Spring Message in the Snow – CH 041

Chapter 41

His eyes were truly expressive; gazing intently at you, you could genuinely feel his sincerity. Even if the person before him was fully aware, she was still just a young girl. Even the seasoned courtesans of the brothel could not resist his charm, let alone a mere Zhang Surou.

Helian Song, full of hope, waited patiently for a long time, waiting for her to shyly flinch, waiting for her heart to race, even thoughtfully trying to see her blush in the moonlight, but to no avail.

She replied bluntly, “I do not want to.”

A breath caught in his throat, impossible to swallow. He said in astonishment, “So, young lady, you’ve refused like this? Will you not reconsider?”

Perhaps he was always too confident, too self-assured, because upon hearing her answer, a blank expression hung on his face, making him look utterly foolish. Surou was not buying his act and sincerely told him, “If I want to see the scenery of the frontier, I can go by myself. If I want to travel the lands my father fought in, I can go on my own. I do not need to come with you, Your Highness. You say rumors are circulating that we are pretending to be engaged, but I have not heard of that. If it’s true, I ask Your Highness to investigate thoroughly to see if it’s a leak from your household. After all, the Zhang family cannot bear the crime of deceiving the Emperor. Not only my closest relatives, but even the dogs in my household—I can vouch for them.”

So the conversation reached another impasse; something was going well, and now even the dogs were being dragged into it.

Although his so-called rumors were intentional lies in trying to extort her, her reaction showed that she genuinely had never considered anything happening between them, such as a fake relationship turning into a real one or living together forever. What to do now? His attempts at coaxing had failed, and in the end, only stalling remained; there was no other way.

Thinking of this, he felt at ease and slowly nodded, saying, “Young lady, you have your own plans, and I will not force you. But to think the crisis is over so soon is too optimistic. Let’s wait a while and see how things develop. Rumors have already started, and they cannot be suppressed. I should visit you more often than to have someone dispel the rumors.”

Surou was speechless. The thought of him visiting her more often made it impossible for her to smile.

She said with difficulty, “This is a girls’ school; it might be inconvenient for Your Highness to come so often.”

“Then I will visit your grandmother’s residence tomorrow. Since the day of the marriage proposal, I have not set foot in your mansion again. Thinking about it now, it’s been very impolite.” He finished speaking, smiled tactfully, and added, “I’ve troubled you for quite some time today, delaying you until now. I am afraid it’s not safe for you on the way. Anyway, I am going the same way, so I will give you a ride…” He then instructed Zhu Bai, “Have preparations made outside; I will be going back now.”

He had arranged everything by himself, and Surou, wanting to object, found herself with no way to do so.

“Your Highness, there’s really no need…”

He casually turned the page. “Young lady, do not forget to dispel the rumors. Even if feelings between a man and a woman fade, it takes time. It’s simply unacceptable to cut off all contact after an engagement.”

Surou had nothing to say and could only compromise. Watching him methodically arrange for the servants to tidy the courtyard and prepare the carriage, she was momentarily confused as to whether she was the guest or he was the host.

But in Helian Song’s view, as long as a man was present, all chores should be handled by him; the woman only needed to comfortably board the carriage and go home, fanning herself with a round fan.

The bright moon hung high, and he smiled as he watched the maid help her into the carriage, admiring the serene beauty in her every bow and bend.

Surou, sitting in the carriage, felt a mix of emotions. Quelan softly called out, “Young lady,” but she shook her head dejectedly, her mind a jumble of thoughts she could not easily share.

Suddenly, she heard a tapping sound from the carriage. She opened the window and looked out. Someone outside handed her something. By the light of the tall lantern in front of the carriage, she examined it—a lifelike cane puppet, with squinting eyes and a wide-open mouth. Its appearance somewhat resembled her current state of mind.

Quelan covered her mouth and chuckled softly, lowering her voice, “This heir apparent is quite an interesting person.”

Interesting? Surou remained noncommittal, pursing her lips as she handed the cane puppet to Quelan.

A moment later, the tapping sound came again, and a large wax-coated lotus leaf and flower—bigger than her face—were brought in through the window.

Surou was utterly astonished. She wondered how he could possess such things. It seemed the servant waiting outside had not been idle all day.

