Chapter 257: Fork in the Road
The snow had fallen all night and finally stopped at noon.
Dawn spread over the distant mountains, and sunlight pierced through the clouds. The eaves of Shui Yue Nunnery were adorned with crystalline icicles, refracting fragmented light in the early sun.
It was a clear winter day, perfect for sweeping snow and brewing tea.
Xue Sui, wrapped in a worn gray cloth cloak, stood in the corridor, watching Xiao Zhao tiptoe and use a bamboo pole to knock snow off the blue tiles.
As the bamboo pole rose and fell, snowflakes scattered like crushed jade, falling with a rustling sound.
Inside the windowsill, Ling Yu and the gray pigeon, whom Xue Sui had temporarily named “Snowball,” huddled by a ceramic bowl, pecking at snow mixed with crushed millet.
She watched, entranced.
“Ru Yi, look!” Xiao Zhao suddenly exclaimed, pulling out a frozen black-striped snake from somewhere. She dangled it like a black jade whip in her palm.
Ru Yi, who had been sweeping snow in the corridor, jumped back in fright, holding her broom and hiding behind a stone mortar.
“Young Lady, save me! Young Lady, please save Ru Yi…”
Xue Sui turned her head: “……”
Xiao Zhao proudly swung the snake by its tail, her nose tip red from the cold.
“We can make snake soup! I still have the wild pheasant we found in the mountain hollow the other day! Add some winter bamboo shoots for a Dragon and Phoenix fight, and it’ll be so delicious you’ll lose your eyebrows…”
Xue Sui couldn’t help but chuckle, “Last time you were caught poaching a pheasant by the Abbess, it was already disrespectful. This time, you’re not even letting hibernating snakes go…”
She took the snake from Xiao Zhao’s hand and touched its body with her fingertips.
“It’s still alive. Let’s take it to the back mountain and release it.”
Xiao Zhao hissed, looking at Ru Yi with a crestfallen expression.
“Young Lady hasn’t been at the nunnery long, but you’ve become like a nun who practices abstinence, not even willing to touch meat… Strange!”
Ru Yi rubbed her frozen hands and nodded emphatically.
Seeing Xiao Zhao’s seemingly understanding yet confused look, Xiao Zhao sighed.
How could Ru Yi possibly know? Their Young Lady was once a fierce character who grew up amidst bloodshed, who had torn apart jackals with her bare hands and chewed snake meat raw… It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call her a beautiful-faced Yama. Her sudden turn to vegetarianism, chanting Buddhist scriptures, and observing precepts was truly unsettling!
Xue Sui pretended not to hear their murmurs and turned to release the snake in the back mountain.
As she reached the courtyard gate, she caught sight of Jinshu hurrying over with a medicine basket.
Her steps paused slightly until Jinshu approached.
“Did Eldest Young Master send a message?”
“Young Lady has sharp eyes.” Jinshu lowered her voice and took out a sealed parchment letter from her sleeve.
“Eldest Young Master said this is intelligence from the Western Frontier—heavy snow has blocked the mountain pass outside Chishui Pass, and General Lu’s supply lines have been intercepted by Ashina’s light cavalry three times. The General is so anxious his lips are chapped. The Crown Prince’s journey there will likely be a tough one…”
Xue Sui rubbed the small golden skull of the Old Mausoleum Swamp faintly etched on the corner of the letter, remaining silent.
“Tell Eldest Young Master I understand. I will report any new information.”
The mist was silent.
The wooden bridge leading to the back mountain was covered in white frost.
She walked slowly through the accumulated snow, thinking that this was the purpose of eating vegetarian and chanting scriptures.
–
Outside the mountain gate, horses’ hooves crushed the ice-flower-covered snow layer.
Several servants escorted a carriage with blue curtains, stopping before the stone steps in front of the nunnery.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and Guo Yunrong, wrapped in a silver fox cloak, leaned out. Her personal maid, Chun Tao, quickly supported her.
She gracefully ascended the steps, her hairpin trembling in the snow light, lending a touch of wealth to the simple mountain gate.
Xue Yuechen, already wrapped in a cloak, waited under the eaves of the monastic courtyard.
“In such cold weather, for the County Princess to brave the snow to come here, your sincerity is truly rare.”
Guo Yunrong looked up, watching Xue Yuechen walk over with a smile, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.
“Long time no see, Princess Consort. Are you well—”
Guo Yunrong curtsied, her eyes smiling, “Yunrong is here today, firstly to worship Buddha and pray for the cessation of war and peace on the frontier, so that all people under heaven can have a stable winter. Secondly… I wanted to see Sister Xue.”
