The room fell silent, with only their gazes speaking volumes, tenderly expressing feelings that outsiders couldn’t understand.
Ming Shu quietly looked at Lu Changxin.
They had known each other for over ten years, from childhood to now. She had admired him, liked him, and once given up on him.
She truly thought they would never meet again, that they would each marry others and fly high separately, perhaps only sighing with nostalgia if they remembered each other many years later.
In a prosperous place far across thousands of mountains and waters, there was the young man she had loved in her maiden years.
That young man who favored blue clothes, with his cool demeanor, frozen in time, would never age despite time flying like a white colt past the window.
Yet now, that young man was before her eyes. He looked even better in fire-red than in blue. He could laugh, worry, get angry, and scold people. He would grow up and grow old, not forever remaining just a portrait in her memories or someone she had imagined…
He had truly stayed by her side, experiencing dangers and daily life’s routines, vivid and bright.
Three years – she was willing to be his wife.
“Yes,” Ming Shu spoke, saying just one word.
Lu Changxin smiled.
“Youth is wonderful,” Wei Zhuo, seated nearby, was moved to comment, envying them.
But Madam Zeng walked down from her seat, looking at the kneeling Lu Changxin with an ambiguous smile: “This time, are you recognizing a sister?”
Without waiting for Lu Changxin’s reaction, she turned to Ming Shu: “And you, are you recognizing an elder brother and forming a bond of kinship?”
Uh… Ming Shu remembered her previous grand gesture of offering tea and recognizing family, and her pretty face immediately flushed.
“Mother.” Lu Changxin heard the teasing in his mother’s words and pleaded.
“You two have changed, haven’t you?” Madam Zeng only asked the two of them, and after seeing them both nod, she finally spoke, “I approve.”
Under her skirt, her foot lightly nudged Lu Changxin, and Ming Shu said: “Are you going to get up yet?”
Wei Zhuo watched and laughed heartily: “Already worried about him?” Then he said to Madam Zeng, “Only you would show no concern for your son.”
Madam Zeng feigned anger: “What use is my concern? All this going around in circles, it’s just them being young and restless. Now they’re like this, making me worry along behind them, how can I not be a bit angry?”
“As long as you don’t make yourself ill with anger. Let’s not mind them, let them carry on.” Wei Zhuo hurried to console her.
“Who’s ‘us’ with you?” Madam Zeng glanced at Wei Zhuo, her eyes flowing with charm.
Wei Zhuo thought that since the young couple’s matter was settled, he might as well take advantage of Lu Changxin’s momentum, so he just smiled at Madam Zeng but said to Lu Changxin: “Lu Changxin, perfect timing, I also have something to ask.”
Before he even spoke, Lu Changxin already understood.
Although he had previously entrusted Wei Zhuo in a time of danger, Wei Zhuo hadn’t taken advantage of the situation to force Madam Zeng under the pretense of protection. Now that everything was settled, he planned to formally propose.
“Whatever Uncle Wei asks, only needs Mother’s approval, and I will follow Mother’s wishes,” Lu Changxin said.
“Everything was fine, why drag me into it?” Madam Zeng had already turned away, not letting people see her face.
Wei Zhuo hurried after her, speaking softly to console her. Ming Shu giggled quietly, elbowed Lu Changxin gave him a meaningful look, and the two walked out of the room side by side.
The snow hadn’t stopped, and the rocks and plants in the courtyard were all frost-white. Ming Shu stood on the stone steps before the corridor, stretching out her hands to catch snowflakes, watching them melt in her palms.
“Are you cold?” Lu Changxin held her hands and breathed on them near his lips.
Her hands were ice-cold.
Ming Shu suddenly pulled them back and pressed her cold hands to his cheeks, smiling with curved eyes.
“Cold,” she said, rubbing his face. “Lu Changxin, I’m sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing?” He let her do as she pleased, reaching up to brush away snowflakes that had landed in her hair.
“You spent ten years of effort to achieve your current position, but now because of me, it’s all gone to waste, and you’re demoted to Zhangyang. I…”
“Ming Shu, don’t think like that. How can one go through decades of life without trials? We’re both still young – you’re like a phoenix reborn, so why can’t I start anew? Being posted to Zhangyang may be a demotion, but isn’t it also a test for me? I will achieve results that will make people look at me differently. You mustn’t worry about me. When I return to the capital then, it won’t be comparable to now.” Lu Changxin said.
Currently, he had only the title of Top Scholar but lacked experience in officialdom. After he returned from his three-year posting having achieved something, that would truly be the time for important appointments.
