It was originally said that on the day of Li Chun (Beginning of Spring), an imperial decree for marriage would be issued. In the end, the imperial edict wasn’t promulgated. Ding Yi knew that Hong Ce had gone to the palace to negotiate, but she didn’t ask about the details. In truth, she understood without asking. He always wanted the best for her. If the decree came down, her status would be fixed. Without the decree, there remained room for maneuver.
Ru Jian had returned from Shanxi. Wary that Hong Zan might make a move, he hid in the Wine and Vinegar Bureau alley, rarely venturing out. When asked about their marriage, upon hearing she would be conferred as a side consort, his face immediately showed great displeasure. Who would want their sister to be a concubine? Although their family status was slightly inferior, his aunt’s daughter deserved to marry well. With improper status, he absolutely couldn’t agree.
“I once told the Twelfth Prince that a daughter of the Wen family doesn’t become a concubine. Does the Twelfth Prince remember?” They were eating around the table—a banquet being a good place for negotiations. Ru Jian’s expression was displeased. “Don’t ask for Ding Yi’s opinion. She’s muddleheaded, and once her mind is clouded, she disregards everything. Her family isn’t all dead yet—she can’t decide her marriage. If the Twelfth Prince can’t keep his promise, then return my sister to me. Even if she never marries, I’ll support her for life.”
Hong Ce was embarrassed. This uncle was difficult to deal with. Family members were more important than anything. If he truly took his sister back, wouldn’t all his dreams come to nothing?
“Third Brother, please calm down. It’s the end of the year—auspiciousness is paramount.” He apologetically poured wine for him. “When we previously spoke of conferring the title of side consort, not only would Third Brother be angry, but I was discontented. You know my feelings for Ding Yi. I may compromise myself, but I cannot compromise her. So please rest assured, I will find a way to handle this matter properly. As for the case at the Censorate, the Marquis of Pacifying the Nation was imprisoned three days ago. I’ve already submitted the details to the Emperor for his decision. The palace intends to hold a joint trial, inviting the Prince of Zhuang, along with officials from the Three Departments and Six Ministries to observe. This way, news from the court will be immediately known to all, and those with guilty consciences will surely become restless, potentially following the same path as those who previously harmed your father. I’ve carefully considered—summoning you to court doesn’t constitute a commoner accusing an official. At most, you’re merely a witness. They can’t do anything to you.”
Ru Jian slowly shook his head. “I pondered this while in Datong. Since I’ve returned anyway, rather than being so passive, why not go to court, beat the drum to appeal for justice, and formally accuse the current Prince of Zhuang? If you want to investigate him, there’s no need for such roundabout methods.”
Hong Ce hesitated inwardly. “Such an approach has both advantages and disadvantages. I fear their first question will concern your crime of escape.”
“But I have you.” Ru Jian smiled slightly. “The officials at the Ministry of Punishment must consult with you. At worst, I’ll be imprisoned first, and later things will proceed according to your plan, without additional complications.”
Ding Yi, however, couldn’t agree. “The risk is too great. What if the Ministry of Punishment has the Prince of Zhuang’s people? If they beat you half to death first, would you even survive to testify?”
A nonchalant smile appeared on Ru Jian’s face. “How would we know without trying? In this life, one must have some pursuits. Avenging my father and two brothers is more important to me than my life. Now I have you too—without clearing your name, how can you enter the Yu Wen family? By my calculation, this is a sure win with no loss, even if I suffer some hardship.”
Ding Yi shook her head, saying softly, “Don’t think too much for me. I’ve grown accustomed to making do these years. If your sacrifice is required for me to enter the Pure Prince Mansion, I’d rather not marry.”
When she said this, Hong Ce became alarmed. “I will find a way. Even if there’s some physical suffering, it won’t endanger your life. When you speak like this, where does it leave me?”
Ru Jian also reproached her. “The Twelfth Prince is right. Don’t keep saying you won’t marry. The bond between husband and wife takes several lifetimes to cultivate. Don’t lightly abandon it because of some obstacles.”
Ding Yi looked guiltily at Hong Ce. He still had a wound on his head, and her words had certainly displeased him. She smiled shyly, considerately serving him food. Then, remembering Hai Lan’s matter, she quickly put down her chopsticks and said to Ru Jian, “I visited the Suo family recently—the one that manages the treasury. They’ve moved to the entrance of North Observatory Lane.”
Ru Jian’s expression froze momentarily, but it quickly became indifferent again. He squeezed two words through his teeth: “Meddlesome.”
Ding Yi, with widened eyes, disagreed. “Didn’t you previously have a fiancée? Was she called Hai Lan?”
He looked up anxiously. “Did you see her?”
“Not just see her—I spoke with her!” Ding Yi said proudly. “She told me how you used to ride your horse through their alley. You would make such a large detour every day just to see her once. Weren’t you exhausted?”
