Spring Message in the Snow – CH 042

Chapter 42

Just as Helian Song said, using someone like the Emperor as a tool to force someone into a difficult position was a waste of his talents. But even the most noble person had a few close friends; otherwise, in this vast court filled with groveling officials, one would truly be a lonely figure.

After Helian Song left, the Emperor lingered for a while with the princes at the Eight Immortals Hall, and before he knew it, darkness had fallen. In the Genyue Garden, time often slipped away, making one realize how those wandering, reclusive immortals could live for millennia in the blink of an eye.

Tonight, he was dining at the Empress’s again. The Empress was a skilled cook; sometimes, in a moment of high spirits, she would wash her hands and prepare a feast, setting it on the terrace in front of the Yunya Pavilion. Lanterns burned in the pavilion at the edge of the terrace, and not far behind was a small waterfall, its rumbling water adding a lively touch to the tranquil night.

The Empress’s greatest regret was that fireflies were nowhere to be seen in Genyue. “Too much sulfur was used; it drove away snakes and rats, but it also wiped out those little insects. What a pity.”

The Emperor placed a live sugar cocoon in the Empress’s small dish. “If you like, have someone catch some from the mountains outside the city.”

The Empress said it was not necessary. “They would not survive more than a few days in Genyue. Do not risk so many lives for a moment’s amusement.”

The Emperor smiled, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with her words.

The two sat at the table, the children, already fed, running around from time to time. The Empress called out, “Be careful; do not fall!”

Several maids quickly stepped forward, picked up the princesses, bowed, and retreated.

The Empress sat up straight again and asked slowly, “Consort Zheng has not been feeling well these past few days. Would Your Majesty like to go see her?”

The Emperor seemed indifferent. “Why is she always unwell? It seems the Genyue Palace is too cold for her. Have someone send her back to the palace.”

The Empress agreed, inwardly sneering. Consort Zheng used to use illness to manipulate the Emperor. When she was favored, she got whatever she wanted, even being arrogant in front of the Empress, and the Emperor indulged her. Later…later, she cooled down, and now it had backfired. What was the root cause? The Empress was actually quite curious.

Glancing at the Emperor, the Empress said, “I heard the Heir Apparent came in again today. Is it still about that matter?”

Helian Song had taken a liking to the Zhang family’s young lady, intending to give himself to her, but knowing it would not work out, he joined forces with the Emperor to pressure the Zhang family. Now the Zhang family had fallen into the trap, and Zhang Surou had also fallen into Helian’s net. “I wonder where things have gone wrong again; Your Majesty needs to find a solution.”

The Emperor remained calm, casually saying, “The Zhang family intends to annul the engagement. It seems that even an engagement is not foolproof.”

The Empress paused for a moment, then smiled. “The Heir Apparent’s temperament is truly strange. There are noble ladies everywhere in the capital; why must he choose the Zhang family’s young lady? This time it’s just a coincidence. Consort Zheng released Lady Zhang from the palace. If she had not, would he have remained unmarried for life?” She then glanced at the Emperor, seemingly unintentionally.

The Emperor put down his chopsticks. “Things in this world are always full of coincidences. It’s a coincidence that the Zhang family had Lady Zhang serve at the funeral, and it’s a coincidence that the Heir Apparent was the Deputy Envoy of the Ancestor’s Office… Is it not often said that stories do not unfold without coincidences? They are quite destined for each other.”

Indeed, this destiny began when Consort Zheng arbitrarily expelled her from the palace. If it were not for this story, who knows what the situation would be like now? A palace attendant brought tea, and the Empress stood by, serving the Emperor a mouthwash. She said, “The Zhang family hastily arranged the engagement with the Heir Apparent to appease the court officials, and now, after only a month, they intend to break it off. Does the Heir Apparent want Your Majesty to intervene again? It must be difficult for Lady Zhang. Fortunately, she honed her courage in the palace; if it were anyone else, they would probably be terrified.”

The Emperor said nothing. He could not betray a friend’s trust, and besides, he did not have to attend court for the next two days. A trip there was nothing to worry about.

The next day, he sent a eunuch to scout ahead. The eunuch said that Lady Zhang would finish teaching around the start of Shen hour ^{(3 PM)} and then invite the noble ladies for tea, which would end around the end of Shen hour ^{(5 PM)}. So he went there around the end of Shen hour, as summer days were particularly long, and at this time, the sun was still high in the sky.

