Six years later, in an alley beside the government office in Tongzhou, a half-new carriage pulled up and stopped to the side.
"Dear, mind your step."
The man lifted the carriage curtain. His hair was bound with a wooden hairpin, his features were clean and handsome, and he wore a green scholar's robe. A book satchel hung from his shoulder, and a purple sachet was fastened at his waist.
He held a folding fan in his left hand and extended his right.
"Thank you, husband."
The woman hesitated for a moment, then gently placed her hand on the man's and stepped down from the mounting stool.
Her skin was fairer than snow, her ink-black hair like satin. She wore a light purple dress, and though she was without a trace of makeup, she appeared even more delicate and lovely.
The man smiled, then tightened his grip on the soft hand in his. They entered the government office and stated their purpose.
"Your Honor, this humble one is Chun Qizhe. Today I have brought my wife to the prefectural office to register our marriage certificate."
Once the official filing was complete, she would truly be his wife.
Following the attendant's directions, the two made their way to the Registry Hall.
"What is your name? Are you from Tongzhou?" A minor clerk sat in his chair, his gaze sweeping over the two before him.
"This humble woman is from… from Jiangzhou, later moved to Tongzhou. My name is Chun Jingshu."
The woman paused for a moment, then offered the clerk a gentle smile.
Three years ago, after arriving in Tongzhou, she had changed her name.
From Jiang Fuqu to Chun Jingshu.
The clerk was momentarily stunned.
This woman was truly beautiful.
To be matched with this poor scholar—what a waste.
"In reply, Your Honor, this commoner is from Tongzhou."
Chun Qizhe noticed the clerk staring at his wife and felt somewhat displeased, though he could not say so outright.
He took out his clan genealogy, marriage certificate, and household registration, placing them before the clerk.
"We'll need her household registration as well." The clerk tapped his knuckles against the table and tilted his chin up.
Chun Jingshu touched her sleeve and said with slight embarrassment, "Husband, the household registration document was left in the carriage. I'll go fetch it."
"I'll go with you." Chun Qizhe tugged at her sleeve.
"Husband, I can go alone and fetch it myself. I'll be back shortly." Chun Jingshu released his hand and hurried away with small, quick steps.
Chun Qizhe glanced at her retreating figure, then turned to make conversation with the clerk.
He had waited three years for this day; there was no need to rush this moment.
Clutching the household registration document, Chun Jingshu stepped into the government office.
The clatter of hooves sounded as a group of riders galloped past, coming to a stop at the office entrance.
Chun Jingshu turned her head and inadvertently caught sight of the white-robed man at the lead. Her body stiffened.
It was Gu Yujing.
Shouldn't he be in the capital, a thousand li away?
Why had he come to remote Tongzhou?
Six years.
He…
Though the autumn air was crisp and the weather cool, a thin layer of sweat broke out on Chun Jingshu's forehead.
She gripped the household registration document tightly and hurried away in large strides.
Gu Yujing sensed a gaze sweeping over him. After dismounting, he saw only a figure fleeing in haste.
Chun Jingshu ran all the way back to the Registry Hall in one breath. As she crossed the threshold, her foot missed a step.
Fortunately, Chun Qizhe was quick-handed and caught her by the waist.
"Jingshu, slow down."
The hand resting on her waist felt somewhat warm. He let out a soft chuckle. "Did you get the household registration document?"
"It's—it's in my hand."
Chun Qizhe's voice pulled Chun Jingshu back to reality.
She took a deep breath and opened her hand, only to find the document had been crumpled into a wrinkled ball of paper.
"Jingshu, relax. You're too tense."
Chun Qizhe patted her shoulder, took the document, and smoothed it gently with his hand. When the creases had somewhat flattened, he placed it on the clerk's desk.
"From Jiangzhou, eh… The characters on this registration are a bit hard to make out…"
The clerk glanced at the document, on which there were still traces of sweat stains that had not yet dried.
"Sir, if you look carefully, you can identify…"
Before Chun Qizhe could finish his sentence, a cold, thin voice sounded from the doorway. "The Registry Hall?"
