Extra Chapter 4: Song Shilan
【1】
Song Shilan first met Jiang Chun when he was about eleven years old.
As an illegitimate son of the Song Family - though the Songs were one of the top aristocratic families in Huajing - the numerous offspring meant that aside from the heir, other children were no different from sons of ordinary noble families. In his youth, he didn't understand this principle. Watching his father interact with the heir Song Wenchang, he always held some hope in his heart that one day his father would treat him the same way he treated Song Wenchang. Even without such privileged conditions, having some father-son affection would be wonderful enough.
Therefore, he worked extremely hard since childhood, hoping to earn praise from the family tutors so they might put in a good word for him before his father, allowing him to grow closer to his father. However, he gradually discovered that this wouldn't make much difference. No matter how well he studied, how diligently he practiced martial arts, or how much praise he received, his father would never regard him as being equal to Song Wenchang.
But young people always carry some defiance. Aside from hard work, he had no other methods. His mother, Lady Qiu, watching his efforts, would only tell him: "My son, you must accept your fate."
Yet he never accepted it. He thought, we're both human beings. Aside from being an illegitimate son, what did he lack compared to Song Wenchang? Why should he accept his fate?
So he told his mother: "Mother, don't worry. In the future, I'll earn wealth and honor for you. You just rest easy and enjoy your blessings."
Lady Qiu fell silent. After a long while, she just held him in her arms and sighed: "Silly child."In those days, full of youthful vigor and not knowing restraint, he was exceptionally sharp and outstanding, thinking only of fighting and seizing opportunities through his own efforts."
Lady Qiu came from a historian's family that was poor and honest. She had always wanted a pair of jade bracelets, but a concubine's monthly allowance couldn't afford a pair of fine jade bracelets. Thus, Song Shilan was determined to buy his mother a pair of jade bracelets.
During the autumn hunt when he was eleven, the Emperor promised all the young masters that whoever could take first place in the hunt would be granted one wish. Song Shilan ventured deep into the dense forest. He set traps and fought with wolves, finally managing to hunt down a wild wolf.
Dragging the wolf out of the forest covered in blood, Song Wenchang stopped him.
"Give me the wolf."
Song Wenchang said arrogantly: "I'll have my mother increase your mother's monthly allowance."
Panting, Song Shilan gripped his blood-stained bow, his expression cold, his gaze fierce and wild, exactly like a lone wolf.
"I won't give it."
He said: "Why should I give you what I hunted?"
"Why?" Song Wenchang laughed coldly, "Because I'm the heir and you're an illegitimate son! If an illegitimate son takes first place, where would that leave my dignity?! Hand over the wolf," Song Wenchang grew somewhat impatient, "don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit."
Hearing this, Song Shilan couldn't help but laugh. Moments later, before Song Wenchang could react, he sprang up and charged forward abruptly.
Like an arrow released from its bow, clutching the wolf and dragging his wounded body, he rushed straight out of the dense forest.
The crowd erupted in cheers. Looking up at those waiting for him, as his horse passed the women's viewing platform, he heard a small gasp.
Turning back, he discovered a young girl covering her mouth with a surprised expression.
Not knowing if she was frightened, he smiled gently, riding past the girl before dismounting with one knee raised and presenting the wolf.
"Song Shilan of the Chengen Marquis Estate has hunted the wolf king!" the eunuch's sharp voice announced."【2】
He obtained that pair of jade bracelets.
The price he paid was thirty lashes.
His father and the primary wife could not tolerate him—they could not abide a concubine-born son who outshone the heir.
His father raged at him: "Hunting the wolf king was originally a good thing. Why didn't you give it to Wenchang? If you had given it to Wenchang, it would have brought honor to our Cheng'en Marquis Manor. What do you mean by keeping it for yourself? Do you think a concubine-born son like you could ever inherit the marquis title?! As an elder brother and a retainer of the household, you gave no thought to your younger brother, no thought to the heir, no thought to the marquis manor—you only cared about showing off. Have you ever considered what you truly are?!"
The thirty lashes were excruciating.
His mother threw herself over him, weeping, trying to take the lashes in his place. He lay prone on the long bench, listening to his father's curses and his mother's cries, gritting his teeth as he endured the blows.
He recalled the wolf he had hunted—surrounded and pursued by everyone, fleeing in panic, with no way out.
