Spring Message in the Snow – CH 078

Chapter 78

He, too, had moments of melancholy, but having always seen him with his heart and eyes only for her, it seemed she had forgotten that he also had delicate, subtle thoughts.

Surou hummed in agreement. “After the Beginning of Autumn, the days seem to fly by; the days are shorter, and the nights are longer.”

He gave her a meaningful look. “I’d like to change my clothes. Please prepare them for me, my wife.”

Surou agreed and went with him into the inner chamber. She had Jiao Yue prepare some everyday clothes and brought them over. Behind the screen, she helped him change out of his official robes.

As soon as his outer garment was removed, he turned and embraced her, kissing her neck. Then, without a word, he bent down and rested his face on her shoulder.

Surou had sensed his strangeness earlier. Entering the inner chamber, he seemed to have returned to his former self, though still somewhat unusual. Surou patted his back and said, “What you’ve encountered is very important. Can you not tell me?”

He shook his head. “I can tell you anything. I have no secrets from you… But from now on, I need to learn to be more restrained and make long-term plans.” He sighed softly and added, “Today I received intelligence from Longyou that Father has fallen ill. He’s had intermittent fevers for two months, and his spirits have been low. The physician cannot diagnose the cause and can only prescribe some fever-clearing and diaphoretic medicine to manage the situation.”

Surou’s heart sank. They had just married, and she was terrified of hearing such news.

If there were no upheaval in Longyou and the world remained peaceful, they could continue their current life. But if Longyou became turbulent, it would not be long before he had to return to take charge. When the court could not find any fault with him, they would inevitably send their so-called imperial guards to escort him, and then, under the pretext of the long journey and the inconvenience of women traveling, they would conveniently detain her in the capital.

She held his arm tightly. “Tell me your plans, so I can prepare.”

He fell silent for a long time before saying, “My mind is in turmoil. We are newlyweds; we should be inseparable. I want to be with my wife every day; I do not even want to go to court in the morning.”

She chuckled. She’d noticed this habit of his. He had to get up at dawn, and after countless urgings, he’d lazily sit up, only to slump back down after a short while, weakly saying, “I am too weak. Can I feign illness and not go to court today?” Then she’d had to drag him out of bed.

“And then?” she asked. “Is there going to be an unexpected twist?”

The clever girl did not need him to explain. He hummed in agreement. “From now on, when we are out, we cannot be too intimate. We even need to intentionally have some arguments.” Of course, he was afraid she would suspect him, so he quickly added, “It’s all for show. In my heart, I submit to my wife. My wife is my sovereign. In the bedroom, whatever my wife asks me to do, I will do without hesitation.”

Surou blushed and spat, “What so-called so-called sovereign? Are you not afraid people will laugh at you?”

But he was very focused, gently cupping her face and kissing her red lips forcefully.

“Was I not quite the man at the gate earlier? You were not upset that I did not wag my tail when I saw you, were you?”

These words struck a chord with her, but she could not admit it. She pushed him away, saying, “Nonsense, I did not.”

“But I saw your eyes dim, and you did not like it.” He pulled her into his arms again, speaking gently, “You do not know how happy I was to see you as soon as I got off the carriage. I wanted to hold you, but I could not. Our residence is too close to the Duke of Wen’s mansion; too many eyes are watching. If we do not plan ahead now, I will not be able to take you away from the capital smoothly in the future.” He then sought her confirmation, asking with a pleading tone, “My Lady, you do not want to be separated from me now, do you? If I go back to Longyou, you will come with me, will you not?”

Surou had also carefully considered this question. Before marriage, she truly was not sure if she could abandon her loved ones and the prosperity of the capital to travel thousands of miles with him to that distant and unfamiliar place. But after spending time with him, their feelings had gradually deepened, and now, marriage, sharing a bed, and traveling the world together seemed like an indisputable certainty.

Under his anxious gaze, she slowly furrowed her brow with worry. “I did want to go with you, but I am afraid my husband’s personality will change drastically once he returns to Longyou. He will have one concubine after another, taking advantage of my lack of family support and disregarding me.”

She returned his tactic verbatim, and he indeed panicked. “In a wealthy and prosperous place like the capital, there are plenty of women who possess both beauty and knowledge. If my resolve were not firm, I would not have married you at twenty-four. If I had a whole bunch of children, leaving them all as hostages in the capital, would the Emperor not feel comfortable letting me return to Longyou?” He gripped her hand tightly, saying, “I never compromise. That was true in the past, and it’s even more impossible now with heavy responsibilities on my shoulders. My wife, please rest assured.”