She handed the flower to Quelan, closed her eyes, and began reciting the Qingjing Jing ^{(a Buddhist scripture)}. She’d only recited two lines when something else was brought in through the window—this time a ten-colored flower-shaped candy stick, topped with a peony. The solidified candy was glossy and vividly depicted the delicate beauty of the Empress of Flowers.

Surou looked at the candy stick helplessly and could not help but shout out the window, “Do you run a general store? Where did all these things come from?!”

The carefree Helian Song replied smugly, “I know you young ladies like these things, so I had my servant buy them.”

Surou looked down at these strange contraptions and became even more convinced that this man had never interacted with girls before. What were these completely unrelated items? Giving lifelike flowers and flower-shaped candy was one thing, but what was this candy stick puppet all about?!

But it was not over yet. More items were passed through the window: a strangely shaped fan with floral patterns, a box of rouge, and even an ivory shoehorn carved with a beautiful woman’s head. Surou, impatient, peered through the door and complained to Quelan, who was carrying a full load of things, “Why are we not home yet!”

The journey home today seemed unusually long. This Helian Song was a walking treasure chest. Originally, she only felt he was responsible for her father’s death, but now she was almost certain he was her sworn enemy in a past life.

Seeing something else being passed in, she quickly closed the window and looked ahead. Finally, the carriage entered Old Caomen Street. She could already see lanterns hanging under the eaves and old women standing on tiptoe, gazing into the distance. Looking at the odds and ends in Quelan’s arms, this journey had been nothing short of an adventure. She was dizzy and disoriented when she got out of the carriage, and Surou had to turn back to help Quelan.

Helian Song, still smiling and cheerful, dismounted and said to Surou, “Young Lady, please give my regards to your grandmother upon your return.”

Surou did not respond. Pointing to the items in Quelan’s arms, she said, “Your Highness, please take them all back. I cannot accept such kindness without having done anything for you.”

Helian Song laughed heartily. “These are just trinkets. Give them to your younger sisters to play with.” He then piled the makeup box he had not given her earlier into Quelan’s arms, barely covering her face, and bowed slightly. “It’s getting late, Young Lady; please go inside. I will take my leave.”

Surou watched helplessly as he mounted his horse, cracked his whip, and rode away with a flourish, leaving her and the old woman who had come to greet him looking at each other in bewilderment. The old woman looked at Quelan’s overflowing arms and clicked her tongue in admiration, “Second Lady’s husband is truly thoughtful.”

To an uninformed person, such a husband was indeed quite desirable, but to Surou, it was a real headache.

Dragging her weary steps back to Qiandui Xue Courtyard, she sent Jiao Yue to Suihua Garden to report her safety. It was getting late, so she would not go; she would pay her respects to her grandmother tomorrow morning.

After washing up, she went to bed early, but even lying there, she was filled with worry. Today was June 28th; calculating the time, there were only two months left. How time flew by! She had been busy preparing for the girls’ school and had completely lost track of time. Fortunately, Helian Song had come tonight; otherwise, with the wedding date fast approaching, she would not have been able to process it before she was truly getting married.

***

The Imperial Street was the main thoroughfare of the capital, where all carriages and horses were prohibited from running at high speeds. Therefore, Helian Song leisurely led his horse back, quite content to ride under the moonlight.

Zhu Bai, following closely beside him, was the young master’s most loyal servant. He often had moments of brilliance and sincerely suggested, “I have a good idea! To prevent Lady Zhang from breaking off the engagement, the young master could hide in the military camp outside the city for two months, returning only on the wedding day. They cannot find you, and since there’s no head of household or elder in your family, there’s no way to discuss breaking off the engagement. It would not be appropriate to negotiate with Governess Wu, would it? You can hide, even skipping court, while we continue preparations as usual. When the wedding day arrives, you can return, adorned in red and green, to the Zhang family to fetch your bride. A large and prestigious family like the Zhangs values ​​their reputation; they will not break off the engagement on the day of the wedding. Would that not allow you to achieve your goal and win your beloved’s heart?”

This sounded very reasonable, but was it truly feasible?

Helian Song glanced at him. “Why is your brain suddenly so sharp?”

Zhu Bai thought the master had probably taken his suggestion and shook his head, saying, “Not at all, it’s all thanks to your excellent guidance, master. I am your confidant.”

Helian Song chuckled. “A major threat, is it not?”