The most terrifying thing was not fighting desperately, but fighting desperately and still achieving nothing.
After the beating, he and his mother returned to their own courtyard. He developed a high fever and clutched at Lady Qiu, his voice hoarse as he asked, "Mother, was I wrong?"
Lady Qiu held him tightly, weeping.
"My child," she called to him, "you were not wrong. But being born in Cheng'en Marquis Manor as a concubine-born son, doing these things—that is your mistake."
Born in Cheng'en Marquis Manor, surnamed Song, a concubine-born son—striving, competing, and working hard—that was your mistake.
A despair unlike any he had ever known welled up inside him, as if his entire life had already reached its end.
So that night, he ran away.
Injured, he knocked out a servant, gritted his teeth, and scaled the wall to escape.
Stumbling along, he didn't really know where he was going. He just wanted to find a place where he wouldn't be bullied, where all his efforts would be rewarded, and where his talents would be recognized.
A young person's desires are so simple and straightforward, but he had no idea where to go. Then he remembered someone saying that the monks at Huguo Temple were compassionate. He thought, no matter what, he should first find a place to survive.
So he gritted his teeth and pushed himself to reach Huguo Temple. That day, a light rain was falling. Feverish and injured, he climbed the temple steps one by one. The path was too long; halfway up, he could endure no more and tumbled all the way down. He fell into the woods, completely drained of strength, and lay there.
He was cold and frightened, and at the same time, a sense of finality washed over him—as if ending his life like this wouldn't be so bad after all.
But just then, he heard the startled cry of a young girl: "Oh!"
With that, a pair of warm hands lifted him, and a voice full of surprise said, "Young Master Song, what are you doing here?"
【3】
That person was Jiang Chun.
At the time, Jiang Chun was only eleven years old—the same age as him. She had accompanied her family's primary wife to offer incense at Huguo Temple. Her elder sister had sent her down the mountain to buy pastries, and that was when she encountered him.
She carried him on her back to a bamboo hut in the woods, left some pastries and water for him, and carefully undid his clothes to bandage his wounds.
He asked her, "Who are you?"
She smiled and said, "I am the daughter of General Jiang Hong."
"Legitimate daughter?"
"Concubine-born daughter."
Jiang Chun lowered her eyes. Song Shilan, lying prone, felt a bit embarrassed and said, "How do you know me?""I was there when Young Master Song was hunting wolves a few days ago."
Jiang Chun smiled. She wasn't particularly stunningly beautiful—just delicate and refined—but her gentle and soft demeanor made people feel close to her.
He glanced at her and remembered that day's exclamation of "Ah!" Now he recalled. He couldn't help but say, "You seemed somewhat worried about me that day?"
His perception of others' emotions was sharp. Jiang Chun was startled by his keenness, showing surprise. After a moment, she composed herself and smiled, "Young Master Song is truly perceptive."
"Why were you worried about me?"
"With Young Master Song appearing here in such a state now, shouldn't I be worried?"
Hearing this, Song Shilan pressed his lips together: "You anticipated I would end up like this long ago?"
"One's actions should match one's status." Jiang Chun sighed. These words angered Song Shilan, who turned over and stood up, saying, "So you think I should accept my fate?! I'm a concubine's son—is this my destiny?!"
"This isn't about destiny," Jiang Chun pressed him down, speaking seriously, "It's about status."
Destiny cannot be changed, but status can. Song Shilan was stunned by these words, but after a moment, he understood.
One's actions should match one's status. If one wants to do something beyond their station, they must first change their status.
"With our status, we must learn to endure and yield. Even when contending, we must swallow our blood and strive for a single, decisive strike. Han Xin endured the humiliation of crawling between another's legs. Young Master Song," Jiang Chun looked up at him earnestly, "You must learn to endure."
Song Shilan didn't speak. He quietly gazed into her eyes.
They were clear and peaceful, like rippling lake water under the autumn sun, sparkling with light.
After tending to him, she stood up and left. He finished the pastries she had given him, gritted his teeth, and returned to Chengen Marquis Manor.
It was already night. Surprisingly, no one had discovered his escape. Even the servant he had knocked out didn't know who had done it, instead reporting an assassin, and the entire manor was searching for that unknown assailant.
He returned to his room. Lady Qiu was lying in bed, ill and coughing.
