Meeting old friends again, I was filled with emotion.

On this fine day in Jiangnan, Shen Qingci and Su Yunqing were tending to the flowers and plants in the courtyard. Wisteria vines hung down from the eaves, their blossoms cascading down. A breeze blew, and petals fell, clinging to their clothes. Su Yunqing was bending down to pick up the petals that had fallen onto the stone table when she suddenly heard a soft knock at the courtyard gate, carrying a hint of tentative warmth.

"Master, Madam, there is an elderly man outside who claims to be an old friend of yours, saying he comes from the capital." The servant announced, his eyes filled with curiosity—in the years since he retired, few old friends from the capital had come to visit him.

Shen Qingci's heart stirred, and she put down the flower shears in her hand: "Please come in quickly."

The door opened, and a slightly hunched yet vigorous figure slowly entered. His graying hair and beard were neatly combed, and he wore a worn blue cloth robe, which, though not luxurious, was clean and tidy. Shen Qingci stared intently, and the outline of the man's face seemed vaguely familiar. As the man drew closer, she suddenly recognized him: "It's you! Old Xiao?"

The man who arrived was none other than Xiao Mingyuan, the merchant who had accompanied him from Ningguta back to the capital years ago. Back then, Xiao Mingyuan was framed and exiled, but thanks to Shen Qingci's help along the way, he was able to reach the capital safely. Later, he returned to his old business and gradually gained a foothold in the business world.

Xiao Mingyuan strode forward, bowed deeply to the two of them, and said with barely concealed excitement, "Prime Minister Shen, Madam Su, how have you been? I have been searching for you for many years and have finally found out that you have retired to this place."

Su Yunqing quickly had a bamboo chair brought over and brewed freshly picked tea: "Mr. Xiao, please sit down. You must be tired from your journey. I never expected to see you again after all these years."

Steam rose from the teacup. Xiao Mingyuan held the teacup, his gaze sweeping over the scattered flowers and trees in the courtyard and the koi swimming in the pond. His eyes were filled with emotion: "Back then in the snowy Ningguta, I thought I would never set foot in the Central Plains again, let alone enjoy my old age. If it weren't for Prime Minister Shen's righteous words back then, clearing my name and lending me travel expenses to restart my business, I, Xiao Mingyuan, would have long been a lonely ghost in the wilderness."

Shen Qingci waved his hand, his fingertips tracing the rim of the cup: "That's all in the past. You were innocently implicated back then, and I was just fulfilling my duty as an official. Later, I heard that you had made great achievements in the business world and often helped the poor, so you have more merit than I have."

"Not at all," Xiao Mingyuan shook his head repeatedly. "I was merely imitating the Prime Minister's character. Over the years, I have traveled all over the country and heard people everywhere praising your kindness—the peace on the borders, the integrity of the court, the tax reductions, which one of them wasn't achieved through your painstaking efforts? The old folks in the capital all say that the prosperity of the Great Jing Dynasty is inseparable from your steadfast commitment as 'Lord Wenzhong'."

Mentioning the past, all three felt a pang of nostalgia. Xiao Mingyuan spoke of the current situation in the capital, and of his old friends who had fought alongside him against Li Linfu and Zhao Kang. Some had passed away, others had resigned from their posts and gone into seclusion, but Shen Qingci's reputation continued to be passed down among the people. Su Yunqing, on the other hand, spoke of the customs and traditions of Jiangnan, of tea picking in spring and the fragrance of rice in autumn, her tone filled with tranquility.

As the sun began to set, Xiao Mingyuan rose to take his leave. He took out a scroll from his bag and solemnly handed it to Shen Qingci: "This is a painting called 'Autumn Clearing in Jiangnan' that I acquired by chance many years ago. The scenery in the painting is quite similar to this place, so I have treasured it ever since. I brought it today to present to the Prime Minister, which can be considered as fulfilling my long-cherished wish."

Shen Qingci unrolled the scroll and saw distant mountains like dark eyebrows, rivers like ribbons, fishing boats singing at dusk, and wisps of smoke rising from chimneys—a scene that subtly echoed the Jiangnan landscape outside his courtyard. Unable to refuse, he accepted the painting and instructed his servants to prepare local new tea and dried bamboo shoots for Xiao Mingyuan to take back as a return gift.

They escorted Xiao Mingyuan to the door, the setting sun casting long shadows of the three of them. Xiao Mingyuan turned and waved, "Prime Minister, Madam, take care of yourselves! I will come again next spring to enjoy tea and admire the plum blossoms with you."

Shen Qingci and Su Yunqing stood side by side under the gate, watching their old friend's departing figure, and smiled at each other. As time passed, their friendship remained, and the bond forged through trials and tribulations, like the flowers and trees in the courtyard, grew richer and more enduring with the nourishment of time.