Chapter 118 When the Wind Arrives 5 Finale (Part 1)
Not long after Qin Yuan left, snow began to fall from the sky.
Snowflakes fluttered down, soon blanketing everything in the courtyard. The blue tiles turned silvery white, and the red plum blossoms in the courtyard were dotted with flying dust. No one spoke in the courtyard; everything was utterly silent. Listening carefully, I could hear a faint sound, like falling snow.
Xun Shu sat on the heated kang by the window, half-open, staring blankly at the falling snow, letting her mind wander as she gradually began to drift into sleep. The maids, fearing she might catch a cold, moved the charcoal fire closer and covered her with a pre-baked red fox fur coat. The instant she put it on, she felt warm.
In a daze, a person appeared in front of the moon gate at the end of the yard, holding a sky-blue oil-paper umbrella. He walked out from the misty snow curtain like flowers brushing willows, and walked towards her through the flying snow.
Xun Shu paused for a moment, regained his composure, and looked carefully. It was Li Xuanhe.
He was still in his official uniform, as if he had just returned from the Dali Temple. His eyes were downcast, his brows slightly furrowed, and his fierce aura still lingered. His dark cloak was embroidered with a silver crane, its crown inlaid with a red gem, gleaming brightly, perfectly matching the white snow, and especially him. He seemed to notice Xun Shu's gaze, and the moment he raised his eyes, his features softened, a toothy smile appeared on his lips, and his steps became much lighter.
Li Xuanhe walked to the open window and looked at his little girl through it: "Is Ah Shu enjoying the snow?"
Xun Shu nodded, his eyes falling on the thin snow on his shoulders: "Come into the house and warm up, it's very cold outside."
Li Xuanhe walked into the house and took off his cloak at the door, leaving the cold outside. Then he walked into the greenhouse and took out an oil-paper package from his bosom as if offering a treasure. He handed it to the low table in front of Xun Shu and said, "On my way back, I passed by the market and happened to see a shop frying bubble cakes. I remembered that you haven't had it for a while, so I bought one and brought it back for you to try. It's still warm, come and try it."
How could one possibly pass by a street market selling these snacks on the way back from the Dali Temple to the Princess's Mansion? Even if there were, how could a shop be frying fried dough cakes on such a cold, snowy day?
Xun Shu didn't say anything. She opened the oil paper and tore the cake into two pieces. She took one piece and pushed the rest in front of Li Xuanhe: "I just had some snacks, so I don't need so much. You can eat with me."
Li Xuanhe washed his hands and sat on the heated kang on the other side of the low table. He picked up half a fried cake and realized it had gotten a bit cold despite the oil-paper wrapping it had been keeping warm. He lamented, "It's still best right out of the pan. It's a little hot, but incredibly fragrant. When it gets warmer, I'll take you to the market... Hmm, how about the market in Chaozhou? It's the place we used to eat at when we were closing our stalls."
Li Xuanhe tested cautiously, staring at Xun Shu's face without blinking, afraid of missing the subtle changes in her expression.
Xun Shu paused.
The fried cakes that are often eaten when closing the stall...
It was clearly a few months ago, but now thinking about it, it feels like a year ago. Although life was poor back then, thinking about it now, it was a rare happy time. Xun Shu regained his composure, took a small bite of the soft bubble cake in his hand, and shook his head: "No need, the dim sum in Beijing is better than Chaozhou. When the weather gets warmer, can you take me to the market?"
Li Xuanhe was stunned, with disbelief in his eyes, and did not speak for a long time.
The cold oil cake wasn't very tasty, but Xun Shu still insisted on stuffing it into his mouth. After swallowing it with difficulty, he said softly, "Third brother, I have something to discuss with you."
Xun Shu's expression was extremely serious, which startled Li Xuanhe. The little joy he had just felt disappeared in an instant, replaced by helplessness and uneasiness.
"Ashu, please don't say anything yet. Can you let me speak first?"
Xun Shu paused, not understanding why he wanted to argue over such a trivial matter, but he still followed his lead: "Okay, then you go first."
Li Xuanhe pinched the uneaten fried cake and said awkwardly, "Ah Shu, do you still remember what happened on the roof that day? Do you still mean what you said back then?"
