◎Miss, it has been a long time◎

Upon hearing these words, Luo Wanqing turned her gaze and saw that it had indeed begun to snow outside.

At first, it was snow pellets, but within moments, it became heavy goose-feather snow.

The two of them, one sitting and one reclining on the long corridor, watched the snow for a while. Then Xie Heng patted her shoulder and reminded her, “The wine is warmed. Let’s drink.”

Only then did Luo Wanqing react, rising to watch Xie Heng pour the wine for her.

Xie Heng handed it to her and sat beside her. Luo Wanqing took the wine and directly took a sip.

The wine carried the fragrance of plum blossoms and was somewhat sweet, but extremely strong.

Now Luo Wanqing was someone who understood wine, so she couldn’t help but say, “Why would you give me such strong wine?”

“Strong wine warms the body. We’ll be going into the woods shortly.” Xie Heng explained, then looked at her and joked, “Besides, if I didn’t give you strong wine now, for you, what difference would there be from drinking sweet water?”

Luo Wanqing felt somewhat embarrassed by his words. Xie Heng turned his head away, sipping his wine while reminding her, “In the future, drink less with the Department Inspectors, especially those three from the Fang family. They have no measure when drinking, and it harms the body.”

“I understand.” Luo Wanqing also knew that those three Fang brothers had completely forgotten themselves when drinking and explained, “I only went for social courtesy.”

Xie Heng glanced at her but didn’t expose her either.

After the two drank wine for a while, chatting sporadically, Luo Wanqing looked at the snowy scene and couldn’t help but ask, “This entire large forest, does it all belong to you?”

“Mm.” Xie Heng responded, his tone indifferent, “This is what my mother left me.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing’s grip on her wine cup tightened. She wanted to say something comforting, but didn’t know how to begin.

After a moment, Xie Heng turned to look at her, curiously asking, “I’m so pitiful, why don’t you comfort me?”

Luo Wanqing was silent for a moment, then spoke honestly: “I was thinking of words.”

Xie Heng was amused by her, lowering his head to drink wine to suppress his laughter.

“What are you laughing at?”

Seeing his smile, Luo Wanqing was somewhat puzzled. Xie Heng pursed his lips and only said, “Laughing at how adorable my Xiniang is.”

“You think I’m slow-witted, don’t you?” Luo Wanqing raised an eyebrow.

Xie Heng thought for a moment, then nodded, “Indeed slow-witted.”

Saying this, Xie Heng took a sip of wine: “Can’t even tell when her lover is angry.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing paused. After hesitating for a moment, she proactively reached out and linked arms with Xie Heng.

Xie Heng’s drinking motion slightly paused. He turned to look and saw Luo Wanqing smiling radiantly as she said, “Then, is my lover still angry?”

Xie Heng didn’t speak. He held his wine cup, quietly gazing into her eyes.

Xie Heng’s eyes were transparent and clear, as if seeing through worldly affairs, yet when you looked at him, you felt they were as deep as the sea.

Luo Wanqing was puzzled by his gaze and was about to inquire when she saw him lean forward a few inches, saying softly, “Abandoning me for two months, did you miss me?”

He was too close. Even though they were already extremely familiar with each other, Luo Wanqing still felt her face heat up. She instinctively wanted to retreat, but didn’t want to show weakness, so she forced herself to stay in place, blinking as she said, “Sometimes I did.”

“Sometimes—how many hours is that?”

Xie Heng pressed further. Luo Wanqing couldn’t answer immediately and began seriously calculating the time. Seeing this, Xie Heng chuckled softly.

He couldn’t help but peck at her lips, then straightened up and set down his wine cup: “Fine, as long as you thought of me, I’ll forgive you.”

Saying this, he took a box from the side and handed it to Luo Wanqing: “Here, this is for you.”

Luo Wanqing puzzledly took the box, asking, “What is this?”

As she spoke, Luo Wanqing opened the wooden box. Inside was revealed a deed with “Luo Wanqing” written on it, making her freeze in surprise.

“The plum blossoms in this residence have been cultivated for many years. If no one tends to them, I think it would be a pity.” Xie Heng’s tone was gentle. He looked at the heavy snow falling outside and said warmly, “This is where I’ve spent every New Year since childhood. In my heart, this is my home.”

