Why should she have to be so self-effacing? Her humble attitude made his heart ache beyond words. What should have been a beautiful confession had turned into a thousand knives piercing his heart. He couldn’t bear it. Those words coming from her lips were a result of his inadequacy. He pressed a finger to her lips and drew her into his embrace. “What outside concubine? Belittling yourself is belittling me. I want you to be my proper consort with full dignity. If I cannot welcome you into the prince’s mansion, then I will never marry for my entire life. I promise you this.”

His chest was broad, and for the first time, she felt it belonged to her alone, something no one could take away. She stretched out her arms and embraced him, her tears falling onto his chest, slowly blooming into two splendid flowers on the dark blue satin. She raised her face, looking at him sorrowfully, “I just don’t dare to imagine it. Such a good person as you, settling for someone like me. I will hold you back for a lifetime.”

Who was holding whom back, who was whose salvation – none of that mattered. As long as they were bound to each other, even if life was difficult, they would accept it. He had thought it through thoroughly. Though the Seventh Prince’s interference had certainly helped him make up his mind, it was also because he was unwilling to give up. She was the one he had been waiting for all along. Since she had burst into his life, everything had returned to its proper course. Having sought benevolence and found it, how could he not be happy and grateful? With parents not close and siblings distant, finding someone to depend on for life, even if things weren’t completely smooth, he would be content.

His fingers gently caressed her earlobe. His face was smiling, but his eyes gradually grew moist. “Missing you would truly be wasting a lifetime! I’m very happy now, happier than receiving titles and fiefs. I’m a dull person. I can’t give you great joys or sorrows, but I can do my utmost to ensure your remaining years are peaceful and worry-free.”

After twelve years of hardship, she longed for stability more than anyone. She clasped his hands in hers and lowered her eyes, saying, “I don’t want great joys or sorrows, nor great ups and downs. Just a home, a peaceful life is enough. When I used to work at the Shuntianjin Government Office, I would rise at the fifth watch and walk through the hutongs every day. I loved to hear the sounds coming from people’s courtyards—rinsing rice, washing vegetables, scolding children… When the doors of the quadrangle courtyard opened, people would bring out their braziers and light fires in front of their doors. I was born peculiar; I liked the smell of coal briquettes. It had a sense of domestic life that reminded me of the Wen family compound. Later, I would often think that someday I could wear a skirt, put up my hair, and get married. I also wanted my small courtyard…” She smiled shyly. “I don’t have grand ambitions; I just want a home of my own. Thinking about it carefully now, quadrangle courtyards and multi-story buildings aren’t the most important things. What I truly lacked was a person. I’m tired and want someone to rely on.”

“I understand.” He sighed. “After all, you’re a young woman. Carrying too many burdens can crush a person. From now on, don’t worry about anything. You have me.”

“I just fear causing you trouble.” She stroked his fingertips. “It’s not easy for you either.”

He smiled. “I am at least a prince. Isn’t everything I do easier than it is for you? You’ve always been at ease with me, but now that you’re with me, you’ve become cautious in every way?”

He occasionally had his little teasing moments. Ding Yi became even more bashful and lightly punched his arm. “Who’s with you? That’s not… Even dogs know to care for their homes!”

He lightly tapped her nose. “Silly!”

Ding Yi noticed his left hand was bandaged and quickly took it, asking what had happened. He casually said it was nothing. “I cut myself while splitting bamboo strips. This morning, when I saw the Seventh Prince coming to my quarters, I was afraid he’d discover I was making lanterns. I hurriedly put everything down to greet him. In my panic, the knife slipped and cut into my flesh.”

She laughed at his lack of composure. “Why weren’t you more careful? Why panic when he came?”

“He’s a chatterbox like a house sparrow. If he noticed, wouldn’t he question endlessly?” Mentioning the Seventh Prince reminded him of those tasteless words, though he wasn’t sure if they were true. Asking her directly would make him seem petty, but not asking left him uneasy… He couldn’t help but laugh at himself. What magnanimity? When it came to someone he cared about, he was like tofu strung on a rope. How was he any different from ordinary men?

It was Ding Yi who asked first, “What did the Seventh Prince come to see you about?”

He made a noncommittal sound, observing her expression, carefully saying, “He came to say he wanted to take you as his male concubine.”

Her face immediately reddened. “That man is truly unpredictable, daring to fabricate anything… Yesterday he did mention something like that. I didn’t know how to respond. The Seventh Prince isn’t a bad person, just too playful. I find him a bit frightening.”

