When Shen Suifeng left the marquis’s residence, he happened to run into Feng Lezhen just as she was arriving.
It was the first time they’d seen each other in three days. Their eyes met, and both froze.
“Your Highness.” In front of others, he raised a hand in greeting.
Feng Lezhen replied, “Is the young shizi doing well?”
“Replying to Your Highness—today’s pulse check showed all is well,” Shen Suifeng said, eyes lowered.
Feng Lezhen nodded in acknowledgment and, with Hu Wensheng and the others, entered the residence. Shen Suifeng kept his head down as they passed, only lifting his gaze to look at her back once she had walked by.
Neither of them said much—it was partly due to the presence of outsiders, but also because… they honestly didn’t know what to say.
Though Her Highness had been busy these past few days, not so much that she was absent overnight. Yet he hadn’t gone to find her. Because he knew the issue between them wasn’t something that could just be brushed over. He needed to think it through, to find a solution. Once he’d figured it out, then he would go speak to her. That way, they wouldn’t end up having the same fight all over again.
Shen Suifeng stared at her back for a long time before finally turning to leave.
That thinking process lasted all the way until the morning of the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month.
Chen Jinan’s injuries had healed about a third. Technically, he should still be in bed recovering, but he insisted on getting up to practice martial arts. Shen Suifeng had no choice but to sit under the eaves, ready to jump in and save him at any moment.
…Ever since getting together with Her Highness, he really had changed a lot. At least now, when dealing with hardheaded patients like Chen Jinan, he no longer had the urge to send them to the afterlife with a single silver needle.
Watching Chen Jinan stubbornly train with a wooden staff, Shen Suifeng sighed. The next moment, he thought about how he hadn’t spoken to Feng Lezhen in days, and the mood turned melancholic again.
“Your staff work is decent, but pretty useless.”
A voice rang out from the wall. Shen Suifeng and Chen Jinan both looked up and saw Ah Ye leaping down as lightly as a swallow. Shen Suifeng shot to his feet. “No—!”
“Don’t jump—”
Chen Jinan spoke at the same time, but it was too late. Ah Ye had already landed—and slipped on the ice. Her right foot twisted, and she fell straight to the ground.
“Ugh… that hurts!” Her eyes welled up with tears.
Shen Suifeng: “…”
Great, another patient.
Fifteen minutes later, Ah Ye’s right foot was wrapped in thick bandages. She sat beside Shen Suifeng with a hand warmer, watching Chen Jinan train. Her nose and eyes were red from crying earlier, but that didn’t stop her from criticizing Chen Jinan.
“Your movements are way too stiff. What’s the point of drilling these same moves? I’m telling you, it’s fine to be rigid in personality, but you can’t be rigid in martial arts. You have to be sneaky—add small tricks into big movements. Do whatever it takes to take the other guy down…”
Ah Ye got so into it that she started hopping on one foot to demonstrate. Shen Suifeng looked at her dangling right foot and thought—yep, his temper really had mellowed.
To avoid aggravating himself further, Shen Suifeng turned and left the back courtyard. When he returned to the main courtyard, he saw a few guards sweeping snow.
“Doctor Shen.”
“Good day, Doctor Shen.”
Shen Suifeng paused. “Why are you all at home?”
It was one thing for Ah Ye to be home—but why were they also here?
“Where else would we be if not home?” one of the guards replied, half laughing, half exasperated.
Shen Suifeng was just about to respond when something dawned on him. “Is Her Highness inside?”
“Yes,” the guard replied. “Her Highness said it’s only two days until the New Year, so she’s done with social events for now and told us to focus on preparing for the holiday. We’re just sweeping snow now. Once we’re done, we’ll go out and see if there are any window decorations or couplets to buy. Is there anything Doctor Shen would like us to bring back?”
“No…” Shen Suifeng glanced at the tightly shut door of the main bedchamber.
As his gaze shifted, he caught sight of the thick snow piled atop the roof. He paused and looked at the guards, a bit unsure. “You’re sweeping the snow… but not the rooftop?”
