Spring Message in the Snow – CH 040

Chapter 40

Surou was momentarily speechless. It was only the first day using his courtyard, and he was already in such a hurry to inspect it.

Although she vaguely knew that this meeting would inevitably touch upon the matter of Yang Tower that day, she was not particularly interested in the mystery. However, since he was the owner of the house, and since he wanted to come and see it, she had no choice but to agree.

Zhu Bai smiled, his eyes narrowed, and asked, “Where will you dine tonight, young lady? Our Prince asked if you would like to reserve a private room at the North Wharf in the prefecture so you can eat and chat.”

Surou replied, “Did the Prince not say he was coming to see the house? Why are you planning to dine at the North Wharf?” These questions made Zhu Bai feel awkward. She did not press the matter further, only saying, “If the Prince is coming, please come early so I can go home after I’ve finished.”

Zhu Bai dared not linger any longer, quickly agreeing and bowing before hurriedly leaving.

Quelan looked at the sky; the setting sun hung on the western courtyard wall, making the capital feel like a steamer. Fortunately, there was still a slight breeze at the foot of Genyue, so she said, “Young lady, please come inside and sit for a while. You must be tired today; rest and wait.”

Just as she finished speaking, several vendors filed in, each carrying a food box with a large “Zhu” character emblazoned on their chests. They quickly reached her, bowed, and said, “The ‘Bo Xia Gong’^{(a type of Chinese hotpot)} you ordered, young lady, has arrived. May I ask where you would like to place it?”

Quelan said, somewhat bewildered, “We did not order any ‘Bo Xia Gong.’ Could it be that it was delivered to the wrong place?”

Surou, however, knew it must be Helian Song’s idea again. Since the food had already been delivered, it would not be good to send it back, so she gestured for Quelan to lead them to the thatched hut to the east so that the rich and savory smells of the food would not taint the ladies’ study area.

The vendors followed Quelan. There were stone tables and benches under the thatched hut, perfect for arranging the food. Quelan watched as gold and silver dishes were continuously brought out of the food box and could not help but glance back at her young mistress.

The last small red clay stove was placed in the center of the table, with a clay pot on top. The server, craning his neck, peered towards the door. Seeing a figure appear in his field of vision, he stirred the charcoal and lit the stove with tinder.

The person at the door slowly approached, his expression weary. He said, “I am hungry. I’ve been training in the army all day and have not eaten properly.” He pointed to his cheek as he spoke, “The sun is blazing; it’s almost melting my face. Look…”

He lowered his head to let her examine him closely. Surou stepped back in disgust, but she did see clearly that there was a slight redness on his right cheekbone. However, Surou did not think much of it; as a military general, training in the coldest and hottest winters was to be expected.

Of course, while this was the truth, she could not be too harsh in her words, so she replied perfunctorily, “Your Highness has worked hard.” She also wanted to offer her opinion on his practice of bringing food into the garden without permission: “However, it seems Your Highness has forgotten that you have already rented the garden to me. In the future, if you want to eat, please go back to the Prince’s Mansion. This is where I teach my students. It is quite inconvenient for Your Highness to eat here.”

Helian Song blushed upon hearing this. “I meant no harm. I just felt that today was your first day of teaching, Young Lady, and I should reward you. So I took the liberty of doing this, and I hope you will forgive me. Now that the things have been delivered, Young Lady, please accept them! Besides, will you be renting my garden again next year? If so, please join me at the table. Do not be shy.”

He smiled and waved away the servants attending him. Surou began to consider whether she should find a suitable courtyard before the contract expired.

She did not move. He glanced back at her, then softened his tone, saying, “I had some ‘Bo Xia Gong’ sent over. The ‘Bo Xia Gong’ from the Zhu family garden is especially delicious in summer. Please try it, Young Lady. In this world, only springtime and good food should not be missed. Please take your seat, Young Lady. I have something to say to you; it concerns both of us. Do you not want to hear it?”

So, looking at the house was just his excuse. Although Surou was impatient with him, since he had something to say, she had no choice but to patiently deal with him.

Turning around, she instructed Quelan to send someone to inform her grandmother that she would be home later that day. She then lifted her skirt and stepped into the thatched hut.

At first glance, the small stove was bubbling away, and the plate was neatly arranged with sliced ​​meat, served over green leaves, so it did not look greasy. The so-called “Bo Xia Gong” was actually just hot pot rabbit meat; eating this in the middle of summer seemed inexplicable. However, the palates of diners in the capital had always been unconventional. They ate hot pot in the sweltering summer and chilled mung bean and licorice drink in the dead of winter—perhaps this was the secret to their unconventional tastes!

