Spring Message in the Snow – CH 062

Chapter 62

Such a simple and plain wish—to live, to be reunited. It sounded so simple, but to Helian Song, it moved him deeply.

Surou must have some genuine feelings for him now. Although avoiding becoming a widow was her top priority, the promise of reunion every year—could it be interpreted as her not wanting to be separated from him? If he returned to Longyou in the future, would she follow him to that distant frontier?

True feelings were not selfish. He said it was her choice, but deep down, did he not hope she would stand by him through thick and thin? He believed his efforts would eventually move her; she now longed for annual reunions. If one day she truly could not let go of him, what would the prosperity of the capital matter?

He gazed at her deeply, then said solemnly, “I have such a beautiful wife; how can I not take care of myself? Once I have family responsibilities, my life will not be solely my own. I know all this.”

Surou nodded. A man must understand the heavy responsibilities on his shoulders. Building a career and conquering the world could certainly satisfy his ambitions, but the family behind him was also something he should be responsible for. Sometimes, however, he had no choice. She increasingly understood what her stepmother had told her—not wanting her and her sisters to marry military generals—because of the uncertainty and the dangers. But now that things had come to this, she could only look to the future. Fortunately, Helian Song was a cautious man; having survived this situation without incident, he would not be reckless in the future.

The two walked side by side through the front courtyard. In the distance, they could see lanterns hanging on the porch, swaying gently and casting dappled shadows.

He stood with his hands behind his back, jokingly saying, “I’ve been hoping every day that you’d ask me to stay, saying it’s getting late and I should not go back.”

Surou glanced at him as if he were a fool. “Are our families that far apart? It’s not like the distance between the capital and Youzhou; it’s just a stick of incense’s time. What would I do with you?”

He was speechless with anger. “What I care about is our closeness, and I want to know if you care about me.”

Surou’s cheekbones burned slightly. She remembered how uneasy she had been because he had not shown up. But despite her feelings, she remained steadfast in her principles. She said firmly, “I will not let you stay the night. Forget about it.”

So when would this woman finally soften and nestle gently beside him? He had been eagerly anticipating that day, relentlessly testing her resolve time and again, but she remained unyielding, his advances met with a resounding thud.

Well, there was a slight disappointment, but he would not force it. He’d experience that beauty after the wedding!

He stepped onto the carriage, and this time she descended the steps, standing before the carriage and instructing, “If you are not busy tomorrow, come early.”

He leaned half his body out of the carriage, gazing at her dignified and beautiful face. Suddenly, he felt his fiancée was truly alluring tonight, and he felt even more reluctant to leave. His gaze lingered on her face for a long time before he said, “I’ve remembered. I will come to see you early tomorrow morning, and we will spend the whole day together.”

Her gentle smile deepened, and she added, “Find out from Governess Wu which day is scheduled for the bed-setting and bedding-turning, so I can make arrangements to bring my elder sister and An’er over.”

He nodded. “I’ll go back and ask. I will let you know tomorrow.”

Surou stepped back, and he said to Zhu Bai, who was driving the carriage, “Let’s go.”

Zhu Bai responded with a “Yes,” cracked his whip, and, carrying the heir apparent’s earnest gaze, headed towards the long street.

The stars and moon shone brightly in the sky. Knowing they would meet again tomorrow, there was no sorrow of parting…

How strange, was there indeed sorrow of parting? So subtly, her state of mind had completely changed. No wonder when she was first promoted to Junior Palace Attendant, the head eunuch praised her for being clear-headed and not rebellious. It seemed that adaptability was a skill; knowing she could not change things, she might as well adapt sooner. It was precisely because of this ability that she had peacefully spent ten years in the Forbidden City.

The night turned cool, and by evening it was getting chilly; early autumn had taken shape.

Surou rubbed her arms and turned to return inside when she suddenly saw two figures standing under the large locust tree diagonally opposite. Looking closer, she realized it was the Emperor and his close eunuch.

A sudden buzzing in her mind left Surou stunned, speechless, and unable to move, utterly at a loss for what to do.

This was different from what had happened in the garden. The Emperor’s visit could be understood as a moment of leisure, but now he was standing before the Zhang Mansion—what was this all about?