How could Xun Shu forget?
On the rooftop of the Pingyang Marquis's mansion, the setting sun was radiant. She had once secretly pledged her life to the young man before her. She had only ever been secretly pledged to this man in her life. She had thought then that when she found Uncle Jiang, she would tell him about this. He was her family, half-father, and her marriage should have been approved by Uncle Jiang. But she hadn't expected...
The world is unpredictable, and it's hard to defy fate. Even the most skilled fortune teller couldn't predict the ever-changing causalities. Perhaps only a deity could do that? Xun Shu's thoughts were so lost in them that he couldn't pull himself out for a long moment.
Li Xuanhe watched the man opposite him grow increasingly depressed, becoming even more anxious. He hurriedly said, "Ah Shu, my heart remains the same as it was that day. I truly want to be with you forever. I know I haven't thought enough about many things, causing you distress and sadness. But during these months when you were in a coma, I figured it all out. You want a small courtyard, and family members who will never abandon you or leave you. I will do my best to fulfill all of these wishes!"
"If you're willing to stay in the capital and want to open a coffin shop, I'll definitely attract business for you. If you want to return to Chaozhou, I'll go with you. If you want to go out and explore, I'll also travel with you to explore the beautiful scenery and find a place you like to live. If you want to live in a small courtyard, I'll decorate it for you with the most exquisite and warm courtyard. If you want to live in a large house, I'll buy you good land and servants. Ah Shu, from now on, if you want anything or are unhappy about anything, you can tell me directly. If there are any difficulties, we can discuss it together. Are you willing to give me another chance?"
Xun Shu couldn't help laughing as he listened. As he laughed, his eyes became wet: "What if the negotiation doesn't work out?"
"Then it's up to you. Whatever you say is what I will do."
"Then what about your work at the Dali Temple? You're the Shaoqing of the Dali Temple, how can you accompany me to Chaozhou?"
Li Xuanhe explained, "When I was young, influenced by my master, Qin Yuan, I loved solving mysteries and pursuing the truth. I wanted to serve ordinary people and redress the injustices of the deceased. Later, my master became an official at the Dali Temple, and I also pursued joining the Dali Temple. However, since I left the capital for Chaozhou a year ago, and experienced the case of County Magistrate Zhao and his wife, and later encountered the case of the Ningyuan Village Shrine, I realized that the Dali Temple is not the only place where I can do what I want. In fact, in every state and county, there are injustices waiting for me to redress.
"When the new year and spring come, let's go back to Chaozhou together. I can go to the Chaozhou County Government and continue doing what I want to do... Most importantly, Chaozhou has Ah Shu. Ah Shu is the person I want to keep most now and in the future. The Dali Temple is good, but Ah Shu is more important. If you can't have your cake and eat it too, and I have to choose, I will choose to stay with Ah Shu.
"Ashu, don't worry. No matter what choice I have to make in the future, as long as you are among the options, I will definitely choose you. You are my only choice for the rest of my life."
The boy's words were passionate and sincere, as if he wanted to open his heart to her. Xun Shu looked at him quietly, and his wandering soul slowly settled down at this moment, as if he had found the courage to believe again.
He was clearly the same as when they first met, but there was something slightly different about him. There seemed to be a hint of humility between his eyebrows. The sincerity mixed with pleading in his eyes as he looked at her made her heart clench into a ball.
The young man who was as bright as the rising sun should not become like this because of her.
Xun Shu's eyes were blurred with tears, and Li Xuanhe was panicked, not knowing what to do. He stood up and walked over to Xun Shu, clumsily yet gently wiping away her tears. He said sadly, "Ah Shu, don't cry. If you really regret it and don't want to stay with me anymore, I... No, Ah Shu, can you give me a little more time? Let me prove to you that I will definitely let you live the life you want."
Xun Shu said nothing, put her arms around Li Xuanhe's waist, buried her face in his arms, and hugged her only remaining world tightly. Li Xuanhe rubbed her hair, and his heart softened.
The maid had already retreated outside, the aroma of medicine blending with the fragrance of plum blossoms wafting in from the window, bringing a sense of peace. The snow was getting heavier, blowing in through the open windows and landing on the soft low table, melting into tiny droplets. Li Xuanhe was worried that Xun Shu would catch a cold, so he patted her back. "The snow is getting stronger. I'll go close the window."