“Wait—are you supposed to sweep snow off the roof?” The guard looked genuinely surprised.
Shen Suifeng couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m not sure either, but it doesn’t seem like the roofs of the Marquis’s residence have snow piled up like this.”
He had never paid much attention before, but now that he looked, he realized the rooftops of the Eldest Princess’s estate were blanketed in more than two feet of snow—as if the buildings were wearing enormous cotton hats.
“Maybe their floor heating is stronger and the snow just melts off on its own,” the guard said confidently.
Shen Suifeng, preoccupied with the one inside the chamber, just nodded and went straight to knock on the door.
“Who is it?” came Feng Lezhen’s voice from inside.
Shen Suifeng’s heart, still tense, softened the moment he heard her voice. “It’s me, Your Highness.”
There was a brief silence inside. “Come in.”
Shen Suifeng immediately entered.
The guards outside looked at one another. After a long pause, one of them asked quietly, “So… should we sweep the snow off the roof?”
Most of them were born and raised in the capital. Before being stationed at Yingguan, the biggest snow they’d ever seen didn’t even cover their ankles. They truly didn’t know whether rooftop snow needed clearing.
After some back and forth, the oldest among them made the final call. “No need. We’ll just turn the floor heating up when Her Highness isn’t home. The snow will fall off on its own.”
A group of men unaware of how dangerous heavy snow could be quickly agreed, happily tossed aside their brooms, and went off shopping.
In contrast to their cheer, the room inside was quiet.
Feng Lezhen, in her bedclothes, was reclining on a soft couch, frowning as she read a letter. Seeing she was busy, Shen Suifeng quietly sat at the table to wait.
After a long while, she put down the letter and looked at him. “Come here.”
Shen Suifeng paused, then got up and approached. Feng Lezhen remained on the couch. Once he came close, she suddenly wrapped her arms around his waist, buried her face into his abdomen, and took a deep breath, resting her entire weight against him.
Shen Suifeng froze for a moment, then quickly returned the embrace.
“What were you saying to them just now?” she asked with her eyes closed.
He gently stroked her soft, dark hair, heart melting. “Just… about whether the snow on the roof should be swept off.”
Feng Lezhen paused and looked up at him. “Do you really need to clear snow from the roof?”
“We didn’t reach a conclusion either,” Shen Suifeng replied softly. “I’ll ask some locals later.”
She nodded, then picked up a plate of pastries and handed it to him. “These were sent by the governor of Yingguan. Pretty good—try one.”
“All right.” Shen Suifeng sat down beside her, took a piece, and bit into it. “Red bean.”
“Red bean?” Feng Lezhen looked surprised. “I just had one—it was jujube paste.”
He held out the bitten piece to her lips. “Maybe there are different flavors. The red bean one’s really good—try it.”
She took a bite from his hand, then picked another from the plate and broke it open. “This one’s black sesame. Don’t tell me every piece is a different flavor?”
She got curious and began breaking open each pastry. Halfway through, she found only three flavors. Still, she stubbornly split the rest too—only to confirm it really was just the three.
Looking at the plate full of broken pastries, she felt a wave of regret. Just as she was wondering what to do with the mess, Shen Suifeng took the plate. “It’s fine. I like eating them.”
“…You won’t finish them all on your own.” Feng Lezhen sighed.
Shen Suifeng chuckled. “Then what does Your Highness suggest? Call someone else in to help?”
“They’re all broken open already—how can I call others in?” She shot him a look and picked up a piece herself.
The two of them sat there, face to face, slowly finishing the plate. By the time they were done, they were both so full they couldn’t speak. They stared at each other for a while before bursting out laughing.
“Your Highness,” Shen Suifeng said as he took her hand, gently rubbing her knuckles with his thumb. The gesture didn’t mean much, but at this moment, it felt tender and peaceful.
Feng Lezhen knew he had something to say, so she simply waited quietly.
After thinking carefully, Shen Suifeng finally spoke. “There are many differences between me and Your Highness—our views don’t always align. But I don’t want to part from you. I never have.”
