Prime Minister

Chapter 183, Section 182 [Unspoken]

Shen Qingluan's gaze was as clear as a mirror, reflecting Xue Huai's tall figure and the dappled light filtering through the window. The warmth of that brief touch seemed to still linger on her fingertips.

The rough walls and the silent passage of time bear witness to the laughter and joy of youth, and also reflect the subtle emotions that silently grow in this moment.

Xue Huai unconsciously twirled his fingers, then looked away from the window at the lush bamboo swaying gracefully in the autumn wind. His Adam's apple bobbed almost imperceptibly, as if he wanted to break the stillness with a more ordinary topic: "The bamboo here is growing more and more luxuriant. I remember when I was a child, Uncle Shen often taught us about the integrity of bamboo here."

Shen Qingluan also snapped out of her reverie and followed his gaze, a gentle smile spreading across her lips, as if she had returned to her carefree childhood: "Yes, my father often said that bamboo arrows have a basal layer, and pine and cypress have a heart. Back then, we practiced calligraphy in the study, and outside the window was this bamboo grove. The bamboo shadows swayed, and the wind rustled through them, creating a serene and tranquil atmosphere."

"Back then, you always complained that my handwriting looked like bamboo leaves dancing wildly in the wind, not neat enough."

Xue Huai's lips curled up slightly. He remembered the scene of being criticized by the little girl, and his tone carried a hint of self-deprecating teasing.

"Brother Huai's calligraphy is now quite remarkable."

Shen Qingluan turned to look at him, her eyes bright as the moon, and praised, "Each stroke is like an iron hook, vigorous and powerful, with the strength of bamboo and the steadfastness of a rock. However, in terms of its elegant style, it is slightly different from my father's."

Xue Huai chuckled and said frankly, "Uncle Shen is elegant and refined, with the charm of a scholar. As for me... I've probably been immersed in official documents for too long, and have picked up some of the rigid and pragmatic style of an official."

Shen Qingluan smiled and said, “What’s wrong with being rigid and pragmatic? Brother Huai’s efforts in reforming the salt administration and eliminating corrupt officials are precisely this kind of solid and meticulous work. Moreover, this does not mean that Brother Huai lacks talent. Your poem about plum blossoms at the beginning of the year became famous in the capital, and even the best poets in Jiangnan are singing it. Who dares to say that Brother Huai is not talented?”

Xue Huai felt a warmth in his heart and was about to speak when the clear sky outside the pavilion suddenly darkened a bit, and a gust of wind swept through the bamboo forest, making a rapid rustling sound.

A few large raindrops suddenly pounded on the glazed tiles of the roof, making a crisp sound and breaking the previous harmony and tranquility.

"Yeah, it's raining!"

Shen Qingluan let out a soft cry. Instead of retreating timidly, she stepped forward and stretched her arm out of the window, a mischievous expression on her face.

Unexpectedly, the rain came swiftly, and a fine curtain of rain swept in with the wind, hitting Shen Qingluan's shoulders as her upper body was about to lean out of the window.

Xue Huai was both annoyed and amused. A noble lady like her must be delicate and frail. It would be bad if she got wet in the rain. So he reached out and put his hand on her wrist, gently pulling her back with a little force. At the same time, he quickly closed the window with his other hand, leaving only a narrow gap for ventilation.

Shen Qingluan steadied herself, glanced at her wrist, and said somewhat embarrassedly, "Thank you, Brother Huai."

"It doesn't matter."

Xue Huai naturally shifted his gaze and said gently, "The autumn rain came quickly, but fortunately it went quickly as well. Today, Tingyuxuan truly lived up to the name of listening to the rain."

The raindrops gradually increased in density, forming a continuous pattering sound that pattered on the eaves, bamboo leaves, and pond, like a natural symphony that cleansed the dust from the world and separated the elegant pavilion into a world that belonged only to the two of them.

The two arrived at another outer corridor facing the water, where the rain curtain in the garden was like smoke, blurring the distant scenery, like a hazy ink painting.

The koi carp, which were originally leisurely in the pond, were also disturbed by the raindrops and dived to the bottom of the water, leaving only countless ripples on the surface of the water caused by the raindrops.

