Spring Message in the Snow – CH 107

Chapter 107

Knowing of their impending departure, even their married sisters returned late at night. It was truly rare to see them gathered together so completely when everyone had their own place to go. A banquet was set up in the main hall, but no one wanted to take a seat. Everyone sat in the front hall, eagerly watching them enter. Although they were happy that Helian Song had regained his freedom, the impending separation from their loved ones was a looming crisis.

Grand Madam Zhang, being an elder in the family, could not bear to be so gloomy and make everyone feel heavy-hearted. She put on a smile and greeted them, “Why are you so late? We’ve been waiting for you for ages! I heard that today in court, the Emperor bestowed another real position upon Jie Ran. He’s now the Military Governor of the area north of Taiyuan! This is a truly powerful regional official. Although our family has been officials for generations, we’ve never produced someone of such a high rank. Thanks to the young master, the Zhang family’s prestige has been elevated.”

Of course, compared to the powerless Heir Apparent, this series of titles was a huge promise, effectively enticing those about to return to their fiefdoms.

Helian Song spoke frankly, “Now, I feel like a prisoner released after years of imprisonment; even the full moon seems exceptionally bright. Before, when I served in the army, the furthest I ever went was Youzhou. Beyond that, the court imposed many restrictions, and I had to endure layers of checks at every pass. My life was truly miserable. Now, all is well; I’ve finally made it. But with this freedom, I have to take Surou away from Grandmother, and I feel deeply sorry for her.”

The Grand Madam, who had been trying to hold back her emotions for half a day, was overcome with sorrow upon hearing his words. She said sadly, “Indeed, it seems our bond as grandmother and granddaughter is weak. Last year, she finally escaped the palace, hoping to stay longer, but unexpectedly, after only two or three months, she was married. So be it, married; as long as we can see each other often in the capital, that’s enough. But now she’s going to Longyou again.” The more she spoke, the more heartbroken she became, and she lowered her head to wipe away her tears. “Longyou, such a far place, as far as the ends of the earth. My Su’er is going there, and who knows when she will return to the capital? How can I not be heartbroken?”

As soon as the grandmother shed tears, all the women in the room sighed. Surou quickly stepped forward to comfort her, saying gently, “Grandmother, do not be sad. In three or five years, I will definitely return. It’s just that I cannot serve you, Grandmother, and I feel truly ashamed. I can only entrust my brothers and sisters to fulfill my filial duties.”

Shangrou, standing nearby, agreed, “You do not need to worry about Grandmother. Fourth Sister and I, as well as Cousin, are in the capital, so you will not have to worry about Grandmother not being taken care of. But you yourself, going so far away—who will be there to serve you?”

Surou said, “Jiao Yue and Jie Lu are hired from outside; their parents are still at home, so let them go back to Grandmother’s side! Quelan was bought when she was young; I asked her what she wanted, and she wants to go with me to Longyou. As for the remaining old women, choose those without family burdens and who are not afraid of long journeys. We have enough manpower; we can hire more when we get there.”

Mianmian sighed, “Second Sister is leaving tomorrow, and there’s no time to see my new house. I just settled on a residence on Liangmen West Street today, and I was planning to take you there to see it in a couple of days after it’s all ready…”

Zhirou was surprised. “You are moving out of the Earl’s Mansion? Will the Countess agree?”

Mianmian grinned. “You all know how much I spend. Right now, I do not contribute a single penny; I eat and drink at my mother-in-law’s expense. She treats me like a plague carrier, wishing we could separate. One mansion cannot hold two noble ladies, so each should manage their own affairs. That’s why she agreed to let us move out. I’ve decided that when my father and mother come to the capital, we can buy another property nearby. That way, it will be convenient. Whenever I want to go back to my parents’ home, I can just walk there. Is that not great?”

So, among her sisters, Mianmian was the most carefree. She had her own money and did not care about fame. She no longer wanted to be a good bride in a wealthy family; she only cared about her own happiness. Her husband, though lacking ambition, was obedient and honestly ran a carriage and horse trading business on the banks of the Bian River. Business had recently picked up, earning half a string of cash each day, making him exceptionally proud and able to count the days under the lamplight.

Qingrou, no longer as reserved as before, said wistfully, “Young Master Xun discussed the wedding date with me a few days ago. I originally hoped Second Sister could see me off, but it seems she will not be able to make it.”

