Spring Message in the Snow – CH 027

Chapter 27

Surou was immediately startled, her heart pounding. She could not understand why a man would blush.

She even carefully recalled the words she had spoken to the Emperor, which were nothing more than expressing her love for him and her desire to be with him forever. But those were all lies, all just to appease him. He clearly knew the truth, so why did he still blush?

It was truly a strange sight. From the moment she saw him at Pan Tower, he had always appeared calm and worldly. Having spent years navigating the officialdom, what kind of people had he not seen? What kind of hypocritical words had he not heard? Was it worth losing his composure over such a lie? Yet he blushed. She saw it clearly. He tried to hide it but could not. Perhaps realizing it himself and fearing that the more flustered he became, the more she would notice, he sat quietly, trying to appear calm. But blushing came on suddenly and overwhelmingly. Surou saw the skin on his neck, which had initially been similar in color to the jade trim around his collar, slowly turn a completely different shade of rouge.

One person blushed, and the person opposite seemed unable to escape the awkwardness either. Both were embarrassed, their eyes darting around, avoiding each other’s gazes, until the maid led the servants to place various dairy products and pastries on the low table in front of them. The tense atmosphere was stirred by the maid’s sash, and the atmosphere in the room gradually eased.

Helian Song spoke first, saying, “Young lady, have a taste.”

Surou gave an “oh,” then blankly picked up a spoon, scooped up a spoonful of pastry, and put it in her mouth, acknowledging the gesture.

The stalemate could not continue. Helian Song held his cup, took a sip of tea, and once the burning sensation on his face subsided, he regained his usual composure. He cleared his throat and said, “To be honest, when His Majesty explained it to me in detail, I was quite surprised, but I truly admire your quick wit, young lady.”

Surou’s lips twitched slightly, thinking to herself, “You are saying I am willing to go all out; why beat around the bush?”

Perhaps there was an element of mockery in his words. Often, when a man would hear a woman say she likes him, even if he knew it was insincere, he’d feel a surge of pride, believing himself to be exceptionally charming. It seemed even someone as powerful as Helian Song was no exception.

Superficial! Surou glanced at him. Even if he were willing to lend a hand this time, it would not change her opinion of him. However, she was not like a child anymore; she was older, had learned to conceal her true feelings, and had learned to navigate social situations. She said seriously, “I was forced by the circumstances at the time and spoke without thinking. I know I offended Your Highness…”

Then she saw the man opposite her gradually smile, but his lips remained stubbornly fixed, not revealing his true feelings. Even without smiling, she knew his smugness; he probably thought, “So what if we were enemies as children? You will need my help now.”

Thinking of this, a hint of displeasure appeared on Surou’s face. Helian Song probably noticed and quickly looked away to the window, saying in a deep voice, “Young lady, there’s no need to explain. I understand.”

Since he understood, what was there to be secretly pleased about? Surou felt this man was impossible to talk to normally, so she took a deep breath and said, “Your Highness, those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with trifles. I do not think Your Highness is such a reserved person. Although those words were somewhat offensive, they were indeed very effective. Perhaps the Emperor has already changed his mind, so our plan does not need to be carried out.”

Unfortunately, this did not earn his approval. His deep eyes lifted, giving her a cold, indifferent glance.

“If you think you’ve succeeded enough, young lady, you are being too naive. Who is the Emperor? He holds the fate of the nation in his hands; how could he be so easily fooled? You are a wise woman, and wise women think long-term. They do not just care about their own gains and losses, but also forget about their elders and siblings. If the whole family is implicated because of one person’s mistake, I imagine you would be restless day and night!”

After explaining the stakes, a look of hesitation appeared on her face. Knowing he had the upper hand, he smiled politely. “In my opinion, this matter cannot be abandoned halfway. Since the stage has been set up, let’s put on a good show so we can explain it to the Emperor. Nowadays, society is very open-minded; even remarried women can enter the palace, let alone you, young lady. The Emperor might let it go because of me, but without my favor, what reason would you have not to enter the palace?”

His gentle, persuasive voice, like the subtle fragrance of rose petals spreading across silver, carried a captivating allure, stirring an ambiguous atmosphere within the small pavilion.

Surou was momentarily lost in thought. Her empty gaze fell upon the setting sun, its last magnificent rays bathing the Bian River docks in its final, magnificent glow, while the light within the pavilion gradually dimmed.

