1
Song Shilan first met Jiang Chunyue when he was about eleven years old. He was the son of a concubine (illegitimate son) of the Song family. Although the Song family was one of the top noble families in Huajing, the numerous offspring meant that, apart from the heir, the other sons were no different from those of ordinary families. However, as a child, he did not understand this. Watching his father interact with the heir, Song Wenchang, he always harbored a hope that one day his father would treat him the same way he treated Song Wenchang. Even if he could not enjoy the same privileges, having a bit of fatherly affection would be wonderful.
Thus, he worked hard from a young age, yearning for the approval of the family’s teachers and hoping to earn a few kind words in front of his father to foster a closer relationship. However, he gradually realized that this would not have much effect; no matter how much he studied or practiced martial arts, or how many praises he received, his father would never regard him as he did Song Wenchang.
But young people are often stubborn. Apart from working hard, he had no other means. His mother, Madam Qiu, would only say to him, “Son, you must accept your fate.” Yet he never accepted it. He thought, “I am a person too. Just because I am a son of a concubine, I am not inferior to Song Wenchang. Why should I accept my fate?”
He told his mother, “Mother, don’t worry. I will earn wealth and honor for you in the future. You just need to enjoy your life.” Madam Qiu was speechless. After a long time, she simply held him in her arms and sighed, “Silly child.”
At that age, he was full of youthful vigor and did not know how to restrain himself. He was brimming with ambition, thinking only of fighting and seizing opportunities for himself. Madam Qiu, the daughter of a historian, came from a humble background. At that time, she wanted a set of jade bracelets, but the concubine, Yueyin, could not afford to buy a good set. Thus, Song Shilan was determined to buy a pair of jade bracelets for his mother.
That year, during the autumn hunt, the Emperor allowed many young noblemen to participate, promising that whoever could achieve the top score would be granted a wish. Song Shilan ventured deep into the forest, set traps, and fought with wolves, ultimately hunting down a wild wolf.
Covered in blood, he dragged the wolf out of the woods but was stopped by Song Wenchang.
“Give me the wolf,” Song Wenchang said arrogantly. “I’ll have my mother give your mother some extra monthly silver.”
Breathing heavily, Song Shilan gripped his bloodied bow, his expression cold, his gaze fierce and wild, resembling a lone wolf.
“I won’t give it to you,” he replied. “What I hunted is mine. Why should I give it to you?”
“Why should you?” Song Wenchang sneered. “Just because I am the heir and you are a son of a concubine! If a son of a concubine like you wins first place, where do you think that leaves my face?! Hand over the wolf,” he said impatiently. “Don’t make me force you.”
Hearing this, Song Shilan couldn’t help but laugh. Moments later, before Song Wenchang could react, he leaped up and charged out.
He shot out like an arrow, clutching the wolf, and dragging his injured body straight out of the forest. The crowd erupted in cheers. He looked up at those waiting for him, and as he rode past the ladies’ viewing platform, he heard a small gasp.
Turning back, he saw a little girl covering her mouth, her face filled with surprise. Not knowing if she was frightened, he smiled gently as he rode past her, then knelt, presenting the wolf.
“Song Shilan of the Cheng’en Marquisate,” a eunuch’s sharp voice rang out, “has hunted the Wolf King!”
2
He received that pair of jade bracelets. The price he paid was thirty lashes.
His father and the First Madam could not tolerate him; they could not accept a son of a concubine who stole the heir’s glory. His father scolded him angrily, “Hunting the Wolf King is a good thing. Why didn’t you give it to Wenchang? If you had given it to him, it would have brought honor to our Cheng’en Marquisate. What does it mean for you to keep it? Are you expecting to inherit the marquisate as a son of a concubine?! As the elder brother and a family servant, you should consider your younger brother, the heir, and the marquisate. Instead, you only think of showing off your abilities. Do you even know what you are?!”
Thirty lashes hurt immensely. His mother cried as she threw herself over him, trying to take the punishment for him. He lay on the bench, listening to his father’s scolding and his mother’s cries, gritting his teeth as he endured the lashes.
