Sunlight shone on the fallen snow, casting a gleaming white wherever the eye could see.
Gu Zaili walked along the official road, while Rong Yuanyou followed slowly behind at a considerable distance.
Gu Zaili pulled on the reins, turning the horse’s head to look back at Rong Yuanyou, waiting for him to catch up. Rong Yuanyou urged his horse forward, quickly closing the gap but still maintaining some distance.
“Young master, why are you following me?” Gu Zaili asked with a smile.
“I don’t feel at ease letting you walk alone.”
“This is an official road, not a secluded place. What is there to worry about?” Gu Zaili chuckled softly, paused, and then continued, “Since you’re traveling with me, why keep such a distance?”
“I’m worried it might inconvenience you,” Rong Yuanyou replied honestly.
“Walk with me. I happen to have something to say to you,” Gu Zaili said, turning her horse back and continuing forward.
Rong Yuanyou hurried to keep up.
The sound of horse hooves echoed on the official road. Occasionally, other carriages and horses passed by, but Gu Zaili and Rong Yuanyou rode slowly, stepping into the snow by the roadside, moving forward at a leisurely pace.
She said she had something to tell him, but after a long time, she still hadn’t spoken, which made Rong Yuanyou more anxious. He waited and waited, but Gu Zaili remained silent. Unable to hold back, he spoke first: “I know what you want to say. It’s about us being unsuitable and gently rejecting me.”
“No.” Gu Zaili blurted out.
A bright light flashed in Rong Yuanyou’s eyes.
“It’s not a gentle rejection, but a clear, straightforward refusal.”
Rong Yuanyou’s expression stiffened, almost losing his composure.
Gu Zaili said, “I’m not an unmarried young girl. Even in my youth, I was never one to dawdle. I’ve always been straightforward, and I dislike beating around the bush. I know what you’re thinking, but you don’t understand my thoughts.”
Gu Zaili stopped by the roadside, turned to look at Rong Yuanyou, and asked, “Did you think of many ways to persuade me? Like… you don’t mind that I’ve been married, you’ll treat me well and not let me suffer, you’ll work hard to grow up, assure me that age is not an issue, and urge me not to be influenced by rumors.”
Rong Yuanyou opened his mouth but was momentarily speechless.
Gu Zaili smiled and said, “I’ve never thought age was a problem. The problem is that the person is you.”
“I don’t understand,” Rong Yuanyou tried to hide his disappointment, “I don’t understand what, aside from being younger than you, is not satisfactory or suitable.”
“Is being satisfactory and suitable a reason to marry?” Gu Zaili countered.
Rong Yuanyou was at a loss for words again.
“My father is the only non-royal prince in the Great Ji dynasty, doting on and pampering me. I am the Princess of Sheng’an, with vast lands and countless fields and shops. I live in luxury, surrounded by admirers. Whatever I want, I get. I already have everything. Why should I marry you? What can you give me by marrying you?”
“I…” Rong Yuanyou looked at Gu Zaili before him, his heart pounding.
“The mountains and rivers are vast, and life is carefree. That is my current life. But what you can offer me is only the petty conflicts of the inner courtyard, the disputes between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, and the scheming among sisters-in-law. The future is uncertain, and people’s hearts are unpredictable. Even if you are sincere now, time may wear that away. By then, I would still have to endure the jealousy and strife among concubines. And I would have to give up my current happiness, like fallen autumn leaves, and waste my prime years in the inner courtyard.”
“No!” Rong Yuanyou loudly refuted.
A cold wind swept in, brushing against their faces. Gu Zaili slightly turned her head, elegantly tucking the hair that was blown against her cheek behind her ear. She collected her earlier vigor and spoke more softly, “These words are not just for you.”
“No, you clearly said that age isn’t the problem; the problem is that it’s me.”
Gu Zaili laughed brilliantly. She said, “Yes, age is not the problem. The problem is the person I would marry. I already have almost everything, and you can only give me one thing. If you have this thing, I would happily marry you. But if you don’t, even if you are perfect, it would be useless.”
“What is it?” Rong Yuanyou pursued.
Gu Zaili smiled but did not answer.
Rong Yuanyou stared into her autumn-water-like eyes, lost for a moment. He already knew what she meant.
Gu Zaili suddenly leaned in slightly, reaching out to pick a fallen leaf off Rong Yuanyou’s shoulder and straightening his clothes. She looked up at him with a charming smile and said, “If you can make me love you, it doesn’t matter if you are a sixteen-year-old young master or a sixty-year-old old man, I would still gladly marry you.”
Gu Zaili straightened up, flicked her horsewhip, and rode away with her red dress fluttering in the wind.
Rong Yuanyou remained where he was, watching her back, his emotions a mix of bitterness and sweetness. He quickly gathered himself and spurred his horse to catch up, still maintaining a certain distance. It wasn’t until they reached a bustling town, where he saw her dismount in front of a tavern and the servants inside greeted her, that he finally turned his horse around and headed home.
On the way back, his face was expressionless. But as soon as he reached the courtyard of his residence in the capital, all his strength seemed to disappear, and he walked into the courtyard with drooping shoulders, dejected.
He ran into his father, Rong Tinghong, head-on.
