1314: A Thousand Peonies Bloom
The Road to the Palace
Shuwan wakes up early, and prepares to travel. He then went to Jiao to ask for permission.
“Jiao, I'll be gone for some time. It might be noon or evening just back.”
Jiao was shocked to hear Shuwan's words. “You want to go where, Shuwan?”
“I had to deliver a letter for invitation yesterday. At least I ask him to wait for my decision, until your teacher gives an answer.”
“Are you going alone? What if I accompany you?”
Shuwan walked over to Jiao. Patted Jiao's shoulder gently. “If you come with me, then who will look after Mr Shu? Jiao you don't have to worry. I've recovered, and I can take care of myself. I promise to be back as soon as.”
“Em... Then promise me.”
Jiao gives Shuwan a warm hug. After hugging, Shuwan went to Luo Shu's stables to choose the horse he would ride.
“Well... I'll choose you. You look strong and dashing, we will definitely get to the palace faster.”
Shuwan made his choice on a black horse, of great stature, with a white complexion on the front of its head.
“You dropped a good choice, Miss.”
Someone from behind the haystack suddenly appeared and made Shuwan startled.
“S-who are you?”
“Do not be afraid. I'm the one taking care of Mr. Shu's horses.”
“So apparently.”
“The horse you chose does have a larger stature than other horses. But sometimes it is hard to control. He just wants to be ridden by the person he recognizes.”
“You mean like this?” Shuwan said it after successfully riding on the horse.
“B-how can you?”
“He complies very much. I think he is like that.”
“Aiya... This horse has kicked people several times, including me. I can't believe that she's so according to the person she just met.”
“H... Is that?” Shuwan suddenly recalled that he had to make a long journey. “Ah... Excuse me... I borrowed this horse first. I'll return it once until.”
“Good. Beware Miss.”
“Hyaa!” Shuwan advanced his horse, directly at full speed.
“Hah... Young people today are difficult to guess, huh?”
Shuwan is in his horse race.
“I haven't felt this kind of freedom in a long time. It feels so good. Uh... I kind of forgot something but what huh?” Shuwan daydreamed for a while. “Ah.. Aye! I ‘kan don't know where his castle is. Duh how is this? Why can I be so stupid?”
Unexpectedly the horse neighed by itself, as if understanding Shuwan's matter.
Shuwan who noticed it immediately brought his face closer to the horse. “Hey, do you know where the palace is?”
The horse neighed, and instantly increased its speed.
“It's cool! You seem to understand what I say!” Shuwan shouted from the horse that was speeding so fast.
After a long time of horse climbing, Shuwan felt a little tired. They also pulled over at a lake. There was also a large tree that was shady.
“You drink. Our journey is still quite far.” Shuwan said as if taking the horse he was riding to talk.
Finished giving the horse a drink, Shuwan leaned his back against the shady tree.
“Ah... After traveling long distances without any backrest, now leaning back like this is like an ultimate pleasure. Supposedly, another hour will arrive at the palace, right?”
Shuwan then took the bag that Jiao was carrying.
“Wah... There's bakpao. Jiao is indeed the best.” Shuwan ate with the food that Jiao brought him. In the container, there are six bakpaos. Shuwan eats two pieces, the rest he keeps for later.
After feeling enough to rest. Shuwan pulled the horse back.
“Let's continue the journey.”
Shuwan rode the horse, and returned quickly.
***
Meanwhile in Luo Shu's residence, Jiao was sitting on the chair that was in front of Luo Shu's room. He is still focused on reading medical books.
Amidst his focus, suddenly there was an object falling from Luo Shu's room.
Jiao immediately closed and put her book to the table. He ran into his teacher's room.
“Shifu!” Jiao was shocked to see Luo Shu fall to the floor. “What are you doing?” Jiao immediately guided her teacher back to the bed.
“Ah... I'm just thirsty. I tried to get the cup of water, but it didn't arrive. So the cup fell, and so did I. Hahaha.”.
“Shifu! You can call me or any other waiter if you need anything,” said worried Jiao.
“I'm just kasian to you guys. Must be so tired of taking care of me. So I'm trying my best.”
“Shifu..” says Jiao welds.
