Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons

The beauty of April on earth is so beautiful, but it is not as beautiful as the peonies that bloom in the capital.

Tang people loved peonies the most, and appreciating them was the most popular pastime for Chang'an people in their spare time in April. In addition to the most beautiful peonies planted in the palace, the most beautiful ones bloomed in several famous Buddhist temples. There were crowds of tourists all day long, and those who were slightly shorter did not dare to go to see the flowers, fearing that they would not be able to see any of the peonies, and could only look at the backs of other people's heads.

Wen Jiao brought two carefully searched famous peony pots as gifts, and took Mingxin with her, and went to visit Li Chunfeng's home with a small entourage. One pot of thousand-petal flesh-red peony, and one pot of thousand-petal yellow peony, rare treasures that could not be found on the market even if a hundred gold coins were not spent, Wen Jiao felt that she had shown her sincerity. If it weren't for the nephew of Madam Yin's family who loved to take care of some flowers and plants, and personally cultivated many rare flowers, even if Wen Jiao herself tried her best, she would not be able to get such a good-looking peony.

It's just a farewell to sincerity. When you are wrong first, you also need to be more gentle. Wen Jiao smiled shyly: "The previous incident in Hua'e Zhenghui Tower was my fault. I am really ashamed of damaging Mr. Li's reputation for my own selfishness. But I have been busy since then and have no time to apologize. Now that the matter is over, I have come here in person to apologize to Mr. Li. Mr. Li, please just consider the face of these two pots of flowers, and don't take it to heart."

Li Chunfeng's servant Dexiu brought the tea stove and tea sets. Li Chunfeng personally brewed tea and said as he ordered tea, "Madam, you don't have to be polite. Although the fire crystal elf likes to play some small tricks, it only does it to make a living. Besides, it is innocent by nature and can recognize you as its master, which shows that you are kind-hearted. People with pure hearts naturally don't want to do evil, so a little trick is nothing. I first received a table of delicious food, and now I have two pots of beautiful flowers for free. I have made a profit."

Let's just say that she let Huo Ling'er mess up the situation. This self-directed and self-acted play could not be hidden from the real masters. Look, not only was Yuan Tiangang aware of the clues, but even Li Chunfeng was not able to hide it. Huo Ling'er was not only recognized as her true identity, but also recognized as the Hu people who performed magic at the banquet of the Princess of Xiangyang. This whole ordeal was only hidden from Xuanzang and Madam Yin.

Fortunately, Wen Jiao originally wanted to keep it a secret from Madam Yin.

Wen Jiao lowered her head slightly. When she felt guilty, she would always inadvertently reveal a bit of soft embarrassment: "Mr. Li is magnanimous, but I feel uneasy because I have ruined Mr. Li's reputation in public."

"Madam Guichuan, are you referring to the elf who said I was a heartless and unfaithful man?" Li Chunfeng smiled. "It just so happens that I have no intention of getting married. The reputation of being an unfaithful man can only scare a few matchmakers. What harm can it do to me? Madam, you don't have to take it to heart."

"Ah!" Mingxin behind her cried out faintly. Without looking back, Wen Jiao could imagine the girl's panic, disappointment and helplessness. She had already freed Mingxin from slavery, and knew that her parents and family were all dead. Now that she was free, she was eager to have a warm family. But she didn't expect that the man she loved so much was actually a bachelor.

Wen Jiao hesitated for a moment and asked, "I remember that although Mr. Li is a Taoist, he is not a Taoist who practices the golden elixir. Does he also have to renounce the worldly affairs and give up the joy of marriage like the monks?"

Li Chunfeng rolled up his sleeves, picked up the pot, and poured a stream of tea into the cup in a rainbow-like curve. He focused on the tea and said in a gentle voice, "I am not unkind, but I am obsessed with the principles of heaven and the mysteries of heaven and earth, and I really have no time to be distracted by worldly pleasures. I am unable to serve my parents, care for my wife, and raise my children like an ordinary person."

I see, this guy is a workaholic. Wen Jiao couldn't help but feel bad for Ming Xin. First love is always the most lingering, but when she fell in love with a workaholic who didn't care about family, what kind of luck was this?

"Will your father and mother also allow Mr. Li to do what he wants?" Wen Jiao had seen only-child couples in modern times, but most of them got married under the pressure of their parents.

"My father and mother have already gone into the mountains to practice cultivation." Li Chunfeng said, "The tea is ready."

De Xiu brought the tea over, and Wen Jiao had no choice but to take it. The relationship between the tea that the Tang people drank and the tea that modern people drink is as unrelated as fish and bicycles. The Tang people added not only salt, but also onion, ginger, orange peel, and even mint. Although Li Chunfeng did not add onion, ginger, and orange peel, he added mint and salt. Wen Jiao tried her best to maintain her demeanor, without frowning or facial twitching, and took a sip.

She felt as if she had swallowed a large mouthful of China toothpaste and was about to feel unwell.

Putting down the teacup quickly, Wen Jiao stroked her brows, and after making sure that she was not frowning because of the drink, she breathed a sigh of relief: "Didn't your father and mother also practice cultivation after getting married and having children? Why don't you follow suit, Mr. Li?"

Li Chunfeng poured himself a cup of tea, drank a few sips slowly, and said with a smile: "When women get married, they always hope to have a husband who can be with them day and night and be considerate to them. If I knew that I could not give such warmth and was destined not to be a good match, it would be better not to drag a good daughter into this."

This is indeed the truth, and Wen Jiao was somewhat convinced by him. She had seen many workaholics who were busy day and night, so crazy that they wanted to live in the company. As for the task of taking care of parents and children, it was inevitably thrown to the wife. No matter how deep the feelings were, how considerate and willing to give, resentment would inevitably arise in such day-to-day consumption. Such a marriage is really unfair to the woman.

Since Li Chunfeng himself had already made up his mind to remain single, Wen Jiao could not force him. She was just wondering how to comfort Ming Xin, who had to go home empty-handed before she could express her feelings, when she heard the girl behind her whisper, "Mr. Li is not a girl himself, so how can you know that girls in the world only want to be with their husbands day and night?"

Wen Jiao looked back and saw that the usually shy girl no longer hid her face, but looked at Li Chunfeng with tears in her eyes: "If it were me, I would be willing to take care of the housework and take care of the children, so that my lover would have no worries and could just do his own business wholeheartedly. I am just a little girl, I don't understand any big principles, but I always feel that as long as my lover can do what he likes, I will be happy too."

Li Chunfeng put down the teacup and looked at her.

Under his clear gaze, Mingxin's eyelashes flickered shyly a few times, her face flushed: "Besides, even if my husband can't be with me day and night, I won't be lonely. I can sew clothes for him for all seasons, clean the house, arrange the furniture, plant flowers, raise cats, sort out accounts and so on. If there is a child..." She bit her lip shyly, pinched herself hard, and found the strength to stop her voice from trembling in the sharp pain, "I can also take care of him, and there are endless things to do every day."

Wen Jiao almost applauded her. This girl has always been lukewarm. She would be so happy that she would toss and turn when she talked to Li Chunfeng for a few more words. She didn't expect that she would be so brave!

That's right, when Hong Fu, the maidservant of Yang Su, the prime minister of the Sui Dynasty, fell in love with Li Yaoshi, she dared to escape at night and elope with him, and successfully became the wife of the Duke of Wei during the Zhenguan Dynasty. The example was set there, and it involved a lifelong event, so what if she was brave for once?