Spring Message in the Snow – CH 072

Chapter 72

So, carrying the cactus was not just a ruse; it was a long-term plan. Like now, he found a legitimate excuse to enter the inner chamber and very reasonably undressed in front of her, forcing her to watch.

Surou knew his intentions perfectly well; he simply wanted to take advantage of her. But since he said there were still thorns, she could not just leave him alone.

She leaned closer, examining his back muscles closely, searching for a while without finding anything. “Where?”

He groaned softly, then lay down like a spring breeze. “Here…here! Do you not see it?”

Surou suspected he was bluffing. By the firelight, her nose almost touched his skin, and she stared at him for a long time without finding anything. Annoyed, she demanded, “Are you lying?”

He said no, “There really is a thorn.” As he spoke, he took her fingers and guided them to touch that area of ​​skin, again and again, finally stopping. “You see…can you feel it?”

Surou then shifted her attention from the warm touch to her fingertips. Sure enough, when she touched it, it made a sharp, ringing sound. Such a fine thorn, yet it possessed an unyielding spirit.

She said, “Wait a moment.” She got out of bed, quickly went to the low cabinet where needles and thread were stored, found tweezers, then returned, bringing a candle with her. She nudged him a couple of times, urging him to move closer to the lamp. Using the light, she located the thorn, carefully pulled it out, and then ran her fingers through it a couple of times. “Is it gone now?” she asked.

But he frowned. “It seems there’s still one. I cannot quite place it, but it hurts.”

She complained, muttering, “Not only did you bring this trouble upon yourself, but you also dragged me down with you. Were you punishing yourself or me by carrying that cactus?”

He laughed. “Of course I am punishing myself. My wife pities me and is doing her utmost to help. That’s all.”

She grew impatient and angrily slapped her sleeve. “I cannot find any more thorns, and I do not want to look anymore. Why not call Zhu Bai in?”

He quickly said no, “It’s the middle of the night; it’s inappropriate to call in strangers. Since we cannot find any, forget it…” He then buried himself in her bedding, letting out a long, satisfying sigh, “This bed is so comfortable; these pillows are so soft… I want to sleep here.”

See? He had planned this all along, afraid she would not notice.

Surou, her face stern, said, “Do not push your luck. You said I’d only remove the thorns, so why are you just lingering here?”

He lifted his head from the festive brocade quilt, asking innocently, “Are you still angry?”

Surou frowned. “In your eyes, is it so easy to forgive someone who’s fooled you? I have not personally said I forgive you, so why do you think I will not resent you?”

Helian Song was actually somewhat afraid of her. Being afraid of one’s wife was a family tradition in the Helian family. Even his father, a powerful nobleman, was still obedient to his mother at home.

She stared intently at him. He awkwardly froze, slowly pulling himself out from under the soft, fragrant blankets, smoothing out the rumpled mess he’d tousled. “I will sleep in the outer room then,” he said sheepishly. “Do not be angry, my wife. It’s getting late; lie down.”

Finally, he slunk away in his nightgown. Surou was utterly disgusted by his behavior, thinking to herself, “He keeps flaunting himself, and just because he’s good-looking, he acts like this. He’s definitely not a decent person!”

This time, she did not speak to him. She quickly blew out the candle on the lampstand. The candle was made by pressing oil from the tallow tree fruit and mixing it with white wax; not only was the flame much brighter than white wax, but it also emitted a fresh, grassy fragrance when burning. The flame went out, a thin wisp of white smoke rose, and quickly dissipated. Using the dim light of the night watchman on the corridor, she climbed back into bed. Having not slept well the previous night, drowsiness quickly overcame her, and she fell asleep soon after.

She slept soundly that night, making up for the lack of sleep the previous night. However, her mind was preoccupied with thoughts of her upcoming audience to show gratitude at the palace. She could not simply sleep soundly any longer and naturally woke up as the sun climbed over the wall.

As she got up to get out of bed, she glanced down and saw someone lying on the footstool. His tall frame was cramped in the small space, clearly somewhat uncomfortable, yet seemingly content.

Surou felt a pang of annoyance. She thought to herself, how could there be such a man in the world? He did not argue or make a scene, but instead, he slowly and steadily devoured her—truly a master strategist. Strangely, even though she knew his intentions, she did not feel any dislike for him. In fact, she even saw a hint of pitiful innocence in his submissive posture.

