Chapter 28

The icicles on the eaves had long since melted into fine water, which meandered down the blue tiles and accumulated into small puddles in front of the steps, reflecting the gradually warming sun in the sky.

From the cold, rainy autumn day when Su Zhelan was carried into the general's mansion, a full seven months had passed. This was enough time for the winds of the border to lose their biting chill and turn into spring breezes carrying the scent of damp earth. It was also enough time for the old plum trees in the courtyard to shed their last remaining petals and for tiny green buds to sprout on the branches.

That morning, when Su Zhelan pushed open the bamboo gate of Shuyu Courtyard, she happened to bump into Sheng Xuan returning from the martial arts training ground. The young general was dressed more lightly than usual, wearing only a short jacket over his black outfit, with bits of fresh grass sap on his shoulders. He was carrying a bamboo basket, and when he saw Su Zhelan, he paused, his ears turning red: "New shepherd's purse dumplings from West Street, still warm."

He placed the basket on the stone table, and the wind he stirred up swept across the corridor, causing the newly sprouted willow branches to sway gently, and dappled shadows fell on Su Zhelan's clothes.

Su Zhelan reached out and brushed the willow catkins off her shoulder, her fingertips touching the back of her neck—the scars there had long since faded to a pale white, like thin paper softened by spring water, only faintly radiating warmth on rainy days.

"You don't need to always bring these," he said softly, but still followed Sheng Xuan to the stone bench and sat down.

The dumplings in the bamboo basket were steaming hot, and the fragrance of shepherd's purse mixed with the aroma of wheat filled the air.

Sheng Xuan watched as Su Zhelan picked up a piece with his fingertips, a little glutinous rice flour on the corner of his mouth. Suddenly, he reached out, his fingertips almost touching the corner of his mouth, but then he changed direction and tugged at his sleeve: "Look at you, you look like a sparrow stealing food."

Su Zhelan's ears turned slightly red as she lowered her head to take a bite of a dumpling, catching a glimpse of the wolf-tooth pendant hanging from Sheng Xuan's waist.

"Can you walk steadily now?" Sheng Xuan suddenly asked, his gaze falling on Su Zhelan's knees. Over the past few months, he had watched that leg, which had once been curled up at an odd angle, go from not being able to touch the ground to being able to walk while holding onto the wall, and now being able to walk slowly for the length of an incense stick's time on the newly sprouted moss in the corridor.

"Hmm, much more stable." Su Zhelan shook his head, but then saw Sheng Xuan take out a brocade pouch from his bosom and stuff it into his hand—it was a brocade pouch embroidered with mugwort patterns, filled with dried tangerine peel, carrying a faint fragrance.

“Su Yan said you have a strong spring vibe, so it’s good to keep it in.” Sheng Xuan turned his face away, his tone stiff, “It’s just been aired out in the pharmacy, and it’s just sitting there doing nothing.”

As they were talking, a soft sound came from under the corridor. Xiao Qiyun, wearing a moon-white shirt and holding a scroll in his hands, walked over, stepping on the new green grass. The sound of his boots rolling over the bluestone slabs was as light as falling plum blossoms.

"What are you talking about?" he asked with a smile, his gaze first falling on the brocade pouch in Su Zhelan's hand, then sweeping over the bamboo basket on the stone table, a faint smile flashing in his eyes, "Shengxuan has found some new seasonal food again?"

"Mind your own business." Sheng Xuan raised an eyebrow, but pushed the bamboo basket in front of Su Zhelan. "Eat quickly, it'll get cold and make you feel better."

Xiao Qiyun didn't reply, but instead sat down on the other side of Su Zhelan and opened the book: "Yesterday you taught me some annotations about the properties of aphrodisiac herbs, and I'd like to talk to you about them." His fingertips landed on the entries in the book, and his voice was clear and gentle, "Look here."

Su Zhelan leaned closer to look, her nose almost touching the pages. Xiao Qiyun's breath brushed against his temples, carrying the scent of freshly ground ink.

The brocade pouch felt slightly cool in her palm. Su Zhelan suddenly felt that life was like the new grass in the spring breeze—it was painful at first, but slowly tender shoots emerged.

In the nearby pharmacy, Su Yan was using tweezers to pick freshly picked mint, while Gu Linzhao was grinding medicine beside him. The sound of the stone pestle grinding the herbs was regular and gentle.

"Su Zhelan is doing her rehabilitation today and is able to walk around the plum garden," Gu Linzhao suddenly said, his eyes filled with warmth as he smiled.

