A City Swept by Wind and Snow GL - Chapter 3

◎This fellow, even doing a good deed by chance, somehow makes people furious◎

Snow Qianxun knew that Jin Se was not a woman easily fooled, but her not pressing for an answer greatly relieved Snow Qianxun.

—She didn’t pursue the matter, which probably meant that even she had questions she couldn’t answer. For example, what exactly was Zhuang Wang He Qishu’s intention in placing her at Chunjiang Courtyard? Surely it couldn’t have been just to monitor a lonely, defenseless girl like Snow Qianxun.

The following days passed routinely.

One night, He Qishu came unannounced, carrying Snow Qianxun on his shoulder and heading straight to the Yingxue Pavilion of Qiongyu Garden.

At that moment, Snow Qianxun had just shooed away Jin Se’s little white fox and was about to close the door when a folding fan got stuck in the door frame. Snow Qianxun smiled faintly and said, “My lord.”

In winter, the only person who carried a folding fan besides He Qishu was himself. The door slowly opened, revealing a lively, radiant face. He Qishu gave a slight nod, smiling.

Snow Qianxun’s personal maid, Dan Mo, had stoked a copper brazier, warming the Yingxue Pavilion. He Qishu leaned quietly against the window frame, happily listening to Snow Qianxun play the zither. He did not mention the assassination attempt at all, but a rare look of delight appeared in his eyes.

After a while, Jin Se’s little fox once again scratched at the door. Outside, the cold wind blew, and Snow Qianxun had no choice but to put down her zither and let it in. The little snow-white creature walked leisurely, boldly passing under Snow Qianxun’s skirts. She frowned tightly at it.

As expected, the little fox was extremely mischievous. Once warmed, it leapt around, biting and tugging at everything. Eventually, it jumped onto Snow Qianxun’s treasured zither, clawing at the strings and producing a chaotic, piercing sound.

Snow Qianxun was displeased and instructed Dan Mo, “Quickly, go call Jin Se.”

He Qishu was in a good mood and waved his hand, saying, “Why not just hold it, and it’ll behave?” He picked up the silver fox and placed it in Snow Qianxun’s arms.

Snow Qianxun pouted. “Why give it to me?”

He Qishu laughed without answering, took some shredded meat pastries from a food box, broke one apart, and fed it to the little fox.

Seeing the little fox eat happily, Snow Qianxun also felt amused. She tore a piece of osmanthus cake to feed it, but the little snow fox swiped its paw and knocked the cake to the ground, scattering crumbs onto He Qishu.

Snow Qianxun snorted and pushed the little fox into He Qishu’s arms. He Qishu smiled and said, “Don’t you know? Little Snow only eats meat.” He seemed to understand Jin Se’s pet well.

Outside, snow fell silently, and inside, candlelight flickered under the window. He Qishu played with the little fox while casually chatting with Snow Qianxun, his silhouette sharp and upright against the window screen.

When the moon reached its zenith in the western tower, He Qishu put down Little Snow, shook off the pastry crumbs on his robe, and prepared to leave. Suddenly, a dark green object slipped from his sleeve. He bent down to catch it, and when the cool object fell into his palm, a gentle, soft smile appeared on his face. He held a strand of crimson silk in front of him, frowned slightly, and sighed: “Tsk, it’s broken.”

The Zhuang Wang family had vast wealth and was always extravagant, yet He Qishu had never shown such care for an object.

Snow Qianxun couldn’t help asking, “What treasure is it?”

He Qishu said, “A priceless treasure,” and handed it to her, feeling quite proud.

—It was a small jade piece, dark green with marbling—not top quality.

Snow Qianxun didn’t comment, merely tidying the broken thread. She took out a red silk cord and quickly made a new knot, replacing the broken knot on the jade and returned it to He Qishu. Seeing her cleverness and dexterity, He Qishu was pleased. He carefully hung the jade on his waist, then asked for the broken old thread. Snow Qianxun was about to throw it into the brazier but was surprised when he reached for it.

He Qishu said, “This is also a treasure.” He pocketed the thread.

Snow Qianxun thought: it’s just a cord. What’s so valuable about it? Unless it was a gift from someone special.

He Qishu, seeing her silent, smiled gently and presented the jade to her. “I want to give you this treasure, is that alright?”

“I don’t want it,” Snow Qianxun replied firmly. Clearly, she didn’t understand the jade’s importance to He Qishu, and dared not accept it rashly.

He Qishu was slightly taken aback. “Too cheap for your taste?” He thought to himself: just recently she had gladly accepted night-bright pearls.

Snow Qianxun calmly said, “The value of something isn’t in its market price. Since you treasure this jade, it’s priceless, and I could never take away what you love.”

He Qishu smiled, “Indeed, it’s deeply meaningful. That’s why I want to give it to you as a token of commitment.”

His rare insistence confused Snow Qianxun, especially as he said “token of commitment” with an oddly serious expression. Yet if any other woman saw this expression, she might call it “tender affection.”

