Snow-white and crimson plum blossoms beneath the silken parasol

One day in a certain year, the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess paid a visit to the residence of the young Grand Censor, Yan Shaoqing. They drank three cups of tea and sat for half an hour; in the end, they left just as they had arrived.

After that incident, Xu Guiyi felt that Fu Lancheng was mediocre as a Crown Prince, unimpressive as a son, and utterly lacking as a husband. But as an elder brother, he was not bad. Considering his status as the Crown Prince, to sit calmly for half an hour under Yan Shaoqing’s iron expression was no easy feat, Xu Guiyi thought.

Two days later, she spoke of this to Xu Zhouyan: “I believe His Highness exhausted what little patience and composure he possesses during that half hour. Second Sister, you wouldn’t believe how unyielding that young Grand Censor is—he’s entirely impervious to persuasion. The Crown Prince spoke to him in the gentlest tones, yet he didn't even bother to feign courtesy.”

Xu Zhouyan flicked the peacock-patterned brocade robe she wore and snorted coldly, “How could I not know? I saw through him when I was young. Enough, don’t mention it again.”

Xu Guiyi set down her teacup and sidled closer, speaking in a low, fragmented whisper: “Second Sister, what exactly happened between you and him back then? I heard Uncle was quite fond of him. Why did he agree to break off your engagement?”

At that, Xu Zhouyan paused, lowered her eyes, and shook her head. Her voice was clear and slow: “Father was certainly enamored with the son-in-law he chose. He praised his talent, looks, character, and filial devotion, claiming he was destined for greatness. I listened to Father and met him several times at poetry gatherings. At first, I found him, despite his poverty, to possess a certain pride, different from those mediocre men.”

“Then why did you give up the match, Second Sister?” Xu Guiyi still didn’t understand.

“That winter, I heard his mother fell ill. He stayed home to care for her, missing several days at the Imperial Academy. When I learned of it, I wanted to pay a visit. It was my first time at his house, and a real lesson in what it meant to have nothing but bare walls. He poured me a cup of plain water, and as I drank, I listened to his mother’s coughing. Halfway through, I produced the fifty taels I had prepared and handed it to him, suggesting he hire a good physician for his mother. Guess what he did?” Xu Zhouyan sneered.

“He refused?” Xu Guiyi guessed. The poorer a person is, the more stubborn their pride.

“Yes. His mother was so ill, yet he still declined my silver. I was furious… I wanted to scold him harshly. What’s the use of pride if it matters more than one’s own mother’s life?” Xu Zhouyan’s anger was still palpable, a testament to how exasperated she had been.

“What happened after?” Xu Guiyi pressed. Surely she didn’t leave without giving the money.

Xu Zhouyan’s brows knotted in irritation. “I was so angry, I tossed the purse on their doorstep and left in haste.”

“So that’s why you broke the engagement?” Xu Guiyi began to understand her sister’s decision.

“He was so proud, he came to me before I’d spoken to Father. He handed me an IOU, saying he didn’t wish for monetary entanglements with his future in-laws, and would explain to Father that the engagement should be dissolved. Such pride! I was glad, honestly. That sort of stubborn pride, clinging to dignity at the cost of suffering, is utterly beneath me.” Not only did Xu Zhouyan disdain it, Xu Guiyi found it absurd as well.

Xu Guiyi gave a dry laugh, “Scholarly integrity truly is unlike ordinary folk.”

Xu Zhouyan continued indignantly, “I told him not to trouble himself—I would speak to Father. But you know Father’s temper. He scolded me, saying I was blind to true merit. I was furious. What on earth did Father see in him?”

This point required some consideration.

After a moment, Xu Guiyi cautiously said, “Second Sister, that same man is now Grand Censor.”

From Xu Da’s perspective as a mentor, his chosen candidate was indeed a pillar of the nation, of exceptional caliber. At just thirty, he was the only Grand Censor in the history of the Dayi dynasty.

Xu Zhouyan was unimpressed. Her almond-shaped eyes widened in anger, “So what? He’s still the same shabby scholar.”

Xu Guiyi, undaunted, ventured, “Sister, that’s called incorruptible integrity.”

Xu Zhouyan glared at Xu Guiyi and demanded loudly, “Shut up! Are you Xu or Yan?” With that, she raised her hand to strike, and Xu Guiyi, knowing her temper, didn't evade.

After letting her sister hit her twice, Xu Guiyi quietly replied, “Xu.” She lowered her head, avoiding Xu Zhouyan’s fierce gaze. Yet suddenly, she thought of something and looked up, “Second Sister, did he ever repay those fifty taels?”

Xu Zhouyan shot her a glare, “On my wedding day, he sent a hundred taels, saying half was a gift and half was repayment. I didn’t want his wedding gift, but he insisted the fifty taels were interest. For the sake of a clean break, I let the maid accept it.”

Xu Guiyi’s voice grew softer, “A hundred taels was no small sum for him at the time.” He must have scraped it together with great effort.

Xu Zhouyan merely lifted her chin, “Who cares?”