He remembered the wolf he had hunted, surrounded and chased by everyone, fleeing in panic, with nowhere to escape. The most terrifying thing was not fighting back desperately, but knowing that even if you did, it would lead to no outcome.
After the punishment, he and his mother returned to their courtyard. He developed a high fever and clutched Madam Qiu, hoarsely asking, “Mother, did I do something wrong?”
Madam Qiu held him tightly, crying. “Son, you did nothing wrong. But being born in the Cheng’en Marquisate as a son of a concubine, doing these things is wrong.”
Being born in the Cheng’en Marquisate, with the surname Song as a son of a concubine, striving and fighting meant you were wrong. He felt a despair he had never experienced before, as if his life had reached its end.
That night, he ran away. Injured, he knocked out a servant and, gritting his teeth, climbed over the wall to escape. He stumbled out, not even knowing where he was going. He just wanted to find a place where he wouldn’t be bullied, where all his efforts would be rewarded, and where his excellence would be recognized.
The wishes of a young man are simple, but he has no idea where to go. He remembered someone saying that the monks at Huguo Temple were compassionate. He thought, no matter what, he should find a place to survive first.
So, he gritted his teeth and made his way to Huguo Temple. It was drizzling that day, and he was feverish and injured, taking one step at a time up the temple steps. The road was too long; halfway up, he could no longer bear it and rolled down. He fell into the woods, completely exhausted, and lay there.
He felt cold and scared, and at the same time, he experienced a sense of aimlessness, thinking that perhaps this was the end of his life, and it didn’t seem to matter much.
However, it was at that moment that he heard a little girl’s startled voice: “Ah!”
Saying this, a pair of warm hands lifted him, filled with surprise. “Young Master Song, what are you doing here?”
3
That person was Jiang Chun. At that time, Jiang Chun was also eleven years old, the same age as him. She had followed her family’s First Madam to Huguo Temple to offer incense. Her sister had sent her down the mountain to buy some snacks, and that was when she encountered him.
She carried him to a bamboo house in the woods, left some pastries and water for him, and carefully bandaged his wounds after removing his clothes.
He asked her, “Who are you?”
She smiled and replied, “I am the daughter of General Zuo, Jiang Hong.”
“Legitimate daughter?”
“庶女 (illegitimate daughter).”
Jiang Chun lowered her gaze, and Song Shilan, lying there, felt a bit embarrassed and said, “How did you recognize me?”
“A few days ago, when Young Master Song hunted the wolf, I was there.”
Jiang Chun smiled. She wasn’t particularly stunningly beautiful, but she was delicate and gentle, with a warm and soft demeanor that made people feel close to her.
He looked at her and remembered her surprised exclamation that day. He couldn’t help but say, “You seemed a bit worried about me that day?”
He was keenly aware of people’s emotions, and Jiang Chun was taken aback by his perceptiveness, showing a look of surprise. After a moment, she adjusted herself and smiled, saying, “Young Master Song is truly perceptive.”
“Why were you worried about me?”
“Isn’t it concerning to see Young Master Song in such a state?”
Hearing this, Song Shilan pursed his lips. “Did you already guess my fate?”
“Whatever your identity, you must act according to it,” Jiang Chun sighed. Hearing this, Song Shilan became angry and sat up, saying, “So you think I should accept my fate?! Just because I am a son of a concubine, that is my fate?!”
“This is not fate,” Jiang Chun pressed him down, speaking earnestly. “This is merely your identity.”
Fate cannot be changed, but identity can. Song Shilan was stunned by her words, and after a moment, he began to understand.
To do things beyond one’s identity, one must change one’s identity.
“We must learn to endure and yield to our identities. Even when fighting, we must swallow our pride and strive for a decisive blow. Han Xin endured the humiliation of crawling under someone’s legs, Young Master Song,” Jiang Chun looked at him earnestly, “You must learn to endure.”
Song Shilan remained silent, quietly gazing into her eyes.
They were clear and peaceful, like a lake shimmering under the autumn sun. After taking care of him, she stood up to leave. He finished the pastries she had given him and gritted his teeth as he returned to the Cheng’en Marquisate.
By now, it was night. No one had discovered that he had escaped; even the servant he had knocked out didn’t know who had done it. Instead, they reported an assassin, and the entire household was searching for the unknown intruder.
