Chapter Forty-Four: The Moonlit Return Journey

The news of Cao Jin's capture and Wen Shichang's arrest spread like wildfire along official roads, post stations, and canal waterways, reaching all of Jiangnan in less than half a month.

The news spread like wildfire through the streets and alleys of Yangzhou. In teahouses and taverns, storytellers vividly recounted this thrilling court intrigue, drawing cheers from the audience.

When the news finally reached the Shen family, it was just after the Qingming Festival.

Willow catkins drifted like snowflakes throughout Yangzhou, and peach and plum blossoms bloomed in abundance. The aroma of new tea, mingled with the moist air, permeated every street and wharf along the banks of the Grand Canal.

This famous city in southern China, which prospered because of the salt industry, is even more charming and beautiful under the embellishment of spring.

Inside the study of the Shen family mansion, Shen Rulan was sitting upright in front of a large sandalwood desk, handling salt affairs.

Today she was wearing a moon-white Hangzhou silk long gown, with a plaster-colored Ning silk jacket over it, and a jade belt around her waist.

A thick ledger of salt permits lay spread out on the table, a vermilion pen hovering at his fingertips, about to mark the "March Salt Tax Receipts" column.

The occasional chirping of orioles outside the window added a touch of spring to the tranquil study.

Just then, Shen Fu didn't even have time to announce his arrival; he practically stumbled as he pushed open the door and entered.

The usually composed old steward was now beaming, his voice trembling with excitement: "Young Master! Urgent dispatch from the capital! Cao Jin has been captured, and Wen Shichang has also been apprehended! Miss Su... Miss Su will be setting off back to Yangzhou in three days!"

With a "whoosh," the vermilion pen drew a long red mark on the ledger, like a string that had been taut for a long time finally snapping.

Shen Rulan stared blankly at the glaring red mark, her fingertips trembling uncontrollably—Mo Qing was coming back! The person who had kept her worried day and night, the person who haunted her dreams, was finally coming back safely!

She slowly put down her pen, got up, and walked to the window.

The old plum tree in the courtyard has sprouted tender green leaves, which gleam with a lustrous sheen in the spring sunshine.

She gazed at the vibrant greenery, her voice low and hoarse: "Prepare the car, we're going to Pingshan Hall."

Outside Pingshan Hall, the Grand Canal stretches out in a vast expanse of blue water, with cargo ships like a woven tapestry.

Shen Rulan stood alone under the century-old ginkgo tree, looking up at the tender leaves just beginning to bloom on the branches.

Sunlight filtered through the sparse leaves, casting dappled shadows on her dark blue robe.

A gentle breeze rustles the new leaves, as if whispering of longing after parting.

On the distant canal, the sails of the grain transport boats dot the water, and the boatmen's shouts drift on the wind, adding to the leisurely atmosphere of a spring day in Jiangnan.

She took out a plain brocade pouch from her bosom and poured out the letters she had treasured inside.

The paper was frayed at the edges from repeated rubbing, and only four simple words were written on it:

"The matter is settled, return the angelica."

The matter is settled, and the angel returns. These four simple words conceal months of harrowing, life-or-death struggles.

Her fingertips gently traced the delicate handwriting, and her eyes welled up with tears.

These days, she has been constantly worried about the situation in the capital, fearing that she might lose the person she longs for forever if she is not careful.

“Young Master,” Shen Fu said, hurrying over with the newly arrived letter in his hand. “Lin Xiao has sent a letter saying that Miss Su has bid farewell to the Imperial Concubine and will be traveling south on a fast canal boat in three days. She should arrive in Yangzhou in about ten days.”

Shen Rulan nodded slightly, her gaze still lingering on the new ginkgo leaves. Three days later, it would be the same day that she and Mo Qing had visited Pingshan Hall and enjoyed the spring scenery together last year.

Time flies, and so much time has passed since they parted. She remembers that at this time last year, Mo Qing was still painting under the ginkgo tree. Now, that time seems like a lifetime ago.

Meanwhile, inside the Forbidden City, the scene in the warm pavilion of Changchun Palace was quite different.

