After the three finished their morning meal, Leng Jinyu went directly to the palace to report to the Emperor. Jun Mohan, however, did not wish to go and insisted on taking Leng Ruoli on horseback to the Buyetian Zhuang outside the city to see the crape myrtle flowers.
The couple rode together on a single horse, without any attendants, and slowly arrived at the entrance of Buyetian Zhuang.
This Buyetian Zhuang was originally purchased by Jun Mohan from the descendants of a fallen merchant through a stroke of luck and at a great price.
When Jun Mohan first bought it, the crape myrtle trees in the manor had all grown wilted due to prolonged neglect.
Later, after he arranged for a few people to stay in the manor and specifically tend to the crape myrtle flowers, with years of careful cultivation, the crape myrtle flowers in the manor flourished.
Every summer and autumn, crape myrtle flowers would bloom throughout the entire manor, in various colors such as red, pink, purple, and white, adorning Buyetian Zhuang with exceptional beauty.
When Jun Mohan and Leng Ruoli arrived at the main entrance of the manor, Leng Ruoli eagerly dismounted.
"Jun Mohan, how come I never knew you owned such a beautiful manor before?"
"If I hadn't seen the crape myrtle trees in bloom on my way back to the city today, I wouldn't have remembered I owned a manor full of crape myrtle trees."
Jun Mohan's lips curved into a handsome arc, and his sapphire-like eyes held a gentle light as he looked at Leng Ruoli with doting affection.
"Alright, let's go in and take a look!" Leng Ruoli suggested.
Following that, Jun Mohan and Leng Ruoli, hand in hand, knocked on the manor's large gate.
"Uncle Zhong, Aunt Zhong, are you there?"
Jun Mohan called out twice in succession, and the sound of footsteps came from within the gate.
Immediately, they heard a hoarse male voice: "Who is it? This is a private manor, and ordinary people cannot enter as they please. You should leave quickly."
"Uncle Zhong, it's me, Jun Mohan!"
Jun Mohan immediately announced his name.
Upon hearing this, the person inside the gate instantly broke into a smile.
"So it's His Highness the Prince!"
"Your Highness, please wait a moment. This subordinate will open the gate for you immediately."
Uncle Zhong said, he quickened his pace of opening the gate, forcefully pulled open the bolt on the large wooden door, and then pushed open both heavy wooden doors.
Leng Ruoli then saw a kind-looking middle-aged man emerge from behind the gate.
This middle-aged man was likely of the same age as Leng Jinyu. He wore a dark gray, narrow-sleeved long gown, was tall and upright, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, and a square face, appearing approachable.
"Your Highness, this must be Her Highness the Consort. Please come in quickly!"
Uncle Zhong said with a smile, glancing at Leng Ruoli, speaking to the two of them with a face full of smiles.
Jun Mohan nodded upon hearing this.
"Alright, Li'er, let's go in!"
Subsequently, Jun Mohan, pulling Leng Ruoli, strode into the manor. Uncle Zhong casually led their horses into the manor, and then Uncle Zhong re-latched the manor's large gate.
Leng Ruoli looked on, full of confusion.
"Uncle Zhong, why are you being so cautious?"
"Your Highness the Consort, you may not know, but since the crape myrtle trees in the manor began to bloom, they have often attracted scholars or people touring the mountains to visit our manor. They would stay here for several days and damage many of our crape myrtle flowers. This subordinate could not drive them away... Later, after they left, this subordinate latched the manor gate, but many people still come to knock on our gate wanting to enter every day," Uncle Zhong explained with a sigh.
After hearing Uncle Zhong's words, Leng Ruoli instantly understood.
"Oh, no wonder."
Afterward, the three arrived at the entrance of a courtyard. Uncle Zhong told them that everyone in the manor was working on the mountain and that he would go and call them back, suggesting that the Prince and Consort have a cup of tea inside the house. However, the Prince and Consort refused.
"Uncle Zhong, there's no need to disturb them. You go and attend to your duties. We'll wander around the mountain."
"That's fine too. Then please be careful. This subordinate will go to the back mountain to call my wife back to prepare something for you to eat."
Uncle Zhong said, revealing a faint smile again.
"Uncle Zhong, there's no need to trouble Aunt Zhong! We're not staying overnight here today." At this moment, Jun Mohan also refused.
"Oh, is that so!" Uncle Zhong said with some disappointment.
Because Jun Mohan hadn't visited Buyetian Zhuang for several years, Uncle Zhong particularly wanted to keep the Prince and Consort to stay for a night.
Leng Ruoli saw the disappointment in Uncle Zhong's eyes and quickly added, "Uncle Zhong, let's see how things go. If it's too late, we'll stay in the manor for dinner."
"Yes, yes, yes. Then this subordinate will have my wife prepare. Your Highness, Your Highness the Consort, please go and enjoy yourselves on the mountain."
Uncle Zhong's face lit up with joy upon hearing Leng Ruoli's words.
Following that, Leng Ruoli and Jun Mohan walked towards the sea of crape myrtle flowers.
Crape myrtle flowers, unlike osmanthus, do not have a fragrance that permeates for ten miles, nor are they as noble and magnificent as peonies. However, they are elegant yet not vulgar, and also possess many medicinal values.
Immersed in this sea of flowers, Leng Ruoli's heart became very relaxed, as she was not fettered by worldly matters here, and her spirit became more joyful.
"Jun Mohan, it's truly too beautiful here. Quickly help me take some photos."
After speaking, Leng Ruoli immediately took out an instant camera from her sleeve pocket, placed it in Jun Mohan's hand, then stomped her feet, raised her hand, and like a celestial maiden in white flying through the sky, she landed steadily on the branch of a crape myrtle tree with deep red blossoms.
Jun Mohan extended his hand and with a "click," captured the scene of Leng Ruoli taking flight.
Next, Leng Ruoli leaned against the branch, reached out to grasp a crape myrtle flower, brought it to her nose, closed her eyes slightly, and inhaled gently. Such a scene was breathtakingly beautiful.
Jun Mohan clicked again, capturing Leng Ruoli's exquisite moment.
Subsequently, Leng Ruoli struck many poses for photos, and then she simply lay down on the grass to have her picture taken...
As Jun Mohan took pictures, he began to play a trick. He suddenly leaped in front of Leng Ruoli and embraced her.
"Li'er, you are truly beautiful! Let me have a kiss."
Jun Mohan hugged Leng Ruoli and spoke such mushy words, making Leng Ruoli's skin crawl.
"Jun Mohan, what are you doing? Let go quickly, it's not good if someone sees!"
Leng Ruoli quickly swatted away Jun Mohan's large hand, but Jun Mohan's arms, like a crab's pincers, tightly clasped Leng Ruoli's slender waist.
"Don't worry, Li'er, very few people come this way. No one will see us," Jun Mohan said with a slight smile.
But amusingly, just as Jun Mohan finished speaking, he heard a child's scream, and a small figure fell from the sky.