Xun Shu shook his head and hugged him tighter. Li Xuanhe couldn't bear to destroy the dreamlike warmth at this moment. He lowered his eyes and looked at Xun Shu in his arms, his eyes full of unspeakable tenderness. Xun Shu hugged him for a while longer, and her emotions calmed down and she made up her mind. She raised her head and met Li Xuanhe's eyes, and said firmly: "Third brother, I want to go back to the coffin shop after the New Year."
Li Xuanhe didn't notice Xun Shu's choice of words and hesitated, saying, "I've always wanted to go back to Chaozhou with you, but it's freezing cold and the roads are hard to travel... How about waiting until spring? Besides, I still have some unfinished business in the capital, so I'll need some time."
Xun Shu shook her head. "It's not a permanent stay. I just want to go back to the coffin shop and then to the Sitian Pavilion to tell Uncle Jiang and Master about our marriage. I have no parents, so they are my only two elders. I'm going to get married, so I should tell them." She blinked, loosened her arms around Li Xuanhe, and sat up straight. "Why, don't you think we need to tell them?"
Li Xuanhe was so happy that he couldn't wait to ask, how could she mean that! He was about to explain when he saw the mischievous smile in Xun Shu's eyes, a fresh and charming smile that had disappeared for a long time. He then realized that she was joking with him and instantly breathed a sigh of relief: "Of course I have to tell them. While you were unconscious, I sent someone to send Uncle Jiang back to Chaozhou and buried him with his wife. This time when we go back, we will spend more time with him. The only thing he was worried about before he left was that I must reassure him and make him believe that I will take good care of you."
Xun Shu pursed his lips lightly and glanced at the snow outside the window. "Well, I need to reassure Uncle Jiang, but I'm not telling him that you'll take good care of me. I need to let him know that I can take care of myself, whether it's sunny or a hurricane. I can take care of myself."
Li Xuanhe was stunned.
Ever since Xun Shu woke up, he'd always felt like he was floating in the air, unable to land. It was as if Xun Shu was just a gust of wind between heaven and earth, passing by him briefly, staying for a moment, and then he didn't know when she would set off again without any warning, blowing towards her own world.
Now, I finally feel a little more at ease.
"Yes, Ah Shu will definitely be able to take care of herself and live the life she wants." Li Xuanhe smiled from the bottom of his heart. He remembered what Xun Shu had just said, suppressed his excitement, and asked cautiously, "Ah Shu, you just said that you are not staying here permanently... What do you mean?"
"Of course I have to go back to the capital." Xun Shu explained slowly, "I have no relatives or friends, so it doesn't matter where I live. Without Uncle Jiang, the coffin shop is just an ordinary small courtyard. Since it's just an ordinary small courtyard, why not stay in the capital? You are willing to leave the capital for me, and I am naturally willing to stay here for you. In this way, you can continue to stay with the Dali Temple and your relatives, and I will open a coffin shop and carry forward Uncle Jiang's skills. If you miss everything in Chaozhou in the future, we can just go back and visit occasionally. They have already moved on, and I can't stay here forever, waiting for someone who will never come back." She raised her eyes, with a slight confusion and uneasiness in her eyes. She grabbed Li Xuanhe's fingers and shook them gently, with a bit of coquettishness. "You will always be with me, right?"
Li Xuanhe grabbed her cold hand tightly, held it between his hands, leaned over and touched her forehead. Without hesitation, he gave an extremely affirmative answer: "Yes, I will always be with you."
-
The snow fell all day and only stopped in the evening.
Xun Shu had been cooped up in the house all day. When the snow stopped, she finally got Li Xuanhe's permission to go for a walk in the yard. Li Xuanhe put a fur coat on her and a scarf around her neck to block out the wind. He also put a warm bunny-shaped hand warmer in her hand before taking her out.
The snow on the ground was up to his ankles, and soon the uppers of his shoes were soaked with snow water. Li Xuanhe asked Xun Shu to walk behind him, following in his footprints. Xun Shu obeyed obediently, looking down at the footprints on the ground, very well-behaved.
