Spring Message in the Snow – CH 084

Chapter 84

“My Lady, the eldest mistress has returned to the manor. Everyone is with the old lady.” The maid’s voice carried the message from afar, passing through layers of screens and curtains, reaching Surou’s ears.

She gasped, realizing she had been somewhat lost in thought. By the time she came to her senses, he had already tossed her jacket aside. If it had not been for the announcement, he probably would have succeeded.

Surou replied, “Coming!” and hurriedly put on her clothes. She angrily pushed him into the bed, grumbling, “You are being silly again!”

He chuckled. Although his scheme had not succeeded, his wife was truly captivated by him. On this autumn afternoon, when boredom was at its peak, to find such pleasure—this was the joy of marriage!

He leaned to the side, propping his head up as he watched her quickly adjust her clothes, gather her skirt, and smooth her hair. Turning back to her dressing table, she reapplied her lipstick. A graceful figure was reflected in the brass mirror, her arched eyebrows and full cheeks bathed in a gentle glow. Looking at him through the mirror, she possessed a captivating charm, a mixture of reproach and resentment.

“I will go ahead first. You rest a bit, then get up and go find Elder Brother and the others for tea and conversation,” Surou instructed before leaving without further delay, taking two maids with her and heading into the garden.

Upon entering Suihua Garden, her sisters were all there, gathered around their aunt, listening intently as she recounted everything that had happened in Jiangling Prefecture.

Surou arrived a step too late. From the scattered conversations, she learned that the authorities had already returned Shen Kezheng’s mistress to the scholar. Their child was an illegitimate offspring, his status even lower than that of a maid’s child, unable to be included in the family register or inherit the family business. The aunt was quite generous; to keep her husband in check, she specially entrusted 100,000 taels of silver to the school treasury for the child, which he could withdraw at will after reaching adulthood. Shen Kezheng had no further complaints; in fact, he was somewhat grateful to his wife for not mistreating the child.

“The adoption is almost done,” Madam Shen said slowly. “Seeing that the weather is getting cold, I’ve completed the paperwork before the start of winter so that Zhang’er can be well-fed and warmly dressed and can study in peace at school.”

Zhang’er was the child of Shen Kezheng’s cousin. She had heard about the child’s plight before; he had fallen into the hands of a stepmother and was wearing only a thin layer of clothing even in the dead of winter.

The Grand Madam nodded. “Very good, very good. You’ve done a good deed. That child is quite pitiful. Have his father and stepmother been gossiping?”

Madam Shen said, “His father is naturally willing. He knows his stepmother mistreats the child, but he’s always pretended not to know for the sake of peace. Now that he hears we want to adopt him, he’s overjoyed. It’s the stepmother who’s unwilling. If Zhang’er inherits our branch, he will definitely be richer than her own children. She’s used to oppressing him and is afraid of Zhang’er’s revenge in the future. She’s not willing to take that risk.”

Lady Ling cursed, “There really are such scoundrels in the world, who cannot even have their own children live and will not allow others to stand out either!”

Madam Shen agreed, “It really took a lot of effort to get her to agree. But Zhang’er is very clever. That day, he knelt before his stepmother and kowtowed, saying many heartfelt words, saying that brothers are like hands and feet, and he will definitely help his younger brother in the future, asking his stepmother to rest assured.”

The old lady sighed, “He’s such a young child, yet he’s so sensible. Helping his brother is only right, not to mention his future filial piety towards his biological father and stepmother—it’s his duty as heir.”

Indeed, if someone ate another’s food and was still expected to be filial to their biological parents, then what an injustice it would be for the family that adopted him, having given away their entire fortune and raised their whole family. This was why many people were reluctant to adopt a son.

Madam Shen said, “His stepmother was relieved to hear this and finally reluctantly agreed. It’s just that the time was too short to complete the paperwork; otherwise, we should have brought him to the capital so everyone could see for themselves.”

The Grand Madam said, “From what you’ve said, he must be a thoughtful child, knowing right from wrong and not blindly favoring his own father. But… who knows if someone else’s flesh will actually be hers? If she can conceive, it would be best to have another child.”

Madam Shen could not help but chuckle. “Mother, I am almost thirty-five! Am I still hoping to have a child?”

Lady Yuan said that was certainly not the case. “My cousin on my mother’s side could not conceive when she was young, but she gave birth to a daughter at forty. The child was fair-skinned and chubby, so adorable. Someone like you is considered to be marrying into a family to bring good luck. Who knows, maybe your belly will get jealous, and you’ll actually get pregnant.”

“That’s hard to say,” Madam Shen said, not holding out much hope. She smiled and said, “I had a fortune teller calculate that I am destined to have no son. Now that I am adopting one, someone will take care of me in my old age, and that will be enough for me.”