Song Shilan went to her side and poured her water. Lady Qiu coughed and said, "My son, don't contend anymore, and don't be angry, alright?"
"Alright," this time, he smiled gently, "Mother, I won't contend anymore."
[4]
The Emperor bestowed upon him two bracelets. He separated them, giving one to his mother and hiding the other.
He didn't know who to give it to. He had a vague idea but didn't know how to give it to that person.
At that time, he was just grateful. He very much wanted to personally thank her but never had the opportunity to approach her.
From then on, Song Shilan suddenly became a very ordinary child.
Everything about him was average, but his averageness was just slightly better than his brothers'.
His temper grew increasingly gentle. He was always helping others, especially Song Wenchang. He wrote essays for Song Wenchang, devised strategies for him—he was the best possible elder brother, making Song Wenchang, that incompetent fool, appear not so glaringly stupid among the young masters of noble families.
The primary wife saw all this and treated his mother and him much better. His father also became gentler toward him, often praising him.He retracted his claws, transforming from a tiger into a cat. Everyone thought Young Master Song had a gentle temperament, gradually forgetting that this was the man who had hunted the Wolf King at just eleven years old.
Those who forgot included everyone, and Jiang Chun was no exception.
He had always watched her from afar. Since he was eleven, at every gathering and banquet, his gaze would linger on that girl.
She slowly grew taller, blossoming into adulthood. By fifteen, she began to reveal the initial grace of a young woman.
In the Great Chu, girls were betrothed as early as thirteen. At fifteen, upon their coming-of-age ceremony, they could marry. Those who delayed were considered mature maidens by eighteen. Except for illegitimate sons from military families, most young masters of Huajing would not formally marry until after their capping ceremony at twenty. Thus, when Jiang Chun began attending the Great Chu's "Spring Banquet"—a gathering for matchmaking between men and women—Song Shilan merely followed a few older cousins to stroll casually through the event.
At the Spring Banquet, every young attendee received a peach branch. Each seat was labeled with their name. If they fancied someone, they could offer their peach branch to that person. If they wished to remain anonymous, they could place it on the table while the other was away.
Song Shilan started attending the Spring Banquet at twelve. In his first year, Jiang Chun received no peach blossoms. So, while she and her sisters were enjoying the spring scenery in the pavilion, he imitated other young masters and gently placed his peach branch on her table.
Upon his return, his cousins teased him.
"Shilan, so young and already giving flowers! Which young lady was it for? If you like her, you'd better secure the match early. Otherwise, by the time she turns fifteen, she might not wait for you."
Song Shilan merely smiled. Back then, he didn't truly understand what "liking" meant. He simply felt that since this girl had once helped him, he didn't want her to be mocked for receiving no peach blossoms at the Spring Banquet.
【5】
He sent her peach blossoms for three years, each time discreetly, with no one knowing.
Initially, no one else gave her flowers, or if they did, it was like him—quietly left on the table. Such affections were mere fondness or fleeting admiration, far from serious intentions of marriage.
Until Jiang Chun turned fifteen. He was chatting with friends when he heard a commotion. Following the noise, he saw Wei Shu being pushed forward by his brothers.
The Wei family, all military men, were boisterous, their voices dominating the banquet. He watched as the tall, sturdy Wei Shu clutched his peach branch, urged by his younger brother Wei Rong: "Second Brother, hurry! Go on!"
Wei Shu pressed his lips together. A friend beside Song Shilan laughed, "Oh, which young lady has caught Second Young Master Wei's eye?"
"Whoever she is," Song Shilan remarked lightly, "marrying into the Wei family would be a fortunate match."
With the Wei family's status, even an illegitimate son was beyond the reach of most families.
No sooner had he spoken than Wei Shu seemed to exchange words with his brother Wei Jun beside him. Taking a deep breath, he strode decisively toward the women's section.
Squeals arose among the young ladies until he finally stopped before a girl in blue.
She was seated, quietly trimming flower stems, seemingly unaware that the commotion involved her. Then, a slightly nervous male voice called from above, "Second Miss Jiang."Jiang Chun's hand, which was trimming the flower branches, paused slightly. She lifted her head and looked somewhat bewildered at Wei Shu.
Wei Shu gazed at her expression with great seriousness, then bent down and placed the peach blossom in his hand into Jiang Chun's palm.
