In the warm pavilion, dishes were gradually set out. The two sat by the table as Wu Zhen introduced each exquisite dish to Mei Zhuyu. There weren’t many dishes, just enough for two, but each was meticulously prepared, appealing in appearance, aroma, and taste. One dish in particular, “Winter Plum in Snow,” featured white plum blossoms floating in a milky fish soup. Mei Zhuyu thought they were real plum blossoms for decoration until Wu Zhen spooned one out for him. Upon tasting it, he discovered it was intricately carved tofu, so lifelike it could be mistaken for real flowers.
“How is it? Not bad, right? I came up with this dish last year and asked them to make it, but it wasn’t successful then. I didn’t expect they’d manage it this year. The flower shape is quite good, though the taste is lacking a bit,” Wu Zhen commented critically after tasting one.
Mei Zhuyu, unable to discern any flaws in the flavor, silently continued eating. He didn’t quite understand these refined Chang’an natives and their tastes.
After a while, a servant brought a pot of wine. Seeing this, Mei Zhuyu said, “No wine today.”
The servant hesitated, but Wu Zhen quickly coughed and waved her hand, saying, “It’s already here, bring it over.” The servant then smiled and placed the wine before Wu Zhen, explaining, “Knowing you had reserved the Plum Garden today but didn’t order plum wine, our mistress found it curious and sent over a pot of new wine.”
Wu Zhen lifted the lid and took a light sniff, praising, “Your mistress’s wine-making skills are truly improving. This is made from the jade plums by the lake, isn’t it? The fragrance is somewhat different.”
“As expected of you, to recognize it with just one smell. If it were up to us servants, they’d all seem the same. We couldn’t distinguish between so many different types.”
After delivering the wine, the servant left. Wu Zhen turned to see Mei Zhuyu had already put down his chopsticks and was quietly watching her. Wu Zhen coughed again, “I’m not going to drink it, just enjoy the aroma…”
Mei Zhuyu: “If you want to drink, have one cup. It should be fine.” Seeing Wu Zhen’s longing expression, he couldn’t bear it and hesitantly suggested.
Unexpectedly, Wu Zhen became even more serious, “How could I? If I can’t drink, then I can’t drink.” She then poured a cup of wine and pushed it towards Mei Zhuyu, “You drink it, consider it drinking on my behalf.”
Mei Zhuyu shook his head but picked up the cup and drank it all. Over the past year, Wu Zhen had taught him to appreciate wine. Though not as skilled as Wu Zhen, he had become a good student and could discern the quality.
Wu Zhen exclaimed, “Oh no! You drank it all at once. You’ve missed out on so many flavors. This wine should be savored slowly, sip by sip.”
She then leaned in and kissed her husband’s lips.
After demonstrating how to savor slowly, Wu Zhen pulled back slightly, still wanting more, and said, “Is this wine a bit sweet? It shouldn’t be. Did they change the brewing recipe?” Her eyes fell on the half-finished lotus soup in Mei Zhuyu’s bowl, and she realized, “Ah, the lotus soup is sweet. You must have eaten some before drinking the wine, that’s why it tastes sweet.”
“A miscalculation,” she said, handing Mei Zhuyu a cup of water. “Here, rinse your mouth and have another cup of wine so I can taste it properly.”
Mei Zhuyu, who had been sitting rigidly without reaction: “…”
Sighing deeply, Mei Zhuyu took the cup of water and set it aside on a small table. He then took the pot of wine, stood up, and walked out. He returned shortly after, empty-handed, sat back down, and finished the remaining half spoon of sweet lotus soup in his bowl. Then — he lifted Wu Zhen’s chin and leaned in to kiss her.
After releasing Wu Zhen, Mei Zhuyu continued eating, his face expressionless but his ears slightly red. In contrast, Wu Zhen, who had been kissed, rested her chin on her hand, smiling openly as she watched him. She even smacked her lips and said to him, “Don’t you think today’s lotus soup is too sweet?”
Mei Zhuyu ladled her a large bowl of lotus soup.
Wu Zhen clicked her tongue, “Fine, if you won’t talk to me.” She picked up the bowl and began eating leisurely.
Mei Zhuyu pursed his lips, a hint of a smile in his eyes, “Eat more, Elder Sister.”
Wu Zhen: “Pfft, cough cough!”
When they left the Plum Garden, Wu Zhen had a cart of wine sent back home. Faced with Mei Zhuyu’s surprised look, Wu Zhen said shamelessly, “This is for entertaining guests at the child’s one-month celebration.”
Then, using this excuse, she stockpiled a large amount of wine from various places, filling an entire room in the back courtyard of the Mei residence.
“Besides the one-month celebration, there’s also the first birthday celebration. It’s better to prepare early to avoid last-minute rushing.” Wu Zhen’s “foresight” was quite unreasonable, but Mei Zhuyu had no grounds to stop her, so he let her be. However, he couldn’t help but sigh every time he saw Wu Zhen eyeing the wine storage room.
“If you want to drink, you can have a little. I won’t tell them.”
Wu Zhen wiped her drool and righteously refused, “I said I wouldn’t drink, so I won’t. Don’t tempt me to make mistakes!” Elder Sister had asked her husband to watch her and not let her drink, but this watchman had so easily switched sides. Now she had to rely on her willpower, Wu Zhen grumbled inwardly.
