FYM - 127

That night, Wei Lan had come alone.

A noblewoman of the inner chambers was expected to adhere to propriety. Her impulsive visit to Jiangyun Tower days earlier had already been highly inappropriate, let alone this unchaperoned late-night call upon a man outside her family. Fully aware of how improper this was, she waited anxiously in the carriage as the gatekeeper conveyed her request. Only when she was invited inside did she breathe a slight sigh of relief, knowing that much of what lay ahead depended on this night’s gamble.

Wearing a hooded cloak, she followed her maid toward the rear garden. The residence of the most powerful minister in court was surprisingly austere, and even more peculiar was the sight of plum trees lining the path. It was not yet their season to bloom, leaving the surroundings monotonous and somber.

…But he was here.

Alone, seated within the spacious stone pavilion, his figure exuded an air of solitary elegance under the cold, clear moonlight. Even his silhouette stirred emotions in her heart. With a fervent resolve, she approached and bowed to him. His response came slowly: “Princess, please rise.”

She rose as instructed, intending to step into the pavilion and sit beside him. But before she could, he stepped out from within, his expression under the moonlight subtly distant, markedly different from his usual stern demeanor. Amidst her apprehension, she also felt a flicker of curiosity and quickened her pace to catch up with his retreating form. In that moment, the world seemed to hold only the two of them.

“Does Lord Marquis favor plum blossoms?”

She ventured to speak, attempting to break his daunting silence.

His gaze shifted to the flowerless plum trees but gave no reply. After a pause, she pressed on: “The purity of plum blossoms, defying frost and snow, indeed matches your esteemed reputation for incorruptibility. However, their blooming season is fleeting, lasting but one cycle. Wouldn’t it be livelier to have a riot of colors from all kinds of flowers competing for attention?”

Her words were innocent enough, yet in the context of the moment, they carried unintended implications. She noticed him glance down at her, his tone unusually deep as he said: “Yet I favor plums alone, for I can wait year after year for their season.”

She faltered, inexplicably sensing a hint of menace in his words. The towering man before her was impossible not to fear, so she hastily tried to placate him: “Lord Marquis’s heart is as clear as water and as reflective as a mirror—one can glimpse its depth even within this small courtyard…”

These were flattery-filled words, meaningless to someone accustomed to praise like him. Fortunately, he finally averted his scrutinizing gaze, granting her a wave of relief akin to surviving a calamity.

“Princess, what urgent matter brings you here under the stars?”

She heard him ask, his tone indifferent.

The phrase “under the stars” stung, clearly disregarding her dignity as a noblewoman. Yet, determined to secure a favorable outcome between them, she knew she couldn’t hesitate or second-guess herself.

“Half a month has passed since the palace banquet, but there are still words left unsaid in my heart. Tonight, I’ve come uninvited, breaking propriety. I hope Lord Marquis will forgive me…”

She lowered her head slightly, her palms damp with nervousness.

“In this world, marriages stem from countless causes, not solely dictated by love or arranged matches. You and I have met only a few times—discussing marriage must surely pose difficulties for you. Though I reside within the inner chambers, I consider myself neither foolish nor ignorant. I understand that my fortunate chance to align with Lord Marquis arises from the shifting tides of the times. Alas, tonight my father has once again erred. His actions tonight must surely displease you further…”

At this, she glanced up at him. The pale moonlight illuminated his profile, yet his gaze remained fixed elsewhere, never once resting on her.

“The envoys from the southern territories seek protection, their intentions opposed to the court. My father’s banquet tonight wasn’t an act of collusion but rather a performance meant for your eyes. He is a stubborn man, unwilling to admit weakness or bow his head. In truth, he fears being resented by the current Empress Dowager and becoming your enemy.”

“Perhaps in your eyes, my father appears domineering and self-serving, utterly flawed. But to me, he too faces his own struggles. The southward migration of the court brought chaos, and the great families of Zhongyuan suffered greatly. Now, though the court seeks to implement new policies, the gentry of Jiangnan resist fiercely. My father isn’t insatiably greedy—he merely seeks survival amidst these turbulent times…”

Her words were earnest, almost confessional in their sincerity. A maiden barely past her fifteenth year, her voice was clear and reasoned. Fang Xianting finally turned to look at her. For a fleeting moment, the snowy night of Mount Li ten years ago flashed before his eyes. Back then, the woman walking beside him had been the same age, speaking with similar clarity about the situation.