After he did this, everyone around them burst into laughter and cheers. Wei Shu, his face flushed, whispered softly, "Second Miss Jiang, I... I like you very much. Soon, I will have my mother come to your home to propose marriage. Will... will you agree?"
Jiang Chun was startled by his words and quickly lowered her head, murmuring softly, "Matters of marriage are decided by parents. I hope Second Young Master will consult your elders."
"No," Wei Shu waved his hands awkwardly, "I will definitely ask them, but I want to ask you first."
He said shyly, "Will... will you agree?"
After he spoke, no one dared to respond. Song Shilan watched the two from a distance without saying a word.
After a long wait, everyone finally heard her say, "I will follow my elders' wishes."
Wei Shu breathed a sigh of relief. If the Wei Family came to propose marriage, there was likely no one in all of Huajing who would refuse.
He smiled and nodded eagerly, "Good, that's good. Second Miss," he cupped his hands in salute, "I will return now to make preparations."
With that, Wei Shu turned away happily. The Wei family youths, laughing and joking, clamored to make Wei Shu drink.
After Wei Shu left, the spring banquet drew to a close. Everyone began packing their things, preparing to depart.
Jiang Chun, with her head lowered, also started gathering her belongings when Song Shilan approached her.
Jiang Chun looked up at him, somewhat confused. She observed the young man before her—he appeared to be just over fifteen, with handsome features and a gentle demeanor. Holding a peach blossom, he gazed at her quietly. Jiang Chun felt he looked familiar but couldn't recall where she had seen him before. After all, four years was a long time, and if someone wasn't particularly important, they would be forgotten.
Song Shilan noticed the unfamiliarity in her eyes but said nothing. He bent down and carefully placed the peach blossom before her.
"Young master?"
She asked softly, but he didn't respond, turning instead to leave.
【6】
Not long after, Jiang Chun became engaged. Shortly after her engagement, the Wei Family army and the Southern City army held a competition.
Song Shilan belonged to the Southern City army. When the Wei family young masters emerged, each was exceptionally skilled. Except for Chu Linyang barely managing to win one round, it was an overwhelming victory.
Though Song Shilan was considered quite capable in the army, his gentle temperament meant people rarely thought of him for such combative occasions. When Wei Shu stepped forward, another soldier was originally scheduled to face him, but as that soldier stood up, Song Shilan suddenly pressed him down.
"I'll go."
His voice was calm.
As he stepped onto the platform, Wei Shu looked at him with some surprise. Wei Shu was four years older and appeared much taller and stronger. He said with concern, "Young Master Song, how..."
"I've heard Second Young Master possesses exceptional martial skills," Song Shilan smiled. "Shilan specifically wishes to learn from you."
No sooner had he spoken than he charged forward without giving Wei Shu a chance to refuse!
He fought with fierce courage, his wide sleeves fluttering, blending the nobility of a young master from a prestigious family with a solitary bravery.
Wei Jun, watching from above, sighed softly to the brother beside him, "When Young Master Song captured the Wolf King in the forest at eleven, I thought that solitary courage had been extinguished by the Song Family. It turns out he was just biding his time. Born into the Song Family... what a pity."
The other Wei family youth listening nearby couldn't help but nod in agreement.If Song Shilan had been born into the Wei Family, although the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children would still exist, the Wei Family would not have the same rigid separation between them as the Song Family. The brothers would be affectionate and kind, and everything Song Shilan learned could be fully utilized on the battlefield.
But he was not that fortunate.
That day, he and Wei Shu fought fiercely, neither willing to yield, until a torrential rain poured down. The two of them restrained each other, blood mingling with rainwater as it streamed down. In the end, he withstood Wei Shu’s heavy blow and kicked him off the high platform. Both lay on the ground, gasping for breath. Wei Shu stood up first and said cheerfully, “It’s an honor to have crossed swords with you, Young Master Song!”
Song Shilan closed his eyes, pushed himself up, and nodded at Wei Shu, too exhausted to utter a word.
That fight cost him a broken rib, and he spent two months recuperating. It was the most reckless thing he had ever done in his life. And that affection ended right there.
He attended her wedding. He watched Wei Shu carry her through the main gate, and at that moment, he thought, perhaps this was for the best.
In the future, he could probably marry a better, more influential woman.
