Spring Message in the Snow – CH 049

Chapter 49

Adopting a humble expression, she stepped forward to greet the Emperor, her slight bow revealing the graceful charm befitting a beautiful woman.

The Emperor chuckled, “I seem to have arrived a bit early today. The noble ladies from the academy have not left yet, so I had to wait a moment in the carriage.”

Surou glanced at the Emperor. Indeed, the July weather was terribly hot and humid; even the ice chest in the carriage could not block the sweltering heat. She said gently, “Then, Your Majesty, please come inside to cool off. I happen to have some chilled mung bean soup prepared; I will have someone serve you a cup to relieve the heat.”

The Emperor nodded, but he felt a little strange. She seemed different today. It was not a change in her words or actions, but rather a relaxed aura emanating from her. She was no longer the apprehensive, tense woman she used to be, afraid to speak freely, with even her every step exuding caution.

She stepped aside, raised her hand to gesture, and her sleeves fluttered gently in the evening breeze. The pale lotus-root color, like a wisp of dream, transformed into a delicate thread, wildly drifting into one’s heart.

The Emperor lowered his umbrella, climbed the steps, and carefully leaned against the doorframe before entering the hall. A breeze blew from the north and south, accompanied by the swaying bamboo curtains, creating a serene and refreshing atmosphere.

Turning around, he casually sat down in a round-backed chair and asked, “Has Jie Ran come these past two days?”

Surou replied, “He came the day before yesterday. The Hang family hosted a banquet for us, and he came to wait for me after school so we could go to the Grand Tutor’s residence together.” As she spoke, a maid brought in a lotus-leaf cup and respectfully presented it to her. She took the tray and placed it on the table, then used a silver spoon to scoop some cool water from the Emperor’s cup and drank it herself. She then placed a new cup with a wooden spoon and put it back in front of the Emperor.

This was a rule within the Forbidden City: the Emperor’s food and drink could not be simply picked up from a bowl and consumed; it had to be inspected by a designated person to prevent any disloyal person from poisoning the cup. Since the Emperor had no one to attend to him this time, the task fell to Surou. After all, she was the one who prepared the cold water and mung beans; if anything went wrong, he could not afford the consequences.

The Emperor watched her meticulously arrange things; indeed, after years in the Forbidden City, every move she made was impeccable. Having been out for half a day, he was indeed a little thirsty, so he took a sip with a wooden spoon. The cold water was sweet and refreshing, the mung beans had already been shelled, and they were stewed until soft and palatable. He sincerely praised, “Lady Zhang’s culinary skills are superb, and her servants are equally adept; this cold water is very well made.”

Surou hesitated slightly, wondering how the Emperor knew she was skilled in cooking. However, she quickly recalled teaching the noble ladies how to make gourd dishes; perhaps some of her cooking utensils had caught his eye. Therefore, she did not dwell on it and simply said, “Your Majesty flatters me. It’s just a common folk dish, nothing to compare with the imperial cuisine.” She then took two steps back and knelt on the mat before him, bowing deeply. “I am deeply humbled by Your Majesty’s gift. I have done nothing to deserve such kindness.”

The Emperor, initially puzzled by her sudden gesture, remembered that he had sent her an incense burner earlier. He smiled and said, “Get up. I acquired it by chance a few days ago, thinking you would find it useful when teaching your students, so I had it delivered to you.” He paused, then asked, “Have you used it?”

Surou shook her head. “It was an item bestowed upon me by Your Majesty. This incense burner is different from ordinary ones. I had it carefully stored away; I dare not use it casually.”

The Emperor felt this was unnecessary. “That kind of thing is for daily use; storing it away defeats its purpose.” He then smiled and said, “This incense burner was used by Liu Zhiheng, a Grand Secretary of the previous dynasty. It is said that he met a hermit on Mount Wuyi, and after they became acquainted, the hermit gave it to him, saying that it was extraordinary and mysterious, capable of making the fragrance linger for three days.”

Surou, hearing this, knew that the Emperor intended for her to use it. So she turned and instructed Quelan, who was standing nearby, to bring the incense burner. She prepared the incense-burning utensils herself and bowed, saying, “I have a Xunling Ten-Mile Fragrance here. If Your Majesty is curious, we will burn some and try it!”

