Spring Message in the Snow – CH 068

Chapter 68

The groom walked along the central path, dressed in a royal robe and cap, the sleeves and knees embroidered with gold dragon and cloud patterns, further emphasizing his noble bearing. Upon reaching the hall, he solemnly bowed deeply to the elders, then clasped his hands and addressed the Grand Madam, saying, “Today, I, Helian Song, have come at the behest of my parents to marry my bride. May our two families be united in marriage, a cause for celebration by heaven and earth. My bride has been raised by her grandmother since childhood, and I, Helian Song, have been fortunate enough to receive her love and care. I will certainly cherish and treat her well in the future to repay your kindness.”

The Grand Madam smiled and said, “Good.” Although she resented his scheming in this marriage, at this point, harmony was paramount.

In the back corridor, a small screen and curtain created a small barrier, behind which sat the bride, seated on a saddle. Because of the bright lights in the distance, her graceful figure was cast indistinctly on the curtain, her silhouette exquisitely beautiful and slender.

The best man presented the wild goose to Helian Song, marking the start of the crucial goose-presenting ceremony in the wedding procession. The younger brothers of the Zhang family were already waiting at the gate. Helian Song, with a burst of energy, threw the goose over, and everyone rushed forward to catch it. They tied its beak with five-colored silk threads, then wrapped it in red silk, intending to release it after the wedding ceremony.

Next came the part the groom had been looking forward to most: the removal of the wedding tent. Helian Song had not seen her for several days. When he visited the other day, he was turned away. The gatekeeper politely but firmly told him, “For three days before the wedding, the bride does not see the groom. This is according to custom, and we hope the Heir Apparent will understand.”

He had finally finished his business and rushed over excitedly, only to be turned away, leaving him somewhat disappointed. But disappointment aside, since it was a custom, he had to follow it. He returned home dejectedly, spending two sleepless nights burning the midnight oil. Finally, the day of his wedding arrived, and knowing she was waiting for him in the small tent, his eagerness to see her only intensified.

Fortunately, the Zhang family’s sisters-in-law were not as prone to causing trouble as other families. They quickly ordered the maids to remove the screen in front of the procession. Helian Song entered the tent and immediately saw Surou sitting there in her full regalia. He recognized her figure; it was indeed her. However, a fan obscured her face, preventing him from seeing clearly.

He stepped forward and whispered, “My lady, I’ve come to marry you…” The slight tremor in his voice told her just how devoutly he had anticipated this marriage.

But she seemed unmoved, the fan still obscuring her face. He had no choice but to plead, bowing and saying, “My lady, please remove the fan… please remove the fan…”

After much pleading, the fan was finally removed. He smiled upon seeing her; this girl, whom he had longed for day and night, adorned in gold and jade, possessed stunning beauty. There was probably no girl in the capital who could compare.

However, her face was solemn, and she did not even glance at him. He thought this must be the custom on the wedding day; the bride, while solemn, had to conceal her shyness, so it was all understandable, and he should try his best to cooperate.

So the two of them, so serious, walked out from behind the gate without exchanging a single word. Following the master of ceremonies, they first bid farewell to the ancestral temple, then went to the main hall to pay their respects to the elders. The elders naturally instructed their daughter to be careful and obedient and to control her temper, and Surou agreed to everything. Then she kowtowed and said goodbye, picked up her fan again, and, supported by her maid, walked out of the front hall.

A carpet of bright red lichen stretched along the path, leading her towards another chapter of her life. She walked steadily, each step firm, yet she could not quite describe the feeling within her—a complex mix of emotions: reluctance, resentment, stifling feeling, and anger.

The one beside her, unaware of her true feelings, continued to soothe her gently, saying, “Do not be nervous, My Lady. No in-laws are to pay their respects at the Prince’s Mansion. Just relax and go be the mistress of your household.”

Surou ignored him, walking with her head held high, her back straighter than the master of ceremonies in the imperial court.

He did not understand. Were newlyweds forbidden to speak before sitting in bed? Since she remained silent, he had no choice but to follow her lead. Only after the maids and servants helped her into the carriage did he mount his horse, and the entourage set off in a grand procession towards the Prince’s Mansion.

The wedding of a prince was a grand affair, with musicians from the imperial palace creating a spectacle, unlike ordinary weddings, where roadblocks were set up to demand food, drink, and money. From the Old Caomen Street to Xijier Lane, the procession proceeded unimpeded, illuminated by lanterns. When the wedding procession arrived at the Prince’s Mansion, female officials from the palace presided over the “turning of the felt mat,” a ritual where the bride’s feet could not touch the ground. The felt mat she had stepped on after alighting from the carriage was lifted and placed in front, repeated until she was led into the bridal chamber.

