Линьфэнчунь

Глава 16

The wet nurse remembered that her son, who worked at the Xu family's shop, had just given birth to a grandson a few months earlier. Although it was a joyous occasion, her daughter-in-law was now confined to the home to breastfeed, losing her previous wages for mending and washing clothes, and now having an extra mouth to feed, not knowing how much money would be spent in the future. A few days ago, she had used an excuse to cry to Danmei about how difficult things were. Now, hearing Danmei's tone, it seemed that she was going to get a raise, and her heart raced with envy. Relying on the fact that this lady seemed to be favored by the master, she disregarded everything else, moved the stool closer to Danmei, and then lowered her voice, saying, "This matter is something that can't be discussed even if you kill me. But since you asked, I'll risk my life to tell you. Please just listen and don't take it to heart."

Danmei hummed in agreement. The wet nurse then said, "This thing shouldn't have been under my nose. Just over two years ago, when the master had been in the capital for less than six months, I was still staying with Aunt Zhou with Hui-jie. One day, Aunt Zhou didn't keep an eye on Liang-ge and let him run around outside. When she came back, she had this in her hand and gave it to his mother. Aunt Zhou thought Liang-ge had snatched it from Aunt Chun's room. Seeing how good it was, she assumed it was a gift from the master. She was furious, but dared not refuse to return it, so she sent it back and apologized. Aunt Chun accepted it without saying a word. Unexpectedly, a few days later..." The steward came looking for them, saying something was missing from the master's study. He asked the guard, who vaguely remembered seeing Liang-ge go in a few days ago, so he inquired further. Aunt Zhou realized something was wrong; sure enough, it had been found in the study. She hurriedly sent someone to Aunt Chun's room to retrieve it. Although the master later retrieved the item, he was furious and forbade anyone from entering the study from then on. Liang-ge was spared much punishment; Aunt Zhou was simply instructed to discipline him properly. Aunt Chun, however, was punished with half a month of confinement, and the master rarely visited her room afterward.

Upon hearing this, Danmei frowned slightly. Knowing what she was thinking, the wet nurse quickly moved closer and continued in a low voice, "What I just said was just a prelude. The real story is yet to come."

"It's just a flower a woman wears in her hair, yet it's caused such a commotion; it's truly baffling. Half a year later, I vaguely heard rumors that the magistrate was preparing for a marriage at the time, and the bride's family was a prominent court official, though few knew much about them. I reckon this flower was prepared for that occasion, but then, for some reason, the wedding was abruptly canceled. The magistrate must have been in a bad mood, and seeing the flower brought out like this, and that Aunt Chun so audaciously claiming it as her own, must have made him so angry."

The wet nurse finished speaking in one breath, turned around, picked up the teacup, gulped down two mouthfuls, wiped her mouth, and flattered with a smile: "When I saw Madam take this out just now, I was happy for her. Since the master has given this to Madam, it is clear that he values her very much. From now on, I will try to please Madam more, and I will never have to worry about food and drink."

Seeing that the wet nurse had finished speaking and then started rambling on about useless things as usual, Danmei thanked her.

The wet nurse knew she was being told to leave, but she was still thinking about the increase in monthly wages mentioned at the beginning. She stood up from the stool and didn't leave, just staring longingly at Danmei.

Danmei smiled slightly and said, "Don't worry, Mother Zhou, I always keep my word."

The wet nurse was relieved and happily left the house.

So it turns out that unrequited love is a constant source of longing; no wonder he reacted as if his tail had been stepped on the moment he saw this thing. It's unbelievable that someone like him would be so preoccupied with a woman, to the point that even years later, he still can't bring himself to touch her, as if she's become a taboo in his heart. I wonder what kind of person that woman is to have captured his heart so deeply. It's laughable how I, who originally only sought to live a secluded life, clearly divided by the Chu-Han border, now seem to realize that even sitting still under this roof, someone is always plotting against me, ready to pounce and bite at any moment.