Ru Jian’s face reddened. That was an old story from years ago, but thinking about it now still made his heart race. He would never forget how she stood at the window, like a chrysanthemum in the evening glow. At that time, he was only fourteen or fifteen, the perfect age for romantic dreams. Later, when the Wen family was destroyed, even survival became difficult, and those tender feelings seemed frozen in ice. After more than a decade, now breaking through the ice, they remained fresh and alive.
But after so long, everything had changed. He smiled self-mockingly, “Exhausted or not, ask the Twelfth Prince how he feels when he’s attentive to you.”
As if declaring his loyalty, Hong Ce immediately replied, “Not exhausted. Even if tired, my heart is happy.”
Ding Yi tilted her head and said to Ru Jian, “Third Brother, let me tell you some good news. Hai Lan hasn’t married yet—she’s waiting for you! She even pretends to be crazy whenever someone proposes marriage. It’s the twenty-eighth day of the year already, and you need to give her an answer.”
After hearing this, he was in a daze for a long time. He couldn’t describe the feeling in his heart, only sensing bitterness at the root of his tongue. He lifted his wine cup and took a big gulp, but the more he drank, the more his sorrows multiplied. Lowering his head, he smiled bitterly, “Why is she waiting for me? Knowing there’s no hope, why does she continue to wait? All these years, I’ve been alone away from home, never thinking I still owed a debt of affection in Beijing. What does this mean?”
Perhaps he was used to freedom and suddenly felt pressure. His movements and expressions showed fatigue. Ding Yi glanced at Hong Ce, then asked Ru Jian hesitantly, “Third Brother isn’t happy? A woman as good as Hai Lan—meeting her is your blessing.”
“So a good woman has been ruined by me. If she had married someone else early on, having a family and children, comfortably being a wife, I wouldn’t feel so troubled.”
Hong Ce quickly consoled him: “Third Brother’s words aren’t sincere. If it were me, though I would feel self-reproach, I would feel even more fortunate. Since she’s still waiting, it shows she values sentiment and loyalty. Treating her ten or a hundred times better in the future, making up for the years you’ve owed her—that’s a man’s responsibility.”
Ru Jian looked at him blankly. “In my current state, what can I offer her? Wouldn’t it be better if she thought I was dead and found a good family to marry into, rather than having me fail her?”
Ding Yi was a woman, and women understand women’s hearts. To spend one’s youth waiting for someone, only for him not to appreciate it—anyone with a bit of pride couldn’t bear to live. She said angrily, “If Third Brother wants her to die, it’s not a difficult matter. Why waste so many words? Just send someone to kill her and be done with it.”
Ru Jian frowned, “What nonsense are you talking about? How could I want her dead?”
“Your words are not much better than slow slicing. If I were her, the day after you said such things, I would find someone to marry, letting you regret it.” She turned to look at Hong Ce. “If you were Third Brother, would you speak like this when meeting her?”
Hong Ce shook his head. “No.”
“See? Even our Twelfth Prince knows. Some things you think are good for her, but you haven’t considered what she truly wants. She’s waited for you for over a decade. Those years have slipped through her fingers and can never be found again. It can’t be compensated by your casual remark that ‘I wish you had married a good family.’ You should say…”
She sucked her lip, thinking, but ran out of words, so she turned to Hong Ce for help. The Twelfth Prince was indeed the Twelfth Prince, his eloquence coming naturally: “Say that back then, I had no choice, but I never betrayed you. Day and night, I thought of you. You’ve waited for me until today—I know you’ve suffered greatly. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. The time we’ve lost, I’ll compensate bit by bit, as long as you’re not angry with me and are still willing to accept me. I swear in my life that from now on, I’ll love you, cherish you, and never leave your side.”
Their duet left Ru Jian dumbfounded. He had never even imagined such sticky sweet words. No wonder his sister was so devoted to the old Twelfth—this guy had a way with women!
He processed it with extreme difficulty. “I never betrayed you, day and night, I thought of you…”
Ding Yi felt tired just watching him. She supported her forehead and said, “Anyway, make her feel that the wait was worthwhile, that you appreciate her, and that you’ll stay with her for a lifetime. That’s right.”
He understood now, put down his chopsticks, and stood up. “Then I’ll go see her now.”
Hong Ce quickly said there was no rush. “With the New Year approaching, Suo Tao’s position isn’t high, but he’ll receive many cool gifts. If you visit abruptly, it might attract unwanted attention. Let me arrange things properly first. Using the name of the Seventh Prince’s side consort, we’ll invite Hai Lan into the Xian Prince Mansion, and then find a way to bring her out later.”
Ru Jian hesitated somewhat. “The Seventh Prince minds his own business. I fear it would be too much trouble for him.”