The Emperor agreed. The young Emperor possessed a composed demeanor, which, although intimidating, lacked sharp edges; instead, it exuded a serene air. Turning his head, he saw a maid carry in an incense burner, placing it neatly on the long table. The beautiful woman sat down behind the table, poured incense ash into the burner, stirred it with copper chopsticks, then opened the charcoal well and buried incense charcoal in the ash.

Sometimes, appreciating incense was not just about appreciating the incense itself, but also about appreciating the person who set it up—the expression on her face and the process of every gesture and turn of her wrist. The human heart was mysterious. She had been in the palace for ten years, and he only discovered her after she was transferred to the Yanjia Palace. In just three months, they had met by chance. Initially, he was not fixated on her, but now, with her engagement to Helian Song, he felt as if he had missed a treasure, one he could never get back.

Longyou was important, and national stability was also crucial for a mature Emperor. Therefore, he should consider this marriage. At least granting Helian Song’s wish was a favor, ensuring the future Prince of Wukang and Longyou would be even more loyal to the court—a long-term benefit.

However, people were like that—always wanting more after getting what they wanted. What belonged to others always had a mysterious attraction, and often only after losing it completely did they suddenly realize they’d missed the most beautiful scenery. Once they came to their senses, they’d start to yearn for it, becoming increasingly regretful, and then uncontrollably wanting to run back there, even though they clearly no longer needed it.

He slightly shook himself, then refocused his attention, watching her calmly and patiently press the incense ash and open the fire window. He rose and paced forward, noticing the various fire-resistant insulators in the incense box. He pondered, “I read in a miscellaneous book that while mica or jade pieces are beautiful, they cannot compare to the bottom of a burnt clay pot from the capital. If you polish them slightly thicker, they are wonderful for insulating incense. I wonder if that’s true.”

Surou was somewhat surprised. She looked up at him, seeing the puzzled expression on his face. She thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. “That seems to make sense. The bottom of a clay pot can withstand a large fire; insulating such a small ember should be no problem. Tomorrow, I will have someone grind one to test it…”

The Emperor said, “Grind one more. I want to try it too.”

Surou said, “Oh,” and smiled. “Alright. Once it’s finished, I’ll have Jie Ran send it to the Emperor.”

So, the insistence on having Helian Song in between and this instinctive reaction that did not seem feigned gradually puzzled him. Had his urging really worked?

She said no more, took the incense balls with copper chopsticks, placed them on the jade plate, and presented the incense burner to the Emperor.

The Emperor took it, half-covering the mouth of the burner to savor the fragrance. The delicate aroma rose, and he praised, “This Xunling incense is very well made. The Taiping Yulan records that when Xunling visited someone’s home, the fragrance lingered for three days. With this incense burner, it should last at least six days!” He then handed the incense burner back to her.

Surou herself also lowered her head to sample it and smiled. “Xunling possessed the talent of a king’s advisor and was loyal, filial, honest, and righteous in supporting the Han Dynasty. Incense made by such a person is naturally of the highest quality.”

The Emperor was a clever man; he could easily understand the hidden meaning in her words. No wonder she wanted to burn Xunling incense; she was probably implying that Helian Song was wholeheartedly loyal to the court and, even if he returned to Longyou, would guard the borders for the Emperor, ensuring the eternal prosperity of this dynasty.

A slight smile touched the Emperor’s lips. He was right; she would be a virtuous wife. With such a beauty by his side, Helian Song would likely no longer yearn to return to Longyou. Even if he inherited the title, he would be grateful for his sacrifice.

However, a piece seemed to be missing from his heart, a vague sense of melancholy washing over him. He himself felt inexplicably sad. He had every kind of beauty imaginable in his harem; why should he be sad about giving up Zhang Surou? But these words could not console him. After much deliberation, he felt he lacked a woman of such poignant grace and quiet strength. His regret and melancholy deepened, his heart overflowing with longing, and he decided to come and see her.

Fortunately, his status prevented her from turning him away; otherwise, such a composed and dignified person would not welcome a male guest. There was no need to delve into the past; he simply chatted casually with her, strolled to the door, and looked outside. He noticed a swing set up in the southeast corner and asked curiously, “Is that new? It suits the place perfectly.”

