Spring Message in the Snow – CH 086

Chapter 86

He was pleased to hear this, knowing she was trying to reassure him. Although his trip to Youzhou would not be long, it coincided with the Empress’s birthday, and she would have to enter the palace; there was a risk of her entering the lion’s den. Of course, while the Emperor also had his own desires, he was ultimately a gentleman and would not do anything to her… But the thought that he might use the opportunity to strike up a conversation with her made him uneasy, like possessing a precious treasure that was coveted day and night.

Strangely, although they had different stances and their own agendas, they were still close friends, occasionally sharing a few lighthearted words. But since Surou’s appearance, everything had slowly begun to change. The once-close brothers were now harboring their own ulterior motives and growing increasingly distant. When they met again, it felt like rivals secretly vying for her affections.

Fortunately, Surou was his, and fortunately, the Emperor was wary of Longyou. Even with his own schemes, the balance could not be broken.

The next day, before he left, he instructed her in their boudoir, “Try to stay with other noblewomen and avoid being alone.”

Surou chuckled, “I will play it by ear; do not worry.” She added, “I’ve already had a small carriage added for you; it will be warmer that way, and you will suffer less on the long journey.”

This time, for a quick trip, they had to ride horses. It was almost the eleventh month, and the north wind was picking up, stinging their faces… Surou felt a pang of reluctance. She mentioned his trip to Youzhou, saying she herself had been troubled since yesterday.

But she could not let him know, fearing he would become even more worried about home while on his journey. As usual, she saw him off. Outside the gate were the imperial guards, always forty or fifty men, each dressed in fine armor, looking imposing and awe-inspiring.

She tightened the embroidered ribbon around his neck, saying, “My Lord, please set off. Do not worry about things at home.”

Zhiniang, who had deliberately come out to show herself, looked as if she were facing a heartbreaking separation, choking back tears as she said, “My Lord, please be careful while you are away.”

Helian Song nodded, glancing at her, then at Surou, adding, “Zhiniang is pregnant; please take good care of her, Your Highness.”

Surou agreed, but her expression hardened. She took a step back, saying, “My Lord, please set off quickly, finish your official duties as soon as possible, and return promptly.”

He had also made up his mind. He turned, slipped on his stirrups, mounted his horse, and gave her one last, reluctant look before spurring his horse and leading his entourage out of the courtyard.

Surou watched him go until the entourage disappeared completely from sight as it turned into the main street before reluctantly turning back inside.

But Zhiniang was still heartbroken, sobbing uncontrollably with her eyes covered. Governess Wu tried her best to comfort her, saying, “The master will be back soon, Lady; please do not cry, lest you hurt your eyes.”

It seemed she was thinking of her master, or perhaps someone she cared about was among the guards around Helian Song. That reluctance to part seemed genuine. Surou sighed, “The master said he’s temporarily in charge of the Lulong Army to familiarize himself with military affairs. He will definitely be back in ten days to a month. Do not be sad.”

Hearing this, Zhiniang stopped crying.

“It’s cold outside; the wind is picking up. Go back quickly,” Surou instructed again, lifting her skirt and stepping over the threshold.

Walking along the long wooden corridor, she suddenly felt a void in her heart. No one was calling her “My Lady” anymore; it felt so strange… Before, when he went out to court, even if he was busy with official duties until late at night, she felt hopeful; he would definitely return before the night ended. This time, however, he was gone for several days, and she did not know if he would be able to eat or drink properly. She knew he was a military officer and not actually that delicate, but she was still worried about everything and concerned about everything, so much so that she could not eat lunch and lay in a daze until the afternoon.

As she got up, she was still pondering where he had gone. The weather outside was not good; the sky was overcast, and she wondered if it was going to snow.