She watched him quietly for a while, noticing that he did not seem to snore when he slept. Before her marriage, her grandmother had said that many men had this problem—they would snore loudly as soon as they lay down, and sleeping next to someone like that could be unbearable. She had been prepared, but she had not expected Helian Song to be an exception. Listening carefully, she could only hear his shallow breathing; she had not even noticed when he had sneaked in.

Feeling a little annoyed, she angrily pushed him. “Why are you sleeping here?”

He groggily opened his eyes, covering his forehead with one hand. “The lanterns on the veranda are too bright; they keep me awake.”

Of course, this was just a flimsy excuse. She could easily tell the truth, but thankfully, she did not say anything. She sat on the edge of the bed, letting her feet dangle. Seeing this, he quickly went to fetch her soft shoes. Her ten toes were slender and lovely, but he did not dare look at them too much, considerately slipping the shoes onto her feet.

Surou lifted her skirt and got out of bed. Turning back, she saw him busy tidying up the pillows and blankets, and feeling a little sorry for him, she finally offered to help. Knowing he was only trying to elicit her sympathy, she felt somewhat pleased with herself.

He, however, acted as if nothing was amiss, instructing her, “Hurry up and get dressed; we will be entering the palace soon.”

The maids and servants filed in to help them wash and change. After a light breakfast, the two of them went out, boarded their carriage, and headed towards the inner city.

This was her return to the Forbidden City after several months’ absence; the feelings were indescribable. She had previously been terrified of being recalled, but now she could finally relax. The deep palace no longer seemed so frightening; after all, she could return unscathed.

The carriage stopped before the Gongchen Gate. A eunuch came forward to lead the way, first offering a smiling greeting, then saying, “Please follow me, Your Highnesses. Her Majesty and the Emperor have been waiting for some time.”

Surou glanced at Helian Song, who gave her a reassuring smile. His flowing sleeves reached out, and he took her hand in his.

Following the alley southward, a path Surou had walked countless times. Now, revisiting it, she felt a sense of déjà vu, as if she had lived a past life. However, it was inconvenient to look around, so she composed herself and followed the eunuch into the Wende Hall. In the spacious hall, two people sat on the throne at the front. She and Helian Song stepped forward and knelt side by side on the brocade cushions that had been prepared beforehand, placing their hands on their foreheads and bowing deeply.

She wore a noblewoman’s robe, adorned with a floral hairpin and pearl-embellished hair, her large leather belt adding to her regal air. The Emperor, seated at the head of the table, watched her retreating figure, a complex mix of emotions swirling within him.

So close… Life could not be about the smallest difference. If he had not agreed to Helian’s offer, if he had immediately recalled her after Zheng Xiuyuan released her from the palace, would things be different now?

Unfortunately, there were no “what-ifs” in life.

The Emperor smiled slightly and said, “No need for formalities; please rise.”

Palace attendants stepped forward to help them up, and the couple stood up together, a handsome couple, perfectly matched. The Emperor said, “I have not yet offered my congratulations. I wish you a long and happy marriage.”

Helian Song bowed deeply, his expression solemn, and said, “Thank you, Your Majesty and the Emperor. The Palace Attendants were ordered to assist with the wedding banquet, but unfortunately, my wife and I did not have the opportunity to offer you a toast. We feel very uneasy about this. Today, my wife and I have come to the palace specifically to express our gratitude to Your Majesty and the Emperor. Thank you for your magnanimity and the Emperor’s kindness. My wife and I will certainly do our utmost to repay your grace in the future.”

The Empress smiled and exchanged a glance with the Emperor, then said gently, “Alright, the formalities are over. Let’s talk casually.” She gestured for them to move to the east pavilion, where palace servants served tea. She remarked with a sigh, “The Heir Apparent was reluctant to marry before. His Majesty and I were even saying we’d see which noble lady would be a good match. I was planning to act as a matchmaker for him, but fate intervened, and it did not require anyone else’s intervention.”

The Emperor smiled, but his smile was detached. He turned to Helian Song and instructed, “The Heir Apparent’s Princess is the beloved daughter of Minister Zhang. You are fortunate to marry her today; you must cherish her and treat her well.”

Helian Song agreed, glancing tenderly at Surou. “Please rest assured, Your Majesty. I went to great lengths to bring her into this family; I will never let her down.”

Surou cooperated, blushing and smiling shyly. The Emperor sighed inwardly, stood up, and said to Helian Song, “Let the ladies chat; let’s go for a walk outside!”

The eastern pavilion was connected to a covered walkway suspended in the air. On a clear autumn day, walking up the walkway offered a panoramic view of the entire Forbidden City.

The Emperor smiled and looked at his old friend. “You are indeed in high spirits; your complexion is much better than before.”

