Chapter 5: Planting Trees

After the brute put on his clothes, he resumed his cold and ruthless demeanor. The decaying scent in the air failed to bring even a trace of ambiguity to his expression.

“Since you chopped it down, you’ll replant it.”

In the past, there would have been rewards after their intimate moments, but this time was different. Even though his fury had already left the study in shambles, he was still not appeased and sent Jiang Wu off to plant the tree.

Jiang Wu sincerely felt she had lost big this time by venting her emotions in the moment.

“Madam, please take a rest. The master said there’s no time limit.”

Sweat poured down Jiang Wu’s forehead. Due to Chu Ling’s order forbidding anyone from helping, no one dared approach, but Zhi Zhi couldn’t help feeling concerned for her.

Regardless of Chu Ling’s coldness toward Jiang Wu, she truly hadn’t done heavy labor for many years, let alone something as physically demanding as planting a tree.

Originally, Jiang Wu was betting on a bit of spite—if she had to plant it, she’d do it herself as a testament to their love, and once the divorce was finalized, she would find a chance to tell Chu Yan, just to annoy her.

But after a few digs, she quickly lost heart.

Enough, what’s the use of holding a grudge? She was the one who’d suffer.

Chu Ling said there was no time limit; Jiang Wu guessed she just had to finish before Chu Yan returned. She stopped and intended to rest briefly, just as Zhi Zhi suggested.

Before she could turn around, the servants’ voices rang out, “Greetings, master.”

She hastily gripped the shovel tighter—good thing, or Chu Ling might have thought she was slacking off.

But whether she slacked or not made little difference; after all her digging, there was only a small hole in front of her.

Chu Ling was already approaching. Jiang Wu paused and quietly said, “Greetings, master.”

Standing there motionless, she was unsure whether to continue or not.

After a while, a hand appeared in her line of sight.

Chu Ling extended his hand.

Jiang Wu wished she had a few more brains to understand what this man meant. Her gaze darted from side to side before she chose the simplest interpretation—placing her dirt-stained hand into his.

The man pursed his lips and studied her delicate hand for a moment before saying, “The shovel.”

Realizing her mistake, Jiang Wu felt embarrassed and quickly withdrew her hand, then handed over the shovel from her other hand.

It was only then she realized with horror what she had just offered.

***

Chu Ling had just returned from court, still wearing his official robe. The crimson garment bore a soaring crane emblem that struck fear into many.

Yet now, he rolled up his sleeves and, beside the small hole Jiang Wu had dug, dug deeper.

Jiang Wu was dumbstruck. Even doing such rough work, the man’s entire being radiated an infuriating nobility. But why was he doing this himself?

Unlike Jiang Wu, he quickly shaped the hole to the perfect size, then placed the peach tree with its roots intact into the ground.

She stood there foolishly watching until his dark eyes swept over her, prompting her to brace herself, uncertain of what she could do, so she continued to watch expectantly.

A trace of helplessness flashed in his eyes: “Hold it.”

Jiang Wu walked over to steady the sapling as he began covering the roots with soil.

Her shock slowly abated, and she began to understand. After all, this tree was for Chu Yan, and Chu Ling wanted to be personally involved—it wasn’t hard to comprehend.

But he shouldn’t have dragged her into it.

Already, Jiang Wu was scheming how to spite Chu Yan in the future, making her realize this was something she and Chu Ling had done together.

Would Chu Yan still be touched?

Jiang Wu even felt a certain satisfaction at the thought.

Until Chu Ling’s voice broke through: “Water it.”

Startled, she looked up and met his gaze. In those eyes, which seemed to pierce through everything, all her thoughts were laid bare.

Snapping back to reality, she crouched and poured two ladles of water, then stopped and looked up.

Chu Ling’s face remained expressionless: “Not enough. The water must soak through.”

Jiang Wu continued watering until he was satisfied. Then he picked up the shovel and moved to the next hole.

Jiang Wu felt a quiet joy—it would have taken her who knows how long to finish on her own. Carrying her small bucket, she followed behind, and for a moment, her mind flashed to a similar memory.

There were two people planting trees together, except the woman was standing, patting the man’s head: “You’re so stupid! Water more. It has to soak through.”

The man didn’t get angry but obediently followed her orders.

That sudden, splitting headache made Jiang Wu stop in her tracks, pressing a hand to her temple.

When was that memory from?

After some thought, she finally remembered—the peach orchard here had once been planted by Chu Ling and Chu Yan.

She had even accidentally met them back then, unaware of the situation, thinking how close the siblings were.

Of course, besides Chu Yan, who else could make Chu Ling so submissive? If not for Chu Yan, how could he have learned to plant trees?

Once she understood, the headache faded, and she resumed following behind.

***

The next day, when she returned, she noticed the ground around the newly planted trees was still visibly damp.

Jiang Wu had assumed the servants watered them in the morning but learned that it was actually Chu Ling who had done it.

No wonder he insisted on planting the trees with her yesterday—he wanted to torment her but couldn’t trust such an important task solely to her.

Looking at the water traces beneath each peach tree and recalling Chu Ling’s figure personally planting and watering them, Jiang Wu felt surprisingly calm.

Honestly, if not for her son’s provoking words, she wouldn’t have lost control like that before.

Jiang Wu was no longer at the stage of loving to death or hating to death. There was some unwillingness, sure, but after half a lifetime, even with her petty nature, she had long let go.

She was just an ordinary person, yearning for a stable home, a place that could bring happiness.

Gazing at the blossoming peach trees, she suddenly longed to see Mo Yangzhou.

If someone like Chu Ling could ultimately find happiness, then surely she could as well.

***

This time, Jiang Wu still failed to meet Mo Yangzhou.

When she arrived, Princess Qingyang looked a little embarrassed: “Ah Wu, you see, you’re a bit late. Mr. Mo was just summoned by the eldest Miss Gao to perform a song.”

The eldest Miss Gao was equally reckless but didn’t have a good relationship with Qingyang.

“I’m not afraid of her,” Qingyang continued, “but you know, that woman is crazy. Getting involved with a madwoman will only bring trouble, you understand?”

Jiang Wu stared at her and sincerely asked, “Isn’t that just being afraid of her?”

Qingyang’s face flushed with embarrassment: “Not that kind of fear. Sigh… it’s mainly because of you!” Then, gaining confidence, she said, “You always say you’re not that kind of relationship with Mo Yangzhou! Saying you can’t restrict his freedom, that you respect his choices. It makes me hesitant too. If you just said the word, I’d claim him for myself. After that, even if the emperor came down, no one could take him from me.”

Jiang Wu suddenly felt a pang of guilt.