Feeling utterly bored, she sat down at her desk to light an incense burner. Just as she lit the powder, she overheard Nanny Fu and Quelan discussing outside, “That old hag, she really is making a mountain out of a molehill. I wonder what she’s really planning…”

Surou turned her head to ask what was wrong. The person outside came in to report. Nanny Fu said, “It’s nothing serious, just a fight in the kitchen in the back courtyard. Governess Wu complained that the bird’s nest soup she made for Zhiniang was overcooked and a bit mushy. She used the excuse of disciplining the maids in Hengfen Courtyard to subtly criticize someone else.”

Surou found it amusing. “How is it subtly criticizing someone else again? I’ve never mistreated Zhiniang.”

Quelan said, “Governess Wu is criticizing the kitchen… Those old women are so opportunistic, relying on the Princess’s influence to deliberately make things difficult for Hengfen Courtyard.”

This was truly an injustice. How could she be relying on the Princess’s influence again? She was clearly disliked by this old woman, but knowing Zhiniang’s background, she figured keeping this old woman around might be useful in the future, so she was not angry. She simply smiled and said, “Zhiniang is carrying the Heir Apparent’s child, so it’s understandable that Governess Wu is so protective.”

Nanny Fu said, “Even if a dragon is born, it will still be a son of a concubine. Governess Wu must be out of her mind, protecting him so disrespectfully.”

Surou picked up the lid and gently placed it on the incense burner, looking at the openwork… A fragrant, silky wisp drifted from the hole, and she casually replied, “Governess Wu has a daughter in Longyou. She probably treats Zhiniang like her own daughter, so let her be.”

Quelan was still somewhat indignant. “If she wants to protect Hengfen Courtyard, no one can stop her. But if she drags the Madam into it, next time I will not let her get away with it; I will definitely argue with her. Is this how the Xiongnu people are—not distinguishing between legitimate and illegitimate children? A mere girl can use her pregnancy to bully the principal wife!”

Surou said, “Forget it. In Governess Wu’s eyes, who the princess is is not important; what’s important is who can give birth to the Heir Apparent’s child. Now that Zhiniang is indeed pregnant, let’s be lenient with them a little. It’s nothing.”

Quelan felt wronged for her mistress. “Why… why does every newlywed husband take a concubine? Which noble lady in the capital becomes a stepmother as soon as she enters the family? Only our mistress… Heaven is truly unfair.”

Nanny Fu tugged at Quelan’s sleeve, signaling her to stop, while trying to smooth things over, “Every family has its own troubles. You see others’ success, but they may have a lot of bitterness behind the scenes.”

Surou smiled. “Is life not just about living in a daze? Understanding everything too clearly only burdens yourself and others. Why bother?” She stood up, called out to Jie Lu, and asked how the preparations for tomorrow’s attire were going.

Outside, Jiao Yue and Jie Lu carried in the ceremonial robes and hairpins. Although they did not need to wear the elaborate headdresses of a grand wedding, they still had to be dressed formally for the palace audience. Surou checked everything meticulously, feeling that everything was in order.

The next morning, she rose early, changed her clothes, and sat before the mirror to do her makeup. She applied fragrant powder, a pearl-like makeup look, and then lipstick. She naturally possessed a dignified appearance, with thick eyebrows and deep-set eyes, perfectly suited to elaborate attire.

Once everything was ready, she boarded her carriage and headed towards the inner city. Along the way, she encountered many noble ladies attending a banquet; they greeted each other behind curtains, and she was accompanied when entering the palace gates.

A palace eunuch led the group into the Renming Hall. The Empress ascended her throne, and brocade cushions were neatly arranged on the lotus-shaped bricks. On such an important day, grand ceremonies were required. First, the concubines and ladies of the inner palace offered their birthday wishes, followed by the ladies of the outer court. Everyone lined up in order of rank, and following the guidance of the officiant, they all bowed and kowtowed.

The Empress said, “No need for formalities,” and offered seats. Then, smiling warmly, she began to speak intimately with everyone, saying gently, “It’s rare for all the ladies to gather like this. Today, on my birthday, let’s have a good time. The Shengping Tower in the rear garden has prepared a variety of performances; let’s go watch them together later.”

