Chapter 512 - Chapter 512: Chapter 512: Old Affairs from the Past (2/2)
“This mountain experiences four seasons, and the weather varies every ten miles.”
“To the left, you will see all things reviving and flourishing. To the right, you will see a world cloaked in silver and a snow-covered summit. In front of you is a riot of colorful flowers. Behind you, you will find hills covered in red leaves, their magnificence simply stunning.”
“Mountains far to the left and to the right stretch as far as the eye can see. And if you look in the distance straight ahead, you will see them connecting with the sky itself. The overlapping layers of clouds make for an incredibly picturesque scene. Behind us is a vast plain that offers a panoramic view of the landscape. At the foot of the mountain, numerous streams crisscross each other. It’s difficult to find anywhere more beautiful or majestic than here!”
As he finished his oration, Liu Sisi looked around in astonishment.
Surprisingly, the place was exactly as he had described – the beauty of the surrounding scenery was indeed unparalleled!
“Even if it’s beautiful here, it’s frankly quite dull. There are barely two people in sight,” Liu Sisi retorted nonchalantly.
“Who says there are only the two of us here? There is clearly another person here!” Elder Leisure declared confidently.
“Where?”
Liu Sisi looked around carefully but couldn’t see any other person.
“Here.”
Elder Leisure pointed to the ground.
“Where?”
Liu Sisi still couldn’t see anything.
“Here, underneath the ground!”
Elder Leisure rebuked, somewhat exasperated, “Why are you so muddled? I wonder who you take after?”
He and his wife were both exceptionally intelligent people. How could they have a daughter so obtuse? Probably, it was due to her upbringing!
Liu Sisi: “…”
Lowering her head, Liu Sisi noticed that they were standing on a flat piece of land. The onset of spring had brought about the sprouting of innumerable tiny green grass blades on this patch. There was also a large cluster of daylily seedlings creeping out of the ground, about an inch long…
Hold on! Daylily seedlings! Don’t these usually grow around graves in the wild?
She was immediately taken aback. Jumping hastily, she moved away from the cluster of daylily seedlings.
“This… that… you, he…”
Stammering for quite a while, Liu Sisi still couldn’t put together a complete sentence.
“Indeed! It’s just as you thought, she lies beneath our feet.”
Elder Leisure looked distinctively smug. He casually placed the wildflowers he had gathered earlier on the ground, throwing away a bouquet of wilted flowers that had previously been laid.
“Come! Offer your respects too.”
Without declining, Liu Sisi stepped forward and respectfully bowed thrice.
Considering her prominent belly, Elder Leisure did not insist on her kneeling. Instead, he asked Liu Sisi, “I have a story to share. Would you like to hear it?”
“This….”
With a bitter smile, Liu Sisi knew her trek up the mountain wasn’t meant for storytime. But judging by his earnest demeanor, she had no option but to listen to the story he was about to unfold.
“Thirty years ago, there were two good friends – both young, energetic and handsome. They happened to meet a woman, and both were instantly smitten by her. Respecting their friendship, they agreed to compete fairly for her affections. The one who won the woman’s heart first would marry her. Each pulled out all the stops, hoping to win her over.”
“While the two friends fought over a woman, their family elders were suddenly struck by a serious illness. Caught off guard, they rushed back home, only to find that catastrophe had struck.”
Although Liu Sisi didn’t respond, she understood that the story the former Crown Prince was sharing was his own – the story of him and the woman lying beneath their feet.