Chapter 14 – One must give in order to receive

“One has to hurry up before the sun has warmed up the land to be able to to tend to flowers and plants,.” Ying Ru Fujin took the tiny flower shears and carefully cut the remaining leaves in the plant.

The morning leaves still had drops of dew on them, and Mei Li smelled a nice fragrance, “Yes.” She answered in a low voice.

Early this morning, Ying Ru Fujin came to the palace to take care of the garden flowers and trees for Lao Zuzong, and especially called on her. The old ancestor was very happy, and solemnly instructed her to “study well”, but the intention was too obvious to be even considered as a hint.

“It is often said that good flowers still need green leaves to complement them. Therefore, to see the beauty of a flower is not only to see the delicate blossoms blooming on the branches, but also to see its foliage and morphology. It should not have withered, not insect-infested, its leaf not crippled.” Ying Ru Fujin said as she cut, and more and more faulty leaves drifted down into the surrounding soil. “And, for this flower, the fallen leaves are also good fertilizer.”

Mei Li, who had been listening to her carefully, understood the meaning of her words and quickly squatted down. She collected the scattered leaves around her, and casually picked a small shovel in the tool box, ready to plow the soil and bury the leaves.

Ying Ru Fujin looked on and said without haste, “Digging the soil around the flower plant with a shovel will accidentally injure the roots of the flower, and in serious cases the whole flower will die.”

Mei Li was stunned and put down the shovel.

“If you want to have beautiful flowers, you have to cultivate them with all your energy. In order to receive a reward, of course you have to give something.” Ying Ru Fujin said with an underlying meaning as she carefully searched for dead leaves among the flowering branches.

Mei Li smiled slightly and said, “Yes.”

 She then used her bare hands to dig the soil under the flowers. If she was like before, she would have thought it was Ying Ru Fujin who deliberately made things difficult for her, but now as she listened, she felt that she was right. Giving… doesn’t guarantee that things will pay off, but not giving will definitely not get you anything.

“Dig a little deeper, just to loosen the soil.”

“Yes.” Mei Li smiled and nodded, digging away the wet soil carefully with her hands, lightly and gently, afraid of hurting the roots of the flowers. She was used to doing rough work and had no nails, but she did it with care.

Ying Ru Furen looked at her twice and smiled faintly and coldly, “This one looks like a rose, much like a rose, but not as noble and elegant.”

Mei Li’s hand trembled slightly in the wet and cold soil. Although very much like a rose but not so noble… She is talking about her, right? She continued to loosen the soil, now and then burying the leaves in, as if she did not understand Ying Ru Fujin’s dark sarcasm.

“Roses are actually very good to raise, but I’m afraid that it is too delicate— if not fertilized and watered diligently, it can not live.” The leaves were cut, and Ying Ru Fujin picked up the watering can, held high and sprinkled water in all directions, the luxuriant branches and leaves did not take up much water droplets. Squatting under the flowers was Mei Li who was immediately poured all over the head.

But she did not move. She continued to bury the leaves and loosen the soil. Her small body slight shivered by the sudden cold water droplets, but she still smiled and continued the work in hand. Ying Ru Fujin sighed secretly, and finally couldn’t bear it after spraying a few more times. She put down the watering can.

Yonghe walked into the garden with his smile as bright as ever, “Mother, what good flowers have you been tending on so early in the morning?”

Mei Li lowered her eyes and did not dare to raise them. Her heart was a little nervous. A few days had already passed since that night’s conversation. For such a long time, she didn’t know if he avoided her deliberately or something happened. Perhaps he had already learned from Ying Ru Fujin about Lao Zuzong’s intentions.

“Good flowers? This is actually is no good flower. It’s just a rose.” By the tone of Ying Ru Furen, she was a little upset.

“But it’s very beautiful.” Yonghe said dismissively and glanced at her, “What are you doing?”

Mei Li’s heart suddenly throbbed.

“How can you dig the soil with your bare hands?” He knelt down and pulled her hands out of the soil without reserve. “What if the stones and dead branches cut you?” In front of Ying Ru Fujin, Mei Li shyly pulled her hands away.

Ying Ru Fujin looked at him coldly and said with distaste, “In order to loose the soil, you have to use your hands. Your mother did just the same!”

“Really?” Yonghe frowned doubtfully. “Then, let me do it. It’s just digging up the soil, right?” His slender white hands grabbed and parted the soil without hesitation.

“You have to bury all the leaves back!” Ying Ru Fujin looked like she couldn’t stand it anymore and said, “Are you loosening the soil, or digging a hole?”

Mei Li found that after Yonghe came Ying Ru Fujin, although the tone was much more harsh, the look in her is clearly an expression of extreme love. The bickering of a mother and son seemed very interesting, even the cold and morose Fujin just now became very warm. The relationship between the mother and son is very deep, Mei Li’s eyes became a little teary thinking— it’s really good to have parents…

She took two quick breaths to prevent herself from completely tearing up. Ying Ru Fujin loved Yonghe so much but Lao Zuzong wanted him to marry a girl like her… Of course, she was not happy for her son. Mei li is really sorry for them.

“Alright…” Yonghe clapped his hands dusting away the soil as he stood up. “The soil is now loose, and the leaves are already buried. Mother, you can now go to Lao Zuzong to talk. The sun is blazing.”

“Ying Ru Fujin looked at his son, and then glanced at Mei Li.” She frowned and helplessly hummed before turning away.

“Let’s wash our hands.” Yonghe called Mei Li who was in a trance.

“Oh… okay.” She nodded. Didn’t his mother tell him yet?

Coming into the garden, a clever eunuch had already served them two basins of water.

Mei Li silently washed her hands, and suddenly lost the courage to talk to him.

After the eunuch retired, only the two of them remained in the small open space.

“Uhm… well…” Yonghe raised his eyebrows and swallowed as he adopted a shy expression. “My mother has already told me…”

Mei Li clenched her fist tightly and tried to make her breathing steady. If he will say an uncomfortable thing next, she is prepared to smile. She understood… and he is not to blame.

“I…” He looked down at her pale little face and said, “I’m very glad…”

After speaking, he looked embarrassed and coughed lightly. He turned and walked away as if nothing had happened.

She stared at his retreating back. It took a long time before she seemed to absorb what he meant.

He said… he was happy?

Tears slid down her face. She was not just happy to hear it. She was very grateful.

He may not know it but the moment she heard his words, her heart ached. Of course she knows the price of his willingness to marry her. She can’t share any glory, but only shame. But he still looked at her with such sincere eyes as he said: He is happy.

Tears flowed through her lips. This was not the first time she had tasted tears, but this time it was not so bitter that she could not bear it.

Yonghe… she was so grateful to him!

In this life, for his happiness, for his tolerance, she is willing to give anything for him!

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T/N: No footnotes, but too much warmth. (And impending sadness because we know how this would end. I would like to give Mei Li the world, but the author has other plans QAQ)