The utensils in Ban Tower were of the finest craftsmanship and materials, especially in this top-tier establishment, where low tables of rosewood were placed. Surou thought that the craftsman who made these tables must have put considerable effort into polishing them; their elegant form and cool, delicate touch were truly remarkable.

Perhaps it was because of the superior quality of the wood and the smooth lines of the tabletop, but the hand that had initially rested on the edge of the table slowly crept over the symmetrical butterfly patterns, reaching towards her.

Was he moving the dishes? Or perhaps he wanted to order another cup of tea? Neither.

He leaned forward, his fingertips crossing the midline, drifting towards her hand. Surou was startled; without thinking, she slapped his hand hard across the back. He froze, looking at her in surprise. She, after her initial shock, was consumed by rage, looking as if she’d been violated, and said hatefully, “What does Your Highness intend to do!”

Helian Song remained in that position, three finger marks slowly appearing on his fair right hand, the one skilled in preparing tea. Her gaze was sharp, looking at him with the eyes of someone looking at the person who had killed their father. He felt a pang of grievance, slowly moving his hand away, turning his palm over to show her. The insect in his palm was crushed to pieces; judging from its sprawling limbs, it was a spider.

Surou was stunned, looking at his palm, then at him. To ease the awkwardness, she gave an embarrassed laugh. “There are even spiders in this Tianzi Pavilion?”

He looked dejected, his eyes lowered, and remained silent.

Surou knew she had wronged him and was somewhat confused as to why what should have been a formal conversation had turned out this way. But what was done was done, and avoidance was not an option. All she could do now was call for a shop attendant to fetch a basin of water for the Prince to wash his hands.

Helian Song washed his hands listlessly, and because a large red patch appeared on the back of his hand, the shop attendant asked anxiously, “Your Highness, were you bitten? I will fetch the medicine right away… Han family insect medicine; it’s excellent for treating mosquito bites.”

Surou became even more embarrassed, but Helian Song was kind enough to say it was not necessary, thus relieving her of the awkwardness. “I accidentally bumped into something.”

The shop attendant was relieved and quickly fetched a towel to help him dry his hands. After finishing, she took the basin away.

The atmosphere in the wine pavilion was heavy. It took Surou a long while to muster her courage and say, “Your Highness, I was impolite just now.”

Helian Song smiled. “It’s alright.”

He thought to himself, he’d already been bumped headfirst before; a slap was nothing.

“However, we still need to discuss the engagement. My household is almost ready. The day after tomorrow is an auspicious day; I’ve invited Grand Tutor Hang Zhishan to act as matchmaker and propose marriage to your household. Grand Tutor Hang is both my and the Emperor’s teacher; he’s always fair in his dealings, and as one of the Three Dukes, his matchmaker will demonstrate my sincerity.”

Surou had nothing more to say. She nodded and said, “I will follow Your Highness’s arrangements.”

Seeing that she had no objections, the man opposite her felt relieved. However, the slap had really hurt. He unconsciously rubbed his hand, and this action triggered a new wave of guilt in Surou.

She felt utterly ashamed; this was the first time in her life she had felt this way. Now she truly regretted it. She should not have met him today. Perhaps if she had arranged it for tomorrow, this would not have happened. Unfortunately, there was no going back. But she would be more careful from now on, thinking before acting.

As for Helian Song, he was, after all, a gentleman of refined manners. The little incident just now passed by like a gentle breeze, leaving no trace. He said softly, “Young lady, you only know me as Helian Song, right? I have a courtesy name, Jie Ran. Please call me by my courtesy name from now on; it will seem more intimate to outsiders.”

“Goodness resides within, and one will surely cherish it”^{(Shàn zài shēn, jiè rán bì yǐ zì hào yě)} is indeed a name of unwavering integrity. However, given their relationship, it would be too frivolous to call him by his courtesy name so readily.

Surou said tactfully, “Let’s use the official title; it’s more convenient in public and private.”

Anyway, it was up to her how she addressed him, and Helian Song did not insist.

They sat for a while longer. As the sun began to set, Surou glanced at the sky and prepared to take her leave. The man opposite her stood up and said warmly, “Let me escort you home, young lady.”

“No, no…no need.” Surou only wanted to escape as quickly as possible. Today’s experiences had been truly tumultuous. Whether dealing with the Emperor in the morning or the heir apparent in the afternoon, she had been riddled with flaws, a truly indescribable situation.