“If we don’t part, there will be countless moments of disagreement in the future. Are you sure you can endure them every time?” she asked.
Shen Suifeng sighed. “I’ve thought about it. If we differ in how we deal with people or situations, then let’s not interfere in each other’s affairs. You don’t need to tell me your matters. As for mine…”
“I must know,” Feng Lezhen cut in firmly. “Whatever you do, you have to tell me.”
Shen Suifeng laughed. “All right, I’ll tell you everything. But you don’t need to tell me yours. If I don’t know, then we won’t fight.”
Only then was she satisfied.
“And what about you, Your Highness?” In the quiet that followed, Shen Suifeng looked into her eyes.
Feng Lezhen was puzzled. “What do you mean, me?”
“I’m willing to give everything for Your Highness,” Shen Suifeng said, “but I may never be like Chen Jinan or Miss Ah Ye—someone who obeys you unconditionally… Can Your Highness accept someone who doesn’t care about your ambitions and isn’t exactly obedient?” Shen Suifeng knew she probably wouldn’t reject him, but the moment he actually said it aloud, he still couldn’t help feeling nervous.
Feng Lezhen looked him in the eye, and after a long moment, she chuckled softly. “It seems I already accepted that long ago. It’s you, Mister Shen, who’s throwing a tantrum.”
Shen Suifeng paused—and for a second, even he felt like laughing.
“So… does this mean we’ve made up?” Feng Lezhen asked.
Shen Suifeng curved his lips. “Mm. Made up.”
And just like that, the argument was over… Strictly speaking, it wasn’t quite resolved—just that they each took a step back. But for the two of them at this moment, that was enough.
“As long as we’ve made up,” Feng Lezhen said, slapping the letter she had just been reading against his chest, “I have something I need you to do.”
Shen Suifeng: “…”
“Do you remember the letter from Tayuan that asked me to send medicinal herbs?” At the mention of serious matters, Feng Lezhen became more solemn.
Shen Suifeng lowered his head to read the letter. “I remember.”
“That was a physician I had previously sent to Tayuan. He’s been taking care of a patient there on my behalf for the past six months. The last batch of medicine was for her,” Feng Lezhen said, frowning tightly. “Now he’s written again saying the patient has suddenly started coughing up blood. The cause is unknown, and it’s very serious. I was thinking of sending you to take a look—see what’s really going on.”
“Based on the symptoms in the letter, it looks like tuberculosis. Coughing blood is a very dangerous stage—could vomit blood and die at any time. Your Highness wants me to leave immediately?” As it was his area of expertise, Shen Suifeng spoke more quickly.
Feng Lezhen nodded, then sighed. “I was hoping we could wait until after New Year’s Eve…”
Shen Suifeng smiled and reached out to gently pinch her earlobe. “Is this patient very important to Your Highness?”
“She’s not particularly important… It’s just… well, the story is complicated. In short, I don’t want anything to happen to her,” Feng Lezhen said seriously.
“Then I’ll leave today. It takes two days to get from Yingguan to Tayuan—we can afford delays, but the patient might not be able to.” Shen Suifeng said, already about to start packing.
Feng Lezhen instinctively grabbed his sleeve. Shen Suifeng paused and looked at her, confused.
“There’s a stretch of road between Yingguan and Tayuan that passes through Moli. In recent years, Moli’s been restless—there’ve been frequent attacks on travelers between Yingguan and Tayuan. I’ll borrow a squad from Zhenbian Marquis and send some guards to accompany you,” Feng Lezhen said, frowning.
Shen Suifeng laughed. “If Your Highness sends such a conspicuous entourage, it’ll just attract the bandits’ attention. Better I travel alone and light—it’ll get me to Tayuan faster, too.”
Feng Lezhen was partly convinced but still hesitant.
Seeing her expression, Shen Suifeng relented. “If Your Highness is truly uneasy, then… I’ll bring one person?”
