Spring Message in the Snow – CH 022

Chapter 22

Grand Madam Zhang lowered her head, wondering why Surou’s fate was so unfortunate. She had only enjoyed a few days of good fortune, and now it was all over again. That remonstrating official, Xu Chan, was truly wicked; he had previously suggested that Jiezhi marry his youngest daughter, but now it seemed unnecessary. Such a troublesome in-law was not a match for the Zhang family.

“Alright, things will work themselves out. Let’s not worry about that now.” The Grand Madam, after a moment of dejection, rallied her spirits. “Man proposes, God disposes. I’ve built my reputation in the capital over decades; I refuse to believe that when it’s time for my granddaughter’s wedding, no one will dare marry her.” She then gently cupped Surou’s face, saying, “Good child, you must not be upset. As long as the Forbidden City does not issue an order, we still have a chance. The Emperor is a benevolent man; he will not force anyone. Do not worry, we will just play it by ear.”

Surou nodded in agreement, her worries gradually fading thanks to her grandmother’s words of comfort.

On the way back, Quelan was still worried about her distress, not daring to say anything, but secretly observing her expression.

Surou noticed and asked with a smile, “What’s wrong? Is there something on my face?”

Quelan said no, frowning and muttering, “I’ve finally managed to serve the young lady again, and I am afraid she will disappear again in the blink of an eye.”

These two sentences evoked a touch of melancholy. Surou turned to look at the sky. The sky was very blue, as blue as an inverted lake. Occasionally, a few clouds drifted by, chased by the wind, quickly disappearing into the distance.

With a hint of self-consolation, she slowly said, “The worst thing a person can do is to harbor deep resentment and bitterness. The more you worry, the narrower your path becomes. I suspect that what the Princess said to me earlier was not just idle talk; she must have had a purpose. The Empress is a wise woman, most understanding of the hardships faced by palace servants. Perhaps she first had the Princess sound out my intentions before deciding whether to recall me to the palace!”

Upon hearing this, Quelan felt that this was quite possible. Why should the Princess go to so much trouble for something as simple as a decree? Since that was the case, she should try to be more open-minded. After all, things had come to this point; worrying would not help.

The mistress and servant returned to Qiandui Xue Courtyard. Upon entering, they saw a pile of satin and spices on the crescent-shaped table. Just as they were wondering where these things came from, Jiao Yue brought over a bowl of boiled water, smiling, and said, “These were sent by someone from the Duke of Wen’s mansion. I suppose they are a gift from the county princess to thank her teacher. It’s inappropriate to give money, so she sent some things the young lady might need as a token of her appreciation.”

This made them feel quite embarrassed. The next day, when they went to the Duke of Wen’s mansion again, Surou specifically expressed her gratitude to the Princess. The Princess waved her hand, saying, “These are just small tokens… These are just small things, nothing special. But a good teacher and helpful friend are priceless. With you and Sujie by my side from now on, I will feel at ease.”

Sujie, however, did not want her mother to keep watching. She fiddled with a flower branch in her hands and turned to her mother, saying, “Mother, please go quickly. Let me have a private chat with my sister.”

The Princess chuckled, “What do you want to say behind your mother’s back?” Seeing that Sujie was about to get angry, she did not linger and simply said, “Never mind, I will go find someone to play chess with.”

The Imperial Princess left with her personal lady-in-waiting. Sujie peeked out, watching her slowly walk away along the wooden corridor before turning back and asking Surou, “Sister, yesterday Uncle Helian wanted to send you back. Why did you not want to? Is it because your father died because of him, and you resent him?”

What she said was the truth, but how could she admit it? Surou said, “Your Highness is overthinking it; it’s not for that reason.”

“Then why?”

“Because men and women should be different, and we need to avoid suspicion.” She gathered the stalks in her hands, flattened them, and measured the length for the flowerpot, saying, “I will arrange a ‘Magpie Bridge Fairy’ for Your Highness.”

Sujie looked at the stalks in her hands with suspicion. The thin, stiff stems stood upright, almost like steel needles. Looking at the wide-mouthed flowerpot, it seemed impossible to arrange flowers there. Perhaps picking a few dogwood berries and throwing them into clear water would have a more artistic feel.

