Spring Message in the Snow – CH 026

Chapter 26

Mianmian was now satisfied. To be honest, what sisters did not compare themselves to each other? Jirou and Zhirou had always looked down on her, and the more they did, the more determined she was to turn the tables. Now that her marriage was arranged, it was at least to an earl’s family. If they married less well than her, she’d have something to say.

She was secretly delighted, her joy barely concealed, written all over her face. She even felt that she could at least be compared to her elder sisters, since they were all marrying into noble families.

Surou found it somewhat amusing, but this cousin was different from her other cousins, and she did not know how to properly advise her. She simply said, “The Prince’s marriage proposal was all pre-arranged; do not take it seriously.”

But Mianmian did not think so. “Once the formalities are completed, it’s a proper marriage proposal. What happens in the future is another matter.” She then turned to Surou, pondering to herself, “Second Sister, do you think the Earl’s family is not good enough? Or do you think I am unworthy of such a high-ranking family because my father is a merchant? There’s a saying… ‘Great families are not a good match.'”

She was displeased, her words as sharp as ever. Surou awkwardly said, “I did not mean that, cousin; do not misunderstand.”

In reality, even though she had not said anything, Mianmian had pieced together the conclusion that her second sister disapproved of her marriage. That was how people were; the more they lacked something, the more they valued it. At this moment, Mianmian practically bristled with thorns to defend her upcoming marriage. She thought the Earl’s family was excellent, and anyone who objected was either jealous or malicious.

Seeing her like this, the Grand Madam was afraid that the sisters would quarrel over such unfounded speculations, so she smoothed things over, saying, “As long as that Earl’s son has everything he needs, would your sister not want you to be happy? I will send people out to find out in the next couple of days, and when the time is right, I will arrange for you to take a look from afar. It’s not enough for him to just have a good family background; he also needs to be presentable.”

“Oh, yes, that’s very important too.” Although Mianmian does not care about a man’s social standing, his appearance must also be pleasing to her. Marriage is a lifelong commitment; if she had to wake up every day to a repulsive face, she’d rather die alone in her room than suffer that kind of torment.

Having settled things, she felt relieved and stood up, giving a demure bow to the Grand Madam, saying, “Please take care of everything, Grandmother. I have not finished my studies yet, so I will head back now.”

The Grand Madam said, “Alright, take a break after reading for a while; do not hurt your eyes.”

Of course, Mianmian could not tell her grandmother that she was reading miscellaneous books bought from a bookstall outside, so she solemnly curtsied and said yes, then took Wei’er and Hui’er back to her own courtyard.

Grand Madam Zhang watched her walk away before sighing, “Your cousin is so ambitious, always vying with others. I wonder if it will bring her good fortune or misfortune.”

Surou replied, “Grandmother has someone investigate carefully, telling her the truth, good or bad. She’s a smart woman; she will know how to choose.”

Grand Madam Zhang shook her head. “Look at her. She’s determined to marry into a high-ranking family, hoping to gain face among her sisters. Once she’s made up her mind, it’s hard to change it. Oh well, let’s see what fate brings!” She then turned to Surou and asked, “Is there any news from the County Princess?”

Surou fell silent, unsure how to respond. Looking back on today’s events, they seemed rather strange. However, having already said what was offensive, it was too late for apprehension. So she awkwardly said, “I saw His Majesty at the Duke of Wen’s residence. He directly asked me to come to the palace, and I could not avoid it, thus involving the Heir Apparent. Grandmother, I am very flustered right now because I said some inappropriate things. I do not know if I will implicate others.”

The Grand Madam also felt somewhat troubled, but for the moment, she could not worry about anything else and pressed, “What did His Majesty say? Was he angry?”

Surou said no. “He left without a word.”

“Left?” the Grand Madam murmured, her mind racing. Seeing Surou staring at her solemnly, she could only try to comfort her, “The Emperor is a benevolent ruler, not a tyrannical emperor. A man’s love for a woman must be consensual; even the Emperor is no exception.”

But she could not believe such words. How could an Emperor be compared to an ordinary person? Surou had been given everything she wanted since childhood, experiencing hardships she had never faced before; would that not only make her more persistent?

