Goodbye to old friends
Madam Wen's illness kept recurring, and the festive atmosphere in the mansion seemed somewhat desolate amidst the lingering sickness.
On this day, Xuanji asked Wen Tingyun for leave.
"Sir, today I would like to go to Xuanqing Temple outside the city to ask for a peace charm for my master's wife," she said softly, her eyes lowered.
Wen Tingyun looked up from his book, glanced at her, and said, "Very well. The snow on the road hasn't melted yet, so have the manor prepare a carriage and take two reliable people with us. Go as soon as possible and return as soon as possible."
"Yes." Xuanji curtsied.
The Taoist temple was nestled in the mountains, its pines and cypresses covered in snow, adding to its solemn and serene atmosphere. Xuanji alighted from the carriage, accompanied by Shiliu, and entered the temple. She had no interest in admiring the scenery and went straight to the main hall, where she offered incense and candles and knelt deeply before the compassionate and dignified statue of the deity.
The cold, hard prayer cushion pressed against her knees, yet she felt nothing. She simply clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and poured all her thoughts into silent prayer. May her master's wife recover soon, may illness be banished, may the Wen family be filled with warmth and joy once more… She knelt with utmost devotion, time passing quietly until her knees went numb. Only then did her mind settle amidst the rising incense smoke, finding a moment of peace.
She obtained a peace charm, carefully wrapped it in yellow silk, and was about to put it in her bosom when she inadvertently glanced outside the hall as she got up to leave.
Just then, a group of people walked past the bronze incense burner in front of the hall and headed this way. The man at the head of the group was dressed in an indigo brocade robe with a black fox fur cloak. He was tall and handsome, with a face that carried a hint of aloofness and coldness. Who else could it be but Li Yi?
A young woman, dressed in finery and adorned with jewels, followed closely beside him. She possessed an air of pampered arrogance. This was his newlywed wife, Lady Pei of Hedong. Several servants followed behind them.
Li Yi seemed to be whispering something to his wife when he looked up and his gaze met Xuanji's, who was about to emerge from inside the hall.
Their eyes met, and both of them were taken aback.
Li Yi paused noticeably, a complex look of surprise flashing across his eyes.
Pei, standing beside him, immediately noticed her husband's unusual behavior and followed his gaze to Xuanji. Seeing that although Xuanji was simply dressed, her beautiful features and unique scholarly air were undeniable, Pei's delicate brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. Without making a sound, she tightened her grip on Li Yi's arm, as if silently asserting her ownership.
Xuanji quickly lowered her eyes, concealing all her emotions. She then gave a slight curtsy to Li Yi and his wife.
Li Yi's lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but when his gaze fell on his wife beside him, he ultimately did not speak, only giving a very slight nod in return.
Behind her, Pei's soft voice could be faintly heard asking, "Husband, who was that just now...?"
Li Yi's reply was low and indistinct, and was quickly carried away by the wind, making it difficult to hear clearly.
Seeing the two walk away, Shi Liu said angrily, "Young Master Li clearly saw you, but he acted like you were a stranger and didn't even give you a second glance."
She grew angrier as she spoke: "In the past... in the past when he was studying and discussing philosophy in our household, although he was indifferent to others, he was always different towards you, Miss. Now that he has become the top scholar and married a noble lady, does he think he's above everyone else? This indifference is more unbearable than being rude; it's clearly... clearly..."
Xuanji's gaze remained fixed on the amulet in his hand, and his voice was calm: "Pomegranate, be careful what you say."
“Young Master Li’s status is different now, and he has his own circumstances and considerations. Avoiding suspicion is the right thing to do for him, for the Wen family, and for me.”
Shiliu opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing. She recalled the day Li Yi became the top scholar in the imperial examination last year; she had secretly peeked through the crowd and seen him riding a horse through the streets, his bearing exceptionally elegant. But even Miss Xuanji...
Xuanji stepped out of the mountain gate and boarded the carriage. She lowered her head, opened her palm, looked at the small yellow amulet that carried all her wishes, and sighed softly.
The weather had been fine for several days, and the warm sun melted the snow, making people's moods seem brighter as well. Madam Wen's illness improved day by day; her cough lessened, and some color returned to her face.
That day, Xuanji placed the peace charm obtained from Xuanqing Temple into the embroidered sachet and respectfully presented it to Madam Wen. The sachet was made of elegant moon-white brocade, embroidered with lotus scrolls in the same color silk thread, symbolizing peace and well-being. The stitches were fine and even, showing meticulous care.
“Master’s wife, this is a small token of my appreciation,” Xuanji said softly. “It contains some calming dried flowers and a little medicine. I hope it will help you recover soon.”
Madam Wen took the sachet, held it to her nose, and inhaled a light, calming herbal scent. She pulled Xuanji's hand and made her sit down beside her, carefully examining the sachet. Her eyes were full of satisfaction and affection: "Good child, it's kind of you to put so much effort into it. Your needlework is improving more and more; this lotus flower is so elegantly embroidered."
Two days later, Madam Wen was in better spirits. That night, the moonlight shone brightly outside the window, its gentle glow filtering through the curtains and into the room. Wen Tingyun helped her take her medicine and tucked her in, but he did not immediately go to his study. Instead, he sat by the bedside under the lamp, casually flipping through a book.
Madam Wen leaned against the pillow, looking at her husband's calm profile under the lamp, and suddenly said softly, "Husband, I've been ill these past few days, but I can't help but think about things."
"Oh? What are you thinking about?" Wen Tingyun looked up from his book and gazed at his wife with gentle eyes.
"I'm thinking about... Xuanji's future." Madam Wen sighed softly. "This child has grown up in the blink of an eye. She is outstanding in both talent and appearance and in character. She can't stay with us like this indefinitely. We should make plans for her future."
Upon hearing this, Wen Tingyun put down his book, his expression becoming more serious, and nodded: "I have also considered this matter. However... there is no suitable candidate at the moment."
“I do think of someone,” Madam Wen interjected, her voice soft but clearly indicating she had considered it for a long time. “He is a distant nephew of mine. He lives in Luoyang, his parents run a small business, and he just passed the imperial examination two years ago. He is currently studying hard to prepare for the next spring imperial examination.”
She paused, observing her husband's expression, and continued, "I met that child once years ago. He's handsome, honest, and seems like a diligent and studious person. Although his family isn't wealthy, if he succeeds in the imperial examinations, he'll have a bright future. Most importantly, his family is small. If Xuanji marries into his family, she won't have to deal with the hassle of household chores. With her talent, she might even be able to exchange poems with her husband and live a harmonious life together. You see…"
Wen Tingyun remained silent, his fingertips unconsciously tapping lightly on the table. He naturally understood his wife's good intentions: to find Xuanji a stable and reliable home. That poor scholar, it certainly sounded like the right path.
However, for some reason, the thought of a woman as intelligent and insightful as Xuanji, with her amazing poetic talent, marrying into a poor or even struggling family, and being with a "honest" husband who might be far less talented than her and only knew how to bury himself in his studies, with everything in the future depending on her husband's unknown fame and success... gave rise to an indescribable sense of stagnation and resentment in his heart.
"This matter..." he began slowly, his voice sounding particularly deep in the quiet night, "Let me think about it some more."
Seeing that he did not refuse outright, Madam Wen said no more, only softly saying, "Very well."
Wen Tingyun patted the back of her hand, picked up the book again, but his gaze lingered on the words for a long time. He just stared at the flickering candlelight, and it seemed as if he could see that lonely figure gazing into the distance from the railing of the Wangjiang Tower.
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