Chapter 32 When Will My Love Return? Long or short, I long for my love's return. ...
Su Jinxiu neatly folded several thick winter coats and placed them, along with Wen Shiqin's usual pine soot ink and Duanxi inkstone, into a rosewood book box. Inside the box, she also carefully placed his frequently read copy of "The Collected Works of Mr. Changli" and a small jar of calming chrysanthemum ointment.
She used to always tell him that Bailudong Academy was the most prestigious Confucian academy in the world, and that its headmasters were all learned scholars. She advised him not to indulge in the pleasures of Bianjing, but to go there to cultivate his mind and broaden his horizons. But now that he was really going to embark on his studies, her heart sank with anxiety.
It was just a trip to study, and it only lasted for about half a year.
"It's not like I'm not coming back." She murmured softly to the book box, forcing herself to dispel the inexplicable melancholy.
"Jinxiu, come here."
Su Jinxiu looked up and saw that it was An Chisu calling her. She quickly replied "Okay," put down her work, and hurried out.
Upon entering An Chisu's accounting office, she gestured for Su Jinxiu to sit down, then picked up the account book and began to explain Huayun Pavilion's accounts in detail.
From the daily flow of water in and out, to the procurement channels for Suzhou and Hangzhou silks and Sichuan embroidery threads, to the rules and details of the clothing procurement with various princes and nobles, such as the princess's mansion preferring bright red and the duke's mansion preferring dark blue, everything was explained in detail.
At first, Su Jinxiu listened attentively, taking it as a routine instruction, nodding in agreement from time to time. But gradually, she noticed something was amiss. An Chisu spoke in far too much detail, practically revealing the entire business structure and network of relationships within Huayun Pavilion.
Su Jinxiu finally couldn't help but interrupt softly, "Sister Chisu, what... what is this?"
An Chisu put down the ledger, looked up at her, her eyes filled with a faint weariness, yet unusually calm: "Jinxiu, I plan to go home."
"Going home?"
Su Jinxiu was startled, only then realizing that she had never asked An Chisu where her hometown was, nor had she ever mentioned the past.
“Yes, home.” An Chisu repeated softly, her gaze drifting to the sycamore trees outside the window.
Before Su Jinxiu could ask any further questions, An Chisu had already withdrawn her gaze and looked at her intently: "Jinxiu, from now on, you will be the head of Huayun Pavilion with full authority."
"Me?" Su Jinxiu stood up abruptly, her tongue almost tied in knots. "Sister Chisu, why are you leaving? Aren't we doing just fine? Isn't Huayun Pavilion doing a great job under your management?"
An Chisu simply shook her head slightly, the weariness in her eyes no longer concealed: "I want to leave here, to leave the place of trouble in Bianjing."
Su Jinxiu stared blankly at her, only to see an indescribable sorrow and deep weariness on An Chisu's face. The words of entreaty that were on the tip of her tongue were swallowed back. She suppressed the reluctance in her heart and said solemnly, "Sister Chisu, rest assured, I will take good care of it. Whenever you want to come back, this place will always be open for you."
Upon hearing this, An Chisu finally smiled faintly, like the first melting of snow. She reached out and patted Su Jinxiu's hand, saying softly, "Okay."
An Chisu left quietly, and Su Jinxiu stood in the empty accounting room, feeling as if she had just woken up from a dream.
She was only jolted awake when she walked into the courtyard and saw the colorful silks hanging on bamboo poles and fluttering in the wind.
She recalled her first time here. Back then, she was just an orphan struggling to make ends meet, anxiously begging for a job. But in just a few months, she became the owner of Huayun Pavilion.
But what exactly does the title of "Bianjing's Number One Embroiderer" mean?
Now, Hua Manzhu is closed to visitors, while Hua Yun Ge enjoys unparalleled popularity, with orders from royalty and nobility pouring in. But she knows in her heart that Hua Yun Ge is ultimately just a humble embroidery workshop in the marketplace; above it lies the Imperial Embroidery Bureau. That is the true hidden gem, gathering the world's most skilled embroiderers, much like the top scholars from across the land who go on to serve in the imperial court. Hua Yun Ge, however, is merely a rising star among the common people.
