Spring Message in the Snow – CH 082

Chapter 82

It was like a bolt from the blue. She had originally intended to hear some harmless secret, like him hiding something, but her questioning had led to this shocking case.

She stared at his face in astonishment, as if he were a stranger. In the quiet room, even her rapid breathing could be heard clearly. She said, “Helian Song, you are keeping someone on the side, is that true?”

He nodded. “Absolutely true.”

“And she’s pregnant?”

He nodded firmly again.

Surou knew she should find out the truth… There must be a reason, but a surge of injustice inexplicably welled up within her, overwhelming her and throwing her into disarray.

“You said we could not have children yet, but you did not say you could not have children with other women, so this woman outside got pregnant? Before deciding to marry you, I asked my elder brothers to inquire about your reputation. They all said you were impotent and that you did not have a single lover in the city. So where did this woman come from?”

He glanced at her fearfully, then hesitated before saying, “Twelve years ago, on my way to the capital, I rescued a girl who was about to starve to death and took her to Fengxiang Prefecture. She had relatives there, but we separated after entering the city. Unexpectedly, she was sold into a merchant caravan by her relatives and finally arrived in the capital this year, invited to a banquet. We met again at a feast, and seeing her pitiful state, I took her in, arranged a courtyard for her, and kept her outside.”

So there was a backstory; she was not just a woman he randomly picked up because of lust. What then? Was it that Helian Song was sentimental, remembering to rescue an old acquaintance? Surou felt as if she’d been punched hard in the chest. She had always trusted him, but now, after this incident, she could not help but doubt whether men could truly be trusted.

A feeling of being deceived welled up within her. Yes, he was impotent, yet he was clearly very skilled. It seemed the rumors were just that—rumors. These days, men could be fickle with mistresses, yet be so serious about choosing a wife. Had she really been deceived? He had promised to take her to Longyou, but the price was for him to have a son with another woman and remain in the capital as a hostage?

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She turned and stormed into the front hall.

Jiao Yue and Jie Lu were chatting and laughing, preparing the head of the household’s nightgown. They were all startled to see her rush in. From her angry expression, they knew the young couple had quarreled again.

Minor squabbles were just for fun and nothing to worry about, but seeing his wife snatch the ruler from the table and rush into the inner chamber, they realized this time was no ordinary matter.

Everyone looked at each other in panic, unsure whether to go in and break up the fight. Not going in would be unbecoming of their duty as servants, but going in would cause the Heir Apparent to lose face. Just as they hesitated, they heard the Heir Apparent’s screams from inside, pleading repeatedly, “My Lady, I was wrong… I made a terrible mistake; I will never dare to do it again…”

Everyone was frantic, quickly pulling Nanny Fu to the inner chamber door. Nanny Fu looked through the curtain and tried to comfort her, saying, “My Lady, calm down. What’s the big deal? Is it worth all this fuss?”

Then came Surou’s sobbing, wailing, “I was blind to marry such a hypocrite!”

Seeing the situation was dire, everyone rushed into the inner chamber. At a glance, they saw complete chaos. The Heir Apparent’s clothes were in disarray, his hair was disheveled, and there was a bright red welt, left by a ruler, on his face. His wife, pale-faced and on the verge of collapse, clutched the ruler and sobbed, “If I had the strength, I would have beaten you to death today!”

Everyone was terrified. They rushed forward, snatched the ruler away, and pulled them apart. Nanny Fu asked, “Madam, what happened? You were fine just now. What happened to make you like this?”

Surou did not speak, only staring at him with resentment. He slumped to his wound and said to Nanny Fu and the others, “You all go out first. I will handle this myself.”

The others had no choice but to leave the inner chamber. Once everyone was gone, he stepped forward and took her hand, saying, “You are so angry. You really do care about me.”

Surou was furious and forcefully shook off his hand, but he was not discouraged. After a few struggles, he finally embraced her.

She struggled, but no matter what she did, she could not break free from his grip. He said in a low voice, “Why are you really angry? I’ve already been beaten; your anger should have subsided by now. Calm down and listen to me, alright?”

Surou raised her fist. “Do not tell me this was another scheme you set up! Now you’ve even gotten the child out of there!”

So it was good that she vented her anger. Besides her maids, there were also the maids and servants from the Prince’s Mansion delivering hot water; with chaos erupting in the main room, the news could spread.

But the bond between husband and wife must not be broken. Braving a rain of punches, he protested, “The woman I am keeping outside is not the girl from twelve years ago!”

Surou paused, forgetting even to punch him, and asked blankly, “A new love?”