Helian Song gestured for her to sit down. The marinated rabbit bones had been stewed into a thick broth, and the addition of pepper gave it a fragrant aroma with a spicy kick, much like the sharp young woman before him.

He rolled up his sleeve and poured her a cup of pear blossom wine. He said, “This wine has been diluted very lightly; it’s almost tasteless. I know you ladies do not drink alcohol when you are traveling alone. This is just to cut through the richness, so do not worry.”

He picked up a piece of rabbit meat, rinsed it in the casserole, and then dipped it into the sauce he had prepared. “Try it.”

Surou had no choice but to lower her head and take a bite. To be honest, it was very delicious. The sauce was rich, and the rabbit meat was tender. Her earlier displeasure had been somewhat dispelled by this delicious flavor.

He watched her finish eating, even happier than if he had eaten himself. He smiled, added some more meat to the casserole, and began to speak slowly, “Legend has it that Lin Hong went to the mountains to visit a hermit. On the way, he hunted a rabbit, but lacking a cook, the hermit told him how to prepare it. He named the dish ‘Bo Xia Gong’ and included it in the book Shan Jia Qing Gong. The dishes in the Zhu family garden are mostly derived from Shan Jia Qing Gong…” He paused slightly, then finally got to the point, “That day at Yang Tower, I met you, Young Lady. I wanted to greet you, but I was afraid of disturbing your banquet, so I did not.”

Surou thought to herself, This explanation sounded far-fetched. She was clearly standing alone on the terrace outside the wine pavilion; how could he have disturbed anyone? However, he was being evasive, and she would not take it too seriously. After all, whether or not he greeted her was not a big deal; even passing by in the market was perfectly normal.

A lingering spiciness from the pepper left a trail in her throat. She picked up her cup and took a sip of pear blossom wine. Across from her, Helian Song, seeing her indifferent reaction, felt a pang of disappointment.

She seemed utterly uninterested in anything, accepting everything without a second thought because she did not care about him. However, a conversation had to be started; otherwise, nothing would happen after the meal. He sighed, glancing meaningfully upwards. “My heart right now is like this roof.”

Surou looked up. The roof of the thatched hut was woven from crisscrossing straw. Did he mean his heart was in turmoil, a tangled mess of straw?

Finally, she responded, setting down her cup and saying, “Your Highness said you had something to tell me. What is it? Please enlighten me.”

A hint of melancholy flickered in his eyes, but he quickly concealed it, replacing it with a troubled expression. “The young lady probably does not know yet, but rumors have suddenly spread that we’ve been pretending to be betrothed.”

Surou’s heart skipped a beat. She said in alarm, “This matter has only been known to our closest relatives from beginning to end. Even the servants in the family do not know. How could such a thing have happened? Rumors, indeed.”

Helian Song said yes, unfolding his folding fan and waving it as he spoke, “The matter is quite thorny now. I am afraid that if things go wrong, it will reach the Emperor’s ears. The other day, Grand Tutor Hang summoned me for questioning and mentioned this matter as well. Of course, I could not admit it and angrily denounced it as a rumor… But I’ve come to see you today, Young Lady, with another question to ask you. You and that Fourth Young Master Wang… there’s nothing between you, is there?”

He was trembling with fear at the question, terrified she would tacitly agree. So even though he was consumed with jealousy, he dared not openly accuse her. He even had to carefully conceal his slightest dissatisfaction, his tone leading the conversation, and then feign ease as he waited for her answer. The more weary his smile, the more frantically he waved his fan.

Only then did Surou realize that his unusual behavior that day was ultimately because of Fourth Young Master Wang.

How to explain… Although there was no need to explain, since he had asked, she could not very well remain silent. So she said directly, “Your Highness, please do not misunderstand. Wang Tiju’s grandmother and my grandmother were close friends and often visited each other. I met Wang Tiju for the first time that day at Yang Tower; I did not know him before.”

Helian Song secretly breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. “I knew it! I heard some rumors that the Wang family originally wanted to arrange a marriage between you and this young master, but I beat them to it, and they must still regret it… Young Lady, your household did not reveal the inside story to the Wang family, did it?”

Surou quickly replied, “No, Your Highness, please rest assured.”