The sound of rain created an eerie tranquility.

After experiencing the ripples in her mind, Shen Qingluan's emotions gradually calmed down.

She walked to Xue Huai's side and stood still, her tone carrying a hint of quiet melancholy: "It's such a good rain, but it's a pity about the osmanthus blossoms. Every autumn rain brings a layer of coolness, and I'm afraid many will be blown away."

Xue Huai smiled faintly and said slowly, "Flowers bloom and wither in their own time, and life's encounters are also like the changing of the four seasons, with growth and flourishing, but also inevitable decline."

"Yes."

Shen Qingluan nodded and continued, "Although the storm is fierce, it can wash away the filth and bring about new life, just like Yangzhou today, which is now washing away the accumulated problems of the past ten years. After Brother Huai took office, the turmoil in Lianghuai was like this timely rain, seemingly turbulent but actually containing infinite vitality."

Xue Huai was slightly surprised.

Although he was neither a seasoned womanizer nor an inexperienced lad, he was unwilling to discuss those tedious and boring matters in front of the young woman. He was somewhat surprised that Shen Qingluan would take the initiative to bring up this topic.

Rainwater washes over the glazed tiles on the roof, forming a fine curtain of water under the eaves.

Shen Qingluan gazed at the flowing water, remained silent for a moment, and then said softly, "Brother Huai, you've had a hard time these past few days."

Hard?

Xue Huai was slightly taken aback.

In those thrilling contests and tireless planning, he almost forgot the word. He felt that he had only done what he was supposed to do and never felt sorry for himself.

Or rather, ever since he came into this world and opened his eyes, he has never let his guard down. The treacherous political landscape, the ever-present conspiracies and schemes, and the complex situation that is difficult to discern from the fog have left him no time to stop and think about his own life.

At this moment, such a simple and sincere expression of concern, spoken by a girl who shared his childhood memories, was like a warm current silently soothing his tense heartstrings and quietly filling the void of loneliness hidden deep in his subconscious.

Thinking of this, Xue Huai turned his head to look at Shen Qingluan's gentle face and smiled, "As long as things are accomplished, the hard work will be worthwhile."

He didn't exaggerate his political achievements, but this magnanimous attitude reveals his character.

"I know."

Shen Qingluan smiled gently, her smile pure and unadulterated, like the first rays of dawn piercing through the clouds. She said softly, "So I will accept the gratitude represented by that hairpin with a clear conscience, as a blessing to Brother Huai to cleanse the dust from his path and bring him good fortune and success."

Xue Huai nodded and said, "That's very good." Just then, a very soft "plop" sound came from the outer corridor of the pavilion.

The two looked in the direction of the sound and saw a bird that had flown in from who-knows-where. Its feathers were mostly wet, and it landed rather disheveled on the railing outside the veranda, tilting its head and using its small beak to preen the feathers that were stuck together by the rain.

"What a tiny bird."

Shen Qingluan kept her voice very low, clearly worried about disturbing it.

Xue Huai also showed interest, and the two of them stopped talking and quietly observed the small creature through the wooden lattice window.

The bird seemed to sense someone spying on it from inside the pavilion. Its beady black eyes glanced warily in this direction, its little head tilted slightly, and then it continued its grooming as if no one was around.

"It's not afraid of the rain and the cold."

Shen Qingluan said softly, her eyes filled with a tender smile.

“Rain falls on the earth and nourishes all things. For it, this rain may be a rare cleansing.” Xue Huai looked at the bird that was trying to preen its wings and said thoughtfully, “Life is often found in the smallest things, as long as one does not lose one’s will.”

These words seemed to have a double meaning. Shen Qingluan glanced at him sideways, a gentle smile curving her lips.

The rain gradually subsided, changing from a downpour to a fine drizzle, and then to intermittent drizzle.

As the sky brightened, the gloomy, heavy clouds disappeared, replaced by a clear, pale blue sky, and the air was fresher than ever before.

Just then, Shen Qingluan's personal maid, Yun'er, appeared gracefully at the entrance of the path not far from Tingyu Pavilion, carrying two simple oil-paper umbrellas.