“It’s alright…” The Grand Madam affectionately stroked Surou’s cheek. “My granddaughter is just too lovable! Young ladies all want to marry into prestigious families, but if the family is too high-ranking, it becomes a problem. Since the Emperor has come to the Duke of Wen’s residence today, it shows he’s not an arbitrary person. He’s willing to listen to your opinion, and knowing you have a potential partner, perhaps he will let it go.”

Surou felt uneasy. Of course, she hoped everything would go as her grandmother said, but thinking of the Heir Apparent, Prince of Wukang, she felt uneasy again. She lowered her head and said, “Originally, it was the Heir Apparent who owed us. Our Zhang family, because of this matter, is now indebted to him.”

Grand Madam Zhang, however, thought she was being childish. “Always standing in the position of the benefactor, letting him owe our family—do you feel comfortable with that? This time, he helped us, and this issue has been resolved. Who can live their whole life without ever needing help from others? However, since you encountered the Emperor today, you still need to inform him so that he can be prepared in case of a confrontation.”

Looking at the sky outside, Zhang Ju and Zhang Zhi were still at the yamen at this hour. Waiting for them to return before explaining would be a long and circuitous process. The Grand Madam said, “You should go yourself. This is a serious matter and can not be delayed.” She then instructed Nanny Feng, “Go to the front and send two servants out to find out the whereabouts of the Heir Apparent. Once you have information, send a message saying that the young lady wishes to pay her respects to the Prince and see when he is available.”

Nanny Feng agreed and went to the front courtyard. The Grand Madam then took Surou’s hand and said, “Do not be afraid of trouble. Since you’ve come this far, be bold and move forward.”

Surou nodded. She truly felt that further hesitation was useless. She was not someone who stayed in the inner quarters and could not face outsiders. Since the matter had arisen, it was best for her to handle it herself.

The capital was vast, and finding someone was no easy feat. Surou had finished lunch at Suihua Garden and returned to her own courtyard for a short rest in the afternoon. Half-asleep, she heard Jiao Yue’s voice outside, asking, “Why is Nanny Lu here?”

Nanny Lu replied, “The servant I sent out brought back a message from the Heir Apparent. He says he will be waiting for you at the Ban Tower at three-quarters past the hour of Shen^{(3:45 PM)}.”

Surou sat up, glancing at the water clock on her desk. There was still an hour and a half; she could prepare in time.

A soft rustling sound came from the beaded curtain at the door, and Jiao Yue entered, bowing and asking, “Did you hear Nanny Lu’s report, young lady? She said the Heir Apparent has invited you to speak at the Ban Tower at three-quarters past the Shen hour.”

Surou said she had heard, slipped on her shoes, and rose, instructing, “Prepare a set of clothes for me.”

Ladies of official rank, whether at home or out, were always impeccably dressed—a rule ingrained over many years in the palace. She dressed anew and styled her hair in front of the mirror, then chose a pair of teardrop-shaped glass earrings. Jie Lu carefully applied a layer of powder to her face and asked softly, “Is the young lady going alone? Should we invite Fourth Young Lady along?”

Surou shook her head. Although customs were not as conservative as they used to be, it was still considered inappropriate for a young lady to meet a man in public. Zhirou was about to be engaged, and she could not afford any complications. She had rejected the Emperor today, but she still had to play her part. Since they were bound to meet anyway, there was no need for such formalities.

After getting ready, she went out. The carriage stopped in a side alley. Servants helped her and Quelan into the carriage, escorting them all the way to Ban Tower. Ban Tower was a famous restaurant in the capital, located in the Central Market District on the banks of the Bian River. At this hour, preparations for the evening’s business began. As soon as she arrived at the door, a female shop attendant came to greet her, smiling and bowing, asking, “Are you the young lady from the Zhang family, esteemed guest?”

Surou nodded. The shop attendant became even more attentive, bowing and saying, “His Highness has arrived. Please follow me, young lady.”

Surou thanked the shop attendant and, hand in hand with Quelan, stepped through the main gate of Ban Tower. Compared to Pan Tower, Ban Tower was a more elegant place, with layers of bamboo curtains creating ever-changing views. Even the downstairs hall was adorned with fresh flowers, and fine agarwood burned in the incense burner.

The shop attendant led her upstairs, gesturing, “The Prince is in the Tianzi Pavilion. Please, young lady.”