He said, “What new love and old love? I’ve always only had you! Someone as pure and innocent as me suddenly having another woman? Who would believe it? But by using the guise of an old acquaintance, everything can be made legitimate. See, this time we’ve even fooled you and Governess Wu!”

“But she’s pregnant!” she threatened again.

He quickly restrained her, struggling to explain, “Is getting pregnant so difficult? As long as you have physical intimacy with a man, you will have a child. Do you think I’ve been operating in the capital for so many years without my own spies and subordinates? If I were only relying on that nominal commander title given to me by the Emperor, I would not have survived this long without any danger.”

“Listen to me, I’ve been planning this for a long time, secretly arranging it after you agreed to marry me. Zhiniang and her partner are in love, so I allowed them to marry. The child will be under my name, which is why I said I’d give the baby to you to raise. We will have to return to Longyou sooner or later. Without a legitimate heir, even a concubine’s heir is fine; it will give the Emperor peace of mind. In the future, I will leave this mansion to Zhiniang and the child. With these, I’m not afraid she’ll reveal the truth. Even if it’s for a lifetime of wealth, she’ll keep this secret. It’s just that I’m sorry to trouble you, and I’m afraid it will damage your reputation and cause people to gossip.”

Surou was completely bewildered. “Leaving all that aside, did you not say she was already pregnant? The timing does not match up at all.”

He was confident. “I’ve already ordered people to protect her pregnancy. As long as she takes good care of herself, the child will be born full-term. Then we can announce it was premature, and the timing will match up.”

Sure enough, this man was well-prepared, even knowledgeable about women’s health. After he explained the situation, Surou said awkwardly, “You shouldn’t have been breathing so heavily. If you had explained things clearly from the beginning, you wouldn’t have gotten such a beating.” She lightly touched his face. “I hit you a little too hard; did it hurt?”

He protected his face, saying, “Do not move. I finally got this beating. I have to go to court tomorrow with this bruise.”

So that night, he did not even wash his face. The next morning, he deliberately practiced a set of boxing moves. The red marks became even more noticeable as his body heated up. Then he rode his horse, swaggering through the city, to the court.

As expected, when he presented his report to the Emperor, all eyes were drawn to his face, and even the Emperor himself glanced at him several times. He remained calm and composed, analyzing the Jin army’s disturbances meticulously, seemingly forgetting the bruise on his face.

The Emperor finally withdrew his gaze and pondered, “Yuan Ao has rendered meritorious service in guarding Xichuan. He is hereby appointed Military Governor of Dingbian Army, and the prefect listed in the military command is appointed Xuanfushi ^{(Pacification Commissioner)}. Stabilizing the people’s hearts is of utmost importance. Furthermore, two armies should be drawn from the Wulie Army to reinforce Xichuan and disperse those bandits as soon as possible. With constant warfare, peace is elusive in Xichuan. If this is delayed any longer, it might affect the interior.”

The court officials bowed and accepted the order. Later, they discussed matters of water conservancy and agricultural development. As the court was about to adjourn, the Emperor ordered Helian Song to remain for further discussion.

From the outer court to the inner court, the Emperor walked with his hands behind his back along the wide Imperial Street, saying as he went, “To defeat the Jin army, Longyou must take the initiative to send troops deep into their territory and annihilate them, thus eliminating future troubles. It’s a pity that the Prince of Wukang has fallen ill, so the strategy must be temporarily shelved. We must first dispatch nearby troops to solve the immediate crisis.”

Therefore, even with the war intensifying, the Emperor had no intention of sending him back to Longyou. This showed that the court was not entirely comfortable releasing him as a hostage. Even his father’s petition to the court stating that he was ill could not bring him back.

Helian Song understood but could not express it aloud. He was only worried about his father’s illness and said with a frown, “My father has always been healthy; I do not know why he suddenly fell ill.”

The Emperor said, “After years of rigorous military training and fighting, it’s inevitable that he will have injuries.” He then turned his gaze to Helian Song, scrutinizing him carefully, and asked curiously, “I’ve been looking at you for a while now… how did you get injured on your face?”

He gave an awkward smile. “It’s nothing, just a minor bump.”

However, the wound was long, more than a simple bruise.

The Emperor raised an eyebrow slightly, then continued pacing forward. In truth, how many things in the capital escaped his notice? The Wuhou Office was spread throughout every ward. The sudden appearance of a stranger required a report to the yamen, which would then investigate thoroughly before issuing a temporary household registration.

In Chunming Ward, a musician had suddenly arrived two months ago. Her registration was changed after she settled in, supposedly related to the Heir Apparent. Since it concerned the Heir Apparent, it would naturally be reported to the Emperor. The Emperor had not questioned him, simply waiting for him to present the information personally.