"Miss." Yun'er curtsied and said in a clear voice, "Madam sent two umbrellas, saying that although the rain has lessened, it looks like it will continue to fall, and some of the stone paths in the garden are very slippery with the rain. Madam also specially instructed the kitchen to brew ginger and jujube tea to dispel the cold and warm the body, which has already been delivered to the flower hall. The lunch banquet will also be arranged in the flower hall later."

"I understand, please wait a moment."

Shen Qingluan turned to Xue Huai with a gentle smile on her face, "Brother Huai, it seems that Heaven intends for us to go back and have tea sooner."

"it is good."

Xue Huai nodded and took the lead in walking out of Tingyuxuan.

Yun'er immediately handed him an oil-paper umbrella, and respectfully opened the other one to shield Shen Qingluan's head. Shen Qingluan gave her a look, then reached out and took the umbrella. Yun'er smiled knowingly and tactfully fell behind.

Xue Huai and Shen Qingluan each held an umbrella, maintaining a comfortable distance of about an arm's length, and slowly walked along the wet cobblestone path.

The flowers and trees in the garden were washed clean by the rain and looked exceptionally green. The air was filled with the fresh fragrance of grass and trees, mixed with the lingering sweet scent of osmanthus, which was very refreshing.

After passing the lotus pond, you will arrive at a relatively spacious courtyard.

An ancient ginkgo tree stands quietly, its leaves now a brilliant golden yellow.

A gust of wind blew, scattering countless fan-shaped golden leaves, which fluttered like butterflies and gently fell onto the damp ground and path.

"gorgeous."

Shen Qingluan sincerely admired it, bent down to pick up a fallen ginkgo leaf, held it between her fingers, the golden stem contrasting against her slender white fingers.

Looking at the scene before him, Xue Huai felt refreshed and delighted: "Autumn colors are worthy of painting, but this scene is even more so. When the leaves fall in late autumn, the gnarled branches will reveal another kind of beauty in their skeletal structure."

"Yes, each season has its own unique charm."

Shen Qingluan played with the ginkgo leaf in her hand, her profile appearing exceptionally beautiful against the golden backdrop. She said with a hint of regret, "I remember there were also marks on this ginkgo tree back then, but unfortunately, over the years, the wind and rain have damaged the trunk, and the marks have become blurred."

Upon hearing this, Xue Huai looked at the ancient tree trunk and seemed to see, through time, two bewildered children comparing their heights under the tree.

He smiled gently, with a hint of barely perceptible emotion: "It's alright, the marks on the wall are still fresh in my memory, that's enough. Some marks stay in the heart longer than those carved on a tree."

Shen Qingluan's heart skipped a beat. She ran her fingers along the edge of the ginkgo leaf, her eyes lowered and she remained silent.

In reality, she wasn't as composed as she appeared during this period. Beneath her playful and charming exterior lay a deep anxiety and unease, for she was merely the daughter of a merchant.

Previously, based on the long-standing friendship between the Xue and Shen families, the favor shown to her by Madam Cui as the matriarch of the Xue family, and her childhood sweetheart relationship with Xue Huai, the two could be considered a well-matched couple. However, as Xue Huai's official position rises higher and higher, and he has now made a meritorious contribution that has shocked the court, the emperor may continue to promote him exceptionally.

In today's world, the idea that "all other professions are inferior and only studying is superior" is still the mainstream thought, especially for a young official like Xue Huai with his background and experience. Many people probably think that he should marry a daughter from a prestigious family with a long tradition of poetry and literature.

However, today Xue Huai reassured Shen Qingluan. If the previous hairpin was an unintentional act, his words now were a subtle hint, which she naturally understood.

“Brother Huai is right.”

Shen Qingluan's face lit up with a bright smile, like the sunshine after a rainstorm, and she said softly, "Cherish the present moment so as not to waste our youth and the hardships and difficulties we've overcome. Brother Huai, the banquet should be being prepared at the flower hall. Shall we go over there?"

Xue Huai knew she understood his thoughts, so he nodded and said, "Okay, let's go."

Shen Qingluan followed obediently behind, gazing at Xue Huai's tall and slender back, which gradually merged with the figure she had longed for in her childhood.

(End of this chapter)