“But you still…”

“I hope it will also become Xiniang’s home.”

Xie Heng looked at her seriously: “Is that alright?”

Luo Wanqing held the wooden box, looking at the name on it, and remained silent.

Seeing her lack of response, Xie Heng couldn’t help but wonder, “Xiniang?”

“But the name on it,” Luo Wanqing looked up at Xie Heng, “is Luo Wanqing.”

Luo Wanqing no longer existed in this world; this deed wouldn’t take effect.

Hearing this, Xie Heng smiled. He raised his hand to gently stroke her hair, saying softly, “Although I hope you’ll be my Xiniang for life, I know you are Luo Wanqing. You won’t be Liu Xiniang forever.”

Luo Wanqing didn’t quite understand. Xie Heng didn’t explain either. He turned to watch the snow for a while, and seeing it stop, he picked up the lantern he’d just made from the side, took Luo Wanqing’s hand, and stood up saying, “Come, let’s go see the snow plums.”

Hearing his words, Luo Wanqing let him lead her as they walked through the snow.

After walking for a while, the dark clouds dispersed, and there was moonlight.

Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise, “The moon came out?”

“Perfect timing.”

Xie Heng looked up at the treetops and smiled: “It seems heaven also wants our Xiniang to properly appreciate the plum blossoms.”

Luo Wanqing was amused by his words. By moonlight, she looked at the plum blossoms on the branches. This courtyard mostly had white and red plum blossoms, each planted on one side. The outermost were red plums, touched by the cold colors of snow, looking particularly brilliant.

Walking inward, there were snow plums, accumulated with frost and snow, almost blending with the white snow, glowing with a lustrous white under the moonlight, though it was hard to tell if they looked good or not.

As the two walked and chatted, Xie Heng knew what Luo Wanqing wanted to hear, so he carefully told her those detailed trivialities that couldn’t fit in letters.

“I brought back the Xuantian Box. His Majesty was extremely satisfied. He also told me of his intention in sending Li Guiyu to compete with me for the Xuantian Box, saying he wanted to test Li Guiyu’s capabilities through me. But I understand in my heart—if possible, he hoped Li Guiyu would obtain the Xuantian Box.”

“Why?” Luo Wanqing roughly understood but still wanted confirmation.

“All these years, he’s been telling me that it was Uncle who let him down. He said back then, he didn’t know why my mother, brother, and aunt suddenly plotted rebellion in the palace. As a result, the uncle wouldn’t listen to his explanations, threatened the monarch, and betrayed the country for personal gain. But he never told me about the gunpowder warehouse incident. If I knew about the gunpowder warehouse, I would naturally know that he had allowed the Wang family to force my mother to death in the palace.”

“So when you didn’t open the Xuantian Box, His Majesty was also relieved?”

Luo Wanqing realized, and Xie Heng nodded: “Yes.”

“Then…” Luo Wanqing considered carefully, “Li Guiyu didn’t try to interfere?”

Hearing her mention Li Guiyu, Xie Heng glanced at Luo Wanqing but didn’t say much this time, only saying, “Li Guiyu can barely take care of himself. Zheng Biyue is dead, the Zheng family has no more connection with him, Wang Yunzhi fought heavily with Li Guiyu in Jiangnan, and Wang Shenfeng is very dissatisfied about this. Li Guiyu can only rely on His Majesty. Recently, he’s been busy being a filial son before His Majesty, arranging his people in the court. Before gaining His Majesty’s trust, he won’t comment on anyone by even a single word.”

“Then, during this time, he should have achieved some results?”

“Naturally,” Xie Heng’s tone turned cold, “Someone like him, when he wants to accomplish something, will naturally have some results. He’s arranged quite a few people in court, and I can’t root them all out at once. As for His Majesty’s side… having such a capable son, anyone would be pleased. Today he went to inspect the military camps outside the Eastern Capital for His Majesty, and His Majesty was discussing with me a few days ago about wanting to expand his residence.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing frowned.

In the previous life at this time, Li Guiyu should have already allied with Xie Heng, married Zheng Biyue, and gained support from both the Wang and Zheng families.

Now he hadn’t allied with Xie Heng, Zheng Biyue was dead, he’d broken with the Zheng family, and the Wang family had become suspicious of him due to the Crown Prince’s assassination, even developing thoughts of abandoning him. Compared to the previous life, logically his current situation should be precarious.