Surou said yes, and standing to the side with her hands tucked in, she explained, “Last time, Jie Ran mentioned wanting to dig a pond there. But with so many noble ladies coming and going every day, it’s not convenient to start construction. So, we’ve placed a swing there for now, so one can sit on it when one has some free time.”

The Emperor gave an “oh,” then his gaze shifted to her, a half-smile playing on his lips. “Lady Zhang, you seem to be constantly talking about Jie Ran these days. Have you really developed feelings for him over time?”

Surou blushed and lowered her head, saying, “Your Majesty is too kind.”

The Emperor’s gaze followed her lowered head, suddenly stopping at the jade pendant at her waist—a dragon holding a lingzhi mushroom, the totem of the Helian family. He understood immediately; this charade, after so long, had indeed become real. Indeed, being so deeply loved by a young and handsome heir apparent, a woman’s heart softened; how long could that resentment last?

Looking at the sky, the Emperor said, “Half a day has passed in the blink of an eye. It’s getting late; it’s time to go back.”

Surou replied, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor walked away slowly, hands behind his back, with her following behind, all the way to the courtyard gate. As he was about to board the carriage, he turned back and added, “Lady Zhang mentioned earlier that you wanted to make a clay pot as an incense burner; do not forget.”

Surou replied, “I certainly will not forget.”

But he stood in front of the carriage without moving, and even when a eunuch offered to help him, he seemed not to hear.

Surou understood and stepped forward to offer him her arm for support. The light touch on her arm was quickly moved away. The Emperor sat inside the carriage, the curtain obscuring half his face. His thin lips, illuminated by the sunlight, slightly curved upwards as he said calmly, “I am sorry to have troubled Lady Zhang today. The chilled mung bean soup was delicious, and the incense burned beautifully. Thank you for your hospitality, Lady Zhang.”

Surou stepped back two paces, bowed her head in salutation, and respectfully saw the carriage slowly head towards the bamboo grove. After a long while, she straightened up, wondering why she, no longer a palace lady, still had to serve him as before. She sighed helplessly. It was true that ten years of bad habits were hard to eradicate; sometimes she forgot that circumstances had changed. She secretly remembered this time: if it happened again, she’d play dumb. She regretted helping him up earlier; even if she was being hospitable, she did not need to be so attentive.

Quelan called out to her young mistress, “Are we going home now?”

Surou nodded. Now that two old women were assigned to watch the house in the garden, she did not need to rush to pack before leaving. However, the imperial incense burner could not be left out; she had to go inside and put it away herself. After everything was settled, she came out of the garden and was about to get into the carriage when she saw someone standing in the setting sun outside. A crimson robe covered his golden light armor, and the person looked as sharp as a sword. He must have just returned from the army and had not even had time to change his clothes before rushing over.

However, he seemed particularly suited to such rich and vibrant colors; the more complex and vivid the colors, the more radiant and imposing his features appeared. Surou stopped in her tracks. “Did Your Highness just finish your duties?”

Helian Song nodded. “The Divine Guards’ training today did not end until late afternoon. I rushed back just in time to take you home.”

Surou thought to herself, “This man is quite thoughtful, even if his real purpose is just to check on my progress. I should still appreciate it.” She said, “Your Highness is too kind.” As she spoke, she was helped into the carriage by Quelan.

Helian Song, full of pride, said, “You do not know the state of mind of someone carrying such treasures. It’s naturally safest to personally escort them.” He mounted his horse, turned it around, and rode alongside her. He paused and asked, “Did the Emperor come again today?”

The curtain of Surou’s carriage was rolled up high; she could see him without leaning out. He seemed unconcerned, his brow relaxed. She hummed in agreement, “I received an incense burner as a gift a couple of days ago; he had come to see how effective it is.”

Helian Song chuckled dryly. “I did not expect the Emperor to resort to such clichéd methods. He sends something today, then uses it as an excuse to make further contact tomorrow… It seems he’s still somewhat unwilling. The situation is quite critical. Has the young lady had a thorough discussion with Lady Pan?”

Surou nodded. “I asked my stepmother yesterday. She knows it’s not advisable to break off the engagement right now and understands my difficulties, but I know the grievances she feels, and I deeply feel sorry for her.”

