Spring Message in the Snow – CH 033

Chapter 33

Ye Fengshi was clearly unable to accept this fact; he exclaimed in astonishment, “Why is this? You are your parents’ only daughter. How can you not stay home to care for them but instead let an outsider carry on the family line?”

Sujie innocently replied, “There’s nothing strange about it. My parents have no sons, so someone has to inherit the family line. Therefore, they chose a blood relative from the clan. Is that not how all families without heirs arrange things?”

“How can this be the same…” Ye Fengshi said anxiously, “Is your mother not a princess, with a status even higher than your father’s? How could she accept someone from the Xu family to inherit the family lineage?”

“You do not know, my parents are very loving, and my mother listens to my father in everything. Besides, my mother married out of her family, not into their household, so naturally, the Xu family bloodline takes precedence. As for me, once married, I follow my husband’s wishes, so I cannot naturally attend to my own family’s affairs. It’s good that I have a brother to take care of my parents’ needs. Do not worry, although the family operations will eventually pass to my cousins, I am still my parents’ biological daughter. My father said that a house must be prepared for us; it would not be good for us to live under the same roof as my brother and sister-in-law.” Sujie finished speaking eloquently, carefully observing Ye Fengshi’s expression. Although she smiled, her heart grew colder.

She could tell that he did not agree with this arrangement. He felt that a daughter only receiving a house from her own family was far from enough. Although he had no official rank or dowry, everything in the mansion should eventually belong to the daughter and son-in-law.

But he still wanted to maintain some dignity, repeatedly trying to persuade her with grand principles: “Even lambs kneel to suckle their mothers, and crows feed their parents. If you can not personally care for your parents, are you not unlike those from beasts?”

Sujie pretended not to understand, smiling, “Of course I should care for my parents. I never said that once I am married, I will neglect them.”

“But…” Ye Fengshi frowned, “If there’s an adopted son in the family, everything you have will be replaced. You will not be going home to your parents’ home anymore, but to your cousin’s. Do you not feel wronged?”

The smile on Sujie’s face finally faded, and she coldly looked at him, saying, “Did you not say that as long as you are with me, you do not need to care about material things? Was it only because I was an only child that you were willing to discuss marriage with me? If I had brothers or sisters, would you not want to marry me?”

Seeing her expression change, Ye Fengshi quickly said, “No, that’s not what I meant. I just felt indignant on your behalf.”

“What’s there to feel indignant about?” Sujie said. “My family has never said we’d have a son-in-law marry into the family. Every family that marries off their daughters does that.”

“But…but…” Ye Fengshi said, “Even if your father wanted to find an heir to carry on the family business, he should prioritize you, his own flesh and blood.”

Sujie fell silent, wondering why she had previously thought this man was full of talent and a flawless gentleman. Was it because she had never threatened his interests that he was willing to wear a mask? Now, the deeper she got to know him, the more she discovered his despicable nature, and she could not help but regret being blind to fall for such a true villain.

“Why can I not inherit the family lineage? Do you not know? Father and Mother wanted to abandon me because of you!” She finally could not hold back her tears. “You are just a scholar; I did not look down on you. Your family is poor; I did not criticize you either. But why do you think that sixty taels of silver in betrothal gifts and a house as part of my dowry are not enough? You still want to scheme against my family’s property? Truly… truly, poverty breeds wickedness. Luckily, I did not actually marry you. If I had gone out into the world blindfolded, what kind of life would I have led? I’d probably be exploited to the bone by your whole family, never to be reincarnated!”

Seeing her like this, Ye Fengshi panicked for a moment. After all, it was hard to find a simple-minded person. Since she was the daughter of the Princess and the Duke, even a fallen camel was bigger than a horse. He quickly changed his tone, saying, “Do not cry, do not cry, I… That’s not what I meant at all; you’ve misunderstood me. Alright, alright, let them look for an heir. Let’s just live our own lives. We can discuss this calmly; why get angry?”

Surou then got out of the carriage, pulled Sujie aside, and had the maid escort her to her carriage. Turning to Ye Fengshi, she said, “Young Master Ye, you are well-versed in the classics and should know the principle of ‘If it is not mine, I will not take even a hair’s breadth.’ Even if the county princess did marry you, you should not be scheming for her property. If you ever aspire to marry a noblewoman in the future, you should treat her with sincerity. The county princess is kind and will not hold it against you, but other families might not let it go so easily.”