Fortunately, her years of experience within the palace quickly brought her back to her senses. Surou solemnly prepared to greet him, but the Emperor slightly raised his hand, signaling her to stop, then flicked his wrist, presumably indicating she should return.

This incognito trip was not intended to disturb anyone, nor to visit the Zhang Mansion. It seemed he was merely passing through, taking the opportunity to see someone he had been thinking of. Having met and resolved the matter amicably, the trip would have been worthwhile. No need for excessive words or formalities; a glance was enough, and then they could part ways.

However, Surou could not truly retreat inside the gate. Caught between a narrow alley, she was caught in a dilemma. Fortunately, the Emperor’s carriage approached from the side, and a eunuch helped him into it. She never saw the Emperor’s face again. The eunuch cracked the whip, and the carriage sped off, heading north.

Surou bowed deeply, suddenly feeling that everything was unbelievable, like a fleeting dream. She did not know what the Emperor was thinking or what he truly intended to do. The more unattainable something was, the more he longed for it. If she really entered the palace, would he still be like this?

Still in a daze, she returned to Qiandui Xue Courtyard, washed up, and sat on the bed for a while, lost in thought. Quelan came in to light incense and noticed Surou staring intently at the water clock on the table. Following her gaze, she asked, “What’s wrong, Young Lady? Is the water clock broken?”

Surou rubbed her forehead and said no, then, after a moment, said, “I just saw the Emperor.”

Quelan was also startled and turned to look outside, as if the Emperor had jumped over the wall and into the house.

The moonlight outside was bright, and thankfully, everything seemed normal. She said timidly, “Young Lady, are you having a dream? In this deep courtyard, where would an Emperor come from?”

Surou gave her a helpless look. This girl was sometimes incredibly simple-minded, only seeing what was in front of her and never thinking ahead.

“It was before, when I saw the Heir Apparent off at the mansion gate,” she said sadly. “He stood under the locust tree across the alley, not asking me to come over to pay my respects, nor did he come to the door.”

Quelan stood blankly before the bed, clutching a tinderbox, and thought for a moment before saying, “Most likely it’s because tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and he has to spend the festival with the Empress and his consorts, so he cannot leave the palace and wanted to see you today.”

Surou’s heart skipped a beat. “How did he know he could see me at this hour? How long has he been standing there?”

Quelan said, “If you are not going out, it means the Heir Apparent is staying at our house tonight…”

The mistress and servant exchanged glances; the more they talked, the more terrifying the situation seemed. Surou sighed, “If I had known this would happen, I should have let the Heir Apparent stay.”

Knowing the wedding was just around the corner and the Emperor still had not let it go, she began to consider that she would have to go to Longyou with Helian Song in the future. Staying in the capital was inconvenient and gave the court an opportunity to exert control. If the Emperor continued to hold this grudge, would her reputation not be ruined?

She fell asleep heavy-hearted, her dreams filled with bizarre and fantastical encounters. Fortunately, she could sleep in a little later tonight and was not in a hurry to pay her respects to her grandmother. Even though she was walking quietly, the maids and servants in the courtyard were still making some noise.

The sun gradually rose higher, its light filtering through the window and slanting onto the lotus-patterned bricks in front of the couch. In her hazy state, she heard someone enter and softly call out to her mistress through the curtain, “The Heir Apparent has arrived and is having tea in the east corridor.”

Surou gave an “oh” and sat up, thinking to herself, “He’s here so early; it’s only early morning.”

However, men of this age, especially those interested in their fiancées, seemed to have inexhaustible energy, seemingly willing to endure any hardship or toil. Such moments were rare indeed; perhaps this was only a small segment of one’s life that was so cherished.

For any solace, she slipped into her soft shoes, got out of bed, put on a robe, tidied her hair in front of the mirror, and then walked eastward through the long corridor. After a considerable distance, she stopped and called out, “Your Highness, please wait a moment. I will finish washing up and have breakfast with you.”

She had just gotten up, unlike her usual sharp and composed self. It was the first time he had seen her with her hair down, without makeup, looking somewhat languid, even childlike. She rubbed her eyes as she spoke, probably because she had not dressed up and was embarrassed to get too close, simply standing at a distance to greet him.