Snow Qianxun, anxious inside, felt her cheeks flush, making her even more stunning.

“Shy?” He Qishu smiled, eyes sparkling.

Snow Qianxun forced a wry smile, but still didn’t accept it.

He Qishu, all smiles, said, “A token of commitment is meant to be exchanged. If you feel awkward, give me something in return.”

Snow Qianxun pouted. “I live in a brothel, with empty hands. What treasure could I give?”

“Little stingy one, don’t you have seven night-bright pearls?” He Qishu reminded her thoughtfully.

Snow Qianxun twitched her brow, nervously said, “Things I’ve given away cannot be reclaimed.”

“If I give them to you, they’re yours. If you gift them to me, I’ll be most grateful. If I’m in the mood, I might even marry you as my queen.”

As a grand Zhuang Wang, He Qishu had many concubines and children but had never officially crowned a queen. Suddenly saying such things—even in jest—was an enormous joke.

Snow Qianxun blinked, insisting, “The seven night-bright pearls are my most precious possessions; I rely on them for the rest of my life.”

“But what’s more precious than love?” He Qishu urged, going straight to the point.

“But who said I want to commit to you?” Snow Qianxun bared her teeth in exasperation. From start to finish, this “exchange of treasures” and “token of commitment” was all He Qishu talking to himself! She was crazy to even consider exchanging tokens!

“Jin Se,” He Qishu said casually, with a touch of mischief, “told me you were jealous, upset that I wouldn’t take you to my mansion, causing a fuss in front of her, wanting revenge.”

Snow Qianxun frowned, thinking, Jin Se is obsessed with money; she wants to buy me back before you tire of me. How annoying, when will someone stitch her mouth shut?

“I said, Snow Qianxun, you are pride condensed from the finest snow. I never saw a drop of jealousy before.” He Qishu smiled slightly, then added, “But since Jin Se said so, I might as well grant her wish. Shall we leave—if only you clearly declare your intent to be bound to me for life.”

Snow Qianxun hesitated, not revealing her stance, casting a side glance at He Qishu playing with the jade at his waist. She felt frustrated: damn, he has outmaneuvered her! He pressed forward, leaving no possible escape—even Snow Qianxun herself. Yet it was understandable: to hire the world’s top assassin, Three Blades, to target the mighty Zhuang Wang He Qishu, one needed treasures beyond price. And after Three Blades’ attempt, they rushed straight to Qiongyu Garden—fortunately, Xifeng intervened heavily, leaving no living witnesses.

Snow Qianxun was truly troubled. He Qishu had always kept distance from her, never discussing love. Now, suddenly lowering himself to talk about “commitment,” she, though proud and strong-willed, understood tact. Refusing him outright could be unsafe. Yet now, only four of the seven night-bright pearls remained, making matters difficult.

“Um…” after a moment of hesitation, Snow Qianxun whispered, “Those seven pearls…”

At that moment, the little white fox Little Snow frolicked beside her, grabbing the curtain and swinging on it. Snow Qianxun seized the chance, shouting, “Naughty! Get down!” The little fox ignored her, leapt onto a bookshelf, clearly escalating its mischief.

Snow Qianxun called, “Dan Mo, go drag Jin Se here!”

Dan Mo left, and Little Snow triggered a hidden mechanism on the jade table. From the wall above, a small secret door slowly opened, revealing a small box—containing the night-bright pearls.

“Oh!” He Qishu raised his brow, curiosity piqued, and walked over. “Such a hidden compartment! Even the craftsman didn’t tell me. Did you instruct this?”

Snow Qianxun was stunned, her mind flashing through a dozen lies, each immediately discarded. Spending three priceless night-bright pearls was not so easy.

The little silver fox, unaware of the chaos it caused, gleamed and pounced on the box.

Clatter! The box fell. Rolling out from inside were seven perfectly round, glowing pearls.

One, two, three, four…

Snow Qianxun thought she was going to die.

Five—six—seven!

What? There were all seven night-bright pearls!

—Jin Se!!

Snow Qianxun clenched her teeth in frustration. This fellow, even doing a good deed by chance, somehow manages to make people furious!

“Ha, someone must be cursing me in their mind.” A voice came before the person appeared—lazy, provocative, unmistakably Jin Se.

Snow Qianxun opened the door herself, hiding behind He Qishu, giving Jin Se a fierce look while laughing: “You raised a good fox, exposing my treasure hiding place. If I don’t scold you, who else?”

He Qishu clapped with his folding fan, laughing aloud. “Now I understand. The stingiest one at Chunjiang Courtyard is not Jin Se, but Snow Qianxun. Little white-eyed wolf, did you think I really wanted your little fortune?” He tapped her lightly with the folding fan and left gracefully.

Jin Se hugged Little Snow, laughing wildly, almost rolling on the floor.

“Little white-eyed wolf”… Snow Qianxun gritted her teeth. But from now on, she couldn’t shake the nickname.