And since she was marrying well and would live a good life, he had nothing to worry about.
He would walk his path to success, paved with the bones of countless others, while she would live a peaceful, untroubled life.
There was nothing wrong with that.
【7】
From then on, he never thought of her again.
He was the perfect Young Master of the Song Family, adept at socializing and dealing with everyone.
He assisted Song Wenchang, becoming the most capable young master in the Cheng’en Marquis Manor. Even though Song Wenchang looked down on him, he had to acknowledge his talent and rely on him.
He sharpened his claws and fangs, waiting for the day when he would strike with a single, decisive blow.
Over the years, his mother passed away. The day after Lady Qiu’s funeral, he was due to leave for the border. That morning, he first went to Huguo Temple. As he knelt devoutly before the Buddha, someone else knelt down beside him. He turned and saw Jiang Chun, her hair already styled in a married woman’s coiffure.
By then, she had a young child with her, still very small and carried by a servant. She bowed devoutly. For a moment, his movements faltered, but he still pretended not to know her and stood up.
Afterward, as he stepped out of the temple gate and prepared to descend the mountain, someone called out to him. A maid handed him an umbrella and said, “Young master, it’s about to rain. My mistress asked me to give you this umbrella.”
“Who is your mistress…?”
“The Second Young Madam of the Wei Family,” the maid replied with a smile. “She saw you praying earlier and said that since you are also a warrior heading to the battlefield, we should give you an umbrella. The battlefield is perilous,” the maid sighed, “please be careful.”
Song Shilan said nothing. He took the umbrella from the maid, suddenly feeling a lump in his throat.
That umbrella accompanied him to the battlefield and stayed with him for many years afterward.
He traversed mountains of corpses and seas of blood, witnessed darkness and dangers, but every time it rained and he saw that umbrella, he felt a profound sense of peace.
The owner of that umbrella seemed like a splendid dream from his youth—beautiful yet distant, evoking longing but forever out of reach.
He had always thought that their lives would remain that way forever.
Until the ninth year of Chunxi, when the entire Wei Family, except for Wei Yu, perished in White Emperor Valley.
The entire state of Chu was shaken by the news. The moment he heard it, the first image that flashed through his mind was the delicate face of that woman.
He hadn’t seen her in many years, and he no longer knew what she looked like now.He instructed his servants to gather information about the Wei family, then plunged into this great upheaval. For the entire court, this upheaval represented a complete reshuffling of power. No one dared to relax their guard. Everyone was gathering intelligence, preparing their bargaining chips, and waiting for the day the cards would be revealed.
He had thought the Wei Family would hit rock bottom, but who could have imagined they would rise again.
At the time, many still believed the Wei Family was merely clinging to life, yet he resolutely chose to form an alliance with Wei Jin.
He would help Wei Jin, and Wei Jin would kill Song Wenchang for him.
Once Song Wenchang was dead, the position of heir would undoubtedly be his.
He had initially regarded this as nothing more than a transaction, until he found himself entangled with the Northern Di army near Fenshui in Xijun City.
Back then, Song Wenchang, ambitious for glory, was forced into battle and then trapped in Xiaoju County. His father pressured him to confront the Northern Di head-on to rescue Song Wenchang, but he had already made an agreement with Wei Jin—to preserve the Song Family’s strength and force Yao Yong to bleed.
As he wrestled with this dilemma, he suddenly received a plea for help from Jiang Chun—she had come to Fenshui.
Fenshui was right next to Xijun City. Jiang Chun had an old acquaintance in Fenshui and had originally come to relieve their distress, but she happened to arrive just as the Northern Di were attacking Fenshui.
Without a second thought, he led his troops out of the city. When he entered Fenshui with his soldiers, chaos reigned. Amid the crowd, he called out anxiously, "Second Lady Wei! Second Lady Wei?!"
He knew all too well the dangers women could face in the chaos of a siege. His mind was in turmoil, and finally, he couldn’t help but shout, "Jiang Chun!"
He yelled her name, "Jiang Chun, where are you?!"
Just then, he suddenly heard a loud cry, "Young Master Song!"
He turned his horse and saw a woman standing amid the crowd, sword in hand.
She wore a water-blue gown and a silver-white cloak, holding a child with one hand while her sword, stained with blood, was gripped in the other. She ran toward him with the child, urgently calling out, "Young Master Song!"