He returned to his room, where Madam Qiu lay in bed, sick and coughing.
Song Shilan went to her side and poured her some water. Madam Qiu coughed and said, “Son, don’t fight anymore, and don’t be angry, okay?”
“Alright,” this time, he smiled gently and said, “Mother, I won’t fight anymore.”
4
The Emperor bestowed upon him two bracelets. He separated them, giving one to his mother and hiding the other away.
He didn’t know who to give it to; he vaguely knew but didn’t know how to approach that person. At that time, he was simply grateful and wanted to express his thanks in person, but he never had the chance to get close.
From that day on, Song Shilan suddenly became an ordinary child.
Everything about him was plain, but his ordinariness was just a little bit more than that of his brothers. His temper grew gentler, and he was always helping others, especially Song Wenchang. He wrote articles for Song Wenchang and offered him advice, becoming the perfect older brother, and helping the somewhat inept Song Wenchang appear less foolish among the young noblemen.
The First Madam noticed all of this and treated both him and his mother much better. His father also softened towards him, often praising him.
He retracted his claws, transforming from a tiger into a cat. Everyone thought that Young Master Song had a good temper, slowly forgetting that he was once the boy who had hunted the Wolf King at eleven.
Everyone forgot this, including Jiang Chun.
He always watched her from a distance. Since he was eleven, at every gathering and banquet, his gaze would be fixed on that girl.
She gradually grew taller, and by the age of fifteen, she revealed the initial beauty of a young woman.
In the Great Chu, girls were betrothed at thirteen and could marry at fifteen. Those who were slower would be considered young ladies by eighteen. In contrast, boys, except for the son of a concubine from a prominent family, usually marry only after their twentieth birthday ceremony. Thus, when Jiang Chun began to officially participate in the Great Chu’s matchmaking “Spring Banquet,” Song Shilan was merely accompanying a few older cousins, casually wandering around the banquet.
At the Spring Banquet, each young attendee would receive a peach branch, and their names would be written at their respective seats. If someone fancied another, they could hand their peach branch to that person. If they preferred to keep their feelings secret, they could leave the branch on the other person’s table when they got up to leave.
Song Shilan began attending the Spring Banquet at the age of twelve. In his first year, Jiang Chun did not receive any peach blossoms. While Jiang Chun and her sisters were enjoying the spring scenery in a pavilion, he imitated the other young gentlemen and gently placed his peach branch on Jiang Chun’s table.
When he returned, his cousins couldn’t help but tease him.
“Little Shilan is already sending flowers at such a young age! I wonder which young lady has captured his heart? If you like her, you should settle it early; otherwise, when the girl turns fifteen, you might not have a chance!”
Song Shilan smiled. At that time, he didn’t understand what it meant to like someone; he simply felt that this girl had helped him, and he didn’t want her to leave the Spring Banquet without receiving a single peach blossom, only to be laughed at by others.
He sent her peach blossoms for three years, each time quietly and without anyone knowing. No one sent her flowers, or if they did, it was like him—just gently placing them on her table. Such feelings were merely fondness or admiration, far from any talk of marriage.
Until Jiang Chun turned fifteen, he was chatting with friends when he heard a commotion nearby. He turned to look and saw Wei Shu being pushed forward by several brothers from the Wei family. The Wei family were all military men, known for their boisterousness, and their voices filled the entire banquet hall. He saw the tall and strong Wei Shu holding a peach blossom, being urged by Wei Rong behind him, “Second Brother, hurry up! Go over there!”
Wei Shu pressed his lips together. His friend beside him laughed, “Oh, which young lady has Second Young Master Wei taken a liking to?”
“Whoever it is,” Song Shilan replied with a smile, “it’s a good thing to marry into the Wei family.”
With a family like the Wei’s, even a second son was beyond the reach of many others.
As soon as he finished speaking, Wei Shu seemed to say something to Wei Jun beside him, took a deep breath, and strode toward the ladies. The woman gasped in surprise, and finally, he stopped in front of a girl in a blue dress. She was sitting at her place, trimming flower branches, seemingly unaware that this commotion had anything to do with her until a somewhat nervous male voice called out, “Jiang Second Young Lady.”
