Spring Message in the Snow – CH 091

Chapter 91

Noisy and quarrelsome, but after their reunion, they were as sweet as honey again—perhaps this was a common ailment of newlyweds.

Governess Wu watched them walk hand in hand towards the main room, feeling a pang of sadness. But before she could finish her sigh, Nanny Fu beside her chuckled, “Harmony in the family brings prosperity! A loving head of household and a thriving business are things everyone wishes for. But there are always a few who, finding the household too peaceful, insist on stirring up trouble. I’ve never seen a wet nurse try to squeeze between a married couple by taking advantage of the concubine’s status. The Heir Apparent traveled a hundred miles in the middle of the night because he was worried about his wife, not because of any concubine. Nanny, you should see things more clearly…”

Those barbed words reached Surou’s ears. She looked up at Helian Song, wondering what he thought of someone speaking so disrespectfully to his wet nurse. To his surprise, he relaxed, seemingly unconcerned, and said, “How come the capital is even colder than Youzhou! My wife, my hands are frozen stiff…”

Surou, of course, knew where his coldness came from. In Youzhou, he was a man of steel, with no one to indulge his whims. He was a military commander, a high-ranking nobleman, with tens of thousands of eyes eagerly watching him, waiting for him to command troops, waiting for him to distribute provisions and pay. Even in the bitter cold, he could withstand it. But back in the capital, things were different. Suddenly having someone to rely on, he became suddenly delicate, constantly calling her “my wife,” muttering complaints, and seeking her favor.

Surou quickly rubbed his hands, suddenly noticing that their delicate softness was gone; the skin on the back of his hands felt like snakeskin. She gave him a pitiful look, said nothing, and led him into the inner chamber.

Behind the screen, she helped him remove his crimson shirt and had the maid add charcoal to the brazier, making the fire burn brightly and warming the room further. She then took the hot water brought by Jie Lu and had him soak his hands in it. After carefully washing them, she wrapped them in a towel, then went to the dressing table to get some lard ointment, gently rubbing it into his skin, sighing, “You said so confidently that Youzhou was not as cold as the capital; how did your hands get like this?”

He gently caressed her soft hands, from the back of her hand to her knuckles and then between her fingers, enjoying the sensation immensely. “If I do not suffer a little, you will not feel sorry for me,” he said, leaning against her shoulder and holding her waist dependently. He closed his eyes and said, “Do you know what I long for most when I am out there?”

Surou asked, “What?”

“Sleep,” he said. “Because in my dreams I can see you and hold you like this. I’ve been away from the capital for twenty days, and those twenty days have been agonizing. I was afraid of leaving you alone in the capital, afraid that I would not be able to protect you, and afraid that the Emperor would abuse his power and plot against you.”

Surou felt a pang of sadness. She reached out and stroked his shoulder, saying, “You are a grown man, so pathetic!”

He gently rubbed the skin behind her ear. “Even leading troops into battle is nothing to me, as long as I can settle you down and have no worries. But now we are in the capital, a prosperous place full of traps. There is infighting in the court ahead, and the Emperor behind us is wary. In addition, the situation in Longyou is unclear. This road is getting more and more difficult to travel.”

Surou paused, pondering for a moment before saying, “The day I went to the palace to offer birthday greetings, the Emperor did indeed summon me behind everyone’s backs, and he mentioned Zhiniang and the child. I tested him a few times, and I could tell he was initially somewhat doubtful, but later, after hearing my tearful account, my genuine crying seemed to have won him over.”

He finally opened his eyes in the dim light of dawn. “You cried to him, and he must have used the opportunity to speak ill of me, then poured out his heart to you, telling you you’d misplaced your trust and that he himself is wholeheartedly in love with you, right?”

So, his years of friendship were not for nothing. He knew the Emperor’s thoughts and actions, even his manner of doing things and speaking.

Surou recalled the events of that day, and although she felt very uncomfortable, she could only downplay it, saying, “There’s always bound to be digressions, but I’ve also stated my position. The Emperor is not a foolish ruler; he still cares about the duties between ruler and subject.”

Helian Song sneered, “So he really has not given up. He says he’s recently been favoring that Consort Ye. I feel as disgusted as if I’d swallowed a fly.”

Fearing he might act impulsively, Surou quickly cautioned him, “Do not let this cause trouble for the Emperor in court.”

“I know what I am doing.” He smiled again, knowing that the outside world’s intrigues should not be brought into the bedroom. He got up, took off his undergarment, and spread his arms, saying, “Wife, come quickly.”