Su Moqing, dressed in a light purple palace gown with lotus patterns, her hair styled in an elegant double bun, with only a plain silver hairpin in her hair, was respectfully bidding farewell to the Imperial Concubine.

Holding a carefully framed scroll in her hands, she bowed slightly and said, “This humble woman thanks Your Majesty for your care and protection these past days, which has enabled me to safely overcome this calamity. Now that I am going to Yangzhou, I do not know when I will be able to see Your Majesty’s kind face again. Therefore, I present this humble work, ‘Eternal Spring,’ wishing Your Majesty good health and longevity.”

The Imperial Concubine took the scroll and slowly unfurled it. The painting depicted periwinkles in full bloom, their pink and purple hues interspersed, with a colorful phoenix hidden among the flowers, its wings shimmering with light yet retaining an air of elegance. She examined it carefully for a long time, her eyes revealing approval: "I remember when you first entered the palace, you said that the essence of painting lies in 'the imprint of the heart.' This painting of yours truly embodies those two words perfectly."

Su Moqing bowed her head respectfully and replied, "Your Majesty's teachings are always etched in my mind. This applies to painting as well as to being a person; only by treating each other with sincerity can we last."

The imperial concubine nodded and removed a lustrous jade bracelet from her wrist. The bracelet was exceptionally clear and vibrant green, a typical style made for the imperial court during the Qianlong era.

She took Su Moqing's hand and gently slipped the bracelet onto her wrist: "Keep this; consider it a keepsake from me."

Seeing that Su Moqing was about to decline, the Imperial Concubine gently pressed her hand down and whispered in her ear, "After returning to Yangzhou, please pass on a message to Shen Rulan for me." Her voice was very low, carrying an unmistakable meaning, "Tell her that I look forward to long-term cooperation with the Shen family. The Shen family's foundation in Jiangnan and my influence in the palace, if we support each other, can achieve a win-win situation."

Su Moqing understood that this was both a promise and a warning—as long as the Shen family focused on managing the Jiangnan salt business and did not get involved in factional strife, the Imperial Concubine would continue to protect the Shen family in the palace.

She replied respectfully, "This humble woman will certainly convey Your Majesty's words."

On the day I left the palace, a light drizzle fell.

Su Moqing sat in the green-curtained carriage and took one last look at the majestic palace walls.

The vermilion palace gates gradually blurred in the rain and mist; the cage that had imprisoned her for months was finally a thing of the past.

The carriage rolled along the cobblestone road, its wheels clattering, taking her away from this place filled with intrigue and scheming.

When the car reached the Shili Changting Pavilion on the outskirts of Beijing, she specifically ordered someone to stop the car.

Holding an oil-paper umbrella, she searched carefully by the roadside and finally found a newly sprouted orchid.

The new leaves are tender and green, glistening with raindrops, full of vitality.

She carefully wrapped the orchid, roots and all, in a handkerchief and put it into her bag—this was a gift she wanted to bring back to Yangzhou, so that this orchid from the capital could take root in the fertile soil of Jiangnan, just like her friendship with Shen Rulan, which crossed mountains and rivers to finally reach its fulfillment.

The journey home was exceptionally smooth.

Lin Xiao personally led the Shen family guards to escort them along the way, and at each post station or dock, someone was arranged in advance.

As the cargo boats traveled south along the canal, the scenery on both banks gradually changed, with the vastness of the north being replaced by the gentle beauty of the south.

The closer Su Moqing got to Yangzhou, the faster her heart beat. Her fingertips would often unconsciously rub the jade bracelet on her wrist, and the image of Shen Rulan would repeatedly appear in her mind—had she lost weight? Had the old plum tree in the Shen residence blossomed? Had the ginkgo tree in Pingshan Hall sprouted new green leaves?

On the evening of the tenth day, the grain transport boat finally entered the territory of Yangzhou.

As the sun sets, the surface of the canal is shimmering with countless golden sparkles, and the outline of the dock gradually becomes clear in the twilight.

Su Moqing eagerly boarded the bow of the ship, anxiously searching for that familiar figure in the crowd.

She spotted him immediately—on the dock, Shen Rulan stood with his hands behind his back, dressed in a moon-white long gown and a dark blue mandarin jacket.

The sunset cast a long, slender shadow on the bluestone slab, making her appear both lonely and resolute.