Being of extraordinary status and without the pressure of her in-laws, she did not need to perform the rituals of bowing to the pigsty or the stove like other brides. Surou entered the bridal chamber and sat down. She heard the busy work outside—covering the well with straw mats and filling the mortar with millet—but these chaotic details were irrelevant to her.

Soon afterward, the groom entered and sat beside her. In her boudoir, the bride turned her back to greet her groom; at her husband’s home, she turned her back to greet the guests and family. The bride, her voice bright and clear, sang: “A beauty in her boudoir, like a hibiscus flower, descends upon the house like morning rain. Clearly, the precious tree is open to all; why then should a jade fan conceal her splendor?”

The silk fan before her was moved aside, and the noble ladies who had come to join in the festivities finally saw the new bride’s face, exclaiming in admiration. They had long heard that Zhang’s second young lady was extremely beautiful; seeing her today, they were certain she was dazzlingly beautiful, possessing a beauty that could topple cities.

Of course, having seen the bride, everyone tactfully withdrew from the bridal chamber. The newlyweds still had to share a cup of wine and perform a grand ceremony.

A female official from the palace stepped forward, carrying a shared tray, and fed the newlyweds three mouthfuls of meat and rice each. Then, two young servants presented gold and silver cups and, with a smile, led them, saying, “Please, Your Highness and Your Highness, drink the nuptial wine together.”

Surou picked up the cup and drank with him. The sweet wine quenched her thirst, temporarily calming her impatience.

When Helian Song looked at her, his eyes were filled with undisguised love. He thought to himself, “Heaven rewards those who persevere; I have finally married her. From now on, we will be husband and wife, sharing joys and sorrows. I am no longer alone; I finally have a true home in the capital.”

He gazed at her, wanting to say so much, but restrained himself by the presence of the female attendants and ushers, and the need to attend to the guests outside. He said, “I will go return the greetings first; I will be back soon.”

He reluctantly left. Surou, through the half-open moon window, watched him hurry up the wooden corridor, glancing back every few steps. Even a short distance of only four or five zhang, he turned his head seven or eight times.

At this moment, the female attendant came forward to congratulate him, smiling, “Congratulations, Your Highness! Do you still remember me?”

Surou had spent ten years in the palace; even those she was not close to had at least met some of the women in the harem. She smiled and nodded. “Lady Liang, it’s been a long time.”

Lady Liang quickly curtsied. “Your Highness has a good memory. We only met once before. It’s an honor to be here today to attend to the Prince and Princess’s wedding arrangements.”

Surou said, “Thank you for your trouble, Lady Liang. My elders are not in the capital. I am very grateful to Her Majesty and the Emperor for their kindness in sending a palace attendant to preside over the ceremony.” She gestured to Nanny Fu.

Nanny Fu, receiving the order, smiled and gestured, “Thank you for your hard work today, ladies. The Prince and Princess have prepared a small token of their appreciation. Please follow me.”

Lady Liang said a few more auspicious words, then led the palace attendants to bow to Surou before filing out of the courtyard in single file.

The crowd finally thinned out, and Surou breathed a sigh of relief. Aside from the maids and servants of the Prince’s Mansion standing guard inside and outside, everyone around her was her own person. Here, she did not need to be so formal. She reached up and removed a hairpin from her hair, muttering softly, “These things are really heavy!”

Heavy, of course. Being a new bride was not easy; just the elaborate headdress alone could shorten one’s neck.

Jiao Yue stepped forward and removed her jewelry, placing it on a vermilion lacquered tray supported by a green ribbon. Quelan held out a teacup, saying, “Young Lady, you’ve had a long day. Please soothe your throat.”

The head servant of the Prince’s Mansion, hearing this, quickly interjected with a smile, “Miss, you cannot address her like that anymore. ‘Young lady’ is a term used in your youth. Now that you are married, you are the mistress of this Prince’s Mansion, and you should be called Princess Consort.”

Reminded, Quelan sheepishly replied, “Yes, I got used to it and forgot. Do not worry, Nanny, I will not do it again.”

The old woman smiled and leaned down to Surou, saying, “Your Highness is tired today. Fruits and snacks are prepared on the table; please have some. His Highness is entertaining guests outside and probably will not eat anything, at most just a few cups of wine before returning. Drinking on an empty stomach might not be good for one’s health. I will have someone prepare some dishes and bring them to your room later, so Your Highness can serve your husband your meal.”