Her words were so certain that the man opposite her finally relaxed, saying cheerfully, “That’s right, after all, this is a matter of great importance, and it would cause quite a stir. Everyone knows this is bad. However, the rumors are rampant right now. What do you think is the best way to resolve this, Young Lady? If we really break off the engagement, would that not just give people something to talk about? Besides, what do you plan to do after breaking off the engagement? Will you marry into the Wang family then? If that’s the case, I still have to advise you, Young Lady. The Emperor is a stubborn man. Now that we are engaged, it’s inconvenient for him to take away someone else’s love. He’s giving me face, not just because you are engaged. Furthermore, that Wang official is a bit old and dark-skinned, not a good match for you. Since that’s the case, why not just leave without bothering two people? Would you consider me? I have a good background and family, and I am also presentable in terms of wealth and appearance. Although you may be unwilling, for the sake of the bigger picture, this is the safest way, and it will also dispel the rumors.”

He patiently guided her, but Surou was stunned. She had not expected him to circle back to this issue after all his rambling.

How could this be? She thought everyone had discussed it beforehand, and it would not cause any trouble for each other. Who knew things would develop in such a distorted way? It seemed she needed to plan her next move in advance.

So she straightened her expression and said, “I appreciate Your Highness’s kindness, but this marriage is merely a temporary measure. The engagements that need to be called off will still be called off later. To continue down this path would be too much of a burden on Your Highness.”

The person opposite her quickly replied, “Not at all, not at all. I’ve thought about it carefully these past few days. A man should marry when he’s of age, and a woman should marry when she’s of age. The other day, Grand Tutor Hang said he was very concerned about my marriage. To be honest, no one knows my difficulties. My parents are not in the capital; who will arrange my marriage? Now that I’ve already proposed to you, Young Lady, going with the flow is not about continuing down this path but about explaining things to the Emperor and silencing public opinion. It’s a win-win situation; Young Lady, please consider it.”

Surou sighed inwardly. He seemed to have forgotten their past grievances, forgotten that her father’s life stood between them. Life was full of troubles. Some things could be left to fate, while others must be taken seriously; otherwise, she would not be able to get over her inner turmoil and would feel guilty towards her stepmother.

But the truth was like a scabbed wound; if you reopened it, it could easily cause serious damage. She could only express herself tactfully: “When I was in my most difficult time, Your Highness helped me, and I am very grateful to you. However, it’s best if everything we agreed on remains unchanged. After all, marriage is not only about us but also about our two families.”

He fell silent, knowing she was still troubled by her father’s death. This kind of emotion needed to be resolved gradually, like water dripping on a stone. Since they had already been quite frank, he decided to let her calm down and continue their discussion later.

The broth in the casserole gradually thickened. He picked up a copper ladle and poured in some stock, saying gently, “I was so busy talking that I forgot to eat. Young Lady, do not think too much now. Fill your stomach first. Last time you gave me a Shanhai Dou tofu dish; this time, I will return the favor by offering you a ‘Bo Xia Gong.’ It’s fitting.”

Then he started cooking meat and vegetables, displaying the refined elegance of a gentleman. The girl opposite him still seemed preoccupied. He did not say much, gazing at her face in the sunset. Over the years, he had socialized and met many beautiful women, but none could compare to her, truly breathtaking. Her beauty was understated, never ostentatious. He could not even understand the somewhat bewildered look on the Emperor’s face when he mentioned her to him. Was it a difference in aesthetic taste, or had the Emperor lost his ability to judge beauty after seeing so many stunning women?

Anyway, the marriage was arranged, and things were generally going well. The only regret was that she currently showed no interest in him. After their parting at Yang Tower that day, he secretly hoped she would come looking for him, but as the days passed, his frustration deepened. She, on the other hand, was busy with her own affairs, taking on many students and establishing a girls’ school.

Therefore, in this tug-of-war over the marriage, it was impossible for her to take the initiative; he himself would have to make the effort. He poured her another cup of wine, about to speak, when he suddenly heard her say, “Next month.”

He hesitated. “What, next month?”

Surou said, “I will go back and discuss it with my grandmother. If it’s convenient next month, we will get the engagement annulled. If Your Highness is worried about it being publicized, we can plan it quietly.”

Helian Song’s heart sank, but a smile appeared on his face. He said confidently, “The old lady’s considerations are certainly more thorough than yours, Young Lady. After all, both the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat and the Commander are officials in the court. If the engagement is annulled hastily, it will be difficult to explain if the Emperor asks. Even Lord Hang and I will find it hard to face the Emperor and the Grand Counselor.”

