Outside, light snow fell softly, and Xue Ning quickly settled her mind, writing each stroke with earnest care.
Su Zhan occasionally turned his handsome face to glance at the characters she wrote.
Her calligraphy had been taught by his own hand, carrying a distinct trace of his style.
In the past, she was never this quiet around him. Whenever she was by his side, she would always try to amuse him, saying pleasing things to capture his interest.
But at this moment, Xue Ning was unusually quiet, even carrying a hint of indifferent detachment.
He gazed at the girl’s profile, as serene and elegant as fine jade, and gradually lost himself in thought.
Xue Ning copied the scriptures diligently, trying hard to ignore the presence of the person beside her.
But the man’s aura was too strong, with only a cushion separating them.
The unique scent of agarwood from his body gradually enveloped her senses, unsettling her mind.
She had loved him too deeply in the past, familiar with every detail about him.
The moment she caught that fragrance, she couldn’t help but recall that time under the influence of the aphrodisiac…
His powerful chest pressing against her soft body. Having grown up with restraint and propriety, they had never been so intimately close before, and he had never lost control so completely, claiming every part of her.
He… moved rhythmically above her, as if trying to meld her into his very bones and blood.
In truth, after their marriage, they were not entirely without marital relations.
Su Zhan was not as slender as he appeared on the surface. Beneath his robes, his body bore no excess fat, his muscles smooth and agile. Especially when he exerted himself, every line of his body tensed into graceful curves, brimming with strength.
Xue Ning’s brush paused slightly.
Her face flushed inexplicably.
How could she think of such things before the Buddha?
It was truly disrespectful!
But soon, Princess Xiuning’s clear voice broke the strange silence between them.
“Shizi Brother—”
Xie Ningtang lifted the curtain and entered. Seeing Su Zhan and Xue Ning sitting quietly by the long table, she lowered her voice.
“How much have you copied? Do you need my help?”
Su Zhan, ever aloof, replied without inflection, “No need.”
Xie Ningtang smiled. “Shizi Brother, let me see your handwriting. It’s so beautiful, no wonder A’ning didn’t let you drink yesterday.”
Xue Ning had subtly shifted further away the moment Xie Ningtang entered.
She quietly made herself invisible, no longer opposing Xie Ningtang at every turn as she had in her past life.
As expected, Xie Ningtang inserted herself between her and Su Zhan, kneeling on the cushion and leaning her graceful figure toward him.
“Shizi Brother, could you teach me calligraphy?”
“You come from a noble family. Reading and writing are basic skills. Why would you need me to teach you?”
“But I want to learn your sharp, bold style.”
Su Zhan paused, then said, “Bring a brush.”
Xie Ningtang happily fetched another set of brush, ink, and paper.
Xie Ning lowered her long lashes obediently, finished the last two characters, and stood up. “I won’t disturb Brother Lu and the Princess anymore. I’ll take my leave.”
Su Zhan silently raised his cold eyes.
The young girl beside him had already put on her embroidered shoes at some point.
Her slender figure soon disappeared beyond the doorway of the Buddhist hall.
“Shizi Brother, what are you looking at?”
“Nothing.” Su Zhan withdrew his gaze. “Focus on your writing.”
Xie Ningtang smiled happily. “With Shizi Brother teaching me, I’ll definitely learn well.”
…
The conversation inside the room continued, with faint traces of Su Zhan's doting affection toward Xie Ningtang audible.
Stepping beneath the corridor eaves and gazing at the vast expanse of cold snow outside the door, Xue Ning finally felt the stifling heaviness in her chest begin to dissipate.
Even after living a second life, witnessing Su Zhan and Xie Ningtang being so intimate still made her feel as though her internal organs were twisting into knots.
Those past memories of being coldly neglected by him were like icy swords, piercing through her heart, leaving her bleeding and in agony.
A fire burned within her entire being, and only sufficient cold could calm her down.
Bao Chan hurried over with a freshly replaced warming pot, and seeing her young mistress standing dazed in the snow, her heart ached. She quickly draped the fox fur cloak over Xue Ning's shoulders. "Young mistress, why are you standing here in the snow? You haven't fully recovered from falling into the water yesterday."
