Spring Message in the Snow – CH 053

Chapter 53

Surou, due to the changes in her family, had been somewhat unsettled these past two days. After calming down a bit, she remembered the Emperor’s instruction to use the broken bottom of a clay pot to grind into a fire-resistant slab.

Since there were no broken ones available, she had to smash one on the spot and have the old woman grind it thin and round. When the fire-resistant slab was handed to her, the clay slab felt very rough to the touch, and its size was like a copper coin. She carefully examined it for a moment. Logically, it should be very useful; the incense balls and powders were like ingredients, and only a clay pot could bring out their exquisite flavors. After all, no one had ever seen a pot made of mica and jade.

She put the clay slab away and took it to the garden, planning when to have Helian Song give it to the Emperor, along with the umbrella, so that the Emperor would have no excuse to come again.

Her classes ended early today, giving her time to admire the jade hairpin flowers and sit on the newly erected swing. With a push of her legs, the swing began to sway, her clothes fluttering in the evening breeze. It seemed that the faster she swung, the less her worries could keep up, leaving her troubles far behind.

Holding the rope in her hands, she closed her eyes, listening to the cicadas chirping in the treetops and the wind whistling in her ears. She vaguely remembered a similar swing in the northwest corner of the inner garden back in the palace, where the palace attendants could only sit and swing when no one was around.

Suddenly, a pair of hands pushed from behind, the force just right. Thinking it was Quelan, she laughed and said, “A little harder, higher!”

So the force increased but remained restrained, perhaps fearing that too much exertion might be dangerous.

Surou was rarely so happy. Reaching the highest point, she squinted, gazing at the vast expanse of sky and earth beyond the courtyard walls. But when she suddenly saw Quelan carrying a tray and chatting and laughing with a maid as they walked past on the front corridor, she was startled. Turning around, she saw the man in the monk’s robe standing behind her with a smile. Startled, she stopped in her tracks, hurriedly jumped off the swing, and stammered, “Your…Your Majesty, what brings you here?”

The Emperor, usually so amiable, no longer wore the tense expression he had in the Forbidden City. His brows relaxed as he said, “There’s nothing important to do today. I remembered I left an umbrella with you last time, so I’ve come to retrieve it.”

Surou responded with an “Oh” and added, “I’ve already carefully put the umbrella away. I will bring it to Your Majesty right away.” As she spoke, she glanced at the courtyard gate, muttering, “Why did no one announce your arrival? It’s such an intrusion on Your Majesty…”

The Emperor, hands behind his back, said frankly, “It was I who told them not to announce my arrival. Why spoil the young lady’s good mood?”

However, those two pushes earlier had made her feel quite uncomfortable, and she felt a little resentful of the Emperor’s impetuousness. But given his status, she dared not complain aloud and could only nod and lead him into the hall.

Turning around, she curtsied and said, “Please wait a moment, Your Majesty.” She went inside, retrieved the umbrella, and respectfully presented it to him.

The Emperor reached out and took it. Actually, retrieving the umbrella was merely an excuse to come again. Visiting her today, he had discovered a lively side to her beyond her dignified demeanor. Some people were like that; the more time you spend with them, the more irresistible they become.

Surou remembered and went back to the drawer of her desk to retrieve the ceramic fire-resistant shard. Holding it in her hands, she said, “I originally planned to have Jie Ran bring this to Your Majesty when he had an audience with you someday, but since Your Majesty is here today, I can present it to you.”

Held by those delicate, jade-like hands, the ceramic shard seemed even more precious. The Emperor picked it up from her palm and examined it in the sunlight. It was of uniform thickness, with a slight concave center, like a small pot. He asked, “Have you tried it?”

Surou replied no, “It was only made today; I have not had a chance to try it yet.”

Then someone in the outer corridor chimed in, “Would Your Majesty like to try it? I’ve recently wanted to learn incense burning, and I’d like to have Second Young Lady teach me, so Your Majesty can offer his guidance.” As the newcomer spoke, that person reached the door, smiling and bowing to the Emperor, “Your subject greets Your Majesty.”

The Emperor’s smile deepened. “What a coincidence, Jie Ran has also arrived.”

The three met, a faint awkwardness lingering. Although they, as Emperor and his subjects, appeared very casual and familiar, an undercurrent seemed to be surging beneath the surface.