Seeing Ming Shu still somewhat melancholic, he added: “Besides, I was originally just a poor scholar. If things don’t work out, I could resign and return to Jiangning to be your accountant, how about that?”
Ming Shu burst out laughing: “What? Now you’re complaining that I’m using wealth to pressure you?”
“I was wrong, alright?” Lu Changxin lowered both hands to encircle her waist, pulling her into his embrace as he laughed, then asked her, “When are you returning to Jiangning?”
Now that Cao Hai and Gao Shicai had been brought to justice, she should return to Jiangning to pay respects to her father.
“When this snow melts, I’ll return to Jiangning,” Ming Shu said quietly.
After returning to Jiangning, she probably wouldn’t return to Bianjing for a long time.
Besides needing to arrange memorial services anew for her father and others who died at the Jian residence, she also needed to stay in Jiangning to revive the Jian brand. Over the past year, due to what happened to the Jian family, most shops had closed, and the Jian name was almost disappearing from Jiangning.
She would return to Jiangning, he would go to Zhangyang – they would be apart for three long years.
“I’ll escort you back to Jiangning before going to take up my post in Zhangyang,” Lu Changxin nodded. They each had their own goals to strive for.
Fortunately, they were still young.
“Thank you.” Ming Shu rested her head lightly on his shoulder, still stretching her hands out beyond the corridor.
Snow fell into her palms, melting in an instant.
The cold of winter would eventually pass.
The heavy snow continued for many days, and after it stopped, everything in sight was a vast expanse of frost-white.
In such cold weather, gathering around the stove was best.
A small clay stove with charcoal fire supported a bronze pot, the soup bubbling as fresh meat was added. The meat was delicious and the soup fragrant – eating it warm made one feel completely comfortable in body and soul. Inside and outside the room were like two different worlds.
The colder it was outside, the warmer it was inside.
What was warm was not just the soup, but also the heat from cheerful conversation and laughter.
“I’m afraid I won’t make it to Shujun’s wedding, but don’t worry, I’ll have someone send a grand gift,” Ming Shu said, her cheeks red from eating. She had already removed her heavy outer robe, but even in just her lined garment, her back was already sweating.
About to return to Jiangning, she had found an opportunity to meet with Wen An and Yin Shujun for a small gathering, to return the silver they had previously pooled together for her, and to say goodbye.
“Who needs your gifts?” Yin Shujun pursed her lips happily, though there was faint sadness in her eyes. “I just… will miss you.”
As she spoke, her eyes reddened.
“Why are you crying? She’s not useless! She’s going back to inherit the business, not like last time… Stop crying!” Wen An pushed Yin Shujun away disgustedly, but still handed her a handkerchief.
Ming Shu stood up, sat between the two of them, and wrapped her arms around them both, saying: “Don’t be like this, it’s just a short separation. I still want to bring the Jian brand to the capital, so I’ll return. Besides, there’s still Mantang Hui. Look on the bright side – in the future, Mantang Hui’s gold items will be supplied by me, and it will become the capital’s premier gold shop!”
As she spoke, her expression was animated, full of ambition, more vigorous than the boiling soup on the clay stove.
As she spoke, she hugged them tighter, her eyes curved in smiles.
“A short separation makes reunion sweeter! Wait for my return.”
The New Year approached again, and the streets and alleys of Bianjing were already filled with a strong festive atmosphere.
Ming Shu brought two boxes of new pastries from Feng Tower to visit Lady Xu at the Duke’s mansion. Lady Xu received Ming Shu in the main room of her own courtyard, feeling waves of emotion when she saw her. She had also learned about what happened at the Great National Temple and Lin Wan’er and Tang Li’s plot – Ming Shu had saved her again.
Lady Xu had very mixed feelings about Ming Shu.
Ming Shu had once been Lady Xu’s chosen daughter-in-law candidate, but later when it was revealed she was a merchant’s orphaned daughter, the difference in social status was too great, and Lady Xu’s heart had cooled. However, considering everything that had happened and Song Qingzhao’s feelings, Lady Xu had originally planned to grit her teeth and accept it for her son’s sake, but then Song Qingzhao had said… never mind.
The girl was someone who inspired sympathy and affection, a good girl, but fate was shallow. Even if she had to be the villain as an elder, she would help them let go.
Ming Shu was returning to Jiangning, making Lady Xu feel even more emotional.
After talking with Lady Xu for a while, Ming Shu took her leave, and Lady Xu ordered Song Qingzhao to escort her.
Since she was leaving, proper goodbyes should be said.
Song Qingzhao wore a moon-white robe to escort her out of the mansion.
