Snowflakes drifted and swirled in a fine, dense mist. She carried me along the covered walkway, where the edges of the wooden path were already rimmed with a white crust like sea foam. Yet she walked barefoot upon it, wearing nothing but a thin silk robe. In my anxiety, I struggled to free a hand from the heavy layers of my quilt to grab her, to swat at her. "Put some clothes on!"
"I was smothered under that leopard-skin rug all evening; I’m too hot to bear it." She deftly caught my hand before I could even extend a finger and tucked it back inside, frowning slightly as she replied, "Just let me cool off for a moment."
I scolded her, telling her she’d have a lot to answer for if I caught her coming down with a cold. She merely smiled, leaning down to kiss my grumbling mouth. She nearly took the opportunity to duck into a nearby room and commit some wickedness right then and there, frightening me into silence. I could only glare at her with "eyes upon the road"—though the idiom wasn't quite right; it was more that I looked at her with tragic indignation while she gazed back at me with a beaming smile. Though, given her "tyranny," the phrase was actually quite fitting.
Even though we had lived in the estate for half a month, the place was so vast and our household so small that over eighty percent of the buildings and courtyards remained vacant and semi-locked. I hadn't even stepped foot in many of them, and the hot spring was one such place. Who in their right mind would strip down and jump into a semi-open pool in the dead of winter?
By the time Wei Qingming carried me through the winding paths to our destination, I realized this scoundrel had planned this all along. Every brick and timber had been wiped clean, the lanterns cast an ambiguous, dim yellow glow, and wine and pastries sat by the poolside—clearly prepared by Mu Yu on her orders before we had even left the house.
She set me down gently. After testing the water temperature, she moved to unwrap the warm quilt from my body. Blushing, I told her I would do it myself. She laughed, turning away with a scholarly air of propriety, pretending to check if the tea was still warm.
The moment her back was turned, I shed the quilt with lightning speed and dove into the water, a suspicious race against time. The warm heat enveloped my entire body, and I couldn't help but let out a comfortable sigh. Hearing the loud splash I made, she asked with a leisurely smile, "Is it alright now?"
I gave a small "mm-hmm," and only then did she step closer. she placed a damp, warm towel on my forehead, gave me a sip of tea, and pressed half a piece of "Snowflake" hawthorn cake between my lips. I closed my eyes contentedly, savoring the flavor.
She entered the water gracefully as well. Her long arms circled me loosely for a fleeting moment, but before I could lean into her embrace, she took a step back and actually began to massage my back and limbs. While it was indeed more comfortable than I had imagined, the phantom-like contact of our skin through the water left me deeply unsatisfied. Moreover, knowing her ways, I feared that the more methodical and slow she was at the start, the more "appalling" her methods would be later on.
Finally, the hawthorn cake melting in my mouth was gone. She at last pulled me back into her arms, but with a layer of gentle ripples between us. The sensation of her body brushing against mine—sometimes light, sometimes heavy, sometimes slow, sometimes urgent—sent shivers through my entire frame.
I trembled until I could take no more, nearly opening my mouth to beg for mercy. Her hands then slid up from the front, kneading and relaxing the fascia on either side of my neck. I was being served so comfortably that I was nearly lulled to sleep when she loosely circled my throat with one hand and suddenly whispered in my ear, her voice deep, "Do you really love looking at beautiful women that much?"
We both knew a bit of martial arts; having one's throat controlled is a major taboo. Even though I knew she would never hurt me, a thrill of alert stimulation shot up my spine to my brain. Clearly, this was exactly the effect she wanted. I trembled violently and managed a strained laugh. "How could I... I was just looking... that's all. Ah!"
Her hand suddenly shifted up an inch, lightly hooking under my jaw. It didn't hurt at all, but it forced me to tilt my head back, making it impossible to move easily. "Just looking... you certainly looked with a lot of love," she said with a half-smile.
I understood the situation perfectly, but I didn't want to use flowery words to coax her. I spoke seriously and softly, "A-Yun is the most beautiful of all. In this world, no man or woman can compare to you."
She seemed stunned. After a moment, her hand loosened imperceptibly. She whispered, "A-Zhi... do not tease me."
"How could I be teasing!" I said urgently. "Whatever beauties there are, I look and that's the end of it. I would never truly want anything to happen with them... but for me... just one look at you..."
