Chapter 1, Gale

Sunlight filters through the low-hanging gauze, and the flowering hawthorn, cut the previous night, has already bloomed. White flowers with yellow stamens are scattered across the branches, filling the room with a subtle fragrance.

Bu Nuan could only nod in confusion. Through the narrow gap in the window, she saw the sedan chair of the Bu family swaying as it turned into the alley. The attendant loudly shook the bell to announce their arrival. She turned back and asked, "Is Father back?"

She turned to the diamond-shaped mirror and pursed her lips. Just as she picked up the comb and dipped it in osmanthus oil, hurried footsteps echoed up the stairs. Yulu rushed in, panting, her face as pale as death: "Madam, something terrible has happened, Young Master Xia... is dead"

Bunuan's asthma is a condition she has carried since birth. After several years of treatment, there has been some improvement, but it tends to recur in spring. Therefore, Madam Bu absolutely forbids her from going out during the blooming of the peonies. Bunuan feels an endless melancholy as the young ladies of noble families gather at the flower fair to compose poetry and prose, while she remains in the tall building, unable to enjoy the splendid spring.

The young man smiled broadly and cupped his hands in salute: "Madam, you are mistaken. Deng Tuzi is not lecherous; he is merely devoted to his humble wife. To compare me to Deng Tuzi is a great honor. My surname is Xia, my family name is Jiuxing, my given name is Jingchun, and my nickname is Jiulang. I hope you will remember this. I have important matters to attend to today, so I shall visit you again tomorrow, Jiulang will come to pay his respects, it is a promise." After saying this, he walked along the covered corridor and meandered towards the flower-laden gate.

It is truly strange... Strange people, strange words. Bu Nuan did not take it to heart, yet who would have thought that the next day, the ninth son of the Xia family really sent a matchmaker to propose marriage.

Bu Nuan, inexperienced in the world, lay by the window in a daze: "What are you asking this for?"

It seems that things are not going smoothly; Madame Bou is anxious yet still pinches a handful of cloth to soothe herself. She leans forward and asks, "My lord, what does Minister Xia have to say about this?"

Compromise ... ? ... She sighed, wondering if this compromise would cost her a lifetime

As the warm blanket is pushed aside, the air is humid. The sun has just risen, and the outline of Luoyang City is not very clear; the houses are lined up in succession, shrouded in a thin mist, vague and pale

Bu Ruyin is an elegant scholar, not well-versed in human affairs, yet the principles of propriety are constantly ingrained in his mind. Upon hearing that his wife intended to break with tradition, he could not help but feel a surge of anger and exclaimed: "Are you trying to learn from those shameless women outside how to make a scene? Our Bu family has upheld propriety for generations; we are a family of poetry and scholarship. How can we engage in actions that violate morality and reason?"

Bu Ru Yin ascended the stairs, glanced at the lady and Bu Nuan, and Bu Nuan quickly bowed and greeted, "Aye." Bu Ru Yin waved his hand dismissively, sitting on the Hu couch with a face full of obscurity

Madam Bu furrowed her brows as she looked at her: "When you were still in the cradle, I asked a high monk to read your fortune, and he said your path of love would be fraught with difficulties, and that your wisdom would bring you pain. I was superstitious and often half-believed it, but I never expected it would indeed come to pass. " Gradually choking up, she covered her mouth and cried, "My child, you are only fifteen years old, bearing the heavy title of a hard fate. How will you live through the coming decades!"

Everything seems to be going smoothly, yet it appears unrelated to Bu Nuan. The marriage between the two families is not merely to facilitate a good match. Bu Nuan has only met Xia Jiajiumang twice, and cannot say she has any particular feelings for him; it is merely a matter of her parents' wishes and the matchmaker's words. She had protested in the past, but to little effect, and eventually gave up. After all, she would have to marry sooner or later, and it would be the same no matter whom she married. Fortunately, Xia Jiajiumang is not unpleasant to look at, so she can make do.

The young man looked up, his hair as dark as ink beneath the black silk handkerchief. He gazed at her steadily and smiled, saying: "You are unlike anyone else; while others throw embroidered balls, you throw kites. I am being presumptuous, may I ask if you are married?"

The warmth muddled her thoughts into a chaotic mess, and her mother cried so much that it further caused her to lose her resolve. It was an indescribable feeling, somewhat sad, yet not overwhelmingly so. May heaven forgive her selfishness! She admitted that, at that moment, she even felt a sense of secret joy at seeing the light of day again

This is the most bitter of all, a respectable official's wife, entering the temple to become a nun, isn't that a disgrace to the ancestors of the cloth family? Lady Bu furrowed her brows in silence, and after a pause, she said, "In any case, we must prepare for the worst. Rest assured, mother will protect you completely"

Such a season is indeed well-matched with her name. The surname Bu is quite rare, and the name Bu Nuan is interestingly associated with books—spring returns to the earth, the fragrant breeze brings warmth, just like this era, filled with longing and hope, brimming with lightness and poetry. Even in sadness, it remains vibrant and full of life.