Danmei closed her eyes and meditated for a moment before finally getting up and going out. She returned to the study and placed the flower ornament back neatly on her desk.

Although Miaoxia and Chang'er didn't know what had happened, they saw that Miaochun had first been summoned in private by the Madam, and after she came out looking flustered, she stayed in her room alone and wouldn't come out. Then the wet nurse was summoned for a private talk. They all became uneasy and even walked and talked much more quietly. When they saw that she was acting normally, first going to check on Hui-jie, and then eating and drinking as usual, laughing and talking as if nothing had happened, their hearts gradually relaxed.

Xu Jinrong did not return to his room late that night. Danmei sent a maid to check and said that the light in the study was on, so the master must be there.

Upon hearing this, Danmei picked up a book and sat down under the lamp to read. She adjusted the lamp wick countless times, and then heard footsteps outside, knowing that Xu Jinrong had finally arrived.

Xu Jinrong pushed open the door and entered, seeing Danmei still sitting upright at the table, seemingly waiting for him—a rare sight for her. He glanced at her, about to head towards the bed, when Danmei called out, "Third Master Xu," her tone neither loud nor soft, neither happy nor angry, neither hurried nor slow—a tone he had never heard before. He paused, slightly startled, and turned to look at her.

"If Third Master doesn't return soon, I will send someone to invite him." Danmei sat there, still holding a book in her hand, but her eyes were on Xu Jinrong as she spoke calmly.

Xu Jinrong was somewhat surprised, and before he could speak, Danmei interrupted him, saying, "There are some things I really have to say, like a fishbone stuck in my throat, that I have to get off my chest."

Xu Jinrong borrowed a lamp, looked at her carefully, and seeing that she looked dignified and solemn, he grunted and sat down opposite her.

"Third Master, the flower ornament from today has been returned to your desk in your study. You must have seen it, right? This time, you must be careful to keep it safe, lest some cunning person schemes to attach it to me again, causing you distress. Since ancient times, men have been superior to women, so it's only natural that I'm scolded a few times by you, Third Master; I'll just bear it. But your last words, saying I put everything on my head, are a bit much. Although my family isn't as extravagant as yours, Third Master's family is still quite well-off..." "I come from a distinguished family; my father was a third-place scholar in the imperial examinations during the Qianxing era, and my mother was also well-educated and virtuous. Although I am somewhat stubborn and foolish by nature, I still understand the principle that one should not take what is not one's own. It is my fault that the Third Master's beloved possession has been desecrated upon me; I will reflect on my oversight. As for who caused this, the Third Master is a wise man; I need not say more. I will trouble you to investigate yourself, and you will surely find out. I swear that my family will not be disgraced before the Third Master because of my oversight—that would be my fault!"

Xu Jinrong stared at Danmei across from him. Danmei sat upright, speaking with cold eyes fixed on him. She was completely devoid of her usual charm, and even her voice, though not loud, made Xu Jinrong almost speechless. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "My initial words were spoken in anger, and I admit I went too far. Don't worry, I will investigate. If what you say is true, I will definitely give you an explanation."

Danmei stared at Xu Jinrong for a moment, then sneered, "What explanation do I need from you? You don't need to explain to me. I only hope that your concubines will stop bothering me like this in the future. If they anger me again, as long as I am still the legal wife in this house, I will call the matchmaker to drag them all away and sell them off one by one! At that time, even if you think I am ruthless and intolerant, I won't care about that anymore."

As soon as Danmei uttered these words, Xu Jinrong looked at her as if he didn't recognize her, his brows furrowing slightly, but he held back from saying a word.

After Danmei finished speaking, she leaned back in her chair, still staring at him, but a smile slowly appeared on her face. Xu Jinrong felt somewhat puzzled by her smile and frowned, asking, "What are you laughing at?"

