Chapter 95: Opportunity

Pear Blossom continued to weave the cage, watching as Dong Yun got up and went into the sleeping nook. After a while, she came out with the sleeping mat, spreading it on the stone near the ventilation hole.

In an instant, Pear Blossom understood what was happening.

Dong Yun’s body was sensitive; even a slight touch would cause moisture to seep out, especially when emotions ran deep.

Pear Blossom naturally loved her body type. She also had a similar condition, but not as smooth as Dong Yun’s.

Seeing the resentment on Dong Yun’s face, Pear Blossom hurriedly said, “This won’t dry in time. I’ll bring a new one from home tomorrow.”

Dong Yun shot her a glare.

Pear Blossom tried to placate her, “Look, it’s already almost dark after dinner. We’ll be going to bed soon, and this mat hasn’t been out long enough to dry. It won’t work. Let’s flip it over and use it tonight, okay?”

With the March weather, the ground still carried a chill, and with just hay as a cushion, it was uncomfortable and easy to catch a cold. They couldn’t do without a mattress.

Dong Yun said, “You’re not allowed to touch me tonight.”

Pear Blossom didn’t respond but simply lay on the flipped-over mattress with her. It wasn’t clear who made the first move, but in the end, they ended up together again.

It wasn’t until midnight that it ended. Pear Blossom, holding the sweaty Dong Yun, took a cloth she had prepared earlier to clean her off, then pulled her back into an embrace.

Dong Yun had slept all day, and although she felt pleasantly tired, she wasn’t quite asleep—just lying there with her eyes closed, lazily resting.

Pear Blossom held her, savoring the moment and calming her racing heart. Then, the voice of System 9 rang in her mind.

“Host, the feedback from yesterday’s report has come back. Given that the current situation was caused by us, it has been decided that, while the original goal remains largely unchanged, the task will shift from cultivating the Crown Princess to cultivating the Crown Prince’s partner.”

“If you have already decided that Yu Mingyue will be your partner in this life, you must help her ascend to the position of Crown Prince. Your task will be completed only when the two of you are together. If the task is not adjusted, your goal will be to win the heart of the current Crown Prince.”

System 9 then asked, “Do you confirm the adjustment of the task?”

Pear Blossom certainly chose to adjust the task. However, she had previously asked Dong Yun to consult with her before making any decisions. Now, she had made this decision without telling her. What if Dong Yun wasn’t interested in the position of Crown Princess?

Could she really pressure her to risk everything for that position, just to be with her?

Wasn’t she no different from the original No.3 pioneer in this case?

So, she tentatively asked No. 9, “Can I tell my sister about our situation? I need her cooperation for this task.”

No. 9 replied, “No! The transaction between the system and the host can only exist between the two of you and cannot be disclosed to a third party.”

Pear Blossom immediately felt a bit disheartened and had to compromise, “Alright, I won’t tell her about it. But if she figures it out later, don’t blame me.”

No. 9 reminded her again, “Figuring it out is one thing, but actively informing her is another. If the host leaks information about the system, it will violate the confidentiality agreement, and any resulting losses will be the host’s responsibility.”

Pear Blossom sighed helplessly and said, “Fine, fine, I won’t tell her.”

No. 9 then asked, “Do you confirm the adjustment of the goal to ‘Cultivate the Crown Prince’s Consort’?”

“Do I have any better options?” Pear Blossom responded.

No. 9 answered, “No, the host can only choose to adjust or maintain the original task goal.”

Pear Blossom glanced at Dong Yun, who was sleeping beside her, and said, “Adjust it to Crown Prince’s Consort.”

At that moment, Dong Yun seemed to sense Pear Blossom’s gaze and turned over, groggily asking, “Why do I feel like you’re up to something behind my back?”

Pear Blossom was startled and quickly said to No. 9, “I didn’t say anything, is she really that alert?”

No. 9 replied, “As long as the host doesn’t inform her actively, it’s fine.”

Pear Blossom then ended the conversation with No. 9 and said to Dong Yun, “What could I possibly do behind your back? Apart from feeling sorry for you and being trapped in this small space, there’s nothing else.”

Pear Blossom was unsure when to bring up the matter of advising Dong Yun to compete for that position. She could even sense Dong Yun’s aversion to that position and place. If she spoke out too recklessly, it might backfire.

Furthermore, the situation was still unclear. Her sister might not have the confidence to compete for it. She needed to achieve some results first to have the confidence to speak.

Dong Yun didn’t know what Pear Blossom was thinking, but she could still feel her concern. Although it was a bit embarrassing to be pitied by a younger sister several years younger, it still made her heart feel warm. Thinking of the moments they had shared earlier, she couldn’t help but feel some attachment. She extended her fair arm and gently rubbed Pear Blossom’s head, saying, “Stop overthinking, go to sleep.”

Pear Blossom replied, “Okay,” and added, “I need to wake up early tomorrow to help the family with transplanting rice seedlings. You stay in the cave, and I’ll bring you food and stay with you at night.”

