1314: A Thousand Peonies Bloom
Fighting with the Mind

Shuwan gasped in surprise. He coughed and re-whitened the drinking water that had entered his mouth.

“Uhuk... Uhuk.... Ughhhh... Who would dare surprise me?” shuwan said with a bit of emotion. His left hand then rubbed the remaining water spilled on the outer surface of his mouth and chin.

As he looked back, he found the figure of a man of white stature, short gray hair with a little rest of long hair ponytailed, and also golden-yellow eyes were standing while putting on a forced-looking smile at Shuwan.Well, that person was Xin Ru, the shadow bodyguard of Zhi Qiang the crown prince.

“S-who are you?” shuwan asked.

“I was someone who was assigned to deliver this letter here,” Xin Ru then took out a scroll of letters from her pocket.

He handed it to Shuwan. 

Without hesitation Shuwan instantly received the letter. “Who sent it? Is that the library guard? Not just ask San to send it?” 

Shuwan opens the letter and finds out that it was Zhang who had sent him the letter. He made no comment while reading his letter.

Meanwhile Xin Ru was still observing Shuwan, the ‘Black’ who had made her master fall in love. He seems to have practiced swords. So, my master likes a woman who can fight? If this woman were to be put into a harem, she would definitely not be easily oppressed. It can even make the concubines run away in fear. My master does have good eyes.

Shuwan, how are you? Has it improved? Not nearly a week we haven't seen each other. Did you miss me?

Well, I hope you feel the same.

Oh yeah, I'd like to invite you to the lantern festival. You came to the palace with Jiao huh?! I just want to fly a lantern with you.

That's all I want to tell you. See you at the palace. Miss you.

Signed: Zhang

Shuwan rolled back his letter after it was finished reading. “Hah... Tumben once this boy sent a letter? I thought he had forgotten us at home,”.

Xin Ru was surprised to hear the words coming out of Shuwan's mouth. Did Zhang and the Black Goose know each other? I have to report it to His Majesty.

“Please tell Zhang, me and Jiao will think about it,” Shuwan said.

“Good. Then I go first,” Xin Ru says goodbye.

“Wait! This is for you.”

Shuwan gave two persimmon candies to Xin Ru. He said, “You must be very tired after traveling a long way. This you can eat to delay hunger. And, be careful when on the road.”

Xin Ru smiled. He also received Shuwan's gift. “Thank you,” in short.

Shuwan nodded, and returned a smile. “Then I enter first.” 

Shuwan then passed by leaving Xin Ru who was watching his departure.

Maybe you are not wrong to fall in love with him. Inner Xin Ru looked at the two persimmon sweets in her hands.

Shuwan goes into the house. He rushed to find Jiao to tell her the letter.

“Jiao?” call Shuwan who finds Jiao lying in the room.

“Ah... Shuwan. You're back. How are you feeling?”

“It's been better after eating some sweets persimmon.”

“Thank God then. Um... By the way you're carrying it?” jiao asked curiously at the item Shuwan was carrying.

“This is a letter from Zhang. Read up. I read it.”

Shuwan then handed the letter to Jiao. Jiao read it, and smiled.

Shuwan who noticed it also became restless.

“What are you laughing at?” shuwan asked with a sting.

“No, no... Compared to an invitation, this looks more like a longing letter. She misses you Shuwan,” ledek Jiao.

Shuwan just threw away his face. “Males are always sweet in the mouth. But don't know how his heart is,” Shuwan said.

***

Meanwhile at the palace, Zhang and Yu Hao would come to visit the crown prince handing over the reports of the preparations for the celebration.

Arriving at the crown prince's residence, the two were invited to enter.

Zhang and Yu Hao walked over to Zhi Qiang who was sitting at his study table.

“Your Highness, this is the final report of the celebration preparations,” Zhang said as he handed the book to Zhi Qiang.

“Thank you. You guys have worked hard. I have to treat you to a meal like.”

“You are too proud of Your Majesty,” said Yu Hao.