Danmei sighed, her smile fading, before slowly saying, "I know that in these days, it's perfectly normal for a man in a reasonably well-off family to have a concubine or maidservant. When I married into the family, my mother arranged a maidservant for me beforehand, namely Miaochun. That girl is outstanding in appearance, clever and quick-witted, and has the gentlest temperament. She has admired you, Third Master, for a long time, and is far better than I am. If you like her, I will give her to you. When you go to your post in Huaichu in a few days, take her with you so that she can replace me and serve you well there alongside your other concubines. If you don't like her, she's getting old, so I will arrange for her to marry someone myself, so as not to waste her time. What do you think?"

Chapter 40

A gust of cold wind drifted into the room, causing the candlelight to flicker. Xu Jinrong's expression changed with the flickering candlelight, becoming somewhat gloomy.

What do you mean by that?

Danmei sighed, "How could someone as intelligent as Third Master not understand? Very well, I'll say a few more words. After much thought today, I've decided it's best for me to stay in the capital. First, I'm dull-witted and useless; even if I went with you, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to serve you well and would only annoy you. Second, I grew up in the capital and am used to this environment; moreover, I'm physically weak, and I'm afraid I'd fall ill from the change in climate. Then, not only would I not be able to serve you, but you'd also have to worry about me. Third, my mother-in-law is getting old, and it doesn't feel right to leave her alone in the capital; I'm afraid outsiders would say I'm unfilial. It's only right and proper for me, as her daughter-in-law, to stay and serve her..."

"When did you become so eloquent? You have a whole bunch of fallacies to tell. It's getting late, go and rest first, we can talk about it tomorrow."

Before Danmei could finish speaking, Xu Jinrong had already stood up and headed towards the bed, clearly indicating that he was unwilling to say more.

Danmei remained seated without moving, and simply said, "Third Master, have you been so angry with me today that you've lost your mind? I've already said so much, how could you still not understand?"

Xu Jinrong abruptly stopped, turned around and looked at Danmei, his eyes already filled with a dark cloud.

"So, you're saying you're going to cut ties with me from now on?"

"I wouldn't dare. I was just saying what I wanted to say. Didn't Third Master tell me before that I should speak frankly and not hide anything? I'm just doing what you asked before, so why am I upsetting you again?"

After Danmei finished speaking, she picked up the book again, leaned back in her chair, and began to read it.

Xu Jinrong was clearly furious, with veins throbbing on his forehead. He saw Danmei engrossed in her book, not even glancing at him. For a moment, he felt a sense of helplessness, unsure how to deal with her. After staring at her for a while, he finally snorted, "I know you're angry about today's events. You just wait, I said I'd give you an explanation." With that, he turned and left.

Seeing that he had finally left in anger, Danmei figured he wouldn't be coming back tonight, so she didn't bother to think about where he was going to spend the night. She simply went and bolted the door, then rubbed her aching back from sitting all night before getting into bed herself.

How ridiculous this man is, so arrogant! His parting words clearly showed he still believed her words and actions tonight were nothing more than an attempt to win him over. He probably thought that if he gave her a so-called "explanation," and she achieved her goal, she would continue to be his obedient and docile little wife.

Danmei got up the next day and found the outside world transformed into a silver-white wonderland overnight. No wonder she felt a bit cold while sleeping last night; it had snowed in the middle of the night. She stood and watched a few maids clearing snow and sweeping the path in the courtyard, then told Miaoxia to take the maids to unpack and put away some of her previously packed belongings. Miaoxia was utterly puzzled. After hesitating for a moment, she stole a glance at Danmei's expression. Seeing that Danmei's expression didn't seem joking, she whispered, "Aren't we supposed to be leaving in a couple of days? Madam, what's going on..."

Danmei smiled slightly and said, "I have other matters to attend to and will not be leaving the capital with you, sir."

Miaoxia was taken aback. She remembered that the master had returned unusually late last night, stayed in the room for only a short while, and left again, looking rather unwell. Could it be that the two of them had fallen out? Not daring to ask further, she simply responded and reluctantly went to fetch someone to help her. However, she had a feeling that the master most likely wouldn't truly let the mistress have her stay, so she only gathered some easily tidy items and put them away. This way, she wouldn't disobey the mistress's wishes, and if it really came time to board the ship again, it wouldn't waste any more time.