He rode over, grabbed her hand, and pulled her and the child onto his horse.
She seemed to have been running for a long time, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
She held the child, while he wrapped one arm around her waist and used his spear in the other to carve a path through the chaos.
"I’ve come on the orders of the First Lady to assist you in assassinating Song Wenchang. I’ve brought the people with me. Today, you take Fenshui; tomorrow, attack another city. The Northern Di, provoked by you, will surely launch a fierce assault on Xiaoju County. We will take advantage of the chaos to assassinate Song Wenchang and frame the Northern Di. You can then do your utmost to rescue him, so your father will have nothing more to say."
Song Shilan remained silent. Jiang Chun, puzzled, asked, "Young Master Song?"
"Understood," Song Shilan replied, his voice low and seemingly displeased. He frowned and said coldly, "Why did you come to a place like this? Why not stay safely in Huajing? What are you doing here?"
"The First Lady was afraid you wouldn’t trust anyone else she sent."
"I’m even more uneasy with you here."
His words surprised Jiang Chun. She looked up at him. The man before her wore a stern expression as he rode with her through the battlefield, then set her down in a safe place. "Wait here for me," he said.
With that, Song Shilan turned and plunged back into the fray.
Jiang Chun instructed the covert guards she had brought to head to Xiaoju County, then waited in the city for Song Shilan. At daybreak, she stood on the city wall and watched as the young man, dressed in a water-blue robe with silver patterns and carrying a spear, rode in on his horse. In that instant, something flashed through her mind.
When Song Shilan returned, she looked at him and smiled softly.
"I remember now," she said. "Young Master Song, when you were eleven, you hunted a wolf all by yourself."Hearing this, Song Shilan couldn't help but laugh.
"Not only did I hunt a wolf, but I was also saved by Madam at Huguo Temple."
Jiang Chun was momentarily stunned before suddenly realizing: "Ah," she exclaimed in surprise, "I'd completely forgotten!"
【8】
After Jiang Chun arrived, her shadow guard killed Song Wenchang. Song Shilan obtained the heir position, then poisoned the old Marquis and took control of the entire Song Family.
By this time, the entire battlefield had descended into chaos. Following Wei Yu's orders, Song Shilan was locked in a stalemate with the Northern Di.
Unwilling to let Jiang Chun return under such circumstances, Song Shilan told her: "Please stay here for now. When the timing is appropriate, I will escort you back."
Jiang Chun had no intention of causing trouble for Song Shilan. Moreover, the child of her deceased friend had broken a leg during the conflict and needed recuperation, so she remained by Song Shilan's side.
Song Shilan was now nearly twenty-one years old, yet still unmarried. With no women in his household, after the initial period of adjustment, Jiang Chun began observing Song Shilan's daily life.
His meals were extremely simple, taken at completely irregular hours. Sometimes returning late, he would eat in haste, often just asking the cook to heat two steamed buns. His household lacked proper management - clothes with holes went unnoticed. This seemingly refined noble young master actually lived quite roughly.
Initially, Jiang Chun only adjusted the meals for herself and the child. Since Song Shilan didn't return at fixed times, after twice witnessing him casually dipping steamed buns in soup, she finally sent someone on the third day to inquire about his return time.
Thinking Jiang Chun needed something, Song Shilan told the servant: "Inform Second Madam that I'll return in half an hour."
Upon receiving the message, Jiang Chun prepared a meal at home. When Song Shilan returned and saw Jiang Chun waiting at the door with others, he stood there stunned.
Jiang Chun smiled gently at him without explanation, saying only: "I noticed the heir hasn't been eating regularly lately, so I took the liberty of preparing something. After a long day's work, one should return to a proper meal."
"Thank you, Second Madam." Song Shilan smiled politely, but when he drank the first bowl of hot soup, saw the properly arranged dishes, and felt someone sitting beside him, turbulent emotions surged within him.
For the first time, he felt like he had a home.
After the meal, he turned to Jiang Chun with a pleading expression: "Second Madam, Shilan has a request to make."
Jiang Chun was taken aback before quickly responding: "Heir, please speak."
"Shilan has grown accustomed to living alone, with no one managing the household. As you've seen, while I can handle official matters systematically, my domestic affairs are truly chaotic. I boldly request Second Madam's assistance in organizing my household affairs."