Helian Song grinned sheepishly. “It’s all thanks to Your Majesty. You’ve gone to great lengths for my marriage… Thank you so much! But Your Majesty does not know that she’s seen through our scheme. She has not given me a kind look these past two days. She only showed a slight smile today because I came to the palace to express my gratitude. At home, she’s practically a monster.”

This slight complaint surprised the Emperor, but after the initial surprise, he accepted it calmly, nodding and saying, “It’s good that you’ve figured it out. Husbands and wives should be honest with each other. Over time, no secret can be kept forever. The sooner you know, the sooner you can reconcile… After all, she has married you, so what is there to worry about?”

Helian Song smiled upon hearing this. “Indeed, we’ve already gone through the wedding ceremony; there’s nothing to worry about.”

The Emperor’s emotionless eyes gazed into the distance, and he said seemingly casually, “Among those of us who studied together at Zishan Hall, you were the last to get married. Everyone else’s children are already running around, while you’ve fallen far behind. Now that you are married, we are waiting for your good news. I even told the Empress the other day that since we are good friends, when your child is born, we absolutely must have him adopted as the godparents.”

Adopting a godchild would appear to be a sign of great favor, but it would immediately follow with the child being raised in the palace. From a broader perspective, it would certainly be beneficial for the child, but from the perspective of father-son affection, it would sever the bloodline, violating human ethics.

One should love one’s own child dearly. Although he and Surou had not even consummated their marriage, hearing the Emperor say he wanted to adopt his son made him reluctant to part with him. However, he had to accept the compliment verbally and said lightly, “That would be great. Your Majesty’s word is law, so you cannot go back on your word later.”

“When have I ever gone back on my word?” The Emperor’s eyes flickered, and he slowly paced forward, hands behind his back, speaking earnestly as he did so. “Of course, you and I have been friends for over a decade. Even if we sometimes had minor disagreements, those were just youthful grudges, nothing to be taken seriously. You will eventually return to Longyou. I did not realize this so clearly before, but now that you are married, it seems so close.”

Helian Song knew it was time to reassure him and pledge his loyalty. He replied, “Your Majesty’s kindness and favors will remain in my heart even if I am separated by thousands of miles. While in the capital, I received instruction from the Imperial Tutor under Your Majesty’s guidance, and I have never forgotten to serve the court. Even after returning to Longyou, I will certainly do my utmost to protect Your Majesty’s territory. Please rest assured.”

Seeing his unwavering conviction, the Emperor’s probing eyes softened, and he suddenly chuckled, “It was just casual conversation, yet you’ve become so serious. Do you think I do not know your heart? If I did not trust you, I would not have sent you to lead troops to guard the capital. Alright, we’ve talked about official business for so long; let’s stop here. Since you came to the palace for personal matters, let’s talk about them. I ask you, now that your principal wife has been chosen, have you considered taking a few more concubines? A real man should prioritize having offspring; otherwise, if he leaves empty-handed, to whom will he pass on his mantle?”

Helian Song’s heart skipped a beat. He knew the Emperor’s words were not unfounded. Before long, perhaps under the guise of having more children, he would bestow beauties upon the Prince’s Mansion.

Since there was this omen, he felt he had to state his position now. He immediately said, “Your Majesty knows how much effort I’ve put into marrying Lady Zhang. Now that I’ve married her, I intend to treat her well for life. It’s only the second day of our marriage, and I am already thinking of taking a concubine. If she finds out, she will probably beat me to a pulp.”

The Emperor chuckled, “Does your family have a full-blown martial arts performance? Is she the only one for your whole life?” He then gave a dismissive laugh, “There are not many men in the world who can do that. The initial passion of marriage fades quickly; it’s all the same after a while.”

Helian Song said no, “I can do it. I promised her I would never take a concubine. A man’s word is his bond. Please, Your Majesty, be my witness.”

The Emperor found it increasingly amusing, but he did not refute him. He simply said, “Fine, I will be your witness. Let’s see how long you can keep this up.”

The two figures slowly walked along the covered walkway towards the watchtower. The Empress withdrew her gaze and looked at Surou. She smiled gently and asked with concern, “You’ve just married; are you settling into married life?”

This was a common greeting, a topic typically discussed between women. Surou replied, “At first, it was a bit difficult to adjust. It was more relaxed when I was a young lady at home, but everything was unfamiliar at the Prince’s Mansion, and I had to learn everything from scratch.”