Jiang Chun paused in her trimming, looking up at Wei Shu with a dazed expression. Wei Shu observed her serious demeanor, bent down, and handed the peach blossom to her. After doing this, everyone erupted in laughter. Wei Shu, blushing, whispered, “Jiang Second Young Lady, I… I like you. I will ask my mother to propose soon. Will you… will you agree?”
Jiang Chun was taken aback by his words. She quickly lowered her head and replied softly, “Marriage is a significant matter, determined by our parents. I hope Second Young Master will consult the elders in your family.”
“No,” Wei Shu waved his hand awkwardly, “I will definitely ask them, but I just wanted to ask you.”
He shyly added, “Will you… agree?”
When he asked, everyone fell silent. Song Shilan watched the two from a distance, not saying a word. After a long wait, they finally heard her say, “I will listen to my elders.”
Wei Shu sighed in relief. If the Wei family proposed, it was likely that no one in the capital would refuse.
He nodded with a smile and quickly said, “Good, that’s good. Second Young Lady,” he cupped his hands in salute, “I will go prepare right away.”
With that, Wei Shu happily turned around, and the Wei family members began to tease him, urging him to drink.
After Wei Shu left, the Spring Banquet was nearing its end, and everyone began to pack up and prepare to leave. Jiang Chun lowered her head and started to gather her things when Song Shilan approached her.
Jiang Chun looked up at him, puzzled. She observed the young man before her, who appeared to be just over fifteen, handsome and gentle in demeanor. He held a peach blossom, quietly gazing at her. Jiang Chun felt he looked somewhat familiar but couldn’t recall where she had seen him. Four years was a long time, and if they weren’t close, it was easy to forget.
Song Shilan noticed the unfamiliarity in her eyes. He said nothing, bending down to place the peach blossom carefully in front of her.
“Young Master?”
She asked softly, but he did not respond and turned to leave.
Not long after, Jiang Chun became engaged. Shortly after her engagement, the Wei family army and the Southern City army held a competition. Song Shilan belonged to the Southern City army, while the Wei family’s young masters were all top-notch fighters. Except for Chu Linyang, who barely managed to win a round, the rest were overwhelmingly victorious.
Song Shilan was considered skilled in the army, but he was usually mild-mannered, and in such fighting situations, people didn’t expect him to step up. When Wei Shu stood up, it was originally another soldier’s turn to face him, but when the opponent stood up, Song Shilan suddenly pressed down on him.
“I’ll do it.”
His voice was calm.
He stepped onto the stage, and Wei Shu looked at him, somewhat surprised. Wei Shu was four years older and appeared much stronger. He worriedly said, “Song Young Master, are you sure…?”
“I’ve heard Second Young Master is highly skilled,” Song Shilan smiled, “I came to seek your guidance.”
Before Wei Shu could refuse, Song Shilan charged forward!
He fought fiercely and bravely, his wide sleeves fluttering, blending the elegance of a noble with a touch of solitary courage.
Wei Jun watched from above, and his companion sighed, “Back when Song Young Master captured the Wolf King at eleven, I thought this solitary courage had faded with the Song family. It seems he was just biding his time; born into the Song family, what a pity.”
The nearby Wei family members nodded in agreement.
If Song Shilan had been born into the Wei family, despite the distinctions between legitimate and illegitimate sons, the Wei family would not have the same strict divisions as the Song family. The brothers were friendly and kind, and everything Song Shilan learned could be applied on the battlefield.
However, he did not have such luck.
That day, he and Wei Shu fought fiercely until a torrential rain began to pour. The two of them pressed against each other, blood and rain mixing as they fought. In the end, he withstood a heavy blow from Wei Shu and kicked him off the high platform. They both lay on the ground, panting. Wei Shu stood up first, joyfully exclaiming, “To spar with Song Young Master is a great honor!”
Song Shilan closed his eyes, propping himself up to stand, and nodded at Wei Shu, too exhausted to say a word.
That fight left him with a broken rib, and he spent two months recovering. It was the most reckless thing he had ever done in his life. And that feeling stopped there.
