Moonlit Reunion

As winter approached, the flowers and trees in the courtyard withered, and the lush greenery of summer vanished, leaving only a cluster of dark green bamboo that appeared somewhat desolate.

Wu Zhen, a refined and poetic soul who cherished wine and elegance, naturally couldn’t tolerate such a dreary courtyard. So when Mei Zhuyu returned home, he found that winter-blooming trees like plum blossoms and camellias had been added to the yard. Recalling how Wu Zhen had once sworn that the courtyard was perfect and needed no alterations, and then how she had quietly transplanted various flowers and plants over time, Mei Zhuyu stood by the window, gazing at the budding plum blossoms. He shook his head with a helpless smile but said nothing.

Wu Zhen waddled over leisurely, her belly prominent, and seeing him admiring the plum blossoms, she sidled up to him. “When they bloom, I’ll cut a few branches for you to arrange in a vase.”

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she clapped her hands. “Ah, that’s right! Didn’t I say earlier that when the plum blossoms bloom this year, we’d spend a day at the Plum Garden? They’ll be blooming soon.”

“During the winter plum blossom season, they invite a renowned chef from Changzhou who specializes in plum blossom banquets—absolutely delicious. And that Jade Plum wine…” Here, Wu Zhen smacked her lips, then patted her belly with a mix of sorrow and regret.

Ever since she was told that alcohol was harmful to the baby in her belly, she had temporarily given up drinking. But the deprivation was agonizing—she felt as though she hadn’t tasted wine in at least a decade. Regretfully, she realized she wouldn’t be able to enjoy the first freshly brewed Plum Wine of the season. She nudged Mei Zhuyu’s arm and said, “Husband, since I can’t drink, you’ll have to drink extra for me.”

Mei Zhuyu shook his head. “No, I won’t drink either.” Otherwise, Wu Zhen would only suffer more, smelling the wine but unable to indulge.

Before the plum blossoms bloomed, Wu Zhen once brought home two pots of green flowers. The bulbs resembled garlic, the leaves were thick and lush, and the white blossoms had yellow centers. The most remarkable thing was their intense fragrance—just one pot filled the entire room with a lingering, delicate scent.

“Isn’t it fragrant? These are called ‘narcissus.’ I haven’t been out much lately, but today I felt like strolling around and ran into a Persian merchant at the West Market. I bought these from him—apparently, they’re imported. I’ve never seen this flower before.” Wu Zhen enthusiastically introduced them as she placed one pot on Mei Zhuyu’s desk.

Mei Zhuyu watched her stride briskly despite her growing belly, his heart in his throat. He froze, holding his breath until she safely set the pot down, then exhaled softly. Sensing his concern, Wu Zhen suddenly bounced in place a couple of times, making the veins on Mei Zhuyu’s forehead twitch.

Leaning against the desk, she laughed at him. “What are you worried about? I’m perfectly fine—it’s not like I’ll bounce the baby out.” She seemed to have forgotten who had fretted constantly in the early stages of pregnancy, afraid she might actually jostle the child loose.

Scolding her was out of the question, and lecturing her was pointless—Wu Zhen would just grin, kiss him, and sweet-talk her way out of it with empty promises she’d promptly forget. The next time, she’d still find a way to give him a scare.Wu Zhen transformed into a cat again, playing with the goose in the courtyard. Since the goose had freely taken up residence in the yard, it had come to regard the place as its own territory. Every day, it strutted around with its glossy, fluffy chest puffed out, surveying its domain with an air of superiority. It paid no heed to anyone except Wu Zhen and Mei Zhuyu.

The first time Wu Zhen transformed into a cat and leaped into the courtyard right under the goose’s watchful eyes, the bird failed to recognize her as the same mischievous owner who had nearly plucked all the feathers from its rear. Fiercely defending its territory, it charged at her, only to be knocked into the pond by a swift cat punch from Wu Zhen. Undeterred, it stubbornly continued the fight.

Hearing the commotion, Mei Zhuyu opened the window and saw the plump Tabby Cat leap through the air and land squarely on the goose’s head. His pupils dilated in alarm, and he immediately dropped the book in his hand, vaulted out the window, and scooped up the Tabby Cat with one hand while gripping the goose’s neck with the other, forcibly putting an end to the battle.

After that, the bored Wu Zhen deliberately transformed into a cat again to provoke the goose, chasing it around the courtyard. But after a few rounds, the goose finally realized who she was and, valuing its life, willingly abdicated its position as the yard’s overlord. Deprived of her amusement, Wu Zhen occasionally took to perching on the goose’s back in cat form, letting it carry her around as they inspected their territory. The sight was undeniably hilarious, and even Mei Zhuyu, who worried the goose might drop the hefty Tabby Cat, couldn’t help but smile at the scene.

The newly transplanted plum tree in the courtyard was thriving, and before long, its first blossom timidly unfurled in the cold wind. Wu Zhen, drowsing in bed, caught a whiff of plum fragrance seeping through the window cracks. Yawning, she sat up, pushed open the window, and spotted the blooming branch. Glancing around and not seeing Mei Zhuyu nearby, she arched a brow, reached out, and snapped off the newly opened blossom.

That day, as usual, she transformed into the Tabby Cat and headed to the Ministry of Justice offices to nap—this time, bringing the plum branch with her.