So the Seventh Prince was never in her consideration! He felt greatly relieved, his face rippling with a smile. “When he came to tell me these things, I was uncertain. He has advantages over me in many ways. If you were to choose, I worried I wouldn’t measure up. Fortunately, you have feelings for me. This is my good fortune. I don’t know how sincere he truly is, but at least now he seems enthusiastic and won’t let go easily. As the old saying goes, ‘a local official is more powerful than a distant one.’ By rushing to claim you first, I’ve gained a significant advantage, and I’m not afraid of complications from his side.” He covered her slender shoulders, gently rocking her. “He’s thick-skinned. In the future, he’ll likely come around again. Just bear with it for now. When we return to Beijing, I’ll find a solution. The previous entry into the Feathered Banner doesn’t count. You were originally from the Han Banner. Even if the Wen family isn’t rehabilitated, you are still Wen Ding Yi. He is not your master, and you are not his servant. He has no authority over your marriage.”

She nodded and said, “I understand all this. I can guard my own heart. I am a principled person without the flaw of loving everyone I meet.”

She was clever and perceptive. When talking with her, he only needed to hint, and she would understand. She was truly a considerate girl who put his mind at ease. He sighed in relief and led her forward, taking her to a platform built of blue stone ahead. There were still dozens of sky lanterns that hadn’t been released, their faint red glow particularly enchanting against the white snow. She had a child’s heart, releasing his hand and rushing forward, exclaiming in delight. He watched her with narrowed eyes. Her happiness made his day and night of hard work worthwhile.

On the stone table lay brush and ink. He turned back to dip a brush in gold pigment and handed it to her. “Write your innermost thoughts on it. The higher the lantern flies, the more likely your wish will come true. Think about it—when it reaches the vicinity of the Heavenly Emperor, he can’t pretend not to see it, right?”

Ding Yi nodded with a smile. What should she write? She wrote the names of her father, mother, and brothers, hoping they would achieve rebirth soon. In the next life, she wished for peace and joy. No more being officials. The official circles were treacherous. Even running a small business or selling fruit at a stall would be better than being an official.

He lit the lantern for her. The oil candle burned vigorously, quickly inflating the lantern. They each held one side, slowly releasing it. The lantern soared upward, undaunted by the wind and snow, carrying its light high and far.

Snowflakes fell into her eyes, and she turned her head to rub them on her shoulder. After writing about her family members, it was her turn, but she felt shy and couldn’t put brush to paper. She wanted to write his name and hers. The character “Hong” had a horizontal stroke running all the way through, with the last stroke turning, resembling the character for “longevity.” She sighed with a smile, “We were born on the same day. Today is also your joyous day.”

He remained silent, took the brush, and bent down to write on another lantern. In the flickering light, his clear, bright eyes appeared even more profound and unfathomable. Ding Yi stared at him for a while, then quickly averted her gaze, fearing he would notice and laugh at her.

His semi-cursive calligraphy was exquisite, connecting the virtual and the real, with responsive movements. Sometimes it’s said that calligraphy reflects the person, and perhaps there is some truth to this. The regular script is too rigid, and the cursive script is too unrestrained. His calligraphy was between the two, flexible and varied, sometimes straight, sometimes slanting, with an unstoppable momentum.

Though she wasn’t extensively educated, she recognized the characters. Two lines of text were written side by side on the lantern: Yu Wen Hong Ce and Wen Ding Yi. Two people with no original connection are placed together, each stroke intertwining and extending, creating an illusion of natural harmony. Her heart clenched as she watched him write “Two families joining in marriage, recording it in the annals of love.” She felt a surge of bitterness rising to the tip of her nose. She understood his intentions and didn’t demand more, because she cared for him and couldn’t bear to hurt him. Walking among common people, she had seen too many cases of polygamous marriages. Even marrying a farmer didn’t guarantee fidelity—if he became successful, he might take outside concubines. With her awkward status and the debt of gratitude she owed him, what right did she have to make demands?

A person’s marriage is predestined. If you are meant to be a noble lady, you won’t be treated as a village woman. What is yours cannot escape; what is not yours cannot be forced. Understanding this clearly might not be a disadvantage compared to others.

She stood calmly, smiling as she watched him straighten up. “I wonder how far it can fly…”

Fine snow had covered her head. He raised his hand to brush it off, encircling her in his arms, tilting his face to watch the lantern, murmuring, “It will certainly go very far. Perhaps it will drift into Changchun Garden and land before the Grand Emperor. That would be good, saving me the trouble of many words.”