He also appeared somewhat somber; the news, which should have brought him joy, seemed to have failed to uplift him. He sighed softly and said, “I feel guilty towards the Shizhong and his wife, and also towards your Zhang family, so I want to do everything in my power to help you out of this predicament…” He then glanced at her sadly, “Even if you do not like me, I will have no regrets.”

Surou’s temple throbbed involuntarily. She thought to herself, “Is this his way of repaying his debt?” But upon closer examination, she was not oblivious; she could even vaguely discern a hidden meaning. She asked him seemingly casually, “Your Highness is well past the age of marriage; why have you not married yet?”

He leisurely pulled on the reins, revealing his true feelings to her: “Perhaps I was waiting for you, my dear wife!”

However, how much of this was true was unknown; in Surou’s opinion, it was probably ninety percent false. Although the Heir Apparent of Wukang enjoyed a life of luxury and privilege, a hostage was still a hostage. If he married and had children, half his life would be tied to the capital. If he were to marry a woman who was devoted to him and loved him, he might suffer the excruciating pain of separation and death in the future. Therefore, her dislike for him actually lessened the harm; thinking about it this way, it was a win-win situation.

Seeing Surou remain silent, he glanced at her and cautiously pressed, “When does my young lady plan to ask Father-in-law?”

He always addressed her father as “father-in-law,” and Surou initially objected but eventually grew accustomed to it and let him be. Calculating the time, she said, “The day after tomorrow. I’ll inform the ladies tomorrow that classes are canceled, so they do not make a wasted trip.”

Helian Song agreed, “Then I will make time for you the day after tomorrow.”

The last rays of sunlight fell on his armor, and he smiled, a joy that came from the bottom of his heart. However, worries remained. “Do you think my father-in-law will agree? What if he does not think it through or disapproves? Will you really not marry me then?”

This question was unavoidable. Surou was also thinking about what to do if she consulted the oracle at his grave and the result was not good. After much thought, she came up with only one solution: “Then I will break off the engagement and become a nun.”

This startled him. “A nun? Young Lady, do not act rashly.”

But upon reflection, this path, aside from not being able to marry, was not actually that bad. Surou calmly said, “Being a nun does not mean living a life of seclusion forever. One can also come and go in the secular world, make friends, and do what one wants.”

But this choice was the greatest waste of her youth. She was clearly like those noble ladies in the capital, deserving of the best of everything in the world. Why would she send herself into the mountains, only to suffer the covetousness of those despicable men in the long run?

“If you have this intention, Father-in-law will probably have no choice but to agree,” he said, feigning a flick of his riding crop. “You are his most beloved daughter; he certainly would not want you to waste your life.”

Surou was taken aback. “Has my father ever mentioned me to you?”

He gazed ahead, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Back then, my father-in-law brought me out of Longyou. The accident happened when we reached Langzhou. It took about ten days of travel. He would tell me about his family, how my wife lost her mother at a young age, and how he was often away fighting, only able to spend one Lantern Festival with her.”

Surou felt a pang of pain in her chest. This kind of inside story was impossible for outsiders to know. Indeed, her father had not simply escorted him back to the capital like a prisoner; they had indeed talked. But she did not understand. A heavy weight pressed on her heart. She needed to know the truth. Half-resentful, she pounded on the doorframe and questioned him, “Since my father did not mistreat you, why did you sneak out? Why did he risk his life chasing you?”

He turned around, glancing at her indifferently. “I did not sneak away from the caravan. Someone was trying to kill me. I panicked and lost my way, which was why I got separated from the caravan.”

A lump formed in her throat, bringing tears to Surou’s eyes. She slumped back into her seat, lowering her head and covering her eyes.

So, everything had its cause and effect. Once everything was answered, she found no one to hate anymore. Suddenly, she felt empty inside, and her longing for her father had lost its anchor.

Seeing her cry, Helian Song did not rush to comfort her. Her heart was already burdened with too much grievance; a good cry was not a bad thing. He did not want to recall his past experiences anymore, nor did he want to explain them too much. Too much explanation would be seen as sophistry, an attempt to escape punishment, and he truly was guilty. He’d rather the Zhang family hate him. It was only today, when she asked, that he told her. As for her reaction, that was her choice. If she could forgive him a little, perhaps it would lessen her pain.