After speaking, she glanced at Xue Yuechen’s visibly pregnant belly.
“The Princess Consort’s pregnancy looks so joyous. You will surely give birth to a blessed young Heir Apparent.”
Xue Yuechen looked at the warmth in Guo Yunrong’s eyes, smiled gently, took her hand, and led her inside.
“Sister Yunrong’s tongue has become even more eloquent. I heard you were coming, so I had the kitchen prepare ginger soup and a vegetarian meal. Come inside to warm up, and we can talk while we eat.”
Guo Yunrong lowered her eyes, gently withdrew her hand, and casually glanced towards the monastic room.
“Sister Xue, are you accustomed to practicing abstinence at the nunnery? With the Princess Consort’s care, you must feel much more at ease? Are you happier now?”
Xue Yuechen looked at her innocent, almost foolish face and sighed softly.
“Sister Yunrong is truly kind…”
Although she had been granted the title of County Princess and appeared glorious, she had still suffered the annulment of her engagement and lost her beloved. How could her heart not feel wronged and sad?
But even so, she still cared about Xue Sui…
Hearing this, Xue Yuechen’s emotions surged.
She thought of Li Huan, her husband with whom she had a superficial relationship.
She then thought of Xue Sui, the woman whom Li Zhao and Li Huan would fight to the death to protect.
The scene of the two men confronting each other and making vows in the plum grove was like a fine thorn, piercing her heart, filling her with a myriad of emotions.
Seeing her troubled expression, Guo Yunrong softly inquired:
“Does the Princess Consort have something on her mind?”
Xue Yuechen pondered for a moment, feeling that she could no longer keep this frank girl in the dark.
“Sister Yunrong, there are some things I feel you should know…”
Guo Yunrong was merely kind, not foolish.
She blinked her eyes, “What exactly does the Princess Consort want to tell Yunrong?”
Xue Yuechen said in a low voice, “Before the Crown Prince went to the Western Frontier, he rode a hundred miles in the rain to bid farewell to Sixth Sister at Shui Yue Nunnery. They were reluctant to part that night…”
Guo Yunrong suddenly looked up, her face as pale as a layer of thin frost.
“So… it was her?”
Rumors were circulating outside that the Crown Prince had secretly met with a nun from Shui Yue Nunnery, questioning his virtue.
However, no specific name was mentioned, and it was unknown which nun it was.
She had come today precisely to inquire about the inside story and to get closure…
She never expected her love rival to be an old acquaintance!
The snow wind swept through the mountain gate, making the copper bells of the Great Hero Hall chime.
She seemed frozen until the Abbess of the nunnery came forward, and she snapped back to reality.
“County Princess Minghui, your arrival is an honor. I apologize for not welcoming you sooner.”
Guo Yunrong warmed her palms with an engraved hand warmer, adjusted her robes, and curtsied.
“Yunrong is presumptuous to have come unannounced and disturbed your ascetic practice, Reverend Mother.”
She smiled again and said, “The day before yesterday, I accompanied Empress to copy scriptures in the palace and heard that the Plum Blossom Fermented Rice from Shui Yue Nunnery is exceptionally good. I specifically came to ask for a bowl to warm myself…”
Saying this, she stepped aside and gave a look to her maidservant.
The maidservant quickly presented a blackwood lacquer box with gold inlay.
Inside was a complete set of Yue ware celadon tea ware, its glaze as blue as the sky and as clear as a mirror, with a fine and translucent porcelain body.
“A small token of my appreciation. I hope Reverend Mother will not find it too meager.”
The old nun’s eyes flashed with surprise. She clasped her hands, twirling her prayer beads.
“Your presence, County Princess, has already brought glory to our humble nunnery. Why must you be so extravagant…”
“These worldly possessions are nothing. It is merely a small gesture from a junior, to add to the incense and oil before the Buddha. Reverend Mother, please do not refuse…”
Politeness is never unwelcome, and even ascetics find it hard to refuse such exquisite gifts.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Guo Yunrong followed the Abbess and Xue Yuechen, her steps light, into the guest hall’s warm pavilion. She took off her fur coat and handed it to her maidservant, revealing a moon-white brocade jacket and skirt. Just as she was about to sit down, she suddenly stood up.
As if she had thought of something, she glanced at Xue Yuechen and asked the Abbess.
“Is Master Liaochen here?”