He attended her wedding, watching as Wei Shu carried her through the door. At that moment, he thought, this isn’t so bad after all.
He would likely marry someone even better, someone with more power.
And she was marrying well, and living happily; he had nothing to worry about.
He would walk his path of success, while she would live her peaceful life.
There was nothing wrong with that.
From then on, he no longer thought of her.
He was the perfect young master of the Song family, skilled in socializing and dealing with everyone.
He assisted Song Wenchang, becoming the most capable young master of the Cheng’en Marquisate. Even though Song Wenchang looked down on him, he had to acknowledge his talent and rely on him.
He honed his subordinates, waiting for the day when he could strike decisively.
In those years, his mother passed away. The day after the funeral for Lady Qiu, he was set to head to the frontier. That morning, he first went to the Huguo Temple. He prayed sincerely with the prayer beads, and while he was bowing, he noticed someone kneeling beside him. He turned to see Jiang Chun, now with her hair styled in a woman’s bun.
At that moment, she had a small child beside her, being held by a servant. She was earnestly bowing, and he hesitated for a moment but still pretended not to recognize her and stood up.
Afterward, he walked out of the temple. Just as he was about to descend the mountain, someone called out to him. A maid approached with an umbrella, saying, “Young Master, it’s about to rain. My lady asked me to bring you an umbrella.”
“Your lady is…?”
“Second Young Lady of the Wei family.” The maid smiled, “Just now, while you were praying, Second Young Lady saw you and said you are a soldier heading to the battlefield, so she asked us to bring you an umbrella. The battlefield is dangerous,” the maid sighed, “you must be careful.”
Song Shilan said nothing, taking the umbrella from the maid, feeling a lump in his throat.
That umbrella accompanied him to the battlefield and later stayed with him for many years.
He walked through mountains of corpses and seas of people, facing dark and treacherous paths. Every time it rained and he saw that umbrella, he felt a sense of inner peace.
The owner of that umbrella seemed like a beautiful dream from his youth, distant and lovely, making him long for her yet feel unreachable.
He had thought that their lives would remain like this forever.
Until the ninth year of Chunxi, the Wei family was wiped out, except for Wei Yun, who was buried in Baidi Valley.
The entire Great Chu was shocked. The moment he learned the news, the first image that flashed through his mind was that of the young lady’s delicate face.
He hadn’t seen her in many years, and he didn’t know what she was like now.
He instructed his servants to inquire about the Wei family’s news and then plunged into this upheaval. This upheaval was a complete reshuffle for the entire court, and no one dared to relax. Everyone was gathering information, preparing their chips, waiting for the day to reveal their hands.
He had thought the Wei family would fall to the bottom, but unexpectedly, they stood back up.
At that time, many believed the Wei family was merely hanging on, yet he resolutely chose to ally with Wei Yun.
He helped Wei Yun, and in return, Wei Yun helped him eliminate Song Wenchang.
With Song Wenchang’s death, the position of heir would belong to him.
He thought this was merely a transaction until he became entangled with the Beidi army near the Fen River in Xijun City.
At that time, Song Wenchang was overly ambitious and was forced into battle, then trapped in Xiaoju County. His father pressured him to confront Beidi head-on to rescue Song Wenchang. However, he had already agreed with Wei Yun; to force Yao Yong to bleed, he needed to preserve the Song family’s strength.
Caught in a dilemma, he suddenly received a distress signal from Jiang Chun; she had come to Fen River.
Fen River was right next to Xijun City, and Jiang Chun had an old friend there. She had come to help her friend but happened to encounter the Beidi attacking Fen River.
Without a second thought, he led his troops out of the city. As he entered Fen River amidst the chaos, he anxiously called out, “Wei Second Lady! Wei Second Lady?!”
He knew all too well the dangers women could face in such a chaotic siege. His heart was in turmoil, and he couldn’t help but shout, “Jiang Chun!”
He called her name, “Jiang Chun, where are you?!”
At that moment, he suddenly heard a loud shout, “Song Young Master!”
He turned his horse around and saw a woman standing in the crowd, holding a sword.
She wore a water-blue long dress with a silver-white cloak, one hand holding a child, the other wielding a bloodied sword. She ran towards him, urgently calling out, “Song Young Master!”