Several princesses and consorts from the Li clan, who frequently visited the palace and were quite familiar with the Empress, surrounded her, chatting and laughing. Surou’s gaze fell upon Zheng Xiuyuan opposite her.

In just over six months, Zheng Xiuyuan’s spirit was vastly different. The arrogance on her face was gone, and it was said she devoted herself to Buddhism; just standing there, one could almost smell the sandalwood incense.

Her gaze towards Surou was complex. People came and went in the hall; the former mistress and servant seemed like strangers separated by a river. Finally, Surou approached, curtsied, and said with a smile, “Long time no see, My Lady. How have you been?”

Zheng Xiuyuan’s eyes flickered slightly, and she nodded gently. “I dare not accept such praise. Now that Lady Zhang is the Heir Apparent’s wife, I never imagined that leaving the palace would lead to such a wonderful marriage.”

In truth, in the past, when Zheng Xiuyuan had not fallen out of favor, the conversation would have been entirely different. Zheng Xiuyuan was proud and arrogant; how could she not seize the opportunity to make a sarcastic remark? Even though she had become the Heir Apparent’s wife, a first-rank noblewoman, in Zheng Xiuyuan’s eyes, a slave for a day was a slave for life. Given the chance, she would never let it pass by with a barrage of sarcastic remarks.

But now, things had changed. Who could have imagined that a favored concubine at the height of her power would fall from grace so suddenly? This fall shattered her pride. If it were not for the Empress’s birthday celebration, she would not have wanted to appear in public today.

While the Empress was surrounded by admirers, their quarters were quiet, allowing for private conversations. Zheng Xiuyuan sighed softly, “Once you left the palace, the Emperor stopped coming to Yanjia Palace. The Prince’s Mansion and the Duke of Wen’s residence are close; you must have heard about it from the Princess!” Seeing Surou’s silence, she gave a bitter laugh, “To be honest, I regret it. The Emperor’s heart is unpredictable; every step in the palace must be taken with caution. Unfortunately, I was too arrogant back then and did not understand this. I wonder, if I had not released you, what would things be like now? Perhaps you would have been transferred to the Empress’s side as a concubine, or perhaps you would have been directly conferred a title and become one of the Emperor’s consorts.”

She desperately needed to confide in someone, and Surou listened quietly until she finished before interjecting, “Life does not offer so many ‘what ifs.’ Consort Zheng, do not dwell on the past. Why trap yourself in this situation?”

Zheng Xiuyuan nodded. “That’s true. Nothing lasts forever. It’s always a matter of who’s more popular for a while, then who’s more popular, so the garden does not feel too desolate.” She then turned her gaze to a smiling woman standing quietly at the edge of the crowd, saying, “Look, that’s the Emperor’s newly appointed Consort Ye. Do her appearance and character not seem familiar?”

Following her gaze, Surou immediately understood. The figure and the composure in her eyes seemed…

Zheng Xiuyuan smiled. “You noticed, did you not? She looks somewhat like you. In just one month, she went from a county princess to a high-ranking concubine—something unprecedented since the founding of this dynasty. It shows how much the Emperor favors her, pouring all his resentment onto her.”

Surou, however, felt this was for the best. It resolved all conflicts, allowing everyone to get what they wanted and preventing further entanglements.

However, Zheng Xiuyuan’s words were ultimately inappropriate. Surou turned and smiled. “I do not think so. That Consort Ye must have some extraordinary qualities to win the Emperor’s favor; it has nothing to do with me. Consort and I will simply reminisce; please do not discuss the gossip within the palace. I come from a palace family, and I remember these rules.”