After noon, Sister Hui rushed over and cautiously asked Danmei, "I heard from the wet nurse that Mother was asking people to pack up her luggage and go back? What is Mother doing..." But she couldn't finish her sentence and just stood there, staring blankly at Danmei.

The happiest person in the entire household was probably Hui-jie, as they were about to embark on a large ship journey to Huai-chu. Children her age rarely even had the chance to go out and play, so the news that they would be traveling for a month or two to a new place was bound to make them excited. She had already started counting down the remaining days in front of Dan-mei, her face beaming with anticipation.

Danmei had made up her mind not to go, but what would happen to Huijie was still uncertain. She didn't know how Xu Jinrong would arrange things, but most likely, he would stay in the capital with her. Seeing that Huijie had indeed come to inquire after hearing the news, she felt a little guilty and said, "Huijie, I'm probably going to stay in the capital and not go to Huaichu. You..." Before she could finish speaking, she saw Huijie lower her head, looking very disappointed. She felt even more apologetic and was about to say a few more words of comfort when Huijie looked up and said, "If Mother isn't going, then I won't go either. I'll go with Mother."

***

Xu Jinrong has not been seen since he left in the middle of last night. At dusk, a commotion was heard in the west courtyard, as if a woman was crying, but it quickly quieted down, and only the rustling sound of snow falling in the courtyard could be heard.

Danmei quickly received news from the gossipy wet nurse that Aunt Chun had suddenly fallen seriously ill last night. The illness was contagious, and Steward Xu had forcibly taken her to another estate outside the city to recuperate. The entire household had gone with her, and it seemed they wouldn't return until they were fully recovered.

After the wet nurse left, Danmei leaned alone against the window frame of the window, looking at the snow covering the ground in front of the window, and her heart slowly became desolate.

Although she uttered such harsh words to Xu Jinrong yesterday, she ultimately couldn't truly categorize people into different classes. Whether Chunniang was truly the person behind it all, or just like her but schemed against by someone even further back, she no longer had the mind to think about it.

Human hearts are unpredictable, and the inner quarters are ruthless. Amidst all the complexities, in the end it all boils down to one thing: guard your own heart.

***

As night fell, the snow gradually stopped. Inside the house, the finest charcoal burned brightly, and the warmth from the heating made one drowsy. Danmei had already gotten into bed early.

When Xu Jinrong entered, a gust of cold wind blew into the room. Seeing him standing inside the door, brushing the snow off his shoulders, it was clear he had just returned from outside.

"You said you had someone put the things back? A few commotions would have been fine, but you're really making a huge fuss."

Xu Jinrong took off his outer robe and casually tossed it onto the bedside table. He then sat down beside the bed and looked at Danmei. His tone seemed to carry a hint of suppressed displeasure.

Danmei glanced at him but remained silent.

"You must already know what happened today. The steward has found out that Chunniang has been sent away, and this will not happen again. Your maid will be sent to my mother's place, and after the New Year, she will be married to Ding Dajia's son. He is an honest man, and becoming the steward of the estate will not be a disservice to someone who served you. Besides, since you are short of a maid, I was worried that you wouldn't have enough people to serve you there. I saw that Xiqing and you used to get along well, so I asked my mother for her. She will arrive tomorrow. Liangge, Qiuqin, and Zonglian can stay with my mother for now, so they can look after each other. After tomorrow, only you and Huijie will accompany me to my post. Are you satisfied with this?"

Danmei sighed inwardly as she listened to his explanation, noting that he still seemed to be trying his best to be tolerant.

"Third Master, you can decide for yourself, but don't make yourself suffer too much. Xiqing was originally a close confidant of Mother, and I am truly grateful for the favor she has given to me. But since I'm not going to Huaichu, I don't need so many people to serve me. After some time, when I'm feeling better, I will personally go to Mother to kowtow and apologize for letting her down."

Xu Jinrong choked, his brows furrowing even more deeply.

"What's wrong with your health again?"