The young man leisurely waved the folding fan in his hand and smiled, saying: "You and I are fated to meet. Since the lady has shown favor, I, being unworthy, will report to my father and come to propose to the lady tomorrow."

As soon as the words fell, Madame Bu, with tears in her eyes, was supported by her maid as she stepped into the room. Bu Nuan hurriedly stood up to greet her. Madame Bu reached out and embraced her, crying out: "My child, your fate is so bitter, how could you end up in such a situation... What use is it for me to eat vegetarian and recite Buddhist scriptures every day, when the Bodhisattva remains blind, treating my daughter in such a way!"

She was displeased and pouted: "We can sneak out through the corner gate; Mother is currently engaged in worship and won't notice us."

Bu Nuan was born into a family of scholars and poets. His father, Bu Ruyin, held the position of a sixth-rank official and was a scholarly figure with a poetic talent. His mother, Shen, was a woman of noble birth, contrasting sharply with his father's reserved and gentle demeanor; she was independent and decisive, embodying the most distinctive characteristics of women in the Tang Dynasty.

With no way to warm up, I tiptoed and ran around the room holding a kite high. After running two laps, I sat down on the mat, resting my chin on my hand, lost in thought.

The kite soared and dipped, and her gaze followed its rise and fall. The spring breeze was quite unpredictable, suddenly coming to a halt, causing the kite in mid-air to plummet straight down, landing squarely on the head of a youth below.

This is a match made in heaven. The young master of the Xia family, a gentleman of the Central Secretariat, is cultured and refined, and accomplished at a young age. The Xia family is one that values propriety, ensuring that all rituals—such as the proposal, inquiry of names, auspiciousness, and the offering of gifts—are meticulously observed. In March of this year, as the weather warmed and the girl reached maturity, the Xia family formally set a date for the wedding, which is scheduled for the eighth day of the fifth month, an exceptionally auspicious day.

Madam, please take your seat below the canopy," he said with a furrowed brow. "What can be said? When I arrived, Jiulang had already been laid to rest. The Xia family was in complete disarray, with his wife and the matriarch crying inconsolably. When Xia Shilang saw me, he hastily exchanged a few words before retreating to the inner hall to comfort his elderly mother. It is a pity that Jiulang was so young, with only two young nephews guarding the spirit altar, while all the relatives were elders, dressed in mourning attire, and the rest were servants of the household. I added oil to the eternal lamp, lit three sticks of incense as an offering, and left, as my presence there would have drawn attention.

At that moment, she was filled with intense and rich emotions, yet had no outlet for them. With a sigh, she idly fiddled with a few blades of plantain on the rosewood table. After a long silence, she suddenly jumped up, grabbed the kite string, and threw the beautiful kite out the window with all her might. The strong spring wind lifted its wings, and it soared high into the sky. She cheered loudly, her cloud satin wide sleeves billowing, revealing her snow-white arms like jade.

Draped in a warm shawl, standing barefoot with long hair flowing, braving the cool breeze, the joints feel stiff

Xiang Nong or Xiao: "This servant does not dare, fearing that the young lady has fallen ill with anger, seeing the madam skinning me."

Vaguely recalling the past, it was also in this month, just after the Cold Food Festival, a perfect time for spring outings. During the reign of Empress Wu, women experienced unprecedented liberation, and the streets were bustling with a mix of young ladies from noble families. At that time, Bu Nuan was thirteen years old, a lively and spirited age. She yearned for the outside world and, upon seeing a beautiful kite hanging on the wall, she moved a stool to reach it, calling out to Xiang Nong, who was arranging the bedding: "Please fetch my gauze hat and inform my mother; I want to go out and fly kites"

Although Bu Nuan was taken aback, it was not so difficult to accept. After sitting in silence for a while, he asked: "Do Father and Mother know?"

How did she pass away? Was it due to illness? She was weak and her body had gone limp

"The Ninth Young Master of the Minister's Family, Xia Jingchun, Xia Langzi!" The jade stove exclaimed, bursting into tears, "My wife, the betrothal gifts have been received, the marriage contract has been exchanged, and suddenly such a thing has happened. What shall we do next?"

Madam Bu shook her head: "Do not speak carelessly; who among parents does not wish for the well-being of their children? Even when the court marries off a princess, the queen still has to worry and intervene! Your father and I have only you as our sole offspring, whom we have raised like a phoenix since childhood, hoping that you would marry someone suitable... Who would have thought it would end up like this!"