Su Yan snorted, put the mint into the medicine cabinet, but took out a small porcelain bottle from the top shelf and stuffed it into Gu Linzhao's hand: "Send this to him, it's to prevent spring plague."

The bottle was still warm, and a small note was attached to it that read, "Take this every morning before the dew dries, with fresh tea."

Gu Linzhao took it and noticed the hidden "Su" character engraved on the bottom of the bottle—it was the medicine bottle that Su Yan used when he was young. It should have been replaced long ago, but he always kept it like a treasure.

"Got it," he smiled. "And tell those two kids not to always hang out in the wind with Su Zhelan, or they'll get yelled at if you see them."

"They dare." Su Yan's voice was firm, but as Gu Linzhao turned around, he looked at the budding willow branches outside the window and quietly relaxed his brow.

The bamboo gate of Shuyu Courtyard was half-closed. Su Zhelan listened to Sheng Xuan and Xiao Qiyun bickering in hushed tones, the brocade pouch in her hand carrying the scent of herbs and trees.

He touched the scar on the back of his neck, where the skin had long since smoothed out. He would only occasionally recall that cold, rainy night when he was curled up on a stretcher, thinking that he would rot in the mud for the rest of his life.

Now, the wind is blowing willow catkins down in a flurry, Sheng Xuan is snatching the dumpling from his hand, Xiao Qiyun is patiently looking at the herbs, and the scent of mint wafts from the pharmacy in the distance.

"What are you thinking about?" Sheng Xuan noticed Su Zhelan staring blankly at the courtyard wall and suddenly patted his chest. "Are you tired of staying here? I know a good place—the hunting ground behind the drill ground. It was just cleared of weeds in the spring, and there's a peach grove there that's in full bloom right now."

When Su Zhelan looked up, her eyelashes were still dappled with the golden light of the sun, and she asked softly, "Can I go?"

His legs had long since allowed him to walk normally, but in recent months Su Yan had been constantly reminding him "not to go far away." At this moment, the expectation in his eyes was like a newly sprouting spring bud, timid yet unable to hide his joy.

“That place is indeed safe, with guards patrolling, and it’s only two miles from the mansion.”

Looking at Su Zhelan's expectant eyes, Xiao Qiyun's gaze was as warm as melting snow. "But we need to ask Mr. Su first. He knows best whether your constitution can withstand the wind."

Sheng Xuan immediately chimed in, "I'll go ask! I guarantee I'll convince Mr. Su!" He was about to run towards the pharmacy when Xiao Qiyun reached out and grabbed him.

He turned to Su Zhelan, a smile in his eyes, "I'll talk to you after we finish eating. Mr. Su always listens to you."

Su Zhelan lowered his head and took a sip of tea, the rim of the cup reflecting the tips of his reddened ears.

Some more wisteria blossoms fell from the corridor, clinging to the pastries Shengxuan tossed over. The sweet fragrance mixed with the scent of medicine, like the days that had been quietly soaked in honey.

At lunchtime, Su Zhelan watched as Sheng Xuan eagerly served him soup, while Xiao Qiyun silently placed peeled shrimp on his plate. The soft clinking of bamboo chopsticks against the porcelain bowl, the swallows chirping outside the window, and the subtle rivalry between the two were even more anticipated than the peach blossoms at the hunting grounds.

After the meal, Xiao Qiyun indeed took Su Zhelan to the pharmacy. Su Yan was gazing intently at the new shoots in the herb garden when he heard their purpose. He frowned slightly, but when he saw Su Zhelan clutching the hem of her clothes, he pulled a cloak out of the medicine cabinet: "It's for wind protection, keep it with you."

She glared at Sheng Xuan, who had followed her, and said, "Keep an eye on him, don't let him fall."

Sheng Xuan patted his chest in agreement and turned to take Su Zhelan's wrist—but Xiao Qiyun subtly pulled away as soon as his fingertips touched the fabric.

The shadows of the three people fell on the blue bricks, like twin spring vines, entwined with sunlight and wind, slowly walking back.

As the wind swept past, carrying petals, Su Zhelan looked at the two noisy people in front of her and suddenly felt that time was like a flower that had been blown open by the spring breeze. At first, it was just a timid bud, but now it was blooming so brightly in the warm sun of the General's Mansion.

As I left the pharmacy, the spring breeze was carrying wisteria petals, spreading a thin layer on the bluestone slabs.

Sheng Xuan's steps were light as if he were walking on the wind. Every two steps, he would turn back to look at Su Zhelan. The hem of his dark-colored outfit swept across the moss in front of the steps, carrying a scent of grass and trees: "Hurry up, I'll have someone prepare a carriage for tomorrow! The peach blossoms in the hunting grounds fall quickly, we have to go see them when they are in full bloom!"

