Six years later.
As winter began, the weather suddenly turned cold. The sky was still dark, and Cuiyu was both looking over the accounts and clacking the abacus, occasionally yawning and exhaling a breath of cold mist.
Cui Xingxian came out from inside, carrying a thick coat over his arm. He draped the coat over Cuiyu’s shoulders, and only then did she notice someone behind her. She turned to see her father and immediately broke into a smile, calling out, “Dad!” with warmth and vigor.
Cui Xingxian’s eyes crinkled with a smile, and he gestured inside. “Your mother was worried you might be cold and told me to bring you this robe.”
Cuiyu laughed and said, “I’m not cold at all!”
Cui Xingxian glanced at the accounts in front of Cuiyu, hesitating to speak. Cuiyu knew what he wanted to say and quickly reassured him with a smile, “There’s just a little bit of accounting left to do. I’ll finish it up in a moment and leave it here for Manager Liu to check when he comes in for work.”
Cui Xingxian nodded and urged, “Alright, you do your work. Dad won’t disturb you. Once you’re done, go back and get some more sleep. You’ve slept too little.”
Cuiyu nodded with a smile and turned back to the accounts.
The crisp sound of the abacus resumed.
Cui Xingxian watched for a while, then quietly went inside, lowering his voice to instruct the maid Yaya, who had just come over, “It’s cold now. When the workers arrive today, have them hang up the thick curtains.”
With the change of dynasties, the old royal family not only lost their noble status but also had their properties confiscated and added to the national treasury. However, the emperor seemed indifferent and didn’t completely eradicate them. The visible wealth of the old royal family was seized, but they still had some private savings, allowing them to live comfortably.
Cuiyu did not want to live an idle life on her parents’ money. She chose to continue in business. She loved accounting, and every copper coin added to the accounts made her extremely happy. She looked at every number in the account book as if they were alive.
The Cuiying Restaurant not only grew larger but also opened several branches. Although she and Lin Yingying ventured into many other businesses with various successes, they always had a special fondness for this first restaurant.
Cui Xingxian returned to the room where Chen Huarong was still asleep. She sleepily asked, “Is she still working?”
“Yes,” Cui Xingxian replied, taking off his coat and getting back onto the bed.
The sky was still dark, and it was early.
Cui Xingxian lay in bed for a long time, unable to sleep, and worriedly tugged at Chen Huarong’s sleeve. “What about Yu’er’s marriage? Why doesn’t she want to get married?”
Chen Huarong, still not fully awake, irritably shook off his hand and turned her back to him, scolding, “Stop nagging like an old hag! She’ll marry if she wants to, and if she doesn’t, she won’t! Let her do as she pleases. You didn’t raise her for over a decade; raising her for a few more decades won’t hurt you. Besides, she doesn’t need you to support her. Keep frowning and nagging, and I’ll sew your mouth shut with a needle!”
Cui Xingxian instinctively closed his mouth tightly.
Chen Huarong, meanwhile, fell back asleep as she scolded.
While Cuiyu was still clacking the abacus, Lin Yingying also came out from her house and headed this way.
The sound of horse hooves and carriage wheels awakened the dawn as the carriage finally stopped in front of the Cuiying Restaurant.
Jiang Yunche turned his head to look at Lin Yingying, who had fallen asleep on his shoulder. He quietly watched her for a while before gently waking her.
Lin Yingying groggily opened her eyes and softly said, “We’ve arrived?”
“Yes.” Jiang Yunchè tucked a loose strand of her black hair behind her ear.
“I’m getting off now.” Lin Yingying glanced at the lit restaurant through the open carriage door, quickly straightened her clothes, and got out.
She stepped down from the carriage onto the small stool the coachman had set up and lightly jumped to the ground, taking a few quick steps forward. Suddenly, she exclaimed in surprise, “Ah!” and looked back at Jiang Yunche inside the carriage with a smile in her eyes. “It’s snowing.”