Seeing her refusal, Helian Song did not insist. He stepped forward to lead her downstairs. Her maids and servants were already waiting at the entrance. Upon seeing her, they hurried to greet her. This noble lady was now absolutely composed and dignified. She turned and bowed to him, saying, “Thank you for your hospitality today, Your Highness.”

Helian Song smiled faintly, “Young lady, you are too kind…”

Just as he was about to see her out, several colleagues approached, calling out “Your Highness” from afar. He was somewhat impatient, but not wanting to be negligent, he could only smile and cup his hands in greeting, saying, “Please wait a moment; we will have three cups of wine in a bit.” He then devoutly gestured with his hands, leading her to the door.

The carriage was parked at the foot of the steps. He escorted her to the carriage, watching the maid help her into the carriage and settle her down. The carriage door was wide open, and the curtains were drawn. Her face was delicate, like Guanyin in a shrine. She said politely and respectfully, “Farewell, Your Highness. I will leave the rest to you.”

He said, “Very well, leave everything to me.” Then he watched the carriage slowly drive away before turning back into his office.

His colleagues entered the wine room, clinking glasses and exchanging pleasantries as they inquired with amusement, “We’ve never seen the Prince so close to a female guest before. Who is that noble lady, and why did the Prince personally escort her?”

The bright lights reflected in his eyes, and he smiled, saying, “It’s an old friend. Many years have passed, and now we meet again.”

Everyone then teased, “Is there any good news from the Prince this year? We’ve been waiting so long for the wedding feast, our necks are practically growing long!”

A smile suddenly appeared in the man’s long eyebrows and phoenix eyes. He raised his cup and said, “This cup of wedding wine will certainly be indispensable for everyone. Come, drink to your hearts’ content. You cannot make excuses not to come!”

The pavilion suddenly became lively, with everyone offering their congratulations. After all, a prince in his early twenties who was still unmarried was quite a problem. Perhaps it was because he was going to return to Longyou in the future, and if he married now, his wife might change her mind later. However, regardless, a great man always needs someone to care for him. He had always been very popular, and if he were to truly marry, the guests from all over the capital would probably fill the entire Ban Tower.

***

Meanwhile, Surou finally arrived home. She went back and informed the Grand Madam that she had reached an agreement with the Heir Apparent. The Heir Apparent understood her situation and would come to propose marriage the day after tomorrow.

The old lady nodded. “After the formalities, there’s no need to panic. We can wait until things calm down before announcing the engagement. That way, no one will be held back.” She hesitated for a moment, then turned to Surou and said, “However, announcing the engagement later will be a troublesome matter. If unexpected complications arise, things will be difficult to handle. Mianmian was right before; an engagement is an engagement; there’s no such thing as ‘real’ or ‘fake.’ If one party does not want to annul it, the marriage is still a real possibility. Have you thought it through?”

The old lady’s concerns were certainly not unfounded, but Surou’s thoughts were…

“It’s simple,” she said with a smile. “I would not insist on marrying him, would I? He’s the heir apparent; he would not try to extort me. Grandmother, please do not worry.”

The Grand Madam thought for a moment and then felt relieved. She rubbed her forehead and said, “I was just worrying unnecessarily. Your uncle has probably already made arrangements. It would be petty of us to worry about this.”

The grandmother and granddaughter sat together chatting. The Grand Madam mentioned that the wife of the Imperial Attendant had visited that afternoon and, during their conversation, had mentioned Qingrou, seemingly implying that she was arranging a marriage for Qingrou.

“She has a nephew who was betrothed last year, but the girl died in a fall from her horse before the wedding, so the marriage was postponed. Now, more than half a year has passed, and the family wants to find another match, so they thought of our family. Because of the previous incident, the family is not insisting on marrying only a legitimate daughter. I think that someone so young who has passed the imperial examination is truly a promising young man. If Qingrou can find someone from such a family, it would not be bad.”

Surou thought this was indeed better than the Kong family; at least she would not have to become someone’s second wife and suffer much less hardship. Nowadays, marriage in the capital was not as clearly divided between legitimate and illegitimate children as it used to be. What did it matter if she was an illegitimate daughter? As long as she was well-mannered and of good character, and her stepmother was willing to put in the effort, she could still marry a good man.