Surou smiled. “Although I cannot see you off, I know your future is secure, so I have nothing to worry about. It’s rare to meet a suitable husband. I think Third Master Xun is very reliable, calm, and has inner beauty; he’s a perfect match for you. From now on, whatever’s on your mind, do not keep it to yourself anymore; be honest with him. The worst thing between husband and wife is deception; discussing things together is much better than playing guessing games.”

Qingrou nodded. “I will remember.”

Then everyone went to inquire about how much betrothal gift the groom had prepared. They tried to joke and laugh, but could not help revealing their sorrow at parting.

The meal in the flower hall had been laid out for a long time; the kitchen had prepared several dishes, and they even asked Nanny Feng to come in and urge them again. Nanny Feng stood at the entrance of the hall, smiling, and said, “Grand Madam, the sweet rice dumplings are all ready. Tonight is the family reunion dinner, so do not delay. Move over and eat first; we can talk after dinner.”

The Grand Madam suddenly remembered, rubbing her forehead, and said, “My mind is so confused; I even forgot I was hungry. Quickly, everyone, come over here. Let the whole family have a meal; consider it a farewell meal for Jie Ran and Surou.”

So everyone went into the main hall, where a huge lantern hung high in the center, and bamboo blinds were half-drawn, through which the stars dotting the sky could be faintly seen. They raised their cups and drank together, without saying a word of farewell. The men’s table chatted animatedly, talking about the customs and traditions of the border region and strange tales they had heard from who-knows-where.

The women’s table was noticeably more subdued. The Grand Madam asked Surou, “Is everything prepared? I heard you will be traveling by water first. There should be a physician on board, right? You’ve never traveled so far before; what if you get seasick? Have someone prepare medicine beforehand so you do not suffer later.”

Surou answered them all, then paused and sighed, “I am going so far away; I will miss everyone.”

The Grand Madam comforted her, “A woman follows her husband after marriage. Since you’ve married the eagle of the border, you should follow. Let him fly high and see the world! A few days ago, your fifth sister wrote back, saying Quanzhou was wonderful in every way. I could tell from her words that she is so happy that she does not want to leave. Young Master Wang treats her like a child, indulging her in everything. The girls in our family were just so lovable. Whether it’s your sisters or you, you’ve all found loving husbands. Even if you go to another place, I won’t worry about you. There’s only one thing: it’s not like being in the capital. The people in the borderlands are rough and unruly, so be careful in everything. I reckon your mother-in-law is a careful person and will take good care of you there. You should also be careful and choose some strong women to guard the house. In any case, safety is the most important thing, remember?”

This advice made everyone laugh. Zhirou said, “Longyou is not a place of tigers and wolves. Surely Second Sister is not going to end up in a bandit’s den! Besides, her husband is there; he’s both the military governor and the governor of Hexi and Longyou. Anyone who dares to lay a finger on Second Sister will have their head ripped off.”

The Grand Madam also chuckled, “I was just worrying unnecessarily, only concerned that your Second Sister might suffer.”

At another table, Helian Song stood up and solemnly said to the Grand Madam, “Grandmother, do not worry. I will take her away safely, and I will definitely bring her back safely. Surou is my wife; even if I suffer greatly, I will never let her suffer the slightest grievance.”

Everyone believed him. After all, a man who would give up his title for love without batting an eye was someone they could entrust their lives to. Unlike the men, who drank and chatted, the women left early and went back to the front hall to talk.

Surou and Shangrou were checking the pastries and fruits in the outer room. Taking advantage of this moment, Surou said, “An’er will start his formal education in two years. Eldest Sister, you should also think about your own future. If staying in the Earl’s Mansion makes you weary, you should follow your heart and find a way to leave that home.”

Shangrou listened, slightly lost in thought. People’s thoughts change over time. Right now, she felt it was good that her husband was paralyzed and her in-laws did not interfere in the household affairs, allowing her to focus on raising the child. But in a year or two, she did not know what to do.

“I’ve thought about this before. Even though I’ve already crushed the Chen family, there are still many concerns about divorce. Then I heard about Third Sister’s situation. Even someone as quiet and timid as Qingrou has such determination. Thinking about it, why can I not do that?” She smiled at Surou. “Do not worry about me. If I ever want to make something of myself, my family will help me. They will never let me suffer. As for you, being away from home will be inconvenient. Take care of yourself wherever you go, and write home often.”

The two sisters chatted for a while longer before carrying the fruit into the front hall with the maid.

