Chapter 26 You don't have a lover on the grasslands, right...?
Xiao Mingzhang actually agreed to her request.
Yunzhu had never been so happy and joyful as she was today. She pressed her lips tightly together, not wanting to reveal any of her happiness for Xiao Mingzhang in front of him. However, her abilities were truly limited, and after a short while, she finally revealed her true colors.
But she didn't say much to Xiao Mingzhang; she just kept looking at him and smiling.
After she had finally finished laughing, Yunzhu hugged the calligraphy book tightly and plunged back into the study.
Now that she had made an agreement with Xiao Mingzhang, Yunzhu naturally needed to work even harder to learn the Central Plains script and font so that she could give Xiao Mingzhang a huge surprise on her birthday.
This is her third birthday since arriving in Yunzhou. The previous two birthdays were actually quite ordinary for Yunzhu. She would simply have a nice meal with Yu Jingsi, Cui Ranzhi, and others, and receive a few gifts from friends and Xiao Mingzhang. That was how her birthdays passed.
The gifts from her friends were varied and diverse, but the birthday gift Xiao Mingzhang gave her was always the same: antiques and calligraphy, which were the favorites of literati.
Yunzhu didn't dislike these paintings and calligraphy, after all, each one was said to be priceless. However, she hadn't even fully learned the characters of the Central Plains yet, so expecting her to understand the artistic conception of landscapes all at once was futile. Yunzhu could only stare blankly at each other, unable to make any sense of it.
Every year when she received a gift from Xiao Mingzhang, Yunzhu would look at it and then have someone put it directly into her small storeroom, never to be taken out again.
This was the first time she had asked Xiao Mingzhang for a specific gift. It was also the first time she realized that she could actually ask Xiao Mingzhang for a specific gift.
In fact, although Yunzhu and Xiao Mingzhang's relationship had been harmonious for the past two years, it always seemed to be lacking something. She could sense Xiao Mingzhang's kindness towards her, but it was just friendliness, not the relaxed and intimate relationship that a husband and wife should have.
Respectful to each other like guests? Yunzhu remembered that there was an idiom in the Central Plains that described the relationship between husband and wife as neither too close nor too distant.
She realized the change in her relationship with Xiao Mingzhang after he returned from Jinling. Although several months had passed and things had gone through many twists and turns, Yunzhu unexpectedly found that she seemed to be becoming more and more inseparable from Xiao Mingzhang.
She liked Xiao Mingzhang and was fond of him. She didn't know what he was thinking, but she was very clear about her feelings. She didn't want to be just a respectful couple with Xiao Mingzhang.
She wanted a long and lasting relationship with him, and to be someone she could respect and be close to.
—
Xiao Mingzhang agreed to Yunzhu's request, but he didn't take it to heart.
Yunzhu's birthday is in April of next year, which is still four months away. Xiao Mingzhang obviously wouldn't be like Yunzhu, starting to look forward to it four months in advance.
He had many official duties to attend to, and by the time he finally had some free time to rest, it was already the evening of New Year's Eve.
The last rays of the setting sun, belonging to the old year, are gradually disappearing into layers of clouds, leaving a large blank space that contrasts beautifully with the snow on the ground.
Xiao Mingzhang returned to the house wrapped in a black and gold fox fur cloak, and looked around, but Yunzhu was nowhere to be seen.
The servants reported to him that the Crown Princess had gone to the County Princess's courtyard in the afternoon to cut paper snowflakes with her, and Xiao Mingzhang stopped searching for her.
He rarely gets a half-day off, so he went to his study first to check Yunzhu's homework, which he hadn't paid attention to for almost half a month.
Half a month ago, Yunzhu's studies gave Xiao Mingzhang a great surprise. Now, only half a month has passed, and Xiao Mingzhang does not expect to see much progress from her calligraphy. He just hopes she will not regress.
But to his surprise, in just half a month, Yunzhu seemed to have far exceeded his expectations once again.
He flipped through one calligraphy copybook after another in disbelief, and seeing the characters gradually showing brushstrokes, he summoned the female tutor who supervised Yunzhu's studies every day and questioned her about the Crown Princess's daily progress.
The female instructor replied, "The Crown Princess has been practicing calligraphy at home lately. She used to practice three sheets a day, but now she practices six sheets a day. She rarely goes out anymore."
Xiao Mingzhang was slightly taken aback. As the New Year approached, Yunzhou City was bustling with activity and excitement, but Yunzhu was completely unmoved by the noise and commotion. Instead, she sat attentively in her study, practicing her increasingly proficient calligraphy day after day.
In just half a month, her progress has been remarkable.
Why is that?
Xiao Mingzhang held the thick stack of calligraphy copybooks, and surprisingly, he couldn't find the so-called answer.
He admired the calligraphy for a full incense stick's time before finally putting it down.
He set off for Xiao Ming'an's residence, intending to invite the two of them to have dinner in the front hall.
According to the Wangfu custom, the whole family must gather together for the New Year's Eve dinner every year, and this year is no exception.
—
Inside Xiao Ming'an's room, Yunzhu was cutting paper snowflakes with her, listening to her talk about all sorts of whimsical things.
For the past two weeks, Yunzhu has kept herself cooped up in her study every day, ignoring all the noise and bustle outside, focusing solely on practicing calligraphy.
On New Year's Eve, she received an invitation from Xiao Ming'an to come and cut paper-cuts with her.
The Princess of Qingyuan, who usually never lifts a finger, makes it a rare occasion every year to personally cut out various kinds of paper-cut window decorations, adding a touch of joy and good fortune to the coming year.
