His voice wasn’t loud, but it was enough for everyone present to hear clearly.

The wine cup in Di Nian’s hand suddenly fell to the ground, the precious liquid splashing onto both their robes, the fragrance of wine spreading. Meng Tinghui’s expression changed dramatically as she stared directly at Shen Zhishu as if she couldn’t believe what she had heard.

The few people who had come to toast were also stunned, looking at each other in bewilderment, not knowing what to say.

Yan Fuzhi remained seated, raising her eyes to scan everyone around, and with a smile on her red lips, said: “Official Shen was merely joking to silence your mouths. Don’t tell me you took him seriously?”

Hearing this, the tension in everyone’s expressions eased, and they all burst into laughter.

Di Nian raised his arm, nudging Shen Zhishu, and also laughed, saying: “I almost believed it for a moment! If such words were to reach the capital, who knows how many fragrant hearts would be broken!” Then, leaning closer with an ambiguous smile, he added: “Speaking of which, how could you, Shen Zhishu, bear to part with those ladies in the capital? After the new year, the Emperor will likely issue an edict calling you back to the capital…”

The smile had not yet faded from Shen Zhishu’s lips as he listened to Di Nian’s words. His right hand slowly swirled the wine cup, round and round, without stopping for a long time.

But Meng Tinghui could not smile no matter what.

She recalled that day when Shen Zhishu returned to the city but went to the Yan family instead of the prefectural office. Comparing it to now, for some reason, she felt uneasy.

The eldest son of the Shen family in the capital, the peerless Official Shen in the court, the renowned romantic Shen Zhishu throughout the capital… if he truly had sincere feelings, what would those feelings be like?

Meng Tinghui couldn’t help but look at Yan Fuzhi, only to see her expression open and forthright, still sitting with uninhibited grace, smiling at everyone around her.

But how could she believe this seemingly unconcerned smile when she had witnessed with her own eyes how Yan Fuzhi had cried so desperately for Shen Zhishu that day? She hadn’t had the chance or the time to ask Yan Fuzhi what exactly had happened between her and Shen Zhishu, nor did she know what plans these two had in their hearts.

She was to set out for the capital with Di Nian early tomorrow morning. She didn’t know when she would see Yan Fuzhi again, and feared that after tonight, there would be no opportunity to learn about the matters between these two.

Thinking thus, she felt slightly melancholic.

Yan Fuzhi suddenly raised her cup to toast everyone, smiling as she said: “The Yan family has enjoyed various benefits from the government for over a year thanks to all of your indulgence. After tonight, please have Official Shen send clerks to the Yan family to collect market taxes as usual. Everyone, please don’t joke with Official Shen like this anymore—Official Shen is such a noble talent, with so many princesses and noble ladies waiting for him. If people were to know he had some unclear relationship with a merchant’s daughter, what kind of propriety would that be? Do you wish to ruin Official Shen’s official career?”

Her words were as reckless as ever, spoken with a smile. After a pause, she continued: “Moreover, how could the Yan family be a small business? My father has long said that whoever I marry must be someone who can marry into the Yan family! Official Shen is far from qualified.”

Hearing her words, people at the nearby tables all laughed heartily, and many came to toast her in return, praising the Yan family’s eldest daughter for having a magnanimity no less than a man’s.

She raised her cup to Meng Tinghui with a smile, saying: “Lady Meng traveled thousands of miles to rescue our Qingzhou Prefect Shen from the hands of rebellious troops. This commoner, on behalf of the city’s people, toasts Lady Meng!” After drinking, she finally shifted her gaze to Shen Zhishu, her smile unchanged, and said: “With the year’s end approaching, the shop’s affairs are endless. I beg Official Shen’s forgiveness as I take my leave first, so as not to disturb everyone’s elegant gathering.” With that, she lifted her skirt and stood up, calling over a Yan household servant to accompany her out.