The Emperor alighted from his carriage, holding an umbrella as he entered. The old woman guarding the gate stepped forward to stop him, respectfully saying, “Honored guest, please stop. This is a girls’ school; male guests are not permitted.”

The Emperor hesitated. No one had ever stopped him before. The eunuch beside him was about to speak, but he raised his hand to silence him.

“I am looking for your master. Please inform him.”

The old woman repeated, “This is now a girls’ school, and the master does not receive male guests. Perhaps you have a visiting card? This servant will present it for you.”

Asking the Emperor for a visiting card—this old woman was probably the only one in history to do that.

The Emperor had no name card, as he never needed one. Helpless, he said to the old woman, “Please have your young mistress come out and meet us. You will know once she sees me.”

While they were arguing, Surou walked onto the veranda and saw the scene at the courtyard gate. However, the person’s face was obscured by an oil-paper umbrella. She called out to Nanny Fu, “Is there a guest?”

Before she finished speaking, the oil-paper umbrella was slightly raised, revealing a distant face beneath its swaying canopy. Surou’s mind went blank, her heart pounding. She quickly gestured to Quelan to dismiss the maids in the hall, then hurried to the courtyard gate, raised her hand, and bowed deeply. “I was unaware of your arrival, esteemed guest. I deserve death.”

Nanny Fu, standing nearby, was dumbfounded. She immediately understood that this so-called esteemed guest was undoubtedly the Emperor himself. After all, who would her young mistress dare to address with such obeisance and threats of death? She was immediately terrified, her face turning deathly pale. She quickly took two steps back and knelt by the roadside.

The Emperor, dressed incognito, had no time to argue with her servants. He casually said, “Rise,” and followed Surou into the garden.

He had visited this garden before. Helian Song had built it as a place to rest after his journey down from Genyue. Giving it to her now was quite fitting. An elegant courtyard should be imbued with a scholarly atmosphere. He found the image of the seemingly shrewd Lady Zhang pacing back and forth in the hall, disciplining her students, quite amusing and vivid.

However, due to her status, she always held him in awe and was hesitant to act freely. She bowed and led him into the front hall, saying solemnly, “Your Majesty, please sit down. Please wait a moment; I will have tea prepared immediately.”

The Emperor declined, glancing at the utensils already laid out on the low table, and said gently, “Please, Lady Zhang, brew me a cup of hot water. The weather is hot, and I do not feel like drinking tea.”

Surou quickly replied, “Yes, Your Majesty,” and invited the Emperor to sit down. She knelt opposite him and lit a small warming stove.

Regarding why the Emperor had suddenly visited today, she had a vague premonition of impending doom. She guessed that news of the arranged marriage had reached his ears; this was a serious matter. Although she was uneasy, she had to remain calm, roasting the osmanthus flowers and inverting the covered bowl, and the more nervous she was, the more composed and elegant she had to be.

Clearly, the Emperor greatly admired her skill; almost every female official from the Forbidden City possessed exceptional tea-making skills.

He watched as she steeped White Peony tea in a cup, then removed the fragrant bowl, poured the tea into a gaiwan ^{(lidded bowl without a handle)}, and then divided it into smaller cups—her movements were fluid and perfect. Finally, she placed the cup on the saucer before him, softly saying, “Your Majesty, please.” The Emperor took a sip; the brewed tea had an herbal aroma, and the subtle flavor of osmanthus lingered on his tongue—it was indeed the authentic Forbidden City brewing method.

Therefore, caution was paramount; no innovation was permitted lest the distinguished guest be unaccustomed to it. To ensure safety, the original method was retained. The Emperor smiled and asked, “Is this how Lady Zhang usually teaches the noble ladies?”

Surou replied, “Next year’s imperial concubine selection will have dozens of noble ladies participating. They come here to learn first so they can familiarize themselves with the etiquette of the palace.”

The Emperor slowly nodded. “I know Lady Zhang has served in the palace for many years, and her conduct is impeccable. However, while her manners are excellent, some of her actions are rather embarrassing.”

Surou’s heart skipped a beat. She bowed her head and said, “What does Your Majesty mean? If I have made any mistakes, please correct me.”

The Emperor placed the teacup back on the saucer and said slowly, “Rumors are circulating in the streets and alleys of the capital that Lady Zhang and the Heir Apparent are engaged, but the engagement will soon be broken off. Is this true? I remember that day at the Princess’s residence; you told me yourself that you loved Helian Song and wanted to be with him forever. Yet, after only a month of engagement, you want to break it off. Lady Zhang, it seems you’ve been deliberately deceiving me.”

