“Chief, Chief, bad news, bad news!” Ye’s restless voice voice reached her ears from behind her.

“Madam Sanjō invited Lady Suwa to watch the maple trees. Maybe she is planning to hurt her. Would you go to have a look?”

“Don’t make a fuss. It will be fine.” Sakura was watering the short gra.s.s in the garden; she didn’t even turn back to look at her. “Without Yae, Madam won’t be so brave. Since Lady Yiu entered the inner compound, I have sent Cao to serve her. Even without Cao, she is clever enough to deal with the madam. So, no worries. Besides, Master always calls Lady Suwa to his house these days. The madam won’t be so silly as to hurt her right now.”

“Are you . . . angry at Lady Yiu because of the master?” Ye blinked her eyes and came closer.

She never guessed Sakura would suddenly turn back and yell at her, “Who is angry with that Studhorse? I’d rather die immediately than envy Yiu.”

Ye was shocked and her secretive expression was frozen on her face. After a while, she asked her, “Chief, may I ask you a question?”

“What?” Sakura was still in an angry mood.

“What does studhorse mean?”

“I also want to know,” came another voice.

Harun.o.bu? When did he come here? Seeing Ye was bowing before him, Sakura gave her a hint to leave. She took him to the sakura garden, which was seldom visited by people.

“Are you getting a fever? Why did you take me here to watch the sakura trees?”

“Who has that interest now? You come here in the daytime. Are you looking for Yiu?” Though she was asking, she didn’t give him a chance to answer. “Forget your good plan. Madam Sanjō took her to the mountain temple to watch the autumn scenery. If you want Yiu’s company, go to the temple.”

“I know they went to the temple. Why are you so angry like a beast? You are envious, right?” Harun.o.bu suddenly gave her a smile and took her closer, trying to kiss her.

“Who are you talking about? Envious? Don’t touch me, you studhorse.” Sakura pushed him away.

“What does that mean?” Harun.o.bu laughed with more interest than Ye.

Sakura raised one eyebrow and said, br.i.m.m.i.n.g with loathing, “That’s a special male horse used for breeding.”

“So you are referring to me as a . . . then . . . mares refer to . . . ” Harun.o.bu understood in a minute and he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“Good understanding. And even a wonderful a.s.sociation. I should give you applause.” Sakura raised his face with her left hand and used the right hand to pretend to slap him.

“Sakura, I have no love for Sanjō; you know this very well. As for Yiu, I admit that she is beautiful. But the reason I married her is that Nene won’t take her son to Suwa with me. I have no other choice. Why do you care about this? I am serious about you. Isn’t that enough? Besides, you didn’t give me a chance to speak a word. I come here today because I miss you.”

Looking at Harun.o.bu as obedient and innocent as a pet, Sakura felt her heart soften. But she still wouldn’t admit that she was envious because of this guy. Since the reality couldn’t give her happiness, she would be better off forgetting her feelings for him as soon as possible. Anyway, she wouldn’t allow her first love to turn into a failure.

“Love is not only about obsessing over someone. Before you understand what true love means, I think I can’t be your woman like Sanjō or Yiu. In fact, I don’t know how to explain it to you. The relations.h.i.+p between us is not as simple as you imagined.” Sakura lowered her voice, and said, “Give us some more time, to know the meaning of true love. If that day comes, I promise I will throw away all my inner burdens and worries. Harun.o.bu, would you promise me that you will wait for me?”

Harun.o.bu looked into her eyes, and his breath turned peaceful. The arms holding her became softer. “Sakura, this is the first time you called me by my name.”

She relaxed against his chest, feeling the warmth of it. She thought that she was like a crystal, easily broken. But the light kiss of Harun.o.bu on her forehead was different. She got the idea that he wanted to know her and her world. That was a decision that was hard to abandon.

She had survived this era for three years.

But she had no confidence in the future.