As the New Year approached, Wu Zhen could no longer hide away and sleep lazily. This time of year was always her busiest, given her many friends across Chang’an. Besides the various ceremonial exchanges, visiting each other was necessary, not to mention the numerous gatherings. Everyone had been scattered far and wide throughout the year, and now that they were finally back, it was natural to gather for drinks and chats.
Coincidentally, the demon market was also busy during the New Year. After winter, when all things wither, spirits and monsters living in the wilderness would try to absorb human energy by infiltrating Chang’an city. If they behaved, Wu Zhen usually turned a blind eye, allowing them to spend the winter in the city. The trouble was with those who caused mischief and harm to people after entering the city; these needed to be eliminated.
Mei Zhuyu naturally wouldn’t let her chase demons alone. He took on almost all of her tasks. As a result, Wu Zhen, who usually spent every winter night braving the cold to beat up monsters all over Chang’an, only needed to make a few rounds this year, without even having to act herself.
After the busy New Year passed, before the court reopened, everyone enjoyed the unique leisure and excitement of the holiday period. As usual, Wu Zhen woke up all the demon generals at the entrance of the demon market, letting them patrol and cover her and Snake Lord’s duties, allowing herself a few days of relaxation.
Her belly had grown quite large. One day, Mei Zhuyu suddenly noticed a small bump on her stomach. Under his astonished gaze, Wu Zhen expertly patted her belly, saying, “Don’t fuss, behave yourself.”
Mei Zhuyu: “Can he move?”
Wu Zhen: “Of course he can move. He’s been moving for a while now.”
Mei Zhuyu: “… Does he move because he wants to come out?”
Wu Zhen: “It’s not time for him to come out yet. I think he’s just bored.”
Mei Zhuyu stared at her belly but saw no more movement. He was puzzled: “Why have I never seen him move before?”
Wu Zhen wasn’t sure either, “Actually, he’s quite well-behaved when you’re around. He usually doesn’t move then.” Seeing Mei Zhuyu’s peculiar expression, Wu Zhen held back a laugh and praised him, “As expected of my husband, the child fears you even before birth!”
Daoist Mei didn’t want his child to fear him at all, though his face didn’t show it.
Daoist Mei’s mood remained low until the night of the Lantern Festival. Wu Zhen went out with him to the streets. The Lantern Festival was the liveliest festival of the year, even more so than the New Year, because, during New Year, people stayed indoors with family, while during the Lantern Festival, everyone went out to celebrate with both acquaintances and strangers.
Huge lantern wheels and towers had already been set up, with colorful lanterns hanging from trees on both sides. Many households had set up offering tables to worship the Heavenly Official. Some people carried various deity statues around the city, beating gongs and drums, singing and shouting blessings for a year of good weather and peace throughout the land.
Taoist and Buddhist temples were bustling with worshippers, their large incense burners filled with burnt incense sticks. Even at night, smoke could be seen curling up all over Chang’an, and the scent of burning incense filled the air.
Dancers in colorful celestial costumes walked on stilts, holding various flower lanterns, moving nimbly through the crowds. In the night’s lamplight, they looked like a group of celestials floating in the wind from afar.
The sound of drums and music came from behind high walls, where noble families had invited musicians and actors to perform variety shows. Common people had gathered early around the stages set up not far from the palace walls. These continuous stages, though not yet occupied by performers, were already surrounded by dense crowds.
Usually, the area around the palace walls was off-limits to ordinary people, but the Lantern Festival was different. The city gates remained open, allowing people to approach the city walls. Stages were permitted to be set up in this vast open area. It was said that if the mood struck them, the emperor and nobles in the palace might watch these street performances from the corner towers of the city walls.
Wu Zhen and Mei Zhuyu also came to the area. Seeing someone selling tangyuan from carrying poles, Wu Zhen bought two bowls of steaming rice balls and squatted down to eat on the noisy, cold night.
“Although it’s just common food, not as refined as what we’re used to, this is exactly what we should eat at times like this. We’re here for this ordinary experience, to enjoy this lively atmosphere,” Wu Zhen said as she picked out tangyuan from her bowl and put them into Mei Zhuyu’s, explaining matter-of-factly, “This one’s not sweet enough, lacks flavor. I won’t eat it.”
The gongs from the stage area started clanging, and Wu Zhen’s eyes lit up, “It’s starting, let’s go! Let’s go watch!”
Mei Zhuyu finished the last tangyuan and looked towards the stage, frowning, “There are too many people. Let’s not go over there and squeeze in.”
Wu Zhen linked arms with him, “Don’t you want to see?”
Mei Zhuyu was puzzled, “I don’t want to see.”
Wu Zhen smiled mysteriously, not explaining further, and just pulled him towards the crowd.
Of course, Mei Zhuyu didn’t know that Wu Zhen was remembering a little child who had gotten separated from his family on a winter day, holding back tears while searching everywhere, reaching the stage area only to be disappointed because he couldn’t see. She had thought then that if she were by his side, she would lift that poor little child to let him see clearly.
Mei Zhuyu protected Wu Zhen, making sure no one bumped into her. Just then, he felt a pair of arms encircle his waist, their owner attempting to lift him.
Mei Zhuyu stood firmly, unmoved, and looked down at Wu Zhen in confusion, “What are you doing?”
Realizing she couldn’t lift him, Wu Zhen quickly gave up and spread her hands innocently, “Nothing.”
Mei Zhuyu looked at the dense crowd around them, led Wu Zhen through the crowd to the back, and then lifted her entirely, “Now you can see.”