Surou quickly instructed Quelan to prepare tea and invited them to sit.

Helian Song looked at her tenderly. “Second Young Lady, please prepare the incense-burning utensils! Of the four arts of hanging paintings, arranging flowers, burning incense, and making tea, I can do the other three, but I never seem to have the time to practice incense.”

Surou agreed, turning to retrieve a complete set of tools from the cabinet and placing them on the table. The Emperor glanced at it, seemingly casually remarking, “Why do you not use the lion-shaped incense burner from last time?”

Surou could not help but glance at Helian Song, who smiled magnanimously. “I also think the imperial incense burner is more suitable.”

Surou had no choice but to bring out the incense burner again. The Emperor tilted his head and sighed, “It’s said the fragrance lasts for three days; it turns out that’s not true.”

Though these words were casual, sounding like a joke, the underlying meaning and the turbulent undercurrent beneath the calm surface were alarming. Whether the fragrance had dissipated in three days was secondary; what mattered was letting Helian Song know that he had been there three days ago and had burned incense with Surou. He had previously entrusted him with pressuring Surou, and now that he had fulfilled his duty as a friend, he had done his best.

Helian Song merely smiled faintly. He did not need to appear too clever in front of the Emperor; he was simply grateful for the Emperor’s humility in personally intervening.

Surou, always dedicated to teaching her students, handed him a pair of copper chopsticks and taught him how to gently stir the ash. The most important thing in the art of incense burning was a calm mind, unperturbed by praise or blame, oblivious to others. If the mind were filled with distractions, the incense would lack purity.

She bent down beside him, instructing, “Stirring the ash is a way to train the mind, a test of concentration. Do not be impatient; do it slowly…” Whether it was due to his military background or his deliberate choice, the ash would not disperse, clumping together in clumps. Surou, a clever woman, naturally wanted to show their closeness to the Emperor, so she took his hand and gently guided him to mix the ash.

The Emperor, standing to the side, watched, a smile on his face, but his eyes slowly turned cold.

The second step was burying the charcoal, which was not too difficult; Helian Song could do it himself. But when it came to the third step, pressing the incense ash, he seized the opportunity to show off. He glanced at her mischievously and said, “Pressing the ash is said to be the hardest. I cannot control my strength; you will have to help me.”

Surou glanced at him. “Is it not said you can shoot an arrow through a willow leaf from a hundred paces? What’s so difficult about pressing ash that it’s stumped you?” As she spoke, she took the ash press and handed it to him, carefully instructing him as usual, “Hold the incense burner with your left hand and the ash press with your right. Slowly rotate the incense burner, pressing and rotating simultaneously… Do not press it too firmly, otherwise the charcoal will not burn.” She still guided him by the hand, her breath sweet as orchids as she whispered in his ear, “Press the ash into a cone shape so you can make a hole at the top.”

The setting sun slanted down, casting a magnificent glow on the courtyard. If there were no third person present, the scene would have been one of perfect harmony.

The Emperor’s smile faded, replaced by a leisurely air as he watched them deliberately display their harmonious relationship before him. For a moment, he felt a sense of disorientation, unsure whether he had succeeded or failed.

Upon reaching the step of opening the fire window, Surou, her hands deftly moving, said softly, “The size of the fire window affects how quickly the charcoal heats up. Too large, and the aroma will not evaporate; too small, and the aroma will burn, losing its pure flavor.”

Finally, she placed the fire-insulating piece made from the bottom of the earthenware pot, then added sandalwood incense, and respectfully presented the incense burner to the Emperor, inviting him to sample the fragrance.

The Emperor accepted the incense with a renewed smile. For some reason, the incense smelled somewhat pungent today, and without daring to sniff it closely, he sent it back.

They seemed quite pleased with themselves, indicating that his visit had given Helian Song another opportunity to be close to his beloved.

“That’s enough. I cannot bear to watch any longer,” the Emperor said, standing up. “It’s getting late. The palace gates will close soon if we do not get back.” He glanced at Helian Song. “Jie Ran, will you see me to the gate?”

Helian Song agreed and led the way. The Emperor picked up the umbrella and walked a short distance before turning back. Surou stood respectfully at the steps, bowing as she saw him off. He smiled and said to Helian Song, “I see that Lady Zhang’s attitude towards you has improved considerably. It seems your mission is nearing completion.”