The jade furnace was very indignant: "Dying from illness would have been acceptable, but to die from falling off a horse while playing polo is simply unacceptable."

The so-called way out is nothing more than marrying a man who has lost his wife and is looking to remarry. It may sound unappealing, but as long as one chooses wisely, it is not impossible for the couple to live in harmony and mutual respect.

"I fear this is not a good omen," Bu Ruoyin said, tapping on the wooden bed. "From the words of the young mistress of the Xia residence, I can tell that the madam is distressed over Jiulang. Since the daughter-in-law has not yet entered the family, Jiulang cannot be considered an adult, and the funeral rites are significantly lacking. They have all cried to the point of fainting. We must be on guard against the Xia residence coming to take someone away; let us prepare diligently!"

Xiang Nong merely smiled and said, "My dear wife is feeling a bit better from her cough and wheezing. The flowers are blooming beautifully at this time, but inhaling the pollen could easily trigger her condition. It is still better to be at home, sitting by the window to enjoy this sunny day, which is equally delightful to behold"

Madame Bouffant murmured, "What does it mean to say nothing at all"

Bu Nuan felt the girl's voice echoing across the dome, leaving her in a daze, unable to regain her senses.

Madam Bu's face was pale, twisting her handkerchief as she said, "We have contributed a considerable amount, and they from the Xia family lost their son; what right do they have to take my Nuan away for burial?" As she spoke, she embraced Bu Nuan, repeatedly stroking her hair and said, "At present, an old widow can remarry after the mourning period, and there is no reason for a widow to remain alone for a lifetime. If they dare to come and take her, I absolutely cannot agree!"

She is getting married! The Bu family has already begun to prepare the dowry. In Bu Nuan's boudoir, there are newly crafted green cabinets and two large red lacquered carved boxes. One box contains lipsticks, rhinoceros horn combs, and hairpins; the other box is filled with jade items for the boudoir, as well as hair ornaments such as hairpins, bracelets, hair sticks, rings, and pendants. Each item is wrapped in red silk, and on the table, there are two rolls of red measuring tape, in case more items need to be added.

Bu Nuan淡淡地看着那些陪嫁，心情如窗台上的露水般冰凉。她觉得前途渺茫，并没有待嫁的喜悦。其实她只是想出去散散步，看看山花的浪漫

"Mother need not worry, for crying too much will harm your health." Bu Nuan helped Madam Bu to sit down and brought tea to show her respect, saying, "Even if I never marry in my lifetime, it is still acceptable. There are no brothers or sisters in the family; once I leave the home, who will take care of our esteemed parents?"

Bu Nuan lay on Madam Bu's lap and said, "Mother, do not worry. After I serve the two elders for a hundred years, even if I were to find a nunnery to become a nun, I would not end up with a fate of being a corpse left in the wilderness"

The heart of warmth sinks down; as long as the betrothal has been made, and both parents have matched the birth dates, whether or not the marriage certificate is presented, they are considered husband and wife. If one of them passes away, the other will either be a widower or a widow, and they can no longer be regarded as complete.

Bu Nuan was taken aback and asked, "Which young man?"

Bu Nuan was taken aback, blushing as she spat, "Rascal, lecher!"

The jade furnace is still sobbing, wiping its tears and saying: "This young man from the Xia family is truly lacking in virtue. Knowing that he is to be married, he should have taken good care of himself. Now he has lost his life and has also implicated his wife..."

The warm quilt made Mother cry with heartache, as she sat on the embroidered stool, letting out a long, deep sigh

"Warm child," Lady Bu sighed with a heart full of sorrow, tears streaming down her face, "Good child, your mother knows the pain in your heart, the obstacles set by fate are beyond our control. Who could have predicted that Ninth Brother would be such a misfortunate person, causing me to worry in vain. Your father has gone to the Xia residence to pay his respects; let us wait for his return and then discuss our plans in detail. In my opinion, Minister Xia and his wife are reasonable people; they would not be heartless enough to watch you suffer in their household. As long as they do not come to demand you, we still have a way out..."

The jade furnace was hastily pushed open to reveal the row of windows at the eastern end. A person wearing a cap and a robe hurriedly approached from the corridor, and thus I responded, "The master has returned and is coming this way!"

Madam Bu also hails from a prestigious family in Chang'an. Although she knows that her words may seem unreasonable, for the sake of her daughter's future, she cannot afford to care about such matters! She retorted with righteous indignation: "You only care about your reputation; what is the worth of your old face? This concerns Nuan'er’s entire life. I would rather be criticized behind my back, and even if they take me to court, I will still act this way!"

Xiang Nong glanced at her and comforted, "Let’s wait a little longer. Seeking momentary pleasure will only lead to being bedridden the next day, why suffer for it! It is not too late to go out after the peony flowers have withered."