Saying this, Song Shilan removed a set of keys and handed them over: "These are the keys to my residence's storerooms. During your stay here, feel free to make any changes to the household arrangements - all decorations, staffing, and rules, I would ask for your help in reorganizing."
"This isn't appropriate," Jiang Chun immediately objected. "Song Shizi, you should appoint someone to manage these matters. I'm an outsider...""Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures." Song Shizi spoke earnestly, "To be frank, Second Madam, I've indeed reached the age for marriage and truly need someone to assist me. But given the current circumstances, I cannot rush into marriage, and I haven't found a suitable person to entrust with household management. I trust you, Second Madam, and I ask you to establish a set of rules in my residence. This way, after you leave, my household won't fall into chaos."
Hearing this, Jiang Chun found it difficult to refuse.
Song Shizi was Chu Yu's ally. If he could prosper, that would be for the best.
After hesitating for a moment, Jiang Chun finally nodded and accepted the set of keys.
【10】
In the following days, while Song Shizi fought guerrilla warfare against the Northern Di outside, Jiang Chun managed the household affairs.
At first, she was cautious, but she soon realized that Song Shizi truly did not interfere with any household matters. No matter what she did, he would only say: "Good."
With time on her hands, she began to showcase her abilities. She moved flowers here, shifted pots there, adjusted the menu, and established a basic operational system for the residence. She categorized the maids and servants into different ranks and cultivated trusted aides for Song Shizi...
She waited for Song Shizi to return for meals every day. Because of her presence, Song Shizi made an effort to return home at a fixed time each day.
Jiang Chun didn't know when that feeling began to emerge.
Quietly and imperceptibly, her perception shifted from "Song Shizi is a decent person" to "Song Shizi is exceptionally good."
Song Shizi handled every matter with perfect propriety; it seemed he never made mistakes. One day, while watching him write, she noticed how carefully he formed each stroke and couldn't help but remark: "Has Your Highness always been this cautious in everything you do?"
Song Shizi smiled faintly: "Yes."
"Why is that?"
"Being born a concubine's son," Song Shizi lowered his gaze to the paper, his expression calm, "when have I ever been allowed to make mistakes?"
Jiang Chun was momentarily stunned. In that instant, she suddenly felt her heart ache.
She began to feel compassion for this person.
"Then in your life," she couldn't resist asking, "has Your Highness never been careless about anything?"
"Yes." Song Shizi smiled again. Jiang Chun pressed: "What was it?"
Song Shizi remained silent.
He kept the words between his teeth. He knew all too well what should and shouldn't be said. To Jiang Chun, at this moment he was merely Chu Yu's ally, and everything was done out of respect for Chu Yu. He didn't dare say too much.
But he knew what that thing was.
The only careless thing he had ever done in his life was falling in love with her.
They remained together until Chu Yu was trapped in Fengling City and the Northern Di marched straight toward Tianshou Pass.
Song Shizi led troops to reinforce Tianshou Pass and won a brilliant victory. Soon after, Zhao Yue declared himself emperor, Chu Yu's fate in the Northern Di remained unknown, and Chu Yu held fast in Fengling City.
With the Wei family suddenly lacking anyone to take charge, she went to find Song Shizi and told him: "Your Highness, I need to find my mother-in-law."
Song Shizi was momentarily taken aback. After a pause, he slowly said: "The current situation is too chaotic...""Precisely because the situation is so chaotic," Jiang Chun said calmly, her expression composed. Such tranquility revealed an indescribable fortitude—a resilience that seemed unbreakable. She gazed steadily at him and spoke, "I must return to the Wei Family. The young masters and my mother-in-law are waiting for me to take charge of the household affairs."
Hearing this, Song Shilan remained silent.
He lowered his eyes, gripping the brush in his hand.
Suddenly, he became acutely aware that she was a member of the Wei Family. She had married Wei Shu, and even though Wei Shu was dead, she was still the Second Young Madam.
He wanted to say "alright," but the words wouldn't come. Yet, he had no reason to keep her there.
"I have already located my family and will depart today." However, it seemed she didn't need his response, as she stated directly, "Farewell, Song Shizi."
At the word "farewell," he could no longer restrain himself and grabbed her hand.
"Don't go."
