When Wu Zhen’s vision cleared, she looked up at Mei Zhuyu, whose eyes were bright and calm—without a hint of redness.
Wu Zhen took hold of one of his hands and playfully waved her fingers, stirring up a gust of wind and sand. As expected, Mei Zhuyu used his remaining hand to shield her eyes, but this time, his eyes remained clear, though the area behind his ears turned slightly red.
It seemed this method wouldn’t work. Wu Zhen pondered what to do next; she couldn’t just make him cry like she did with Mei Si. The boys in Mei Si’s group were used to her odd antics and didn’t dare question her, but Mei Zhuyu… was a serious young man. If she wanted him to cry, she needed to give him a reason first.
She needed to create an unexpected situation.
The sky had been overcast for a long time, and it finally began to rain. At first, it was just a few light drops, but moments later, it turned into a torrential downpour, with heavy raindrops pounding the ground and splashing up water and mist. Passersby were caught off guard, quickly becoming drenched.
Wu Zhen and Mei Zhuyu found themselves trapped on the road. They had intended to take a casual stroll together, but with the sudden rain, they had to seek shelter under the eaves of a nearby house. Mei Zhuyu’s horse was also led under the eaves, shielding Wu Zhen from the rain that was blowing in. Despite their quick escape, they still got a bit wet.
Wu Zhen was somewhat distracted, thinking about how to make the young lord cry, while Mei Zhuyu was focused on her, noticing the water splattered on her head and clothes. After hesitating for a moment, he reached out to wipe her hair dry, pulling back his outer sleeve to use the white inner garment. Wu Zhen snapped back to reality, and seeing him dripping wet while trying to dry her hair made her suddenly laugh.
She pulled his hand down. “It’s fine, you don’t need to do that.” Then she turned and knocked on the door of the house behind her.
The door opened, and the servant, upon seeing her, quickly swung it wide. “It’s Lady Wu! What brings you here in such heavy rain? Come in, come in!”
Wu Zhen replied, “Is your master and mistress at home? We passed by and came to avoid the rain.”
“Yes, yes! You two come in quickly! I’ll take care of your horse,” the servant said, ushering them inside.
Wu Zhen took Mei Zhuyu’s hand and followed the servant into the house. She showed no signs of politeness, acting as if it were her own home, and casually introduced Mei Zhuyu to the courtyard. “Do you see those peonies? They’re called Yin Hong Zhu Zhao. The flowers are as big as a bowl, and one branch can bloom six flowers. They’re a rare variety, but unfortunately, they haven’t bloomed yet. We’ll have to wait a few more days.”
“Come this way; at this time, that lazy couple is hiding in their room.”
Mei Zhuyu suddenly pulled into the house and was a bit dazed. He looked around and asked, “Do you know the owner of this place?”
Wu Zhen replied, “Yes, I know both of them.” She had played with them in the past, but after they married, the husband found a job and became busy, while the wife, being shy, felt awkward joining their group of unmarried friends, so their interactions decreased.
As Mei Zhuyu listened to her casual introduction, he couldn’t help but realize that her reputation for having friends all over Chang’an was indeed well-deserved. Even when seeking shelter from the rain, they ended up in the homes of acquaintances.
Finally, the owners, Song Langjun and his wife Fu Niangzi heard the commotion and came out. Upon seeing Wu Zhen, the plump Fu Niangzi, with her round, fair face, beamed with joy and rushed over.
“Zhen Jie! It’s been so long since I last saw you!”
Song Langjun quickly pulled his wife back, whispering, “Have some awareness; didn’t you see the young man beside Zhen Jie?”
Only then did Fu Niangzi notice Mei Zhuyu. “Oh my! Could this be Zhen Jie’s fiancé? This is my first time meeting him!”
Song Langjun chuckled, a bit smug. “I’m not meeting him for the first time; I’ve seen him several times.” He worked in the Ministry of Personnel as a Right Supplementary Official. Although he didn’t often interact with officials from the Ministry of Justice, they were still colleagues in the same court.
Wu Zhen watched them whispering and laughed. “Little Fu, you’re not very observant. I see your husband isn’t much better. Look at us; our clothes are dripping wet, and you’re just standing there?”
Song Langjun slapped his forehead and quickly led them to change clothes. Halfway there, Fu Niangzi pulled Wu Zhen aside, saying, “Zhen Jie, this silly Song Langjun forgot you’re a lady! How could you follow them? You should come with me!”
Mei Zhuyu silently sighed in relief. He had seen Wu Zhen preparing to enter the room with him to change clothes and was conflicted, almost unable to remind her. Thankfully, someone intervened.
Wu Zhen followed Fu Niangzi to change clothes. Since Fu Niangzi only had women’s garments, Wu Zhen had to make do. Fu Niangzi was plump, so Wu Zhen found the clothes a bit loose, but since she was slightly taller, she managed to pull them off. Like many young women, Fu Niangzi loved to wear bright, colorful dresses, so Wu Zhen chose a less gaudy light pink dress and paired it with a silver-red shawl. After drying her hair a bit, she casually tied it up.
Fu Niangzi held out a pomegranate-red long skirt that Wu Zhen had declined, looking regretful. “Zhen Jie, I have two new-made ornaments; why don’t you wear one? And this skirt—at least put a sachet or a fragrant pendant on it. Your hairstyle looks too plain without any embellishment. I recently made some new jewelry; take a look!”
Wu Zhen watched her circle around, clearly reluctant to let it go. She clicked her tongue and turned to see a few pink peonies on the dressing table. She snipped a small one and tucked it into her hair.