Just then, a maid brought tea and snacks into the main room. Everyone gathered around to drink the fragrant beverages. Hearing An’er crying next door, Madam Shen remembered to ask Shangrou how things were at home.

Shangrou looked much better now. Without Chen Ang’s torment, her face was radiant. Hearing her aunt’s question, she smiled calmly. “Everything is fine at home. We’ve seen several physicians treat Chengchuan and tried many methods, but nothing has worked. My in-laws are at a loss; they will probably just let things take their course from now on.”

Chen Ang now had no demands other than eating, drinking, and relieving himself. From initially disbelieving in fate to now being indifferent to life and death, he’s finally a different person, so dispirited that he barely speaks anymore.

Shangrou, seeing his loneliness and boredom, had several female servants skilled in music sit before his bed playing instruments and singing. The lecherous heart of the man had not died down for a while. She stood by watching, and when she saw his dull eyes suddenly light up, she could not help but sigh. This man could probably only truly be docile when he’s squatting on a memorial tablet.

Later, after searching his study, she found many erotic paintings and told Nanny Zhu that she should also learn the refined tastes of scholars—hanging paintings. Then she ordered an easel to be moved to his bedside, and lined up more than a dozen paintings in a row—the sheer scale was astonishing.

Madam Chen, unaware of the situation, went to visit her son that day and was met with this scene upon entering. She nearly fainted from anger. Unfortunately, Marquis Chen had been ordered to leave the capital on official business, leaving Madam Chen with no one to complain to. She could only stomp her feet and curse, accusing Shangrou of trying to kill her son.

Shangrou said slowly and deliberately, “Mother, what are you saying? How have I harmed him? These paintings are from his collection. Now that he cannot move around, can he not cultivate his taste? They say sons should avoid their mothers as they grow up. Mother, you should come here less often in the future. He’s my husband, and I will take good care of him.”

Madam Chen paid no heed to her nonsense and quickly ordered the paintings to be put away. Shangrou would not allow the servants to take them away and had an old woman take them, smiling, “Do not damage my husband’s favorite things. Keep them in his study. If he feels like it someday, we can hang them up again for him to admire. If Mother feels uncomfortable, please avoid them to not see them. How embarrassing.”

Madam Chen finally left in anger. Shangrou watched her storm off, then turned to look at Chen Ang. His eyes were filled with tears, and he said desperately, “Wife, do you really want to humiliate me like this?”

Shangrou laughed. “Is this what you call humiliation? I am a daughter of the Zhang family. I would never do such immoral things. If I were even half as foolish as you, I could drive you to your death. My husband, be content!”

Anyway, she felt refreshed. She had finally gotten her revenge for the grievances she had suffered in the Chen family over the years. Her mood improved, and she even gained some weight. She even had the urge to buy a couple of bouquets when passing by the flower market.

At first, her family felt sorry for her, thinking she had been wronged and wasted her youth. But they did not know that this was the best time of her married life. She had money, children, and freedom. She could go out whenever she wanted, no longer having to worry about her husband and mother-in-law. After all, she had been subservient for years, and everyone in the capital sympathized with her. If the Chen family was willing to divorce her, she was not afraid to start anew and establish her own household.

Everything was going well—her aunt was fine, and Shangrou was too. But unexpectedly, the person who most worried the family now was Surou. When the Grand Madam looked at her, her eyes were filled with sorrow. Lady Pan, who was never one to smile, had become even more somber since learning the news at midday.

Surou felt helpless and ashamed of causing her elders trouble. Later, everyone got up and went to see the late-blooming osmanthus tree in the garden. She stayed in the main room, gently comforting them, “Grandmother and Mother, do not worry about me. I know what to do.”

Lady Pan’s eyes were filled with frost. “If I had known this would happen, I should not have agreed. I failed to properly vet for your father; I am ashamed for him.”

Lady Pan had no experience with concubines or mistresses. After Surou’s mother passed away, Zhang Lu never intended to take a concubine to make do. Therefore, when Lady Pan entered the household, her room was very clean, without even a close maid.

Aside from the fact that her husband had died young, once she accepted the reality of entering as a second wife, marriage held no sway for Lady Pan. Therefore, she could not accept that Surou, only a month after her marriage and before she was even pregnant, would become someone else’s stepmother… In her eyes, a clever child like Surou should not have such a fate. Therefore, she was more remorseful than anyone else. It was all because she had agreed too readily, without letting Surou consider it further. Now, things had turned out this way, and she bore a great deal of responsibility.

Seeing her self-reproach, Surou felt a pang of pity and stepped forward to take her hand, saying, “Mother knows my temperament. I’ve never been a weak person, and I would never let anyone climb over me. Do not worry about family matters for now. If a man is good, we can live a good life; if he’s not, it does not matter if we throw him away. Mother, please do not be sad about my situation. At least I still have the title of First-Rank Imperial Noblewoman, and I am still the mistress of the Prince’s Mansion. With so many eyes watching in the capital, he would not dare to act recklessly. As for Mother, I am very grateful for you protecting me like this. Even if my birth mother were alive, she would not be any better.”