Surou knew this was no small matter. She had been too naive, assuming the Emperor had forgotten about it, but she had not expected his sudden arrival.

What should she do now? Fortunately, there was no concrete evidence in this matter. She hurriedly rose and took two steps back, kneeling on the mat, her head bowed deeply. “Your Majesty, please forgive me. The rumors are untrue. My engagement to the Heir Apparent is genuine, witnessed by Grand Tutor Hang. There is absolutely no pretense of a marriage.”

The Emperor raised an eyebrow slightly. “Is that so?”

What could she do now? Surou could only say, “Absolutely true.”

The Emperor, however, seemed somewhat disappointed. He sighed deeply and said, half-jokingly, “When I heard this news, I still had some hope, but it turns out it was all for nothing. Actually, even if you and the Heir Apparent break off the engagement, I will not punish you. After all, feelings between men and women are fickle; who can guarantee someone’s lifelong devotion?” As he spoke, he reached out and gently helped her up. “Get up, get up, and let’s talk properly.”

The weight, as light as the wind, rested on her arm, and Surou instinctively moved aside. After thanking the Emperor and rising, she already understood that breaking off the engagement would be extremely difficult.

The Emperor’s expression remained as nonchalant as ever as he paced slowly through the hall. Recalling the past, he spoke softly, “You wasted ten years in the Forbidden City. Thinking back, I feel deeply sorry for you. When the Empress Dowager passed away, I had only recently ascended the throne. The court was beset by internal and external troubles, and I had no time to attend to the harem. Before you entered the Yanjia Palace to serve, I had no idea you existed in the Forbidden City. Later, when the court rewarded old officials, and the Grand Secretariat decided to elevate your father’s spirit tablet to the Imperial Ancestral Temple, I intended to make it up to you after the previous dynasty issued the decree, but I was too late… What happens in the world is a coincidence for others, but for me, it was a twist of fate.” He turned and glanced at her indifferently. “If I were to give you another chance now, would you be willing to come with me into the Forbidden City?”

This was probably the first time in Surou’s life that she had heard the Emperor speak so much. She felt not flattered but only trembling with fear. The Emperor’s heartfelt affection was beyond her capacity to bear, and she would not, like those young girls, be swept away by the illusions of power and wealth.

“Your Majesty,” she said piously, “I am already betrothed to the Heir Apparent and will soon be married to another. I am as insignificant as dust, unworthy of Your Majesty’s favor. Besides… Your Majesty and the Heir Apparent are close friends. If I were to betray the Heir Apparent, would that not be placing Your Majesty in an unjust position?”

It was all an excuse, the Emperor sighed softly. “So you simply do not want to?”

However, she dared not utter those three words lightly. She curtsied, “Please, Your Majesty, grant my request.”

Her reluctance to enter the palace was not only due to her unyielding desire for freedom but also because years confined within the palace had often brought her embarrassment.

She had once been a first-class lady-in-waiting in Zheng Xiuyuan’s palace, serving him closely for three months. Whenever the Emperor stayed overnight in Yanjia Palace, she and the court historian would stand behind a screen, their backs to each other, recording the intimate affairs of the inner court. Although the man before her was an Emperor, and the Emperor’s harem represented not only power but also responsibility, no one could withstand close scrutiny. To Surou, the Emperor was a man who had seen through the mundane details of daily life.

Her maid helped her up, her body weak and limp. The thought of one day becoming like Zheng Xiuyuan sent chills down her spine. Therefore, whether the Emperor had not discovered her or they had missed their chance, she felt it was the best arrangement.

A hint of disappointment flickered in the Emperor’s eyes. The setting sun cast a long shadow under the eaves. He paused for a moment, then asked, “Will you truly marry the Heir Apparent?”

Now, she was left with only two paths, one or the other. She lowered her head and replied, “The engagement is already made. If the Heir Apparent does not do anything outrageous before the wedding, I suppose I will marry him.”

The Emperor nodded slowly, no longer dwelling on those matters. He strolled leisurely to the corridor, looked around, and changed his tone to a more relaxed one, saying, “I’ve always liked this place. When I was young, I often drank tea and played chess here with the Heir Apparent. Later, as government affairs became busier and he took on official duties, we no longer had time to come here. Now that you are here, I will take the opportunity to visit. It will not disturb the ladies’ studies. Do not feel pressured; just treat it like a casual visit between friends, simply sitting for a while, like today, asking for a cup of tea…” He turned to her with a smile. “I wonder if Lady Zhang welcomes this?”