Danmei glanced at him, yawned, and said, "It snowed last night, and it got quite cold. I must have caught a cold. My head is very heavy today, and I feel very weak. I was just thinking of getting some medicine tomorrow, but I'm afraid it won't be better for at least ten days or half a month. Our bodies are a gift from our parents, and we should take good care of them. It's not good to board the ship while I'm sick, so I really can't make it. Please forgive me, Third Master."

With a whoosh, Danmei was grabbed by the shoulder and pulled out of bed by Xu Jinrong, dragged close to him, her eyes filled with anger.

"I've already given in time and again, but you're taking advantage of my kindness and have no bottom line. Do you think I'm made of clay and have no temper?"

Danmei's shoulders were already aching from his ten fingers gripping them. She struggled to break free but couldn't. She endured it, looked up, and frowned, saying, "I'm just an ungrateful person. I'm not worth your tolerance, Third Master."

Xu Jinrong stared intently at Danmei's face, so close to his own. Her skin was smooth and delicate, almost translucent, and her brows were slightly furrowed from his grip. Yet, the look in her eyes as she gazed at him was utterly indifferent, like that of a stranger. A brief sense of bewilderment washed over him. He slowly released his grip, a cold laugh escaping his lips. "Fine," he said, "it turns out I've always underestimated you. Since you look down on me so much, I'll grant your wish." With that, he shoved her back onto the quilt, abruptly stood up, and, just as he had the night before, stormed out of the room without even taking his outer robe.

Danmei reached out and rubbed the shoulder that he had gripped so tightly it felt like it was about to crack. Once the pain subsided a bit, she slowly lay back down.

Once the bow is drawn, there's no going back. Knowing he's not a good man for life, how could I possibly revert to my previous complacent attitude because of a few words from him? Now that everything is so clear, we can truly live apart, treating each other with respect and our hearts at peace.

The next morning, as expected, Miaochun was to be sent to the old lady's place. Miaoxia said that she was crying and kneeling in the snow, refusing to leave. Danmei sighed and ultimately didn't let her in. She simply instructed Miaoxia to tell her that the young man from the Ding family was a good match for her, and that she would prepare the dowry and wedding gifts for their marriage next year. She just needed to live a simple life from then on.

Xiqing arrived at noon, carrying a bundle, clearly on her way on a long journey. When she saw Danmei, she found her sitting on the bed, wrapped in a blanket, the room filled with the smell of medicine. Danmei explained that she was unwell and couldn't accompany her husband to his new post, asking Xiqing to inform the old lady and that she would personally visit her once she recovered. Xiqing was quite surprised. Being a composed person, Xiqing, though vaguely sensing something was amiss, didn't say much. That evening, she rushed back, simply repeating Danmei's instructions, which made the old lady sigh repeatedly, lamenting how unfortunate the timing was.

On the day of departure, Xu Jinrong came early in the morning to bid farewell to his mother. The old lady asked about Danmei, and when she heard her son say with a somber face that she was indeed ill and recuperating and could not go with her, she shook her head and sighed, "Since it is such an unfortunate occasion, and your term of office cannot be delayed, you have no choice but to go first. After she has recovered, she and Sister Hui will arrange for someone else to send her over in a few days."

Xu Jinrong's eyes darkened, but he respectfully agreed. He repeatedly told his mother to take good care of herself before the old lady reluctantly saw him off. As he passed the house where Danmei used to live, he immediately noticed a straw shed erected on the land where peonies were planted, and he instinctively stopped.

Seeing his master staring at the thatched shed and not moving any further, Xiqing, who was seeing him off at the gate, explained with a smile, "Madam said that this white peony is exceptionally precious and hard to come by. She told me to cover the soil around its roots with cow dung to keep it warm and to build a thatched shed to protect it from the wind and cold, so it wouldn't get frostbite. At first, I heard that we were going to dig it up and take it with us, but when I went over yesterday, Madam said that we didn't need to dig it up."

Xu Jinrong frowned slightly, then turned and left.