“If it’s one person, we’ll need to think carefully about who to bring,” Feng Lezhen nodded. “Ah Ye definitely won’t work—she’s a girl, it wouldn’t be appropriate. Who else could you bring…”
She looked up in thought, met Shen Suifeng’s gaze, then hesitated. “His injuries haven’t fully healed yet… It wouldn’t be right, would it?”
“He was bouncing around like a monkey just now,” Shen Suifeng replied instantly.
Feng Lezhen: “…” What else could she say?
An hour later, Shen Suifeng and Chen Jinan had packed and were ready to depart.
“Are you sure this is okay?” Feng Lezhen eyed Chen Jinan’s still-bruised face, clearly uneasy.
“Don’t worry, Your Highness. With me as his doctor, there’s no problem I can’t handle.” Shen Suifeng lazily slung an arm around Chen Jinan’s shoulder.
Chen Jinan nodded slightly. “I’m fine, Your Highness.”
“If that’s the case, then be careful and come back as soon as you can,” Feng Lezhen said.
Chen Jinan obediently nodded, but Shen Suifeng grinned. “We’ll try to be back before the Lantern Festival. Even if I can’t spend New Year with Your Highness, I’ll at least make it for reunion dinner.”
A smile bloomed in Feng Lezhen’s eyes. “Alright. I’ll be waiting for you.”
Looking at the gentle softness in her expression, Shen Suifeng’s heart skipped. He instinctively wanted to hug her, but catching sight of Chen Jinan’s emotionless face out of the corner of his eye, he lost interest.
“It’s time to go,” Feng Lezhen urged.
Shen Suifeng lazily responded, then suddenly reached out and covered Chen Jinan’s eyes—planting a kiss on Feng Lezhen’s forehead.
The kiss was brief and fleeting. By the time Feng Lezhen recovered, he had already straightened and let go of Chen Jinan’s eyes.
“You really…” Feng Lezhen’s face flushed faintly.
“Wait for me, Your Highness,” Shen Suifeng smiled, slinging an arm around Chen Jinan’s shoulders as they walked out of the pass.
“What did you just do?” Chen Jinan asked, a vague sense of displeasure rising.
Shen Suifeng shot him a glance. “Grown-up business. Kids shouldn’t poke their noses in.”
“I’ll be twenty after the New Year,” Chen Jinan said stiffly.
Shen Suifeng raised his brows. “Your birthday’s right after New Year?”
Chen Jinan said nothing.
“Then it’s not your birthday yet. So you’re not twenty.” Shen Suifeng’s eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief. “Little brat.”
The “little brat” slumped his shoulders, letting Shen Suifeng’s arm slide off, then silently kept walking his horse forward.
“Hey… hey,” Shen Suifeng caught up. “Why do you seem reluctant to come with me?”
“Was this arrangement Your Highness’s idea?” Chen Jinan asked.
Shen Suifeng: “No.”
“Then I’m not willing,” Chen Jinan said.
Shen Suifeng paused, then realized he was answering the previous question—and couldn’t help laughing in exasperation. “So if it was Her Highness’s order, you’d be willing?”
“My injury hasn’t fully healed. If there weren’t someone tricking her, Her Highness wouldn’t have sent me,” Chen Jinan said expressionlessly.
Shen Suifeng clicked his tongue. “I thought you were the type to suffer in silence without a single thought of your own. Didn’t expect you’d also have times when you don’t want to do something.”
Chen Jinan paused, as if unsure how to respond.
The two of them strolled forward slowly. When they reached the city gate, each handed their travel permits to the guards for inspection.
Once they got the documents back, Chen Jinan suddenly muttered, “Big Brother Li and the others said they were going to take me to the river to make ice lanterns on New Year’s Eve.”
Shen Suifeng was slightly startled. By the time he processed it, Chen Jinan had already walked ahead.
Looking at the boy’s gloomy back, Shen Suifeng, for once, felt a twinge of guilt.
He jogged to catch up. “Who’s Big Brother Li? Another guard in the residence? Chen Jinan, look at you—you actually made friends… How about this, why don’t you go back? I’ll head to Tayuan alone.”
Hearing this, Chen Jinan shot him a look. “What nonsense are you saying?”
