Spring Message in the Snow – CH 094

Chapter 94

Perhaps it was the nourishing food at her maternal home, but after staying for two days, Qingrou felt much better. Before leaving, the Grand Madam kept her in the main room to speak, sighing, “Your second sister has already told me the whole truth. It’s truly pitiful for you, keeping it all bottled up inside for so long. Why did you not tell your grandmother?”

Qingrou forced a smile. “On such a festive occasion, with the whole family gathered together, would telling you about those unfortunate things not just make Grandmother unhappy?”

The Grand Madam shook her head, “So many small things are kept secret until they become big problems. If you had spoken up sooner, we could have had a better plan. Your second sister shared her thoughts, and after careful consideration, I think it’s feasible. Although making a big fuss would not be good for either family, marriage is ultimately a matter of chance. Success means joy, failure means utter chaos. What we need to do is clear the snow from our own doorstep first. Besides, your parents will not stand up for you unless they are pushed to the limit…” She looked at Qingrou, “My child, sometimes you have to have that ruthless determination to fight for yourself. Do you understand what your grandmother means?”

Qingrou said, “Granddaughter understands.”

The Grand Madam nodded, saying nothing more. Looking at the sky outside, she said gently, “The weather is very nice today. Take advantage of the warmth and go back.”

Qingrou took two steps back, bowed to the Grand Madam, and said, “Grandmother, granddaughter is leaving,” before leaving Suihua Garden with her maids.

This year, the Beginning of Spring fell on the twelfth lunar month. Although it was still a bit chilly after the New Year, tiny buds had already sprouted on the branches along the roadside—a harbinger of spring!

Qingrou lifted the curtain and looked outside, her mood gradually becoming cheerful. As the carriage passed through Washi, she suddenly saw Mianmian in front of a gold and silver shop. She had just come out of the shop with a satisfied smile on her face, accompanied by two richly dressed young women. The three women were whispering amongst themselves when they glanced up and saw Qingrou. Mianmian waved and called out, “Third Sister!” and hurried to the window to greet her. “Third Sister, are you going home today?”

Qingrou nodded. “What are you doing here, Cousin?”

Mianmian’s smile widened. “I am here to exchange some cash. Third Sister, you do not know, but an old friend of my father’s runs an alum business. I bought two shares last time, and in just one month, I made over two hundred taels. Today I am withdrawing the interest to buy wine for Young Master Song.” She turned and pointed to the young women standing behind her. “These two are my sisters-in-law. They heard the profits are good, and they are thinking of buying shares too. Third Sister, would you like to give it a try? We are family; we can make money together.”

Qingrou hesitated, observing her suspiciously. Seeing Mianmian winking at her, she knew there was something fishy going on. After nodding to the two daughters-in-law of the Song family, she said to Mianmian, “If such a good thing really exists, of course, we cannot miss it. However, I do not have any money on me today. I will get it when I get back and then send someone to deliver it to my sister.”

Mianmian agreed, “You’d better hurry, or you will miss this opportunity. They only agreed to take me along because of my father. If it’s not done in the next day or two, they will not wait.”

Qingrou agreed, exchanged a few more private words, and then took her leave.

Pipa grinned. “That cousin is acting strangely; I wonder what she’s plotting now. She gets along well with her sisters-in-law, so she must be doing quite well in the Earl’s mansion.”

Nanny Hua said, “Every family has its own difficulties. I think that cousin has had it tough, too. But she’s clever and never willing to suffer a loss; she’s always the one who schemes against others, never the other way around.”

Qingrou sighed. She had vaguely heard about Mianmian’s life after marriage. The Founding Earl of Dengfeng was just an empty shell; no wonder he disregarded social status to marry Mianmian, ultimately choosing the Shen family’s wealth.

But as Nanny Hua said, Mianmian was the type not to suffer losses. Even if the Earl’s mansion relied on its power, they could not afford to offend this money-grubber too much. At least on the surface, things would be alright, so there was no need to worry about her.

The carriage continued its slow journey. The Li family’s house was near Jinliang Bridge in the west of the city. It took almost half an hour to get there from Old Caomen Street. It was nearly noon when they arrived home. She first went to pay her respects to her mother-in-law. Madam Li was talking to her eldest daughter-in-law at the time and only gave her a casual reply, without even asking if she had eaten, before waving her hand dismissively, “You do not look well; go back and rest.” Then she went back to chatting and laughing with her eldest daughter-in-law.

