Snow Plum Garden (1)

Plum Blossom Garden, the Royal Villa... heavily guarded... but with the Empress Dowager and Gongsun Jinyao present, Xiao Chengyan would certainly not dare to act rashly...

All the key elements converged instantly, and a bold plan took shape in Gu Jinghong's mind—this time, she would take advantage of the chance encounter at Xuemei Garden to infiltrate the Jinwang Mansion once again!

Her eyes flashed with a sharp light, and her previous anxiety vanished. She lit the secret report on the candle and watched it turn to ashes, as if it had never existed.

Suddenly, her ears twitched slightly, as if she heard a noise outside the door. She then abruptly stood up, walked steadily to the door, and pulled it open. As expected, Xie Yan was still leaning against the pillar, looking at her with a hint of inquiry in his eyes—he had clearly heard the commotion of the Master's arrival.

"Xie Yan." Gu Jinghong's voice returned to its usual coldness.

Xie Yan raised an eyebrow, habitually flashing that playful smile: "Grand Secretary Gu, is there... something good to share?"

Gu Jinghong's lips curled into a very faint smile as he casually flicked away a bit of paper ash from his hand. "I just received news that your 'fairy descended to earth,' Gongsun Jinyao, will appear at the 'Plum Blossom Garden,' the royal villa in the west of the city, at Shenshi (3-5 PM) in three days."

Xie Yan's smile froze slightly—Gu Jinghong had proactively informed him of Gongsun Jingyao's whereabouts? Had the sun risen in the west?

She narrowed her phoenix eyes immediately: "Oh? The message was given? What was she doing there?"

Gu Jinghong downplayed the issue: "You don't need to worry about the source of the information; as long as it's reliable, that's fine. As for what she's going to do? Enjoy the plum blossoms? Take a break? Or... familiarize herself with the royal gardens beforehand? Aren't you going to pursue her? Instead of waiting passively, why not create opportunities? Three days from now will be a rare chance for a 'chance encounter'."

Seeing that Xie Yan did not react, Gu Jinghong continued, "What's wrong, Grand Secretary Xie? Could it be that... you're afraid of a young girl?"

Xie Yan remained silent, staring at Gu Jinghong for a moment, then twirled his jade flute, a hint of interest creeping into his gaze: "Afraid of a little girl? Minister Gu, you may not know this, but young girls these days are incredibly capable and quick-witted. I, Xie, am quite talented, and I'm quite the right person for you..."

He then changed the subject, saying, "I really like girls like that."

Gu Jinghong was speechless. Why was he doing this again?

Seeing Gu Jinghong's stiff expression, Xie suddenly felt a surge of joy: "It's rare for Minister Gu to be so concerned about my marriage, even sending me this message. What, have you come to your senses and are planning to lend me a hand, and then come over for a drink at my wedding?"

“I have no interest in your marriage,” Gu Jinghong coldly interrupted his teasing. “I just want you to take me there.”

Xie Yan was genuinely surprised this time, her voice rising an octave, "Take you there? Gu Jinghong, what are you up to now? Plum Blossom Garden is a royal villa, heavily guarded, not just anyone can enter. Me take you there? In what capacity? My... 'sworn sister'?"

He deliberately dragged out his words, bringing up the old story again.

Ignoring his sarcasm, Gu Jinghong stated firmly, "I have my own way of resolving the issue of my identity; you don't need to worry about it. You just need to take me inside so I can observe this future Grand Secretary's wife 'up close.' After all..."

She paused slightly, "She will also be one of the wives of the Grand Secretaries of Qianyuan Pavilion in the future. You know yourself and your enemy, don't you? I'll give you some advice so that you won't be blinded by beauty and ruin important matters for the pavilion."

This seemingly plausible reason made it difficult for Xie Yan to refuse outright.

Xie Yan remained silent for a long time, then looked at Gu Jinghong meaningfully.

He didn't believe a word of it! But Gu Jinghong was so persistent, even willing to reveal Gongsun Jinyao's whereabouts to go, there must be something extremely important to her there, or... a person?

