Chapter 51

Chapter 51

Lin Shuyun’s brows furrowed slightly. Under the children’s eager, burning gazes, her lips parted gently as she softly refused, "No..."

"Ah~?!"

Before she could even voice her reason for refusal, the two little ones had already let out cries of disappointment.

Zhang'er tugged at the hem of Lin Shuyun's skirt and whispered, "Mother, let’s just go take a look."

On the other side, Ying Ying had already made her move. The little girl, dressed in a pink skirt, tugged at Lu Yu's robe, ready to leave. "Uncle, let’s go on the swing."

"No, household matters should still be decided by the Princess," Lu Yu stood calmly, his eyes full of gentleness. Though he was refusing Ying Ying, his gaze was fixed intently on Lin Shuyun.

At that moment, three burning gazes were fixed on Lin Shuyun, making it impossible for her to refuse again.

She sighed helplessly. "Alright then, let’s go."

"Thank you, Mother!"

The two children cheered.

Before Ying Ying could fully grasp what was happening, her feet were suddenly off the ground. By the time she reacted, Uncle Lu was holding her tightly against his chest.

She beamed, resting her head on his shoulder and leaning back to call out, "Brother, you and Mother hurry up!"

At that moment, a gentle breeze rustled through the bamboo curtains of the ancient covered walkway, carrying faint scents of flowers and bamboo that lingered around them.

Lu Yu carried Ying Ying as he walked ahead, while Lin Shuyun held Zhang'er's hand and followed slowly behind.

Ying Ying, seeing sights she'd never encountered before, exclaimed in delight, "Brother, look! There are lotus flowers over there!"

Zhang'er looked up and turned to tug at Lin Shuyun's hand, smiling. "Mother, look! They’re as beautiful as the lotus flowers we saw in Lingshui County."

Lu Yu’s deep voice slowly explained, "The lotus flowers here were grown from root stocks brought from Jiangnan. The cook in the residence is skilled at using lotus in her dishes. Lotus puff pastries and lotus seed cakes are already prepared in the courtyard—you can try them soon."

Ying Ying wrapped her arms delicately around Lu Yu’s neck, leaning against his shoulder, and whispered, "If they’re not tasty, I won’t eat them."

"Alright," Lu Yu replied with a smile.

"I’ll tell you a secret," Ying Ying said, stretching out her small hand and whispering into Lu Yu’s ear. "My mother makes the best lotus seed candy—it’s the best in the capital. Don’t tell anyone."

The little girl’s warm body leaned against Lu Yu, her soft voice chattering incessantly in his ear, her bright, dewy eyes sparkling with excitement as she looked at him.

Lu Yu’s heart melted into a puddle. His voice softened as he patiently responded to the little girl’s endless questions.

As they turned a corner, he glanced sideways and saw Lin Shuyun holding Zhang'er’s hand, watching as Zhang'er joyfully chattered about the scenery in the residence.

The scene he had longed for day and night was now unfolding before his eyes.

He thought to himself that this long-silent residence would soon be filled with liveliness.

Along the way, Lin Shuyun responded to Zhang'er, but the hand holding his tightened gradually, her heart pounding in her throat.

Lu Yu’s courtyard—Lanting Pavilion—would likely be where they would live in the future.

But the painful memories of Lanting Pavilion from five years ago replayed in Lin Shuyun’s mind like a revolving lantern.

She still remembered Zhang'er’s first birthday, celebrated only by her and Yuan Yuan in the side room of Lanting Pavilion.

In the west wing, Zhang'er had lain unconscious for three full days. She had stayed by his bedside, her eyes red from crying, for those three days.

She no longer wished to dwell on those memories, but the thought of returning there filled her with trepidation.

However, after passing a grove of crabapple trees, Lin Shuyun suddenly realized this was not the way to Lanting Pavilion.

"Alright, we’re here," Lu Yu’s voice rang out.

Lin Shuyun looked up and saw a plaque above the courtyard gate, inscribed with three bold, powerful characters: "Listening to Snow Studio."

Listening to Snow.

Winters in the northwest were always long, with heavy snowstorms being common. They would huddle under quilts on the heated kang, eating sour dried apricots bought from the southern part of the city, listening to the rustling sound of snow falling outside the window.

Back then, Lu Yu had heard somewhere that he should talk to the child in her womb. He would hold her, gently stroking her prominently rounded belly, reciting classical texts.

It was unclear how much the child understood, but she often grew drowsy from his recitations.

"Mother, let’s go in," Zhang'er’s voice interrupted Lin Shuyun’s reverie.

She snapped back to reality and replied, holding his small hand, "Alright, let’s go in."

As soon as she finished speaking, Ying Ying’s excited cries rang out: "Mother, Brother, come quickly!"

Zhang'er pulled Lin Shuyun into the courtyard. As soon as they stepped through the moon gate, they saw a small wooden doghouse placed near the entrance, with white porcelain bowls for food and water already set out. Inside the little house was a soft straw mat.

A small plaque on the doghouse read: "Xiao Hei’s Home."

The bold, powerful calligraphy was unmistakably from the same hand that had inscribed "Listening to Snow Studio" outside the courtyard.

Zhang'er tugged at Lin Shuyun’s hand excitedly. "Mother, Xiao Hei has a home now."

Ying Ying, seeming to spot something else, tugged at Lu Yu’s neck, urging him forward. "Uncle, over there! I want to see the swing, the swing!"

The little girl seemed to think Lu Yu was walking too slowly. She wriggled out of his arms, grabbed her brother’s hand, and ran ahead, exploring eagerly.

Only then did Lin Shuyun calm down, taking slow steps to carefully observe her surroundings.

