Chapter 75

Chapter 75: Don’t Be Afraid

Song Wan’er looked toward the temple. In the curling smoke she could see only the nobleman’s tall, straight back. Even just his back carried the pressure of someone in high power. No wonder Chun Zhi panicked like this.

Song Wan’er was scared too, but she knew Chun Zhi needed calm comfort most right now. Forcing herself not to show fear, she said in a low voice: “Sister-in-law, do not be afraid, let us go back to the carriage.”

As women of the Song Clan, they had both worn veiled hats when they got down from the carriage. Even with the wind lifting a corner, the guards at the gate had not seen their faces. No one knew that the pregnant young woman before them was the very person Prince Chang’an had searched for so hard for more than half a year.

“Here, let me help you,” said Song Wan’er, supporting Chun Zhi as they turned and walked toward the carriage.

Snow kept falling. Inside and outside the temple was a white blur. Feeling something, Huo Zheng turned to look, but he saw only a swirl of skirts in the wind. He stared toward the gate, not knowing what he had just missed. After a while, he calmed himself, closed his eyes, and continued to pray.

He had never believed in gods, only in himself. But after Chun Zhi left, he had searched across the land, north and south, and still could not find a trace of her. For what lay beyond human reach, he could only ask the gods.

He prayed that the gods would keep Chun Zhi safe and bring her back to him soon.

Snow landed on his face and shoulders and frosted him white. He set the incense stick into the burner, went into the main hall, and drew a fortune stick. It was an auspicious top lot. Abbot Wantong of Wanhua Temple personally interpreted the lot and told Huo Zheng: “What the nobleman asks will all come true. The person you seek is already close at hand.”

Looking out at the flying snow, Huo Zheng said in a hoarse voice: “I hope so.”

The abbot chanted “Amitabha.” It was already time for the noon meal, so he invited the nobleman to stay for vegetarian fare at Wanhua Temple. Huo Zheng, as usual, made a large donation, told the guards outside to disperse, and spoke with the abbot while heading to the dining hall. He used to dislike monks who ate vegetables and chanted sutras, yet now he believed in gods and Buddha. If the Prince Rui Faction and the Ninth Prince Faction heard this, they would not believe it.

Chun Zhi also found it hard to believe that Huo Zheng had come to Dongzhou, and to Wanhua Temple no less. Back in Linshui Town, whenever she wanted to go to the City God Temple to burn incense, Huo Zheng would say, “Asking gods is not as good as asking me.” Such a man was now seeking blessings in a temple.

Chun Zhi’s thoughts were in chaos. She had not expected Huo Zheng to come to Dongzhou himself, much less to meet him at Wanhua Temple. Seeing that her mood was off, Song Wan’er helped her into the carriage and said: “Let us go home. We will go now.”

[If we can get back to my older brother, everything will be fine. With him at home, he can block all trouble.]

Chun Zhi steadied herself and, after a long moment, said to Wan’er: “Since we are already here, go in and burn a stick of incense. I will wait in the carriage.”

“But your face looks so pale.”

It had taken effort to leave the house, and Wan’er did not want to return without praying for her older brother. Yet Chun Zhi’s face was so white that Wan’er could tell the nobleman had truly scared her. She could not bear to leave Chun Zhi alone.

“It is all right. I will be fine in a little while,” said Chun Zhi, forcing a small smile to reassure her.

As they were speaking, the guards at the gate moved aside. The nobleman had likely left. Wan’er did not see him come out, so he must have gone by another door. She thought that if they went down the mountain now, they might meet him on the road. It would be better to go in, burn incense, and finish praying for her older brother. That way they could also avoid him.

Thinking this, she said: “Then sit here for a bit, Sister-in-law. I will go in to pray and come right back.”

“All right,” said Chun Zhi. “Go on then. The road is slippery in the snow. Walk slowly and be careful not to fall.”

“I know.”

Answering as she lifted the curtain, Song Wan’er stepped down and, with a maid, went into Wanhua Temple. The worshippers who had been kept outside also went in. Even in the snow, the temple was busy and full of incense.

Chun Zhi sat in the carriage, hugging a handwarmer for heat. Sometimes a gust lifted the curtain and a few snowflakes drifted in and landed on the back of her hand, cold and sharp. She kept her veil on. The fear she had felt the instant she saw Huo Zheng’s back had not faded; her heart still raced.

Holding the handwarmer, she closed her eyes and prayed to the gods at Wanhua Temple: [Please make Huo Zheng leave Dongzhou soon. Please do not let him find me.] If she had not promised Song An Lan to marry him, Chun Zhi truly wanted to slip away now while Huo Zheng had not yet discovered her, and hide in some lonely place where he would never find her.

Waiting for Song Wan’er felt especially long. Wan’er burned incense and prayed, then drew a fortune stick for her older brother Song An Lan. When she returned, she was cheerful and said: “Sister-in-law, I am back. I drew a top lot. It says my older brother’s life is not meant to end!”

Seeing Wan’er rubbing her cold hands, Chun Zhi quickly passed her the warm handwarmer and said: “Young Master Song is such a good person. He deserves a long life.”

Hugging the handwarmer, Wan’er grew playful in her joy and said: “I am already calling you Sister-in-law. Why are you still calling my older brother Young Master Song?”

Song An Lan had also told Chun Zhi that she should change how she addressed him, but she was still used to calling him Young Master Song. Under Wan’er’s gaze she felt a little shy and said softly: “After we are married, I will change it.”

“That is true,” said Wan’er. “When you change how you call him, my older brother should be the first to hear it.”

Chun Zhi opened her mouth but did not say anything.

As Wan’er spoke, she suddenly coughed twice. Chun Zhi quickly tugged Wan’er’s cloak tighter and asked nervously: “Why are you coughing? Did you catch the cold wind when you went out?”

Wan’er was weak and often fell ill. She was dressed very warmly today. Holding the handwarmer, she smiled at Chun Zhi and said: “It is nothing. It is just cold outside, so I coughed a few times. Sister-in-law, do not be so nervous.”

Both Song Clan siblings were frail, so it was hard for Chun Zhi not to worry.

“All right, let us go home,” said Wan’er, leaning close to Chun Zhi to share warmth. She told the coachman: “Uncle Li, take us back.”

Uncle Li answered loudly and had the two young maids sit up front. Then he drove the carriage down the mountain.

The road twisted along the slope, and the snow made it slick. As they rounded the second bend, they saw several carriages had already collided ahead. Uncle Li pulled hard on the reins, but the carriage could not stop and was about to crash into them.

Riding behind them, Huo Zheng saw and leaped forward. He grabbed the reins that had slipped from Uncle Li’s hands. The horse reared with a high, ringing neigh. The two young maids tumbled from the carriage. The wind lifted the curtain high, and when Huo Zheng turned his head, he saw the two people inside the carriage…