Zhu Bai was initially smug, but his smile froze after hearing this. He scratched his head, stammering, “Is this idea not good… It’s perfectly foolproof.”

That was because he’d oversimplified things. Helian Song said, “You do not understand Lady Zhang. She’s outwardly gentle but inwardly strong. She’s not so easily subdued. If I really did that, I am afraid she’d never give me a good look again. Then she’d blame me for harming her father and then trying to harm her. Life would not be pleasant then. You cannot deal with someone like that by force; you have to use strategy, like today, using a slow and steady approach…”

“Master, you mean sending her those…small gifts?” Zhu Bai seemed bewildered. “Judging from Lady Zhang’s expression, she did not seem to like it.”

Helian Song hesitated, frowning and clicking his tongue. “What do you know? She may look unhappy, but she’s secretly pleased. But that’s not enough. Those jokes we made with her earlier will probably have to be put into practice. We will have people spread the word throughout the streets and alleys that the two families are pretending to be related by marriage. The Zhang family will have reservations and naturally will not dare to act rashly. The sixth day of the ninth month… even if we have to drag it out, we will have to wait until then.”

Zhu Bai agreed but then hesitated. “If this matter becomes too big, I am afraid the Emperor will lose face.”

That was not a concern. He walked slowly along the fragrant brick pavement, the bright stars and moon illuminating his path. His earlier jesting had subsided, and he frowned, pondering, “Tomorrow, I must go to Genyue to see the Emperor.”

Due to the recent unbearable heat, the usual practice of attending court every other day had been changed to once every three days. When the Emperor was not attending court, he would retreat to Genyue to escape the summer heat. The next day, he happened to have some free time, so he went north to Genyue and entered the Eight Immortals Hall within the mountain.

Genyue was a mountain formed by piling up stones, its exquisite natural beauty surpassing any other natural landscape. Walking through the mountain, one felt greatly refreshed by the swirling mist. Following a rugged path straight ahead was the Eight Immortals Hall, where the Emperor used to teach the princes. This hall was square on the outside and round on the inside, shaped like a crescent moon. The entire wall was made of translucent Xiuyan jade, allowing a soft, diffused light in. The light was just right for the princes to study and practice calligraphy; it was neither too dim nor too glaring.

As he ascended the platform, he saw the man in plain, dark robes pacing before his desk. The Emperor had three sons and two daughters; the eldest prince was seven, and the two younger ones had begun their formal education. Besides being taught by the Grand Tutor, the Emperor often personally examined their studies.

Today, the young boy’s voice echoed in the hall as he recited the Admonitions of the Qing Dynasty: “Heaven is long, and earth is enduring, but human life is not. And if one does not nourish oneself with blessings, one cannot live out one’s full lifespan.”

The Second Prince stammered as he recited, “Wine and women will kill me; worry will make me sick…”

The Emperor’s ruler slammed on the desk before him. “Wine makes me sick; worry makes me sick. You talk nonsense like this every day. If you do not study properly, see if your father will not beat you.” Seeing the visitor standing at the door, bowing, the Emperor nodded slightly and then ordered, “Recite it properly for me. I will come back to ask you questions later.” The princes were terrified and said nothing more, then he walked out of the Eight Immortals Hall with his hands behind his back.

Outside, a mountain breeze blew gently, and the Emperor’s wide sleeves fluttered in the wind. He strolled up to Helian Song and, seeing his dejected appearance, knew that he had suffered another setback.

“Your love life has been quite bumpy,” the Emperor said, pointing towards the Bixi Terrace. “Go over there. My fishing rod has been set up for half a day; the bait is probably all gone.”

The so-called Bixi Terrace was a waterside terrace not far from the Eight Immortals Hall, usually used for watching fish and fishing. Of course, most of the fish in the pond were ornamental koi. The Emperor did not fish to eat them but simply to enjoy the process. If he caught one, he would remove it and release it back into the water—a practice that was neither merciful nor cruel to the fish.

The two walked onto the terrace one after the other. There were two simple folding chairs there. They sat down, and the official picked up his fishing rod to look at the hook. Sure enough, it was empty. He wondered how the fish had taken the bait.

Helian Song handed over the bait box beside him, saying dejectedly, “Did I not tell you last time? She met Wang Pan at Yang Tower. Yesterday I went to the garden to sound her out. She does not seem to have any designs on the Wang family, but she’s still thinking about breaking off the engagement. Even after I told her I wanted to marry her, she has not changed her mind.”