Qingrou bowed and withdrew from the main room, feeling a sense of loss. Since marrying into the family, she had never been able to integrate. Everyone in the Li family probably knew that her relationship with Li Shu’an was nominal, so they did not take her seriously and treated her with indifference. So their marriage to a concubine’s daughter was not without reason; they knew she would not be as spoiled and carefree as the legitimate daughter and would be more accustomed to enduring hardship and humiliation.

Sighing, she returned to her courtyard and asked the maid where the second young master was. The maid replied, “The second young master was invited to Nanshan Temple to form a poetry club with friends. He’s been staying there for the past two days and has not returned.”

Qingrou could not help but smile bitterly. He had time to form a poetry club but no time to accompany her back to her parents’ home for the New Year. Now that he was married into the family, he did not even bother to pretend anymore, completely disregarding whether she lost face in the Zhang family.

Seeing her dejected expression, Nanny Hua could only try to comfort her, “Madam, just focus on recovering. Do not worry about anything else. Whether he’s forming a poetry club or going out for drinks, he will be back for the Lantern Festival.”

Anyway, she had no other demands; she could just make do and see how things would go.

Qingrou nodded, moved to sit by the moon-shaped window, and calmly pondered the method Surou had told her. After much deliberation, she still could not make up her mind. After all, regardless of their circumstances, her sisters were all married. If she were to truly break ties with the Li family, she would become the only divorced member of the Zhang family, a disgrace she could not bear.

Actually, she still secretly hoped that Li Shu’an might change his mind during the Lantern Festival and take her out to see the lanterns and stroll through the Zhouqiao night market. But all she received was his usual indifference. He went straight to his study after returning, not even setting foot in her courtyard.

Disappointed, she reclined in her chair and said to Nanny Hua, “My marriage is truly awful. When we first got married, I wanted to reason with him, to ask him why he treated me this way, but now, when I see him, I cannot even be bothered to open my mouth.”

Nanny Hua gently tucked the thin quilt under her legs. “If two people have the opportunity to spend time together, it’s not impossible for feelings to develop. But I see that Young Master Li keeps everyone at arm’s length; he does not even want to look at you. You’d better make plans soon. To be honest, you are far better off than girls from humble families with no support. At least you have the Second Mistress to help you and the Grand Madam to protect you. If things really come to that, your family will not abandon you.”

Qingrou remained silent. This plan burned within her like fire; only by suppressing it could she calm herself. She wanted to wait until the Lantern Festival to see if he would make any move. On such an important day, her mother-in-law, Madam Li, would surely try to reconcile them and remind her son not to neglect his new bride. But to her surprise, Madam Li did not seem to care. After the family ate together, they returned to their respective courtyards, their spirits low.

Qingrou was unwilling to give up. She mustered her courage again and went to the study. As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw the servant leaning against the door, dozing off. Nanny Hua called out, and the servant boy snapped out of his daze, asking if the young master was there. The boy replied, “The young master left after finishing his meal; he’s not in the mansion.”

Upon hearing this, Qingrou flew into a rage, sharply demanding, “Where did he go? You are his personal servant; why were you not with him?” The servant boy stammered, unable to answer. Qingrou increasingly suspected something was amiss, so she threatened, “If you do not tell the truth, I will report you to Madam for offending me, and she will throw you out of the mansion!”

This time, the servant boy dared not hide anything, bowing low as he said, “The young master… he went out of town. Today is the anniversary of Fourth Young Lady Yu’s death; as usual, the young master went to her grave to light lanterns and set off fireworks.”

Qingrou felt a sudden, utter despair. She realized she would never win Li Shu’an’s heart. She had hoped for a change of heart on the Lantern Festival, but he preferred to light lanterns at her grave rather than even glance at her.

***

As for Surou, she could not go to the lantern market tonight either.

On the Lantern Festival, civil and military officials were out with their families to admire the lanterns, but they might easily run into acquaintances. In these times when the couple pretended to be sleeping in the same bed but were not truly in love, going out to admire the lanterns was a luxury. After a moment of joy, trouble would follow, so staying home was the safest option.

