Choices

19 - Halcyon Days

A/N: Honeymoon period, a.k.a., the calm before the storm.

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Bihai Cangling.

A mystical place steeped in spiritual energy, one which not even the highest ranking and most powerful immortals can gain entry into without invitation. Ever since Donghua Dijun assumed the mantle as god master and eventually, ruler of heaven and earth, and moved his official residence to Taichen Palace before finally retiring in the thirteenth level of the Southern realms, Bihai Cangling had remained firmly closed to all aside from its Master and the few servants sent on occasion to maintain the place.

Never in her life did Fengjiu imagine that she would one day step into this most esteemed place,  brought in by the last person she expected. Hence, despite the circumstances of her presence here, she resolved to enjoy every moment and commit every detail to memory.

"It's so beautiful," she murmured, as the boat Dijun commandeered floated in leisure above the clear blue spring where anything and everything can grow. Then, unable to help herself, she leaned over the boat to let her hand glide on the cool, mystical waters and asked with a child's wonder, "Is it true that you can plant anything in here? Are the waters deep? Will it be okay to take a swim later?"

Dijun reached out and pulled her away from the edge of the boat with gentle hands. "Yes, not for me, and yes," he answered, with the patience of an indulgent parent. "We'll be here for a week or so, you'll have plenty of time to explore."

As soon as they got to shore, Fengjiu skipped out of the boat and ran here and there, dragging Dijun by his sleeves, her awed gaze roving around the sprawling and natural scenery and lingering with thoughtful silence at the stone palace that was its centerpiece.

"This is such a huge place. How come you don't live here?"

From where he stood behind her, his gaze full of her glimmering eyes and exultant expression, Donghua shrugged and said, "it's empty here."

She had to agree with him on that. "Well, maybe it won't be so empty if you put in decorations." Skipping to one side, she surveyed it with a critical eye and said, "a garden with a koi pond would look nice in this area. You could put in another pavilion, and beds for flowers that are beautiful to look at but require little care." Then, as her imagination flowed with ideas, she pointed to a grove several distance away and said, "a vegetable garden would also be nice. There are lots of edible plants that are both decorative and delicious, you can chop away that forest over there and replace it with those."

He followed her line of sight and raised an eyebrow. "Destroy a naturally magnificent forest for a vegetable garden? Preposterous."

Any other person would have reeled back at the poisonous words, but she merely laughed and pushed, "would Dijun like me to draw a diagram of the gardens I spoke of? I am very good at designing things. Maybe if you see how they look, you'd be inclined to make some changes."

He didn't say yes, but he didn't disagree either, so Fengjiu produced a roll of parchment, brush, and ink, and skipped over to a nearby rock bench, set under a huge Fuling tree. Without waiting for Dijun to follow, she dropped onto the grassy round, spread her writing materials on the flat stone, and started sketching.