Chapter 9 was actually about her. Jiang Ce smiled and said, "I saw Zhang, whom I've been thinking about day and night..."
Xue Chan left the palace in early December.
Because she was going to the Marquis of Wu'an's residence to offer birthday greetings, she spent almost every day in her room drawing a birthday greeting picture. By the time she finished the painting and had it framed, it was already the ninth day of the lunar month.
She only relaxed a little after one matter was settled.
Cheng Huaizhu was really getting restless, and urged her to go out: "Let's go out... let's go out..."
Xue Chan carefully brewed tea: "I haven't finished painting yet."
"Don't try to fool me. I know you well enough to know that painting was finished a long time ago."
"Your aunt won't let you go out," Xue Chan said calmly, taking a sip of tea.
Cheng Huaizhu immediately removed her arm from hers, pondered for a moment, and then quickly left the house.
Before long, she came skipping back, put down the teacup in Xue Chan's hand, and pulled her out the door: "My mother said that I've been behaving well lately, so she allows Mama, the maids, and the servants to go with me."
Xue Chan couldn't resist her, and was half-pushed and half-forced onto the carriage. The wheels started turning, and the noise startled several birds that were perched on the branches.
The sparrow flapped its wings and flew eastward, finally landing on a section of dark green banana tree wall.
"Bang!"
The half-closed courtyard gate was suddenly kicked open, and Jiang Ce, who was chiseling a stone vat, looked up.
"Erlang!"
"..."
The carving knife was flung out and sank into the ground at his feet. Zheng Shaoyu jumped up immediately: "You don't appreciate my kindness! I came all this way to find you, and this is how you treat me!"
"Zheng Shaoyu, I've told you so many times not to kick my door."
Jiang Ce gently brushed the stone chips off his hands, washed them in a small basin, and sat under the banana tree to begin plucking the petals.
"I'm going to kick you!" Zheng Shaoyu strode over to his side, plopped down, and complained, "Aren't you afraid of pricking me?"
Jiang Ce: "Don't worry, it won't kill you."
Zheng Shaoyu: "..."
He propped his chin up with one hand and slid out a folding fan from his sleeve with the other, scattering the flowers Jiang Ce had chosen all over the table.
"Anyone who didn't know better would think we were sworn enemies, that we started fighting the moment we met."
Jiang Ce said casually, "That's only because it's me. If it were You Yu, she would have already put a knife to your throat."
Mentioning Youyu, Zheng Shaoyu coughed, opened his fan with a "whoosh" to cover most of his face, and lowered his voice.
"You...you...you Yu...is he not here?"
Jiang Ce stopped what he was doing, his eyes crinkling with a smile: "Guess?"
Zheng Shaoyu: "He shouldn't be here... otherwise he would have come out and scolded me long ago."
Jiang Ce stopped laughing: "So, why aren't you at home studying? What are you doing here looking for me?"
Zheng Shaoyu leaned closer to Jiang Ce, his tone becoming more serious.
"Did you know that the Prince of Ning has come to the capital?"
He observed Jiang Ce's expression, which remained unchanged, except that Jiang Ce's fingers were rapidly peeling off petals one by one.
"you......"
"Don't worry, I won't rush over and hit him."
"I'm not worried about him, I'm worried about you. I can accept that... but what about Su Yun?"
Zheng Shaoyu sighed and then tentatively asked him, "Neither of you will tell me. How did such good friends fall out?"
Jiang Ce said calmly, "Whether you two continue to be friends is none of my business, but if you've broken up, you've broken up."
"You came to see me just to talk about this?"
Zheng Shaoyu then seemed to realize something and slammed his hand on the table as he stood up.
“I’d almost forgotten, but you mentioned in your letter that you wanted to hire a cat. A friend of mine just had a litter of snow-white kittens, they’re so beautiful. I’m risking getting caught by my sister to come find you today, just so we can go hire a cat together.”
"Huh?" Jiang Ce looked up, his expression hesitant.
"Stop talking, or my sister will come and get me." As he spoke, he picked Jiang Ce up and led him outside.
Jiang Ce: "Today? I haven't prepared a letter of engagement or any betrothal gifts. How can we hold the engagement?"
"You underestimate me, don't you?" Zheng Shaoyu chuckled. "I've prepared the betrothal letter and gifts for you, and I've even had someone calculate the auspicious day for the cat betrothal. Today is a very lucky day. All you have to do is put your stamp on the betrothal letter."
As soon as the two stepped out, they ran into Zheng Tan, who was rushing towards them from the other side of the pond.
"Oh no, it's all over, it's all over."
Zheng Shaoyu was so anxious he was practically fuming. He hid behind Jiang Ce and covered his face with his robe.
Jiang Ce smiled and grabbed his arm.