Shen Suifeng: “…”
By the time he realized he’d been scolded, Chen Jinan had already mounted his horse and ridden off ahead. Shen Suifeng couldn’t help laughing in frustration, leapt onto his own horse, and chased after him. “You little brat! Don’t go copying how your mistress talks!”
While the two of them raced off toward Tayuan, the Eldest Princess’s residence was already putting up festive decorations, preparing to celebrate their first New Year in Yingguan.
Although only two people were absent, the place felt noticeably emptier. Even Ah Ye, limping with one injured foot, couldn’t help sighing. “Mr. Shen’s always running about, either treating this person or checking someone’s pulse. And Chen Jinan is like a rock—can’t get a single word out of him most days. How come with just the two of them gone, the whole place feels so quiet?”
“You mustn’t say such things in front of Her Highness. If you make her sad, that won’t be good,” Fan Gonggong quickly warned.
Ah Ye paused. “Why would she be sad?”
“Think about it. The holidays make people miss their loved ones more. This is Her Highness’s first New Year outside the palace, and she’s all the way out here in Yingguan, far from the capital. Her two closest people aren’t around either—of course she’s not feeling great. If you keep talking about it, wouldn’t that just make it worse?” Fan explained.
Ah Ye clicked her tongue. “What do you mean her two closest people aren’t here? I’m Her Highness’s closest person!”
Fan Gonggong: “…”
Though she bantered with Fan Gonggong, Ah Ye knew her place. So in front of Feng Lezhen, she never brought up the two who had just left Yingguan. But she was so cautious that even Feng Lezhen found it strange.
“I only sent them out to handle a task. It’s not like I expelled them from the residence. Why can’t they be mentioned?” Feng Lezhen asked, confused.
Ah Ye hesitated. “Aren’t you feeling sad that your closest people aren’t around?”
“They’re not here, but is everyone else also gone?” Feng Lezhen chuckled. “It’s not like I’m alone and helpless. And besides, they’ll be back in a few days.”
“In the past it wouldn’t have mattered who was gone, but now it’s your first time spending the New Year outside the capital,” Ah Ye said while diligently massaging her legs.
Though Ah Ye’s comment seemed offhanded, Feng Lezhen understood immediately and only smiled. “As long as I’m still within Great Qian’s borders, whether it’s Yingguan or the capital makes no difference to me.”
“Your Highness is so magnanimous!” Ah Ye immediately praised.
Feng Lezhen gave her a glance. “But other people may still get homesick. Go give the orders—this month’s stipend will be doubled. And prepare some red envelopes—I’ll hand them out on New Year’s Eve.”
“Fan Gonggong’s already prepared them,” Ah Ye said.
Feng Lezhen smiled. “He used to work under the late emperor. He managed the entire palace with ease—handling the Eldest Princess’s residence of a few dozen people is nothing for him.”
“I don’t quite understand,” Ah Ye said as she gently tapped her legs. “In terms of both character and ability, Fan Gonggong seems better than Li Tong. Why did the late emperor choose Li Tong to serve the current emperor instead?”
“Probably because Fan Gonggong was always close to me. The late emperor didn’t feel comfortable letting him go,” Feng Lezhen replied calmly.
Ah Ye froze, realizing she had overstepped. She didn’t know what to say.
Feng Lezhen gave her a pat. “Enough fussing. Come with me to the kitchen—I want to check the New Year’s Eve menu.”
“Alright!” Ah Ye perked up with interest.
***
Perhaps because it was their first time celebrating New Year away from home, with new customs and festive sights to enjoy, and because the residence was mostly filled with young people who weren’t overly sentimental about family reunions, the atmosphere was actually livelier than in the capital. On the morning of New Year’s Eve, the guards were already bustling about, pasting window decorations—Ah Ye watched them enviously.
“If I hadn’t twisted my ankle, this job wouldn’t have fallen to you lot!” she grumbled, sitting angrily under the eaves.
Feng Lezhen casually peeled an orange segment and popped it into her mouth. “What a shame—you sprained your foot.”