Jiang Chun turned back, frowning, her eyes filled with wariness. "Song Shizi?"
He closed his eyes and let out a soft sigh. "Jiang Chun, don't leave the Song Family."
"What do you mean by that, Song Shizi?" Jiang Chun's voice turned cold. "My brother-in-law is trapped in a den of wolves. Surely you don't think you can use me to threaten the Wei Family into doing something? Song Shizi, you—"
Before she could finish, he abruptly pulled her into his embrace, cupped her face, and fiercely kissed her.
Jiang Chun froze for a moment before struggling desperately.
She fought back fiercely, kicking him and then slapping him across the face!
The sharp sound of the slap echoed through the room as Jiang Chun shouted angrily, "How dare you!"
Song Shilan said nothing, merely lifting his eyes to look at her.
That gaze made Jiang Chun pause, reminding her of his younger days, when he rode past with a wolf king in hand. After all these years of concealment, the Song Shilan who would stop at nothing to obtain what he wanted was still the same.
"What I mean," he said calmly, "do you understand now?"
Jiang Chun was speechless. Song Shilan turned to fetch his cloak, his expression indifferent, as if nothing had happened.
"If you want to manage the Wei Family, I can help you. If you don’t agree to be with me now, that’s fine—just don’t agree to anyone else."
"I’ll escort you back." He stopped before her, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I can wait a lifetime."
【11】
He knew he must not startle the snake in the grass.
He knew he must not go too far.
Wei Shu had only just passed, and he was well aware of her feelings for him. He had no desire to compete with a dead man.
So he waited.
At first, when others asked, he would simply smile. But he frequently visited the Wei residence, and eventually, people understood.
Her initial refusals were subtle—wearing white mourning clothes in his presence, adorning herself with white flowers, leading him to the Wei family ancestral hall to see Wei Shu’s memorial tablet, and recounting stories of her past with Wei Shu.
He never minded, always maintaining a cheerful, oblivious demeanor.
One year, two years, three years.
His patience was unnervingly remarkable, to the point of being frightening.
But deep down, he knew his patience wasn’t innate—he was simply capable of enduring.
Yet, even endurance has its limits. As Wei Lingchun grew day by day, the older he became, the more she avoided him.
Left with no choice, he finally went to propose marriage.
Their relationship had always been this way: he pushed her, but she refused to step forward. In the end, he was the one locked in Taiping City.On the night he learned of his illness, he sat in his room, gazing at the moon.
He suddenly missed her intensely, yet when he thought of her, he couldn't help wondering—if she died, would she feel relieved? No one would pester her anymore.
But just a few days later, he saw the woman riding lightly toward him. She halted before the city gate and looked up at him.
"Song Shilan," she shouted loudly, "open the city gates!"
He stared at her in a daze. In that moment, he suddenly felt that this lifetime was worth living.
【12】
Later, she married him and became the princess consort. He took her to Qiongzhou, which was within the Song Family's territory.
They lived a leisurely life there. No one knew about her past, but she always carried it in her heart.
During her pregnancy, her emotions grew sensitive. She often couldn't sleep at night, so he would hold her and stay with her.
One night, she couldn't hold back any longer and asked him, "When did you start liking me?"
"Hmm?"
"Song Shilan," Jiang Chun sighed, "I've been married before and have had a child. Don't you feel regretful for liking me?"
Song Shilan thought for a long while before he finally sighed.
"So what if you have?"
He spoke softly, "In this lifetime, I've never liked anyone else."
Hearing this, Jiang Chun couldn't help but laugh. "Liar," she said, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "You must have given peach blossoms to a few girls at the spring banquets, right?"
Song Shilan pressed his lips together and sighed. He pulled her into his embrace. Jiang Chun complained, "Say something! Are you too afraid to speak?"
"Do you remember when you were twelve and didn't receive a single peach blossom?"
"You're lying," Jiang Chun quickly retorted, "I did receive one!"
"Just one."
Song Shilan confirmed firmly. Jiang Chun was taken aback.
Song Shilan smiled. "I was the one who gave it to you."
Jiang Chun's eyes widened. Song Shilan leaned down and kissed her forehead.
"Silly girl, after you left, I never gave peach blossoms to anyone again."
Since you departed, there have been no more peach blossoms.
From the very first to the very last, it has always been you.
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