SWHCBB 52

Chapter 52: First Snow / A Day in the General’s Residence

The days passed one by one. Wen Jue’s illness was slowly being treated, his body gradually recovering, and even his once-sharp jaw had become a bit rounder with proper nourishment.

However, his eyesight hadn’t improved much. Everything he looked at remained just vague outlines. Bai Yuan said little about it, only telling him to take good care of his health. For only with a healthy body could he proceed with further detoxification.

The weather grew colder. After another light snowfall, the imperial city was blanketed in silver. Following the snow, the townspeople came out to sweep the snow from their doorsteps. Children made snowmen and had snowball fights, chasing each other around and giggling nonstop.

The snowy white landscape seemed to blanket all filth, conflict, and sin, bringing the capital a rare moment of peace.

In front of the General’s residence, two servants were sweeping away the snow and trimming the cypress trees by the entrance.

Dry twigs were blown down the slope by the cold wind, crunching beneath a pair of black boots. Two figures appeared at the gate.

One looked like a carefree young noble, dressed in a white cloak with a fan in hand, smiling despite the cold, even swinging his fan leisurely and playfully kicking aside the twigs.

The other stood tall and firm, exuding a calm and steady presence. He carried a bamboo basket and had a fishing rod strapped to his back. Over his cotton coat, he wore a straw raincoat, looking every bit the part of a fisherman.

The servants glanced over and immediately bowed in greeting. “Greetings to the two honored guests. Please, come in.”

Zhuge Qing nodded and waved them off. “Keep doing your work. No need to lead the way. I know this place like the back of my hand. Come on, Lao Guang, I’ll show you around!”

Huang Guang nodded to the servants before following Zhuge Qing into the residence.

As they walked, Zhuge Qing grinned and pointed to the clean paths. “You haven’t visited in a while, so you probably don’t know, the General’s residence has changed completely.”

With a snap of his fan, he gestured toward another part of the estate and smiled meaningfully. “When you see that one later, don’t talk too much if you’re bad with words. Otherwise, the General will get mad! Last time I said just two things about him and the General threatened to cut ties with me!”

Zhuge Qing shook his head in mock sorrow. “Old flames can’t compare to new loves. It really breaks the hearts of us old friends!”

Huang Guang remained serious as he walked. “General Jiang wouldn’t do that. You must’ve said something truly outrageous. The General only has a sharp tongue. You used to practically crap on his head and he still tolerated you.”

It was early morning, and the estate bustled with servants sweeping and chatting with cheerful faces. Their voices drifted faintly through the crisp air.

“What’s so special about today? The steward actually let me take an extra string of coins!”

“Tch, you don’t even know why you’re getting paid more! His Highness was kind. He saw the snow last night and worried we’d freeze, so he gave us extra money for warmer clothes, and even said we could use what’s left for our families!”

“Oh, I see! His Highness and the General are truly kind!”

“Enough chit-chat, back to work! We’re not like those extravagant noble households with all their pomp. Our General said, ‘as long as we have enough hands, everyone should get more pay!’”

All the ice and snow on the roads had been cleared away to prevent slipping. Somewhere along the paths, a few plum trees had been newly transplanted, now blooming bravely in the cold.

Beneath one of the plum trees stood someone cloaked in pale yellow, holding a small red bucket. She shook the branches gently, letting the snow fall into the bucket.

She repeated the process again and again until the snow was gone, then carefully selected the finest blossoms from the tree, picking them and placing them into the bucket.

“A flower thief?” Zhuge Qing suddenly spoke from behind.

Startled, Yuan Xiang jumped, spilling some of the precious contents from the bucket. She immediately hugged it close, distressed.

When she turned and saw who it was, her eyes narrowed with suspicion. “What are you up to this time?”

Zhuge Qing chuckled. “Why are you still so wary of me?”

Yuan Xiang carefully closed the lid. “Hmph! You know what you’ve done! I’m His Highness’s trusted aide now, you’d better not try anything or I’ll make sure you regret it!”

“Oh? Regret it, huh?” Zhuge Qing laughed. “Then maybe I should report you for stealing flowers!”

“You don’t understand a thing! I’m collecting the season’s first snow to store for tea for His Highness next year!” she declared proudly.

She had purposely risen early to collect snow from the plum trees, it was sure to be fragrant and refined!

“So meticulous?”

Yuan Xiang lifted her chin proudly. “Of course! I’m the new steward now, you think anyone can take on this role without skill?”

Last month, she’d helped His Highness drive away some scheming maids. He’d been so impressed that he promoted her on the spot!

He said the title “chicken supervisor” didn’t sound nice, so he just promoted her outright. Though she still managed chickens, she also took care of other matters.

It was much more satisfying than her time in the palace, she’d been grinning in her sleep ever since.

She felt it her solemn duty to protect His Highness from anyone who might harm him!

Zhuge Qing wanted to tease her more, but Huang Guang cut in, “Zhuge, take me to the kitchen. If we don’t cook the fish soon, it won’t be fresh.”

Yuan Xiang bowed to Huang Guang, who returned the gesture.

“Alright, alright, we won’t keep the steward from her duties,” Zhuge Qing laughed as he led Huang Guang onward.

As they passed through the garden, a shadow suddenly rushed toward them and darted away before Zhuge Qing could react, he didn’t even see who it was.

A volley of green fruit came flying next, catching them off guard. Though not lethal, they would definitely leave bruises.

Huang Guang moved swiftly, tossing the bamboo basket aside and pulling Zhuge Qing back to dodge.

Just as he picked up a fruit to examine it, two figures burst into a fight right in front of them.

Neither used weapons, but their fists and legs flew fiercely, clearly aiming to take each other down.

Zhuge Qing squinted and called out, “Xiao Chen?”

Chen Lin caught a punch from Changning and turned his head, only to get knocked to the ground by a savage kick.

Pinned to the floor by the neck, Changning laughed triumphantly. “Hahaha! I win this time!!!”

Zhuge Qing: …

Huang Guang: …

Both men were bruised and battered, their clothes in tatters, hard to say who really won.

A soft, clear voice called out, “Alright, Changning, get up. Don’t be rude in front of guests.”

A deep, stern voice followed: “Chen Lin, why were you distracted during a fight? No wonder you lost.”

“You’re still fighting at this hour?” Wen Jue said with displeasure, raising his head slightly. He squinted, he found he could see a bit better that way, though only a little.

Jiang Chuang quickly bowed his head in apology. “It was my fault, I deserved a beating!”

Wen Jue was bundled in a fox-fur cloak, nestled against Jiang Chuang as they walked over. His complexion had improved significantly.

His cheeks carried a healthy flush, and the tip of his nose was red from the cold. His dark eyes reflected the light, and his face, half-buried in fur, looked like a red plum blooming through snow and wind. The pale wrist peeking from Jiang Chuang’s hold shimmered softly like the first snow melting.

Just standing there, he looked like a figure from a fine brush painting.

Yet his furrowed brows and scolding gaze made him seem real, no longer a painted figure but flesh and blood.

They approached together, one tall and one short, one scholarly and one martial, every glance, every frown and smile between them felt effortlessly natural. When they stood together, there was no space for anyone else. It was as if they had been born for each other.