The words that followed were truly too embarrassing to say. I could only turn around anxiously to face her, using my lips and teeth to convey my feelings. Her sweet fragrance was finally swallowed into my belly—ten thousand times sweeter than any hawthorn cake. The snow fell silently, and the water splashed faintly around us. She dove down, the dim light on the ripples creating rosy patterns that cut the jade-white lines of her back into a hazy, dreamlike vision...
At first, I had no idea what she intended. When I finally realized, I cried out and tried to paddle away. But I had forgotten that I couldn't swim. She, however, remembered. She caught my ankle, causing me to lose my balance in a moment of panic, only to catch my waist firmly in the next instant. She lifted me until half my face was above the water. Once I was safe, she climbed back up... I could only cover my mouth and weep, my mind racing with stray thoughts about how a cultivator could hold their breath for so long...
In the end, fearing that soaking for too long would be harmful, she carried me out. She dried my body carefully with a bath towel and carried me back, still wrapped in the quilt. She didn't fool around anymore, perhaps pitying how exhausted I was, and only left a gentle kiss on my forehead.
I could barely keep my eyes open, blinking at her with effort, only to find that she had no intention of sleeping. She sat with her chin in her hand, watching me without blinking.
"I'm sorry..." She pressed her forehead against mine and said with difficulty, "I... have to go out in a while. I'll be back before lunch. This afternoon, we'll visit Luming Garden, as we agreed yesterday."
Having just learned about Prince Xuan, she naturally had to start dealing with it as soon as possible. I was completely understanding. "Why are you saying sorry again!" I laughed and poked her cheek, my eyes darting as I intentionally teased her. "If you keep being this fussy, be careful or I'll stop paying attention to you."
She stared at me blankly for a moment. A flash of despair and pain in her eyes made my heart tremble. I realized I had said the one thing I truly shouldn't have. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I hurriedly grabbed her hand and placed it over my heart. Just as I was about to speak, Wei-daren regained her usual composure and said with a beaming smile, "Would you have the heart to?"
Only then did I break into a smile through my tears. "I wouldn't, I wouldn't! Not in ten thousand years. I'll never say such a thing again. I deserve a scolding. I won't part from you even in death."
When I woke the next day, she had indeed already left. She had left meticulous instructions for the kitchen regarding my meals. As I lazily let Mu Yu comb my hair, I hungrily shoveled porridge into my mouth. A-Ze, the young man guarding the gate, came in to report and handed over Zhang Zhuyi’s calling card. Her small note was written in elegant, refined small regular script, truly possessing the charm of Lady Wei, the teacher of Wang Xizhi. It stated she would visit this morning. After breakfast, I selected a few return gifts and waited for her at home.
Zhang Zhuyi arrived at the perfect moment—neither too early nor too late, adhering to the finest etiquette of a noble lady. As expected, she brought many generous gifts. I returned the favor with a couple of items of my own, inviting her to drink tea and sample snacks while asking with a smile, "Did you sleep well last night? Any discomfort? It’s a pity no witnesses were left alive; it will be difficult for the Prefect to track them down."
Confronted with Su Zhenzhen’s rapid-fire string of greetings, Miss Zhang naturally did not answer each one. She leaned forward slightly and said calmly, "All is well. My father has already reported the matter to Excellency Su of the Capital Prefecture. We shall see when the culprits are apprehended."
Perhaps her upbringing was too strict, or perhaps she was simply too cold and aloof, but I felt she didn't really care about last night's events. She didn't even seem concerned about who was trying to harm her; this visit was merely a matter of etiquette. It made me feel quite bored. Since we couldn't find common ground, a forced conversation would only waste her time. When she stood up at the appropriate moment, I didn't try to keep her. I sent her out with a smile and that was that.
No sooner had Zhang Zhuyi left than Wei Qingming returned, even before the lunch hour. I was taking a moment of leisure to practice my swordplay in the snow when I saw her standing at the courtyard gate, draped in a blue-purple sable fur cloak. I happily threw myself at her for a hug and a kiss. A-Wan and Hong Lu were also present for once. Including Luo Cheng and Mu Yu, we set out a lively meal for six. We ate, drank, and chatted together, and in the afternoon, we all piled into two carriages to go to Luming Garden. Luo Cheng drove Wei Qingming and me, while Hong Lu drove A-Wan and Mu Yu. Once we arrived, before the master could speak, I, the mistress, gave them permission to leave with a smile, saying that Boss Su would cover all expenses today and they didn't need to hurry back tonight.