Listening to Snow Studio was twice the size of Lanting Pavilion. With the wedding approaching, red silk decorations had already been put up, and the side rooms and backyard had been arranged for the children.

To the left of the courtyard stood a large elm tree, its thick canopy providing shade, with a swing placed beneath it.

To the right were several peach and apricot trees already heavy with fruit. Grapevines had climbed over a trellis, and beneath the cool shade of the vines stood a stone table and stools.

Lin Shuyun walked slowly to the main room. To her surprise, the layout bore some resemblance to the Wutong Courtyard in Prince Ding’s residence. For a moment, it felt as if she had returned home.

Lu Yu had thought of everything. Her tense heart relaxed, and she even felt that living here long-term might not be so bad.

"If there’s anything you don’t like, I’ll have it changed," Lu Yu said.

Lin Shuyun turned to see him approaching slowly and replied calmly, "The heir has already been very thoughtful."

Lu Yu lowered his deep eyes, a faint trace of hurt flashing imperceptibly. "Wanwan, between us... we need not be so distant."

"Once bitten, twice shy."

"It won’t happen again, absolutely not," Lu Yu lifted his gaze, looking at her firmly as if making a vow.

"You once said you would protect me too, but what happened in the end?"

Lin Shuyun's cold tone was full of accusation, but today she forcibly suppressed the surging emotions in her heart and did not shed any more tears.

Lu Yu paused, remaining silent for a long time, until Lin Shuyun had lost all patience.

He let out a long sigh. "This time, let time bear witness."

Seeing that Lin Shuyun remained silent, he softly instructed, "We will marry on the eighth day of the eighth month. On the morning of the ninth, I must depart for the Northern Frontiers. Whether you choose to stay long-term at the Prince's residence or remain at the Marquis's residence, the palace will not trouble you, and you need not go to give thanks..."

The decisive Crown Prince Lu suddenly hesitated, then cautiously added, "If you and the children... wish to accompany me to the Northern Frontiers..."

"No, we won’t go."

Before he could finish, Lin Shuyun resolutely refused.

Lu Yu’s eyes dimmed, his voice slightly hoarse. As he lifted his head, his gaze softened. "Alright, as you wish."

Lin Shuyun felt that she could no longer communicate properly with Lu Yu. No matter what he said, she instinctively wanted to contradict him.

On the way back to the Prince's residence, Lin Shuyun pondered Lu Yu’s words from that day. After marriage, where should she and the children go?

Though she would have her parents’ protection if she stayed alone in the capital, without Lu Yu present, no one could guarantee what the Emperor in the royal palace might do.

But the Northern Frontiers was far away, and the war would likely last a year.

Lin Shuyun trusted Lu Yu’s ability to lead troops, so she did not fear the city falling or their family perishing. However, the Northern Frontiers was a major garrison town, and where blades and arrows fly blindly, no one could guarantee the children’s absolute safety.

Lin Shuyun did not know what to do. Neither option seemed ideal.

As the wedding day drew nearer, her anxiety grew uncontrollably.

----

On the eighth day of the eighth month, the sky was cloudless, and the sun shone brightly.

It was the wedding day of Princess Ding'an of Prince Ding’s residence and the Heir to the Marquis of Xuanping. The front of Prince Ding’s residence was already packed with spectators.

The lively sounds of gongs, drums, and firecrackers filled the streets. Attendants continuously tossed copper coins to passersby, joyfully announcing, "The Prince’s residence celebrates today—the princess is marrying!"

The crowd eagerly caught or picked up the coins, exclaiming, "Congratulations on the princess's wedding!"

In stark contrast to the bustling streets, Lin Shuyun’s bridal chamber was unusually quiet.

Seated before the dressing table, Lin Shuyun’s captivating peach-blossom eyes were heavy with drowsiness.

Awakened before dawn, she had barely registered what the maids were instructing her to do as she went through the wedding rituals.

By the time she collected herself, the attendant had already applied her makeup. Her peach-blossom eyes looked more enchanting than usual, a floral design between her brows was more elaborate, and her lips were tinted with bright red lip color. Even the red mark near her eyes was concealed halfway.

Her hair was elegantly styled, adorned with a gold phoenix hairpin holding a pearl, a pair of peony hairpins swaying gently, along with elaborate filigree gold hairpins and pearl hairpins. Around her neck was a gold-inlaid jade pendant shaped like a ruyi scepter, and on her wrists, she wore a pair of gold bracelets and a pair of jade bangles.

Not to mention the bright red wedding dress sent by Lu Yu—embroidered with golden threads depicting colorful phoenixes and peonies in Suzhou-style embroidery, embellished with countless gold and jade ornaments.

Lin Shuyun thought to herself that if no one supported her, the weight of all these adornments would surely weigh her down.

As the auspicious hour approached, Lin Shuyun’s calm heart began to churn like rising tides. Lack of sleep made her stomach churn with acidity, provoking a physiological urge to retch.

Ming Yue, aware of Lin Shuyun’s condition, quickly brought a plate of pastries. "Princess, please eat a little more. Don’t harm your stomach."

Lin Shuyun patted her chest lightly and shook her head. "It’s alright. Are the children being looked after?"

"Cuiyu and Cuixiang are attending to the young children. The wife of the heir is also helping to watch over them. There’s no need to worry, Princess."

After Lin Shuyun’s inquiry, the room fell into silence again.

Outside Prince Ding’s residence—

The Heir to the Marquis of Xuanping, Lu Yu, dressed in a formal red brocade wedding robe, sat astride a tall horse. Despite his usually cool demeanor, a smile was unmistakable on his face, as spirited as a young man as he arrived at the Prince’s residence.