Ye Fengshi was caught in a dilemma by this unexpected turn of events and could only stare helplessly at this unexpected obstacle.

In this world, was there truly a man willing to forgo the shortcut to success and choose to kowtow and beg for every step? He felt he had not done anything wrong, so how had he caused such a commotion?

The county princess was leaving, and once she left, there was probably no going back. He hurriedly stepped forward to stop her, knowing this was his last chance. Sujie was easily swayed; if he said a few kind words, she would surely turn back. So he clung to the carriage door, saying, “Listen to me, I am not like what you think, only after your family fortune. Do you remember how we met? You were admiring the plum blossoms alone under the plum tree, and I did not know your identity. We fell in love at first sight! Now that we are discussing marriage, it’s no longer about reciting poetry and chatting about life… These past few days, I’ve been running around trying to raise the dowry, and you have no idea. I am doing this for our future! If your parents hastily adopt a son because you are marrying me, I am afraid you will regret it later and blame me. Would I not be guilty beyond redemption then?”

Sujie sat in the carriage, her face filled with boundless disappointment. “It was I who wanted to marry you. As long as you do not betray me, why would I regret it? It’s true I’ve been accustomed to a life of luxury since childhood, but it’s not like I cannot eat simple porridge and vegetables. On the contrary, you, unwilling to let the Duke’s estate fall into other hands, are calculating even more than I am.”

She finished speaking, took a breath, and said, “What are you all plotting? Do not think I do not know. No secrets stay hidden forever. Your cunning sister-in-law is spreading rumors that I insisted on marrying you. If I really married you, how could I ever hold my head high again? Besides, did your sister-in-law not prepare eighty taels of betrothal money for you? How did it become sixty taels in your mouth? I suppose in your heart, I am only worth sixty taels! Alright, young master, there’s no need to waste any more words on me. Let’s part ways here. I hope you take care in the future, be less calculating, and be more sincere.”

Ye Fengshi was utterly humiliated by her words, yet he still would not give up, hastily saying, “Princess… Sujie, do you not have any sentimentality at all?”

Surou frowned, giving a signal to the servants beside her, ordering them to pull the man away. Only after they were in the carriage did she say to Ye Fengshi, “You are too greedy and lack patience. Today was just a test. The Duke and Princess love the Princess so much; how could they let their family fortune fall into other hands?”

Ye Fengshi was stunned. After the initial shock came the rage of a pedantic scholar who had been fooled. He angrily retorted to Sujie, “You just look down on me! If you want to end things, why not just say so? Why humiliate me like this!”

Surou glanced at Sujie, whose face was stern. Sujie reached out and closed the carriage door, feeling relieved, knowing that closing that door meant separation forever. She then called out to the outside, “No need to linger, let’s go.”

On the way back, Sujie burst into tears, sobbing in Surou’s arms, “Sister, only today did I see how despicable this kind of person is. I did not think he was bad before, but now, thinking back on my time with him, I feel so incredibly foolish.”

Surou patted her back, gently comforting her. “Seeing through people’s hearts today, though it makes you sad, is better than being deeply hurt and regretting it for the rest of your life. To be honest, I never thought you and that Young Master Ye were a good match from the start. You come from different backgrounds, and your perspectives are different. Today, you might be able to compromise because of feelings, but as you spend more time together and the passion fades, you will find it hard to get along. Then, because of the engagement and children, you will have to make do for the rest of your life—what a heart-wrenching pain that will be!”

After listening to her words and thinking it over, Sujie felt reassured. “Yes,” she straightened up and said, “I was raised with my parents’ love and care. Why should I let myself get stuck in this mess for someone I met halfway through life?” Composing herself, she realized her tears had soaked Surou’s clothes. She quickly and embarrassedly wiped them away, blushing as she said, “My own indecisiveness has dragged my elder sister down with me.”

Surou smiled and said it was alright, “I am so happy to see you escape this mess. Think about it—how terrible it would be if you were sisters-in-law with that Madam Ye.”

