing their meal and enjoying tea for a time, they rose upon clouds and flew straight to Hundred Springs Valley.
Within Hundred Springs Valley, steam rose in thick columns, mists swirled in layers. Streams of water vapour formed clusters of clouds that enveloped the entire valley, locking the strands of spiritual energy rising from underground within the steam. Sunlight reflected off it, creating rays of colourful radiance.
The group descended from the sky, looked about, and saw no one else.
Lu Zheng went to one side, removed his clothes, and slipped into a spring pool.
“Comfortable!”
A few moments later, Liu Qingyan appeared from the mist wearing a green one-piece swimsuit. She slid gently into the pool and joined Lu Zheng at his side.
Soon, through the thick layers of mist, Lu Zheng heard the voices of the other women from nearby pools. This was still ancient times, after all. Apart from Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying, the rest would not share a pool with him.
Thus, aside from Bi Xinyu, Lu Zheng had not yet… ahem…
“Wow, so pretty!”
“Hee hee!”
“So comfortable!”
Lu Zheng smiled faintly, then patted his gourd. Platters appeared before him: washed grapes and strawberries, sliced apples and watermelon, peeled oranges and lychees. With a gentle push, he sent them drifting to the neighbouring pool.
“Wow! So much fruit!”
“And lychees?” Yi Xiaoqian exclaimed in shock. “Fresh lychees?”
“Mmm, delicious, crisp and sweet!”
The women set the wooden platters floating on the water, reclined sideways along the pool edges, soaked in the hot springs, and nibbled fruit from time to time, thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Si Lingxi took a lychee, peeled it gently. Juice overflowed, the fragrance intensely sweet. The flesh in her mouth was plump and tender, and the stone was surprisingly no larger than the tip of her little finger.
“What sort of lychee is this? It truly is very sweet.” Si Lingxi said with considerable surprise.
Phoenix Mountain also produced lychees, some even sweeter, but those had their essence altered by spells and nourished with spiritual energy, requiring great time and effort. The lychees before her, Si Lingxi could see plainly, were entirely ordinary, containing not the slightest trace of spiritual energy.
Hearing her question, Lu Zheng answered casually, “Feizi Xiao.”
“Feizi Xiao?” His seemingly off-topic reply left Si Lingxi baffled. “The name of the lychee?”
“Er, yes, the name of this variety.”
“Why is it called Feizi Xiao?” Shen Ying asked, joining in.
Lu Zheng’s gaze drifted, he touched his nose. “Because… it involves a story…”
“What story?”
“It’s… a story from my homeland. An emperor’s consort particularly loved eating this lychee. Whenever she tasted it, she would smile happily, so it was named Feizi Xiao.” Lu Zheng finished the tale in a single sentence.
“That is merely a legend. How can it count as a story?” Shen Ying said helplessly. “Lu-lang, surely you left out a great deal?”
“Yes, exactly. Take Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai. In truth, it is the tale of Zhu Yingtai disguising herself as a man, falling in love with Liang Shanbo, and finally both dying for love.” Du Yueyao added. “Just one dry sentence like that has none of the moving details.”
“Lu-lang?” Liu Qingyan gently pressed closer. “If the Palace Lord had not asked, we would never have known this lychee bears such a charming name. A story famous enough to become legend surely cannot be ordinary, can it?”
The conversation had reached this point, so Lu Zheng shook his head helplessly. “No, you are mistaken. Though it is a love story and quite touching, ordinary people might not accept it at all.”
“Oh? How so?”
At the mention of a love story, all the women’s eyes brightened.
Both “Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai” and “The Ghost Story of Qiannu” were love stories, deeply moving. Now that Lu Zheng had brought up another, how could they not be eager?
Yet…
Lu Zheng truly did not wish to recount the tale of Emperor Minghuang and Yang Guifei!
It was far too difficult…
The story involved too many elements: shifts in imperial power, a father-in-law and his daughter-in-law, rebellious generals, and most crucially, when Yang Yuhuan died, Emperor Minghuang had raised no objection!
Without the cultural depth and foundation, without Bai Juyi’s “Song of Everlasting Sorrow”, the tale truly held no appeal at all.
Lu Zheng shook his head. “This story is not interesting. Let us choose another.”
“Tell this one about Feizi Xiao.” Si Lingxi’s curiosity was thoroughly aroused. How could she allow him to evade it? “If you tell it well, I shall teach you a method of controlling fire.”
Lu Zheng: “…”
“Ahem! In fact, this story encompasses imperial authority, history, rebellion, family ethics, praise from poets of the age, and remembrance by later generations. It can be called a truly legendary love story. I believe it is very much worth telling.”