He rode over, grasping her hand and pulling her and the child onto his horse.
She seemed to have run a long way, panting heavily.
She held the child while he wrapped one arm around her waist and used his spear to carve a path through the chaos.
“I come on behalf of the Lady to assist you in assassinating Song Wenchang. I have brought the people; today, you will take Fen River and tomorrow, you will attack another city. The Beidi will be enraged and will surely launch a strong attack on Xiaoju County. We will take advantage of the chaos to assassinate Song Wenchang and frame it on Beidi. You can do your best to rescue him, and this way, your father will have nothing to say.”
Song Shilan remained silent, and Jiang Chun looked puzzled, “Song Young Master?”
“Understood.” Song Shilan’s voice was heavy, seemingly displeased. He frowned and coldly said, “Why did you come to such a place? Why not stay in Huajing and live well?”
“The Lady feared that sending someone else would make you uneasy.”
“I’m even more uneasy with you here.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Chun was somewhat taken aback. She looked up at him, and the man before her had a stern expression. He took her through the battlefield, placing her in a safe spot, then said, “You wait for me here.”
With that, Song Shilan turned back and plunged into the fray.
Jiang Chun instructed the hidden guards she brought to head to Xiaoju County, then waited for Song Shilan in the city. When dawn broke, she stood on the city wall, watching the young man in a water-blue and silver-patterned long robe, wielding a spear as he rode in. At that moment, something suddenly flashed through her mind.
When Song Shilan returned, she looked at him and smiled gently.
“I remember now,” she said, “Song Young Master, when you were eleven, you hunted a wolf all by yourself.”
Hearing this, Song Shilan couldn’t help but laugh.
“I not only hunted a wolf but I was also saved by the Lady at Huguo Temple.”
Jiang Chun was momentarily stunned, and after a moment, she suddenly reacted, “Ah,” she exclaimed in surprise, “I had completely forgotten!”
8
After Jiang Chun arrived, her hidden guards killed Song Wenchang. With that, Song Shilan ascended to the position of heir and poisoned the old marquis, subsequently taking control of the entire Song family. At this time, the battlefield had descended into chaos, and Song Shilan received orders from Wei Yun to engage in a stalemate with the Beidi.
Worried about Jiang Chun’s safety, Song Shilan said to her, “You should stay here for now. When the time is right, I will send you back.”
Jiang Chun did not intend to cause trouble for Song Shilan, and since the child of her deceased friend had injured his foot during the turmoil and needed to recuperate, she chose to remain by Song Shilan’s side.
Now nearly twenty-one, Song Shilan was still alone. He had no female companions around him, and after the initial rush of settling in, Jiang Chun began to observe Song Shilan’s life.
His daily meals were extremely simple, and he had no fixed time for eating. Sometimes, if he returned late and was in a hurry, he would often just ask the cook to heat two steamed buns. The household was entirely unmanaged; if his clothes had holes, no one would notice. The seemingly gentle young master was living a rather rough life.
At first, Jiang Chun only adjusted her and the child’s diet. Since Song Shilan did not have a regular schedule, after seeing him casually dip a bun in soup on two occasions, she finally decided on the third day to ask when he would be returning.
Thinking Jiang Chun had something important to discuss, Song Shilan told the servant, “Tell Second Madam that I will be back in half an hour.”
When Jiang Chun received the message, she prepared dishes at home. When Song Shilan returned and saw Jiang Chun waiting at the door, he stood there in a daze.
Jiang Chun smiled slightly at him but said nothing. She simply stated, “I noticed your meals have been irregular lately, so I took the liberty of preparing some food for you. After a long day, you should have a good meal.”
“Thank you, Second Madam,” Song Shilan replied with a polite smile. However, as he drank the first bowl of hot soup and looked at the arranged dishes, feeling the presence of someone beside him, a storm of emotions surged within him.
For the first time, he felt he had a home.
After finishing the meal, he turned to Jiang Chun, his expression earnest. “Second Madam, I have a request.”
Jiang Chun was taken aback and quickly replied, “Young Master, please speak.”