Can she really achieve that goal within two years?
At first, she embroidered simply to survive, or rather, to find a way back to the modern world. But now, she has an extra attachment in her heart, one that she can't sever, and doesn't want to sever.
Su Jinxiu took a deep breath, shaking off those negative thoughts and focusing only on the present.
Now that only she, Linlang, and Manshu remain in the pavilion, it's time to recruit new people.
She first approached Linlang to discuss recruiting highly skilled embroiderers, and then summoned Manshu to plan the future of Huayun Pavilion together. She laid out the modern employee incentive mechanisms in detail, including performance bonuses, year-end dividends, and paid leave, leaving Linlang and Manshu dumbfounded, as if they were listening to a fairy tale.
Su Jinxiu was having a lively discussion with them when she didn't notice that the first autumn rain of the year had started to fall outside the window, and it was coming down quickly and suddenly.
The three women rushed out and were heartbroken to see the colorful silks hanging on the bamboo poles soaked by the rain. They hurriedly gathered the fabrics, and it took them a great deal of effort to carry them all back inside. They were all exhausted and panting heavily.
Su Jinxiu wiped the sweat from her forehead and looked at the pile of silk on the ground, her determination to recruit more people growing stronger.
Meanwhile, the sudden autumn rain also fell on the Canglang Pavilion of the Mu Mansion. The rain pattered on the banana leaves, a gentle drizzle, but compared to the chaos in the Huayun Pavilion, the atmosphere here was serene.
On the chessboard, black and white pieces clashed, and the situation was deadlocked. Mu Hualin placed a black piece, but her gaze drifted to Wen Shiqin, who stood opposite her with a calm expression. She couldn't help but say, "Shiqin, why are you so stubborn? You insist on passing the imperial examination first, then entering Bailudong, and finally participating in the spring examination. You've gone through such a long and complicated process."
Wen Shiqin held a white piece, hesitating to make a move. Upon hearing this, he simply smiled faintly and said, "One must walk one step at a time, and learn one thing at a time. I cannot do anything opportunistic."
"What do you mean by opportunism?" Mu Hualin put down the chess piece, her tone tinged with impatience. "We're close friends, why stand on ceremony? Just tell me directly, and I'll go to the palace tomorrow to recommend you for a government position to my elder sister. The Crown Prince is in need of a Chamberlain; it's just a matter of a word, much better than you studying hard for years."
Wen Shiqin finally placed his white piece, looked up at Mu Hualin, and said sincerely, "Yuan Huang, a gentleman's friendship is as light as water. It's not that I don't know how good you are to me. It's precisely because I know how you treat me that I cannot follow your path and betray our friendship."
Upon hearing this, Mu Hualin felt that Wen Shiqin's words made sense and admired his integrity even more, so she did not mention the matter of recommendation again.
He turned to the servant and ordered, "Go, bring me my treasured Drunken Clouds wine. I want to have a few drinks with Young Master Wen!"
Wen Shiqin waved his hand, saying, "It is not advisable to drink alcohol today."
"What's wrong?" Mu Hualin raised an eyebrow. "Are you afraid I'll get you drunk?"
Wen Shiqin thought of his wife at home. If she drank alcohol, she would be leaving tomorrow and wouldn't even have the strength for tender words tonight. Not wanting to miss this last night before his departure, he vaguely replied, "I have to leave early tomorrow morning, so I want to rest early and conserve my energy."
Mu Hualin, being so perceptive, immediately understood and teased with a wink, "Brothers all understand! Okay, if you don't want to drink, then don't. Let's continue our game!"
Wen Shiqin gave a helpless smile, and the two of them refocused on the chessboard, leaving the jar of Drunken Flowing Clouds neglected to the side.
Just then, a servant came running in, panting and looking flustered: "Young master, the county princess has arrived."
Wen Shiqin stared at the chessboard, his fingertips holding the white piece, lost in thought, and did not hear what the servant said.
The situation has reached a dead end. Mu Hualin's black pieces are like dark clouds pressing down on the city, completely surrounding his dragon and leaving only a seemingly smooth but actually dangerous path to survival.