Thinking about it, it made sense. Some people got lost in a sea of ​​flowers, while others were content with a simple life. This single-minded man seemed to be the latter.

Surou’s smile returned slightly. “I will go to Longyou with you because of what you said today. If you change your mind over time, just let me go. After the divorce, we can both live peacefully, and neither of us will hold a grudge.”

He looked at her seriously, more so than ever before, and said, “Do not even think about it.”

His words were fierce and resolute, but at this moment, she needed this kind of inconsiderate behavior.

However, being so eager to plan for the future while still newly married was somewhat regrettable. Surou gave a wry smile. “You said we cannot be too intimate in public, or we will argue. I am a little scared. I am afraid I might accidentally damage our relationship, and that we will drift apart over time. What will we do then?”

He said no, “No matter how much we act during the day, we have plenty of time together at night. If you are unhappy about anything, just tell me, and I will definitely make it up to you.”

Surou immediately became shy, muttering, “You always seem to be at a disadvantage verbally, but you always gain the upper hand!”

Anyway, this matter could not be told to outsiders, not only those close to him, but even his closest relatives.

With everything settled, it was time to put the plan into action. They could not linger too long in the inner chamber, so she quickly helped him change into a round-necked robe, and the two moved to the outer room.

Lunch at the Prince’s Mansion was always served early to accommodate his early morning court hours. The maid had already prepared the meal, and they sat down opposite each other before discussing matters concerning the Marquis of Xingyang’s residence. Surou leaned close to his ear and explained the whole story, concluding, “Marquis Chen wants you to go to the yamen and entrust Magistrate Qu to thoroughly investigate this matter. My elder sister intends to let it go and not oppose Prince Dai’s mansion.”

Helian Song pondered, “Prince Dai has military merits. Although he is old and has been transferred back to the capital, a centipede with a hundred legs does not die easily; he should not be offended lightly. Besides, it would be better for your elder sister to leave this matter ambiguous and not pursue it further. He’s already in such a state; it’s enough to catch a few scapegoats to vent our anger. If we actually catch them, even if Prince Dai’s son were imprisoned and executed, Marquis Chen would not dare. If they persisted, they’d suffer repeated losses, not only failing to obtain justice but also jeopardizing An’er’s career—do you think Prince Dai’s mansion would stand by and watch their enemies rise to power and challenge them in the future? Considering all this, sacrificing Chen Ang to protect An’er is a small act of filial piety on his part as a father.”

Therefore, their views were the same: ultimately, Chen Ang was not worth it. Comparing the two options, they abandoned him almost without hesitation.

Surou, holding her sleeve, served him the dishes. “If I have some free time tomorrow, I will go to the Marquis’s residence to pay my respects. Chen Ang is immobile, and my elder sister will have to continue living there. For some reason, the Marquis’s wife is always picking on her, and I am a little worried about her.”

Helian Song hummed in agreement. “Then the Marquis’s wife probably has not recovered yet; does she not see what the situation is like?” He then asked, “Is everything alright at home today? Did you not say you wanted to check the household accounts? How did it go?”

A maid stepped forward and handed Surou a bowl of soup. She slowly took two sips before saying, “There are still some issues with the accounts. Today, I dealt with a few disobedient old women. It seems this has offended Governess Wu again. She said that those people are the ones she is used to serving, and she would be unhappy if I asked them to leave.”

The person opposite her frowned slightly. “If a servant is not suitable, just dismiss her when her contract expires. It’s not worth arguing with Governess Wu over such a small matter. Governess Wu is old, and her methods are not easily changed. My Lady, please discuss it with her gently, do not get angry, and do not hurt Governess Wu’s feelings.”

These words displeased Surou, but she did not raise her voice. She only said, “If she’s not suitable, why keep her until her contract expires? I do not agree with your methods of managing the household. As for Governess Wu, I do not believe I’ve said anything to offend her. I know you are filial to your wet nurse, but do not let her hurt my feelings.”

She lowered her eyes, staring at a tender leaf floating in the sunflower bowl, her expression clearly somewhat dejected.

Those standing by included Surou’s personal attendants and the maids and servants from the kitchen. Though they remained outwardly calm, their words were clearly heard.