In front of his friend, Helian Song maintained his carefree demeanor, lowering his voice to say, “I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty’s help this time. She originally intended to break off the engagement, but thanks to Your Majesty’s intervention, I am where I am today.”

The Emperor raised an eyebrow. “Now, is she truly willing to marry you?”

Helian Song stammered, “I only agreed as a compromise. To be honest, Your Majesty, I was genuinely worried that she would break off the engagement and become a nun. What if she became a nun because of my scheming? How could I face Minister Zhang in the future?”

The Emperor slowly nodded. “Fortunately, she did not; otherwise, I would have been your accomplice.”

Helian Song breathed a sigh of relief, accompanied the Emperor to the carriage, and said with a hint of sincerity, “A good marriage is hard-won, and I will definitely treat her well from now on.”

The Emperor glanced back at him. “Actually, you should not have lied to such a good girl. There are no secrets that stay hidden forever. If she finds out the truth, will she forgive you?”

Helian Song’s heart skipped a beat, but he put on a smile again. “As long as Your Majesty does not reveal it, she will not know.”

The Emperor did not speak again and, with a eunuch’s arm around his shoulder, boarded the carriage. Before leaving, he informed him, “Recently, the Jishi Army will be transferring troops to Hezhou. Tomorrow, you and the chancellors will discuss a plan. Marriage is important, but so are matters of state. We cannot neglect one for the other and forget our heavy responsibilities.”

Helian Song replied with a “Yes,” stepped back, and watched the carriage slowly pass through the bamboo forest.

The man in the carriage tossed the clay pot fire-resistant shard he had just acquired between his fingers. Its slightly concave bottom seemed to swirl around his fingertips, and he found it laughable, recalling their feigned affection.

Helian Song was right. Zhang Surou had indeed settled for second best. If she knew she had fallen into a trap, she probably would not bother to investigate whether the Emperor liked her or not; she would only harbor deep resentment towards Helian Song.

Meanwhile, Helian Song returned to the garden, his mind fully aware that the Emperor’s thoughts were becoming increasingly active. His last visit to Genyue had only intended to elicit a little pressure, but he had not expected the Emperor to come to the garden so frequently. For a man to appear so often, so eagerly, was it an act? It was far too convincing, too devoted.

These were matters of private concern that Surou could not know. Inside, everything was as it had been before. He first looked at the incense burner, muttering, “Who would give this to a young lady to please her? The Emperor really does not follow the usual path.” He casually tossed it aside, then savored the touching intimacy they had just shared. A joyful smile played on his lips as he circled the center of the hall twice, thinking to himself that some things could not be faked. His fiancée must have some feelings for him; to be so close, speaking in such an ambiguous tone… If it were already like this, how sweet their marriage would be! It was almost unimaginable.

Surou, seeing his self-satisfied state, knew that he was probably enacting another elaborate drama in his mind. Ignoring him, she neatly gathered her tools, saying, “That was just a temporary measure. I apologize for being impolite to Your Highness; please do not take it to heart.”

But he replied, “How can I not take it to heart? Not only will I take it to heart, but I will remember it for the rest of my life… This is the first time Second Young Lady has been so close to me, speaking to me so tenderly. The Emperor, seeing this, is practically fuming.”

These words were no longer half-truths; they were genuine. He sensed the change in the Emperor’s feelings.

Although he was busy making incense, he had been watching the Emperor out of the corner of his eye, clearly noticing even the slightest frown or lip movement. He felt a surge of pride, yet also a hidden worry, after the lighthearted banter. He turned serious, approaching her and softly confirming, “Young Lady, you do not like the Emperor; you only like me, right? You have not developed feelings for him because he comes so often, have you?”

“You’re being shameless again.” Surou rolled her eyes at him. “Do not worry, Your Highness, I’ve made up my mind, and I will not change it, much less develop feelings for the Emperor.”

“That’s it.” He smiled, stroking his chin. “You still prefer me.”

Surou blushed. “I never said I preferred you.”

“Ah!” he exclaimed. “If you do not like me, then why did you marry me?” Afraid she’d say she was forced by circumstances, he quickly added, shamelessly, “Anyway, compared to the Emperor, you like me more. Even if it’s not a deep liking now, a slight liking is my blessing; I am already very content.”