Upon hearing this, those nearby exchanged glances, thinking to themselves that the people from the Prince’s Mansion were indeed overstepping their bounds. At first glance, their words seemed harmless, but upon closer examination, they were riddled with loopholes.

The Princess could eat the snacks and fruit on the table if she was hungry, but the food and wine had to wait for the Prince’s return. It would not be that the Prince and Princess would share the food; the Princess would have to serve her husband. It sounded like they were not welcoming back a mistress of the household, but rather, assigning the Heir Apparent a personal maid.

But since it was the first day of their marriage, even the usually valiant Nanny Fu could not very well challenge them, fearing it would spoil the joyous occasion. She could only observe her mistress’s expression.

Surou remained calm, slowly removing her earring and placing it in her vanity case. She then asked, “What’s your name, Nanny?”

The old woman bowed and said, “Your Highness, my surname is Dou, and everyone in the manor calls me Nanny Dou.”

“Nanny Dou…” The three words rolled on her tongue; she chewed them carefully before continuing, “The news of my marriage to the Prince should have reached Longyou long ago, but a letter came back from Longyou saying that my mother-in-law is not here and that you old women are here to set the rules for me?”

Originally, Nanny Dou was acting on Governess Wu’s orders to give the newlywed Princess a little stretching on her first day of marriage. After all, no matter how noble she was, she was still a new bride, and she had risen to her current position through her husband’s influence; serving her husband well was only natural. She had assumed that a noblewoman of good upbringing would be well-mannered and would not mind such words on the first day of marriage, but the Princess’s sudden reply caught Nanny Dou off guard.

Nanny Dou hurriedly smiled apologetically, “Why would Your Highness say such a thing? I’ve served in the manor for many years and know the rules well; how could I dare to have such thoughts?”

But her red lips, painted with lipstick, slowly curved upwards, revealing a beautiful mouth from which came out words as sharp as ice. She said, “Nanny, you’ve served in the manor for many years, but today is my first day entering the Prince’s Mansion. It’s only right that I receive some initial treatment upon my arrival, is it not?”

Nanny Dou’s face paled even more, and she stammered, “No, no, I would not dare! I had no such intention, Your Highness… You are the master, and I am the servant. What kind of servant in the world sets rules for the master…”

“It’s good that you understand, Nanny.” Surou picked up where she left off, rising from the embroidered stool. Her back ached from sitting for so long, so she paced around the room, saying, “I married into this family to be the Heir Apparent’s principal wife, to manage this household, not to serve him as his personal maid. Please understand this, Nanny. Mutual respect is paramount between husband and wife. I hate the term ‘husband’ more than anything. Does that mean the husband is the master and the wife is the slave? Such reasoning, even the Heir Apparent himself probably would not agree with. I know you have ways to control the new bride—stepping on her footprints, teaching the groom to cover her clothes when he changes at night—all because you are afraid the Heir Apparent will suffer a loss with me and will not be able to control me in the future. You old women, you truly dedicate yourselves to the Heir Apparent. I will definitely report this to the Heir Apparent and reward you; you can rest assured.”

At this, sweat poured down Nanny Dou’s temples, and she said in a trembling voice, “Your Highness, I truly dare not accept such words. I originally did not know how I… I made a mistake, and now it seems I’ve spoken carelessly, causing the Princess to be so angry. Please, Your Highness, calm down. From now on, I will be careful with my words and never dare to speak so recklessly again. Today is a joyous day for the Prince and Princess; Your Highness, please do not let someone as insignificant as me spoil their mood. If Governess Wu finds out, she will surely punish me severely.”

Speaking of Governess Wu, Surou chuckled. The servants in the Prince’s mansion all treated Governess Wu as half a mistress, and now they were testing her, trying to manipulate her—was that not at Governess Wu’s behest? However, now was not the right time to lash out, so she said, “Governess Wu has been exhausted lately, so let’s not bother her with such a small matter. I have a habit of not letting strangers stay in the courtyard. Please, Nanny, remove all the servants standing around, leaving only those who are by my side.”

Only then did Nanny Dou realize that her use of those two sentences to establish her authority was merely a pretext to eliminate Governess Wu’s spies in the main room. Earlier, when they were discussing this privately, she had boasted that a young girl could not possibly be so shrewd; now it seemed she had been proven wrong. After all, this woman was the mistress of the house, and she herself had been bewitched into daring to challenge her. After this confrontation, she was utterly humiliated, and when the woman finally spoke, she dared not utter a word in rebuttal, only meekly agreeing before retreating to the corridor to relay the order.

Watching the maids and servants from the Prince’s Mansion leave through the moon gate, everyone in the room felt a sense of satisfaction. Jiao Yue turned around and said, “On such a joyous day, they were so eager to be thwarted. Luckily, Madam is not weak; otherwise, they’d all be climbing all over you and throwing their weight around.”