Seeing her displeasure, Helian Song tried to appease her: “My lady, you are too kind. I only asked you to be accommodating to Governess Wu; I meant nothing more.”

Surou said, “You truly meant nothing more. I am merely a figurehead mistress; what do you know?”

He paused slightly. “A figurehead mistress?”

Surou put down her bowl and said seriously, “The accountants did bring me the ledgers to review, but I have not even glanced at the deeds to the houses, land, or banknotes. What kind of household is this? I truly do not understand why Governess Wu treats me like a thief after you married me. What does this mean? If you feel this marriage is not right, bring it up now, and we can reconsider.”

This was getting serious. Helian Song’s face paled. “We are still newlyweds. Even if you are unhappy about something, you cannot say those taboo things.”

Surou was silent for a moment. She was genuinely upset about this matter, and this was a perfect excuse to vent. She said, “Before my marriage, my grandmother told me that husband and wife should discuss things together. So today, I will discuss this with my husband and find out who will be in charge of this household from now on. If my husband did not marry just to have another wife, then the handover of the household accounts will not wait until tomorrow; you must give me an explanation today. If my husband is vague today, then I understand my position in this household. From now on, I will no longer concern myself with household affairs and will simply be a dutiful princess.”

They were both refined people, not given to shouting, but their words were sharp and pointed, like swords clashing, which truly frightened those around them. Nanny Fu and Quelan exchanged glances, knowing their mistress was troubled. Governess Wu, relying on her seniority, had repeatedly and deliberately contradicted her, which would displease anyone. But bringing up such minor disagreements with a servant in front of the Prince seemed childish.

Nanny Fu felt compelled to offer some words of comfort, whispering, “Your Highness, please calm down. The Grand Madam said that husband and wife should discuss things together, not that you should be angry with the Heir Apparent. Governess Wu is the Heir Apparent’s wet nurse; she naturally cares for him and hopes for a peaceful life for you both. She has no reason to make things difficult for you. Even if you cannot understand right now, we can discuss it again and come up with a proper solution.”

However, Surou had no intention of backing down. “Have I been too tolerant these past few days? I’ve shown her respect for the Heir Apparent, spoken kind words, and even given her ginseng, but look at her; she does not give me the slightest face. I married into this family because it was a small household with few people and less hassle, but now I am living under someone else’s roof… Jiao Yue, pack our things; let’s go home.”

Jiao Yue gasped, looking bewildered at her mistress, then at the Heir Apparent, unsure whether to obey. Helian Song’s face grew increasingly grim. He put down his chopsticks, stood up, and said, “What are you doing? Going back to your parents’ home? Is this not your home? You’ve only been married a few days, and you are already making a fuss about going back to your parents’ home. Why make your grandmother and mother worry?” He was truly exasperated and raised his voice, “Summon Governess Wu! Since things have come to this point, if we do not resolve this face-to-face, I doubt we will have any peace today.”

The maid in the corridor received the order and quickly went to the back courtyard to relay the message. Soon, Governess Wu entered the garden. The messenger naturally told her what had happened, so she understood. She stepped forward, bowed, and addressed him as “Master” and then “Princess,” and said gently, “The servants are all here. They saw the Master’s new marriage and started arguing. If word gets out, people will laugh at us.”

Surou remained silent, simply sitting to the side, watching Helian Song handle the situation.

Governess Wu, feeling somewhat embarrassed by the lack of response to her sentences, turned to Helian Song, who said, “Nanny, quickly gather up all the house deeds and land deeds, and hand them over to the Princess Consort for management starting today.”

Governess Wu did not immediately agree, hesitating before resorting to evasive tactics, “If the Princess Consort is at odds with the Master over this matter, there’s no need. I did not intend to cling to the property and refuse to hand it over to the Princess Consort; I was simply afraid that the Princess Consort, having just entered the household, would not understand the intricacies of the business. I was thinking of handing everything over to the Princess Consort in due time. Why is the Princess Consort in such a hurry? This vast estate belongs to the Master and the Princess Consort. I am just a servant, childless and without my own private residence in the capital. Does the Princess Consort really think I will move the estate out and give it to someone else?”

Surou, hearing her usual evasive words, decided that since she intended to make the whole household aware of the situation, there was no need for further politeness. So she turned to Governess Wu and said, “Nanny, you are worried I will not understand the ways of things, but I am worried you will get tired. Managing the household is my own responsibility; I cannot just watch you, at your age, still manage everything for me every day. There are so many gossips in this mansion. Those who know will say you are considerate, but those who do not will think I am being lazy and deliberately mistreating you.”