The familiar voice struck her eardrums, and the world fell silent.
Chun Jingshu felt nothing but ice running through her limbs.
"Indeed, Lord Gu. All of Tongzhou's official documents are kept here," the prefect explained from the side.
The minor clerk on duty immediately hurried over to greet him.
Gu Yujing gave a slight nod, then strode into the inner hall with long steps.
"And these two are?"
His gaze swept over.
Chun Jingshu kept her head lowered, her heart skipping a beat.
Gu Yujing was a domineering man.
Things he had touched, even if he no longer wanted them, he would not allow others to have.
If he recognized her…
And discovered she was registering a marriage contract with another man…
And that she herself had…
Chun Jingshu felt as if needles were pricking her back. She wanted to flee, but there was nowhere to go.
"Reporting to you, sir, they are here today to register a marriage contract."
The clerk said to Chun Qizhe, "Imperial Envoy Gu has come to inspect. The two of you—why haven't you paid your respects yet?"
"Your humble subject Chun Qizhe, along with my wife, pays respects to Lord Gu."
Chun Qizhe pulled Chun Jingshu into a bow.
Chun Jingshu lowered her head even further.
Gu Yujing, looking down from above, caught a glimpse of a stretch of snow-white neck.
His dark eyes swept over the two of them, then landed on the book satchel on Chun Qizhe's back. "Are you a candidate for this year's Autumn Imperial Examination?"
"Reporting to you, sir, yes."
"With only two days left before the examination, instead of familiarizing yourself with the examination grounds, you come here to file a marriage contract?" The prefect's tone carried a hint of disdain.
"Reporting to you, sir, your humble subject and my wife have known each other for three years. Throughout those three years, in preparation for the Autumn Imperial Examination, I devoted myself wholly to study, while my wife supported me with all her strength, managing the household affairs with diligence and toil. I have kept all of this in my heart."
Sensing Chun Jingshu's unease and anxiety, Chun Qizhe gripped her hand tightly. "Today, having arrived in the provincial capital for the examination, I made an appointment with my wife to come to the government office to register our marriage contract before the exam."
In truth, throughout all of Tongzhou, apart from the great and noble households, very few people registered their marriage contracts.
Registering a marriage contract with the authorities meant that their union was officially recognized by the government. Should any misfortune occur in the future, it could not simply be dismissed with a letter of divorce from the husband—the woman would also have a say.
Chun Qizhe's intention was to tell Chun Jingshu: no matter how high he soared in the future, even if he placed first in the imperial examinations, he would steadfastly walk through life with her.
This was the most precious thing he could give her at this moment.
"Three years?"
As if recalling something, Gu Yujing's expression darkened. He let out a cold laugh. "You are indeed a man of deep feeling. Let us hope she proves worthy of your devotion."
He had been here for quite some time now, and had yet to see this woman lift her head.
She must not have seen much of the world.
But even while her husband praised her at her side, she still did not raise her head.
An ordinary woman would surely have been moved by such words from her husband, lifting her head to reveal a shy, tender expression.
But her?
Not only did she show not a trace of gratitude, she seemed instead to tremble slightly, her hands clenched nervously into fists.
The whole of her demeanor reeked of guilt.
"I wonder—where is your esteemed wife from?"
At this thought, Gu Yujing asked one more question.
"Thank you for your kind words, my lord. My wife is from…"
Chun Qizhe clasped his fists. From Gu Yujing's words, he heard only well-wishes.
Anything else, he neither understood nor cared about.
"Let her answer." Gu Yujing lifted his chin.
Everyone's gaze fell upon Chun Jingshu.
Chun Jingshu knew she could no longer keep her head lowered.
Her tension reached its peak, and instead, a flicker of fearlessness arose within her.
Six years ago, it was he who had first cast her aside.
So then, six years later, now that she was wed to another, what heavenly law had she broken?
She bit her lip, steeled her resolve, and prepared to slowly lift her head…