Right now, Zhiniang’s pregnancy was showing; her belly was growing bigger every day. Today, on the festival, Surou hosted a small family banquet and invited her to dine with them. During the meal, a slight awkwardness lingered when they were not speaking. For a sentry, eating at the same table as their master was an overstepping of bounds, so Zhiniang was somewhat reserved in front of Helian Song. However, she and Surou had a lot to talk about, chatting about making spring clothes in a couple of days and preparing for the baby’s birth in the fourth month.

Helian Song sullenly finished his meal, then left the table, saying he was tired from the past two days and needed to go back to rest. Unfortunately, no one even came to see him off.

He glanced at them awkwardly, then helplessly put his hands behind his back and left alone. When Surou finished her meal, washed up, and returned to the inner chamber, she was greeted by a magnificent display. Two rows of lanterns stretched out one after another, leading directly into the inner chamber. Walking through them felt like an Emperor holding court.

Surou chuckled, knowing he was up to his old tricks again, and strolled in with measured steps. Sure enough, the lanterns were lined up before the bed, and at the far end, a man dressed in sheer silk lay sprawled on the bed, propping his head up and flashing her a seductive smile. He asked in a sweet voice, “My Lady, do you like everything I’ve prepared for you?”

Surou kicked off her soft shoes and joyfully pounced on him, planting a large kiss on his chest. “I love it… I love it so much!”

Of course, this reversal did not last long. Soon, he took the lead, pressing her down and kissing her neck. “I am sorry that I cannot go out to see the lanterns with you today. I can only make it up to you in the inner chambers.” As he spoke, he began to reminisce, “I remember last Mid-Autumn Festival, when we admired the lanterns together. You looked at me with such deep affection, casting flirtatious glances, vowing to love me to the bone and to stay with me for life…”

Surou smacked him on the forehead. “Wake up! Can you dream with your eyes open?”

He felt a pang of melancholy after the slap, muttering, “I am the one who’s always trying to curry favor with you, and you will not even let me dream…”

Surou thought he’d been too idle lately. Ever since the proposal to send him back to Longyou was put forward in court, and the Emperor had not responded, he’d clearly become lazy, refusing to go to the army outside the city and frequently claiming illness. He knew that fighting the Emperor’s mind was pointless; his past diligence had not lowered the Emperor’s guard. Since that was the case, he should learn to do the opposite—firstly, to show his stance, and secondly, to allow himself some rest.

But the only downside was that it gave him more time for melancholy. He resisted relentlessly, so she had no choice but to go along with it. “Alright, alright, I was the one who fell in love at first sight, and I was also the one who used any means necessary. When you planned to open a girls’ school, I did everything I could to obstruct it, forcing you to rent my house. And when you wanted to break off the engagement, I colluded with the Emperor to pressure you into marrying me. Is that alright now?”

He exclaimed, “Ah, bringing up the old stuff again!”

“Do you not feel embarrassed?” She smiled and stroked the firm muscles of his waist, changing the subject to one he preferred, and said softly, “My Lord, I feel your waist has become increasingly strong lately.”

He was pleasantly surprised. “Really? I feel it too… Looks like those medicines were used cleverly!”

This man could not resist praise; once praised, he became wildly enthusiastic, displaying every skill he knew. Finally, turning to the exhausted Surou, he said, “My wife, do you see how capable I’ve become?”

Surou could only nod, unable to speak. He still had the energy to open the window, embracing her as they watched the bright moon rise over the east wall. “The night is so beautiful tonight. I was initially disappointed that I could not take you to see the lanterns, but now… It’s actually quite nice.”

A faint coolness seeped in through the half-open window. The two of them, wrapped tightly in the blankets, admired the moon, creating a uniquely poignant and poetic scene.

Surou thought of Qingrou. “Did you think Young Master Li took Third Sister out to see the lanterns tonight? We have not heard from her since the last New Year’s visit; it’s been over ten days. I wonder how she is now.”

Helian Song hummed in agreement. “She’s not a child anymore. Why do you need to worry about her?”

Surou still sighed. “She’s too weak-willed. If she had half of Mianmian’s fierceness, things would not be like this now.” She then brought up the Earl’s Mansion. “Last time, Madam Song borrowed 200,000 taels from Mianmian, and just a few days later, she asked for another 50,000 taels, saying she needed to pay off the losses from buying the estate.”

He frowned. “Is the estate now under your cousin’s and her husband’s names?”