Shen Zhishu never looked at her once from beginning to end. After the flower hall’s door closed, he smiled at everyone, gesturing for them to continue the banquet.

Meng Tinghui found no taste in her food, constantly thinking about having another conversation with Yan Fuzhi before leaving. Just as she was about to rise and leave the hall to chase after her, she heard Shen Zhishu excuse himself to the guests, saying he couldn’t drink anymore and needed to go back to prepare for Meng Tinghui’s departure tomorrow.

With his departure, the hall’s lively atmosphere diminished greatly. The remaining officials of the prefectural office were busy maintaining appearances, drinking and toasting with the merchants, their mouths full of official and guest talk.

Di Nian finally sensed something amiss and looked at Meng Tinghui belatedly.

Meng Tinghui forced a smile and said softly: “You stay here, I’ll go take a look.” With that, she seized a moment when others weren’t paying attention to quietly rise and slip out from behind the curtain.

Outside, a cold wind swept in, carrying fine snowflakes, making her shiver.

On the ground were shallow fresh footprints, winding towards the back of the corridor. She followed the footprints, but before she had gone far, her gaze fixed on the other end of the small path, and her steps slowed to a halt.

Amid the silver snow stretching a hundred paces, two figures in long robes and skirts were entwined inseparably.

The red skirt was as fiery and flamboyant as flames, the blue robe as clear and aloof as solitude.

The contrast was so striking, the intense colors in the snowy night making her temporarily blind. She lowered her eyes for a moment, not daring to look even an instant longer.

Hastily turning away, she returned along the original path to the flower hall.

Their emotions were beyond words, beyond comprehension.

Her heart felt a slight pang, yet her lips curled up slightly.

At that moment, she felt that whatever story was between those two and whatever the outcome might be, it no longer concerned her, and she no longer cared.

On the day of departure, Shen Zhishu sent them off for thirty miles outside the city, but remained silent throughout the journey. He only handed her a memorial, asking her to present it to the Emperor upon her return to the capital.

Although she knew this exceeded propriety, she did not refuse. She silently accepted the memorial, bade farewell to the Qingzhou Prefecture officials, and was then escorted back to the capital by the imperial guards led by Di Nian.

Though they hurried each day on the journey, winter’s cold snow made long-distance travel difficult. She still missed the New Year’s Grand Court Assembly in the capital. When they reached the capital, it was already midnight on the ninth day of the first lunar month. The military guards at the outer city walls saw the imperial guard’s banners from afar and hurriedly opened the gates to welcome them. They immediately dispatched someone on horseback to report to the palace.

The streets of the outer city were filled with festive sights. Even in the cold atmosphere of deep night, she could still smell the sweet fragrance of glutinous rice wine, making her heart soften and feel intoxicated.

Though she wasn’t born in this place, she felt that this was where she truly belonged.

After bidding farewell to Di Nian and the imperial guards at the inner city’s south gate, she returned to her residence with the Meng household servants who had come to meet her upon hearing the news.

Seeing her safe return, the servant’s face was full of excitement. Usually afraid to speak much in her presence, he now became talkative, loudly recounting big and small matters that had occurred while she was away from the capital. He also mentioned that her pacification of the rebellion in Chao’an had spread throughout the streets and alleys of the capital, with everyone praising her.

Finally, he quietly added that the gifts bestowed by the Emperor were all piled up in the residence, waiting for her to see.

As soon as she heard those two words, her heart became restless. Her mind filled with the words on that yellow letter, she nestled into the soft cushions of the carriage, her face blushing.

Upon returning home, washing away the traces of travel, and eating something, she extinguished the lights and retired, without even taking note of what rewards he had bestowed upon her.

The night passed without any message from the palace, so peaceful that she almost thought he didn’t know she had returned to the capital.

The next day dawned clear, and by the time she awoke, it was nearly noon.

On the tenth day of the first month, according to ancestral customs, the Emperor was to visit Jinming Terrace, leading the court officials to watch the military performances. However, she had received no summons from the palace to join.

