Spring Remains the Same - Chapter 111

Wei Xiu knew that some of her servants had been bought by Puyang. She had no intention of stopping it. Puyang was a rather tenacious person; if thwarted, there was no telling what other methods she might devise. So, Wei Xiu simply let her be.

Who would have thought that a simple cold this time would frighten them into sending a message to the capital.

It also allowed Wei Xiu to learn that Seventh Lady was going to establish a Serving Lord.

After Imperial Physician Zhou finished his chattering, he withdrew. Wei Xiu retrieved the letter Puyang had left for her from under her pillow and looked at it. The corners of her eyes drooped, her gaze gliding over the familiar handwriting with infinite gentleness. She could even picture Puyang as she wrote this letter: dipping the brush in ink, contemplating deeply, condensing long sentences into a few short words, striving for conciseness.

Had such a gentle person finally grown tired of her?

Wei Xiu covered her lips and coughed a few times, her eyes downcast. Her fingertips traced the paper again and again, her heart filled with bewilderment.

Imperial Physician Zhou was still at the hermitage. He had brought some medicinal herbs with him when he came, and after Puyang returned to the capital, she had sent many more. Wei Xiu wrote her own prescriptions. A physician’s love for learning made Imperial Physician Zhou marvel at them. He held them in his hands as if they were priceless treasures and began to study them meticulously.

Wei Xiu was ill for half a month before she recovered and could get out of bed.

She was sitting at her desk while Imperial Physician Zhou was chattering on about a patient he had seen before. Wei Xiu listened for a while, then asked, “When are you returning to the capital?”

Imperial Physician Zhou stopped and replied respectfully, “This subject has received an imperial decree to remain here until the Prince Consort has fully recovered before I may return to the capital.”

Wei Xiu nodded. After a moment of thoughtful consideration, she said with a smile, “I have a few medical books in my collection. If you do not mind, Sir, you might as well take a look at them these next few days.”

Imperial Physician Zhou was overjoyed and followed a servant to the study to retrieve the books.

In those times, books were precious, and medical texts were even rarer, often something one could only hope to encounter by chance. Imperial Physician Zhou served in the palace and had naturally seen many medical books, but he still felt it was not enough, always seeking to further refine his medical skills.

Wei Xiu watched Imperial Physician Zhou walk out the door before drawing her gaze back. She lowered her head and raised a hand, placing it on a book on the desk. Her palm rested against the cover, the slight chill of the paper transmitting through her hand to her entire body. Yet Wei Xiu seemed oblivious, stroking the paper lightly a couple of times.

This was the 《Book of Zhou》, promulgated throughout the realm a year ago. Zhong Rong’s name was within its pages. His achievements, his life, were all recounted one by one, without a single word of praise or half a sentence of slander.

When Wei Xiu first read it, she felt a weight lift from her heart. Her father’s name would be passed down to posterity, and future generations would grant him justice.

She had read this book countless times, yet apart from the creases, it looked as good as new. Wei Xiu cherished and protected it, not as if it were a book, but as if she were protecting the last bit of peace in her conscience.

Time passes unnoticed in the mountains, while the years stretch long in the world of men.

Imperial Physician Zhou became so engrossed in his reading that he completely lost track of time.

Puyang waited in the capital for a month. When he did not return, she naturally grew anxious, assuming Wei Xiu’s illness had relapsed and she could not recover quickly.

Waiting in the capital was ultimately passive. After another two days, Puyang went to Mount Mang again.

This time she went during the day. Snow had just fallen, and it lay unmelted on the mountain path. The higher she climbed, the whiter the world became. When Puyang reached the summit, her breath turned to mist. It was even colder than her last visit.

The cold air was like a fog, congealing on the trees. The rime ice was vast and white, and the sky and mountains merged into one color.

The hermitage was covered in a thick layer of snow, as if it were about to collapse. Wei Xiu sat on the porch, wrapped in a downy cloak and huddled by a stove, warming a pot of clear wine. As the wine boiled, its fragrance filled the courtyard.