Could it be Xiao Chengyan? The thought flashed through his mind, making him inexplicably uneasy.

"Heh," Xie Yan suddenly chuckled, breaking the silence. His smile carried a hint of knowingness, a touch of mischievous anticipation, and a hint of bitterness he himself didn't even realize. "Grand Secretary Gu, you've really gone to great lengths. Fine! Considering how 'concerned' you are about my future wife, I'll help you out! Meet me at the entrance of Plum Blossom Garden in three days from Shenshi (3-5 PM). I want to see what kind of tricks you, this 'appraiser,' can come up with!"

He readily agreed, but he had already made up his mind to keep a close eye on Gu Jinghong and see what she was really up to.

Having received an affirmative answer, Gu Jinghong said no more, only nodding slightly: "On time."

Then, with a "bang," she turned around and closed the door, cutting off Xie Yan's probing gaze.

Outside the door, Xie Yan's smile slowly faded, a deep glint flashing in his phoenix eyes. Plum Blossom Garden, Gongsun Jinyao, Gu Jinghong... and that unspoken "thing" that could make Gu Jinghong act so strangely... This plum blossom appreciation banquet seemed to be much more interesting than he had anticipated.

...

In the twelfth lunar month, the royal villa "Snow Plum Garden" is covered in silver.

A thousand plum trees bloom defiantly against the frost, their red blossoms like rouge, their white petals like the first snow, their subtle, cool fragrance wafting in the crisp air. The Empress Dowager, wrapped in a heavy black fox fur cloak and supported by palace maids, smiled as she watched the beautiful couple walking beside her.

Her grandson, Prince Jin, Xiao Chengyan, wore a dark blue brocade robe embroidered with gold cloud patterns, his figure as upright as a pine tree in the snow. However, on his incomparably handsome face, there was a lingering indifference and aloofness between his brows, as if the magnificent plum blossom sea before him, sculpted like ice and jade, had nothing to do with him.

Walking half a step beside Xiao Chengyan was Gongsun Jinyao, the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. She wore a pink satin jacket embroidered with gold butterflies and clouds, over which she wore a snow-white fox fur cloak, which made her small face look as white as jade and her eyebrows and eyes as beautiful as a painting.

She lowered her head slightly, her eyes filled with admiration and shyness, her gaze involuntarily drifting to the tall, aloof figure beside her. Her heart pounded like a deer's. To be able to enjoy the plum blossoms alone with the Prince Jin, whom she had long admired, personally arranged by the Empress Dowager, was an opportunity she had dreamed of.

"Yan'er," the Empress Dowager stopped and patted Xiao Chengyan's hand, her affection tinged with undeniable authority, "Grandmother is getting old and can't stand this cold wind. I need to go back to the warm pavilion to rest. You accompany Jinyao to stroll around the garden. Young people should get to know each other better."

She gave Xiao Chengyan a meaningful look, then smiled gently at Gongsun Jinyao, "Jinyao, the 'Green Calyx' in this garden is blooming beautifully. It's deep in the plum grove ahead. Let Yan'er take you to see it."

"Yes, Jinyao thanks the Empress Dowager for her grace." Gongsun Jinyao quickly curtsied, her voice sweet and clear, filled with barely suppressed joy.

Xiao Chengyan pursed his thin lips, his expression colder than the snow scene, and bowed, replying indifferently, "Grandson obeys."

Watching the Empress Dowager slowly depart, surrounded by palace attendants, Gongsun Jinyao's heart almost soared. She mustered her courage, raised her watery eyes to look at Xiao Chengyan, and said in a voice so soft it could melt water, "Your Highness...shall we go see Lü'e?"

"Hmm." Xiao Chengyan responded faintly, walking in the direction the Empress Dowager had pointed. His steps were steady and detached, yet unhurried, as if he were strolling while lost in thought. His gaze occasionally swept over the blooming plum blossoms on the branches, but his mind had already drifted far away—

Gongsun Jingyao's heart stirred slightly. She followed beside him, trying to find a topic to talk about, her voice soft and melodious: "Your Highness, look, this red plum blossom is so beautiful, reflecting the snow, doesn't it look like..."