Zheng Xiuyuan looked at her with some disappointment, even regret. “I often think, if you had not left the palace back then, with your father’s merits, what rank would the Emperor have given you? Perhaps a Lady of Highest Ceremony ^(Taiyi), or maybe a Pure Consort ^(Shufei) or Noble Consort ^(Guifei)…” She turned and walked away, drawing out her words, “Who knows?”

Surou stood there for a while, watching her slowly walk out of Renming Hall, sighing deeply. Her vegetarianism and Buddhist chanting had not cleared her mind; what she still worried about remained lingering, and what she still resented remained unfulfilled.

Turning around, she saw the Duchess of Cheng approaching. Before she even arrived, a warm smile spread across her face as she greeted her, “I was just saying a few days ago that I wanted to visit the Princess Consort, and it’s such a pleasure to meet you today. Our young ladies have been under the Princess’s tutelage for so long, and I have not even had a chance to thank her properly.”

Surou quickly returned the courtesy, “You are too kind, Duchess. I opened the girls’ school so that everyone could have a place to gather, not to discuss teaching. Unfortunately, now that I am married, I have no time for anything else, and it’s been a long time since I’ve met the young ladies. I miss them terribly.”

The Duchess of Cheng smiled and gave a perfunctory reply, “Wait a moment… A few days later, I will send Fourth Young Lady to pay a visit to the Princess.” She paused, then added, “Oh dear, we’ve been so busy chatting that we forgot the important matter. I have a question for the Princess: is her younger brother engaged yet?”

Surou hesitated. “I heard last time that my grandmother was looking for a suitable match for him, but he does not seem to be in a hurry, saying he plans to discuss marriage after the autumn imperial examinations… Does Madam have a good candidate in mind?”

The Duchess of Cheng said, “Indeed, I have a cousin, the second daughter of Liu Ji, the military governor of Yongzhou. She’s fifteen this year and wants to find a suitable family in the capital. She asked me to look around, and the Zhang family immediately came to mind. The Zhang family has many distinguished officials and a virtuous family tradition. If the girl is fortunate enough to marry into the Zhang family, she will surely live a comfortable life. As Your Highness knows, when a girl marries, she doesn’t seek great wealth and status but only a peaceful family and harmonious marriage—that would be a great blessing.”

She continued. “My cousin comes from a very good family; her father is a second-rank official, her mother is the only daughter of the Earl of Anchang County, her elder sister is married into the Xu family, and her two elder brothers both hold important positions in the army. In terms of social standing, she’s a perfect match for the Zhang family.”

“Furthermore, that child is beautiful and has a good temperament. I originally said I didn’t have a son of similar age; otherwise, I would never have been willing to marry her to my family. Now that we’re discussing marriage, we must be careful and thorough. So today I ask the Princess Consort, if your younger brother isn’t engaged yet, that’s perfect. We can meet him first and then have a more in-depth discussion.”

Surou had not expected to encounter someone trying to arrange a marriage for Jiezhi while visiting the palace for a birthday celebration. Although the occasion was inappropriate, the person’s intentions were good, so she accepted, saying, “Thank you for thinking of our family, Madam. I will send someone to inquire with Grandmother as soon as I get back. If it’s still not settled, I will immediately give you the news.”

The Duchess of Cheng beamed and said, “Then I will await the Princess’s news.”

Just as she finished speaking, the concubines rose and began to move, preparing to head to the Shengping Tower in the rear garden. They all walked together, following the alley northwards into the vast garden behind.

Compared to Genyue Garden, this rear garden was slightly inferior, but it had its own exquisite charm. It possessed everything—mountains, lakes, pavilions, and towers—and in spring and summer, the garden was teeming with exotic flowers and rare plants. When a heavy snow fell in the depths of winter, it transformed into a flawless, silver-clad wonderland.

In truth, the annual celebrations for the Empress’s birthday were largely the same: watching plays and listening to music, sometimes with musicians reciting short stories, such as those about romance, the supernatural, or legal cases, accompanied by a banquet. When she was a palace attendant, she had to stand all day, her back aching terribly at night. Now she could sit, and although maintaining appearances was still difficult, it was better than standing and much more comfortable.