Ah Ye pouted, looking even more pitiful.
Feng Lezhen almost laughed and was about to comfort her when Fan Gonggong suddenly called out, “Your Highness, time to hang the Spring Festival couplets!”
“Coming!” Feng Lezhen replied at once.
There were many customs tied to hanging Spring Festival couplets. For instance, the ones on the main gate of a residence should be put up by the head of the household—and it had to be a man. If there were sons or grandsons, they could do it instead. In short, it had to be done by a male. But in Feng Lezhen’s household, she had always handled it herself.
Once Fan Gonggong set up a sturdy ladder, the whole residence gathered around, laughing and chatting. When Feng Lezhen climbed up with the couplets in hand, seven or eight people immediately stepped up to hold the ladder for her.
“…Making a fuss over nothing,” Feng Lezhen muttered, and under Fan Gonggong’s direction, began hanging the couplets.
The ones who had come with her to Yingguan today were all trusted aides of many years. Although they had long grown used to seeing her put up Spring Festival couplets, when they saw her swaying precariously on the ladder, the group still held their breath.
It took a full fifteen minutes to finish pasting the upper and lower scrolls, the horizontal banner, and the two square papers in the center.
Once the final piece was secured, a cheer immediately erupted around her—
“May Your Highness have great fortune and prosperity! May all go smoothly in the coming year!”
“Wishing health and peace, and escape from misfortune!”
“Long life and happiness, may the five blessings arrive at your door!”
A cascade of auspicious sayings poured out, and Feng Lezhen, half amused and half helpless, was just about to quiet them down when a sudden loud boom echoed from the courtyard.
In the blink of an eye, the once-laughing guards instinctively formed a protective wall in front of her. Ah Ye, despite her limp, hobbled quickly toward the source of the sound.
After the crash, all fell silent. Ah Ye returned like a wandering ghost.
Feng Lezhen had a bad feeling. “…What happened?”
“Your Highness’s bedchamber… seems to have collapsed under the weight of the snow.” Ah Ye said it like she couldn’t believe her own words. But before her voice had even faded, two or three more crashing sounds followed.
A kitchen maid ran out of the courtyard in terror. “Heavens! I just went back in to grab something—how did the house suddenly collapse?!”
Feng Lezhen: “…Go see how many rooms went down.”
“Yes.” Someone immediately ran off to investigate.
Two quarters of an hour later, they had a clear report—
Including the main bedchamber, four rooms in total had collapsed. And the other three just happened to be the ones where the most people lived.
The residence was already small to begin with. Now, with several rooms down… The others might be able to squeeze in together, but surely they couldn’t let Her Highness do the same?
On New Year’s Eve, with only a few hours left until the night vigil, the house had collapsed. A moment ago they had been reciting auspicious phrases, but now everyone looked at each other in silence. Clearly, no one had ever seen such a scene before. Even the holiday cheer was a bit dampened.
At that critical moment, it was Feng Lezhen who calmed down first. “Fan Gonggong.”
“Here.”
“I remember you once said that due to the high costs of winter heating, in Yingguan—from the Grand Governor to wealthy commoners—everyone only keeps one residence, correct?” she asked.
Fan Gonggong sighed. “Yes.”
So even temporarily borrowing another house would be nearly impossible.
Feng Lezhen thought for a moment. “Then among all the nobles in this city, whose residence is the largest?”
“…Only Zhenbian Marquis’s estate,” Fan Gonggong answered.
Feng Lezhen nodded and glanced at her subordinates. “Pack our things. We’ll be spending New Year at the Marquis’s residence.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
“On it!”
The whole group responded at once. Even Ah Ye, with her injured foot, moved quickly. Only Fan Gonggong remained, deeply worried.
“Your Highness, Zhenbian Marquis has never been on good terms with you. Are you sure you want to stay at his residence?” he couldn’t help but ask.
Feng Lezhen considered briefly. “Then bring a few things from the storage room as gifts. After all, no one hits a smiling face.”
Fan Gonggong: “…”