Surou wrung out a handkerchief and covered his chest. Through the cotton cloth, she felt her hands were a measuring stick, a scale across the land. He led her across mountains and forests, through shallow streams and valleys. What should have been a simple wash, under his hazy gaze, gradually transformed into an atmosphere of intimacy.

He breathed a sigh of relief and whispered in her ear, “On this trip to Youzhou, I sent a trusted confidant to obtain some more medicine. The physician, upon hearing that ten bottles were used up so quickly, reportedly praised it highly.”

Surou blushed and playfully hit him. “Why did you tell me this in particular?”

His voice deepened. “I am telling you so my wife can relax and be carefree. There’s plenty of medicine; no need to be so careful with the details, or you will not be able to fully enjoy yourself.”

No need to be careful—that meant it was time to get physical. She whispered, “I am not finished washing you yet…”

Then a loud crash echoed from the inner room—the sound of a copper basin being knocked to the floor.

Quelan, who had just come in from outside, saw Jie Lu standing blankly at the door and asked in surprise, “Did you spill the basin? Are you not going in to clean it up? I will have someone bring another bucket of hot water…”

Jie Lu looked at her as if she were a fool. Seeing that Quelan was about to go and make arrangements, she quickly pulled her back, then dragged her to the corridor, and said in a low voice, “Is this your first day serving in the main room? Going in now, see if the Heir Apparent does not twist your head off!”

Now Quelan finally understood. She blushed and chuckled awkwardly. After all, they were different from Governess Wu; they wholeheartedly hoped that their mistress and the Heir Apparent would be well. Therefore, they did not need to worry about the inner chambers; they only needed to plan what to prepare for dinner.

The heir apparent had not been home for a long time, so a lavish meal was prepared to reward him for his hard work away from home. Dishes like the roasted lamb from Pan Tower and the seafood soup were indispensable. As evening approached, an attendant delivered the food box to the door, and the food was laid out in the inner courtyard. Just as the bowls and chopsticks were set, the people from the inner room came out.

The candlelight flickered, casting an even orange glow throughout the main room. Helian Song served Surou food, then ordered the servants to leave. Once everyone had dispersed, he said, “Over the years, I’ve cultivated relationships with many important officials in the court, and now it’s time to use their talents. My father is ill, and my uncles are eyeing the situation covetously. If this continues, the situation may change. The Emperor has not issued any orders, only instructing the Xuanfushi ^{(Pacification Commissioner)} to maintain a balance. As long as the officials do not break the silence, the court and the public will continue to feign peace. This could drag on for another three to five years. I know the Emperor’s heart; he’s probably anxious, but he’s worried about not being able to control me, which is why he’s been delaying. He can delay, but I cannot wait any longer. Someone must speak up and bring this matter to the forefront.”

Surou, holding her chopsticks, paused. She knew perfectly well that only by puncturing the gangrene and focusing on treatment could this be truly effective.

The current situation, where everyone was holding back, was not a solution. While the Emperor’s achievements over the years had been remarkable, he was not without weaknesses. Compared to the decisiveness of the late Emperor, he was hesitant and overly suspicious in military matters, distrusting everyone. He claimed to have grown up with Helian Song, their bond stronger than brothers, but in reality, he hesitated to release the tiger into the forest. He feared that if Helian Song was released, Helian Jingwei would declare himself Emperor, and the Longyou Protectorate would completely break free from the court’s control. He was not unaware that Longyou was not solely controlled by Helian Jingwei; he was simply gambling—gambling that the young and vigorous Helian Jingwei would not die young, and gambling that his scheming brothers would not dare to act rashly.

However, this gamble lacked solid evidence. Considering the worst-case scenario, either Helian Song rebelled, or Longyou was taken over by Helian Jingwei’s other brothers; the court had virtually no chance of winning. Now, faced with a choice between the two, the Emperor must be reminded to face the current situation. If anyone brought this matter up publicly, the Emperor could not avoid it. Advice offered in the imperial court never went unresolved; once it began, it would surely yield results.

“A short pain is worse than a long one,” Surou said, putting down her chopsticks. “Whom does Your Highness intend to entrust?”

Helian Song replied, “Xu Zhongqian, the Associate Privy Councilor. I am on good terms with him, but we have not shared a drink together in years. He can propose it, and then the Left Grand Counselor can second it. Once this matter is submitted to the Secretariat, His Majesty will have no choice but to make a decision.”

Surou nodded. “But be careful. If word gets out, you might be accused of forming a faction.”

He said he understood, then smiled at her. “I am sure I will make you worry again, but do not worry; I’ve planned this for a while. It was not a last-minute decision. I heard the Jin army was causing trouble again the other day; this is a good opportunity, and we absolutely cannot miss it.”