After several months apart, she seemed to have lost some weight, but her posture remained as upright as a pine tree, resembling an elegant ink painting in the twilight.

As soon as the boat docked, Chen Rulan strode forward.

The moment their eyes met, the surrounding noise seemed to freeze instantly.

The sounds of oars on the canal, the shouts at the dock, and the gentle whispers of the evening breeze all fade into the background, leaving only the person they longed for day and night in each other's eyes.

Su Moqing hurried off the boat, her skirt fluttering slightly in her haste.

Shen Rulan stepped forward, a thousand words churning in her throat, but in the end, they all boiled down to a simple greeting: "You're back?"

"You're back." Su Moqing nodded vigorously, her voice choked with emotion, and tears of joy streamed down her face.

The longing, worry, and fear of the past few months all turned into hot tears at this moment, sliding down her cheeks.

Shen Rulan reached out and gently brushed the dust from her temples, her fingertips lingering on her thin cheeks, her eyes full of heartache: "The ginkgo trees at Pingshan Hall have just sprouted. We promised to enjoy their blossoming and fruiting together last year, and we've finally made it in time this year."

"Perfect." Su Moqing took out the orchid from her bag. Its tender green leaves looked especially lovely in the setting sun. "I brought this orchid back from the capital. Shall we plant it in the courtyard, to keep the old plum tree company?"

“Okay.” Shen Rulan grasped her hand, her fingertips trembling slightly but firm. “From now on, we will plant orchids and admire plum blossoms together, see all the scenery of the four seasons, and never be apart again.”

By this time, the setting sun had completely sunk into the canal, and the last rays of the sunset gilded the two embracing figures.

As Shen Rulan gazed at the beautiful face of the person in her arms, all the worries, longing, and lingering fears of the past few days welled up in her heart.

She gently lifted Su Moqing's face and placed a precious and lingering kiss on her forehead. The kiss was tender and restrained, yet it was filled with months of longing and the joy of reunion.

Su Moqing tiptoed slightly and responded to the long-awaited kiss.

The evening breeze, carrying the fragrance of peach and plum blossoms, gently stirred their clothes.

This kiss in the afterglow of the setting sun is both a farewell to the hardships of the past and a promise to stay together in the future.

In the distance, fishing lights begin to appear on the canal, their reflections shimmering on the water and mingling with the sunset glow on the horizon.

After a long while, Shen Rulan reluctantly stepped back slightly, but still held her tightly in his arms, and whispered in her ear, "This time, I will never let you leave again."

Su Moqing nestled against her chest, listening to that familiar heartbeat, and softly replied, "Okay, we'll never be apart again."

At this moment, the gates of the Shen residence slowly opened, and Rong Mama, along with a group of servants, came out to greet them, all with joyful expressions: "Miss, you've finally returned safely! This old servant has prepared hot water and your favorite osmanthus cake!"

The evening breeze grew cool, the bright moon rose in the east, and its clear light, like a ribbon, gently enveloped the reunited lovers.

Su Moqing looked up at Shen Rulan's profile, outlined by the moonlight, and said softly, "This time, I'm not leaving."

"Okay." Shen Rulan held her hand even tighter, her eyes filled with unwavering determination and tenderness. "In this life and the next, we will stay together until we grow old and never be apart."

The moonlight grew even brighter, merging the two figures so closely that they could no longer be separated.

The shimmering canal, the distant lights, and the fragrance of flowers in the courtyard all bear witness to this night of reunion after enduring hardship.

The Shen Mansion was already brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and a festive atmosphere filled the air.

As Rong Momo directed the servants to prepare a sumptuous welcoming feast, an enticing aroma wafted from the kitchen, mingling with the fragrance of blooming peach and plum blossoms in the courtyard, creating a warm and touching scene.

That night, the lights of Yangzhou were exceptionally bright, and the melodious sounds of silk and bamboo instruments drifted from the painted boats on the canal, as if celebrating the happy ending of the two lovers.

In the deep courtyard of the Shen family mansion, two hearts that had endured hardships finally clung to each other, never wanting to be separated again.

The time for my return has come; I will spend the rest of my life with you.

(End of article)