Xue Ning felt much clearer-headed now. Gathering the fox fur cloak around her, she smiled. "I'm fine. I just wanted to cool off."
Biting her lip, Bao Chan brushed the snowflakes from Xue Ning's hair. "Even if you want to cool off, young mistress, you shouldn't harm your own health."
A flicker of daze passed through Xue Ning's eyes before she nodded with a smile. "You're right. I should be kinder to myself."
She adjusted her hood and glanced back at the dimly lit prayer hall.
A moment later, she walked away without looking back.
…
After copying the scriptures, it was still early.
Xue Ning obediently headed toward Qiushui Garden with Bao Chan.
Unexpectedly, as soon as they stepped out of Wanshou Hall's gate, Su Man and her maid, Little Bell, were still waiting for her under an old plum tree laden with thick snow.
Amid the wind and snow, Xue Ning raised her eyes curiously. "Third Sister, why are you still here?"
From beneath the thick hood emerged Su Man's adorable, round face. "Ah, Sister Aning, you've finally come out."
With a cheerful smile, she met Xue Ning's questioning gaze, left her two maids behind, and linked arms with Xue Ning affectionately. "The second branch's people are here. I waited for you so we could go to Mother's courtyard together."
Xue Ning pondered thoughtfully. "Su Xi from the second branch?"
Su Man pouted. "Who else could it be?"
Xue Ning remembered now.
During Madam Jiang's birthday banquet, she and Su Zhan had become physically intimate.
Madam Jiang was busy managing the marriage arrangements between her and Su Zhan, neglecting the second branch.
By the time she realized it, Su Xi from the second branch had already secretly pledged herself to someone.
With the Marquis's residence facing two disgraceful marriages in succession, Madam Jiang could not escape blame and was punished by Xie Laofuren to kneel in the ancestral hall for a month.
A month later, Madam Jiang fell ill, and her condition gradually worsened beyond cure. In less than half a year, she was on the brink of exhaustion.
Her wedding with Su Zhan was scheduled for the third month of spring, two years later.
On the night of their wedding, Madam Jiang passed away.
That night, before she and Su Zhan could even consummate their marriage, the entire Marquis's residence replaced its red silks with white mourning drapes.
In the past, some people had called her a jinx, claiming she had brought misfortune to her parents and brothers. Madam Jiang would always retort on her behalf.
Later, Su Zhan also scowled and called her a jinx.
She never knew how to respond, each time feeling as though her heart were being sliced by knives, her face streaked with tears.
But once Madam Jiang died, there was no one left in the world to protect her or speak up for her.
Xue Ning dared not dwell on it any longer and quickened her pace.
Fortunately, she had returned at the right time. Everything could still be changed now.
"Aning, why are you running so fast? Be careful—the snow is slippery—"
"Third Sister, let's hurry to Mother's courtyard."
She needed to move even faster.
By the time they reached Qiushui Garden, Su Man was panting heavily.
Xue Ning, burning with a high fever, felt her body heavy and sluggish, her cherry lips exhaling rapid puffs of white mist.
Through the window outside the covered corridor, she saw the maids and matrons of Liu Shi of the Second Branch waiting in the outer room, and her heart immediately eased.
After recovering slightly, she entered the main room of Qiushui Garden together with Su Man.
The room was warmed by a charcoal fire, quite cozy. Madam Jiang was speaking with Liu Shi, while Su Xi sat gracefully on an embroidered stool beside Liu Shi, her clear eyes occasionally glancing toward the window.
"Mother—"
Su Man entered first, paying her respects to Madam Jiang.
She wasn’t fond of the Second Branch, so after greeting, she sat down beside her own mother without engaging Su Xi in conversation.
Xue Ning followed behind Su Man. Madam Jiang spotted her and beckoned with a smile, "Ningning, you’ve come at just the right time. Your second aunt and I are selecting an auspicious date for your Acknowledgment Banquet."