She had initially thought they would be sitting in a casual setting downstairs, but it seemed that was not the case. The wine pavilion was more private. This was Surou’s first time attending such an appointment, and she hesitated, but having come this far, there was no reason not to meet him. So she followed the shop attendant upstairs to the second floor.

The Tianzi Pavilion was the last room in the corridor. Its doors and windows were wide open, not as secluded as she had imagined. The shop attendant led her to the door, and she glanced inside. The small pavilion was very elegant, with ivory mats covering the floor and amber Pixiu statues placed in the four corners. Because the pavilion was built over the river, its large windows, when opened, offered a view of the bustling scene on the Bian River. A man with a golden crown and dressed in a bright brown robe sat before a carved low table, turning his head to gaze out the window. He did not turn around, so his face was not visible; only his neatly combed sideburns and straight shoulders were seen. He was as sturdy as a pine tree.

To say that martial artists were dull would not be entirely true. A sprig of willow branch was tucked diagonally into a plum vase before him, its slender tendrils swaying gracefully in the cool breeze from the river.

If no one had disturbed it, it would have been a truly pleasing scene. Unfortunately, the shop attendant called out “Your Highness,” like a pebble thrown into still water, creating ripples on the surface.

The man turned and looked at her, his eyes warm as if he recognized an acquaintance. He rose and bowed slightly, “Lady Zhang.”

Surou returned the bow. “I apologize for the hasty request to see you, Your Highness.”

He said it was no trouble at all and gestured for her to sit. The thin sunlight streamed onto the lichen outside the window. There was no need for anyone to come and serve him; he leisurely ground tea and boiled water by that light, speaking casually, “When your servants found me, I was busy with official business at the yamen. Hearing that you wished to see me, I quickly finished my work and had a private room booked at the office. Downstairs is noisy and stuffy, unlike upstairs, where it’s quiet, and you can even see the river…” As he spoke, he reached into a bamboo tube and took a teaspoon, gently stirring the tea leaves into a rabbit-hair teacup. “May I ask what brings you here today, My lady?”

He was focused on preparing the tea; his questions to her seemed merely casual pleasantries. Surou watched him skillfully prepare the tea, amazed that his hands, usually so adept at wielding swords, could now so elegantly mix tea.

In this situation, her heart should have been at peace, but she still found herself somewhat speechless. After a moment’s hesitation, she said, “The other day, my uncle brought back news that Your Highness was willing to help, and I am deeply grateful.”

He listened quietly, his slender fingers whisking the tea, causing the tea in the Jianzhan cup to sparkle and shimmer like pearls, creating a light cloud of color. He replied gracefully, “I told you before, young lady, that if there was anything I could do to help, you were welcome to let me know. Going through the censorate was rather cumbersome.” He then smiled faintly, “Did you want to see me just to thank me?”

His smile was like the breaking of dawn; someone without a past connection would likely have been utterly astonished.

Quelan glanced at her mistress, who remained composed, seemingly oblivious to the prince’s charm, only concerned with her awkwardness. She frowned and said, “Actually, I did not come to thank the prince but to apologize. Today I met the Emperor at the Duke of Wen’s residence. He asked if I was willing to enter the palace, and I refused.”

Helian Song gave an “oh,” seemingly unsurprised, and lowered his eyes, saying, “My lady is more decisive than I imagined. Even a man would not dare speak of disobeying the Emperor in his presence.”

Was this a compliment? Let’s assume it was! Surou pressed on, “The Emperor asked why I did not want to enter the palace, and I revealed the prince’s identity.”

This time, he finally reacted, glancing at her briefly before accepting it readily. “Indeed, since I promised Commander to propose marriage to your household, revealing my identity is only natural.”

Anyway, everything was fine; everything was falling into place naturally.

He remained focused on preparing the tea. After seven infusions, the tea foamed abundantly, and the tea liquor clung to the cup. Only then did he slowly place the Jianzhan in front of her, pushing it forward with two fingers. “Please, My lady, give your critique.”

Strangely, what should have been a serious conversation unfolded in such a relaxed atmosphere. The person who could potentially suffer greatly because of someone else’s affairs acted as if it were none of his concern, making it truly perplexing.