At this, Sujie gasped, her large eyes widening in shock. “Indeed, thinking about it like that scares me!”

Therefore, it was truly essential to have a friend who could make decisions for you. People trapped in love affairs often could not bring themselves to test the waters, knowing that hearts could not withstand such tests, and they dared not face the consequences. Only an outsider saw clearly; an outsider had no vested interests and could guide and urge you to give yourself an explanation. This test was crystal clear, and she no longer needed to worry about such unnecessary things. She could simply stay at home peacefully, obediently following her parents’ wishes.

Looking back now, she realized how naive she was. She always felt her parents did not understand her and did not know what she wanted. Only after all the commotion did she realize with a start that what she sought was merely a mirage, a youthful stubbornness. Thankfully, she stopped in time, without hurting her parents’ feelings; otherwise, she would have been a terrible daughter.

“Should we not inform Mother about this?” Sujie asked, somewhat frightened. “I feel incredibly ashamed; I am too embarrassed to say it.”

Surou said, “Then do not tell His Highness. Just make your own decision. But…did you give him any tokens or anything? Be careful that he does not use that to bother you again.”

Sujie was a little flustered. “I gave him a sachet with my name embroidered on it.”

Surou pondered for a moment and said, “Do not worry. Just let Her Highness know a little bit these next couple of days, saying you lost it when you went out that day and cannot find it. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.” She then sighed slightly, “Actually, I still hope that you’ll tell Her Highness the truth. After all, she’s your closest person, and you shouldn’t keep it from her. It’s because my mother is long gone, and I have no one to confide in. Sometimes, seeing how close you two are, I feel so envious.”

Sujie suddenly felt that this shrewd and worldly older sister was also quite pitiful, so she patted her chest and said, “Tell me if you have any worries in the future, and I will definitely help you solve them.”

Surou agreed, and as they laughed, the tear stains on her chest dried. They returned to the Duke of Wen’s Mansion and entered the gate together.

In the backyard, Sujie encountered the Imperial Princess, who smiled and asked, “Where have you been today?”

Fortunately, Sujie was prepared and replied without batting an eye, “The Imperial Academy is displaying paintings today, all genuine works by Wu Daozi and Liu Yanqi. We went there to admire them.”

The Imperial Princess, unsuspecting, did not delve further. She then turned to Surou and said, “I’ve been busy lately and have not seen Lady Zhang for several days. I heard you’ve become engaged to the Heir Apparent, and I have not yet offered my congratulations.”

Surou curtsied and said, “Thank you, Your Highness.” She felt less flustered; this matter was now widely known throughout the court and the public—surely the clouds would part, and the sun would shine through.

However, the Princess’s smile was quite meaningful. “The Emperor mentioned you the other day, and he seemed quite regretful about missing out.”

This time, Sujie resolutely stood up for Surou, saying, “Sister is already engaged, so Uncle Emperor should not be thinking about Uncle Helian’s fiancée anymore.”

This made the Princess sullen. She muttered, “What do you know? You are just a child!” Suddenly remembering something, she spoke to Sujie, “Today, the Prince of Hubei’s family invited Lady Sun to come and propose marriage. This time it’s a serious matter. What do you think? Give your mother a straight answer.”

Sujie was indifferent to marriage, having just suffered a heartbreak and having no hope anyway. She casually asked, “Speaking of engagements, Mother, have you met the young master?”

The Princess replied, “Of course! The eldest daughter-in-law of the Prince of Hubei is the only daughter of the Duke of Yue. She was renowned for her beauty even in her youth. Her son resembles his mother, so need I say more about the young master’s appearance? I saw him at Prime Minister Sun’s birthday banquet; he is as beautiful as an orchid. I think he’s a perfect match for you.”

Sujie turned to look at Surou. “What does Elder Sister think?”

Surou smiled and said, “… A perfect match, a match made in heaven. I think it’s wonderful.”

“Then there’s nothing to complain about,” Sujie said. “Please let Father and Mother decide. If Mother thinks it’s good, then so be it. There’s no need to ask me.”