After chatting for a while, it was already late. Since every family had elders, it was not proper to go home too late, so Surou saw her sisters off one by one.

Lady Yuan and Lady Ling also returned with their daughters, leaving only the Grand Madam and Lady Pan in the main room. Only then did Surou sit down beside Lady Pan and softly say, “Grandmother, Mother, I will be leaving early tomorrow morning. Please take good care of yourselves and wait for the day we can reunite. I kept some things from you before, not telling you the truth, but now the time is ripe, and there’s nothing more to hide. Jie Ran was misunderstood and suffered a lot of injustice because of this matter recently. Today, I am clarifying things for him to the elders, which can be considered as clearing his name.”

The Grand Madam and Lady Pan exchanged glances, wondering what earth-shattering truth would be revealed this time.

The truth, however, truly shocked them. Surou said, “That Zhiniang in the mansion is not his childhood sweetheart; she’s just a sentry from Longyou secretly protecting him. Zhiniang has a husband, and Yun’er is her and her husband’s child. We were forced to borrow them; their relationship is completely innocent.”

The Grand Madam gasped, “This… how can you say that! You two children are too audacious!”

Lady Pan stared in disbelief. “No wonder a mistress suddenly appeared… I was so angry I almost killed him!”

Surou gave an awkward laugh. “So I need to ask Grandmother and Mother to forgive us; it was our foolishness to create this elaborate deception. Fortunately, we managed to get away with it with the Emperor, and it was because of this child that he agreed to let us leave. We initially thought that this matter was of great importance. I kept it from you, at least to avoid dragging you into this mess. Now that everything has settled, I dare to tell you the truth so that Jie Ran will not have to carry this burden for the rest of his life.”

Her heart pounded but gradually calmed down. The Grand Madam felt a sense of relief. “So, Jie Ran is becoming more and more reliable. Although he caused a scene a couple of days ago by resigning his title, which showed us his sincerity, there was still some friction beforehand, and, understandably, we have some reservations. Now that those reservations are gone, we can rest assured. You can go with him without hesitation. He said that even if he suffers, he will not let you suffer, and he has kept his word here. Your mother and I trust him.”

Surou felt at ease. Turning her head, she saw him sitting in the front hall, discussing the route back to Longyou with her uncles and other relatives. Strangely, from utter disgust for him to dependence on him, care for him, and complete trust in him, only half a year had passed. This man possessed such an incredible ability to win people’s hearts.

He seemed to sense this, turning his gaze to her, offering a tender smile through the beaded curtain, a smile brimming with knowing warmth.

The loving relationship between the young couple was the greatest comfort to the Grand Madam Zhang. She breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Surou, instructing her, “Zhiniang is righteous; we will need to look after her in the future. You are far away on the frontier, so do not worry about them. The Emperor’s concession this time shows he still values ​​Longyou. As long as Longyou remains stable, there will be no problem going to the capital. You must stay by your husband’s side and always be mindful of his needs. Think things through carefully in all matters, and never let negligence arouse the Emperor’s suspicion.”

Surou replied, “I understand the implications. I am not a reckless person. After returning, I will act cautiously and do my best to appease the emperor and the court.”

The Grand Madam nodded, looking at her with affection, and said with regret, “The child has grown so much, and she has spent most of her time away from me. I had hoped that after leaving the palace, we could spend quality time together, but now we must separate again… No wonder when I told your fortune as a child, the bird holding the token drew a peacock with outstretched wings, saying that you would not be confined to a small place but would go to a farther and wider place. Now it has indeed come true.”

Surou moved closer and hugged her grandmother tightly. She said tearfully, “I am truly unfilial. I can do nothing for my family, nor can I serve my grandmother in place of my father. Other sisters can help their maternal families after marriage, but I, on the other hand, have just left, abandoning my closest relatives to pursue my own future.”

The Grand Madam patted her back. “Everyone has their own responsibilities in life. You sacrificed your small family for the greater good. There are many foreigners in Longyou, and the border people need education. You are the Heir Apparent’s wife, and in the future, you will be the Princess of Wukang. With this status, you should shoulder the responsibility of spreading the customs and traditions of the Central Plains. Establishing a granary for candidates and opening a girls’ school will allow the people of the borderlands to better understand the culture of the Central Plains, making this arduous journey worthwhile.”