“Father.” Rong Yuanyou perked up to greet him, “What are you doing?”
“Getting foot-washing water for your mother.” Rong Tinghong walked past Rong Yuanyou without stopping. It wasn’t until he passed Rong Yuanyou that he stopped and turned back.
“My son, why do you look like an eggplant hit by frost?”
Rong Yuanyou remained silent.
“Oh, I remember now. Did you have a tough time with the Princess?” Rong Tinghong laughed, “I had guessed as much.”
“Father, there’s no need to gloat,” Rong Yuanyou said, his voice muffled.
Rong Tinghong patted Rong Yuanyou’s shoulder and advised earnestly, “Marrying a wife is a matter of luck. Some people are lucky and get a wife chosen by their elders who they happen to like. Others aren’t so lucky and fall for someone difficult. It’s fate. If you settle for less, you’ll be unhappy forever, always feeling something is missing. So what can you do? You just have to grit your teeth and win over the difficult one. Don’t worry, as the saying goes, a fierce woman…”
“Rong Tinghong,” interrupted Rong Yuanyou’s mother, peering out from a window.
“Enough. I’ve said so much; you should ponder it yourself,” Rong Tinghong said no more and turned to fetch the foot-washing water.
But just as Rong Tinghong stepped out of the courtyard gate, he met a hurried servant bringing a letter from home.
—The always robust elderly lady had unfortunately slipped and fallen. No matter how sturdy an old person is, a fall can take away all their vitality, and her days seemed numbered.
The Rong family, who had come to the capital to celebrate the New Year, immediately prepared to return home, fearing they might miss seeing the old lady for the last time if they delayed. Originally, only the younger generation could have gone back, with Lord Xiangxi staying in the capital to attend the palace banquet. However, sensing that this year’s banquet might not be peaceful, he used his wife’s fall as an excuse to return home with the younger generation.
After Gu Jingyuan, Gu Zaili, and Rong Yuanyou left the riverside, Gu Jianli and Ji Wujing stayed. Ji Wujing, in high spirits, started fishing by the river.
Gu Jianli sat beside him, wrapped warmly in a fluffy cloak. She turned her head to look at Ji Wujing and said, “Father and sister fished for a long time without catching anything. Maybe there are no fish here. Let’s go home.”
“No, I want to eat grilled fish,” Ji Wujing said.
Gu Jianli propped her chin on her hand and waited quietly by his side.
After a long while, the fishing rod still showed no signs of movement.
Ji Wujing was not a patient person.
Gu Jianli watched Ji Wujing’s expression, counting down on her fingers: six, five, four, three, two…
With a “smack,” Ji Wujing impatiently threw down the fishing rod, his face turning sour.
Gu Jianli quickly took his arm, smiling sweetly and speaking softly, “Let’s go to sister’s tavern. The fish there is delicious!”
Ji Wujing shook off Gu Jianli’s hand and strode into the icy river to catch fish.
“The water is so cold!” Gu Jianli exclaimed in alarm.
Just as she spoke, Ji Wujing threw a fish he had caught at her feet. Gu Jianli looked down, surprised at the fish flopping in its death throes.
In the end, Ji Wujing got his wish, and they grilled the fish by the riverbank.
After eating the fish, Gu Jianli squatted by the river, carefully washing her hands with the cold water. “Shall we go to the market later? It’s the end of the year, and the market will be bustling with all kinds of things for sale. We can buy some trinkets for Xinglan and Xinglou to take back home tomorrow.”
Ji Wujing glanced at her and scoffed sarcastically.
Gu Jianli tilted her head to look at him, thought for a moment, then stood up and walked over to him, using his clothes to dry her hands. The river water was very cold, and her washed hands were red and numb.
She used the tone she usually used to coax Ji Xinglan, “Of course, we’ll buy not only toys and treats for Xinglan and Xinglou but also for uncle.”
Ji Wujing lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on Gu Jianli’s red, frozen hands. He took her hands in his, warming her icy fingers in his palms. He had eaten faster than Gu Jianli and had washed his hands earlier, so his hands were dry and not as cold.
Gradually, the warmth from his hands transferred to hers. Even when their hands were almost the same temperature, Gu Jianli’s hands remained red.
Impatiently, Ji Wujing pulled open his clothes and pressed her hands against his chest.
“Don’t!” Gu Jianli was startled and quickly tried to withdraw her hands.
Ji Wujing glared at her impatiently. Meeting his gaze, Gu Jianli stopped struggling and quietly curved her lips into a smile.
They went to the market, where Gu Jianli picked out some gifts for the two children. She then noticed a small stall not far away. On the stall were small boxes, their contents hidden from view. There were no signs, and the vendor didn’t call out, making it impossible to know what he was selling. People hurried past, and those who bought from him did so quickly without looking.
“What is this?” Gu Jianli curiously picked up one of the small boxes.
The vendor, seeing a young lady like Gu Jianli, hesitated and looked toward Ji Wujing.
As Gu Jianli started to undo the clasp, Ji Wujing’s hand covered hers, taking the box from her. He paid for it and led Gu Jianli away.
After walking some distance, Gu Jianli asked, “What was in that box?”
“Fish bladder.” Ji Wujing replied.