Surou turned away, facing him again, unsure what she would say. She reached out and placed the incense burner on the table. The burning sandalwood incense should not be wasted; let it burn all night, purifying the room.

He followed her closely, saying earnestly, “The Emperor came again today. I am worried. Do you not think he’s becoming increasingly interested in you?”

Surou, recalling the push on the swing earlier, naturally felt uneasy. She turned back and said, “The Emperor is coming here; I cannot turn him away. I just entertain him well each time. There’s nothing for the Heir Apparent to worry about. I’ve spent several times with him, and I can see that the Emperor is quite restrained, at least not as headstrong as other emperors. I suspect that the Emperor and the Heir Apparent share a childhood bond; it would not be good for him to interfere now.”

But he merely chuckled. “Childhood bonds only play a small part. The most important thing is that he still needs to win over Longyou. If rumors of a ruler taking a subject’s wife reach Longyou, how do you think my father will feel when he finds out?” Speaking of his father, another piece of good news came to him. He smiled and said, “I had someone send a letter home to Longyou via express courier, informing my parents of our marriage. They were very happy to hear it and wrote back, telling me to take good care of you.”

Having the elders’ approval and blessing for the marriage was naturally the best thing. Surou smiled, said nothing, and after tidying everything up, said, “Let’s go back.”

He followed closely behind her as usual. The sun had already set, and he sighed with his hands behind his back, “If only we could go back to our own home!”

Surou turned to look at him. “Did Grandmother not say that you could stay for a meal at our residence?”

He said it was still somewhat inconvenient. “Your household has many sisters; a brother-in-law should keep his distance from his sisters-in-law, otherwise there will be gossip.”

Surou could not help but chuckle. This man was truly strange; she had not even finished talking, yet he was already so self-respecting. In this world, it was always women who were busy avoiding suspicion; she’d never seen a man act like this before. Judging from his current behavior, it seemed she need not worry about him bringing a woman home one day, because his chastity would not allow it.

“In Grandmother’s garden, only one cousin comes and goes frequently. If you come to visit, you can invite her to dine in my courtyard.”

Helian Song replied, “Dinner is secondary. I just want to live my own life with you, Young Lady. It seems you still do not understand my heart!”

Since he never hid his feelings for her, Surou ignored him and chatted idly until they reached the carriage. Ever since their experience riding together in the rain last time, he had basically given up on riding alone. She went to prepare a carriage, letting her maid sit in the back, while he shamelessly squeezed in with her.

There was no wind in the evening, and even with the doors and windows open, it was still stuffy. He unfolded a folding fan to fan her and then asked, “How is Fifth Young Lady’s marriage going? Is the young master of the Jin family seriously injured?”

Hearing this, Surou sighed helplessly, “Young Master Jin’s leg was treated by Chief Physician Song of the Imperial Medical Bureau. My brothers found out from Chief Physician Song that Young Master Jin’s leg is indeed beyond repair, and even if he recovers, he will probably be a cripple. The family is concerned about Fifth Sister’s future and naturally hopes the Jin family will give an explanation, but the Jin family seems to be deliberately concealing the truth, insisting on telling my older brother that it’s nothing serious and he will recover with rest. It’s making Grandmother, my uncle, and aunt very worried.”

Helian Song said, “Oh, so they are trying to delay until the wedding date, planning to get married with his leg bound?”

Surou nodded. “That’s what I am afraid of. We will only know if he’s lame after he’s fully recovered. If they intentionally delay until after the wedding, then even if he’s truly lame, we will have to accept it.”

So, who in this world did not want to avoid misfortune and seek good fortune? It was just that burdening a girl for life was really unkind.

Helian Song pondered for a moment and said, “I went back and asked my subordinate about Jin Wohu that day. He’s serving as a Captain in the army. If this matter cannot be resolved properly, I will think of a way.”

Surou looked up in surprise. “What’s your plan?”

Helian Song said indifferently, “The Jin family is reasonable and has reasonable ways of dealing with people. If they are unreasonable, they will naturally have unreasonable ways of dealing with it.”

Indeed, if it were an upright family, they would come to explain the truth, letting the Zhang family decide whether the marriage should continue or be annulled. That would be honest and respectable. But the Jin family’s continued concealment seemed like deliberate deception. Surou said, “Grandmother means to wait a while longer. If the Jin family still refuses to tell the truth, then we will trouble the Heir Apparent.”