She shook her head, saying it wouldn’t be good. “If the person isn’t in Beijing, the Grand Emperor would certainly ask, ‘Who is this Wen Ding Yi?’ The eunuchs below would investigate and report, ‘Her father is Wen Lu, who committed a crime under your jurisdiction, was imprisoned and died by his hand.’ Upon hearing this, the Grand Emperor would be furious, saying, ‘This won’t do. Taking a criminal official’s daughter—isn’t this harming our Twelfth Prince? It’s better if that girl doesn’t return. Just have her killed…’ Then with one imperial edict, I would be sentenced to death.”

She spoke with such vivid detail as if it were real. This broad-mindedness made her all the more endearing. He laughed heartily and said, “Order your death without even seeing you? Though the Grand Emperor is formidable, he isn’t so unreasonable. My affliction is inherited from him. If he were to find me and scold me, I would have something to say.”

“Would you argue with him? Don’t argue; we’re clearly in the wrong. When I was young, I learned a phrase called ‘qi da fei ou’…” She smiled. “I didn’t understand it at first. I thought it meant both sides were equally large, perhaps that the wife was as strong as an ox, and husband and wife fought behind closed doors with no clear winner, so they couldn’t be husband and wife. Later, I learned that wasn’t the meaning.”

She always had strange and peculiar thoughts. Looking at her, he felt this person could make his heartache at any moment. He said, “Let’s not think too much about it. If I were concerned about pleasing them, I would have to suppress my thoughts. If you agreed to be an outside concubine, wouldn’t that play right into their hands? Why would there be any urgency? I respect you. I can compromise myself, but I cannot compromise you. No more talk of ‘qi da fei ou’ or ‘marrying above one’s station.’ I just think about returning home from duty each day to see you, with you standing at the door to welcome me. Then the Chun Prince Mansion wouldn’t be just an empty shell. No matter how large the house or how many servants, without that one person, a home isn’t a home.”

They both shared the same thoughts, determined to settle down. There was no need for heart-stirring emotions. Under clear skies with light clouds, a small table beneath a large locust tree, a pot of tea, two cups, sitting across from each other, talking. Occasionally exchanging smiles, hiding nothing from each other, understanding each other’s thoughts with just a glance—what pleasant days those would be!

Hope flooded her face, appearing lively and beautiful in the lantern light. Leaning against his shoulder, she said nothing, only feeling that she had taken root, no longer a duckweed drifting with the wind.

The wind entered her silk robe. She tightened the grape-shaped buttons at her collar, feeling warm inside, her limbs alive. She remembered the tassels she had prepared early on, took them out from her bosom, and presented them before him for his inspection. “Our birthdays are on the same day. I don’t have anything good to give you, so I made some knots to decorate your sword belt. Please don’t despise them.”

He lowered his head to look at the appropriately colored, intricately woven love knots. He took off his sachet and handed it to her, casually pulling out the handkerchief that wrapped the tassels and tucking it into his sleeve pocket, smiling, “I lost a handkerchief the other day. This is a perfect replacement.”

She wasn’t annoyed, revealing shallow dimples as she smiled. “A woman’s item—don’t show it openly, lest people laugh.”

He made an affirmative sound, watching her attach the tassels one by one to the sachet. That elegant lowering of her head was truly moving. Before, he had been reserved and distant, uncertain of her willingness, afraid to be rash, fearful of offending the beauty. Now, with mutual affection, keeping her in his heart wasn’t enough. He wished to hang her on his body, hold her in his arms, never to part even for a moment.

As for the Seventh Prince’s mischief yesterday, if it were true, asking about it would only embarrass her, so he chose not to mention it again. Young people have delicate thoughts; a glance can spawn new ideas. His heart pounding like thunder, he quietly moved closer. She had finished attaching all the tassels, a row of colorful ornaments. She grinned, “What is this? It looks too feminine…” She raised her hand to show him, and he seized the opportunity to enclose it in his palm, lowering his head to blow warm breath on it, asking if she was cold. Whether intentionally or not, his warm lips touched the back of her hand. Her face reddened, and she shyly avoided his gaze, but he pressed her hand against his chest.

Gradually climbing to her shoulder, lovers should have a connection—panicked and trembling, yet following the will of heaven. He caressed her pointed chin, carefully lifting it. She lowered her eyelashes, her lips appearing exquisite beyond measure in the firelight. He paused briefly, tentatively covering them with his own…