Surou looked at the tea liquor before her, recalling Ouyang Xiu’s line, “Witness the milk flowers blooming in the sky.” Both its form and color were superb.

Reaching out to hold the cup, she lowered her head and took a sip. The tea’s aroma burst forth on her tongue, without bitterness, only mellowness and smoothness. She was somewhat surprised; indeed, this pampered nobleman was well-versed in the currently fashionable “Four Arts”^{(refined tea, liquor, and tea ceremony)}.

“Excellent tea,” she praised politely. “The liquor is pure white, and the brewing and whisking are just right.”

The man opposite her was very modest, only saying, “I only know a little bit. I will have to learn from you, Second Young Lady, when the opportunity arises.”

After some polite small talk, when it came to the main point, Surou put down her rabbit-hair teacup and listened as he spoke: “The command headquarters of the Four Armies is just outside the Donghua Gate. This morning was filled with official business, and since the Four Armies were undergoing reorganization, I went into the palace to report to the Emperor. When I saw him, he was very downcast. After asking him what happened, I learned that Second Young Lady had told him about this.”

Surou was taken aback, her ears burning slightly. “Then…the Emperor told the Prince everything?”

Actually, there were some things she did not want the Emperor to reveal in front of him; it was embarrassing. By avoiding the topic, she could still get his understanding of what had happened.

Carefully observing his expression, she saw he remained calm, his heavy eyelashes obscuring his eyes, making it impossible to discern his thoughts.

He nodded slightly. “He did. The Emperor asked if I truly intended to propose marriage to the Zhang family. To be honest, young lady, I wavered. After all, the Emperor and I are not only ruler and subject but also longtime friends. Seeing his disappointment, I felt deeply guilty.”

Surou sighed upon hearing this, “Indeed… I can understand Your Highness’s feelings.”

“I originally intended to tell him the truth. His Majesty is the most virtuous ruler of all time. If he knew that you truly did not wish to enter the palace, he surely would not force you. As for me, we’ve known each other for many years; there’s no need to create discord between us over something like this.”

Surou’s heart leaped into her throat. She realized the matter seemed both complicated and simple. If he were truly honest with the Emperor, it would not be a bad thing.

But then he gave her a bitter look. “Until I heard a sentence, I suddenly realized that I absolutely can not let you take any risks, nor can I let your efforts of half a day go to waste… Do you know what that sentence is?”

Surou’s tongue went numb. She hastily stretched out her hand. “Your Highness, please wait!”

Then, as expected, the person opposite her fell silent, his deep eyes looking at her, waiting for her answer.

Surou was now filled with regret. She realized that some things really should not be said carelessly. They had known each other for over ten years; surely he would not keep anything from her. She had clung to a sliver of hope, but it seemed her hopes had been dashed. Such an embarrassing affair could not be revealed to a fourth person, so she turned to look at Quelan and said gently, “I’ve heard the pastries at Ban Tower are delicious. Why not go and have a cup of Honey-Glazed Pastry with Nail Flowers?”

Quelan was bewildered. “Young lady…”

Helian Song, ever quick to comply, tactfully called out, “Someone come here!” Footsteps soon echoed from the corridor, and the shop attendant, hunched over, arrived at the door. “At Your Highness’s command.”

“Take this young lady downstairs and bring her a cup of Honey-Glazed Pastry with Nail Flowers,” Helian Song said, then glanced at Surou opposite him. “Bring the shop’s best pastries, the most famous ones.”

The shop attendant acknowledged and led Quelan away. Quelan had no choice but to follow, turning back every few steps.

The pavilion finally fell silent, so quiet that the boatmen’s calls on the Bian River could be heard clearly.

Surou said awkwardly, “Your Highness, I was in a hurry and did not think things through carefully. Some things slipped out of my mouth. Please do not take offense.”

Helian Song expressed his understanding: “My original intention was to propose marriage to your household before the Emperor so that the matter would be settled and the Emperor would give up. But I never expected that the Emperor would visit the Duke of Wen’s residence to meet you today. You were right to be quick-witted. Without that statement, my insistence on proposing marriage would not have made sense.”

Surou breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness…”

But before she could finish speaking, she saw the person opposite her slowly blush, his fair face turning crimson, and finally, even his neck turned red.