Even so, he was still stunned. He stood up in a daze. Her eyes flickered slightly, and she turned and walked back towards the other end of the corridor. Because she was draped in a silk shawl, the soft fabric moved without wind, making her back view appear exceptionally graceful and ethereal.

He wanted to follow her, but fearing she might find it abrupt, he stood up and pretended to look around, finally strolling leisurely to her bedroom door under the maid’s watchful gaze.

The weather was pleasant today, not as hot as before. He paced slowly on the veranda, waiting for her to finish dressing and emerge from the inner room.

He peeked inside; the outer room was elegantly furnished, with bamboo curtains hanging, but sadly, no one was in sight. Only the vase of flowers on the table trembled gently in the morning breeze blowing in through the moon-shaped window.

Girls took a lot of time to dress up, and today, for a festival, one must be extravagant. He touched the hairpin in his sleeve; he had specially chosen it that morning when passing by the gold and silver shop. He had compared many options, even using the shopkeeper’s head to try it on repeatedly, before finally selecting the finest piece.

Finally, she emerged from the inner room, wearing a crimson half-sleeved top and a light cloud-patterned swirling skirt. She rarely wore bright colors, and unexpectedly, this contrast accentuated her flawless, porcelain-like skin.

He stared blankly as she walked towards him, a sudden, inexplicable emotion welling up within him. He forced his gaze away and led her to the east corridor. Once in the pavilion, he pulled a hairpin from his sleeve and offered it to her. “I have something nice for you.”

Surou glanced down, somewhat surprised. The gold and jade jewelry lay in his palm, its two delicate, exquisite pendants swaying gently, two inches longer than usual.

“Where did you buy this?” she laughed. “Such long tassels are inconvenient to move around in; what if they snag on your clothes?”

He said, “It’s a festival today, so it’s not inconvenient. If you are worried about snagging your clothes, just put it higher.” Saying this, he reached out and tucked the tassel into her hair.

Surou’s smile froze on her face. She turned to look at the glass inkstone screen on the table. Its shimmering water reflected her image perfectly, making her beautiful hair ornament, perched atop her head, look like an arrow piercing her heart.

She puffed out her cheeks, reached out and pulled it off herself, then casually tucked it into her hair. Instantly, the hair ornament displayed its original richness and charm; two clear, water-like pendants dangled from its delicate, red-gold bamboo-shaped base, lively and graceful, making her appear more vibrant.

Feeling a little embarrassed to receive a gift without reason, Surou said, “I have nothing to give you, and I’ve troubled you again. I will come inside later and see what you like; take it as a token of my gratitude.”

He said it was not necessary. “I am yours; these material possessions are nothing to worry about.” He grinned. “I arrived early this morning and have not eaten yet. My wife, have breakfast with me; that will repay my favor.”

“My wife, my wife,” he called again, and Surou, exasperated, could only lead him to a seat and hand him a pair of silver chopsticks.

The breakfast was simple: ordinary congee with spicy cucumber, pickled ginger, and other side dishes. Whether it was because the person opposite her suited her taste or not, the meal was very comforting. Afterwards, she sipped a fragrant drink and, through the ethereal curtains, leisurely watched the sun slowly rise in the east. Suddenly, she felt that life had no regrets.

However, they could not linger in the courtyard. Not only were their grandmother and aunt present, but their uncles and other relatives were also home on leave, along with their brothers with whom they usually had no dealings; they needed to cultivate good relationships. The two sat for a while, then got up and went to Suihua Garden. There, they found that Mianmian and Zhirou’s fiancés had arrived. They exchanged polite greetings. Such was the strange way human relationships work; because of marriage, people who would never had met in their entire lives instantly became like brothers. The men, fearing they might spoil the women’s mood, escorted their fiancées to their rooms and then went together to the neighboring courtyard to enjoy themselves.

The Grand Madam was delighted. “This year has been the most lively year for our family! The girls are still at home, and with these new grooms, the family has suddenly grown. It’s just a pity Shangrou is not here. If only she could bring An’er back for the festival!”

Madam Shen said, “Married daughters always prioritize their husbands’ families. The Marquis’s mansion is also celebrating today; they might return tomorrow.”