Governess Wu remained unmoved, tucking her hands behind her back, and said, “Your Highness, that’s going too far. Everyone knows the Zhang family is a prestigious one; our in-laws are worthy of being enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple. There are only a handful of families like that in the entire capital. Who would spread such rumors?”

Surou naturally understood the hidden meaning in her words; she was merely using the Zhang family to silence her, to make her maintain her dignity, so that this old lady could continue to be the rightful matriarch of the mansion.

She turned and glanced at Helian Song. “My Lord, you’ve seen it all. I am tired of hearing the same old things. I do not understand why it’s so difficult for me to manage my own household. I will make it clear to you today: I have your marriage certificate. Everyone in the capital knows I am the Heir Apparent’s wife. If I just inform all the government offices and banks that my house has been burgled and all the documents have been stolen, then what the old nanny has is nothing but a pile of worthless paper. If she dares to show it to anyone, I’d be qualified to report her to the authorities and have her arrested. And she still expects to be allowed to stay in this royal household? Should I stay in the manor? But I cannot bear to completely break ties. Even if Governess Wu has not done anything particularly meritorious, she’s still worked hard. If I go too far, it will not look good for anyone. I’ve repeatedly tolerated things, ultimately for the sake of affection, not because I cannot deal with those who want to climb over my head and bully me…” She then glanced casually at Governess Wu, “Governess Wu should understand this principle.”

Governess Wu was truly embarrassed. After serving as a household nanny for over ten years, she was now reduced to a thief. She could not care less about her reputation or her dignity.

While Nanny Fu and the others nearby felt that the Second Young Lady had acted somewhat impulsively today, they could not deny that such an open and honest approach was much more satisfying than being slowly cut with a dull knife.

Helian Song, utterly impatient with the back-and-forth, wearily said to Governess Wu, “The Princess Consort is the rightful mistress of the Prince’s Mansion. It’s only natural for the mistress to manage the household. Nanny, please do not trouble yourself any further. I ask for nothing more than peace at home so I can come back and have a peaceful meal.”

This showed that a woman’s persistent, gentle approach could indeed be incredibly frustrating for a man. Governess Wu glanced at her disheartened son, still feeling sorry for him. His new wife constantly argued with him, making his life difficult. Coupled with the Princess’s drastic plan to undermine their livelihood, she knew she could not force him to keep those properties.

She sighed and said, “Since the young master agrees, I will send everything to the main house later.” Then she added, “Princess, if I may presume to speak, you are from a noble family. Even if you have some disagreements with the servants, you should not be tormenting the young master. He’s a man of important affairs, never meddling in domestic matters. For you to make such a fuss over such a trivial matter is making a mountain out of a molehill.”

Surou gave a cool smile. “How could I not know how hard my husband works? Since you care about him, you should let him have no worries, instead of claiming to be understanding while simultaneously clinging to power in the household, putting him in a difficult position.”

This time, Governess Wu was completely speechless. Her face turned pale and then red, and she remained silent for a long time.

Helian Song, unwilling to listen to their arguing any longer, waved his hand repeatedly, “Nanny, quickly bring the things here; stop nagging.”

Governess Wu had no choice but to bow and leave the main room. A short while later, she returned carrying a large box, coldly placing it on the table. She opened the lid and said, “These are the deeds to the manor’s properties, as well as all the assets inside and outside the capital. Please, Your Highness, take a look.”

Surou did not rush to examine them. Sitting in her armchair, she said, “Nanny, you’ve worked hard, managing the household for my husband until today. As the old saying goes, you do not know the cost of firewood and rice until you are in charge. Nanny, you’ve always shared the burden. It’s not good for young people to not gain experience.” She then ordered Quelan to move the deeds and documents to the inner room before smiling kindly, “It’s midday; Nanny, go back and rest. If there’s anything I do not understand, I will ask you.”

Governess Wu, her face ashen, gave a perfunctory bow and left with her maid. Helian Song watched her walk away, rubbed his temples, turned around, and said as he walked, “I am tired too; I will go inside and rest for a while.”

The people in the front hall had all dispersed, but Surou stood there, not moving. Nanny Fu quickly gave her a wink and urged her softly, “Madam, go and see him; say a few nice words.”

Helpless, she could only reluctantly follow him into the inner chamber.