The Emperor pinched some bait onto the hook and set the fishing rod again. “Shizhong Zhang is between you two. If she happily marries you now, she would not deserve to be a daughter.” He paused, then asked, “So, what do you plan to do now?”

The man beside him gazed at the calm lake, his eyes slightly narrowed. “The world is treacherous. I cannot entrust her to anyone else. Shizhong Zhang has been kind to me; I must repay that kindness.”

The Emperor smiled. This man was indeed as persistent as he was in his childhood; whatever he set his mind to, he was determined to achieve.

Their friendship lasted twelve years. He had come from distant Longyou, brimming with wildness and fearlessness. At that time, the Emperor was still a frail Crown Prince. They met on the training ground, and in their first encounter, he showed no fear of the Emperor’s status, easily defeating him in a few words. Later, they studied and practiced martial arts together, spending their youth side by side. In the Emperor’s memory, Helian Song never seemed troubled by anything. Even living as a hostage in the capital, he remained content. Only his pursuit of Zhang Surou required immense effort, even resorting to the greatest assistance available to him to increase his chances of success.

However, even after the betrothal was reluctantly arranged, many things remained unsatisfactory. In fact, the day after the ceremony at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, when Helian Song came to him and awkwardly explained his thoughts, the Emperor was utterly shocked. Zhang Surou… Indeed, if such a girl were to fall into the public eye, no one could resist her. But for Helian Song, gratitude outweighed affection. Perhaps genuine feelings had blossomed during their time together, but that was another story.

It seemed a fish had taken the bait. The Emperor tugged at the line, only to find it was a feint. The fish in the pond had become wiser; they no longer ate the bait indiscriminately as before.

He put the fishing rod back down and turned to ask him, “If she truly refuses to marry you, will you continue? You’ve done so much for the Shizhong’s enshrinement in the Imperial Ancestral Temple and the Zhang brothers’ promotions. Is that not enough?”

Helian Song smiled bitterly, a smile that the Emperor rarely saw, filled with melancholy.

“One life? It’s not enough,” he said, fiddling with the bait box in his hand. “A person cannot afford to make a mistake; one wrong step leads to lifelong regret. I have nothing left to repay the Zhang family but myself. If Lady Zhang wants it, I will give it all to her.”

The Emperor chuckled. He had always been confident in himself.

Helian Song turned to look at him. “Your Majesty, I’ve already had the news spread that the Zhang family is announcing the annulment of the engagement. I beg Your Majesty to handle this matter carefully.”

The Emperor said, “Oh, I’ve come to your aid again.”

Helian Song smiled awkwardly. “Your Majesty is a man of great importance, yet you are so concerned about my marriage. I truly feel ashamed before Your Majesty.”

The Emperor smiled faintly and murmured, “You are always refusing to marry, causing those high-ranking officials in the court endless anxiety. They worry that you will take someone’s beloved daughter and eventually take her to the border. I heard you finally got engaged recently, and everyone’s faces lit up. It shows how much of a monster you are in their eyes. But now that you’ve chosen Lady Zhang, and you are really getting married, are you going to make her leave her hometown to go to Longyou with you?”

He paused, then sighed softly, “After marriage, one always hopes their wife will be by their side. But if she longs for the capital, she can stay here for two years after we have children, and then I will bring them back to Longyou.”

This was a very long-term plan; things were not even settled yet, and they were already thinking about the children.

However, this statement was reassuring to the Emperor. He had come to the capital as a hostage; having a wife and children and still being willing to let them stay in the capital showed immense loyalty to the Emperor and the court.

The Emperor’s brow relaxed, and he asked, “Has her girls’ school been established? Is it located in Liaoyuan now?”

Helian Song replied, “It has taken in about twenty students, teaching them flower arranging, incense making, and so on.”

The fishing line bobbed up and down. The Emperor picked up the fishing rod, the lake breeze billowing his sleeves. With a forceful pull, he hooked a red-crowned crane. The eunuch quickly removed it and put it back in the water. The Emperor then casually pinched a ball of bait, threaded it onto the hook, and said in a leisurely voice, “Liaoyuan is very close to Genyue. I will visit her tomorrow.”

T/N: Hahaha! So the Emperor is in on it. We’re rooting for you. Helian Song!