17 LOVE BLOSSOM

Cao Song, Meng De, Mother Yan, Lady Ding, and Bian are present at dinner. "I made your favorite eggplant dish," Mother Yan said giving a piece of eggplant to Cao Song. "Hm," Cao Song said chewing on the food. The nights Mother Yan knows that it is Cao Song's last night in visiting them, she makes his favorite dishes. "I brought peaches, let us eat them for dessert," Meng De said. "Very thoughtful of you, they looked delicious," Mother Yan said. "It is the season for them," Cao Song said knowing the peaches will be delicious, "it was picked from the palace peach tree." "Long live the Emperor, generous Emperor shared his peaches with us," Mother Yan said smiling, "I remember living in the palace, the garden was filled with all types of fruit trees." "Still looks the same mother," Meng De said. "I have not visit Empress in a long time," Mother Yan sighs. "You should visit her and gift her some fabrics," Cao Song said. "Yes," Mother Yan said.

After dinner, Lady Ding, Meng De, Mother Yan, and Cao Song enjoyed their desserts in the living room conversing away. Bian excused herself not feeling good of the dinner. Bian threw up all the food she had just ate and rested on the ground of losing her energy from the vomit. "How are you?" a consort said rubbing Bian's back. "I am fine," Bian said closing her eyes. "Would you like the peaches to help?" the consort asked. "They smell good," Bian smiled at the consort. "I will bring you some," the consort said walking away.

"Lady Ding only favor Consort Bian, that is why she treat you bad," a consort whispered. Bian heard them gossiping behind her from where she was sitting. Bian didn't want to be involved and almost stood up until she heard them talking about more about Lady Guo and Lady Mei, "Lady Ding said I have to apologize for caring Lady Guo and Lady Mei the wrong way," another consort said in a scared voice. "Did you?" the first consort asked. "No, Lady Ding kicked us out into the sun during the afternoon and the children did not get any shade until the evening," the scared consort said. "She blamed it on you?" the first consort said. "Yes," the scared consort's voice was shaking, "I am scared of getting punished by General Meng De." Bian flashed back to her being punished and can still feel the pain on her back. Her fists balled up.

"Consort Bian," the consort helping Bian returned with the bowl of peaches. The two consorts gossiping turned to see that Bian heard the whole conversation. "Consort Bian?" the two consorts said spotting her. Bian slowly stood up with little energy and bowing her head. "I did not mean to eavesdrop," she said. Bian walked toward the consort, who was bringing her the peaches, and pulled the consort towards the dining room. "Thank you," she said taking the bowl from the consort. "I hope you like them," the consort said and excused herself to other chores. Bian sat down and ate the peaches to fulfil her cravings. Throwing up all the food she just ate for dinner, made her hungry but she did not want to eat anymore. So, the peaches helped in fulfilling her hunger. After finishing the bowl of peaches, Bian smiled and rubbed her stomach to actually feeling her baby bump for the first time. "You like peaches that much," Bian smiled talking to herself and the baby. "Zi Huan," Bian said naming her baby bump "child". Bian smiled to herself, she like that name for the baby. It is simple. Bian finish the peaches and leave to the kitchen to wash the bowl.

Meng De smiled seeing Bian smiling and enjoying herself after eating those peaches. He knew it would make her happy since she had been craving them. He hasn't seen her smile since that night under the moon. "Zi Huan" Meng De heard Bian said the name. He smiled at how simple the name was. Bian didn't even noticed Meng De standing by the door and observing her. She had left to the kitchen. Meng De smiled all the way walking to his manor. Instead of going to sleep to rest from the long day, he sat down by his desk and opened his poetry book. He started writing a love poem.

The next morning, Bian woke up early to the birds chirping outside. She freshened herself and walked towards the kitchen to help the consorts prepare for breakfast, like usual. It has been a long time, Bian heard sword fighting from the court yard. Bian looked out with the consorts to see Meng De practicing. The last time he had practice every morning was when he left to war during the first year of his marriage with Lady Ding. Mother Yan enters the kitchen, "we have a guest this morning," she informs everyone cooking. "Yes," everyone answered. "Consort Bian," she said seeing Bian helping the consorts cooking, "what are you doing?" "I am helping them prepare for breakfast," Bian said in fear of her doing something wrong. Mother Yan looked at her and sighs, "Meng De and his guest will be done soon, bring them some water," she instructed. Bian nodded yes and grabbed the two cups of water heading to the court yard.

Meng De and General Cao De was practicing in their sword fighting. Seeing Bian slowly entering the court yard, Meng De loses focus. This gave a chance for General Cao De to knock of Meng De's sword, attacking him to fall. "Ugh," Meng De sat up from falling. "What is wrong?" General Cao De helped his brother back up. General Cao De couldn't believe it that he had defeated Meng De, when Meng De was one of the best generals. Meng De stood back up and patted the dirt from his clothes. "I saw an early bird," Meng De lied. General Cao De laughed at Meng De's easily distraction. Meng De went to grab his sword and bowed to his brother in ending the fight. Meng De and General Cao De were same age brothers, in couple months apart, General Cao De being younger.