“I am used to living alone, and as you can see, while I can manage my official duties well, my household is indeed a mess. I dare to ask Second Madam to help me organize the household affairs.”
As he spoke, Song Shilan took off a key and handed it to her. “This is the key to my storeroom. During your time here, feel free to make any changes you see fit regarding the household arrangements, personnel, and rules. I would like to ask you to help me organize everything.”
“This isn’t appropriate,” Jiang Chun quickly responded. “Young Master, you should hire someone to manage these matters. I am just an outsider…”
“Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures,” Song Shilan said earnestly. “To be honest, Second Madam, I am already of marriageable age and indeed need someone to help me. However, given the current situation, I cannot rush into marriage, and I cannot find a suitable person to manage the household. I trust you, Second Madam, so I hope you can establish a set of rules for me in the household. That way, when you leave in the future, I won’t have chaos in the back courtyard.”
Hearing this, Jiang Chun found it hard to refuse.
Song Shilan was an ally of Wei Yun, and it would be beneficial for him to be well.
After hesitating for a moment, she finally nodded and accepted the key.
9
In the following days, while Song Shilan engaged in guerrilla warfare against the Beidi, Jiang Chun managed the household.
At first, she was cautious, but later she discovered that Song Shilan truly did not concern himself with any household matters. No matter what she did, he would only say, “Good.”
With some free time, she began to showcase her skills. She rearranged flowers, moved pots, adjusted the meal plans, and established a basic operational system for the household. She categorized the various maids and attendants by rank and cultivated a few trusted aides for Song Shilan…
She waited for Song Shilan to return for dinner every day, and because she was there, he would find ways to return home at a fixed time.
Jiang Chun did not know when that feeling had begun to take root within her.
Quietly, she transitioned from thinking “Song Shilan is a decent person” to “Song Shilan is truly wonderful.”
Song Shilan approached every task with great care; he seemed to never make mistakes. One day, while watching him write, she noticed how meticulously he formed each character and couldn’t help but ask, “Young Master, do you always do things so carefully?”
Song Shilan smiled slightly. “Yes.”
“Why is that?”
“Being a son of a concubine,” he replied, lowering his gaze to the paper, his expression calm, “I cannot afford to make mistakes.”
Jiang Chun was momentarily taken aback, and in that instant, she felt a sudden pang in her heart.
She found herself feeling a sense of pity for him.
“Then in this lifetime,” she couldn’t help but ask, “have you never made a careless mistake?”
“I have,” Song Shilan replied with a slight smile. Jiang Chun couldn’t help but ask, “What was it?”
Song Shilan fell silent.
He held his tongue, fully aware of what should and shouldn’t be said. To Jiang Chun, at this moment, he was merely an ally of Wei Yun, and everything was merely for Wei Yun’s sake; he dared not say too much.
But he knew that the one careless thing in his life was his feelings for her.
They remained together until Chu Yu was trapped in Fengling City, and the Beidi army advanced toward Tianzhou Pass.
Song Shilan led his troops to support Tianzhou Pass and fought a brilliant battle. Shortly after, Zhao Yue declared himself emperor, Wei Yun went to the Beidi with an uncertain fate, and Chu Yu held firm in Fengling City.
The Wei family suddenly lost any capable leaders, and Jiang Chun went to find Song Shilan, saying, “Song Young Master, I need to find my mother-in-law.”
Song Shilan was momentarily taken aback, and after a moment, he slowly replied, “The situation is too chaotic right now…”
“It is precisely because the situation is chaotic,” Jiang Chun said calmly, her demeanor steady. This calmness revealed an unspoken determination, a strength that was hard to break. She looked at him quietly and said, “I must return to the Wei family; several young masters and my mother-in-law are waiting for me to return and manage the household affairs.”
Upon hearing this, Song Shilan fell silent.
He lowered his gaze, gripping his pen.
He suddenly realized clearly that she was a member of the Wei family; she had married Wei Shu. Even if Wei Shu were dead, she was still the Second Young Madam.
He wanted to say yes, but the words wouldn’t come out, and he had no reason to keep her.
“I have already found where my family is; I will set out today.” However, it seemed she did not need his response and continued, “Song Young Master, I bid you farewell.”