Chapter 41

Xu Jinrong rode back to his residence at full speed, retrieved his official seal from his study, and prepared to leave the capital. Although Steward Xu would have to stay behind to handle some matters, he had already prepared everything Xu needed for his journey, and a group of his long-time followers were already waiting outside the East Gate.

Xu Jinrong was escorted to the screen wall at the main gate by Aunt Zhou, General Manager Zhao, Sister Lianhui, Brother Liang, and others. Needless to say, all the servants in the mansion knelt and bowed in farewell. Both aunts looked reluctant to part, and if it weren't for his gloomy face, their tears would probably have welled up in their eyes. The room was filled with a sea of black heads, but not a single person could be seen in the east room.

Seeing his master standing there for so long, his already dark face now even more unsightly, Steward Xu felt uneasy. He knew all too well the reasons behind the estrangement between the master and mistress, and felt a deep sense of regret. He had seen countless people, and although this young lady from the Prime Minister's mansion appeared gentle and refined, he always sensed she wasn't entirely without temper. Seeing his mistress's resolute decision—not only feigning illness to avoid accompanying him, but even skipping today's farewell—was a huge embarrassment to Xu Jinrong in front of everyone in the mansion. He felt uneasy and was trying to find a way to help his master save face when he suddenly heard rustling footsteps behind him. Turning around, he breathed a slight sigh of relief. It was his mistress, supported by her maid, who had come from behind the screen wall, past the crowd, and amidst their stares, approached Xu Jinrong, giving him a slight curtsy.

"My lord is about to depart. I should have been by your side, but alas, my body is failing me, and I cannot accompany you. I hope you will forgive me. Though the journey is long and arduous, I have no other wish than that you have a smooth journey and that everything goes well for you."

Xu Jinrong gazed at Danmei, who stood a few steps away from him. She was wrapped from head to toe in a light pink brocade cloak adorned with plum blossom patterns. Though her face was somewhat pale, standing in the snow, she resembled a newly blossoming plum blossom—lacking striking color, yet possessing a unique, cool fragrance that wafted through the air. He was slightly lost in thought when he noticed that although she was speaking to him, her tone extremely respectful and gentle. However, from his angle, her slightly lowered face revealed an expression as cold as the snow behind her, her gaze fixed solely on the square brick beneath his feet.

Standing behind the two men, Steward Xu heard his mistress's soft, gentle, and timid voice, and his earlier breath was completely relieved. He thought that since his mistress had softened her stance and saved face for the master in front of everyone in the mansion, judging from the subtle ways he had noticed his master caring for his mistress, their relationship was most likely to improve.

Steward Xu's loyalty to Xu Jinrong goes without saying, and he also had a great liking for this gentle and kind lady. He was secretly pleased that the two of them could reconcile. However, his master stared at the lady for a moment, but still had a cold face. Without saying a word, he turned around, strode over the high threshold, mounted his horse, and galloped away. Only the snow on the ground was splashed high by the flying hooves of the horse. For a moment, he was confused and stood there stunned.

Seeing that Xu Jinrong had left, Danmei turned to Steward Xu and smiled, "Steward, won't you see the master off to the city gate?"

Reminded, Steward Xu hurriedly apologized, boarded another horse prepared outside the door, and quickly followed.

Danmei turned around and told everyone to disperse, then took Huijie's hand and went back to her own room.

***

Although the snow stopped early in the morning, the sky was still overcast, and midday looked like dusk on a normal day.

Xu Jinrong had extensive connections and numerous friends in the capital. Today, he was leaving the capital to take up a new post and receive several farewell banquets in the days leading up to the event. Many of his colleagues and friends still came to the city gates to see him off. Xu Jinrong thanked them all and declined their invitations repeatedly before finally mounting his horse.

The original plan was to travel east by boat, but since he was alone and had no family, he naturally abandoned the boat and traveled by land instead. Although it was more arduous, the journey would be much faster.