Surou smiled shyly. “Grandmother truly understands me. I’ve long planned to make a name for myself there. Although the capital is civilized, its rigid rules and regulations are too numerous. It’s a pity that my girls’ school could no longer be open after marriage. Jie Ran said Longyou is different; the women there are unrestrained, and even after marriage, they are not confined to the inner court, which suits my taste perfectly.”

Therefore, stepping outside the bounds of convention allowed one to discover a larger world. Going to such a distant place, aside from the separation from family, offered all sorts of novel sights and sounds and the anticipated clashes of ideas. All the unknowns made this migration interesting again.

“I will leave early tomorrow morning,” Surou said. “No need for a farewell, to avoid upsetting you. I will leave the Zhang Mansion late at night, and that will be my farewell.”

The elders and siblings saw her off at the door. The Grand Madam had packed three bundles full of things for her and repeatedly instructed the maids and servants accompanying her to take good care of the young lady and not to be careless.

Surou and Helian Song stood before the carriage, bowing to their elders. The Grand Madam forced a smile and said, “You must depart early tomorrow morning, so please go back quickly. We will meet again someday. Did your father not travel between the capital and Longyou? As long as you are determined, returning home is not difficult.”

Thinking this way, Surou felt relieved. She agreed and, with Helian Song’s help, boarded the carriage.

However, she felt extremely reluctant to part. Looking back, she watched the figures before her slowly recede into the distance, blurring until they disappeared from sight after turning onto the Imperial Street. Only then did she reluctantly sit up straight.

Those around her, gazing at her face through the lanterns under the eaves, knew she was sad. One of them squeezed her hand and said, “My Lady, let’s make a five-year promise. In five years, I will definitely bring you back to visit your family, alright?”

Five years—Longyou would have enjoyed peace and prosperity for five years. The Emperor’s suspicions would surely have dissipated. Returning would simply be a visit to relatives and friends, free from so much scheming and resentment.

There was still hope. Hope was good. After washing up and resting, she arrived at Furong Ferry at the crack of dawn the next day.

This time, the journey was quiet, almost lonely. The friends and colleagues at court he was supposed to say goodbye to had already spoken to him the day before, making a solemn promise to have a big drinking session upon his return. No one was there to see her off, which was actually a good thing for them.

The path leading to the ancient ferry was lined with slender green grass. As she walked, dew condensed on the leaves and dampened the hem of her skirt. Looking out, she saw a Fujian-style ship moored at the dock in the distance, with a dozen or so guards in light armor standing on the shore—all arranged by Helian Song to protect her.

It was a pity they could not travel together. Surou felt her future was bleak. He noticed and comforted her, holding her shoulder. “At most two months. When you enter Xining Prefecture, I will come out of the city to pick you up.”

Surou looked up at him. “I will be traveling by boat; the journey will be very safe. I am just worried about you getting tired. And there’s the war… swords have no eyes; we cannot be reckless.”

The morning breeze ruffled the hairs that fell at her temples, scattering them and resting on her long eyelashes. He reached out and tucked the loose strands behind her ear, saying, “Do not worry, the army is under Father’s control. Those two uncles only have a superficial understanding of the situation; they are nothing to fear. This trip back is just for practice, and also to cover up Father’s serious illness. The war is already under control; there’s no danger. The scenery along the way is beautiful; just treat it as sightseeing. By the time you arrive, the war will be over. I will take you to the night market in Wuwei and see the Kucha people dancing. And there’s your favorite roasted pork skin; they use wild boar from the Western Regions, which is even more succulent and authentic than the meat from Shangjing.”

The more he described it, the brighter her smile became. For a food lover, nothing was more appealing than satisfying their appetite.

She rallied her spirits, straightened his clothes, and said, “Then let’s meet in Xining Prefecture. My Lord, please meet me early outside the city and give me a good hug.”

He agreed, kissing her lips tenderly. “Take good care of yourself these days. If you feel unwell, tell everyone around you. Do not suffer in silence, understand?”

She nodded, wrapped her arms around his waist, and buried her face in his chest. He gently stroked her back and whispered, “Soon, very soon, we will be reunited, I promise.”

Looking at the sky, the ship was about to set sail, and he should also get going. He personally escorted her onto the ship before leading his guards to mount their horses.

Looking back, she stood on the ship’s railing, waving a handkerchief at him. “My Lord, take care on your journey. Do not drink untreated water, and beware of snakes and insects.”

He laughed, turned his horse around, and loudly replied, “Good!” before spurring it on and galloping away along the straight road.