He stammered, evasive, speaking with conviction when he entered the palace to express his gratitude on the third day of his wedding. But what was the truth? The Emperor did not question his words but merely smiled, “I thought you were sparring with someone and got injured by a wooden sword.”

This hit a nerve. Helian Song remained silent for a long time before finally telling the truth, “It was not a wooden sword; it was a ruler… My wife gave me a good beating last night. The injuries on my face are minor; there are worse ones on my body.”

The Emperor raised an eyebrow. “Is this some kind of marital play? How did it escalate into a fight?”

Helian Song stammered, “What play… I truly wronged her, so I accept her beating.”

The Emperor slowed his pace, remaining silent for a moment before saying, “Did you not say you’d only have her for life? You’ve already wronged her so quickly?”

It was actually quite ironic; many men claimed they could spend their lives with one person, but that was all a lie. If someone claimed to be truly devoted, it might not be because they were faithful, but because they were poor.

Who was Helian Song? The heir apparent of the Prince of Wukang was born into nobility. He was now unquestionably acknowledged by the court as the next Prince of Wukang. If he was still subordinate in the capital, then in Longyou, he was the king of that remote borderland, unmatched by anyone. For someone of such status to spend his entire life devoted to only one woman was simply a joke.

Zhang Surou was good, but could she be good enough to inspire such unwavering loyalty? Now, a childhood sweetheart had appeared. Upon learning this, the Emperor ordered a special inquiry with the generals who had accompanied Zhang Lu on his journey, and the result was that such a little girl had indeed existed.

One wondered what Surou’s thoughts were now. She had refused to enter the palace, unwilling to become a concubine and share her husband with others; she had truly believed she could have a unique happiness. Who knew that in the end, it would all be the same?

Helian Song also felt remorseful. “I did indeed swear an oath that I would never take a concubine in this life. I made a mistake before marriage, but I have not wronged her since. That night…” He lowered his head and said, “That night I drank a few too many cups, and Zhiniang kept crying as she talked about her past hardships. I was confused for a moment and did something wrong.”

The Emperor smiled calmly. “Fine wine, sentimental feelings, and a beautiful woman with tears in her eyes—truly, one cannot escape this fate.”

“But I have not seen her since. A man making a mistake before marriage should not be punishable by death! I thought that as long as I kept it from Surou, this matter would be over, but I didn’t expect to let it slip last night and enrage her.” He said dejectedly, “What can I do? Zhiniang is someone I met in my youth; some old feelings inevitably remain. Surou is my wife, the love of my life. Others may not know how much effort I put into marrying her, but Your Majesty knows perfectly well.”

The Emperor remained indifferent. “So what do you plan to do now? Has your wife forgiven you?”

He shook his head. “No, she was so angry she went back to her parents’ home. She forbade me from going to the Zhang Mansion for the next few days, saying she needs to think it over.”

Think what? Could he possibly get a divorce? The elders of the Zhang family would never agree. The Emperor turned to Helian Song and asked, “Do you plan to bring your mistress back to the manor? Since it was just a one-night stand, you should give her an explanation.”

Helian Song replied, “No, I’ll keep her outside. If I bring her back, the house will be in chaos. I would not dare.”

The Emperor gave a cold smile. “Your wife is angry, which means she cares about you. I originally thought she only married you to avoid me, but it’s not just that.”

After that, he did not discuss these matters of love and romance. Even an upright official could not judge family affairs. He did not have much to say about Helian’s misbehavior; men often act impulsively when drunk. It was just a pity for Surou, who had to stoop to competing with a courtesan for his affections—truly a disgrace.

***

At the Zhang Mansion on Old Caomen Street, a lively scene unfolded.

The old woman who came to announce her arrival came in to say that the Second Mistress had returned. At that time, Shen Kezheng and his wife had just entered the house and were busy paying their respects to the Grand Madam. Upon hearing that Surou had returned, Madam Shen smiled, “My niece’s information network is quite impressive; she arrived so quickly!”

The Grand Madam, however, was somewhat surprised. She thought to herself, “Did she not just prepare Mianmian’s dowry yesterday? Why is she back so early this morning?” Not daring to think anything bad, she quickly asked, “Where is she?”

The old woman replied, “She went back to her own courtyard first, saying she’d come to pay her respects to the Grand Madam in a little while.”

The Grand Madam felt increasingly suspicious but refrained from pressing the matter for the time being. She first invited Master Shen to sit down, and while they chatted about everyday matters, she mentioned the arduous journey, the heavy autumn winds and rains, and how many days it had taken to travel from Jiangling Prefecture to the capital.