Surou thought to herself, “How could I not welcome him? Who in this world can truly befriend the Emperor? As for Helian Song, there might be calculations between the Emperor and his subject, but due to their childhood friendship, they are more restrained compared to how they treat others.”

She forced a gentle smile. “It’s an honor for me that Your Majesty would like to visit often.”

The Emperor could easily see her reluctance and found it amusing. But it was not bad either; having to endure her disdain to come and ask for tea was a rare experience in his imperial life.

Looking at the time, the sun was setting. He turned and said, “I am truly sorry to have troubled Lady Zhang today. I will come again in a couple of days.”

Surou nodded politely and escorted him to the door.

The Emperor, his robes fluttering, possessed the refined air of a scholar when not in court. He nodded politely and, supported by a eunuch, boarded his carriage.

Surou tucked her hands behind her back, bowed respectfully at the door, and only straightened up after hearing the clatter of hooves fade into the distance.

Those who had been hiding to the side, afraid to show their faces, finally emerged one by one. Nanny Fu, clutching her chest, exclaimed, “Heavens! That was the Emperor! I actually blocked his path! I must have been incredibly audacious. It’s my good fortune to still be alive!”

Quelan called out mournfully to her mistress, “Why was the Emperor here to see you again, Young Lady…?”

Even Quelan could tell it was not good news. Surou, not wanting to say anything, simply said, “Pack your things and go home.”

Upon arriving home, they went straight to Suihua Garden. The Grand Madam had been busy arranging Jiezhi’s marriage these past two days, mentioning the Zizheng Hall… The fifth young lady of the Shi family was a good choice. “I’ve met that girl a few times. She has a round, chubby face and is very sweet and adorable. She smiles at everyone without even saying a word; she truly has a blessed face, a child who will bring good fortune to her husband. It’s just that she’s the second daughter of the second wife, not as favored as the eldest daughter. I do not think that matters. When we are looking for a wife, as long as the family background is suitable and the girl has a good temperament, that’s enough. We are not marrying into the family fortune. Even if the dowry is small, we will not mind.”

Surou agreed, saying that well-off families only wanted a good daughter; if she brought harmony to the family, that was the greatest blessing.

However, not seeing Mianmian, she felt a little strange and asked her grandmother, “Is my cousin not coming for dinner?”

The Grand Madam said that the Earl of Dengfeng’s family had come to offer betrothal gifts today. “Your cousin has become someone with worries these days. She did not show up all afternoon, and last night she said she was not hungry and would not come for dinner.”

Surou understood. Previously, she had only been interested in the Earl’s family; for the marriage to actually take place, the two people’s birth dates and times had to be compatible. If there was a problem with that, the marriage still could not proceed. Therefore, even the carefree Mianmian began to worry and could not even eat.

“Never mind her; let’s eat.” The Grand Madam put some food in Surou’s bowl, asking, “You’ve been coming home late these past two days. Are you very busy at school?”

Surou gave a vague reply, holding her bowl but barely tasting her food.

Grand Madam Zhang, oblivious to the situation, murmured, “The Heir Apparent visited today and sat down to talk with me for quite a while. I think this child’s manner of speaking is truly exceptional. Actually, looking at him makes me feel quite uneasy. Firstly, I think of your father, and secondly, I think of you. If it were not for those past grievances, it would actually be a good marriage…”

Surou’s mind was not on this. She hesitantly called out to her grandmother, “The Emperor came again today.”

The Grand Madam Zhang paused, remaining silent for a long while.

Grandmother and granddaughter exchanged a glance, each knowing in their hearts that, given the current situation, it was probably impossible to mention breaking off the engagement for the time being.

“Rumors are circulating outside; everyone says the two families have formed a fake marriage. The more they say that, the more difficult things become. We can only wait and see; we cannot let this accusation of deceiving the Emperor come true—that’s no joke. Besides, my younger siblings are all getting engaged, and if something goes wrong at this crucial juncture, it will also be a hindrance to them.” The Grand Madam blinked her dry eyes. “These are not my words; they are the Heir Apparent’s exact words.”

T/N: Emperor wins the Oscars for best acting!