He was racking his brains trying to figure out how to win in this dangerous situation, completely unaware that Mu Hualin across from him had gotten up and was walking quickly towards the outside of the pavilion.
A moment later, Mu Hualin led Cen Wanying in with an umbrella. She had her hair styled in two buns, adorned with small, round pearl hairpins, and wore a pinkish-blue dress with gold trim. She looked delicate and pretty, clearly having dressed up carefully.
Mu Hualin folded up the oil-paper umbrella, then took a plain silk handkerchief and gently wiped away the raindrops from Yingying's temples. She asked softly, "Yingying, what brings you here?"
Cen Wanying's gaze bypassed Mu Hualin and landed directly on Wen Shiqin, ignoring Mu Hualin's question.
Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she called out softly, "Young Master Wen."
Wen Shiqin then snapped out of his predicament on the chessboard, looked up and saw that the person who had come was the county princess. He immediately stood up, cupped his hands and bowed, saying, "Greetings, county princess."
"We've met before, why be so polite?"
Wen Shiqin remained respectful: "Propriety must not be disregarded."
Seeing that he remained aloof, Cen Wanying sighed inwardly but said nothing more. She instructed the maid behind her, "Nongzhu."
The maid, Nongzhu, immediately brought forward a gilded lacquer box and placed it on the stone table in the pavilion. Cen Wanying opened the food box, inside which were several plates of exquisite pastries, exuding a rich aroma. "Here you go..." she paused, then changed her words, "I made some food for you."
Mu Hualin, who had just been feeling a bit down because of being ignored, immediately came over when she saw the food and asked with a smile, "What good stuff is it? Do you have my favorite crispy abalone?"
"Yes, there are." Cen Wanying nodded with a smile.
The three of them enjoyed the snacks together, and Mu Hualin praised them highly. Seeing that the time was right, Cen Wanying turned to Wen Shiqin and got down to business: "Young Master Wen, I heard that you are going to Bailudong to study?"
“Exactly.” Wen Shiqin nodded.
Cen Wanying lowered her eyes, a hint of disappointment flashing in them, before regaining her composure: "Then I wish you a smooth journey and that you will soon achieve your goal of passing the imperial examination."
"Thank you for your kind words, Your Highness." Wen Shiqin's tone remained respectful and polite, without the slightest overstepping of bounds.
Cen Wanying was filled with doubt.
He hasn't returned the hairpin that symbolized their love, doesn't that mean he tacitly agrees that they are in love? Why is he so reserved now?
She thought again that perhaps her cousin was there and he didn't want their private affair to be discovered by outsiders.
"oops."
Wen Shiqin and Mu Hualin both looked at her with suspicion. Cen Wanying then said to Mu Hualin, "Cousin, I prepared some things for Young Master Wen's enrollment, including the Dragon Tail Stone Inkstone, the fine Li Tinggui ink, and several rare books, but I forgot them in the carriage. Could you please fetch them for me?"
Mu Hualin felt a little resentful upon hearing that this was prepared especially for Wen Shiqin. However, seeing the pleading look in her bright, watery eyes, she took a deep breath, replied "Okay," and stepped into the rain with her umbrella.
Cen Wanying then gestured to Nongzhu to send the rest of the servants to the distant corridor, leaving only the two of them in the pavilion.
The two sat on opposite sides of the stone table, but both faced outwards from the pavilion. Wen Shiqin sat silently, while Cen Wanying couldn't help but turn her head to look at him.
"Young Master Wen."
Wen Shiqin turned his head, his expression unchanged.
Cen Wanying gripped the stone table slightly with her fingertips, tentatively asking, "I heard that you've gone to study, young master. Could it be...?"
She assumed he was seeking fame and fortune to match her because of his commoner status. A young woman's thoughts were complex and subtle, and in the end she simply said softly, "I'll wait for you to come back."
The voice was too soft for Wen Shiqin to hear clearly: "Princess, what did you say?"
Cen Wanying's cheeks flushed even more. Seeing that he was dressed in a moon-white long robe, yet could not hide the noble and natural demeanor between his brows, she dared not look directly at him and turned her head away, thinking that he was teasing her.