When Puyang arrived, she saw Wei Xiu lift the pot and pour its contents into a cup. There was only one cup on the small table. She placed the pot back on the stove and then set the cup on the seat opposite her.

Seeing this, Puyang knew that Imperial Physician Zhou’s long delay in returning to the capital was because Wei Xiu had detained him.

The purpose was to lure her here.

Puyang was not the least bit angry. Even knowing that Wei Xiu had intentionally schemed to bring her here, she felt no anger at all.

She walked to the table, sat opposite Wei Xiu, and picked up the cup of clear wine prepared for her, taking a sip. The warm wine entered her stomach, spreading warmth throughout her body. On this snowy day, it seemed she no longer felt the bitter cold.

A faint smile appeared on Puyang’s face.

Wei Xiu refilled her cup. “It’s fruit wine, not intoxicating. It’s fine to have a few more cups.”

Puyang did as she said and drank another cup. When it was refilled again, she did not move. Wei Xiu did not press her further and switched to tea.

Puyang studied her complexion. It was still pale, a white almost devoid of bl00d, but her expression had softened considerably. It was as if she had been polished by the mountain years, becoming gentler and more peaceful than when they had first met.

“I invited Your Majesty here today because there is a matter for which I must thank Your Majesty,” Wei Xiu said.

Outside the door, attendants stood guard. There were not many, only about ten, all dressed in plain clothes.

Puyang, of course, was all ears.

Wei Xiu looked at her, a hint of a smile escaping her eyes. Puyang was mesmerized, but by the time she wanted a better look, the smile had already flitted past.

“It is about the 《Book of Zhou》. For my father to receive such praise and an unbiased assessment, Your Majesty must have intervened,” Wei Xiu said slowly. When a new dynasty compiled the history of the previous one, it was often difficult to achieve impartiality, especially for a figure like Lord Zhong. Wei Xiu would not believe that Puyang had played no part in it.

So it was about this. Puyang lowered her gaze and smiled. “It cannot repay even a ten-thousandth of what I owe you.”

Wei Xiu said no more.

When was the last time they had sat together and spoken so calmly? It was so long ago she could no longer remember clearly. Puyang looked at Wei Xiu. A Xiu seemed to have softened toward her. Did this mean that in the future, she could come here often to see her?

At some point, snow began to drift down from the sky. The wind changed direction, blowing onto the porch. Puyang stood up, walked around to Wei Xiu’s front, and tightened the collar of her crane-feather cloak. She did it so naturally, as if the cold words of two years ago and the silence between them had left no barrier in her heart.

Her hands were soft and warm as they rested on her collar. She leaned closer, her fragrance the same as ever. Wei Xiu tensed up in an instant, her body freezing. She lifted her head slightly and met Puyang’s eyes. They were dark, slightly downcast, lending an infinite gentleness to her features.

This gentle treatment, so full of compromise and forbearance, made Wei Xiu’s entire heart tremble with pain.

She had wronged her parents, wronged the entire Zhong clan, but had she ever done right by Seventh Lady?

In her resentment, she had shifted her torment onto Seventh Lady, but to whom could Seventh Lady speak of it? She endured her cold glares, her sarcasm, her hatred for the Xiao clan. All alone, she accepted the hatred and resentment, yet still treated her as before.

The snow grew heavier. Puyang straightened up and pushed Wei Xiu into the room.

A Ye seemed very afraid of Puyang. She had been lighting the charcoal brazier in the room, but when Puyang entered, she became even quieter, trying to make herself seem nonexistent. Seeing her discomfort, Wei Xiu simply dismissed her and went to light the charcoal herself.

Puyang sat on the couch and watched her, seeming even more reserved than A Ye.

Wei Xiu couldn’t help but chuckle, the smile reaching her eyes. Seeing her smile, Puyang smiled back. Today, A Xiu’s gaze seemed exceptionally gentle, giving her the mistaken impression that she, too, held a place in her heart.

“A Xiu…” Puyang said.