Surou agreed. Men stirred up trouble in the court, while women in the inner quarters could not help much. They could only wait patiently for news.

The next day, at dawn, she saw him off to court. After he left, Surou waited for his return in the paper pavilion. The warm stove emitted steam, slowly releasing the fragrance clinging to the paper screen; even without burning incense, a subtle aroma lingered in the small space.

Just then, someone called out “Your Highness” from outside the paper pavilion. Looking through the straw curtain at the door, she saw Zhiniang standing there. She rose and went to lift the curtain, asking in surprise, “Why are you here?”

Zhiniang seemed somewhat helpless. “It was Governess Wu who urged me to come, saying that the Master has returned from Youzhou, and I have not yet paid my respects to him, which is impolite. I could not refuse, so I had to come and bother you. Please forgive me, Your Highness.”

Surou nodded and instructed Quelan, who was listening to her orders, “Go to the kitchen and pick out some delicious pastries.” She paused, then remembered, “This paper pavilion has a fragrance; will it not harm the baby?”

Zhiniang said it would not. “The fragrance recipe for ‘Spring Message in the Snow’ does not contain any spices that might disturb the fetus.” As she spoke, she thanked the lady for the seat, glanced at the person opposite her, and smiled somewhat shyly. “I’ve really caused the Princess a lot of trouble during my stay at the residence.”

“Not at all,” Surou said. “I should thank you for this; it’s no trouble at all.” She poured a cup of plum blossom tea and placed it in front of her, saying gently, “I added refined honey; it nourishes yin and moistens the lungs. Please try it.”

Zhiniang bowed slightly, said thank you, tasted it carefully, and smiled, “When the Princess opened the girls’ school, every girl in the capital longed to attend. If it were not for my status preventing me from appearing in public, I would have wanted to go and learn flower arranging and tea ceremony from the Princess. Today, I have the honor of tasting the Princess’s tea, and I admire it even more. The flowers are brewed so well, and the sweetness and lightness are just right; it’s truly different from what I usually haphazardly brew.”

Surou smiled, inwardly impressed. Last time, seeing her feigning warmth with Helian Song, it was such an awkward and forced conversation. She had thought Zhiniang was not good with words, but she had not expected her to be so eloquent. She poured her another cup, then tilted her head and asked, “You are not Zhiniang from Fengxiang Prefecture, so what’s your real name?”

Zhiniang replied, “Fangchen. We sentry households do not have surnames. If we were to name someone, our surname would be Qi. The Xiongnu people say their tribe is ‘mostly brave and strong.’ Our ancestors once served as the Commandant of Chisha, but later our tribe dwindled, and eventually we became sentry households protecting the Helian clan.”

Surou said, “I’ve heard the Heir Apparent mention sentry households. They perform reconnaissance and protection duties and are the most loyal and brave group in Longyou.”

Zhiniang said, “This is a responsibility passed down from generation to generation. Many years ago, I was placed in a merchant caravan and have always operated around the capital. This year, I happened to be in the capital and received the Heir Apparent’s order, so I eventually entered the Prince’s Mansion.”

She then lowered her head somewhat shyly and said, “I really have to thank the Prince for this. If it were not for the Heir Apparent’s help, that person and I would have never even been together. A man and a woman must marry to become truly blood-related family. People of our background are often assigned different duties, and we are frequently separated. If we do not marry, being separated for too long and too far will gradually weaken our feelings. No one can endure twenty years. So when the Heir Apparent revealed his plan, I was overjoyed. I never imagined I’d one day be able to marry the one I love.”

Surou, listening to her detailed explanation, understood her difficulties and sighed, “Although you will be married, you cannot openly show it to others. We will probably have to continue to endure in silence. Do you find that difficult?”

Zhiniang, however, said no, “People like us are born to serve the Prince. Even if we were to die for him today, we would not hesitate. Actually, these past twenty-odd days in the Prince’s Mansion have been the most peaceful I’ve had since I was six. For a while, I just ate and slept, slept and ate, without having to think about anything. It was all thanks to the Heir Apparent and Princess. But… Governess Wu does not know the inside story. I heard she had several arguments with the Princess, and I felt very guilty. I did not know how to tell the Princess, so I took this opportunity to leave the courtyard today to apologize and ask for her understanding.”

“Governess Wu is loyal to the Heir Apparent. Although her words and actions are sometimes out of line, I do not hold it against her. After all, she’s getting old and has cared for the Heir Apparent for so many years, far from home. It’s truly not easy.”