Nanny Fu said, “This is just a preliminary step. There’s the Heir Apparent’s wet nurse in the mansion, quite a big shot; you have not seen her yet. These people must have been instigated by her; otherwise, where would they get the audacity to try to sow discord between Madam and others on the very first day?”

Surou sat down on the couch, not bothering to discuss Governess Wu or Nanny Bai, but simply instructed those around her, “Your lodgings have already been arranged; Nanny Fu and Quelan know. Take all those who came with you to rest; I do not need to serve you here, and none of you need to stay.”

Everyone hesitated, not quite understanding why they did not leave someone to stand guard outside at night, even just to serve tea and water. But upon further reflection, they figured the young couple might be too shy and hesitant to act openly. Besides, the second mistress was now in charge, and if she wanted to dismiss everyone, she could simply follow her wishes.

The others agreed. Since there were no outsiders present, everything was arranged as usual as they would in Qiandui Xue Courtyard. Warm water was brought, and they first helped their mistress remove her makeup and wash. Just as they were finishing, the groom, dressed in his formal attire, entered through the moon gate. His steps were still light, and the lamplight illuminated his smiling face. Even though it was late, he showed no signs of fatigue, radiating the joy of his new marriage.

He entered, first calling out tenderly, “My Lady.” Seeing that Surou had removed her jewelry and changed into light clothing, sitting on the soon-to-be-set large bed, a wave of tenderness washed over him. He sighed, “So much has happened…we are finally married.”

This was a new journey. The person who had been alone now had the burden of a family, a feeling entirely different from the weighty responsibility on his shoulders—a feeling that was constantly on his mind, etched into his very bones. Earlier, when toasting with guests, he had been somewhat dazed, repeatedly confirming his congratulations before daring to believe he had truly married her.

Joy…an indescribable joy, a feeling of culmination in a perfect ending. Now, he only wanted to be alone with her. Fortunately, the subsequent formalities had already been streamlined, and the palace attendants sent to assist had all dispersed, leaving only her personal maids and servants in the room. The people from the Zhang family were all very perceptive. With just a slight signal from Surou, they bowed and left the main room, retreating all the way to the outside of the courtyard.

He watched them walk away, watched them turn and close the courtyard gate, and praised the Zhang family for truly being a family of scholars and gentlemen; it was not customary to have several guards standing around on their wedding night. This was good; the young couple could be more open and uninhibited, without restraint or timidity, afraid of making too much noise and attracting the servants’ snickers.

This day marked the culmination of twenty-four years. He walked to her with tenderness, reaching out to take her hand. But instead of shyly placing her hand in his as he expected, she looked up at him with a stern expression.

He was taken aback. Was she going to impose some kind of rule on him on their wedding night? “It does not matter,” he said good-naturedly. “Is my wife going to set some rules? No problem, I will listen attentively to any advice you may have.”

Before he finished speaking, she abruptly stood up, her face a complex expression, a mixture of excitement and anger, her eyes seeming to pierce through one’s very soul. She coldly said, “Your Highness has finally achieved your wish today. Are you happy?”

Although her tone was unfriendly, like the prelude to a storm, Helian Song tried his best to steady his racing heart and said, “I am very happy. I’ve been dreaming of this day.”

Surou chuckled, “It must have been difficult for Your Highness, scheming and plotting step by step to arrange this marriage. But when you dream of it, does not Your Highness feel guilty?”

Actually, she felt she had already restrained herself enough. If it had been three days ago, she probably would have already grabbed a feather duster and beaten him with a bloodcurdling scream. But being newlyweds and still wanting to save face, she dismissed everyone around her, hoping to have an open and honest conversation with him.

Looking at his face, he appeared innocent and bewildered, but unfortunately, she could clearly see the panic hidden in his eyes. Feeling guilty, he tried to smooth things over, saying in an affected tone, “What’s wrong, my wife? So much scheming, so meticulously planned… it does not sound like a compliment…”

“Because you are not a good person to begin with, why use such high-sounding words to describe you?” She tucked her sleeves in, her initial mockery turning into resentment as she stared at him. “Helian Song, I ask you, from the very beginning, you conspired with the Emperor to set me up, did you not? The Emperor taking a liking to me, wanting me to enter the palace—all of this was your secret plan, just to force me into an engagement with you, was it not?”

The confident man opposite him was suddenly dumbfounded. He never imagined that the very night he married his beautiful wife would be the night their affair was exposed, the night of reckoning in the bridal chamber.