Spring in the Hall of Paintings

Rongxuan rushed back to the residence under the stars, entering the eastern room. Fucha was sitting at the red nanmu vanity, resting her face on her hand. The emerald bracelet on her wrist glimmered softly, and her slightly furrowed brows suggested she was troubled by something, distressing the wise and virtuous wife. Rongxuan cleared his throat twice: “Ahem.”

Seeing her husband return late at night in the mirror, Fucha turned in surprise and called out, “My Lord.”

She dusted off the dirt from Rongxuan’s clothes and asked, “Did you return from the military camp in Fengtai?”

Rongxuan sat down and drank most of a bowl of tea, shaking his head, “I returned to the capital at dusk today.”

Rongxuan generally preferred not to discuss his official matters with her. With his younger brother Rongzhi being promoted and honored, even Rongxuan, who was usually honest and steady, couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy. Thus, he focused even more on his work, often staying at the Fengtai military camp for more than half a month, so he rarely returned home.

Fucha moved closer to Rongxuan, tenderly massaging his shoulders. She secretly sniffed him and found that he had neither the smell of alcohol nor any traces of makeup. Just as she felt relieved, Rongxuan suddenly wrapped his arms around her waist. With affection in her eyes, she playfully struggled as if shy, but more like a little bird seeking comfort: “My Lord.”

“Zhuohua, the Emperor summoned me today.” Rongxuan tightened his hold on his wife, her subtle fragrance enveloping him. He repeated, “The Emperor summoned only me.”

Fucha suppressed her thoughts and looked carefully at Rongxuan. After a moment, she smiled brightly and said, “That’s a good thing; your time to shine has finally come.”

Rongxuan raised an eyebrow and pulled his wife to sit on his lap, asking, “How do you know it’s a happy event?”

“The Emperor is a sage ruler. You have your own talents and ambitions; isn’t it a joyful occasion when wise rulers and capable ministers meet?”

Rongxuan chuckled softly and said seriously, “Madam, you’re too kind. The Emperor is indeed a sage ruler, but I am not a capable minister; I only wish to be a sharp blade in the Emperor’s hand.”

Fucha felt a jolt in her heart, gazing at her strong and imposing husband with dreamy eyes. Rongxuan teased, “Have you not recognized your husband after a few days apart?”

“Bah.” Fucha lightly spat and twisted her waist. Rongxuan held her tightly in his embrace, his breath slightly unsteady, and softly called out, “Zhuohua, I am happy today.”

“I am also happy for you, my Lord.”

Fucha leaned closer to Rongxuan, placing her hand on his palm. Rongxuan rested his chin on her shoulder, slowly closing his eyes and said, “This matter, I will only speak of to you. As for others…”

Fucha replied, “I understand.”

Rong Xuan lifted Fu Cha Shi onto the bed, and naturally, they engaged in endless flirtation.

“What were you thinking just now?”

Fucha still had a blush on her cheeks. Upon hearing her husband’s question, she recounted the events of the day and sighed, “Our little Wei is growing up so beautifully. I suspect she’ll be even stronger than Lan in the future. Today, I met the young lord of the Gong Prince’s residence, and I can’t shake this feeling in my heart… it’s somewhat unsettling.”

“The Gong Prince’s residence? That’s not something our Tong family can aspire to; you’re overthinking it.”

“I used to think that way too, so I never brought it up with you.” Fucha explained the matter of receiving the jade bracelet to Rongxuan and sighed again, “They say when marrying off a daughter, one should aim high, but I don’t want our Wei to marry into a prince’s residence.”

“You love our daughter; you must have made plans early on.”

Fucha shot her husband a reproachful glance and said, “Don’t you care for her?”

“The old lady has said that the glory of the Tong family does not rely on women. The daughters of the Eight Banners are often cherished, but they can only hope to rise through selection for the palace. I look down on relying on our daughter to forge a path forward; as long as Wei lives comfortably, that’s enough.”

“Indeed, my lord and I think alike. I truly care for our girl, and I have some plans in mind. I’m considering how to communicate with them over there, whether to flirt a little or eventually seek out the princess in the palace to request a marriage proposal, which would be more convenient.”