“Making a horizontal arrangement again?” Sujie asked blankly. “It’s no use; the plate is too shallow. It cannot hold the flowers.”

Surou said, “A horizontal arrangement can be modified; you do not necessarily have to use branches.” She then inserted both ends of a neatly trimmed blade of grass into the vase, creating an arched bridge. Then, she inserted a small orchid at one end and then planted a maidenhair fern high above it. The fern’s round leaves resembled layered umbrellas on a rainy day, and the orchid below was like a shy maiden. These three simple flowers created a vivid picture.

Sujie exclaimed in surprise, “Sister, you have such ingenuity!”

Surou pushed the flowerpot forward slightly. “Flowers and plants each have their own character. You must be good at discovering their unique features, and with a little embellishment, they come alive.”

These words seemed to stir Sujie’s thoughts again. Looking at the flowerpot, she murmured, “This is what they mean by wanting less and having a more open mind!”

They were still discussing yesterday’s topic, but had to stop halfway through because the Princess had arrived. Surou sensed that Sujie was preoccupied, but fearing it would be impolite to press her further, she nodded and said, “Beauty is not about excessive adornment; sometimes, simplicity brings a unique charm.”

Sujie remained silent for a while before instructing her maid, “Go and prepare some fruit.”

Surou knew she had something to say and conveniently dismissed Quelan as well: “Go with her and see if there’s anything we can help with.”

The maids obeyed, curtsied, and withdrew. Once everyone was out of sight, Sujie said hesitantly, “Sister, there’s something on my mind… I cannot tell my mother, and my maid does not dare offer advice. I am so frustrated that I do not know what to do. My elder sister is the most composed person, and she’s three years older than I am. I want to hear her opinion; please guide me.”

Surou was a cautious person, so she could not just answer carelessly. She said, “I would not presume to offer guidance, but I will do my best to help you.”

Whatever the reason, Sujie was now desperate and grasping at straws. She was an only child, without any siblings, and when something was on her mind, she did not know who to talk to. Despite her mother’s gentle and kind demeanor, she was actually somewhat afraid of her. Especially when it came to things she knew her mother would not approve of, she was even more afraid to speak to her.

Fortunately, there was such a reliable person. Although they had only met three times, the Zhang family’s good reputation and Surou’s own refinement made her feel at ease. So Sujie mustered her courage and blurted out, “Sister, I’ve met someone I like…” Then, under Sujie’s focused gaze, she blushed and lowered her head, saying, “But this person has not entered officialdom yet; he’s just a Juren, and his family background is not high. He lost his parents at a young age and was raised by his older brother and sister-in-law… Sister, do you think my parents would agree to marry someone like that?”

Surou was somewhat stunned. She had not expected that this was the kind of thing troubling her. Judging from Sujie’s description, the difference in their social status was quite significant. In an ordinary family choosing a son-in-law, a Juren was already quite good; passing the imperial examinations was a common path to advancement. However, the bride’s family was the Duke of Wen’s mansion. Surou’s own circumstances were clearly insufficient. After all, royalty valued their reputation and would not allow their daughter to marry into a poor family. Even if they were to find a son-in-law to marry into the family, there were plenty of talented men from prominent families in the capital to choose from; why bother with that particular person?

However, Sujie’s earnest anticipation made her hesitant to speak. Only now did she understand why Sujie had clung to the phrase “the less you want, the more open your mind,” perhaps feeling a resonance with Surou and seeking her approval.

But such words, concerning a person’s entire life, required careful consideration before offering any advice. Surou said, “A person’s family background is not the most important thing. Throughout history, there have been many prime ministers from humble backgrounds. What matters is their talent, virtue, and the wisdom and skills they possess in dealing with people. However, these words only apply to marriages between equals. If the two families are vastly different, I am afraid the county princess should reconsider. You say he’s only a scholar now, so why not wait until next year’s spring imperial examination results are released before discussing marriage? If he passes with high honors, at least there will be an explanation before Her Highness and the Duke, and the marriage proposal will have a legitimate reason. What does the county princess think?”