It was only late September.
She raised her face to watch the few flakes of snow falling.
Jiang Yunche didn’t look at the snow; he gazed at Lin Yingying’s joyful expression and suddenly asked, “Do you really not remember?”
Lin Yingying looked at him blankly.
Jiang Yunche smiled and said, “It’s cold. Go inside quickly. I’ll come to pick you up tonight.”
“Alright.” Lin Yingying smiled at him, then turned and walked toward the Cuiying Restaurant.
Jiang Yunche’s smile faded as he watched her back.
His thoughts suddenly drifted back to twelve years ago.
That year, winter came early, and the first snow fell early too.
That year he was fourteen.
His father had died young, and he had been bullied by his peers in the clan since childhood. During the first snowfall, he and his cousins went to Lianshui Boathouse. As usual, he was bullied and mocked by them. They stripped him of his shirt and pushed him out of the warm cabin. Snowflakes fell on him, chilling him to the bone.
Amid the lively Lianshui riverside, there was laughter everywhere.
Occasionally, curious or gloating glances and words were directed at him.
He watched expressionlessly as a young girl cautiously stepped across the plank from the neighboring boathouse, trembling as she came over. The girl was holding a coat, pink in color. She draped the coat over him, and he continued to look at her coldly.
She placed a finger to her lips and whispered, “They can’t see it if you wear it secretly. Don’t be afraid of them hitting you! If you hear footsteps, throw the coat into the water quickly! I used to secretly slack off when my older sisters punished me.”
The girl had clear eyes like rippling water. She suddenly smiled, her eyes turning into crescents. “You don’t need to return it. I have a new outfit, so I don’t need this anymore.”
She pointed to the pink dress she was wearing, then stood up and wobbled back across the plank like walking a tightrope to the neighboring boathouse.
Not long after, the girl’s melodious singing came from the neighboring boathouse. He turned his head and saw her sitting by the window, blinking at him.
But she had forgotten.
Six years ago, at the same Lianshui Boathouse, he met her again. He tested her then, but she didn’t recognize him and closed the window, calling him a bookworm.
A faint, slightly warm smile slowly appeared on Jiang Yunche’s lips.
Well, if she didn’t remember, then she didn’t remember. It was just as well that she didn’t recall his humble and pathetic state.
“Prime Minister,” the coachman interrupted Jiang Yunche’s thoughts, “should we return to the residence or go to the palace?”
“To the palace.” The smile on Jiang Yunche’s lips gradually faded, replaced by his usual cold demeanor.
As he climbed the ranks, he became increasingly aloof.
When the carriage arrived at the palace gates, people who had been waiting there immediately greeted him with smiles.
“Sixth brother! You must help me this time! There’s trouble at home, and I have no other choice but to seek your help. You’re the most successful in our family; you can’t just watch us suffer!” Jiang Yuanta said anxiously.
Jiang Yunche walked forward without a word, finally stopping at the insistent chatter of his cousin. He gazed at the imposing palace gates ahead and said coldly, “I trust that the officials will eventually clear Third Uncle and Second Brother’s names through their investigation.”
He continued walking forward and entered the palace gates. The Imperial Guards with long wooden spears blocked Jiang Yuanta’s path. Jiang Yuanta spat, “Heartless and unfilial wretch, no wonder everyone says he’s a beast in human skin, born from a crack in a stone…”
Jiang Yunche entered the palace gates, got into a small sedan chair, and headed to Yongyue Pavilion.
Before he rose to his current high rank, he was the tutor for two young princes in the palace. Now, with his growing responsibilities and higher rank, the two young princes had other teachers, but he still gave them lessons every five days.
Today was one of those teaching days.
Because he had to drop off Lin Yingying, Jiang Yunche left home early. When he arrived at Yongyue Pavilion, there was still a long time before the lesson was scheduled to begin. He intended to read through some legal texts while waiting, but when he reached the pavilion, he saw someone from the young prince’s entourage.