Although he spoke quickly, he deliberately slowed his pace, so that he could walk side by side with Su Zhelan.

As they passed the corner of the corridor, a wisteria branch hanging down from above brushed against Su Zhelan's hair. Sheng Xuan reached out to block it, but his palm accidentally brushed against Su Zhelan's earlobe. Both of them paused for a moment. He hurriedly withdrew his hand, his ear tip more vibrant than the red silk on the brocade pouch: "This wretched vine is blocking the way."

Xiao Qiyun walked on the other side, still holding the scroll in his hand, but no longer looking at it. His gaze fell on Su Zhelan's hand holding the brocade pouch—the brocade pouch embroidered with mugwort was slightly wrinkled, clearly indicating that she was very excited.

He suddenly reached out and gently touched Su Zhelan's wrist with his fingertips. Seeing that the other party did not dodge, he followed the wrist bone upwards and tied up the loose cuff for him, the movement as light as gathering a feather.

"Don't listen to his unwarranted anxiety. The peach blossoms will last at least three days. Let's get ready tomorrow and go the day after." His fingertips brushed against Su Zhelan's wrist, leaving a slightly cool touch.

"What do you know?" Sheng Xuan immediately turned around and retorted, but subconsciously leaned closer to Su Zhelan, almost to the point of protecting her in his arms. "Zhelan finally gets to go out, of course she has to be the first one there!"

Su Zhelan: "How about we go tomorrow? I...I want to go out for a walk." Her voice was as soft as falling wisteria petals, yet it carried an unmistakable expectation.

Sheng Xuan's eyes widened instantly, and the shoulder line of his black outfit straightened, as if he was afraid he had misheard.

He slapped his thigh hard, the bluestone slab rattling softly. "Great! Tomorrow it is!"

Before he finished speaking, he turned to rush towards the stable, but stopped after a couple of steps. When he looked back, the stray hairs at his temples were blowing wildly in the wind, and the tips of his ears were so red they looked like they could bleed. "I'll go pick a horse right now! I guarantee it'll be the most reliable one in the camp!"

Xiao Qiyun, watching from the side, suddenly chuckled softly. He raised his hand, not to brush away the flowers, but to gently press Su Zhelan's brow with his fingertips, as if to soothe her barely concealed excitement: "Look how impatient you are."

His gaze fell on Su Zhelan's reddened ears. "But it's good that the 'Snowflake Eagle' is indeed steady. General Sheng Chi praised its gentle nature just a few days ago."

“Let’s go,” Xiao Qiyun reached out and gently supported Su Zhelan’s elbow, his fingertips still half an inch away from the fabric, yet steadily supporting the weight of his excitement. He then naturally brushed away the stray hairs that had blown into his eyes by the wind. “Let’s go back to the courtyard and wait. That kid Sheng Xuan might come up with some new and interesting things.”

As dusk settled over the corridor, a wisteria petal still clung to Su Zhelan's lapel. He gazed in the direction Sheng Xuan had disappeared, then glanced at Xiao Qiyun, who was walking calmly beside him, and a faint blush rose to his ears: "Thank you."

"No need to thank me." Xiao Qiyun's voice drifted on the wind, but his gaze fell on the tips of Su Zhelan's shoes—the soles of those cloth shoes were covered with moss, which he had rubbed off during his afternoon rehabilitation.

He suddenly slowed his pace, waiting for Su Zhelan to walk beside him, before gently touching Su Zhelan's heel with the tip of his shoe. "Walk this way, the bluestone slabs are cleaner."

The lanterns under the eaves gradually lit up, their warm yellow light falling on the overlapping shadows of the two people.

Xiao Qiyun suddenly pulled a small paper packet from his sleeve and handed it to Su Zhelan. "I just found this in the study. It's almond shortbread that the Grand Tutor sent a few days ago. It's sweet but not greasy."

When the paper package was opened, crumbs fell into Su Zhelan's palm. He touched them with his fingertips, as if checking the temperature. "Have something to eat. That kid Sheng Xuan might keep bothering us until before dinner."

Su Zhelan picked up a piece of almond shortbread, and just as she tasted the sweetness on her tongue, she heard Xiao Qiyun say again: "The road to the hunting grounds is a bit steep. Tomorrow I'll have someone put a soft cushion on the horse's back, which will be more comfortable than sitting directly on the saddle."

As he spoke, a faint smile appeared in his eyes, and he drew a line on Su Zhelan's forearm with his fingertip, "You can fasten a seatbelt here, just to be safe."