The Princess respected Sujie’s wishes. “My Sujie has always been a child who’s muddle-headed about small things but clear-headed about big things. Marriage concerns your entire life, so you should consider it carefully. How about this: I will have someone inquire further. Your cousin was his classmate; ask your cousin, and you will know what kind of person he is.” With that, she hurried to the front courtyard to discuss it with Duke Wen.

Sujie smiled sadly at Surou. “If Mother knew the truth, I wonder what she would think of me.”

Afraid of disappointing her parents, she dared not tell them the truth. Surou understood her predicament and said gently, “Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. The important thing is not to go too far and to be able to turn back. Now that your matter is settled, I am relieved. I need to take a couple of days off to attend to my own affairs. You can use this time to relax and clear your head.”

Sujie said, “Oh,” and then asked, “Is Sister planning to open a girls’ school?”

Surou nodded with a smile, “People keep asking about it, so why not just open one? Everyone can come and go as they please.”

Sujie clapped her hands and said, “Then I will come to Sister’s girls’ school to learn incense making. It will be more lively with more people.”

If the noble ladies from the capital could gather there, Surou would not have to worry about not making any good friends at the Golden Duck Banquet. With the county princess’s strong support, the girls’ school’s reputation would naturally spread quickly.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Surou, having just bid farewell to the Duke of Wen’s Mansion, was still somewhat worried about leaving, fearing that someone from the Prince’s Mansion might rush out again, requesting her visit for various reasons.

Fortunately, the day was peaceful; the main road in front of the mansion was deserted, save for the cicadas chirping loudly in the treetops.

Nanny Fu helped her into the carriage, folded the footstool in the back, and sat down on the crossbar in front, urging Si’er to drive quickly. They did not go directly back to the Zhang Mansion; instead, they went to a courtyard house on Yonglu Street. It had once been Lady Zhang’s villa, later bought by the owner of Fang’s Garden. Usually vacant and unused, it was intended for sale. A servant who regularly looked after the house said everything could be discussed with him. Surou had arranged a time one day in advance, and after personally inspecting the property, she planned to make a deposit immediately.

The carriage entered the courtyard, and in the distance, a tall mimosa tree stood before the gate, in full bloom, its countless pale pink blossoms unfurling among the green leaves. The courtyard itself was clean and tidy, clearly well-maintained.

She recognized the place almost instantly, not caring that it was located in the west of the city, a bit far from her home. Si’er went to fetch the old servant who looked after the house, but before Surou could speak, the servant bowed and apologized, saying, “I am sorry, young lady, this courtyard cannot be rented. A distant relative of the master is coming to the capital to study and intends to stay here.”

Si’er was furious and shouted, “You old man, why did you not say so yesterday? You made our young lady come all this way for nothing!”

The servant repeatedly apologized, “I only received the master’s message today. I did not mean to play on you, young lady. Please forgive me.”

Another disappointment; Surou was heartbroken. After all, she really liked the courtyard, and it was a real pity she could not rent it. But there was nothing she could do. The other party had ulterior motives, and she could not say much. She could only call out to Si’er, saying, “Let’s go back,” and remained silent, her face downcast the entire way.

Quelan comforted her, “Young lady, do not worry; let’s look again.”

Surou bowed, cupping her face in her hands, and said, “I want a small courtyard, enough to hold about ten people. The villa is too big; it’s not suitable. But who knew renting a house would be so difficult?”

Quelan also frowned, and after thinking for a moment, said, “How about we have Si’er ask the brokers? Although those brokers might not have good houses, it would not hurt to have them inquire. If they find something suitable, with someone acting as guarantor, things will be easier.”

Surou sighed. Now it was a desperate measure; it was better to pay the broker’s commission than to aimlessly run into walls.

Sure enough, the brokerage firms in the capital had grown quite large. They were the most well-informed people in the city; whoever had a house for sale or rent could easily find out by asking them.

They stopped in front of a brokerage firm and had Si’er inquire. Soon, the broker slapped his thigh. “I have a lovely little courtyard on Yanglou Street. Whenever you are free, I will take you there. The owner is a person of status; the courtyard is exquisitely decorated. You are sure to love it. If you do not, just come and slap me across the face. Anyone who avoids me is a bastard!”

He sounded quite intimidating. Surou and Quelan discussed it and, seeing his confident demeanor, decided to go and investigate.