Spring Message in the Snow – CH 099

Chapter 99

Surou sighed softly. If you want to go, we would go together; if you want to stay, we would stay together—this was probably the most touching love confession she had ever heard.

Helian Song’s identity and situation were awkward, and his luxurious life in the capital did not alleviate this predicament. It was only through years of careful maneuvering and effort to avoid appearing out of place that he had achieved his current prominence.

However, his roots were in Longyou, and the court used him to control Longyou. In his youth, he could afford to be complacent, but as he grew older, this contradiction became increasingly apparent.

In truth, Surou wanted to tell him that if only one could leave, she could stay in the capital with Zhiniang and the child. But he held her hand tightly, his eyes filled with determination. She knew that if she presumptuously said this, it would be an insult to his passionate devotion. So she remained silent, nestled obediently against his shoulder. He had his plans; she only needed to follow his lead.

He turned his head, gently stroking her forehead, and said with a touch of melancholy, “I hate the current situation because I feel utterly powerless. Although these years have seemed glorious, I have no personal army under my command. If I had a way, I could have staged a coup… but unfortunately, there’s no opportunity. The Emperor and the court will not allow a hostage to hold real power.”

She knew his anguish and patted his hand, saying, “Your world is not in the capital, and you have no intention of overthrowing the dynasty, so it’s understandable that you feel constrained at every turn. I think it’s not advisable to be restless right now. Instead, you should remain calm and composed, not defying the Emperor, so that he feels he has tamed you, and only then will he feel comfortable letting you return to take over Longyou.”

Helian Song smiled bitterly. “Emperors are always so suspicious. Ah, actually, if Longyou wanted to rebel, I could have easily recruited soldiers and built up my power over the past few years. To take it a step further, how often have I frequented the Imperial Palace and Genyue? Capturing the leader is a piece of cake for me; does not His Majesty understand this principle? But the more we submit, the more he hesitates. I am truly confused about his thoughts now…” He glanced down at her, teasingly asking, “Could it really be because of you?”

Surou dismissed his words, “Do not talk nonsense. Does that sound nice? You are all scheming in the court, while I am just a woman confined to the inner quarters. You insist on elevating me to such a high status? That’s giving me far too much credit.”

The rest of the conversation naturally drifted to other topics, no longer confined to the court’s movements or worrying about when the Emperor would relent and allow them to return to Longyou. Helian Song ordered Zhu Bai to take a long detour to the Zhouqiao night market. Although they did not get out of the carriage, they could still buy snacks and trinkets while inside. The two shopped until late afternoon before returning to the Prince’s Mansion.

Upon arriving home, they received news that Zhiniang had twisted her back, which startled Surou. She rushed to Hengfen Courtyard to check on her. Zhiniang was lying in bed, seemingly unharmed, though getting up was a little difficult. Surou let her lie down while she stood by the bedside and spoke to her.

Zhiniang vividly described the incident to her: “The wind blew open the window and knocked over the vase on the desk. I saw it was about to fall, so I reached out to catch it and accidentally twisted my back. Do not worry, Master and Lady, Physician Yan has already come to check on it. It’s nothing serious; it will be fine in a couple of days.”

Helian Song frowned. “A broken vase is broken, but it’s not worth getting injured over a flowerpot.”

Zhiniang sheepishly agreed, “I was in such a hurry that I did not pay attention. I will be more careful next time.”

Surou looked at her belly; it was as big as a gong. She could no longer lie on her back and could only lie on her side, placing her large belly on the bed.

Calculating the time, she was supposed to give birth in March, but in reality, she was almost due. She had already arranged for a midwife and trusted maidservants to deliver the baby. Helian Song had also ordered his spies to prepare for a possible switch, so that the newborn boy could be placed in the mansion once labor began.

“I’ve been busy lately and have not had time for you. I will not leave the mansion from now on, so I can be there to look after you if you need to give birth,” Surou said gently. “Since the physician said it’s nothing serious, there’s no need to panic. Just rest and recover. Later, I will send two capable maids from my household to take good care of you. If you need anything, or if you feel anything is wrong, do not hesitate to send someone to tell me immediately.”

Zhiniang nodded in agreement, then rummaged through her pillow and pulled out a newly made tiger hat. “My Lady, look, is this one not well-made?”

They went on to discuss the hat, and Helian Song, unable to join the girls’ conversation, silently retreated from the room. Standing on the wooden veranda, he gazed up at the thin crescent moon in the western sky.