Lady Pan sighed. “I’ve said it before, in my heart, you and Zhirou are the same. No matter which of you suffers injustice, I will be restless and unable to eat or sleep.”

Surou’s eyes reddened, and she laughed and cried at the same time. “I have people who love me. Even if my husband wrongs me, I have my family to protect me, so I am not pitiful at all.”

The mother and daughter looked at each other and wept, which made Nanny Fu, who was standing nearby, feel a lump in her throat. She quickly went to comfort her and helped Surou back to her seat.

The Grand Madam, having regained her composure, patted the armrest and said, “Alright, it’s not a big deal; the sky will not fall. Since this has happened, we will find a way to resolve it. Do you have any plans? How do you intend to deal with that mistress?”

Surou pondered for a moment and said, “I’ve been thinking about this for the past two days. He keeps saying he will not bring her back, but she’s pregnant after all. To avoid tarnishing the reputation of the Prince’s Mansion in the future, bringing her back and keeping a close watch is better than letting her drift away. Grandmother, I think out of sight, out of mind is enough. If he wants to see her, who can stop him? At home, every move she makes is under my watchful eye. I can see clearly any disturbance, and it will also give me a good reputation.”

The Grand Madam felt a pang of sorrow. She had only known this granddaughter as calm and magnanimous, but she had not expected her to be so methodical and composed when faced with her own situation. But how much suffering a woman had to endure to earn a reputation for magnanimity! The bitterness in her heart went without saying. However, what could her family do for her? They could only advise, “Do what you think is right, but do not mistreat yourself. If you encounter any indecisiveness, just send someone back to inform us; we will support you.”

Surou smiled and said, “Grandmother, do not worry. I am just a lowly wife; I will not suffer such humiliation.”

Having made up her mind, everything fell into place. These next two days, she would not worry about that matter anymore; the most important thing was to happily send Mianmian off.

The Founding Earl of Dengfeng’s family genuinely wanted to marry Mianmian, so the pre-wedding arrangements were very elaborate, with no room for complaint. Shen Kezheng and his wife doted on their only daughter; Mianmian’s dowry amounted to 108 loads—even the eldest daughter of a prominent family in the capital might not have such a grand wedding.

The Zhang family had colleagues and friends in officialdom, and Shen Kezheng had old acquaintances in business. Moreover, businessmen use money to pave the way; although merchants were not considered respectable, they actually had connections with the Duke of Cheng and Prime Minister Sun Yannian. Therefore, Mianmian’s wedding was indeed a grand affair.

As dusk approached that evening, the best man escorted the groom in. After a series of welcoming rituals, Mianmian was led out of the wedding hall.

The newlyweds bowed to their elders. Surou and her sisters stood by to observe the ceremony. They had expected tears and reluctance, but behind the fan was a smiling face, a smile that stretched almost to the ears.

The tears they had prepared were forced back as they saw her off, watching her board the three-horse carriage of the Duke of Cheng. Everyone watched the wedding procession disappear into the distance, then turned back to see their aunt weeping uncontrollably. Their uncle embraced her, repeatedly comforting her, “It’s alright, it’s alright… our daughter will eventually marry. Once she finds a good husband, we can rest easy.”

The wedding party returned inside, and all that remained was to begin the feast. The Zhang Mansion could not accommodate so many guests, so as usual, they booked a restaurant. Shen Kezheng and Zhang Ju led a group to the Fang residence’s garden, while the rest of the relatives and friends stayed at home for the meal.

The male and female guests, as usual, sat separately in the east and west gardens. Surou sat at one table with her sisters and sisters-in-law, and Qingrou sat beside her. Qingrou smiled and said, “We saw off my cousin today, and next month it will be my third sister’s turn. I heard the Li family sent people to congratulate us. Has Young Master Li come?”

Qingrou smiled somewhat reluctantly and slowly shook her head. “He did not come.”

Seeing her dejected expression, Surou knew that although the wedding was approaching, Li Shu’an was still not very enthusiastic. Previously, she had asked Helian Song to inquire, fearing that the Li family might have ulterior motives behind Qingrou’s back, or that Li Shu’an might have a girl he admired, or a hidden illness, or even that he was homosexual. The result was always the same: nothing was found. It seemed that the only explanation was that he was inherently cold-hearted, which was the most fatal flaw. You could not find fault with him, yet he seemed riddled with flaws, and there was a high probability that even after marriage, he would not be able to warm her heart. If that were the case, what would happen to Qingrou?

