Chapter 133

Chapter 133: You Can Come Find Me Whenever You Miss Me

Night was deep. After escorting Chun Zhi back to Song Manor, Huo Zheng did not go in. The lamp by the gate swayed in the night wind, and the light wavered. He watched Chun Zhi enter, and only after the porter closed the door did he tell the coachman to return to the Prince of Chang’an Manor.

When Chun Zhi returned to her small courtyard, the wet nurse was coaxing the baby. Little Xing Hui stared at her with bright black eyes, not sleepy at all. “Let me,” Chun Zhi said after washing her hands, and she took the child. The wet nurse said that while she was away today, Little Xing Hui had cried for a long time. Hearing this, Chun Zhi’s heart ached. She sent the wet nurse to rest and told Little Xing Hui: “Mother went to see your maternal grandfather, grandmother, and your uncle today. They came from very far away, and I have not seen them for many years, so I stayed a little longer. Little Xing Hui, please do not be mad at Mother, all right?” Little Xing Hui did not understand her words. He only knew his soft, warm mother had returned, and he kept burrowing into her arms.

“Are you hungry?” Chun Zhi loosened her clothes and nursed him. Full, the child settled and soon grew sleepy in her arms. She patted his back lightly and hummed a nursery rhyme to soothe him.

Just then, a shadow appeared outside the window. Hearing a sound, Chun Zhi sat up and looked out. She was about to call someone when Song Wan’er whispered: “Sister.”

“Wan’er?” Chun Zhi let out a breath and, half amused, said: “What are you doing outside the window at this hour? Come in.” Hugging a pillow, Song Wan’er pushed the door open, came to the bedside, and stopped. Chun Zhi asked: “Wan’er, what is it?” Song Wan’er said: “I cannot sleep. I want to sleep with Sister.” She stood by the bed and looked at Chun Zhi with hopeful eyes. “Come up,” Chun Zhi said. Song Wan’er quickly took off her shoes and climbed onto the bed, lying carefully beside Little Xing Hui and pinching his tiny hand.

“Why can you not sleep all of a sudden?” Chun Zhi asked. Embarrassed to admit she missed her father and mother, Song Wan’er only looked at Chun Zhi and asked in a soft voice: “Sister, you saw your parents today. What do they look like? Are they good to you?” Chun Zhi said: “My mother is very gentle. My father, in the past, was a famous handsome man of the capital. My brother looks quite a bit like him.” Song Wan’er said: “Then your brother must be very handsome. Compared with my older brother, how is he?” Chun Zhi laughed and said: “Each is handsome in his own way.” “Then he must be really good-looking,” Song Wan’er said. “How nice. Your parents and brother are still here. My parents…”

The Song siblings had lost their parents when Song Wan’er was very young. Her older brother raised her. When Song An Lan was gravely ill, his greatest worry had been his sister.

Chun Zhi said gently: “Your father and mother are watching you from the sky.” “Really?” Song Wan’er asked, her voice already trembling. “Really,” Chun Zhi said as she handed her a silk handkerchief.

“Sister,” Song Wan’er asked, “now that your parents and brother are back, will you still live with me and my older brother?” Chun Zhi did not answer at once. Today Mother had wanted her to stay, and only because of Little Xing Hui had she returned to Song Manor. When the Mu residence was repaired and her parents and brother moved back, then she…

Seeing Chun Zhi’s silence, Song Wan’er said: “Are you going to move back and live with your parents?” Chun Zhi’s wedding to Prince Chang’an was set for June, and it was not far off. Song Wan’er already hated to see Sister go. Now that the Mu family had returned, if Chun Zhi moved back to the Mu residence to be married, her time at Song Manor would be even shorter.

Chun Zhi patted Song Wan’er’s head and said: “No matter where I live, you can come find me whenever you miss me.” “Really?” Song Wan’er’s eyes were damp. “Really,” Chun Zhi said earnestly.

Luckily, both the Mu residence and the Prince of Chang’an Manor were in the capital, and Song Manor was not far from them. With Chun Zhi’s promise, Song Wan’er sniffled and said: “Then I will take it as true.” After Chun Zhi lulled the baby to sleep, she kept talking softly with Song Wan’er. As the night grew deeper, the two of them drifted off mid-conversation.

After the Mu family returned to the capital, Chun Zhi began running between the two households. With the wedding drawing near, many things had to be prepared, and she often took Song Wan’er to see her mother. Song Wan’er had lost her mother young, and Madam Mu had been separated from Chun Zhi for many years, so the two got along very well. At Chun Zhi’s urging, Song Wan’er acknowledged Madam Mu as her godmother, and the two girls now shared the same mother in name. Song An Lan even held a proper banquet to formalize it.

After Mu Qing Shan began acting as Minister, Minister Zhang formally retired and packed to return to his hometown. Mu Qing Shan took Mu Kai Ji to Zhang Manor to thank him for his great help. Minister Zhang said it had all been Prince Chang’an’s idea and that thanks should go to the Prince.

In mid-May, repairs on the Mu residence were complete, the courtyards were swept clean, and Mu Qing Shan, his wife, and Mu Kai Ji moved back. They also asked Chun Zhi to bring Little Xing Hui to the Mu residence so that when the June wedding came, she could depart from there. The Song siblings were reluctant to let her go, but Huo Zheng and Mu Kai Ji came together to escort her from Song Manor back to the Mu residence.

After eleven years, the Mu residence was once again bright with lanterns and decorations. Madam Mu invited the Song siblings to dine at the Mu residence so the whole family could be together and celebrate. Many people, hearing that the Mu family had moved back, came to offer congratulations, but Mu Qing Shan told the gatekeeper to turn them all away. He also refused every invitation sent for Madam Mu, Chun Zhi, or the Mu young master to attend banquets.

Once Chun Zhi moved back, Madam Mu could not put Little Xing Hui down, and Mu Kai Ji and Song An Lan found they had much in common. Family meals were warm and cheerful.

Only after supper, when Huo Zheng, as usual, wanted to walk Chun Zhi and the child back to their room, Mu Qing Shan stopped him. Official Mu said: “It is late, and the Prince and Zhi’er are not yet formally married. Before the wedding we must keep to the rules and meet less.” Since Father-in-law had spoken, Huo Zheng could only obey. Song Wan’er hid a laugh at the side. At Song Manor, her older brother had turned a blind eye; Official Mu would not allow the least breach of propriety.

Night was late, so Song An Lan and Huo Zheng both took their leave, while Song Wan’er stayed the night at the Mu residence. Mu Kai Ji walked his brother-in-law and Young Master Song to the gate. It was already summer in May, and the night wind was warm. The moon hung over the treetops, and stars filled the sky.

Standing under a tree, Chun Zhi lifted her gaze to watch Huo Zheng go. As he passed the turn in the corridor, Huo Zheng looked back at her. The deepening night could not hide the depth in his eyes.