"Hurry up."
"ah?"
When Zheng Shaoyu looked up again, he found himself being carried across the small pond.
With a light tap on the stone, Jiang Ce climbed a tree in a few steps, jumped onto the wall, and moved quickly on the top of the wall, arriving at the stable in no time.
The two mounted their horses and rode straight out of the mansion, only slowing down after passing three streets.
"You're pretty good. You've improved your skills a lot in the past four years. You can teach me your skills sometime."
Jiang Ce saw right through his thoughts: "You want to learn how to climb over the wall better, so that Uncle Zheng will have even less chance of catching you."
“Sigh, you have no idea.” Zheng Shaoyu’s face fell. “Ever since my third brother got into high school, my old man has been even stricter with me.”
"I'm just destined to be scolded. You're so lucky, you even got married earlier than us."
The boy walking in front of him turned around, glanced at him without saying anything, and slightly curled his lips.
Zheng Shaoyu spurred his horse and caught up with him, saying, "I've also heard that Miss Xue is exceptionally beautiful. And I've also heard that her painting skills are outstanding..."
"I heard?" Jiang Ce frowned, gently tightening the reins. "Miss Xue fell seriously ill after only one day in the capital, and hasn't left her home or received any guests. Who told you that?"
It's over.
Zheng Shaoyu pursed his lips, blinked, and chuckled twice, trying to gloss over the matter.
Jiang Ce's gaze grew increasingly solemn.
He turned his head away, pretending nothing had happened.
"Oh my, look, these flatbreads look delicious. Shall I buy you a couple to try?"
“Zheng Shaoyu…” Jiang Ce laughed, his eyes filled with affection and amusement, “If you don’t tell me, I’ll tie you up right now and send you home.”
Seeing that he couldn't persuade her otherwise, Zheng Shaoyu could only lower his voice and say awkwardly, "It's just... I overheard the second daughter of the Cheng family praising her cousin Xue, and I overheard her say a few words."
Jiang Ce's lips twitched slightly as he focused on a few words in her statement, saying each one slowly and deliberately, "Second Miss Cheng? A coincidence?"
"It's just banquets. Oh dear, there are so many banquets in the capital... it's inevitable that you'll run into each other, and you'll get to know each other after a while."
"Oh? Is that so?" Jiang Ce said indifferently.
"It's not what you think. We just chatted a couple of times because we found the variety show entertaining."
Jiang Ce did not respond to him.
"Gentlemen, the street is crowded. Could you please let us pass first?"
They turned around at the sound and saw a carriage coming from behind them. The driver smiled and apologized to the two of them.
Jiang Ce slowed down, keeping a distance from Zheng Shaoyu. The carriage headed towards Chang'an Street, passing by the two of them.
Jiang Ce: "Zheng Shaoyu, I need to go back and tell Sister Tan."
Zheng Shaoyu immediately reached out and pried him off, "No, please, I'm begging you, as long as you don't say anything, I'll agree to anything."
"Really?" Jiang Ce suppressed a smile and beckoned with his hand. "I want that copy of 'Travels in Streams and Mountains' you're holding."
"That's a rare copy! I went through a lot of trouble to find it, and I haven't even had a chance to use it yet."
"Should we give it to them or not?"
"no"
Jiang Ce tightened his grip on the reins, intending to turn the vehicle around: "I'll go back now."
Zheng Shaoyu grabbed his sleeve, hardened his heart, and gritted his teeth: "Fine, you decide."
The two crossed the street, rode off on horseback.
Cheng Huaizhu lifted the curtain: "Huh? Did I hear wrong?"
Listening to her rambling, Xue Chan became more alert: "What?"
Cheng Huaizhu shook her head: "It's nothing, I think I heard a familiar voice."
Xue Chan was not fully awake when the carriage stopped.
Yun Sheng helped her get off the train and stand steadily. Looking up, they saw an elegant teahouse with the words "Ningcui Tower" written on it.
What are you doing here?
"Have some tea."
Before Xue Chan could think any further, Cheng Huaizhu had already pulled her inside, and immediately a maid led the two of them upstairs. Xue Chan looked down.
The first floor is spacious, with coffee tables arranged in a staggered and orderly manner.
Despite it being winter, there are still many people coming to drink tea.
"Can't we drink tea at home? Why come here?"
Cheng Huaizhu turned around and said, "Ningcui Tower is famous for its tea performances. If you want to drink tea, this is the place to go. Not to mention, they also have all kinds of snacks that are hard to find."
Xue Chan immediately grabbed Cheng Huaizhu, who was going upstairs: "Such a large teahouse must require a lot of money. Where did you get so much money?"
Cheng Huaizhu put her hands on her hips and said confidently, "I saved it up!"