As for comforting her, there was no way to do so. Qingrou seemed quieter than before, and she probably realized something was wrong. A few days ago, she heard that her grandmother and aunt had discussed the marriage with the Li family. Lady Ling seemed very troubled. Without her stepmother’s decision, no one could do anything, and the eleventh month was fast approaching; in the end, they could only rely on luck.

The maids and servants serving the dishes moved back and forth between the banquet tables, making it inconvenient to discuss anything further. Everyone toasted and drank merrily. The wine served today was Xueyu and Penglaichun, not spicy, and very suitable for the ladies. However, it had a strong aftereffect; Surou drank slightly too much, about half a cup more than usual, and felt dizzy.

After the banquet, Helian Song came to take her home. As they walked out, she saw the moon hanging hazy in the sky and sighed, “It will be windy tomorrow!”

A slight blush rose to her cheeks, and she swayed slightly. Helian Song offered to help her, but she waved him off, laughing, “I only had a little too much to drink; I am not drunk.”

At that time, many people were out of the Zhang Mansion, and as they searched for their carriages, they suddenly heard someone shout, “I told you not to help me!” Everyone turned around and saw the Princess Consort ruthlessly push the Heir Apparent aside, then, with the help of a maid, lift her skirt and climb onto a footstool, getting into her carriage.

The Heir Apparent looked embarrassed. Seeing everyone looking at him, he smiled helplessly, “I was in a good mood today and drank a few too many cups.”

Everyone responded with understanding smiles, but those in the know already understood the situation. They did not say anything, simply bowed, and dispersed.

The night market on Imperial Street was bustling, with lanterns lit along the way. Surou leaned on his shoulder, her eyes closed, and said, “Such a good opportunity; it would be a waste not to take advantage of it… Now everyone knows we do not get along, right?” She finished speaking and laughed happily twice.

He did not speak but turned his head and kissed her forehead.

Surou sensed something was wrong and asked, “Is it inappropriate?”

He said no, “It was a decisive and timely decision. I just feel bad making you spend so much time and effort on this.”

She fell silent, holding his arm tightly. After a long while, she said, “Since we’ve started, let’s grit our teeth and keep going! Actually, many people do not approve of our marriage. Do you know my maternal family? Ever since my father died, they’ve cut off all ties with the Zhang family. Even after our marriage, my uncles contributed to my dowry, but they’ve never even met us. They know that marrying you will inevitably cause trouble in the future, and they do not want to be associated with us. So I was thinking, what do outsiders think? It’s all insignificant, as long as we take care of ourselves. In a couple of days, I plan to bring Zhiniang back to the mansion. It’s not good to leave her outside, lest unnecessary gossip arise after the child is born.”

Helian Song agreed, “That makes more sense.”

But Surou puffed out her cheeks, straining to focus her eyes, and stared intently at him, asking, “Is the child really not yours? Do not lie to me!”

He said sternly, “If it’s mine, may the Thunder God strike me down.”

Surou was relieved, secretly amused. This virgin boy knew nothing during his first time; his clumsiness could not be faked. If the child really was his, that would be truly strange.

However, going to fetch her naturally required some commotion, so the next day they visited the Princess and the County Princess. It started as a casual visit, just to inquire about the wedding preparations at the household. The Princess smiled and said, “It’s almost done. We are just waiting for the day to arrive so this girl can be married off.”

Sujie pouted, “Mother’s been impatient with me for a long time. She cannot wait for me to get married so she and Father can have some peace and quiet.” Remembering the rumors she’d heard these past few days, she turned to Surou expectantly, calling her “Aunt,” and asked, “That matter… is it true?”

Surou asked knowingly, “Which matter are you referring to?”

Sujie, always outspoken, ignored her mother’s gesturing and turned to say, “It’s about Uncle Helian keeping a mistress. I am furious. Since he has someone outside, why did he have to shamelessly beg for my aunt’s hand in marriage? Now that she’s married into the family, he’s revealing all his secrets! Is this not marriage fraud?”

Surou, embarrassed, lowered her head and said, “She’s an old acquaintance from his youth. They met at the market, and he could not bear to see her wandering, so he settled her down. Anyway, he will take a concubine sooner or later, so it’s better to take someone familiar than a stranger, saving me the trouble of arranging things for him.” She then gave a bitter smile. “Now that it’s a fait accompli, there’s nothing more to say. I think it’s not good to keep her out there, so I plan to bring her back tomorrow.”

Sujie felt very sorry for her. She had thought that the Heir Apparent loved her so much that he would cherish her like a treasure, but unexpectedly, they had become a resentful couple in the blink of an eye.

Now that she was going to fetch that young woman, she knew she’d suffer even more. She had helped her resolve her past entanglement with Ye Fengshi, and now that she was in a difficult situation, she could not stand idly by. So she volunteered, “I will go with you tomorrow. If that young woman is unruly, we will beat her up together, then call a matchmaker and sell her off far away.”