She tilted her head slightly, her eyes sparkling as she carefully chose her words, "...Doesn't it resemble the most dazzling glass lantern on the painted boat during the Lantern Festival?"

However, Xiao Chengyan's steps did not falter in the slightest because of her words. His gaze did not even shift in the direction of her fingertips, remaining fixed on the snow-covered cobblestone path ahead, as if there were some urgent matters to be dealt with at the end of that winding path.

His jawline was taut, and he only managed a very short, almost drowned-out sound from his throat: "Hmm."

Gongsun Jingyao's smile froze for a moment, then she tried to maintain it, lifting her skirt and taking two quick steps. Her voice became even more deliberately soft, attempting to regain his attention: "Your Highness, the other day I learned a new piece called 'Searching for Plum Blossoms in the Snow,' I wonder..."

This time, Xiao Chengyan finally turned his head to the side, but his gaze swept across her carefully made-up face briefly, as if passing through an empty void. After a moment, he nodded very slightly, as if just waking up.

That perfunctory nod was like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the faint flame that had just ignited in Gongsun Jingyao's heart. Her steps involuntarily slowed as she watched his tall, aloof figure disappear into the distance amidst the red plum blossoms and white snow. Her earlier exhilaration, like a red plum petal crushed in the snow, was quickly replaced by a chilling sense of loss.

A sense of humiliation and indignation crept into her heart. When had she, Gongsun Jinyao, ever been treated so disrespectfully? But the person before her was King Jin... She could only suppress this grievance.

Just as Gongsun Jinyao was feeling down and Xiao Chengyan's impatience was growing, a clear and melodious voice suddenly came from the plum grove path on the other side of a pink wall covered with withered vines, which sounded particularly clear in the quiet snow garden.

"Brother, look! This green-calyxed, gnarled branch with its fragrant, icy stamens is truly 'a flower with jade and snow as its bones and ice as its soul,' living up to its reputation as the 'gentleman among flowers'!"

Immediately afterwards, a gentle, smiling male voice responded, "Sister, you have a good eye. This flower is aloof and proud, blooming alone in the frost, with a natural elegance that perfectly matches your overall aura."

It turned out that although the Snow Plum Garden was a royal villa and appeared to be open and scenic, it was actually heavily guarded, and ordinary people could not get close to the core area at all. Gu Jinghong and Xie Yan circled the huge garden for nearly half an hour, but could not find even a crack where they could sneak in silently.

Just as Gu Jinghong's anxiety began to rise, Xie Yan, who was walking ahead, suddenly stopped. His phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, and through the gaps in the sparse plum branches, he accurately caught sight of the tall, imposing figure in dark blue robes in the garden—it was Xiao Chengyan. And beside him, as expected, was the beautifully dressed Gongsun Jinyao, and even the Empress Dowager's carriage was not far away.

Xie Yan's lips suddenly curved into a knowing yet sly smile. He deftly twirled the jade flute between his fingers, then turned to Gu Jinghong and whispered, "The guards are like an iron barrel; forcing our way in will only cause trouble. How about... luring them out?"

His eyes gleamed with a calculating light. "The commotion that Minister Gu stirred up in the Prince's mansion must be a thorn in His Highness Prince Jin's side right now, something he'd like to get rid of as soon as possible. If he 'accidentally' hears your voice outside the wall... do you think he'll ignore it, or... be eager to 'invite' us in for a 'catch-up'?"

Gu Jinghong's eyes flashed, and he instantly understood what she meant.

Although this method was risky, it was the only shortcut to quickly get closer to the target. She nodded slightly, and the next moment, her deliberately raised voice of surprise pierced through the pink wall.

Just as expected!

Inside the garden, Xiao Chengyan's wandering thoughts were abruptly pulled back by the clear, familiar female voice outside the wall—that voice… Gu Jinghong?! How dare she appear here? And get involved with Xie Yan, what is she up to now?

Almost instantly, a chilling aura gripped him. His gaze suddenly sharpened like a cold star, focusing on the direction from which the voice came. His thin lips parted slightly: "Changfeng, let them in."