“Is this better?”
Fu Niangzi clutched her chest, nearly losing her breath at Wu Zhen’s smile. “Zhen Jie, you look so beautiful!” With Wu Zhen’s good looks, she was stunning no matter what.
Wu Zhen preferred wearing neat round-collared robes, and her graceful demeanor earned her compliments for being elegant. However, when she donned a dress, she exuded a different kind of charm, especially with her casual, effortless style and that half-smile on her face. Even Fu Niangzi felt her heart flutter, let alone the young lord who already held her in high regard.
Mei Zhuyu sat in the hall, gazing at the rain and the dim sky, when he heard footsteps approaching. He turned to see Wu Zhen walking toward him from the corridor. Her skirt flowed gracefully, the shawl billowing like a cascade, and a pink peony nestled in her dark hair, making her appear ethereal as she emerged from the shadows.
For a moment, the sound of the rain seemed to fade away. He watched her approach, feeling a bit dazed.
“Langjun,” Wu Zhen called out to him. When she saw him staring at her, she stifled a laugh and called again, prompting him to snap out of his reverie and turn his head. However, he quickly looked away, focusing on her shoes instead, and replied softly.
Wu Zhen lifted the damp edge of his robe. “Why haven’t you changed out of your wet clothes?”
As soon as she asked, she realized her mistake and tapped her forehead. “I forgot; you’re much taller than Song Langjun. You can’t wear his clothes, can you?”
Mei Zhuyu pulled his wet robe away from her grasp and shifted to the side, trying to keep his dampness from getting too close to her. “I am a bit taller, and the clothes don’t fit. It’ll dry in a while; it’s no problem.” Earlier, Song Langjun had fetched several outfits, but they were all too short for him, so he had to give up.
Wu Zhen gazed at his profile and reached out to turn his face toward her. “Is your inner garment soaked through?”
Mei Zhuyu shifted uncomfortably and shook his head. “No.”
He was still wearing the damp outer robe, but it had been wiped down, leaving his hair a bit tousled with a few strands falling beside his cheek. His hair seemed even darker than hers as if soaked in ink.
Wu Zhen considered herself a proper person and wouldn’t engage in deliberately teasing others. Yet, for some reason, she couldn’t help but want to touch this reserved young lord.
Ultimately, she let go of his face and sat beside him, both of them watching the rain outside.
“Have you ever cried when you were very sad?” she asked.
Mei Zhuyu was puzzled by her sudden question but answered, “I can’t remember clearly; I think I’ve only cried once.”
“Only once?”
“I probably cried before I could remember, but since then, I’ve only cried once.”
Wu Zhen thought to herself that this could be a bit troublesome.
As she contemplated how to make him cry, she caught a glimpse of Mei Zhuyu’s left hand trembling slightly. His hands were long and beautiful, at least more so than his face. Without thinking, Wu Zhen took his hand. “Why is it shaking so much? Are you cold?”
Mei Zhuyu had tried to hide his hand in his sleeve, but he hadn’t expected her to notice. After hesitating for a moment, he spoke the truth. “I’m not cold; it’s an old problem from years ago. Whenever it rains like this, my hand can’t help but shake.”
The day his parents died was also a rainy day like this. His hand had been soaked in their blood, and he remembered how it had instinctively clenched, crushing a heart. The sensation of trembling, the hot blood mixing with the cold rain, made his shaking unceasing. Over the years, others thought he had moved on, but only this hand, which would instinctively feel cold and tremble in the rain, reminded him that some things had not yet passed.
Mei Zhuyu took a deep breath, trying to control his hand and not draw too much attention to this strange affliction. Yet, as before, he found himself powerless against it.
Wu Zhen didn’t know what he was thinking; she only felt the hand she held trembling gently. That subtle, restrained movement made her feel as if she were holding a fragile little bird. The word “fragile” strangely appeared in her mind.
Wu Zhen tightened her grip on Mei Zhuyu’s left hand. “Don’t worry; the rain will stop soon.”
Mei Zhuyu replied softly, “Once the rain stops, it’ll be fine.”
In the back, Fu Niangzi and Song Langjun exchanged knowing glances, nudging each other and sharing a silent smile. Seeing Wu Zhen take the initiative to hold the young man’s hand was quite amusing.
Song Langjun led his wife to the back of the house, feeling somewhat reflective. “My colleagues all think Zhen Jie’s marriage is not a good match. I had that feeling too at first, but now seeing them sitting together holding hands, I think they’re quite suited.”
Fu Niangzi rolled her eyes. “Whether they’re suited or not doesn’t matter. As long as Zhen Jie is happy, that’s what counts. Her happiness is what makes it a good match.”
Song Langjun, hands behind his back, recalled something. “I thought Mei Langjun seemed hard to get along with, and I was worried Zhen Jie wouldn’t be able to connect with him.”
Fu Niangzi continued to roll her eyes. “You men are so clueless! Zhen Jie is tired of all the laughter and noise; finding a serious, steady young man isn’t a bad thing. Besides, can’t you see? Mei Langjun likes Zhen Jie. Just now, he was so mesmerized by her that he couldn’t speak for a long time.”
Song Langjun asked, “Really? I didn’t notice.”
Fu Niangzi exclaimed, “You men are so oblivious! Come on, let’s hurry and leave them alone for a while. In a few days, at Zhen Jie’s wedding banquet, we can show off to Mei Si and the others that Zhen Jie brought her fiancé to our home first!”