Surou said no. “Madam Song did not even mention it. Luckily, Mianmian is clever; she said her money was invested elsewhere. She’d buy these alums from the black market, then send the money back to her mother-in-law, creating the illusion of making a fortune. She’d buy this for her aunts and uncles one day and that for her brothers and sisters-in-law the next, making the Song family incredibly envious, each one wanting to invest with her.”

Helian Song understood. “Is she planning to collect all the money she lent out?”

Surou said yes, “The black market alum trade does not involve receipts; it’s all voluntary. At first, some people hesitated, but Mianmian kept them hooked. A few days ago, she came to visit and told me she’d already collected 40,000 taels from her in-laws and sisters-in-law. She’d give each of them 500 taels in a few days, then coax them into investing even more.”

So those noble families thought they could manipulate the dowry by marrying down, leaving the bride speechless, but they’d run into Mianmian. After all, she’d been accompanying her father to the merchants’ shops since she was six, watching him conduct business, and she’d picked up some shrewd calculations. Unlike Qingrou, she was not so worried about the future or gossip. She did not want to upset her and would simply buy a private residence outside, taking Song Mingchi with her to establish their own household. Although Song Mingchi was carefree, he knew right from wrong; he understood better than anyone the principle that following his wife meant good fortune.

“And another thing, have you heard that Sujie is pregnant?” Surou said with a smile. “That’s so fast! Only two months into their marriage, and she’s already pregnant! The Prince of Hubei’s family is overjoyed. Today they sent a carriage to invite the Lord Wen and the Princess and her husband to celebrate the festival together…”

She spoke so happily, then turned her head and saw that the person beside her had fallen asleep sometime earlier. It seemed that all the previous fuss had truly exhausted him.

She could only sit up and close the window. Just as she was about to close her eyes, she saw fireworks lighting up outside, clusters and clumps of colorful lights illuminating the window paper. Tonight, the capital was ablaze with lights, a city that would never sleep; the commotion would not subside until late into the night.

The next day, Helian Song had to go to the yamen to handle official business and left early in the morning. After he left, Surou summoned Zhiniang, and the two of them chose fabrics and patterns to make swaddling clothes and garments for the child.

They always wanted auspicious symbols: blooming flowers symbolizing wealth and prosperity, a bountiful harvest, and a vine laden with grapes. Although it was not her own child, Surou was filled with anticipation for the impending life. The two carefully selected fabrics for most of the day, and only after Zhiniang had lunch in the main room at midday did they return to Hengfen Courtyard.

Quelan, clearly displeased with Zhiniang, glared at her retreating back and said, “My Lady, do not get so close to her. It’s best to be wary of her. Do not let her seemingly honest appearance fool you; she’s got her own little schemes. A few days ago, when the Heir Apparent returned, she was waiting for him in the garden. I do not know what she said to him, but she was all pregnant and acting all coquettish. Lots of people saw her.”

Surou sighed, “After all, she’s the Heir Apparent’s concubine. We should allow her to say a few intimate words.”

Of course, hearing this news gave her a legitimate reason to be upset. She slept from midday until late afternoon, only waking up when Helian Song was already reading in the outer room. She came out, clutching her head, and wailed, “My Lord, my head hurts!”

The man by the window had no choice but to put down his book, beckoning her to sit down, muttering, “Sleeping for so long, of course your head hurts,” while carefully massaging her forehead.

The general’s hands were warm and strong. Surou was impressed by his perfect touch and asked with her eyes closed, “Have you massaged people before? Your technique seems very skillful.”

He said, “Even if you have not eaten pork, you’ve seen pigs run. Whether it’s done well or not depends on who you are massaging. You are my most beloved wife; if it were someone else, I would not serve you!”

His tone carried a hint of arrogance, which Surou found quite pleasing. Just as she was about to turn and hug him, she suddenly heard hurried footsteps outside, quickly reaching the corridor.

Jiao Yue stood at the door, greeting her. She recognized the servant as Nanny Yu, the maidservant of the Third Mistress, and was somewhat surprised. She asked, “Why are you here, Nanny?”

Nanny Yu, panting, waved her hand. “Miss, please do not ask anymore. Tell the Second Mistress that our mistress attempted suicide at the Li family’s house, nearly losing her life. Please, Second Mistress, go and see her quickly!”