The clouds drifted slowly by, obscuring large swaths of starlight. After a brief period of darkness, a dazzling brilliance reappeared. His life, perhaps, was like that too!

He sighed deeply, his hands behind his back. Even in the dead of night, his breath could still form clouds, yet the new green shoots on the branches were already flourishing. The crabapple tree in the courtyard had also sprouted, displaying a strange beauty of decay and rebirth in the occasional lamplight.

Surou came out of the inner room and said that Zhiniang had already gone to bed. “Let’s go back.”

The two walked out of the courtyard and returned to the main room. Helian Song still looked preoccupied. As he took off his outer robe, he said, “I do not know if this plan will ultimately succeed. I am afraid the Emperor will continue to delay. Our efforts alone are probably useless. Yesterday I sent a secret letter to Longyou. Longyou has been too peaceful these past few years, which is actually detrimental to my return. I know those uncles have always coveted Father’s position. Perhaps we should take this opportunity to let them stir up some trouble. Once the Emperor learns of the internal strife there, he will not be able to sit still. After all, if the Protectorate has changed its commander, my control over Longyou will be completely ineffective.” Surou hesitated for a moment. “Is this not… too risky? Starting a fire is easy; putting it out is difficult. What if they form an alliance, and Father is already ill…”

Helian Song gave her a profound look. “His illness before was genuine, and it truly frightened me, but the actual situation was not as serious as reported in the capital. I recently received a letter from a sentry; it’s said his illness has healed, but he’s still claiming illness to the outside world, keeping even my uncles in the dark. Father values ​​brotherly affection and has tolerated their underhanded actions all these years. Now that it’s time to get my way, sacrificing a few troublemakers is nothing.”

Surou was somewhat stunned. She thought to herself that the intricacies of politics were indeed beyond her comprehension. It was all interconnected, with truth and falsehood difficult to distinguish. If he had not told her the truth, she would have truly believed her father-in-law was already on his deathbed. This arrangement served two purposes: to pressure the court and to clean house. Longyou was thousands of miles from the capital, and news traveled slowly. Perhaps by the time the rebellion was quelled, the urgent dispatches sent to the capital would arrive bearing news of the height of the fighting.

Therefore, all that could be done now was to wait, waiting for news of the Longyou mutiny to reach the capital.

Surou continued to live peacefully in the inner quarters. These past few days, she would occasionally visit Zhiniang, and the two would sit under the eaves basking in the sun. Zhiniang showed her her belly; the nearly full-term baby was churning inside, protruding here and there through the skin, a truly alarming sight.

Surou asked her, “Does it hurt?”

Zhiniang said it did not hurt, “It’s just a bit of a burden. Before, climbing over walls and crossing courtyards was like walking on flat ground; how could catching a vase strain my waist like that? Now I cannot do anything.”

Surou said to bear with it a little longer, “It will be fine once the baby is born.” She paused and then asked, “Do you miss your husband?”

Zhiniang smiled. “How could I not miss him? But people like us are used to longing. We never expect to be together forever; just seeing him occasionally is enough. Last time the Heir Apparent went to Youzhou, I went out to see him off; that’s when we happened to see each other.”

Surou asked, “Is he a guard by the Heir Apparent’s side?”

Zhiniang said no, “The sentries are scattered throughout the city—the bathhouse owners, the general store vendors, the straw mat weavers, even the novices in the temples. Most of them do not know the others’ identities. That day, there was one carrying a load, walking through the alley; I do not know if the Princess noticed him; that was him.”

Surou shook her head blankly. “I was busy seeing the Heir Apparent off; I did not pay attention to anyone else.” She sighed inwardly; there were undercurrents everywhere in the capital. She lived in the light of day, only seeing the surface, never imagining that in the shadows, there were so many people bearing heavy responsibilities, living in anonymity.

Zhiniang, a happy expression on her face, lowered her head and said, “A brief meeting is enough. He knows I will not suffer losses working for the mansion; it’s better than constantly welcoming and seeing off merchants.”

Surou paused for a moment, then said softly, “When we return to Longyou, perhaps we can find a way to bring him into the mansion as a servant.”

Zhiniang replied that it was not necessary. “If I miss him, I can sneak out to see him briefly; a small visit is fine, but I would never dare bring him into the mansion. After all, I still bear the title of the Heir Apparent’s concubine. If any rumors arise, not only will it damage the Heir Apparent’s reputation, but the court will also not let me off the hook.”

Zhiniang was absolutely clear-headed about this matter; she did not act recklessly for her own pleasure.

Surou said, “Would that not take up too much of your time?”