Wen Shiqin had indeed not heard clearly. Seeing her like this, he was puzzled and frowned slightly.
When Mu Hualin returned carrying the things, Cen Wanying's eyes flickered slightly, and she walked ahead along the fragrant path.
Wen Shiqin looked at the writing implements, then at Mu Hualin, and said indifferently, "I cannot accept them." Mu Hualin was taken aback, and before she could speak, he continued, "Someone has already prepared them for me. I will have to trouble you to return these things to me."
After Wen Shiqin left, Mu Hualin looked at the inkstone and ink stick in her hand, and thought of the hairpin she had kept. She felt a pang of sadness, but she still carefully put these things away.
When Wen Shiqin left the Mu residence, it was already evening. The sky was overcast, a light rain was falling, and there were few pedestrians on the road.
He mounted his horse, eager to return home.
Su Jinxiu was wondering why he hadn't returned by now, so she took out her umbrella and went to the alley entrance to check.
As soon as the door opened, Wen Shiqin, panting, stood there. He wasn't carrying an umbrella; raindrops dampened his temples, sliding down from his brow bone and meandering along his jawline, adding to his air of aloofness and refined elegance.
She quickly spun the umbrella around him, sheltered him under it, and reached out to adjust his collar, asking, "You came back without even knowing to use an umbrella?"
Wen Shiqin simply smiled and stepped forward, then picked her up with one arm. Su Jinxiu gasped in surprise, and could only wrap one arm around his neck and shoulder while tightly gripping the umbrella handle with the other, letting him carry her into the inner room.
As soon as he entered the eaves, Wen Shiqin snatched the umbrella from her hand, casually tossed it outside the door, and went straight into his bedroom. He lifted the beaded curtain and walked towards the bed.
Su Jinxiu was quite frightened and pounded his shoulder, saying, "What are you doing?"
Wen Shiqin's reply was vague: "I'm leaving tomorrow, won't you take good care of me, sister?"
As they got closer to the bed, Su Jinxiu anxiously reached out to pinch his ear. Wen Shiqin grunted and looked up at her.
She sat in his arms, looking down at him, so close they could hear each other's breath.
"Good sister, kiss me," he said, his voice tinged with a hint of coquetry, "and if you kiss me, I won't go to bed."
Su Jinxiu was caught in a dilemma, so she had no choice but to hold her breath and gently kiss his left cheek. He immediately turned his face away, indicating that he wanted the other cheek too. Helpless, she could only kiss his right cheek as well.
As soon as the kiss ended, he suddenly loosened his grip, and Su Jinxiu lost her support and was about to fall. She cried out in surprise and instinctively wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, hanging on him.
But his right hand had already firmly supported her waist, preventing her from falling. He then gently placed her back on the ground, kissed her cheek in return, and chuckled, "A return gift for my elder sister."
Su Jinxiu was completely bewildered by his teasing, both angry and annoyed. Her face flushed and she gasped, "Wen Shiqin, you really are..."
She ignored him and turned to pack his bags.
He would annoy people and then have to rack his brains to coax them back, but he did it all willingly.
Su Jinxiu was busy packing his luggage, clothes and belongings, and ignored him no matter how he tried to talk to her.
Wen Shiqin then wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and hugged her tightly. Wherever she went, he followed her like an octopus, making her packing much slower.
Su Jinxiu finally couldn't help but turn around and say, "Do we still need to pack? If we dawdle any longer, we'll be late."
He leaned on her shoulder and said sullenly, "I really don't want to go."
Su Jinxiu frowned: "Since you've made up your mind, go for it and stop saying such discouraging things."
Wen Shiqin, however, acted shamelessly: "But I just love beauty more than power! If it weren't for that brat Yi Ruxu pissing and threatening me, I would definitely spend every day and night with my sister in this room... every single day..."
The more they spoke, the more ambiguous and suggestive their words became.
Su Jinxiu was both angry and anxious. The two had just started dating, and he was already talking such shameless nonsense. No matter how she tried to stop him, she couldn't shut him up. She could only cover her ears with a red face.