Yet he could gain Li Zong’s appreciation and even make him consider expanding his residence.

The Great Xia court had strict ceremonial regulations. Every prince’s residence, clothing, income, carriages… everything had extremely strict stipulations.

Li Guiyu’s residence originally was no different from normal princes. Now expanding his residence was tantamount to announcing that in Li Zong’s heart, he might be among all the princes the one closest to the Crown Prince position.

If he expanded his residence now, and if subsequently the ministers observed and confirmed Li Guiyu had no problems, Li Zong might really make Li Guiyu the Crown Prince.

To reach this step, Luo Wanqing truly had some admiration for this person.

No matter what kind of desperate situation, Li Guiyu seemed able to find a way out.

She thought quietly while Xie Heng glanced at her, saying carelessly, “Xiniang should be quite leisurely recently.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing found it rather strange: “Why do you say that?”

“Still having time to think about idle people’s affairs.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing reacted and couldn’t help but laugh: “You’re joking. Li Guiyu is an enemy—how can he be considered an idle person?”

“If I were to think about enemies, I have thousands upon thousands of enemies. I’d have to think day and night, constantly. Therefore, enemies are all idle people to me. When appreciating plum blossoms, I have no leisure to think of them.”

He spoke sarcastically. Luo Wanqing knew he was unhappy again, so she quickened her pace to catch up with him, suppressing her laughter as she said, “It’s my fault. Let’s appreciate the plum blossoms.”

“If Xiniang doesn’t like plum blossoms, there’s no need to appreciate them.”

Xie Heng walked toward the depths of the plum grove: “The night is cold and harsh. Xiniang should return early to rest.”

Hearing his words, Luo Wanqing stood in place with her hands behind her back, not moving, watching his retreating figure as she smiled and said, “If I go back, where will you go?”

“I have my place to go.”

“But you took the lantern. How will I get back?”

“Moonlight as a guide is naturally elegant.”

Seeing Xie Heng walking farther and farther away, Luo Wanqing knew he was quite angry, which made her want to laugh even more. But she also knew this wasn’t the time to continue provoking him, so she crouched down, made a snowball, and gently threw it over.

The snowball hit Xie Heng with a “pat.” Xie Heng turned around with the lantern: “What does Xiniang mean by this?”

“I’m a common person who truly can’t appreciate plum blossoms for so long.”

Luo Wanqing smiled as she played with the snowball in her hands, asking for his opinion: “Shall we have a snowball fight?”

“Snowball fight?”

Xie Heng seemed uncertain. Luo Wanqing instantly realized: “You’ve never had a snowball fight?”

Xie Heng was silent for a moment, then said slowly, “Once.”

That was practically never.

Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but be curious: “How could you have only had one snowball fight?”

“Before leaving the Xie family, my father felt that the young master of the Xie clan shouldn’t be so undignified.” Xie Heng looked at the snowball in her hand. “Besides, I didn’t find it particularly interesting.”

“Want to try it?” Luo Wanqing asked curiously.

Xie Heng thought for a moment, then looked up at her, tentatively asking, “If I win, what reward would there be?”

“What reward do you want?”

Luo Wanqing was somewhat puzzled. Xie Heng hung the lantern on a nearby branch, removed his cloak, scooped up snow from the side, and looked up with a smile: “Let me win first, then we’ll talk.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the snowball in Xie Heng’s hand came flying like a weapon. Luo Wanqing saw that snowball coming like a hidden weapon and cried out in panic, “You can’t use internal energy!”

“Alright.”

Xie Heng agreed, then raised his hand and shook his sleeve. Wind and snow came flying at her face, confusing Luo Wanqing’s vision. Then, dozens of snowballs broke through the snowy curtain and attacked Luo Wanqing.

Luo Wanqing’s breath caught. She leaped and flipped in the air, casually kicking two snowballs back toward Xie Heng, then turned and ran, calling out, “Forget it, I won’t fight anymore!”

“In a battle between two armies, how can one flee without fighting?”

Xie Heng pursued closely, pulling Luo Wanqing back with one grab. Luo Wanqing flipped and kicked at the plum branches overhead. Snow fell, and Luo Wanqing took the opportunity to escape while grabbing a handful of snow and throwing it over.