Jiang Yunche asked in surprise, “Is His Highness already here?”
“Yes,” the maid replied with a curtsey, “Prime Minister, His Highness woke up early and has been here for almost half an hour of early reading.”
Jiang Yunche stepped inside and immediately saw the small, upright figure of Yushu.
Apparently, the young prince was so engrossed in his reading that he did not hear the conversation at the door. Jiang Yunche paused for a moment before continuing forward. When he reached Yushu’s side, the young prince finally noticed him.
Yushu quickly set down the book in his hands and stood up to greet him properly, “Sir, you came so early. Did you not sleep well due to the sudden cold last night?”
The small figure stood with perfect posture, his manners impeccable.
Even someone as cold-hearted as Jiang Yunche couldn’t help but soften at the sight of such a concerned and polite little jade-like figure, especially since this was his student.
Jiang Yunche looked at his face, the finely carved features strikingly similar to the Emperor’s, yet his temperament was entirely different from his father’s. He had the gentlest eyes, always viewing the world with kindness and compassion.
“Quite well,” Jiang Yunche replied, looking down at the book Yushu was reading. “What are you reading?”
“Yesterday, Chancellor Chen mentioned the Great Epidemic during the late Eastern Han dynasty, which claimed millions of lives and caused great suffering. It kept me thinking, so I woke up earlier than usual to read the historical records,” the young voice was clear and articulate.
Jiang Yunche gazed into his eyes, noticing for the first time a deep sense of compassion in the young prince.
Jiang Yunche nodded.
Yushu pursed his lips and spoke again, “If you came early to read in peace, I will leave and return at the scheduled time to ask my questions.”
“Continue with your reading,” Jiang Yunche said as he walked to the long table and sat down.
In the quiet morning of the cold winter, the spacious Yongyue Pavilion was silent, with only the occasional sound of pages turning from the two of them.
After Jiang Yunche finished reviewing official documents, he looked up at the young prince diligently reading. “What do you want to ask?” he inquired.
Yushu quickly set down the history book he was reading, took out his assignments from the drawer, and walked over to Jiang Yunche with both hands holding them. He first handed over the homework Jiang Yunche had assigned, then spread out the book, meticulously marked with the parts he didn’t understand, neatly annotated.
At this time, Queyuan was just waking up.
“Other classes can wait, but today is the Prime Minister’s class. You can’t sleep any longer, little ancestor,” Zhenxu said, frowning.
“Zhenxu, hug,” the little princess said, stretching her short arms out from under the covers and whining sweetly.
All of Zhenxu’s worries melted away at the little princess’s plea. She quickly bent down to hug the little princess.
The little princess wrapped her arms around her neck, humming softly. She rubbed her delicate face against Zhenxu’s neck and murmured, “I don’t want Xu Xu to be unhappy. If Xu Xu holds me for a while, I’ll have the strength to get up!”
Zhenxu’s heart melted completely, and she couldn’t help but complain, “It’s getting colder and colder. It would be better if classes started later!”
“Sir is already so busy. It’s hard enough for him to find time to teach us. I’ll get up right away.”
Zhenxu gazed at the little princess in her arms, feeling a bit dazed. She had grown up with You Yuxi and knew very well how similar the little princess and You Yuxi looked when they were young.
This similarity made Zhenxu’s heart soften even more. She spoke gently, “I’ll get a warming stone for the princess and put it in the bed. After class, you can come back and lie down comfortably.”
“Great! Xu Xu is the best to me in the whole world!” Queyuan lifted her eyes, and although she was too young to fully possess You Yuxi’s enchanting beauty, she exuded a unique, stunning charm.
As Zhenxu turned and left to busy herself, Queyuan instantly retracted her obedient smile. She jumped out of bed barefoot, kicked away the shoes by her feet, and mumbled to herself, “Who should I tease for fun today?”
With a flash of light, a copper coin flicked from her tiny fingertips.