He gave a glass of water to his thirsty teacher. “This is the teacher, you drink first.”
Luo Shu accepted it, and immediately drank it.
“Should if you knew it was a forbidden food, don't eat it. It's a good thing that Shuwan found you quickly. Otherwise I don't know what happened to you.”
“Shuwan?” Luo Shu was shocked to hear that Shuwan had found her.
Jiao nodded. “Yesterday Shuwan wants to see you. He knocked on the door of your reading room, but did not hear an answer. He then peeked out from behind the crack, and found you lying on the floor unconscious. He tried to break the door down alone but to no avail. Luckily I heard, so I helped her break down your door.” Jiao was brief.
Luo Shu pummeled his breath, as if feeling so relieved. “Sorry has you worried. I shouldn't have inconvenienced you.”
“What are you saying, Shifu? You've helped us, and of course we have to help you.”
“H... Alright. E.... By the way where is Shuwan? Why don't I see it with you?” asked Luo Shu.
“Shifu, I hope you're not angry. Shuwan... He went to the palace.”
Luo Shu scrunched her forehead, “Will she just walk away?”
Jiao shakes. “He went there delivering letters to people who had invited him. He just asked that the guy wait for him until you give Shuwan the answer.”
He's a really obedient kid. I feel guilty now. Inner Luo Shu who was a little regretful of his actions yesterday. “H... Just look. I will give you permission to go there. But, you must bring me the sweets that the palace shares. How?”
Netra Jiao was perfectly rounded. He could not believe that his teacher was letting them go.
“S-shifu-n... Are you serious?”
Luo Shu nodded.
“Thank you... Thank you very much, Shifu! Shuwan will definitely be very happy to hear this when he returns.”
“But please remember my request?! The sweets... Don't forget.”
“Why do you like sweets so much, Shifu? You're old, how about getting your blood sugar?”
“Do I need to revoke my permission so you don't go?”
“J-don't Shifu! I-I also want to know what kind of palace the Cloud Country.” is
“Eat him, don't ask much. I just want to sweeten my life that has been bitter all along. So I need a sweet-sweet meal.”
“Hahaha... Turns out you have a side like this too huh, Shifu? I thought you were just an old man who was a colossus, and also cold.”
“H... In any case I should also be happy in the rest of my limited life.”
“Alright, alright... You are the best, Shifu!”
“Regarding my permission delivery to Shuwan, how about we run a little charade?” Pinta Luo Shu's.
“The drama? Why should we have a show?”
“Yeah, I just want to know how he's doing in getting permission from me. Besides, my relationship with the palace is not good. That's why I thought first of his request to go there.”
“Ha... Apparently so. Okay, Shifu. I'll be in the show too.”
The two also discuss plans to prank Shuwan.
***
After traveling for almost 3 hours, Shuwan finally reached the palace.
“Hey, you turned out to be a smart horse huh? I will ride you often then.” Shuwan praised the horse that delivered him.
He approached the gate to ask the guards.
As soon as it got close, Shuwan jumped off his horse. His gaze of neutrality was inseparable from the gate that looked so majestic and grand.
“Woah.. Is the life of a dynasty like this? Absolutely incredible,” chirps Shuwan.
One of the guards there asked Shuwan.
“Primission, Miss, is there anything we can help you with?”
“Ah... I just want to meet someone, can I enter the palace?”
“Who would you like to meet?”
“I want to meet with the library keeper. Does he exist now?”
“He was always there. What's-her-name? Do you have an appointment with him?”
“A-me... Forgot to ask his name. But I remember his physical features. And I didn't make any promises to him. I came of my own desire. ”
Damnit damnit! Why did I forget to ask her name? Shuwan snorted in annoyance. And again, I did not have a direct appointment with him. Hm... How yes?
"You want to meet someone but don't know his name? Heh... Miss, this place is so vast, and again the person who guards the library is not just one person." Ketus the guard.
“Ah... Sir, b-but I just want to get a message to her. Please let me in, will you? Just sec. I beg.” Pinta Shuwan with a parched face and two hands that he put together like he was begging.
“Sorry, Miss. If you don't have permission or official documents, you can't enter the palace. Please don't make it difficult for us. We also do it so that the palace is always safe.”