Wei Xiu turned to look at her, her expression questioning. Puyang pressed her lips together slightly, as if unsure what to say, growing even more reserved. But her eyes were bright, clearly filled with joy.

Wei Xiu also smiled, but her heart felt as if it were being carved out, bone by bone.

“A Xiu,” Puyang called again. She paused, then said with a smile, “Are you… very happy today?”

“Yes,” Wei Xiu said. To be able to see her, of course she was happy.

Wei Xiu pushed the brazier over. The charcoal burned a vibrant red, radiating a cozy warmth.

Puyang wanted to ask why she was happy, but feared Wei Xiu would find her meddlesome, so she held back. Instead, she began to talk about recent amusing events in the capital to entertain Wei Xiu. After all, they had been together for many years; Puyang knew everything Wei Xiu liked and disliked, and she spoke only of things that would interest her.

Wei Xiu listened with a smile, her gaze fixed on Puyang, as if she could not get enough of the sight.

The snow gradually stopped. Any later, and she wouldn’t make it back before the city gates closed.

Puyang was reluctant to leave. Wei Xiu saw her to the door. Puyang looked at her and asked, “A Xiu, would it be all right if I came again tomorrow?”

Wei Xiu shook her head. “The capital must be busy. Some other day.”

Puyang thought that was true. After being out today, her desk was probably already piled high with memorials. It would be better to come again in a few days.

Seeing that she did not insist, Wei Xiu was about to urge her to leave when a sharp shout from an attendant suddenly reached her ears: “Who goes there?”

The shout drew the attention of both of them. Puyang turned her head, and Wei Xiu looked past her. She saw a flash of silver, aimed right at Puyang, flying like an arrow loosed from a bowstring. It was as if all the bl00d in her body had frozen. Wei Xiu had no time to think, instinctively reaching out to push Puyang away.

The silver glint tore through the air, whistling sharply as it sped forward. Almost at the same instant she pushed Puyang aside, the arrow pierced Wei Xiu’s body.

“A Xiu!” Puyang cried out in alarm.

Wei Xiu slumped in her wheelchair, an arrow embedded in her chest.

Puyang rushed over. She helped Wei Xiu up, letting her lean against her in her arms. Behind them were chaotic sounds; the attendants were all disguised Feathered Forest Guards. Now, they were shouting “Protect Her Majesty!” while charging into the woods to capture the assassin.

Wei Xiu opened her eyes and looked at Puyang. Puyang was by her side, holding her hand, utterly panicked. Wei Xiu felt a searing pain, a wave of agony washing over her in an instant. She couldn’t tell if the arrow had struck her heart.

But for her, it probably made no difference. Wei Xiu managed a smile. Puyang’s face was streaked with tears. She gripped Wei Xiu’s hand and shouted, “Physician!”

The sounds of the world seemed to vanish in an instant. Wei Xiu watched Puyang’s lips open and close, and the pain seemed to disappear along with them.

When she heard that Seventh Lady was going to establish a Serving Lord, she had already decided to go far away. No one could force Seventh Lady in matters of the heart. Since she wanted a new beginning, Wei Xiu could not stay here and disturb her.

But in the end, she couldn’t bear to part with her. She had lured her here, wanting to see her one last time.

She was truly glad that she had not treated her with cold words today.

Wei Xiu felt an unprecedented sense of relief. Leaning in Seventh Lady’s arms… this was a good way to end things.

“Seventh… Lady…” Wei Xiu began to speak, her voice so low she could barely hear it herself. But Puyang heard. She whipped her head around, trying to appear calm, but burst into tears instead. “A Xiu, don’t be afraid. It’s all right, don’t be afraid.”

Wei Xiu shook her head. Her lips moved, and Puyang quickly bent down to listen.

“If there is a next life… if there is a next life…”

She repeated these four words over and over.

She had wronged the Zhong clan, but she had done her best in this life. In the final moment before darkness consumed her, her heart was filled only with Puyang. She only wished that in the next life, she could live an ordinary life with Puyang.