On the day Qu Anlan was married, Guangling saw the first snow of the winter. Prince An and Shen Yu followed the bridal procession, personally escorting her out to the Ten-Mile Pavilion outside the city.

Northern rouge, a ten-mile long pavilion, winds and snow layered deep;
Beauty beneath brocade, the road ahead—Yuguan;
Never lose, never forget.

In the Eastern Palace’s inner garden, the Crown Prince, draped in black fur with his hands behind his back, gazed at the blooming red plum by the corner, lost in thought for a long while.

“Achoo!” A crisp, loud sneeze shattered the silence.

“I heard the red plum has bloomed, so I wanted to cut a few branches for the vase. By chance, I found Your Highness here.” The visitor’s laughter was gentle; it was Xu Guiyi, wrapped in snowy fox fur, holding a silk parasol, and it was unclear when she had arrived.

Fu Lancheng was not displeased by her words, nor did he respond, simply drawing his gaze back to the thick snow.

Xu Guiyi stepped forward and handed him the parasol, “Please hold this for me, Your Highness. I will cut a few plum branches.”

Fu Lancheng looked behind him; indeed, she had come alone—only the two of them in the garden. Instead of taking the parasol, he walked forward and, with deft and clean movements, broke off several vivid red plum branches.

As the branches snapped, new snow fell, covering Fu Lancheng beneath the tree, his shoulders dusted in pure snow, accentuating his cold and ethereal features.

Year after year in the snow, plum blossoms are placed to intoxicate.

“Let’s go back, the snow is thick now.” Though the weather was frigid, his voice carried a trace of warmth.

He was far less severe and inscrutable than rumors suggested. When not angered, he was quite willing to reason.

Xu Guiyi stepped forward, raised the parasol, and with her free right hand, brushed the accumulated snow from Fu Lancheng’s shoulders, from his chest to his neck, from his shoulder to his brow, her motions gentle and clean, like a young sister dusting snow from a sibling.

She stretched out her arm, keeping a respectable distance. Xu Guiyi believed all her actions were perfectly normal, open and without impropriety.

Yet as she brushed his brow, her gaze happened to pass his ear, which, for some reason, was already flushed red.

“All right, let’s go.” Xu Guiyi secretly smiled, but dared not show it.

Fu Lancheng took a large stride to walk beside her, accepting the parasol from her hand, which surprised her.

She gladly tucked her cold hands into the fox fur, while Fu Lancheng, holding the parasol in his left hand and the red plum in his right, seemed utterly unaffected by the chill.

In the snow-laden Cold Spring Court, the wind was clear and the snow deep. One person held the parasol; two walked together.

The woman’s features were exquisite, wrapped in snow-white fox fur, pure and radiant, peerless in grace.

The man’s face was like jade, clad in black fur, holding red plum branches—noble and elegant, unmatched among men.

Back in Chunhui Hall, Fu Lancheng handed the parasol and plum branches to the palace attendants: “Find some fine white porcelain vases and arrange these plum branches.”

The attendants accepted them in silence, barely daring to breathe. As far as they remembered, this was Fu Lancheng’s first visit to Chunhui Hall. Madam Wu hurried to help the two masters remove their cloaks and served hot tea, inviting them to sit by the brazier.

“Achoo! Achoo! Achoo!” Xu Guiyi, sensitive to cold, sneezed three times in succession. Covering her nose and mouth, she smiled awkwardly, realizing that years spent in Jiangdong had left her ill adapted to Guangling’s climate.

Madam Wu instructed Qingyu and Xiyue, “Go to the kitchen—bring two bowls of warming soup. The Crown Princess is delicate, she mustn’t catch cold.”

Fu Lancheng, seeing Xu Guiyi shivering, calmly took the tongs and stirred the silver-threaded charcoal in the brazier, feeding the flames.

The attendants brought five elegant, pristine white porcelain vases with thick bases.

“Your Highness, the vases are here. Would you like to arrange the plum branches yourself?” Unsure of his preference, they placed both the vases and the plum branches before him.

Xu Guiyi glanced up—it was dazzling, five attendants with vases, five with plum branches.

Fu Lancheng inspected the vases, showing no dissatisfaction, then looked toward Xu Guiyi.

She quickly waved her hand, smiling, “I know nothing of flower arranging; please, Your Highness.”

Fu Lancheng set down the tongs and promptly matched the five plum branches with the five vases, each combination harmonious. Indeed, she thought, a master’s disciple.

He raised his arm and, counting from left to right, calmly ordered, “Send these four vases to East Jade Hall, Zhongnan Court, Xiling Pavilion, and Yonghui Tower.”

Xu Guiyi’s eyes widened. She was speechless.

Fu Lancheng glanced at her shocked expression and lazily remarked, “Does the Crown Princess intend to keep all five vases for herself?”

Keep them for myself? They’re all mine—the plum branches, though not cut by me, are mine; the vases came from Chunhui Hall’s private stores. How is it that four are to be sent away at once?

More importantly, why should my porcelain and plum branches be used by him to curry favor?