"Drink some water," Meng De told General Cao De as he walk up to Bian who stands there with the tray of the 2 cups of water. Meng De looked at Bian, who bowed her head looking away. He grabbed his cup of water and followed by General Cao De, who also grabbed his cup of water. General Cao De drank his water quickly and put the cup back onto the tray. "Consort Bian?" he said smiling at her. Bian looked up and greeted General Cao De, " General Cao De." "How are you in the past couple of days?" General Cao De asked. "I am doing fine," Bian said. "Thank you for the water," General Cao De smiled at Bian. Meng De watched his way of smiling at Bian, knowing how big of a player General Cao De is. Meng De finish his water and puts the cup onto the tray, "I heard Concubine Mo Chan is giving birth soon," Meng De purposely said to intervene. "Yes," General Cao De said not smiling anymore. "How about Lady Ding?" General Cao De asked. "She is well," Meng De answered. Both of them sat down as they wiped their sweats. "I heard Lady Ding cannot bore an heir?" General Cao De asked. "They are just rumors," Meng De said, "we are still young, we can try many times." General Cao De laughed and Meng De smiled. "Yes make use of your youthful days," General Cao De said.

Bian watched how Meng De interacts with his brother to see him smiling and enjoying the time. She was surprised to even see that Meng De can smile out of his manor. "Consort Bian," a consort called. Bian turned. "Breakfast is ready," the consort said. "Thank you," Bian said and nodded. Bian went up to Meng De and General Cao De to notify them. "General Cao Cao," Bian said and both of the men looked at her, "breakfast is ready." Meng De nodded, "let us go eat breakfast," Meng De told General Cao De. General Cao De nodded. Meng De walked first leaving the court yard. "Consort Bian," General Cao De said walking with Bian, who followed afterwards. "Yes," Bian looked at him and admired his beautiful features. "What are you doing in the next couple of days?" General Cao De asked. Bian looked away not knowing what will happen. "I was thinking of visiting this manor again," General Cao De said smiling at Bian. "Feel ease to visit General Cao Cao," Bian smiled at General Cao De. Meng De got to the dining manor to find General Cao Cao and Bian conversing following him. He cleared his throat to get their attention. "Would you like more water?" General Cao De looked at Meng De, who keeps clearing his throat. "Come eat," Cao Song called through the dining room. "Yes," Meng De and General Cao De answered their father.

Meng De and General Cao De sat down side by side. Lady Ding sit next Meng De, Mother Yan sits beside Lady Ding, and Cao Song sits next to Mother Yan, leaving a spot between Cao Song and General Cao De. Consort Bian decided to sit in between Cao Song and General Cao De. "Let us eat," Cao Song said started eating after everyone was seated. "It is nice that you join us this morning," Mother Yan said handing General Cao De a meat. "Thank you, Lady Yan," he said. "How is Lady Feng?" Mother Yan asked. "Mother is fine," General Cao De answered. General Cao De grabbed a meat and puts it in Bian's bowl. "Thank you," Bian thanked General Cao De. "I am surprised that as a consort, you are treated like family," General Cao De said noticing Bian being able to sit with the family on the dinner table.

Cao Song cleared his throat after swallowing his food. "Consort Bian, is soon to be your sister in law," Cao Song told General Cao De. General Cao De stopped eating in shock, "Meng De's concubine?" he asked. Cao Song and Meng De looked at him. "Who else?" Meng De said looking at General Cao De. "I am happy for you," General Cao De faked a smile at Meng De. His pride was hurt for being too late. He like Consort Bian and wouldn't mind having another concubine. He turned to Bian and genuinely smiled at her, "I am happy for you," he said. "Thank you," Bian faked a smile to him.

"When is the event?" General Cao De asked. "6 days more," Cao Song said. "That is fast," General Cao De was surprised. They were going to be sent out to find Yuan Shao soon. "Fast?" Mother Yan asked in confusion. "Yes, Lady Yan, we are going to be sent out to follow the Emperor's orders in the next couple of days," General Cao De said. Bian looked at Meng De worriedly. Meng De avoided her look at and told Mother Yan, "yes, I was going to tell you about it." Mother Yan nodded, "it is fine, you must go do what you have to do," she said. Lady Ding touched Meng De's arms. Meng De nodded to Lady Ding to assure her everything is fine. Although, everything is not fine for Bian.

"You must be happy to be wedded to brother Meng De," General Cao De said to Bian. They had finish eating breakfast and General Cao De and Bian left to the court yard to converse. Bian lowered her head in General Cao De's compliment. "Growing up, many ladies liked his serious character," General Cao De said, "even though I am the one with the looks and speech, ladies liked his mysterious." Bian looked at General Cao De to listen to him. "It was because he was not interested in them," General Cao De said to not hurt Bian's feelings. "You are just like him," General Cao De said. Bian was confused, "how?" she asked. "You also have a mysterious side to you," he said smiling at her. Bian smiled at how General Cao De thought of her. She wasn't a mysterious type, it just she tends to keep her feelings inside because she doesn't want to burden anyone. "I have to go now," General Cao De said looking at the sun, "I will be there for your wedding." Bian lowered her head to bid goodbye.