Although Luming Garden was a royal park, it was customary for newly minted jinshi scholars to hold banquets, compose poetry, and play polo here after the spring results were posted. Over time, official families seeking outdoor excursions often found ways to choose this location, and the imperial family turned a blind eye. By the time of the current Emperor, he simply waved his hand and allowed the public to enjoy it as well.
Today was a crisp, clear day. Even the clouds in the sky had spent all their snow, drifting lightly at the horizon like hazy white gauze against the glass-like pale blue. I took Wei Qingming’s hand as I stepped off the carriage and was immediately shocked by the massive crowd gathered to enjoy the snow. It was even difficult to park; Hong Lu and Luo Cheng had to circle the northern blocks twice before they finally found a spot to squeeze the carriages in.
The four of them grinned and said, "Have a great time, Masters, your servants shall head off first!" and promptly vanished into the terrifying tide of people waiting to enter the garden gates. The reason Wei Qingming and I were a step slower was entirely because there were too many acquaintances around; we had to respond to each one with a smiling face.
Though Wei Qingming said nothing, her brow furrowed slightly. She was likely annoyed that she had blindly chosen today, thinking to cherish our time together, only to find there were more people to look at than snow. I smiled and stood on my tiptoes to smooth her brow. I tucked her arm firmly into mine, hitched up my skirt, and heroically pushed through the crowd toward the entrance. Born a refined gentleman, she had never experienced such common street-level tactics. She couldn't help but chuckle, raising her hand to block out the men and women who were being just as impolite as I was. I felt even more in my element, quickly overtaking dozens of people until we finally made it inside.
Directly ahead was a broad jade-green road wide enough for six carriages to drive abreast. The crowd thinned out immediately. In the distance, the Qu River wound gracefully, frozen and crystalline like a jade belt. To the left of the road was a deep, ancient forest, which was a bit of a surprise. I had expected a royal garden to be meticulously carved and managed everywhere, but this half had preserved its wild charm, evoking Li Bai’s verse: "A green vine path winds long, ten thousand snowy peaks shine clear." To the right were gently rolling hills planted with apricot and plum trees hundreds of years old. Now, they were all covered in white snow, their branches shivering and tracing elegant, slanting lines against the sky.
Seeing me torn between the two types of beauty and unsure which way to go, Wei Qingming smiled and comforted me, "All the paths connect; choose whichever you like."
I pointed excitedly to the left. "Let's go to the side with fewer people first. There's a plum orchard over there, and everyone’s swarming to see the flowers. It’s too noisy."
The two of us strolled hand-in-hand through the mountain woods in a warm silence. Tree branches, overburdened by the snow, would occasionally drop a clump of powder to attack us. Although avoiding them was easy, given our current noble status, jumping around would be unseemly. Wei Qingming took out an umbrella and opened it. Instead of holding it over our heads, she tilted it to the side to shield us from the crowd nearby.
I immediately understood her intent. Taking the initiative, I hopped up and gave her a heavy kiss, catching Wei-daren completely off guard. She slightly opened her habitually lazy, drooping eyelids, her lips curling into a surprised, lopsided smile as she reached out to catch me and demand a return. I had anticipated this as well; I had already used an illusion technique combined with my movement art to dash several yards away, laughing triumphantly.
We had started out not even wanting to dodge the falling snow for fear of losing our noble decorum, but we ended up using our best movement techniques to chase each other around... It was hard to say we had become more "dignified."
As I ran, a ball of snow lightly struck my shoulder. Well now, Wei Tian had some nerve, actually daring to strike me first! I let out a "Heh!" and relentlessly packed a large chunk of snow to throw back at her. She dodged it easily, of course, but shook her head with a smirk.
At the same time, a familiar, booming voice rang out: "Zhenzhen, sister! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to hit you!"
Who else could it be but Wen Xiang? Even after being Madame Hua for five or six years, she still had the habits of a young girl. Laughing and regretful, she pressed her palms together in front of her forehead, hoping for my forgiveness.
***