Zhiniang nodded. “It’s me who feels unworthy.”

Surou said there was no need. “You all serve the Heir Apparent and have your own duties. Keeping it from Governess Wu was for the greater good. You do not need to feel guilty. Besides, the Heir Apparent and I are very grateful to you for sacrificing so much for our sake.”

Zhiniang hurriedly replied, “Your Highness is too kind. I have said everything I needed to say. It is my honor to share the Heir Apparent’s burdens; I cannot accept Your Highness’s gratitude. Please, Your Highness, do not be wary of me. My presence in the household is merely a temporary measure; I have absolutely no ulterior motives.”

Surou, discerning right from wrong, naturally would not push away someone she should be cultivating over such a matter. She smiled and said, “The Heir Apparent and I went through many trials before we came together. If I did not trust him, I would not have married him in the first place. Now, you should just focus on your pregnancy and give birth to the child properly; do not worry about anything else. However, I am worried. What if it’s a girl?”

Actually, ensuring this pregnancy was definitely a boy was not difficult; it’s just a matter of weighing the pros and cons, which might cause her further distress.

Zhiniang, however, was not worried. She looked up at Surou with a determined gaze. “If it’s a girl, we will find a way to change it to a boy. I will take good care of him. As for my child, I will leave her to her father to raise.”

Hearing this, Surou breathed a sigh of relief. “I’ve witnessed your loyalty to the Heir Apparent; I will certainly not mistreat you in the future.”

Just then, Quelan entered carrying a food box, arranging various snacks on the small table before her. Pointing to the pastries, she said, “These are freshly made with fresh goat’s milk. Your Highness and Lady Yan, please try some.”

Surou pushed the plate forward, gesturing for her to eat. Zhiniang smiled shyly, picked up a piece, and put it in her mouth. After one taste, she exclaimed in amazement, “These are even better than any pastries I’ve ever had before!”

Surou understood and turned to Quelan, saying, “Tell the kitchen to prepare another portion and send it to Hengfen Courtyard.”

Quelan agreed verbally but inwardly felt a little resentful, thinking to herself, “When did my mistress become so lenient? She’s even concerned about what the concubine likes to eat!” Look closely at this young woman; she ate another piece with a sullen face. Relying on her pregnancy, she acted so recklessly. Luckily, she was not favored; if she were, would she not be so arrogant and push her way up to the mistress?

Just then, a message came from the doorway outside, saying that the Heir Apparent had returned home.

Zhiniang hurriedly rose to help the Princess. Seeing Helian Song enter, she curtsied and said, “My Lord returned from Youzhou yesterday, and I was unable to pay my respects. I have come today to apologize.”

Helian Song responded indifferently, “It’s freezing cold; you should take good care of yourself. There was no need for you to come in person.”

Zhiniang forced a smile. “My Lord, I was worried sick day and night while you were gone. I did not know how much hardship you endured. Now that I see you are well, I am finally relieved…” As she spoke, she glanced at him, “My Lord, let me help you change your clothes!”

Then everyone present was somewhat stunned. While her behavior was perfectly befitting of a concubine serving her master, for some reason, it seemed so affected and inappropriate.

Helian Song’s lips twitched weakly. “No need. You are pregnant; there’s no need for this trouble. It’s cold outside; do not catch a cold. Go back to your courtyard!”

This cold conversation left the old woman, Governess Wu, standing outside the door feeling utterly exhausted. She subtly gave Zhiniang a look, signaling her to try harder, but Zhiniang seemed not to hear, curtsying and saying, “Then, Master, please rest. I will take my leave.”

Upon leaving the front courtyard, she was met with Governess Wu’s endless sighs and a shake of her head. “Why are you so distant? You two knew each other before, and now you have a child. You should be deeply in love, all entwined.”

Zhiniang, unable to refute her words, could only feign tears. “Nanny, you do not know. The reason I was able to conceive this child was entirely due to my scheming. I was fed up with the nomadic life of the caravans and wanted to settle down as soon as possible. It just so happened that I reunited with the Lord, so I begged him to take me in. Then I devised a plan to drug him, and that’s how I gained this status.”

“Now the Lord hates me, and the Princess resents me, too. I am caught in the middle, feeling incredibly awkward. I only ask for enough to eat and a place to rest; I no longer dare to hope for the Lord’s favor. Nanny, please do not keep pushing me forward. The more you push me, the more ashamed I feel, and it might even harm the baby…” She finished speaking, pulled out a handkerchief, covered her eyes, and burst into tears. Under Governess Wu’s astonished gaze, she hurried to her own courtyard.