Zhiniang said it would not take up much time. “I have a child! What a blessing it is to give birth to my own flesh and blood at the age of twenty!”

So her final hope was that this pregnancy would be a boy; only with a boy could mother and child not be separated.

However, Zhiniang’s pregnancy seemed to be slow-paced. Ten days had passed without any signs of labor. This was good; the longer it dragged on, the closer it would be to the wedding day. Originally, they planned to announce a premature birth, but now it was within a reasonable timeframe.

That day, Jirou was leaving for Quanzhou. Surou needed to return to the Zhang Mansion, fearing something might go wrong after she left. She left Nanny Fu to look after Zhiniang, instructing her to send someone to report to the Zhang Mansion immediately if there was any news. After everything was arranged, she returned to the Old Caomen Street with Quelan.

Upon entering Suihua Garden, seeing that everyone had already arrived, the newlywed Jirou, with her hair styled in a bun, exuded the charm of a young married woman. Seeing her sister, still beaming with joy, she quickly took Surou’s hand, muttering, “I thought Second Sister was not coming back.”

Surou replied, “How could that be? You are going on a long journey; how could I not see you off?” As she spoke, she adjusted the hairpin in her hair and asked in a low voice, “Is everything going well?”

Jirou blushed and shyly hummed in agreement, “Perfect, absolutely perfect…” then winked at her.

This was practically a tacit understanding between the sisters. After Qingrou’s painful lesson last time, that embarrassing yet crucial question was finally brought to the forefront. Almost without needing to ask for details, the new bride understood. Her straightforward “perfect” earned them knowing smiles.

However, her departure for such a long journey greatly saddened Grand Madam Zhang, who lamented, “Having grown up so much, when have you ever been away from your parents? Now you are going so far away; it’s truly heartbreaking.”

But Jirou herself longed to go, to see the world with her new husband. The capital had its prosperity, and the distant lands had their own charm.

Instead, she comforted her grandmother, squatting beside her and saying, “You always say I have a lively nature. Someone like me, confined to one place my whole life, inevitably gets bored after a while. Now I have the chance to go out and explore. I heard from My Lord that Quanzhou port has new things and new people coming from foreign lands every day, much more interesting than being in the capital. Besides, I will not be going alone; he will be protecting me. Grandmother, please do not worry!”

As she spoke, Wang Pan watched her with a smile, his eyes full of doting affection.

The Grand Madam was very satisfied with this grandson-in-law. He was steady and reliable, and she had practically watched him grow up. If it were a newlywed girl traveling with a man of questionable character, she would have been worried, but with Wang Pan, there was absolutely no question.

“In that case, I entrust Jirou to Fourth Young Master,” the Grand Madam said with a smile.

Wang Pan quickly bowed deeply to the Grand Madam, saying, “Grandmother, rest assured. I’ve been in Quanzhou for quite some time now and am very familiar with everything there. If Jirou encounters any inconvenience, I can find a way to resolve it for her. Grandmother, you do not need to worry.”

The Grand Madam nodded but still felt compelled to express her concerns, so she said indirectly, “Jirou has been stubborn since childhood and has a bad temper. If she makes any mistakes, please forgive her for now. Tell me when you return to the capital, and I will then discipline her.”

The implication was that even if the young master had reservations, he could not discipline her arbitrarily; the Zhang family’s daughter was to be restrained by the Zhang family elders.

Wang Pan’s smile widened, and he said gently, “Grandmother, rest assured, Grandmother loves her, and my heart is the same. Before I left, Grandmother repeatedly instructed me that I must not mistreat Jirou and that if she complained, Grandmother would break my legs. How could I dare? To be honest, Grandmother, I am much older than she is. Marrying her is a blessing from our elders, a favor from my wife, and my own good fortune. I know you are worried about sending her so far away on our wedding day, but please trust me, Grandmother and Father-in-law and Mother-in-law, I will do everything in my power to protect her and ensure she suffers no harm.”

These words deeply touched the hearts of Grand Madam Zhang and Lady Yuan, and they firmly believed he could keep his word. He had served in Quanzhou since entering officialdom, and six or seven years had passed. Now, as the Director of the Maritime Trade Office, he was a true expert on Quanzhou. Quanzhou was like his second home; how could he not take good care of his newlywed wife?

Lady Yuan reached out and helped Jirou up, sighing, “My dear, you’ve finally grown up. It’s so hard for your mother to let you go so far away. But since your husband is protecting you, I am not worried. I just want to remind you that you might not adapt well to the new environment, so be careful with your diet and do not overindulge. Also, now that you are married, you need to control your temper a bit and love your husband well. Do not be so harsh with him over the slightest disagreement. If your husband comes back and complains about you, be prepared for a good beating from your mother.”

