Knowing the Warmth of Southern Tea (GL) - Chapter 28

Chapter 28

When Rongrong woke up, she hadn’t yet fully detached herself from her dream. Suddenly, she realized that back then, she actually did love Zhi—she just hadn’t realized it. Or perhaps, she had realized it but loved her own pride more.

Oh well, let the past remain in the past…

She sat up and saw Wen Cha sleeping by her bed and Nan Nuan sitting at the table, focused on her book. She knew then that some things could no longer be hidden…

“Why did you let her sleep here?” Rongrong asked Nan Nuan. Nan Nuan indicated that it was Wen Cha’s own wish and she couldn’t stop her.

Although it was early spring, a fire had been lit in the hearth, so the room was naturally not cold.

“Madam, your body is heavy with child now; it’s best not to overthink. You should care more for yourself,” Nan Nuan said. Though her tone was blunt, her words were genuinely caring.

“Alright… Miss Nan, take Wen Cha back to her room to sleep. Mm…” Having had that dream, Rongrong felt as though her entire perspective had broadened. For many things, “there will be a path when the carriage reaches the mountain.”

“Mr. Zhuang came by. I’ve entrusted him to convey your wishes to the Crown Prince. Perhaps there is still a glimmer of hope. Thus, you likely won’t see him for a while,” Nan Nuan informed Rongrong of Gu Zhuang’s departure to prevent her from worrying.

“Xiao Zhuang knows? Was he angry?” Rongrong felt a surge of regret. Had she known it would come to this, she should have told Gu Zhuang herself. She had kept it from him for fear of worrying him, but now it seemed she had achieved the opposite.

“Yes, he knows. He wasn’t angry, just worried about you,” Nan Nuan replied. She didn’t quite understand why Rongrong would ask that, as this should have been considered good news.

“I see.” Rongrong felt relieved. As long as Xiao Zhuang wasn’t angry, it was fine—even if he would surely lecture her upon his return. It was a kind of “sweet trouble.”

At the same time, she had some words she wanted to say to Nan Nuan.

“Since Madam is fine, I will wake Wen Cha,” Nan Nuan said. She could see that Rongrong had more to say, but the hour was late and she wasn’t prepared to listen.

“Miss Nan, you may find me annoying, but I must say this. As the saying goes, ‘a general in the field may decline even a command from the sovereign.’ As long as Nuan Nuan is willing, she will surely be able to help Qingzhou survive this disaster.” At this point, Wen Cha, who had been feigning sleep, could no longer keep it up. In truth, she had woken up the moment Rongrong did.

Wen Cha could no longer listen in silence.

“Mother, you are being too harsh on Nuan Nuan. Nuan Nuan is simply doing her job in her position. If she defies an imperial command, what will happen to her? Mother, your heart sees only the ‘Greater Good,’ but you fail to see that while you simply move your lips to speak, others have to sacrifice their lives and efforts for you. How can there be such a convenient thing in this world? Don’t you think you are being too much?” Wen Cha’s sudden outburst startled Rongrong, but the argument left Rongrong in deep thought.

Nan Nuan felt a current of warmth flow through her heart. Many people always said that “with great power comes great responsibility,” but no one ever asked the person if they were willing.

“Indeed, I was narrow-minded,” Rongrong said with a smile, looking at Wen Cha. Wen Cha suddenly felt a pang of guilt; in truth, she should have stood by her foster mother’s side, whether for public or private reasons…

“Mother…” Rongrong didn’t speak further, only waving her hand to signal them to leave.

Wen Cha was reluctant to go but was eventually pulled out of the room by Nan Nuan. She asked uneasily, “Is Mother angry?”

“Isn’t it a bit late to consider that? Go to sleep! Don’t overthink it. Madam is a person of great integrity; she certainly won’t hold a grudge against you,” Nan Nuan comforted her.

Wen Cha felt that Nan Nuan was very gentle and easy to talk to today, so she pushed her luck. “I want Nuan Nuan to sleep with me.” Nan Nuan thought about it and finally agreed. The two returned to the room, their hands clasped, never letting go.

An San, who was protecting Nan Nuan from the shadows, saw them leaving hand-in-hand and thought: Could this be what they call ‘bosom friends’? My young mistress finally has a close lady friend; truly a cause for celebration.

…

Although Rongrong felt Wen Cha wasn’t wrong, she wouldn’t easily change her own stance. Call it harsh, selfish, or a burden on others—Rongrong did not want the transition of royal power to affect the lives of the common people.

When a dynasty prospers, the people suffer; when a dynasty falls, the people suffer as well.

In prosperity, the people suffer; in ruin, the people suffer.

Rongrong couldn’t fall back to sleep. As she lay down again, she suddenly found a letter under her pillow and opened it.

Return quickly. Do not worry.

The handwriting was unmistakably Gu Zhuang’s, and the content was characteristically brief. Rongrong remembered how she used to write long letters to him, and his replies were always just one word: “Read.” It was just like how he used to process official documents. Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Gu Zhuang, I really do miss you a little!

Little one, you must be good and wait for your father to come back.

Since things couldn’t be changed, she decided to prepare for the aftermath. Strive for the best, but prepare for the worst. It was time to find a way to gather medicinal herbs, grain, and money.

Rongrong didn’t know yet—perhaps the fate of Qingzhou had already been rewritten?

Everything has a cause and effect. Perhaps the reason Rongrong was able to have a second child was tied to the calamity of Qingzhou.

…

Meanwhile, Wen Cha and Nan Nuan were already lying in bed. Wen Cha snuggled closer to Nan Nuan, but Nan Nuan pushed her away in feigned annoyance.

“It’s hot.” Wen Cha knew it was hot, and she was hot too, but she still gripped Nan Nuan’s arm tightly and wouldn’t let go. Nan Nuan finally let her have her way.

“Nuan Nuan, what do you plan to do?”

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“No matter what you do, I will help you,” Wen Cha promised seriously. In the darkness, Nan Nuan couldn’t see Wen Cha’s expression. No one knew what Nan Nuan had written in her letter to Nan Wei, but she knew her own heart was clear. She knew the Qingzhou incident would allow her to achieve her long-held ambitions faster, but…

Were some things really worth it?

Was all this scheming and striving truly worth it?

The answer to this question could only be provided by Nan Nuan herself.

Everyone has a dark side and a bright side. Perhaps what you think you want is merely what others have forced upon you, not your own true wish.

Suddenly, Nan Nuan couldn’t remember why she had such a great obsession with power. Was it because of her father’s neglect, or her brother’s coldness?

All that remained in her mind was Wen Cha’s smiling face and Rongrong’s kindness…

In that moment, Nan Nuan finally understood Xuan Yuanche—she understood the Crown Prince.

The struggle for power was for the sake of protecting those around you.

Before, Nan Nuan had always been led by the nose by Xuan Yuanche, but now she felt that if she were to face the Crown Prince again, the winner would be uncertain.

Once the matters in Qingzhou were settled, she would take Wen Cha to see Jiangnan.

Fair Jiangnan! Its scenes of old I well remember. At sunrise, riverside flowers are redder than fire; In spring, the river water is as green as blue. How can one not remember Jiangnan?

In the Capital, Nan Wei seemed to sense the change in Nan Nuan’s mindset. One could say she was “finding her true self.” Although he hadn’t received her letter yet, he seemed to have a psychic connection and had guessed her will. He had already sent a reply via fast horse to Qingzhou, making sure that by the time he received her letter, she would also receive his response…

Nuan Nuan, I am sorry for what I have put you through.