Chapter 51 A Welcome Gift

The next day, Liang Shanru woke up early.

It must have snowed last night; as the eastern sky first grew pale like a fish's belly, a faint white light filtered through the translucent window lattice into the room.

Liang Shanru had experienced a strange dream, recalling many events from her childhood in Shengjing, and woke up in a cold sweat. Feeling restless in her sleep, she simply flipped over and got out of bed.

Nongyun, hearing the movement, opened the gauze bed curtains for her. Catching sight of that ethereal whiteness, Liang Shanru rubbed her sleep-heavy eyes and asked, "Is it already dawn?"

"It is still a bit early, but it snowed last night, leaving everything pure white outside, which makes it seem even brighter through the reflected light," Nongyun stepped forward to tuck the blanket around her. "My lady, sleep a little longer."

Liang Shanru shook her head.

That dream had felt far too vivid, and now, sleep was entirely out of the question.

Unable to make sense of it, she sat with her knees pulled up, resting her chin on them, and motioned for Nongyun to sit at the edge of the bed. "What kind of person do you think Pei Yanzhou is?"

The question came out of nowhere. Nongyun pondered it carefully before shaking her head to say she didn't know. "The Heir Apparent seems to have helped us a great deal, but it is hard to say—even if he hadn't stepped in, Madam and your cousin would have done so, and worst of all, there is still Magistrate Zhou."

The maid paused for a moment to gather her thoughts, then gave a soft, understanding hum. "Ah, yes. It is just that these matters didn't strictly require his involvement, yet he showed up and handled them anyway.

Logically speaking, the Heir Apparent acted out of kindness. Such a distinguished gentleman, being so attentive to my lady's affairs—one can find no fault with him."

Fault or no fault, the deeds were done. Nongyun answered honestly before asking, "Why did my lady suddenly ask about this?"

Liang Shanru fell silent.

The Pei Yanzhou in her dream was not like the one today.

He was flawless in every way, giving no room for criticism, and he prioritized her above all else, even falling out with the Third Imperial Prince on her account.

How could that possibly be?

The two of them had been bound together since childhood.

If the Third Imperial Prince were truly to ascend the throne in the future, Pei Yanzhou would be claiming the immense merit of a founding supporter—what was she in the grand scheme of things?

Yet how could it feel so real?

It was as if it had genuinely happened, and she had lived through half of it herself.

This was all too absurd.

Liang Shanru fumbled her way out of bed. "It's nothing. I can't sleep anyway. Help me dress and groom myself, and we'll go out for a stroll.

With the snow today, Yangzhou's snow scenery is at its absolute finest, and the streets will be lively.

Accompany me to pick out a few items for Jingyi to give her before we leave."

Nongyun readily agreed with a soft sound of assent. Without pausing, she fetched a new set of clothes for Liang Shanru to change into, then attended to her hair and makeup while asking, "Should my lady go and inform Madam? The household is currently auditing the accounts—would my lady like to go along and take a look?"

"Of course I must tell my Aunt when I go out, but those account books I will not look at." Liang Shanru picked out two hairpins and held them up against her bun to compare. "Are you saying I distrust Uncle Hu, or do I distrust my Aunt?"

Only then did Nongyun realize she had spoken out of turn. She quickly fell silent, secured the red gemstone plum blossom hairpin that Liang Shanru had chosen, and smoothly changed the subject. "This red plum hairpin truly suits my lady! And it matches today's scenery perfectly!"

Liang Shanru smiled without another word. Once everything was packed and arranged, she led Nongyun out and headed toward Madam Liang's chambers.

By the time the mistress and maid arrived, Madam Liang had also just woken up. Hearing that Liang Shanru had come at such an early hour, she hurriedly had her led inside.

Madam Liang briskly walked up to take her hands. Finding only that her fingertips were slightly cool, she nevertheless scolded her gently, "It is so cold, why run over here so early in the morning? I don't need you to wait on me."

Liang Shanru laughed cheerfully and said it was nothing. "I need to make a trip out to pick out a few gifts for Jingyi in advance. Yangzhou's scenery after a snowfall is so beautiful, and the streets are bustling. I haven't enjoyed the lively atmosphere in several years, so I thought I would go take a look. I don't feel cold at all."