After the snow, everything was covered in silver, untouched by a speck of dust. The sky, nearing dusk, was a grayish blue, illuminated by the white snow, as if dawn was approaching. A hot pot had been set on the stone table in the garden pavilion, surrounded by four charcoal basins, keeping the wind and snow away from the pavilion.
Xun Shu saw all this and was a little surprised: "You have been with me all day, when did you ask someone to prepare it?"
"When I was off duty today, I heard Li Song mention that hot wine is perfect for snowy days. Since you're sick and can't drink, eating hot pot while enjoying the snow sounds like fun. So I asked the servants to prepare it in advance."
Xun Shu laughed and sighed, "Since you're ready, you're still keeping me out of the way. You'll have to make me beg you before you let me out."
Li Xuanhe touched his nose. He couldn't tell her directly that he liked seeing her begging him softly, so he could only change the subject and serve her a bowl of soup: "This soup base is the best chicken soup. Have a bowl of soup first to warm yourself up."
The aroma of the hot pot quickly captivated Xun Shu. Her appetite was whetted, and she ate intently. When she was almost done, she heard Li Xuanhe's voice, pretending to be nonchalant: "Ah Shu, did the master come to see you today?"
Xun Shu just nodded without saying another word.
Li Xuanhe couldn't contain his curiosity and asked tentatively, "What did he say to you?"
"He didn't tell you?"
Li Xuanhe shook his head. "He refused to say, only saying it was a gift for me. But is it related to your master's matter? Was what happened back then a misunderstanding? Can you forgive him?"
Xun Shu put down his chopsticks, pursed his lips, stared at the boiling soup in the pot, and was slightly lost in thought: "I have heard many different stories about what happened back then. Although they are roughly the same, I still cannot believe them all. I must return to the Sitian Pavilion, see everything with my own eyes, and find my own answers. Perhaps I can truly let it go. However, Qin Yuan did do something wrong back then. It can't be said to be a misunderstanding or forgiveness. I don't like him, but these things have nothing to do with you. I won't vent my anger on you because of this, so don't worry."
Li Xuanhe was pleasantly surprised to receive such a positive answer, and the topic was dropped without further discussion. However, Xun Shu seemed to have remembered something and asked, "I've been forgetting to ask you. What happened to the assassin who stabbed me that day?"
After Xun Shu woke up, Li Xuanhe hesitated for a long time, wondering whether he should tell her about this matter. But since she asked today, there was no reason for him to hide it, so he answered truthfully.
"We were shorthanded that day, and after you were injured, the assassins all fled. We tried our best to save one person, but before we could ask him who his master was, he committed suicide by poisoning himself." Li Xuanhe paused, then continued, "Ah Shu, I thought about you for a long time after you were injured. You've lived in Chaozhou for a long time and have never made enemies. Although many people are searching for you, they don't want to kill you and won't kill you with their swords. Moreover, your whereabouts in the Sai Palace are even more secretive, and few people know about it. I have a suspicion, but I can't express it. If it's really that person, I'm afraid I can't avenge you... I'm sorry."
Xun Shu had already guessed this and was not upset by it. Instead, he comforted Li Xuanhe: "That man wanted to kill me. I'm lucky to be alive. I just don't understand. The matter of the Zhai Palace has nothing to do with him. Even if I knew the truth, what would it matter? Why would he kill me to silence me... Could it be that the death of the late emperor -"
Li Xuanhe scooped up a spoonful of soup and fed it to Xun Shu's lips, stopping him from talking: "Ah Shu, there are some things that we should not mention in the future."
Xun Shu nodded, a new look of worry on his face: "But if I'm not dead now, won't he attack again? If I stay by your side, will I cause you trouble?"
Li Xuanhe looked helpless. "You forgot again that I was there when those things happened. I know more than you do. If they really want to silence you, it's me who has implicated you." He paused, remembering that if he hadn't brought Xun Shu to join in the fun, nothing would have happened later. His voice lowered a bit, "It's indeed me who has implicated you. Tomorrow I will ask my mother to come to the palace and ask for an imperial decree to grant us a marriage. My mother will come forward and finalize our marriage. From now on, even if that person wants to silence you, he must be considerate. As long as they don't tear each other's faces, he is actually the one who cares most about face."