The Empress, having also been a wife herself, understood the difficulties. “The Prince and Princess of Wukang are not in the capital, so after moving in, you are in charge of the household, which is a bit better. When I married into the imperial family, I was truly trembling with fear, having to be careful with every step. The Li family had many relatives, and the Emperor was still a prince then. So many elders had to be greeted one by one; those aunts and uncles had very sharp eyes. I remember almost tripping the day I entered, and they said I was not steady enough and would bring trouble to the Emperor in the future…”

Anyway, time had passed, and those embarrassing incidents were long forgotten. Now, every elder treated her with utmost respect; that was fate.

The Empress brought up the past again, wanting to apologize to Surou in person. Holding her hand, she said, “Does Your Highness blame me? I’ve kept you buried in the Forbidden City for ten years, wasting your youth. It’s just that the Inner Palace never reported that there was a descendant of a meritorious official like you in the Forbidden City, and you were even serving in the Consorts’ Pavilion. Plus, I was negligent and never inquired, so this matter remained unresolved for many years. It was not until the previous dynasty ordered that the Shizhong be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and the Emperor told me about it, that I learned of your background. Having you serve Consort Zheng was truly an insult to you. If only I had known earlier…”

If only she had known earlier, she could have been promoted to serve the Emperor. Compared to that, Surou still felt marrying Helian Song would have been better. She then said gently, “Your Majesty, please do not hold this against me. Everyone has their own destiny. Heaven ordained my marriage to the Heir Apparent, and now that I’ve married him, my good fortune is complete. To be honest, we have a history dating back to childhood. Because of my father, we had a falling out. Who would have thought that years later we would become husband and wife? Is life not like a play?”

The Empress also sighed, “That’s very true. What is destined cannot be forced. You and the Heir Apparent are a match made in heaven. If it were not for this matter of leaving the palace, this marriage would not have happened.”

Surou smiled slightly, then asked about Zheng Xiuyuan, “I should have paid my respects to Consort Zheng, but unfortunately, I was in a hurry today and did not have the chance.”

The Empress straightened her shawl and said it was not necessary. “She is now devoutly practicing Buddhism, reflecting on her past arrogance. Even the Emperor no longer pays attention to her.”

This was originally just a polite remark, and also to avoid being accused of forgetting her former master after climbing to a higher position. Since it was inconvenient to meet now, there was no need to force it.

Surou remembered that Zheng Xiuyuan had once said that the Emperor had fallen in love with her and would cherish her for life. But after only three months, her fleeting glory faded away. Placing all one’s hopes on a man was unreliable, especially one who had frequented brothels and seen countless beautiful women. Today he loves peonies; tomorrow he might love daisies. Who could guarantee that an Emperor’s love would remain unchanged for life?

After a few more casual words, the Emperor and the Empress hosted a banquet. The four of them ate a meal with a homely feel; the dishes were exquisite and delicious, of course, but Surou did not enjoy it. Emerging from the Forbidden City, she said to Helian Song, “I suppose it’s because I used to always stand and serve; now that I am sitting down to eat, I find myself unable to taste anything.”

Helian Song smiled. “You are married to me now, no longer just a lowly palace attendant. You hold the rank of First-Rank Imperial Lady; from now on, you can sit comfortably and confidently. Even when you meet the imperial relatives of the Li family, you will not be intimidated.”

Yes, she had indeed gained courage from her husband. Looking back, the Forbidden City gradually receded into the distance. Even now, stepping out of the Gongchen Gate still gave her a sense of seeing the light of day.

“Did the Emperor say anything to you?” she asked casually.

He lowered his head, adjusting his wide sleeves, and said in a slow, melodious voice, “They are urging us to have a child quickly so they can be a godparent and raise the child in the Forbidden City.”

Surou pursed her lips, remaining silent for a long while before finally saying, “Since you have this plan, I am afraid it will not be easy to brush it off.”

Seeing her troubled expression, he reached out and took her hand, his thumb gently stroking the back of her hand, and whispered, “There’s always a way.”

That was right; there was no need to worry about that now. There was another matter to consider. Surou said, “It’s been three days since the wedding, and we have not given the servants any rewards yet. We need to arrange that when we get back, we cannot forget.”

Helian Song did not seem to care much about this, lazily saying, “You’ve been dealing with this for most of the day. Are you not tired? We have to go back to your parents’ home tomorrow. These past two days have been very busy; there’s no need to rush.”

Surou did not respond. Men did not understand the intricacies of managing a household. Those servants were hoping for small favors; if they were given too late, gossip would start. It was better to get it done as soon as possible, satisfying her worries and also using the opportunity to win people over.