Dong Yun, of course, knew what “staying the night” meant, but the two of them were now in the phase of savoring these moments, so she couldn’t help but think about it. She softly hummed in agreement.

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The next morning, Pear Blossom woke up early, boiled some rice porridge over charcoal, and then went down the mountain.

When Dong Yun woke up, she smelled the fragrant rice aroma filling the cave. Her lonely heart, which had been isolated for over a month, became warm and soft. She lay on the bedding and chuckled softly.

Her desires were never high—just a peaceful and happy family of three. She wanted to wake up to the sun shining on the window, sitting on the bed and combing Fubao’s hair, and seeing her smile as she playfully pounced over.

That was all.

But it seemed like it would never come true!

After Pear Blossom went down the mountain, her younger brother and sister had already gone to school, so she picked up a basket and went to the fields with her parents.

Her progress was different from the other students, mainly because the teacher and Dong Yun had given her extra help. With the system’s attribute boosts and her own efforts, she was far ahead of others.

Mrs. Xiong, watching her with shining eyes, couldn’t help but want to say something to tease her.

When she saw Pear Blossom’s energetic posture, she couldn’t help but wonder where all that strength came from. In no time, she had planted a large patch of rice seedlings.

Pear Blossom, noticing her mother’s constant gaze, asked curiously, “Mother, why are you staring at me?”

Mrs. Xiong grunted, “Just admiring your strength.”

She couldn’t help but wonder what the princess saw in her daughter—did she really just appreciate her strength?

Pear Blossom smiled and said, “Right? Even my sister says I’m strong.”

Mrs. Xiong couldn’t bear to listen anymore and grumbled, “If you’re so strong, why don’t you help the Zeng family plant their rice?”

Since the princess didn’t run away, the matter with Fubao must have been planned by them. Mrs. Xiong realized later that she had unfairly blamed Mrs. Zeng. After the fight with Mrs. Zeng, Pear Blossom had gone to hurt her, and now the old woman was limping while working in the fields. Zeng Guangjin and his mother were planting seedlings themselves, and no one was willing to help them. Now, it was considered an achievement if they could finish a third of the work in one day.

Looking at how quickly the other families had finished their planting while hers still had half to go, Mrs. Xiong couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

Pear Blossom smiled and said, “Once we finish planting our field, I’ll help their family.”

Mrs. Xiong became even more displeased, thinking that Pear Blossom was already leaning toward others, so she responded, “If you’re so strong, go do it yourself. I’m not going.”

Pear Blossom, of course, couldn’t ask her mother to go help the Zeng family plant rice. Her sister had only been able to escape to Daliushu Village with the protection of Zeng Dayou and the guards. She had borrowed an identity to stay there, so it could be said that the Zeng family had helped her. Helping the Zeng family was like repaying a favor for her sister. She didn’t mind putting in the effort, but it wouldn’t be right to make her mother work as well.

Besides, it was just transplanting rice seedlings. Pear Blossom wasn’t short on strength, and planting for four or five days wouldn’t be a problem.

A few days ago, they had even captured some beggars and brought them to help. It wouldn’t take long to finish.

Inside the Longwei Dart Bureau, the atmosphere was tense.

In the study, Murong Qingshan furrowed his brows and handed a secret report to Murong Jiutian.

“The Duke of the State rebelled, and it was only with great difficulty that it was suppressed. Yuwen Jing also lost a considerable number of men, and the Beijing is in turmoil. It won’t be stabilized anytime soon.”

Murong Jiutian shook his head upon hearing this, sighing, “It’s not just the Beijing; the world is in chaos now. Famine is rampant, and the common people are rising up. Our Jinyang is somewhat better, but other counties are already in dire straits. If this world continues to be governed by Yuwen Jing, there will be no peace.”

Murong Qingshan nodded solemnly. “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”

Murong Jiutian was momentarily stunned. “What do you mean, brother?”

“Now, many are using the princess’s name to start a rebellion, but if we consider who the princess is closest to, aside from the Princess of Xisai, it would have to be our Murong family. Moreover, with Jin’er’s relationship with her, this is an excellent opportunity!”

Murong Jiutian spoke with some concern, “What if the princess doesn’t have such intentions?”

“Let Jin’er make arrangements. I’ll go test the waters with her. The Duke of the State has rebelled, and the crown prince is his nephew. This matter involves many, and the crown prince cannot remain in Jinyang. After I meet with the princess, I’ll head back to the Beijing immediately!”

“Everything will follow your arrangement, brother.”

…

Later that afternoon, someone came to Pear Blossom’s house. It was someone from the Longwei Dart Bureau, who had heard that she had recovered, and Murong Jiutian himself came to visit her at home.

Pear Blossom, seeing Murong Qingshan standing by, still felt somewhat nervous, especially since he had caught her in the act when dealing with Bai Yichun that day. They hadn’t crossed paths since then, so now that he was visiting her personally, she couldn’t help but wonder what his intentions were.

However, since the deed was done, and seeing Murong Jin’s calm demeanor, Pear Blossom decided to set her worries aside and greeted Murong Qingshan politely.