Xu Jinrong turned his horse around, about to spur it on eastward with his entourage, when he suddenly heard a voice from behind calling out, "Lord Xu, please wait!" He knew someone had come to see him off again. He reined in his horse and turned around, slightly startled.

Amidst the snow-covered landscape, a large, brown horse galloped towards them. The rider wore a fox fur cloak embroidered with gold, and was followed by four or five guards. It was none other than Prince Jing, Zhao Yun.

Although Xu Jinrong was somewhat surprised, he did not show it on his face and hurriedly dismounted and stepped forward to greet him.

King Jing rode up quickly to the front, stopped his horse, and without the help of his guards, grabbed the saddle himself, slowly dismounted, and then took the cane from the guards to stand still.

Xu Jinrong saw that although he had to stand with a cane, his cloak fluttered in the wind, making him look handsome and distinguished. Xu Jinrong dared not be negligent and stepped forward to pay his respects, but was stopped by Prince Jing.

"I, Wang, have been away from home for some time and only returned to the capital half a month ago. Upon my arrival, I heard from my family that Lord Xu had sent me a visiting card, along with a pair of extremely precious century-old jade railings from a golden well. I have long admired Lord Xu's reputation; he is not only generous but also highly regarded by the Emperor. I had long desired to make his acquaintance but had no opportunity, so I shamelessly accepted his generous gift. I have been thinking of returning the favor someday, but I have been preoccupied with worldly affairs. I only managed to find some free time a couple of days ago, only to hear that Lord Xu is leaving the capital today for the land of Huainan. I fear that if I don't hurry, I will either miss the chance to meet Lord Xu, or he might think I am presumptuous and avoid me. That is why I have come here so abruptly to see him off. I hope Lord Xu will not find this amusing."

Prince Jing spoke with gentle manners, and although he looked young, his every move exuded an imposing air of nobility.

Xu Jinrong smiled and said, "Your Highness is too kind. I am but a humble man, how could I dare to accept Your Highness's personal escort outside the city in the snow? I have always held Your Highness in high esteem. The reason I sent this visiting card was simply that a few months ago, my wife acquired a rare peony, and I never expected that Your Highness would be of such great help. My wife is very grateful and insisted that I come to express my gratitude in person. That is why I shamelessly sent this visiting card, along with the reasons for my visit, to express my thanks. This is but a small token of my and my wife's goodwill, nothing to mention."

Prince Jing laughed heartily, then shook his head and said, "Lord Xu and his wife are too kind; I am truly unworthy of such kindness. That 'Xiaozhuangxin' chrysanthemum was merely a token of my gratitude. In September, while other families in the capital were slow to bloom, my family alone invited friends to drink and compose poems on time, becoming famous throughout the capital. Even the Emperor heard of this and thought it brilliant. I was in the limelight, but it was all thanks to Madam Xu's ingenious ideas. If I hadn't seen Lord Xu's visiting card later, I would never have imagined that the hidden flower-bearing lady, Qingdi, was actually Lord Xu's virtuous wife. Lord Xu and his wife are truly a match made in heaven, envied by all."

Although Xu Jinrong already knew most of the details, hearing Prince Jing explain it to him now still caused him a strange sense of unease. He suddenly remembered that the virtuous wife he had mentioned earlier, who had come out to see him off last and had given him some face in front of everyone in the household, seemed unwilling to even glance at him. As for the talk of a divine couple, it sounded even more grating, and my mood soured. I didn't want to say anything more. After exchanging a few polite words, I was about to change the subject when I saw Prince Jing take two jars of wine, bound with red silk and sealed with red clay, from a guard behind him and hand them over, saying, "The weather is bitterly cold, and I had to leave in a hurry. I have no presentable gifts in my residence. Only these two jars of Golden Stem Dew Wine are brewed with a secret recipe from the Imperial Household Department. They are palatable. I send them to Lord Xu to ward off the cold on his journey. I wish you and your wife a safe journey and that you will bring blessings to the people after you take office. I await Lord Xu's return to the capital after completing his term and be promoted. I will then personally welcome Lord Xu back with a feast."