Shen Kezheng vividly remembered kneeling before his mother-in-law, begging for Zhang Chenjin’s hand in marriage. He had sworn oaths then, promising not to betray her, but things had turned out that way… Chenjin must have already told her mother. He felt guilty and ashamed to face his mother-in-law. If it were not for Mianmian’s marriage, he would not even dare to set foot in the Zhang family again. Now, whenever his mother-in-law asked a question, he listened intently, considering his words carefully before replying, “The journey has been quite smooth. We originally estimated it would take a month or two, but we arrived five or six days early, which gives us extra time to make arrangements for Mianmian.”

The Grand Madam smiled and said, “Things are mostly prepared. Check if anything is missing. But we still need to rest well; floating on water is not as solid as walking on land. Although it’s not strenuous, it’s still tiring.”

Just then, Surou arrived at the corridor, smiling as she entered and greeted her aunt and uncle.

The Grand Madam, still suspicious, carefully observed her expression. Seeing that Surou seemed relaxed and without any apparent abnormality, she remained unsure and asked, “Why did you return so early? Did your husband not come with you?”

Surou said no, “He’s been busy with official business lately and will not have any free time until the next couple of days. I thought with my cousin getting married, and since I am just at home, I wanted to celebrate together, so I came back to stay for a few days.”

The Grand Madam said, “Oh,” already convinced the two had a falling out. Otherwise, the two families were only a short distance apart; if they met during the day, there was no reason for them not to go home at night. With so many people around, it was not appropriate to ask her directly. Seeing that she looked perfectly natural and without worry, she knew her granddaughter well. After ten years in the palace, if she still could not control her emotions and expressions, then all her training would have been for nothing.

Despite her worries, she had to maintain appearances first. The Grand Madam asked Master Shen, “I heard you were planning to move your businesses back to Youzhou. Have you started preparations?”

Shen Kezheng had been doing business in Jiangling for seven or eight years and was very familiar with the people and markets there. Honestly, he did not want to move back to Youzhou. But recently, many things had happened, and his mind was in turmoil. His wife had been constantly nagging, so he had no choice but to say, “Everything is being prepared, but the setup is large, and everything needs to be put together one by one, which will take some time.”

Mianmian, always one to use her charm, heard her father’s words, and since her mother had told her everything last time, she started to put her mind to it. She squatted beside her father’s legs, shaking his knees, and said, “Papa, look at me; have I lost weight?”

Shen Kezheng carefully examined her face. Although she was plump and healthy, in her father’s eyes, she always looked thinner.

“What’s wrong?” he asked gently. “Are you worried about not being used to living with other people?”

Mianmian said no, her eyes welling up with tears. “I am so thin because I worry about Father and Mother every day! You do not know, I dream about you every night. Last time, I even woke up crying in the middle of the night, scaring Wei’er and Hui’er half to death. Father, please come back to Youzhou soon, alright? You always say that the roots of our Shen family are in Youzhou. If you come back, we’d rather earn less; at least the family can be reunited. Now I am getting married, and I do not know if my fiancé will treat me well. With Father here, I’d become bolder. If things get really bad, I can just pack up and go home. I still have my father and mother to back me up.”

She said, wriggling her body and calling out “Papa!” repeatedly. “Are you not the one who loves your daughter the most? You would not be thinking of marrying me off and then abandoning me, would you? I want Father to have a house in Youzhou, and preferably in the capital. That way, I can go back to see you when I miss you, and if I suffer any injustice, I can tell you immediately.”

The clinginess she displayed amazed Surou, and a pang of envy rose in her heart. Having a father was truly wonderful.

Shen Kezheng genuinely loved his only daughter. When she acted up, he was helpless. He scolded her, “You are such a grown woman, always talking about your bottom; it doesn’t sound nice!” But secretly, he began to seriously plan how to smoothly transition his business to Youzhou and the capital.

Seeing that her father had not personally agreed, Mianmian persisted, pleading, “Father… Father… please promise me!”

Shen Kezheng finally sighed, “Is it not all already prepared? Give me a little more time. The Jiangling estate needs to be restructured, and we need to find someone to take over. Every step takes time. Just relax and get married. For now, your maternal grandmother and uncles will protect you, and no one will dare bully you. Once I’ve settled everything, I will definitely buy a residence nearby. Then you can go back to your parents’ home whenever you want. Is that alright?”

Mianmian was overjoyed, and everyone laughed. Surou looked at her aunt; her smile held no sorrow. It seemed the matter of the Jiangling concubine and the illegitimate child had been resolved. As for herself, she was facing the same situation… She glanced at her grandmother, who was looking at her with a scrutinizing gaze. She gave an awkward laugh, knowing that her reply would likely anger her grandmother again—all because of that Helian Song!