Last year during the Lunar New Year, she didn't invite Yunzhu when she was cutting paper flowers, nor the year before, but this year she finally did.
Yunzhu understood her meaning and, not wanting to offend her rare gesture of goodwill, went over to it.
As Xiao Ming'an cut paper snowflakes, he chatted with her about all sorts of random things. However, the young girl, who had just reached the age of marriage, had one idea after another coming to mind.
"Yunzhu, tell me, what is Jinling really like?" Xiao Ming'an suddenly asked as he spoke.
Yunzhu asked in confusion, "I've never been to Jinling. Don't you always say you were born in Jinling?"
“I was born in Jinling, but I didn’t grow up in Jinling!” Xiao Ming’an muttered.
She was indeed born in Jinling, on the very day her grandfather ascended the throne. However, before she was even a year old, she followed her father and mother to their fiefdom in Yunzhou, and thus had no memory of the splendor of Jinling.
Yunzhu smiled faintly: "If you don't know, then there's even less reason for me to know."
“That’s true.” Xiao Ming’an murmured, glancing at Yun Zhu with a rare hint of envy.
She couldn't tell Yunzhu that the reason she mentioned Jinling was actually because she was thinking about the person who had gone to Jinling.
I wonder how he's doing in Jinling now. Is the Imperial Academy in Jinling more promising than the academies in Yunzhou? If he goes to Jinling, will he really come back?
Over the past few months, Xiao Ming'an had pondered these questions countless times on his own. But each time, he found no answer.
She had warned herself countless times not to continue like this, that there was no future in continuing and it would only drive her crazy. But every holiday, especially today, which is New Year's Eve, she would be reminded of the past and would soon be unable to hold back her emotions.
"Yunzhu, are there any people you miss on the grassland?" Xiao Ming'an suddenly asked Yunzhu.
"Yes," Yunzhu replied without hesitation. "My father and mother, my elder brothers and sisters, and many friends—I miss them all so much."
“That’s not what I’m asking,” Xiao Ming’an emphasized. “I’m asking about that kind of longing. Before you came to Yunzhou, was there anyone of the opposite sex you missed very much, but who you could never see again?”
"The opposite sex?" Yunzhu suddenly understood Xiao Ming'an's thoughts.
"No," she replied honestly.
"When you were on the grasslands, did you never fancy anyone?" Xiao Ming'an's questions became increasingly bold.
Yunzhu patiently answered her, "No, I really haven't."
"Sigh..." Xiao Ming'an could only feel regret. If that was the case, she probably couldn't understand his feelings.
But she was still unwilling to give up. As she cut new red paper, she asked again, "What do you do when you miss your family?"
“Write them letters, or pray to the moon,” Yunzhu said.
“Write letters to them, or pray to the moon…” Xiao Ming’an softly repeated Yun Zhu’s answer, and suddenly, she was energized.
Write a letter... Yes, write a letter!
Xiao Ming'an had been so depressed and sad these past few months that she had completely forgotten that even though he had been sent to the Imperial Academy, she could still write to him and ask about his situation! The Imperial Academy wasn't some unknown place!
Xiao Ming'an was so excited that she couldn't hold the scissors properly. She put them down shakily, shook Yunzhu's shoulder, and almost cried with joy: "Yunzhu, you are really my lucky star!"
"What?" Yunzhu was completely bewildered, having no idea how she had become a lucky star.
But the joy on Xiao Ming'an's face was genuine, and the brilliance in her eyes was something Yunzhu hadn't seen in her eyes for a long time. It was the unique vitality of a young girl, a completely vigorous and upward-looking vitality.
Yunzhu stared at Xiao Ming'an for almost a quarter of an hour before she seemed to finally understand the source of her joy.
But then, Xiao Mingzhang arrived.
Yunzhu could only go to the front hall for a meal with him and Xiao Ming'an.
It was another uneventful meal. Yunzhu, Xiao Shao, and Ying Shi still didn't have much to say to each other. After completing the formalities, they returned to their courtyard with Xiao Mingzhang.
As she walked back to the courtyard, she pondered for a while and then told Xiao Mingzhang, "I think Ming'an might write to Jinling soon..."
Xiao Mingzhang lowered his eyes in the darkness of the night.
Yunzhu then said, "This time, please don't say I deliberately didn't tell you. She's just a young girl. You've already separated her from you, so let her go with the letter. Otherwise, I'm afraid she'll get sick from holding it in."
"..."
Xiao Mingzhang's face was hidden in the snow and wind of New Year's Eve, making it difficult for Yunzhu to see clearly.
Until suddenly, a dazzling display of fireworks burst forth in the sky, and in that instant, she finally caught a glimpse of the mocking expression on Xiao Mingzhang's face.
“Xiao Mingzhang, what are you laughing at? Did you understand? Ming'an's matter…” Yunzhu said solemnly.
"I understand." Xiao Mingzhang said calmly, tightening his grip on Yunzhu's hand to calm her down.
The fireworks continued in the sky as he stood on the path in the Prince's Palace flower garden, facing Yunzhu.
Vibrant colors occasionally brushed across his cheeks, illuminating Yunzhu's face as well.
Yunzhu gazed up at him quietly, then suddenly, in the cold night wind, she heard Xiao Mingzhang ask again: "So, you wrote the letter to tell your family how much you miss them. You didn't have a lover on the grassland, did you?"
Yunzhu: "..."
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Author's Note: Barring any unforeseen circumstances, this is the last bit of sweetness [let me see], I should be able to write the synopsis tomorrow! Birthday gift, gogogo!
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