Just then, the messenger reported from the corridor that the eldest young lady had entered the courtyard. Everyone rushed to the corridor to greet her, only to see Shangrou arrive with Chen Ang, followed by a wet nurse carrying the baby.

Everyone was somewhat surprised, but a family reunion was always a joyous occasion. Shangrou and Chen Ang came forward to pay their respects, greeting their grandmother, aunt, mother, and other relatives. The sisters and aunts-in-law exchanged greetings. Chen Ang, unable to remain seated, called a servant to lead the way to the next courtyard to meet the new relatives.

Shangrou sat next to her aunt, repeatedly apologizing for not returning earlier to pay her respects.

Madam Shen said, “I know your difficulties; how could I hold it against you? Is it not good that you came back with Young Master Chen today?”

Shangrou smiled helplessly, “If it were just to pay his respects, he would not bother. The important thing is that the Heir Apparent is here today, and he’s eager to make connections, so he’s willing to come along and join in.”

Never mind that; it was good that she was back. Madam Shen took the baby from the wet nurse, holding him tenderly in her arms and looking at him again and again, smiling as she said, “Look at my grand-nephew, he truly has a blessed and handsome face!” Looking at the child, she remembered the empty space behind her and turned to the matriarch, saying, “There’s a cousin in the Shen family whose first wife died two years ago, leaving behind a nine-year-old child, who is now being raised by his stepmother. That stepmother is stingy and mean; she herself is pregnant with her own child, and she despises the child terribly. Last year on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, I happened to see him at the clan school. It was the dead of winter, and he was dressed very lightly, his face purple from the cold, but he was very polite to me, bowing and scraping without the slightest disrespect. I liked him very much then. Now that Mianmian is about to get married, I am thinking that without an heir, the vast family fortune will be difficult to manage in the future, so I’d rather have him adopted. He’s better than someone bringing home an illegitimate child for me to raise.”

Grand Madam Zhang agreed wholeheartedly. “That’s the right way. Firstly, it provides a way out for ourselves, and secondly, it’s an act of kindness, saving that child.”

Madam Shen affectionately stroked An’er’s little face, sighing, “It’s a pity I’ve always been so ambitious, yet I have not given birth to a son. For now, I can still manage this family business, but in ten or twenty years, it will become prey for the Shen family. But if I raise that child, since he will have no mother, he will naturally be devoted to me. He will not ask for anything else in the future. As long as those wolves and tigers of the Shen family do not wipe out the family line, I will have done my duty.”

So, the love at first sight in their youth ultimately turned into a mess, a truly heartbreaking story.

Madam Shen forced a smile. “Alright, it’s a festival today; let’s not dwell on those unpleasant things. Let’s just play with my little grand-nephew; seeing him makes me happy.” As she spoke, she took off a pure gold bracelet from her wrist and slipped it onto An’er’s little arm, saying, “Your grand-aunt has not returned since this son was born. Today is our first meeting, so consider this a small gift.”

Shangrou quickly stepped forward to decline, “We appreciate Aunt’s kindness, but An’er is still too young; how can we accept such a high honor?”

Madam Shen said, “This is for the boy. You keep it for him. Whether you melt it to make a longevity lock or keep it for his future wife is up to you.”

An’er was just a child and did not understand anything. He was very interested in the glittering gold, and with his head down, he kept fiddling with the bracelet. Madam Shen laughed. “Look at him, our boy has such good taste! It’s good that he likes it…” She hugged him and murmured, “Dear great-aunt’s darling, so adorable…”

Everyone gathered around the child, playing and chatting, and before they knew it, it was noon. The old women set up two large round tables in the flower hall, separated by a three-panel screen. Although they could not see anyone eating, they could hear the lively laughter from the men’s table. The newly arrived young men blended in well, and the atmosphere was harmonious as they toasted each other.

The women listened attentively to the conversation. Zhirou’s betrothed was refined and cultured; Helian Song was reserved; Song Mingchi was cheerful and outgoing, just like Mianmian, carefree and easygoing. Only the eldest brother-in-law was inept at refined conversation but adept at discussing romance. Occasionally, he would tumble out a hint of which family’s singer was good, then suddenly realize his inappropriate meaning, swallow his words, and force an awkward laugh, loudly urging, “Drink, drink…”