“Changes in feelings between men and women are not unusual; otherwise, there would not be so many unhappy couples in the world…” Surou retorted, though she knew the truth herself, but it was just self-consolation. She paused, then said dejectedly, “To be honest, Your Highness, I deeply regret my decision. I should not have resorted to such a desperate measure.”

Helian Song placed the wine jug on the stone table, making a crisp sound, and lowered his eyes, saying, “It was not a desperate measure; it was the best possible one. At the time, the young lady truly had no other choice but to take this path. I genuinely wanted to help her out of her predicament, which is why I discussed with Commander about proposing marriage. So, do not think too much about it for now. There’s still time; you can come and see me again. I think if you can put aside your past grievances and give me a chance to make amends, I am a very suitable candidate for you.” He finished, unfolded his folding fan, and smiled helplessly. “You do not know,” he said, “the last banquet at Yang Tower was at the invitation of an old friend. They hired a famous courtesan from the capital to perform. After the banquet, the courtesan tried to curry favor with me, but I politely declined. Now everyone in the capital says I am henpecked, and I am in a real bind.”

Surou felt a pang of sorrow. She realized she had oversimplified the engagement and its annulment. Originally, she planned to drag it out for six months, waiting for the Emperor to forget about it, and then she could privately break off the engagement. Who knew that Grand Tutor Hang would request the date to be September 6th? What should have been a six-month matter had to be resolved within three months—was this not forcing her into a corner?

Today, his proposal to make the engagement real only fueled her suspicions. What were his true motives for volunteering for the engagement?

Looking up at him, his sincere expression seemed to insult her, making her feel as if she were being manipulated. But who could answer her doubts? Finally, all the unspoken words were frozen in his earnest urging to eat and drink. After finishing the meal of “Bo Xia Gong,” there was still apricot milk and chilled dumplings. Surou, preoccupied with her own thoughts, ate her fill, ultimately failing to reach a conclusion with him. She sat down at the table in a daze and left in a similarly confused state.

The moon rose in the east, its light as clear as silk, illuminating the entire courtyard. “Consider it a moment to digest.” Helian Song strolled leisurely around the garden. “Tomorrow, after my studies are finished, I will have someone dig a small pond in the southeast corner and fill it with pebbles. We can raise koi and ducks there; it will be pleasing to the eye and bring good fortune.”

Surou said it was not necessary. “It’s fine as it is now. If Your Highness wants to undertake any construction, wait until the contract expires.”

He frowned slightly. “My lady is being too formal with me.”

Surou smiled and raised her eyebrows, saying nothing aloud, but thinking to herself, “Is it not only right that I treat you like a stranger?”

Her only worry was that their paths crossed too often; they bumped into each other at the restaurant one day, and the next day, when she was looking at houses. She could not shake him off. Actually, she was not oblivious; how could she not sense his feelings? It was nothing new for young men and women to be attracted to each other, but unfortunately, there was a gap between them, rendering all those little thoughts futile.

He walked ahead leisurely, and Surou watched his retreating figure. She had things she wanted to say, but hesitated repeatedly, unable to utter a word.

But when it came to shamelessness, Helian Song always had the upper hand. He instructed Surou almost without hesitation: “Grand Madam Wang is currently arranging a marriage for Director Wang. To avoid suspicion, young lady, you must keep your distance from the Wang family. Furthermore, please do not bring up the matter of annulling the engagement again. I know you do not want to trouble me further, but your current eagerness to annul the engagement is not helping me; it’s putting me in a difficult position. My decade-long friendship with the Emperor might be ruined because of you.” He finished with a warm smile, indicating that the matter was settled.

Surou was stunned by his words, and after a long pause, she said, “What are your plans for this marriage? Now there are no outsiders, only you and me. Tell me your true feelings so I can have a better understanding.”

He glanced back at her, the bright moonlight illuminating his refined face, his eyes now filled with affection. Turning back, he said, “I have a quirk: the more frantic the drumbeat, the more I want to disappoint those watching. Are they not saying our marriage is just a pretense? Once we are truly married, that rumor will be dispelled. My dear wife, are you interested in joining me in silencing those gossips? One day I will return to Longyou, and I want to take you to see the desolate desert, the setting sun over the long river, and to walk the land where Father-in-law fought… So, my dear wife, are you willing to give me that chance?”