Murong Qingshan looked at the young woman before him and nodded. “It’s good that you’re well. You should still pay attention to your health in the future.”

Pear Blossom quickly agreed.

However, when she saw Yuwen Xiu standing nearby, a sense of disgust began to rise within her.

But Yuwen Xiu, unaware of her thoughts, couldn’t help but feel happy seeing her looking lively and well, so he walked over to chat with her.

Pear Blossom didn’t want to pay attention to him, but his special status made it hard to outright ignore him. Plus, since her master had instructed her to entertain their guests, she could only respond politely, spending a small part of the afternoon playing leaf cards with Murong Jin and the others.

Although the Dagen couple didn’t know Yuwen Xiu’s identity, they were aware that Murong Qingshan worked for the Zhenfu Division. With their daughter now mixing with the princess and maintaining close ties with someone from the Zhenfu Division, they couldn’t help but feel anxious.

Despite their worry, the couple didn’t have much influence and could only retreat to the kitchen, making food to serve the guests.

Among the four young people playing leaf cards, the most formidable were Murong Jin and Xia Xunyan. Xia Xunyan was skilled at mental calculation and could keep track of the cards, while Murong Jin was shrewd and experienced, making them a formidable team.

Yuwen Xiu insisted on partnering with Pear Blossom, leaving the remaining two as a separate team.

Pear Blossom had previously used her system to cheat when dealing with the casinos in Jinyang City, but now she was playing with her own people, so she couldn’t use the system. Besides, since she was paired with Yuwen Xiu, she didn’t care much about winning or losing and didn’t want to win.

As a result, she and Yuwen Xiu lost seven or eight rounds in a row.

Yuwen Xiu grew bored and frustrated, feeling disappointed that he couldn’t show off in front of the girl he liked. He secretly complained about the other two women not letting him win, even though he was the crown prince.

However, Murong Jin didn’t pick up on his subtle hints and continued to enjoy her cards.

It was Xia Xunyan who noticed Yuwen Xiu’s impatience and subtly eased the pressure, allowing the game to continue for over an hour.

While playing cards, Yuwen Xiu kept looking at Pear Blossom, wanting to speak but holding back. The other two women were silent, and nobody broke the silence, so he turned to Xia Xunyan and asked, “Sister Xia, when are you returning to the Beijing? With your talents, it’s a shame for you to remain here. If you return, Pear Blossom can also go with you and experience the bustling Beijing.”

Xia Xunyan smiled faintly. “You flatter me, Young Master. The children here are pure and eager to learn. I feel like I’m more useful here than in the Beijing.”

“You’re too humble. With your talent, teaching these children is like wasting great talent,” Yuwen Xiu insisted.

Xia Xunyan shook her head. “Teaching and nurturing people is far better than wasting time in the Beijing, admiring flowers and writing poetry.”

Yuwen Xiu quickly said, “There are so many talented scholars in the book societies, writing poetry and composing couplets, cultivating one’s character and making friends. How can that be a waste of time?”

Xia Xunyan merely smiled.

Yuwen Xiu turned back to Pear Blossom and said, “Pear Blossom, since you know martial arts, you could come to the palace—or my residence— as a female bodyguard. Let me tell you, the Beijing is lively and much more interesting than here. The streets are bustling, and everywhere you look, it’s gold and brilliance. My family has plenty of assets, and I can give you whatever you want!”

Pear Blossom replied expressionlessly, “Thank you for your kind offer, but I won’t be going to the Beijing. I’m staying here to marry.”

Yuwen Xiu’s face turned white instantly, and he asked in a strained voice, “Have you already promised someone else?”

Pear Blossom continued washing the cards, unfazed, and said, “Yes, we’re engaged for life.”

Yuwen Xiu’s face darkened immediately. At first, he stayed seated, trying to maintain his composure, but soon his frustration couldn’t be contained. He stood up abruptly and said, “I’m done playing. What a terrible game, not fun at all.”

With that, he stormed out.

A little eunuch standing by quickly chased after him.

Murong Jin glanced at Pear Blossom, the corners of his mouth slightly lifting.

On the other side, Mrs. Xiong had already prepared the meal and came to invite them to dine.

When she learned that Yuwen Xiu had already left early, she was a bit surprised.

Murong Jin said, “Aunt, it’s fine, we can eat on our own.”

“Your eldest uncle went out to walk around the village, but we don’t know where he went. Let Pear Blossom go and bring him back for dinner.”

As they were speaking, a tall figure walked in through the door—it was none other than Murong Qingshan.

Hearing that Yuwen Xiu had left ahead, he furrowed his brows and said, “I won’t be eating either. I need to go back! Jin’er, you and your father stay and eat. Dagen, sister-in-law, my apologies, I’ll be leaving first.”

Before leaving, he glanced at Pear Blossom and added, “Study more with Miss Xia, cultivate your temperament! Don’t slack off on your training, practice every day, and don’t fall down for no reason like last time!”

Pear Blossom quickly responded, “Yes, Master.”