Before he could finish speaking, Sheng Xuan came running back from the direction of the stables. His black outfit was covered in dry grass, and he was holding up a saddle in his hand: "Look at this pad! I had the groom add three layers of cotton padding. It's softer than the mattress you sleep on!"

Xiao Qiyun stepped aside to shield Su Zhelan from the wind stirred up by Sheng Xuan, "Don't listen to his nonsense, the saddle is too high, I'll help you up tomorrow."

Su Zhelan's eyes curved upwards, like crescent moons dipped in spring water. She held half an almond shortbread between her fingers, her voice filled with laughter: "That's great, I've never ridden one before."

"Oh?" Sheng Xuan paused in mid-air, his surprise almost overflowing. "You can't ride a horse? Then when you went on a long trip before..." Before he could finish speaking, he saw Su Zhelan's fingers, which were holding a pastry, curl slightly, her eyelashes drooping down and obscuring the light in her eyes.

The lanterns under the eaves crackled and popped, their warm yellow light flickering on and off.

Su Zhelan was silent for a moment before saying softly, "I never traveled far when I was a child..." After a brief pause, she continued, "After that, I followed my master to learn medicine in the mountains, and I always traveled on foot."

He paused again, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the crumbs of the biscuit. "Later, when I was traveling as a healer, I rescued an injured deer by a stream. After its leg healed, it always followed me. The mountain roads were difficult to walk, so... I rode it a few times."

"Ride a deer?" Sheng Xuan's eyes widened even more, and he almost dropped the saddle. "You can ride that thing? Won't it hurt your bones from all the jolting?"

Su Zhelan was amused by him, and the redness from the tips of her ears spread to her cheeks: "It's very steady, and its fur is soft, but it walks slowly, like walking on clouds."

He recalled the deer's antlers entwined with wild chrysanthemums, its hooves treading lightly over fallen leaves like breathing. Suddenly, he lowered his head and took a sip of tea to hide the melancholy in his eyes.

Xiao Qiyun listened quietly to her, then suddenly reached out and gently brushed his fingertips through the stray hairs at Su Zhelan's temples—where a few crumbs of almond shortbread clung. "Deer are docile, more to your liking than horses."

His voice was clear and gentle, and his gaze fell on Su Zhelan's hand holding the teacup. "Tomorrow we're going to the hunting grounds. If you'd like, I'll have someone find a foal, a little shorter than a Snowdrift. Why don't you give it a try?"

Sheng Xuan immediately chimed in, placing the saddle on the stone table, causing the lantern's shadow to sway: "No need! I'll lead the horse for you to practice! I guarantee it'll be steadyer than a deer!"

As he spoke, he suddenly leaned close to Su Zhelan, the sleeve of his dark-colored outfit brushing against her knee. "Where is that deer now? Is it still with you?"

Su Zhelan's fingertips trembled, and the steam from the rim of the teacup blurred his features: "He's not following me anymore, I... I don't know." His voice was as soft as a sigh, falling into the twilight, startling the moths under the eaves into fluttering away.

The air suddenly became still, with only the soft rustling of the wind carrying the wisteria blossoms.

Sheng Xuan scratched his head, wanting to say something comforting, but saw Xiao Qiyun raise his hand and gently place it on Su Zhelan's head. The movement was as light as a spring breeze brushing against new grass. His fingertips slowly slid down the strands of hair to the back of her neck, pausing above the light white scar before whispering, "It's alright."

Su Zhelan's body stiffened abruptly, a warmth spreading up his spine from the back of his neck, hotter than the temperature of his palms. His fingers, gripping the teacup, loosened slightly, the red at the tips of his ears like rouge spreading in the twilight, even his eyelashes trembled.

The lanterns under the eaves swayed, casting Xiao Qiyun's bent-over shadow onto Su Zhelan's clothes, like a gentle cloud.

“The deer in the mountains are intelligent. If they know you remember them, they should be at ease.” Xiao Qiyun’s voice, mingled with the fragrance of wisteria, was as soft as a sigh. He gently rubbed Su Zhelan’s hair with his fingertips. “We might run into a wild deer at the hunting grounds tomorrow.”

Sheng Xuan, watching with envy, placed the saddle on the stone table, causing the saddle fragments to fly up: "If you see this, I'll harness it for you! Let it come home with you!"

Though his words were rough, he took half a step forward, the cuff of his dark-colored outfit almost touching Su Zhelan's arm, "If I can't catch a deer, I'll make you a straw deer! It'll be even more spirited than the real thing!"