Xie Heng closed his eyes, letting the snow hit his face, a gentle smile rising on his lips.

He listened to Luo Wanqing’s voice with closed eyes, saying gently, “Xiniang, don’t let me catch you.”

The moment he finished speaking, he suddenly swept up a patch of snow while forming the snow in his hand into balls, throwing them at a tree.

The two instantly began fighting, neither using internal energy, borrowing tree branches to hide their forms in the forest. When hiding, they frantically made snowballs, and upon meeting, they sent snowballs out like a rain of pear blossom needles.

Xie Heng always tried to catch her, attempting to stuff snow into her clothes, while she hid in ambush on tree branches, always gifting him with wind, frost, snow, and rain.

Luo Wanqing practically exhausted all her martial arts skills in this snowball fight. After fighting briefly, both were covered in snow particles that soon melted into water, thoroughly soaking their clothes.

Finally, Luo Wanqing found an opportunity to crouch behind a tree and make nearly a hundred snowballs. She suspended most of the snowballs on the tree and kept the rest in her sleeves.

When she heard Xie Heng’s searching footsteps approaching, she held her breath and hid behind the tree. When Xie Heng was less than ten feet from the tree, she burst out and sent all the snowballs from her sleeves flying!

Xie Heng followed the sound to find her. When she threw the snowballs, he pulled her forcefully into his embrace.

Snowballs were scattered all over the ground. Luo Wanqing simply pushed him hard against the tree. Afraid she might hurt her hands, Xie Heng wrapped his arms around her, and she rammed into him like a wild bull, pushing Xie Heng against the tree.

The snowballs on the tree came pouring down, clattering as they all fell on both their heads.

Xie Heng, struck by a head full of snow, laughed softly.

“Caught you.”

Xie Heng spoke with laughter. Luo Wanqing turned back breathlessly. Snow had fallen on her eyes, and through the snow particles, she saw the person behind her who was also covered in frost and snow.

The moon was above his head, shining through the perfectly blooming white plum blossoms, falling on his body.

Their clothes were already soaked through, hanging wetly on their bodies. Xie Heng’s arm was around her waist, her back against his chest.

She could sense his warmth, his heartbeat, smell the wine on his breath, and see him looking at her with a gaze like gentle moonlight flowing over her heart.

She had only intended to glance back at him, but the moment she met his eyes, she could no longer move.

When he lowered his head to kiss her, it was no surprise. For a moment, she didn’t know whether to refuse or agree, only standing there, letting him embrace her, kissing her gently under the moonlight.

The plum blossoms under the moonlight were beautiful. When he asked if she was cold, she only leaned against the tree trunk, breathing heavily as she looked into his eyes, completely unable to speak.

So he understood her intentions.

He wrapped her in his cloak so she wouldn’t feel the tree trunk’s roughness.

When he left, cold wind would invade; when he approached, it was particularly warm.

She didn’t need to do anything, only breathe heavily and look up at the plum blossoms on the tree trunk, watching as they were shaken free of accumulated snow, revealing their true appearance—some blooming perfectly, some still budding.

Swaying gently, trembling in the wind, then gradually opened by the wind and frost, becoming the ultimate beautiful scenery under the moonlight.

In the middle of the Zi Hour, fireworks suddenly sounded in the distance. The fireworks burst brilliantly, and the gorgeous fireworks fell into her eyes. In the suddenly bright firelight, she was hit heavily against the tree, then her whole body began trembling as she watched the tree full of flowers blooming and falling.

“Xiniang,” Xie Heng sensed her presence, gripping the back of her neck. In her moment of absent-mindedness, he pressed his forehead against hers, breathing heavily as he requested, “May you and I have this day every year, this moment every year.”

Luo Wanqing trembled lightly as she closed her eyes.

She responded in a low, hoarse voice: “Good.”

This time, Xie Heng was extremely gentle. After it ended, he withdrew and left, taking her to wash clean before carrying her to the carriage.

When they came down the mountain, it was already the chou hour. Xie Heng had to attend morning court at Mao hour, so Luo Wanqing followed along.

To avoid attracting attention, they sat in the carriage Luo Wanqing had arrived in. Luo Wanqing was so tired she could barely keep her eyes open, resting against Xie Heng’s leg.