Sujie stammered, seemingly oblivious to such long-term considerations, caught up in her own petty romance. She did not mind that the other person’s family background was not good, and poverty was not a big deal either. She was determined to be with him, and as long as they loved each other, that was enough.

She even said, “My mother is a princess, and my father is a duke. There are very few families in the entire capital that can surpass ours. Why must his family background also be illustrious?”

Surou could see that she was now wholeheartedly devoted to him. There was no point in trying to dissuade her further. She simply said, “Your background is like a precious jewel; it should not be easily revealed. While there are certainly upright gentlemen in this world, there are also petty and narrow-minded people. The depths of the human heart are unfathomable. We girls should always be cautious; it’s never wrong. I’ve told you before, in the arrangement of flowers in a plum vase, the fewer branches you remove, the more expansive the arrangement becomes, because the essence is preserved, and only the inferior branches are removed. But if you cut off even the finishing touch, then it’s not a flower arrangement anymore, just a tree branch. Do you understand the principle?”

Sujie was not stupid; she understood what Sujie was saying, but she was caught in a trap and did not want to break free.

She lowered her head, her expression extremely distressed, and whispered, “I think he’s a good person, very honest. He told me everything about his family situation truthfully and never lied to me.”

But there’s a kind of honesty that came with a sense of resignation; precisely because she could not improve herself, she expected others to lower their expectations to accommodate her.

Surou sighed. “You mentioned a marriage proposal earlier. Whose idea was it?”

Sujie became even more uneasy, stroking the flower branch in her hand. “It was his sister-in-law’s idea. After all, I am of marriageable age. If someone else proposes, I am afraid this matter will not work out.”

Just that one sentence was enough to paint a very bad impression. Surou nodded and said, “Since his elder sister-in-law is like a mother to him, does he have to obey her every arrangement?”

Sujie nodded. “He lost his father at three and his mother at four. His sister-in-law raised him from a young age. I’ve met her; she’s a very warm-hearted and capable person. She manages all the affairs of the household, big and small.”

“Does his elder brother have any official rank? Where does he work?”

Sujie said, “His elder brother is a sub-prefect in the Tianwu Army. His salary is not high; he barely makes ends meet.”

For a family barely making ends meet, if they were to be associated with the Duke of Wen’s family, it would be a stroke of good fortune; no wonder that sister-in-law was so anxious.

Later, Sujie mentioned how she met that person. His name was Ye Fengshi. Last year, during the first snowfall, she and her friends were enjoying the snow at Nanshan Temple when Sujie happened to be accompanying the Princess to the mountains to offer incense. They met briefly, and she has not been able to forget him since.

The young gentleman was dashing and charming, gentle and affectionate; a naive girl like Sujie could easily fall for him. Surou listened to her descriptions of her interactions with Ye Fengshi, her face beaming with undisguised joy, clearly showing her fondness for the young man. However, the disparity in their family backgrounds was undeniable. If it were someone ambitious, they would at least be aware of their limitations. Even if they did not pass the imperial examinations, a mere tribute student would make things easier for the Duke and Duchess of Wen. Yet now they were rashly proposing marriage; it seemed unlikely that mere promises of future care and affection would sway the Duke and Duchess.

Surou asked again, “Have you ever interacted with that lady from the Ye family? Do you have any regular contact?”

Sujie thought for a moment and said, “I’ve met her a few times. Her family is not well-off, so when I need something, I occasionally send her some satin or something similar.”

“Does she accept it?”

“At first she declined repeatedly, but later, seeing my insistence, she accepted it.”

Sujie seemed unaware of anything amiss as she said this, but Surou understood. Not wanting to directly advise her, she simply said, “Let’s discuss this further with that Young Master Ye. Even if they are going to propose marriage, they need to show some sincerity. A marriage alliance with a prominent family is not something that can be decided in just a few words. Who should act as a matchmaker and how much betrothal gifts should be prepared—these things need to be thought out. See what he says first, then we can plan for the future.”