Perhaps because he had worked in the Hanlin Academy for some time, he had gained some of an official’s steadiness and was no longer as cold as when they first met. The two walked very slowly through the now-flowerless Hundred Flower Garden when Song Qingzhao suddenly stopped.
“When are you leaving?” He had already heard about her returning to Jiangning.
“In spring. When the snow melts, the roads will be easier to travel,” Ming Shu replied.
Song Qingzhao nodded, looked up at the tree beside them, and asked her: “Do you remember this tree?”
Ming Shu raised her head accordingly — the tree beside them now had only bare branches.
“This is… a peach tree? What about it?” she asked in confusion.
Song Qingzhao smiled again – she recognized the peach tree but didn’t remember what had happened beneath it.
If on that Dragon Boat Festival, he had confessed his feelings, who knows if his relationship with Ming Shu would have turned out differently.
The events in Lin’an, the Jian family case, Lu Changxin’s dedication – he knew it all, and there was no place for him to intervene.
Their mutual love, he envied it. The fair competition they had agreed upon – in the end, he still lost to fate.
“I remember now, you gave me a longevity thread here,” Ming Shu spoke up. She remembered the young man who had once made her heart flutter under the peach blossom tree that day.
She thought for a moment, then said frankly: “Qingzhao, thank you. You are one of the few good men in this world, and that you regarded me especially was my honor.”
“What good is being good if I couldn’t win your heart?” Song Qingzhao’s eyes dimmed slightly. “Ming Shu, what Lu Changxin did for you, I could also…”
He just never had the chance to prove it.
“Qingzhao, I believe you. Lu Changxin is very good, and you are very good too. You are both unique people in this world, neither inferior to the other in any way. What Lu Changxin accomplished, if it were you, you could have done the same – I’ve never doubted this. Please don’t belittle yourself. Guard your heart well, keep your passion intact, and give it completely to your future wife.”
He deserved complete and unreserved love, while she was destined to be just a passerby he met in his youth.
They would both grow up, meet more people, and have broader horizons. They had brushed past each other, but he would definitely let go of this obsession when he met the right person, and then he would be able to embrace love.
Life is like a journey, walking along, gaining, and losing along the way.
“I’ll take your blessing.” Song Qingzhao suddenly felt that Ming Shu was more open-minded than him – even in rejection, she spoke so frankly.
“I should go now.” Ming Shu smiled.
“Let me walk you back.” Song Qingzhao returned her smile.
Ming Shu shook her head: “No need, Lu Changxin is waiting for me outside.”
Lu Changxin had brought her here today but hadn’t entered the Song mansion, giving her time to say goodbye to Song Qingzhao.
“That’s fine then, I’ll say goodbye here.” Song Qingzhao stopped. “Let’s part here, take care of yourself.”
“You too, farewell.” Ming Shu bowed slightly and turned to leave.
Her plain figure, in Song Qingzhao’s gaze, seemed to merge with the vast snowy landscape and disappear from sight.
Because both Lu Changxin and Ming Shu would be leaving the capital after the new year, Imperial Guard Commander Wei Zhuo’s wedding was moved forward.
His marriage to Madam Zeng was arranged very low-key, with almost no noble households in Bianjing receiving invitations. This was Madam Zeng’s wish — since they had both been married before, there was no need for grand celebrations that would make the whole city aware; everything should be kept simple.
Although simple, the proper ceremonies couldn’t be neglected.
The three letters and six etiquette ceremonies all followed the proper customs for a primary wife.
On the wedding day, the Minister of the Imperial Household sent a generous gift to congratulate them on their marriage.
That night, Lu Changxin went to see Lu Wenhan.
Lu Wenhan pulled him to drink until they were both senseless. The young man had grown old, and in the end, was just an ordinary person among the masses.
A few days after Wei Zhuo and Madam Zeng’s wedding came the New Year. Ming Shu and Lu Changxin stayed at the Commander’s mansion to spend New Year’s Eve with Wei Zhuo and Madam Zeng. Lu Changxin bought many firecrackers and fireworks for her, and they stood in the courtyard playing with fireworks while Wei Zhuo and Madam Zeng watched from afar under the corridor.
Whoosh—
A silver star soared into the sky, exploding at the zenith like a blooming flower, or like flying fireflies scattering into the night.
Ming Shu stood under the fireworks clapping and cheering, her smile flickering in the firelight more beautiful than the fireworks, perfectly captured in Lu Changxin’s watching eyes, from his eyes straight to his heart.
The night passed this way, and in the blink of an eye, it was a new year.
On the third day of the New Year, before the holiday season had ended, Lu Changxin and Ming Shu set out on their journey back to Jiangning.
They had entered the capital in spring, and they left it in spring as well.