Of course, this was a deliberate intimidation in front of her husband. Jirou had been pampered since childhood, rarely even disciplined, let alone having a hand laid on her, which had fostered her fearless nature.

But she also knew how to ingratiate herself, replying, “Yes, I am not a child anymore. I know what’s important.” She then glanced back at Yingrou. “This trip means I will not be back for a while. I am a little worried about Sixth Sister as I prepare to leave. Mother, she’s the only one in our eldest branch who has not been married yet. Mother, you must take the time to find her a good family.”

This advice was truly necessary because Jirou knew her mother’s temperament. When she was looking for a husband for her eldest sister, she was solely focused on social standing. Even her own eldest daughter had ended up like that; what chance did she have with Yingrou, an illegitimate daughter?

Bewildered Yingrou, hearing her sister entrust the matter to their stepmother, was both surprised and moved. Her eyes reddened as she called out, “Fifth Sister, I am so reluctant to part with you…”

Seeing this, Lady Yuan quickly said, “Do not worry; if I am unsure about people, Grandmother is there. She will be the one to judge; she will be sure to be right.”

The family bid each other a reluctant farewell, and before they knew it, it was time to depart. The boat was already moored at the Bian River dock, waiting for their arrival before setting sail.

Everyone saw them off at the gate, saying goodbye again and again, waving goodbye repeatedly. Only when the carriage carrying Jirou and her husband slowly disappeared from sight did they suddenly understand their grandmother’s earlier lament: such a lively household, after a girl’s marriage, was indeed slowly becoming quiet.

The group reluctantly returned to Suihua Garden, sitting opposite each other, unsure of what to say. After a long pause, Surou asked Qingrou, “Has Third Young Master Xun come to see you these past few days?”

Qingrou smiled slightly and nodded gently. “He just came the day before yesterday. It takes him several hours to travel between Youzhou and the capital, and he looked quite travel-worn, so I told him he did not need to come so often.”

Mianmian said, “That will not do! He should come often. The more he comes, the more it shows he cares about you. Before, that Second Young Master Li was so proud and would not even visit, even though we lived in the same city. Look at this man; that’s sincerity! He travels over a hundred li without hesitation. A man so focused on getting married does not know what hardship is.” She nudged Song Mingchi with her elbow. “My Lord, do you not think so?”

Song Mingchi immediately replied, “Of course! Back then, I’d be willing to make those trips eight or ten times a day, but I was afraid my family would find me troublesome, so I had to hold back.”

Everyone laughed.

Mianmian added, “Also, Mingchi ran into Second Young Master Li in the Fang residence garden the day before yesterday.” She gestured with her chin towards Song Mingchi. “My Lord, please tell them.”

Upon receiving the order, Song Mingchi immediately reported in detail: “That day, I invited a friend to dinner and reserved a table downstairs in the Fang residence’s garden. Unexpectedly, Second Young Master Li was right behind me, separated only by a bamboo curtain, so I heard everything he said. Was he not impeached by the censors and even had his place in the imperial examination revoked? This time, he was hosting a banquet for a registrar from the Ever-Normal Granary, hoping to secure a position in the salt transport. He pleaded humbly for a long time, only to be bluntly told, ‘Even minor officials in the salt transport are selected based on their conduct; can you withstand scrutiny? If I had known this was what I was being asked to say, I would not have come.’ He barely drank two cups of wine before making an excuse and leaving. Second Young Master Li, feeling awkward, downed several cups himself before staggering away from the Fang residence’s garden.”

This outcome seemed unsurprising. Scholars, especially those aspiring to participate in the imperial examination, could not afford the slightest tarnishment of their reputation; otherwise, they would be disqualified from the examination. It was all Li Shu’an’s fault for being so arrogant; he suffered a complete defeat, and now, even trying to find a small job, he had to endure people’s cold words.

Anyway, he deserved it. Remembering how he deliberately humiliated Qingrou, no one felt sorry for him in his current predicament. Everyone chatted for a bit, and then a maid brought in fragrant drinks and snacks. Just as they were about to eat, they vaguely heard a servant’s voice from the corridor. A moment later, Nanny Feng entered, giving Qingrou a rather troubled look. “That Second Young Master Li… he’s lingering at the side gate, saying he has a few words to say to Third Mistress, and begs Third Mistress to do him the honor of seeing him.”