At her farewell, he finally couldn’t hold back and grabbed her hand.
“Don’t go.”
Jiang Chun turned back, frowning, her eyes filled with caution. “Song Young Master?”
He closed his eyes and sighed softly. “Jiang Chun, don’t leave the Song family.”
“What do you mean, Song Young Master?” Jiang Chun said coldly. “My uncle is in a perilous situation; you don’t think you can use me to threaten the Wei family, do you? Song Young Master, you…”
Before she could finish, he suddenly pulled her into his embrace and held her face, kissing her fiercely.
Jiang Chun was stunned for a moment, then began to struggle desperately.
She kicked him hard, and then immediately slapped him!
The crisp sound of the slap echoed through the room, and Jiang Chun shouted angrily, “You are outrageous!”
Song Shilan said nothing, looking up at her.
That gaze made Jiang Chun pause. She remembered how he had once ridden past with the Wolf King. For so many years, the Song Shilan who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals was still the same.
“What do I mean,” he said calmly, “do you understand now?”
Jiang Chun was at a loss for words. Song Shilan turned to grab a cloak, his expression indifferent, as if nothing had happened.
“You want to manage the Wei family; I can help you with that. If you don’t agree with me now, that’s fine; just don’t agree with anyone else.”
“I’ll take you back,” he said, stopping in front of her with a smile. “In this lifetime, I can wait.”
10
He knew he couldn’t act too hastily.
He understood he couldn’t overstep.
Wei Shu had just left, and he was well aware of the feelings between her and Wei Shu. He didn’t want to compete with a dead man.
So he waited.
At first, when others asked, he just smiled, but he always visited the Wei residence, and others soon understood.
Her initial rejection was silent; she wore white clothes and white flowers, leading him to the Wei family ancestral hall to look at Wei Shu’s memorial tablet, telling him stories of her past with Wei Shu.
He never minded, always wearing a smile, pretending not to understand what she was saying.
One year, two years, three years.
His patience was remarkably good, making others feel uneasy.
But deep down, he knew his patience wasn’t great; he just knew how to endure.
Yet endurance has its limits. As Wei Lingchun grew day by day, she increasingly avoided him.
He had no choice but to propose.
Their relationship had always been like this; he pressured her, but she refused to take the lead. Until finally, he was in Taiping City.
On the night he learned he had fallen ill, he sat in his room, gazing at the moon.
He suddenly missed her terribly, but then he couldn’t help but think, if she were dead, would she feel relieved, free from his entanglement?
However, just a few days later, he saw her riding lightly toward him, stopping at the city gate, and looking up at him.
“Song Shilan,” she called out loudly, “open the city gate!”
He stared at her in a daze, and at that moment, he suddenly felt that this lifetime was worth it.
11
Later, she married him and became a princess. He took her to Qiongzhou, which was within the Song family’s territory.
There, they lived leisurely, and no one knew her past, but she always kept it in mind.
When she was pregnant, her temperament became sensitive. She often couldn’t sleep at night, and he would hold her, keeping her company.
One night, she couldn’t help but ask him, “When did you start liking me?”
“Mm?”
“Song Shilan,” Jiang Chun sighed, “I have been married and have had children. Don’t you feel regretful for liking me?”
Song Shilan thought for a moment, and after a long pause, he sighed.
“So what?”
He spoke softly, “In this lifetime, I have never liked anyone else.”
Hearing this, Jiang Chun couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re lying,” she said with a smile, “you must have sent flowers to several young ladies at the Spring Banquet.”
Song Shilan pursed his lips and sighed. He pulled her into his embrace, and Jiang Chun complained, “Speak up! Are you afraid to say it?”
“Do you remember when you were twelve, you didn’t receive a single peach blossom?”
“You’re talking nonsense,” Jiang Chun hurriedly replied, “I received one!”
“Just one.”
Song Shilan affirmed, and Jiang Chun was momentarily stunned.
Song Shilan smiled, “It was from me.”
Jiang Chun’s eyes widened, and Song Shilan leaned down to kiss her forehead.
“Silly girl, after you left, I never sent another peach blossom.”
From the moment you left, there were no more peach blossoms.
In the beginning and the end, it was always you.