Hong Ce touched his nose, thinking to himself that as long as it concerned Ding Yi, the Seventh Prince’s enthusiasm was boundless. Not to mention lending a name—even if asked to vacate half of the Xian Prince Mansion, he wouldn’t hesitate.
At this point, Ru Jian’s thoughts seemed clear. Ding Yi could impart wisdom so earnestly—truly the manner of an experienced hand. What surprised her even more was Hong Ce’s cooperation. Previously, she had noticed he wasn’t talkative. She remembered when she first visited him to save Xia Zhi, that arrogant light on his face. Though well-disguised, it was there—engraved in his bones. At that time, she thought she would probably never have much interaction with such people in her lifetime. They were in different worlds—one in the ninth heaven, one in the dust—unable to reach each other no matter what. Who knew there would be so many miracles in this world? They still ended up together, allowing her to discover many previously unimagined endearing aspects of him.
She didn’t go to the Pure Prince Mansion; he had practically moved his study to her place. Of course, staying overnight was impossible—stealing moments of affection under Ru Jian’s nose would bring dishonor if caught. But being together made them both feel secure—that feeling of mutual dependence. What they thought didn’t need a laborious explanation; a single glance and the other understood.
He was very efficient. The next day, Ru Jian smoothly met Hai Lan. When Dai Qin returned to report, Ding Yi was removing Hong Ce’s forehead bandage to change his medicine.
“What do you think they’re doing now?” He was very curious about this, muttering, “After not seeing each other for so long, Ru Jian should take the initiative.”
Ding Yi twisted a hot towel to clean his wound, not fully understanding. She asked perfunctorily, “What are you trying to say?”
He smiled slightly. “Nothing. By all accounts, Ru Jian is not young anymore. He should understand.”
She looked at him suspiciously. “Understand what?”
He didn’t answer her, intending to touch his wound, but she pushed his hand away. “Don’t move. I just applied medicine. What are you touching for? Your hands are dirty.”
He was always extremely clean, yet there were times when she could reproach him! He spread his five fingers for her to see. “I washed them. Earlier, after trimming the potted plants, I used soap several times.”
She said nothing, took his hand, and put his index finger in her mouth. Hong Ce looked at her in astonishment. She maintained her calm demeanor, finished applying the medicine, and carefully covered the wound with the forehead band. His fingertip was warmly enveloped; she continued holding it in her mouth, reminding him of how the Grand Empress Dowager held her pipe.
“Ding Yi,” he was restless, “what are you doing?”
She gave him an alluring glance. “You said they were clean. I was trying to check.”
He swallowed with difficulty. “There’s no need for such a test.” He stood up, placing both hands on her shoulders, looking at her with tender affection. “Ru Jian isn’t home. If I’m not mistaken, he won’t return for at least half an hour.”
Her face subtly flushed. “And then?”
“Then…” He traced her lips with his finger, from the corner to the peak, moving bit by bit. “We steal half a day of leisure.”
Men often liked to scheme about such things. Ding Yi smiled shyly but didn’t respond to his suggestion. Instead, she took his hand and led him outside, pointing toward the inner courtyard. “The plum tree in the courtyard bloomed today. It snowed earlier this morning. Let’s go appreciate the plum blossoms.”
He had no choice but to wait for someone to bring crane-patterned cloaks, and the two walked together onto the corridor.
The back courtyard had a small garden. Though it couldn’t compare to the prince’s mansion garden, it was exquisitely compact, with artificial mountains and waterside pavilions. The plum tree stood beside the artificial mountain, blooming brilliantly in the northwestern wind. Fine snow covered the branches—beneath the pure white, spots of crimson red—increasingly displaying a beauty that seemed to want to speak yet held back. She stood under the tree. The day was too cold, her face frozen stiff, yet she smiled as brilliantly as the morning glow, murmuring, “How beautiful! Our family once had such a tree, even larger than this one. My brothers loved to play the role of scholars, having chess sets placed under the tree, and sitting in the snow to play… In a flash, so many years have passed. Of three brothers, only one remains.” Her tone was filled with endless melancholy.
He stood beside her, turning his head with a slight smile. “There’s gain and loss. Haven’t you gained me?”
“Indeed.” She sighed deeply, her breath forming clouds. “Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve. The government offices will be closed. You’ll go to the garden to accompany the Great Emperor for the year-end farewell, right?”
He made an affirmative sound. “I had thought to bring you along, but the rules in Changchun Garden are strict. It won’t be possible this year—perhaps next year! I’ll return late, so I won’t come here, to avoid disturbing you. I’ll come again on the first morning of the New Year to take you to the Eastern Peak Temple for the temple fair.”
She agreed. A cluster of fine snow fell from the branches. She extended her hand to catch it, holding it in her palm. Before she could examine it closely, it had already collapsed.