Last night, in the late hours, snow began to drift from the sky, forming a thick blanket on the ground by morning.
The snow was still falling, with large flakes filling the sky.
Ya Qiuying washed her face, and then her whole being became significantly more alert. With worry, she turned her gaze out the window and said, "Such heavy snow, how will my uncle make his journey?"
Su Rong, too, was looking out the window, "We can only add more stoves in the carriage."
Ya Qiuying sighed.
The people of the Duke Residence saw off Ye Guixue at the gate. After bidding farewell, Lu Weiran escorted Ye Guixue out of the city alone.
The streets were empty, and outside the city walls, a vast sea of white stretched into the distance.
Lu Weiran was bundled up from head to toe in a cloak, but it didn’t take long for a layer of frost to accumulate on him. He couldn’t resist and leaned towards Ye Guixue’s carriage, "Cousin, the snow is too heavy. How about waiting for the snow to stop before proceeding? It’s just a matter of postponing for a couple of days."
Ye Guixue shook his head, "I received a letter last night, urging me to return. I can’t delay any longer. Don’t worry, navigating before the roads are snow-clogged is easier than after. If delayed, it might take more than just two days."
Left with no option, Lu Weiran gave in.
When the carriage reached the Shili Pavilion out of town, inside the pavilion, two figures, one large and one small, bundled up to look like two balls, nestled hand-heaters, chatting and waiting. Apparently, they had been waiting for a while.
Lu Weiran was dumbfounded. He got off his horse and paid his respects, "Lady Su Qi," and greeted Ya Qiuying, "Qiuying."
Su Rong stood up and smiled in acknowledgment, "Young Master Lu."
Ya Qiuying dutifully called out, "Uncle Weiran."
Ye Guixue stepped off the carriage. Seeing their warm attire, he couldn’t help but smile, "Have you been waiting long?"
"Not too long." Su Rong shook her head, "We just got up early." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎
Ye Guixue turned to Ya Qiuying, "Didn’t you sleep well last night?"
Ya Qiuying looked at Su Rong reproachfully, "Sister Su Qi hugged me in her sleep. I’m not used to it, and couldn’t break free. I ended up being her pillow all night."
Ye Guixue laughed, "I see, no wonder."
Su Rong cleared her throat, "Well, you’re soft, fragrant and warm. I didn’t know you couldn’t sleep. I promise, tonight I won’t hug you in my sleep."
Ya Qiuying said almost instantly: "I don’t need your company tonight."
Su Rong, left with no choice but disappointment, agreed, "Alright then!"
And just like that, she lost her soft, fragrant and warm pillow.
Seeing her disappointed look, Ya Qiuying stamped her feet, threw down her hand-heater, ran over to hug Ye Guixue and looking up added, "Uncle, take care on your journey back to Nanchu. When you return, remember to send a letter to reassure me that you arrived safely."
Ye Guixue pat her head, "Alright."
Ya Qiuying let him go, "Give my regards to my grandparents and father, and let them know that I am doing fine here. Also, reassure them that I will obediently wait for you to come to get me."
Ye Guixue’s expression was gentle, "Alright."
Having said her bit, Ya Qiuying seemed to have nothing else left to say and she turned to Su Rong.
Su Rong thought for a moment, and then addressed Lu Weiran, "Could you please accompany Little Qiuying in the carriage while I wait, I have a few words for Guixue."
Lu Weiran nodded and glanced at Ya Qiuying.
Ya Qiuying obediently nodded and followed Lu Weiran to the carriage.
After they left, Su Rong turned to Ye Guixue, "Guixue, you haven’t forgotten that you still owe me something, have you?"
Ye Guixue looked at her, sighing lightly, "I thought you had forgotten."
"I dare not forget." Su Rong shook her head.
Ye Guixue reached into his pocket, fetched the plum blossom hairpin, and handed it to her.
Su Rong took it, slipped it into her sleeve, and smiled at him, "Like I said before, even if our interests collide, I would never use Little Qiuying against you, as a way to intimidate you."
Ye Guixue nodded, "I know."
She looked at Su Rong and said, "Yesterday, the Second Prince sought me out. He said the Nangong Family approached the Pingxi General Zhang Ping and proposed to assassinate you, using half of their family fortune as a wager. I believe his words were true. However, I also disclosed Zhang Ping’s ambitions, and he should be on guard against Zhang Ping."
He briefly told her about his meeting with Yan Lin the day before.
Su Rong nodded, looking at him seriously, "Guixue, thank you."
Ye Guixue shook his head, speaking gently, "What I desire is not the gratitude of the princess."
He did not elaborate on what he wanted.
Su Rong was silent for a moment, still looking at him seriously, "Guixue, consider what I said that day. It’s hard to find both a match and a confidant. You said that you prepared for five years to become my king consort, for over a thousand eight hundred days and nights. But I’ve always wanted to ask you, you might be willing, but aren’t you tired?"
She did not wait for Ye Guixue to respond, and continued: "Actually, you must be tired, right? But you’re aware that gains require sacrifices. You had no reason to tell others about your fatigue, or you could not say it out loud, whether it was to your parents or your brothers. The position of king consort is indeed good, it’s a path you chose for yourself, but you’ve always measured your actions and character like using a ruler. Perhaps, you do feel restrained."
After she finished speaking, she sighed lightly, "Guixue, I don’t want you to be trapped by me. After all, I really can’t afford to be soft-hearted anymore. So, you should have a reason to let me go, right?"
Ye Guixue nodded, "The princess is right, perhaps."
After all, he couldn’t keep holding onto the hairpin that she gave, insisting not to return it.
He didn’t know what method Zhou Gu had used to make Su Rong continuously soften towards him, that in such a short time, before he had left the Capital City, she had already made up her mind to break off their marriage engagement.
He looked at Su Rong, his gaze gentle, "It’s snowing heavily and bitterly cold, princess. You should head back. When I’m back in Nanchu, I’ll write to you. Don’t worry, I’ll do my best to bring you back to Nanchu."
Su Rong nodded, "Alright."
Although she said "alright", she remained on the spot and smiled at Ye Guixue, "You go ahead. Little Qiuying likely wants to see you off, if I were to leave with her now, she might keep turning back to see you."
Ye Guixue smiled and nodded, then exited the pavilion to board his carriage.
As the curtain of the carriage fell, the vehicle departed from the Shili Pavilion, gradually disappearing into the distance.
Su Rong stood still, watching as Ye Guixue’s carriage moved farther away, leaving only a dark silhouette. Then, she pulled out the hairpin from her sleeve.
Fen Ling appeared from behind Su Rong, leaned in and asked curiously, "Sister, do you regret it? You can’t bear to see the Second Young Master Ye leave?"
Su Rong shook her head, "Regret about what?"
She handed the hairpin to him, "Take a look, is this the original one?"
"Ah?" Fen Ling was taken aback, he took it and studied it, "It is, right? It’s identical.", seeing Su Rong silent, he inspected it more carefully and confirmed, "Yes, there’s no mistake, it’s the same one. The base of the plum blossom has a mark." He showed it to Su Rong, "Look, here. Your name is carved here. Besides, the craftsmanship is also identical. This is a product of our workshop. There’s only one of its kind in the world."
Su Rong nodded, "If that’s so, then destroy it."
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