Fortunately, she could move around every hour. Most of the concubines in the palace came from noble families, and she might even be related to one of the noble ladies. This provided an opportunity to chat, invite them to her chambers, and inquire about their families, easing her homesickness.

As for the Zhang family, besides Surou, no one else from her clan had entered the palace, so she was quite idle, drinking tea and chatting with several other noble ladies who also had no family ties. Just as they were chatting amiably, a young eunuch stepped forward, bowed, and announced that Consort Ye requested the Heir Apparent’s Princess to speak at the Chuifang Pavilion.

Surou gave an “oh,” inwardly wondering what she might say to Consort Ye, as she and Consort Ye were strangers. Perhaps Consort Ye had overheard Zheng Xiuyuan discussing her earlier, and this seemed like a troublesome matter. Now that she had been summoned, she could not refuse, so she bid farewell to the noble ladies present and followed the young eunuch out of Shengping Tower.

Walking north along the large pond, she soon reached the Chuifang Pavilion. Strangely, the eunuch did not lead her to the waterside pavilion but instead continued north through the flower-covered corridor.

Having spent many years in the Forbidden City, she knew every corner of the inner garden intimately. Knowing that Qinghui Palace was just ahead, she hesitated slightly and called out to the eunuch, “We’ve passed Chuifang Pavilion. Eunuch, have you led us astray?”

The young eunuch turned and smiled. “No, Your Highness, please follow me.”

After walking a short distance, she saw An Sheng, who served at Funing Palace, waiting by the roadside with her hands clasped. Seeing her approaching, An Sheng bowed respectfully.

Suddenly, she understood and stopped abruptly. Funing Palace was the Emperor’s sleeping quarters, and those serving there were naturally his trusted confidants. An Sheng would not be here without reason; since she was waiting there specifically, she must have been assigned by the Emperor.

What exactly was the Emperor planning? Helian Song had been on tenterhooks before leaving home. Although she felt a vague unease, she did not believe a ruler would risk public condemnation by receiving a subject’s wife on the Empress’s birthday. But now, it seemed the usually composed Emperor was not so composed after all; Helian Song’s prediction had come true…

Seeing her hesitation, An Sheng stepped forward and bowed. “Your Highness, the Emperor is waiting for you in Qinghui Palace.”

Surou asked, “Was it not Consort Ye who summoned me?”

An Sheng replied, “Consort Ye and Your Highness are not acquainted. Why would she summon Your Highness? Naturally, the Emperor is using the Consort’s name to request a conversation.” She paused, then added, “Your Highness need not worry. The Emperor has ordered Consort Ye to remain in the pavilion and not to appear in public. Therefore, no one will know whom Your Highness meets.”

But she did not want to see the Emperor, and he did not seem to care. Could she turn back now? Surou was filled with inexplicable fear. The cool palace in the middle of the lake was deserted; a lone man and woman meeting like this—if word got out, how could she face anyone? She said to An Sheng, “The Emperor could have summoned me in front of everyone. This private meeting… is inappropriate.”

An Sheng smiled. “Your Highness has been in the Forbidden City for many years and knows its rules better than I do. I was ordered to greet Your Highness and have no authority to decide whether it’s appropriate or not. Your Highness, the Emperor has been waiting for a long time. Please do not keep him waiting any longer. Please move aside!” She bowed and gestured towards the long covered bridge.

Surou had no choice but to glance towards Qinghui Palace. She saw a figure dressed in Zhuyue casual clothes standing with his hands behind his back on the terrace overlooking the water, looking at her through the shimmering water. Knowing she could not refuse and had to see him eventually, she steeled herself and stepped onto the bridge.

T/N: WTF Emperor, sir. The Lady has made her choice. She definitely did not choose you repeatedly. Calm your little man and stop bothering our main couple.