Xie Heng closed his eyes for a brief rest. Luo Wanqing smelled the fragrance on his body and found it somewhat strange, asking, “You changed your fragrance?”

“Added plum fragrance for flavoring.”

“Why add plum fragrance?”

Luo Wanqing was somewhat puzzled. Xie Heng smiled with closed eyes.

“Because Xiniang’s appearance under the moonlight was like white plum blossoms.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing was startled, then understood what he was referring to. She instantly felt this fragrance become particularly noticeable, saying somewhat vaguely, “There’s no need to specially change fragrance for this.”

“Xiniang shared spring passion with me once, then calmly withdrew, leaving only white plums blooming nightly in my dreams. Don’t I even have the right to smell fragrance and think of you?”

Xie Heng’s words carried complaint. Luo Wanqing found it particularly explicit.

She coughed lightly and only said, “Now I’ve returned.”

“What of returning?” Xie Heng sighed, saying mournfully, “Not seeing each other for two months, never once asking after me. Even after returning, I fear your heart isn’t with this humble one.”

Luo Wanqing was amused by his words: “If you keep talking like this, I’ll become a heartless woman.”

“Aren’t you one?”

Xie Heng played with her hair, opening his eyes as he said leisurely, “Upon waking, it’s like a pipe dream. In the dream you still called me Lingshu, but upon waking I become ‘Young Master.’ If Xiniang isn’t a heartless woman, what is she?”

“Since I’m a heartless woman,” Luo Wanqing propped herself up, smiling as she leaned close to Xie Heng, “why doesn’t Young Master Xie let go and seek other flowers?”

“When a gentleman is infatuated, he cannot break free,” Xie Heng sighed, raising his hand to comb through Luo Wanqing’s falling hair, saying leisurely, “What can I do but endure the grievance?”

“Then I’ll have to make you endure a bit more grievance.”

Saying this, Luo Wanqing sat on Xie Heng’s lap, pursing her lips in a smile: “Today I wanted to ask about someone, but you haven’t given me an answer yet.”

“Hmm?”

Xie Heng raised an eyebrow, then remembered and said coldly with a laugh, “I only know this much about Li Guiyu’s affairs. I’m too lazy to inquire further.”

“It’s not Li Guiyu.”

Luo Wanqing leaned close to him. Xie Heng was somewhat surprised, then heard Luo Wanqing staring at him, saying with a radiant smile, “It’s Cui Guanlan. These past two months, how has Young Master Cui been?”

Hearing this, Xie Heng was stunned. In just that instant, from outside the carriage, the sound of something breaking through the air came urgently, devastating and swift, piercing through the carriage and striking directly at Luo Wanqing!

Luo Wanqing instantly turned cold, instinctively turning back, but Xie Heng suddenly pressed her down forcefully with one hand while simultaneously raising his other hand to firmly grasp the speeding arrow.

The arrow stopped one inch behind Luo Wanqing. The carriage also stopped abruptly, and the driver shouted in alarm, “Ambush!”

Xie Heng looked up coldly, raising his hand to fling the arrow back in the direction it came from. This arrow carried tremendous internal energy, extremely fierce and fast. Just as it was about to kill the archer, another arrow flew from the forest, striking the arrow with a “ding” and deflecting its direction.

Taking advantage of this opening, the ambusher instantly departed. Luo Wanqing and Xie Heng listened coldly to the sounds around them. After a moment, they heard footsteps outside the carriage.

Then a familiar and respectful voice sounded: “Is Liu Xiniang, Inspector Liu, inside the carriage?”

Hearing this voice, Luo Wanqing immediately became alert.

Xie Heng instinctively wanted to speak, but Luo Wanqing pressed him down.

Xie Heng looked up to meet her eyes. Luo Wanqing shook her head, then pushed open the carriage door where Xie Heng couldn’t be seen and bent down to exit.

Upon exiting the carriage, she saw a familiar figure.

Long unseen, he had become much thinner, wearing water-blue silk robes with a fox fur cloak over them, a jeweled crown on his head, looking particularly magnificent.

He held a bow in his hand. The arrow that had blocked the previous attack should have been shot by him.

He quietly looked at Luo Wanqing, his gaze showing neither joy nor anger, only keeping his eyes fixed on her married woman’s hair arrangement. After a long time, he smiled gently: “Miss, it has been a long time.”