Having risen late, she was vaguely worried that she might have overslept. She called someone to ask if anyone had come from the palace, but the household staff only shook their heads, saying there had been no message from the palace at all.

It wasn’t until evening, after she had finished her dinner, that she calculated that the military performances at Jinming Terrace must have concluded and the Emperor should have returned to the palace. Only then did she order someone to help her change clothes, preparing to enter the palace to report her duties.

Although he had not summoned her, she could not fail in her duty as a subject. Having returned to the capital after pacifying the rebellious troops, how could she not hasten to the palace to pay her respects to the Emperor?

But as soon as she stepped out of her gate, she saw two imperial eunuchs standing at the end of the street, seemingly about to come in her direction.

Thinking that the imperial palace had coincidentally sent someone to summon her for an audience, she quickly instructed her household servants to prepare money to reward the two men, and then hurriedly turned to board her carriage.

From the shadows of the street wall, a man and a horse suddenly emerged.

In the dim light, the man stood tall beside his horse, wearing a magnificent crane-feathered cloak that emitted a faint glow. In the beautiful snow, the horse snorted, its glossy black mane below its neck slightly tossing.

Her heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly. The motion of lifting her skirt to board the carriage froze, her eyes staring at the man and horse in a daze.

Even though the night obscured his features, she could recognize that unique air of magnificence and grace that belonged to no one else in the world.

He too remained silent and motionless, from such a distance, merely gazing at her calmly.

After a long while, she finally lowered her hand.

Her silk skirt with its hundred pleats fell like scattered flowers, covering her official boots.

She moved her lips and heard herself say softly: “Your Majesty.” But the sound was so ethereal it hardly seemed to come from her.

The horse suddenly let out a neigh, a sharp whip sound cutting through the night sky. Its four hooves pranced, and in the next moment, it leaped to within a few steps of her.

He reined in the horse, leaning down to look at her, his lips curling slightly. “Meng Tinghui.”

She slowly raised her head.

This voice was so deep and familiar, surging endlessly in her dreams night after night, making her so enchanted and lost in it for a lifetime, without regret or resentment.

His hand holding the reins moved slightly, the great cloak opening a little.

She saw clearly the dragon robe inside, and couldn’t help but be startled again, instinctively saying: “Your Majesty has returned from Jinming Terrace but has not yet returned to the palace?”

He looked at her without speaking, but his brow gradually relaxed.

The night was silent all around. Besides her household servants and the two eunuchs who routinely accompanied the Emperor, there was no one else. Yet she still feared someone might see him coming privately to the Meng residence. Not knowing what to do, her expression became hesitant, but finally, she spoke again: “This subject was just about to enter the palace for an audience.”

He responded with a low sound, then said: “Come here.”

Following his words, she stepped forward, walking to the side of the horse, looking up at him. “Your Majesty.”

A spark flashed and died in his eyes as he gazed intently at her. Then suddenly he leaned down, pulled her onto the horse’s back, holding her in front of him. With a deep command, he turned the horse around and galloped towards the north of the city.

The cold wind swept past her temples. The horse moved so swiftly that before she could react, they had already passed several streets. The sound of hooves, beating one after another against her eardrums, made her feel for a moment as if she were in a dream.

Around her waist was his strong hand, hard and powerful, holding her firmly.

She took a light breath of the night air, watching the street scenery rapidly recede behind them, and asked him softly: “Your Majesty disregards court protocol—where are we going?”

His lips pressed against her ear. “Western Mountains.”

The horse’s back was trembling, and so was her heart. She urgently said: “It is already nighttime. The palace must be anxious not seeing Your Majesty for so long. And what will the various departments of the outer city think seeing Your Majesty like this?”

“Meng Tinghui,” he held her tighter, his breath growing hotter, “your remonstrance is reasonable, but I cannot wait any longer.”