She chuckled and whispered in Xue Chan's ear, "Before my brother went to Tongzhou to take up his post, he secretly gave me quite a few of them."
Xue Chan: "..."
"If Brother Qingpei knew you were spending money on this, who knows what he would say to you?"
“My brother wouldn’t do that. If he gives it to me, it’s mine. I can spend it however I want.”
The two entered the side room and knelt facing each other.
Cheng Huaizhu smiled and said, "Besides, is money really the most important thing?"
Xue Chan propped her chin on her hand while waiting for tea: "Money isn't important, so what is?"
Cheng Huaizhu turned Xue Chan's face around and waved a finger in front of her: "No, it's luck, my extraordinary luck. Do you know how hard it is to book a private room at Ningcui Tower?"
Xue Chan chuckled lightly. She was indebted to the man and had nothing to say.
The teahouse was quiet and elegant, bright and airy even in winter. Even the flowers in the porcelain vase exuded a special charm and refinement.
The two sat there for a long time, but no one came. Cheng Huaizhu asked Mingxia to go out and ask, but she didn't come back for a long time.
Why are you so late?
"Wait here for a moment, I'll go check and be right back." Cheng Huaizhu got up decisively and took Ren Dong to look for her.
Once the three of them left, only Xue Chan and Yun Sheng Chu Tao remained in the cubicle.
Sitting for a while got a bit boring, so I got up and slowly walked around the cubicle.
She walked to the west window and opened it. The west side was a market street, and perhaps because it was almost New Year's, there were many people out shopping.
A diverse and bustling scene.
However, it was too noisy, so Xue Chan closed the window after watching for a while.
She slowly turned around, parted the beaded curtain and walked to a window on the east side, gently pushing it open.
The snow-laden air rushed towards them, sending a shiver down their spines. Xue Chan leaned out slightly; the scenery on this side was quite expansive.
Downstairs is a quiet alley with few people. Ningcui Tower is in a good location, with Guanyin Lake not far away. As far as the eye can see, there is a vast expanse of frost and snow, with rime ice forming a misty, boundless landscape.
"It's quite nice to be out here. You wouldn't see this scenery if you weren't in this place," Xue Chan said with a soft laugh.
She leaned against the window, pondering the scene, her knuckles tapping on the window frame, feeling it truly deserved to be a painting.
A commotion arose under the window. Looking down, I saw three young people walk in.
The boy in purple robes and a golden crown kicked someone against the wall, while the boy in green robes squatted down, patted his face, and asked with a smile, "Would you dare to do it again next time?"
The man shook his head tremblingly: "I won't do it again next time."
The purple-robed youth asked, "You'll do it again?"
The other person shook their head vigorously: "No, no, there won't be a next time."
"I'm telling you, if I catch you again, I'll beat you up."
The young man in the green robe leaned against the wall, arms crossed, smiling broadly: "Why don't you get lost?"
The other person scrambled to their feet and stumbled as they ran out of the alley.
The boy in purple robes and a golden crown called out to him.
"stop."
"how......?"
He curled his lips into a sneer, his voice icy: "If you were to tell anyone about what happened today..."
"No, no, it can't be..." he said, and then ran away quickly.
Standing by the window, Xue Chan lowered her eyes and coldly observed everything.
Seemingly sensing the gaze, the man in the purple robe and golden crown suddenly looked up, and their eyes met unexpectedly.
Xue Chan met a face that seemed to be smiling but wasn't.
A gust of wind blew, chilling her face, and inexplicably reminded her of the rain that night.
She remained calm and indifferent, then withdrew and closed the window.
Zheng Shaoyu, who was under the window, looked up but saw nothing. So he nudged the person next to him and asked, "What did you see?"
Jiang Ce smiled and said, "I saw the face I've been longing for day and night."
Zheng Shaoyu frowned and reminded him, "Hey, you're engaged, don't think too much."
Jiang Ce wiped his soiled hands, smiling brightly: "How could that be?"
"What are you looking at so intently?"
Just as Cheng Huaizhu was about to look down, Xue Chan slammed the window shut.
She smoothed her wind-blown hair and said with a faint smile, "It's nothing, just a few sparrows fighting, it's just funny to watch."
Cheng Huaizhu raised an eyebrow: "If it's interesting, why won't you let me see it?"
"You scared them all away with just one shout. What's the point of leaving it all empty?" Xue Chan scolded her playfully.
After the two drank tea, their mother, who had come out with them, urged them to leave Ningcui Tower twice.
As soon as she boarded the carriage, Cheng Huaizhu exclaimed in surprise, "It's snowing!"
At this moment, the wind and snow were desolate, swirling up a thin layer of snowflakes.
Xue Chan looked back at the alley, but there was no one there. Only the pure white world remained, with snow falling in abundance.
A note from the author:
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