In any case, the Grand Madam was very satisfied, only saying that she would call Zhang Zhi over tomorrow so he and Lady Ling could consider it further. Although the family had not separated over the years, each branch of the household operated independently. Especially since Zhang Zhi was not her biological son, making her granddaughter a distant relative, when it came to arranging marriages, she would only offer some opinions; the final decision rested with the third branch.

As they were talking, Mianmian arrived, and the Grand Madam ordered dinner to be prepared. After eating together, they each returned to their own courtyards.

The next day, Surou went to the Duke of Wen’s residence as usual. Upon entering the back courtyard, she was immediately stopped by Sujie, who, bewildered, told her mother, “Mother, a new incense and medicine shop opened in the market today. My sister and I have arranged to go and have a look.”

The Princess hesitated. “An incense and medicine shop? Where is it? I have not heard of it.”

“Oh…” Sujie mumbled, “It’s near the residence of Grand Tutor Zheng. I heard about it from the purchasing nanny, so I am going to take a look and buy some peonies while I am at it.” She nudged Surou. “Right, Sister?”

Surou immediately understood; she wanted to take her to eavesdrop on her conversation with Ye Fengshi. She nodded eagerly. “Exactly! Flower arranging tomorrow.”

The Princess had not initially approved of Sujie going out, but seeing Surou’s agreement, she did not object further. She simply instructed, “Take two more servants. It’s getting hotter; do not linger too long. Come back early.”

Sujie was delighted and excitedly agreed, pulling Surou to the carriage like a whirlwind. On the way, Sujie did not forget to check on Surou, leaning shoulder to shoulder and asking, “Sister, is your engagement with the Prince still settled?”

Surou answered calmly, “Yes, it is. The betrothal ceremony will be tomorrow.”

Sujie sighed again, “Some people find engagements so easy, while others find them so difficult…”

Surou smiled and patted her hand. “Let’s settle things with Young Master Ye today. Even if we do not finalize the engagement for now, it will be good to come up with a long-term plan.”

Sujie nodded, very much looking forward to seeing her beloved.

Because of the vast difference in their social standing and because Sujie rarely went out, this meeting was especially exciting. They had arranged to meet at the Liang residence’s garden, where there were elegant pavilions for a private conversation. They arrived first; Sujie led Surou to an adjacent pavilion while she waited in the agreed-upon one.

About the time it took to drink a cup of tea, someone finally arrived belatedly on the path through the bamboo grove. Surou, feigning nonchalance, leaned against the swan-neck chair in front of the pavilion, observing. To be honest, Young Master Ye was truly handsome, with perfectly proportioned features, even possessing a touch of girlish elegance. Sujie was a young girl, and his appearance suited her taste perfectly. The two met, both appearing somewhat shy, and after exchanging greetings, they sat down at the table.

Because they were so close, Surou could clearly hear their conversation. It began with polite greetings; Young Master Ye spoke with refined manners, displaying the upright demeanor of a scholar. Later, he mentioned his marriage proposal. Sujie, following Surou’s instructions, told him the story, but he appeared very troubled, bowing his head and saying, “The imperial examinations are next spring in February. It’s such a long time; I am really worried something might change. Besides, is passing the provincial examinations a guarantee of success? You women do not participate, so you do not know the difficulties. Many people take ten years to pass the provincial examinations. Can you wait ten years for me?”

Sujie felt a pang of sadness, murmuring, “If you pass the provincial examinations, at least I can explain it to my father and mother…”

Ye Fengshi seemed very disappointed, hanging his head dejectedly. “I know, with my family background and talent, how can I possibly be a match for the Duke’s family? Marriage is a step up for me, but my feelings for you are genuine, as Heaven can bear witness. Before I came to see you today, my elder brother advised me not to be delusional, but I have you in my heart, and if I miss this opportunity, I fear I will regret it for the rest of my life. The Duke’s family is a noble household, and I believe that the Duke and Her Highness the Princess will not only value fame and fortune.”

“The County Princess is their only daughter; surely they would care about anything the County Princess desires? You once said that the elders in your household love you very much, and if you were to ask them for help, they would certainly consider it carefully. In this world, having connections in the court makes it easier to become an official, not to mention those who pay bribes to obtain positions. I consider myself to have some knowledge; if I have a ladder to advancement, I am not worried about not being able to make a name for myself in the future.” Saying this, he grasped Sujie’s hand, looking intently at her, and said, “Now it all depends on how sincere you are towards me.”