It seemed that from this day onward, Mei Zhuyu frequently overheard his colleagues discussing the Plum Garden—how certain high-ranking officials and nobles had reserved it, which famous Entertainers had been invited to perform there, how the price of this year’s Plum Banquet had risen, and how the rare Fragrant Snow Plum blossoms were blooming later than usual.

Last winter, people had likely chatted about the same things, but he had no recollection of it. This year, however, perhaps because Wu Zhen had mentioned it early on, Mei Zhuyu kept hearing about it and realized just how sought-after the Plum Garden became in winter.

Most of the plum blossoms in the garden had already bloomed, yet Wu Zhen, who had previously promised to visit the Plum Garden with him, seemed to have forgotten all about it. Mei Zhuyu naturally wouldn’t remind her to go. Watching her swollen belly, he thought it might be for the best—every time Wu Zhen wandered about outside, he couldn’t help but worry.

Wu Zhen, ever the connoisseur, had been looking forward to this since winter began. The only reason she hadn’t brought it up yet was that she believed plum-viewing should be accompanied by snow. Without snow, the experience lacked a certain charm—so she was simply waiting for the snowfall.At long last, Chang'an witnessed its first snowfall. Wu Zhen personally visited the plum garden to inspect the scenery, deeming it worthy of admiration before fulfilling her promise. With effortless grace, she accompanied Mei Zhuyu to the plum garden, even making sure the Minister of Justice granted him leave for the occasion.

They extravagantly reserved the entire garden for the day, so unlike its usual lively banquets and musical revelries, the plum grove stood silent and resplendent under the snow. After a night of snowfall, the branches and ground were blanketed in white. Snow clung to the plum boughs, blending seamlessly with the snow-white blossoms, making it hard to distinguish where the snow ended and the flowers began.

Delicate snowflakes still drifted through the air as Mei Zhuyu held an umbrella, walking side by side with Wu Zhen through the heart of the grove. The untouched snow here was soft and pristine, as Wu Zhen had specifically instructed that it remain unswept. Treading upon the fluffy white carpet, breathing in the crisp, cold fragrance of plum blossoms, even in the biting chill, there was a profound sense of tranquil comfort.

Mei Zhuyu held Wu Zhen’s hand to prevent her from slipping on the snow. Today, she wore a red ruqun dress with a matching cloak. Though she usually preferred the simplicity and comfort of men’s attire, her growing belly had made belts impractical, so she had switched back to loose robes.

"That patch ahead is red plum," Wu Zhen said, familiar with the garden’s layout. In previous years, she had been a fixture at the banquets held here, so the scenery was nothing new to her. This time, she had come specifically to accompany Mei Zhuyu, guiding him through the sights she deemed most beautiful and showing him the garden’s dozen or so varieties of plum blossoms.

"I don’t know what flowers you like, but since your surname is Mei (plum), I assume you don’t dislike them."

Mei Zhuyu had never paid much attention to such things before—or rather, he had never concerned himself with life’s leisurely pleasures. His existence had been starkly simple, even monotonous, with little beyond exorcising demons and vanquishing evil to speak of as pastimes. Wu Zhen, however, was different. To her, everything in the world seemed fascinating and worth savoring in detail. Though he had once dismissed such things as trivial, through her eyes, he had begun to take note of these "insignificant" joys.

He had learned the taste of wine, the blooming of flowers in each season, and perhaps would discover even more in time.

Suddenly, the wind and snow grew fiercer, and the grove turned bitterly cold. Before Mei Zhuyu could suggest retreating to the pavilion, Wu Zhen touched his hand and said with concern, "The wind’s picked up—are you cold? Let’s go inside and warm up with some food. The dishes they prepared should be ready by now."

With that, she led the way ahead.

Mei Zhuyu silently steadied her, shielding her as they trudged through the snowstorm. Once again, he felt that peculiar sensation of having his words preempted.

Wu Zhen, sharp as ever, noticed something amiss. She squeezed his fingers and teased, "I’m a few years older than you, so of course I should take care of my little husband. Why don’t you call me ‘elder sister’?"

Distracted by her jest, she missed her footing and nearly slipped.

Mei Zhuyu caught her, then suddenly scooped her up into his arms. Lowering his head, he murmured, "...Let me carry you, elder sister, for this stretch of the path."To her surprise, he actually called her "sister." Wu Zhen was momentarily stunned before erupting into a fit of coughing so violent her cheeks flushed red. Even then, she didn’t forget to sling an arm over Mei Zhuyu’s shoulders, teasing him between coughs: "Ack! Such an obliging young gentleman—I might just be tempted to push my luck!"

"Say it again, call me 'sister' one more time!"

Earlier, Mei Zhuyu had somehow blurted out the word "sister" as if possessed, but now that he’d regained his senses, he refused to repeat it, especially under Wu Zhen’s mirthful gaze. He lowered his head and strode toward the pavilion opposite the plum garden. Wu Zhen pestered him the entire way until, unable to bear it any longer, he pressed her face against his chest, muffling her laughter and earning himself a brief reprieve.

Inside the pavilion, braziers and charcoal burners filled the air with warmth, while curtains draped every corner and thick carpets covered the floors. Stepping in from the freezing snowscape, they instantly felt their entire bodies relax in the springlike comfort.