“Once can also ‘kan? Coincidentally I need a friend to eat and also chat.”

“Alright if Your Majesty forces,” Yu Hao again responds to Zhi Qiang's remarks.

Meanwhile, Zhang still did not turn his gaze to the painting on Zhi Qiang's study table.

Unable to hold onto his curiosity, Zhang finally opened his mouth.

“Your Majesty, this painting is so beautiful. Who are the people in this painting?”

Zhi Qiang smiled. He answered Zhang's question. “She is the Black Swan I met on the market.”

“Black forces?” zhang asked, squinting his eyes.

“Haha.. It was just the nickname I gave her. She is a very unpredictable woman.”

“So apparently.” Is this just my feeling? How could Shuwan go to the market in clothes like this?

Zhang tried to shake his feelings. He does not know the truth that the painting is the true Shuwan he knows.

The three of them talked until the sun began to lean west. A short time later, Xin Ru returned.

“Master, I'm back,” he said from the doorstep.

“Xin Ru, finally you're back,” welcome Zhi Qiang. “How, have you delivered the letter?”

Xin Ru nodded. “The intended person has already received it. He said that would consider it.” I want to report something to you. But Zhang and Yu Hao were still here.

Huh... Why doesn't he just say it anyway? Inner Zhang was restless. He ignored his feelings for a moment. “Then, thank you for helping me, Mr. Xin Ru,” Zhang said courteously.

“Cause. We are the same age, you just call me Xin Ru. That sounds better and familiar,” Xin Ru said.

“H... Alright then, Xin Ru.”

***

Two people invited me to the same event. Who should I prioritize? Shuwan again struggled with his daydream. Not finished with the crown prince's rescue mission, now he must think again with Zhang's invitation.

The librarian invited me first. Then I should go to his place first. But, Zhang is this travel partner, as well as someone from my past. Huh... My head hurts to think about endless problems.

Shuwan threw himself on the bed after feeling tired from thinking.

Jiao who had just entered the room was again confused by the attitude of her friend. He approached Shuwan, who was lying in bed, behind him.

“Shuwan, is your problem so severe that you're like this?” jiao asked worriedly.

“Ah.. Jiao. All right I'll tell you.”

Jiao approached and sat down on the edge of the bed. He was ready to listen to Shuwan's story.

“You know ‘kan before Zhang sent me a letter someone from the palace has first sent us a letter?”

Jiao nodded. “Previous, the librarian was ‘kan who asked you to come to the palace?”

“True. Now that my problem is, Zhang also invited me to fly the lantern together. I'm confused how? If only I could split up, I would definitely come across both.” Not to mention I also have to protect the crown prince.

“It turns out your mind is really complicated huh? Tell you what, you go to the librarian's place first. Then I just met Zhang. This if in accordance with who first invited ya?”

“I also think so Jiao. But, what if Zhang misunderstands me right away? Huh... I just want to live my day in peace.”

“Tomorrow we leave for the palace, right? Let's just meet Zhang, and tell him that someone invited you first. He must understand.”

“I hope so too, Jiao.”

“You must be able to convince Zhang, so that he does not get angry and will relinquish.”

Shuwan. “I understand.”

Their conversation ended just like that. Now the two of them were packing up the items that would be brought to the palace.

While packing his clothes, Shuwan asks Jiao something.

“Jiao, how many clothes do you think I should bring? And, which clothes should I bring?”

“H... The celebration is five days. Bring me five pairs of clothes, Shuwan. Don't forget to bring the dress as a formal outfit.”

“Isn't that too much? And the dress, I had absolutely no thought of bringing her.”

“Hei... You will be invited to fly the lantern with the man of the palace, how can you just look like him?”

“Hah... Alright... I'll bring one dress only.”

“H... No. gabe... No. gabe.... Bring three dresses.”

“What? That's too much!”

“You will need it later, so bring it as I mentioned.”

“Hey, since when do you care about my clothes?”

“Since many people are interested in you..”.

The two also exchanged mouths like a child struggling with candy.