Wen Shiqin finally restrained himself a bit, fearing that if he continued, she would lock herself in the room again, just like yesterday, and wouldn't open the door no matter how much he called her, so he loosened his grip slightly.
The two chatted casually, but the conversation gradually became more serious, and they started talking about the differences in customs and culture between Jiangzhou and Bianjing.
As Wen Shiqin spoke, he suddenly laughed and said, "When I pass the imperial examination in the spring, sister, don't forget to go and find a husband for me."
Su Jinxiu folded the last piece of clothing without even looking up: "I'm not going. If you really get captured by someone else, I won't want you anymore."
Wen Shiqin hurriedly said, "Oh, how could that be? Once I win the top scholar title, I'll ride my horse and crush everyone who blocks my way, rush back to find my sister, then drape her in a phoenix coronet and wedding gown, and go straight into the cave..."
"Wen Shiqin!" Su Jinxiu was both embarrassed and angry, and reached out to pinch his arm.
When Wen Shiqin heard that she was being pinched and beaten, he found her appearance extremely cute and wished he could tie her to his belt and take her with him to Jiangzhou.
Seeing that her scolding and beatings had no effect on him, as if hitting cotton, Su Jinxiu lost her spirit and focused on tidying up the last bit of her luggage.
Wen Shiqin finally became serious and began to instruct: "Sister, remember to write me a letter every three days."
Su Jinxiu frowned: "Wouldn't three days be too frequent? I won't know what to write then. How about six days?"
She looked out the window at the continuous rain, and Wen Shiqin continued to give her instructions, from being careful with fire when cooking, to checking for leaks in the house on rainy days, and to repairing household items in a timely manner.
As Su Jinxiu listened, she inexplicably recalled the days when the two of them depended on each other for survival. She was not a weak person; after her grandmother passed away in modern times, she had become self-reliant and had long been accustomed to loneliness. But now that she was used to his care, going back to the way things were felt like going from luxury to frugality, and her nose tingled, and tears welled up in her eyes.
Wen Shiqin quickly pulled her into his arms, sat her on the soft couch, wiped away her tears, and coaxed her, "I said I'd write in three days, but you're still arguing with me. Don't cry again when you don't receive a reply from me."
Su Jinxiu choked up, "I would never..." Before she could finish speaking, her tears flowed even more uncontrollably.
Wen Shiqin patted her back gently, laughing as if coaxing a child, "You were the one who strongly urged me to go to Bailudong to take the imperial examination, and now that I'm leaving, you're the one crying and wailing. Sister, you've done all the good deeds, but after playing the good cop, you've left me in the middle, pleasing neither side."
Seeing Su Jinxiu stop crying and start laughing, Wen Shiqin breathed a sigh of relief. He stopped teasing her and simply pulled her into his arms, gently patting her back to comfort her.
Finally, his expression hardened, and he solemnly gave her one last instruction: "Sister, I will be gone for half a year. You must not agree to marry anyone else, nor should you fall in love with anyone else. I have left a few servants in Huayun Pavilion as spies. If I find out who is flirting with you... when I return, I will grind them to dust."
Startled by the hostility in his words, Su Jinxiu quickly and carefully instructed him, "When you go to White Deer Cave, you must not get into arguments with anyone. Always follow etiquette and avoid trouble. Also, what did you mean by what you just said? Do you really think I am such a fickle person?"
Wen Shiqin quickly defended himself: "Of course not, but it's hard to guarantee that others don't have bad intentions, especially that stinky Taoist priest who flaunts himself like a peacock."
Later, he pulled Su Jinxiu to the desk and insisted that she write a guarantee. Su Jinxiu had no choice but to do so, and the two of them solemnly pressed their fingerprints on it.
With everything settled, the two returned to their respective bedrooms to rest.
Good nights and sleepless nights.
The next day, just as dawn was breaking, he quietly left as promised.
Su Jinxiu lay on the bed, listening to the soft sound of the door closing outside. She slightly opened her eyes and remained motionless for a long time.
They agreed yesterday that there was no need to see them off, lest it only add to their tears of parting.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com