Xun Shu didn't understand all that, but he was still very happy: "Then we will be grasshoppers on the same rope from now on. We will be together through life and death, and no one can abandon the other."
"Okay." Li Xuanhe looked at her tenderly through the steaming heat. "I will never leave you, and I will be with you through thick and thin."
-
After this snow, the New Year came quickly.
On New Year's Eve, a banquet was held in the palace. The eldest princess brought Li Xuanhe to the palace for the feast, leaving Xun Shu alone in the princess's residence. Ah Shui prepared a table full of dishes, and together with Xun Shu and several maids from the upper courtyard, they celebrated the New Year in a lively manner.
Early on the morning of Lunar New Year's Day, Xun Shu, dressed in red, went to pay New Year's greetings to the Grand Princess. She received a generous red envelope, which reminded her of the money she had slipped into her hand when she left the capital. She felt touched, yet also felt a tinge of guilt. Later, the palace issued an imperial decree granting the marriage, adding to her joy. Xun Shu became Li Xuanhe's wife-to-be. Xun Shu didn't initially find this formality special, but seeing Li Xuanhe's beaming face, she was unconsciously infected by his joy and became happy too.
As soon as this news came out, the whole capital was in an uproar. No one had expected that a girl from a commoner family, without parents, could win the favor of the Grand Princess and even let Her Highness come to the palace in person to ask for permission to marry her.
Xun Shu didn't know about these things—even if she did, she wouldn't care. Although she often felt that her fate was lonely and a bit depressed, she didn't think she was worse than other girls, or that she was not worthy of Li Xuanhe.
As rumors spread throughout the capital, she was busy packing. Last night, she observed the celestial phenomena and realized that the capital would be snowing heavily within ten days. After discussing with the Grand Princess and Li Xuanhe, she decided to set off on the fifth day of the first lunar month, rushing back to Chaozhou before the heavy snow.
On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, the weather was a bit gloomy. The Grand Princess personally saw them off. Even at the gate, she kept repeating her instructions: "Be careful on the road. Don't rush. Xiaoshu's health is the most important thing. Have you brought all the herbs and supplements? Do you have enough clothes?"
Li Xuanhe laughed and said, "Mother, you've asked me eight hundred times. I brought everything, not a single thing left out. Besides, the weather in Chaozhou is much hotter than in the capital, so why would we need so many thick clothes?"
"Who cares about you? You're tough, but I'm asking about Xiaoshu's clothes." The Grand Princess turned around and continued to instruct Xun Shu, "You can stay in Chaozhou for a few more days, but you must return before April. The wedding is scheduled for early May, and there are many things to do before the ceremony. You must set aside at least a month. Remember?"
"I remember, I remember." Li Xuanhe couldn't help but interrupt her, "It's about to snow. If we don't leave now, we'll really have to travel in the snow."
The eldest princess sighed. Although she was still worried, she finally let go. She stood at the gate until the carriage disappeared completely at the end of the road. Then she slowly turned back and said to the maid beside her, "In the past, when I saw He'er off, no matter how old he was, even if he was already twenty, I still felt like he was a child. But today, I feel a little different."
The maid beside her supported her and asked with a smile: "Your Highness, are you feeling sad? Are you worried that Sanlang will forget his mother after getting married?"
The eldest princess smiled and said, "Those who will forget will forget, whether they marry or not; those who won't forget will remember no matter what. As a mother, you still have to learn to let go. Otherwise, you'll be like that son of someone else's family, who at his old age still clings to his mother's thighs and cries, and even if the news spreads throughout the capital, he still doesn't feel ashamed."
"Sanlang has always had his own ideas. He will definitely not become such a person." The maid smiled and consoled him. "Then, Your Highness, what do you think is different today?"
The Grand Princess pondered for a moment, then shook her head. "I don't know either. Perhaps I'll find out when they return. Do you think they'll return to the capital on time?"
"Of course I will. Sanlang has been thinking about this marriage for so long. Even if Miss Xun wants to stay longer and postpone the wedding, Sanlang will definitely not allow it."
"Then I'm relieved." The Grand Princess smiled. "I hope they have a safe journey and everything goes well."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com