“Which young man could possibly marry our daughter?”

Fucha whispered a few words in Rongxuan’s ear. Rongxuan was taken aback for a moment and then nodded, saying, “So it’s him? Madam has a keen eye; it certainly strengthens our connections.”

“But what about the Gong Prince’s residence?”

In over ten years of marriage, Fucha rarely showed any signs of difficulty. Rongxuan shook his head with a smile and said, “My lady, you see our girl well, and naturally, others will value her too. Although the Gong Prince doesn’t compare to the Yu Prince’s esteemed status, he is still the emperor’s younger brother. The young lords in his residence have their own notable families that would be suitable matches, but our Tong family is still a step behind.”

Fucha realized she had been thinking too far. The term “notable families” particularly made her uncomfortable, and she huffed, “Is there anyone better than our girl? I don’t believe it.”

“Alright, alright, our daughter is unmatched by anyone.” Rongxuan pulled the brocade quilt over himself and Fucha, closing his eyes and saying, “Let’s sleep. I need to head back to the Fengtai garrison tomorrow. You already have an idea about Wei’s matters; for now, let’s not discuss social standing. Our girl will definitely have a grand marriage, with a generous and well-prepared dowry.”

The bustling streets of the capital city were lively and noisy, coinciding with a temple fair. The sounds of people filled the air, with vendors selling various goods, cosmetics, and a row of stalls set up. At the entrance of the temple, an old Taoist priest in a robe sat behind a table, performing divinations and interpreting fortunes. Not far away, there were stalls for making dough figurines and sugar figures, surrounded by a crowd of children. The shelves at the stalls were filled with lifelike dough and sugar figures.

“Fourth Sister, Fourth Sister.” Pulled along by Yun Lan, Yun Wei reached out to grab her sister. “Wait for me.”

“Sixth Sister, don’t be scared. I’ll walk slowly and let you see the sights of the capital. I’ll tell you, the best food and the most fun can all be found in the streets!”

The throngs of people made Yun Wei, who rarely went out, quite nervous. Hearing Yun Lan’s words, she furrowed her brows and was about to offer some advice when a voice came from the side: “That’s not quite right. The best chefs in the world are all in the imperial kitchen. How can you say that the food in the streets is better?”

The speaker was a boy around ten years old, with a fair complexion and delicate features, dressed in a blue long gown with a waist adorned by a jade belt inlaid with rubies. Noticing the gaze of the Yun sisters, he elegantly unfurled a folding fan in his hand, presenting himself as a refined young gentleman of the world.

Yun Wei took a small step back. The intricate patterns and embroidery of the boy’s clothing, along with the seemingly ordinary but bulging figure of his attendant beside him, suggested that he might be hiding a sharp weapon. Yun Wei suspected that the boy did not come from an ordinary family, and his demeanor… could he perhaps be the royal family?

The boy wore a mischievous grin on his face, playfully using his fan to poke Yun Wei’s chin and said with a cheeky smile, “Little beauty, why are you hiding your face? Let me have a good look at you.”

Yun Lan quickly pushed the fan away, protecting Yun Wei behind her. She first spoke gently to her sister, saying, “Don’t be scared; I won’t let anyone bully you.”

“Fourth Sister, he’s not… he…”

Yun Lan tightened her protective stance around Yun Wei, saying, “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

Yun Wei bit her lip, knowing that Fourth Sister wouldn’t listen to her; she had probably realized it herself.

“Oh, the young lady is quite stunning. How about accompanying me to a teahouse for a chat? If someone else had heard what you just said and reported it to the Emperor, that young lady might…”

The boy waved his folding fan, winking as he said, “I’m usually tender-hearted and can’t bear to see a young lady suffer.”

After saying this, he reached out to grab Yun Lan’s arm, but she quickly countered and seized his arm. The boy cried out in pain as Yun Lan pulled him closer.

The boy’s attendant stepped forward and growled, “Let go of the young master!”

Yun Lan chuckled softly, “Young master? It’s better to call you ‘young lady’ since your earlobes are showing.”