Pulling her hands free, she patted her chest in assurance, "I'll bring my hand-warmer and my fox-fur muff along; I promise I won't freeze!"

Her coaxing, endearing demeanor was utterly charming. Madam Liang always grew happy at the sight of it and pulled her into an embrace. "Are you just taking Nongyun out? Why not have your cousin accompany you? Since he has never been to Yangzhou, he can tag along to look around and take in the snow."

If Pei Jingxing tagged along, Pei Yanzhou would undoubtedly come as well. Without a second thought, Liang Shanru refused, "I am going to buy gifts for Jingyi. Cousin is a gentleman—what if some places are inconvenient? I certainly can't have him standing outside waiting for me."

Rubbing against Madam Liang's shoulder, she added, "I'll just take Nongyun and be back before noon. If Cousin wants to go out, you can have Cousin Yanzhou go with him, and assign a couple of pages to follow them so they can wander wherever they please."

Madam Liang suspected that she simply didn't want Pei Yanzhou tagging along, but she chose not to expose her and let her have her way. "Very well then, be back for lunch. I've just instructed the back kitchens to prepare a mutton hotpot for midday. You loved eating that when you were little. It's been many years since the two of us aunts and nieces shared a hotpot together."

She had eaten it twice while visiting Shengjing in her childhood, but they rarely went out during the deep winter months. Those two years had happened to coincide with her father's return to the capital to report on his duties, so she and her mother had gone to Shengjing to spend the New Year together.

Liang Shanru smiled even more sweetly. "If there's hotpot, I'll definitely hurry back!"

Madam Liang poked her forehead. "Off with you then. Is your silver enough?"

Nodding, Liang Shanru replied that it was sufficient. "I still have some of my own. In case it's not enough, I'll just have someone fetch the silver from the General's Manor, and you can pay for it later!"

With a bow to Madam Liang, she joyfully led Nongyun out the door.

At the second courtyard gate, she ran into Pei Jingxing. Looking past him and failing to see Pei Yanzhou, she muttered inwardly to herself for a moment.

Pei Jingxing was amused by her expression. "Looking for my eldest brother?"

She hastily shook her head. "Is Cousin going to pay his respects to Aunt?"

With a hum of assent, he asked her, "You're going out so early?"

Liang Shanru nodded again. "I'm going out to buy some things. I've already reported it to Aunt, and I'll be back before noon. Cousin, you should hurry along—Aunt is already awake."

A spark of light flashed in Pei Jingxing's eyes. "It snowed yesterday, and I've been hearing people say that Yangzhou's snow scenery is peerless. Why is Cousin going out alone..."

"I certainly won't have Cousin tagging along," Liang Shanru interrupted before he could finish. "Aunt just suggested the same thing, but I'm going to pick out gifts for Jingyi, and it would be rather inconvenient with Cousin there.

If Cousin wishes to appreciate the snow scenery, have a couple of pages guide you a little later and go for a stroll by yourself.

However, Aunt said she arranged a mutton hotpot for noon today, so Cousin must not get too caught up in playing and miss the good food."

Pei Jingxing laughed out loud.

He hadn't realized it before, but today he truly felt the difference.

His little cousin's attitude toward him and toward his eldest brother was completely worlds apart. Over the past few days, he had always been with his eldest brother, and his cousin had never given him such pleasant looks. Meeting her alone today, she smiled so brightly and radiantly.

He thought to himself that such a cousin was wonderful—which meant the problem must lie with his eldest brother.

Retrieving a money pouch from his sleeve, Pei Jingxing handed it over. "Don't just focus on buying gifts for Third Miss Xu. Buy a few things for yourself if you see anything you like. Consider it a gift from your cousin; I didn't bring you a welcoming gift when I arrived in Yangzhou this time, so let this make up for it."

Knowing she probably wouldn't accept it, he forcefully shoved it into Nongyun's hands. "It's not much. If Cousin refuses even this, it means you're intentionally keeping your distance.

I must go pay my respects to Aunt, and Cousin should hurry along to your matters as well!"