“You are a hero, Lord Marquis, and heroes despise coercion. Tonight’s actions by my father may lack integrity, but if you would grant our household another chance, he will surely set aside past grievances and treat you sincerely. The southern territories can be pacified, the new policies implemented, and the nation will gradually return to order.”

“And I…”

She paused briefly, her speech no longer as fluid as before. Her fair cheeks flushed faintly, appearing particularly endearing under the soft moonlight.

“I know that daughters of noble families should uphold propriety and avoid such rashness. But—but I truly wish for you to know that marrying into the Marquis’s household is my heartfelt desire, not forced upon me by my family. I…”

She trailed off, overcome by shyness.

Such coquettishness he had seen before—in the inn at Huzhou, beneath the flowering trees on the lake in Qiantang. Yet the woman in his heart had always been more reserved, never voicing her true feelings outright. She would steal glances at him through cracks in a folding screen, bury secrets of spring among the plains, or suppress a meaningless title in the depths of a ship’s cabin during the quiet hours of the night. Every trace of her emotions required careful observation to discern.

And yet, it was this same woman who had invited him to share her boat at a desperate crossing, who had gifted him half-red blossoms at parting. He had witnessed her genuine laughter and tears with his own eyes. Even now, obscured by the pearl curtains hanging in the imperial hall, she remained etched deeply in his heart, enduring through the years.

“You are still young, and there are things you do not yet understand…”

Wei Lan heard him speak, his tone finally losing some of its aloof authority and revealing a trace of sincerity earned through her candor.

“Marriage is not a trivial matter; beyond perfection lies regret. Reconciliation with your father need not rely solely on matrimonial ties. If you are truly wise, you should advise him to seek another match for you. Marrying into the Marquis’s household would only harm you.”

His words were brutally direct. Wei Lan’s complexion paled momentarily. She understood that this man was distant—not just because of his immense power and prestige, but because she had never been part of his past life. She had not known the spirited young heir of the Duke of Jin, nor the lone survivor who left Chang’an after his father’s death. She had not accompanied him through the devastation of war or faced life-and-death peril. All she saw was the preeminent statesman of the Five Regents, wielding unparalleled influence in court.

But…

“I cannot change the past, but I can still strive for the future.”

Her tone was resolute. Perhaps the pampered daughter of privilege naturally possessed more confidence than others. She was brave and decisive, never needing to conceal her true feelings with cautious restraint.

“I know what I am doing, and I understand that you see me as a stranger now. But I truly admire you and firmly believe I can be a good wife to you. Whatever you wish me to learn, I will learn. Whatever you ask of me, I will do. With sincere effort, even the hardest stones can be moved. One day, perhaps you will…”

She could not continue, for his gaze upon her at that moment was too indifferent, making it impossible for her to utter the words “fall for me.” Within his heart stood an unbreakable barrier, enclosing only those he had chosen to keep close. No one else could enter.

“Or perhaps, Lord Marquis, you and I can both think of this as a duty to the state…”

She lowered her head and smiled bitterly, surprised to find herself reduced to such a pitiful state in matters of love, contrary to her once lofty pride.

“My father seeks a promise. Beyond marital ties, bloodlines carry even greater weight. Surely, Lord Marquis understands…”

This was her response to his earlier statement: “Reconciliation with your father need not rely solely on matrimonial ties.” Could any pact or alliance compare to the trustworthiness of a child born of shared blood? Bonds formed out of convenience rarely endured, while familial ties promised stability.

Having bared her face to say such words, the man beside her remained silent, refusing to give an answer. She watched as he turned back to gaze at the empty stone pavilion behind them, lost in thought despite its vacancy. After an indeterminate amount of time, he finally withdrew his gaze. The plum tree beside him drooped low, devoid of even a single blossom, yet he caressed it tenderly as if it were still in full bloom. His eyes held a loneliness and sorrow she could not fully comprehend.

“I shall go to the palace to request an audience with the Empress Dowager…”

He released the branch, as if finally making a decision.

“…and escort Princess Wei back home.”