Chapter 6, Tolerance

Madam Shang, feeling extremely apprehensive, declined: "This thing, which the young lady's servant has received, I absolutely cannot accept."

Madam Shang smiled and said, "This alone is sufficient." After speaking, she bowed slightly to express her gratitude and continued, "I feel quite embarrassed for the expenses incurred by the lady, thank you for your generosity. If the lady enjoys it, please feel free to stroll in the garden, as long as you do not leave the estate. I still have tasks to attend to, so I will take my leave now and will return to report to the lady once I receive news from the Diguo Monastery."

"Grandmother, you are overthinking it. Why must everything be judged by rules when it comes to human relationships?" Bu Nuan took a sip of fragrant tea and said, "I have no other intentions. As you know, I am a guest here, and I am afraid that I might inadvertently upset my uncle and grandmother. They may not find it convenient to express their feelings, and I would end up appearing inconsiderate, which would not be good."

The mist over the lake is hazy, and the lanterns have already been extinguished, leaving no trace of human presence. She feels a bit melancholic and turns to ask the female steward of the Shen residence: "Madam Shang, did my uncle return last night?"

Xia Jingchun, who was not the man she almost married, was not anyone she knew. They had never met, yet he evoked a profound longing within her, which is truly astonishing; it seemed utterly illusory, yet also appeared to exist in reality

Bu Nuan sneered: "You are overthinking it; it's just a coincidence"

She wanted to confidently stand back, but she lacked the courage no matter what. Out of curiosity, she wanted to see what that person's face looked like, so she peered out through the gap in the window.

She placed the warm blanket aside and turned her face to let Xiang Nong apply the mica flower paste. Looking in the mirror, she raised her hand to smooth her temples and said softly, "I have nothing else, just to be cautious in my words and actions."

Xiang Nong lowered her head to apply nail polish for her, smiling as she said, "Indeed, are we still worried about not having a place to go? If we are not welcomed here, we can head to Jizhou. Uncle and his wife are close siblings, so it would be fine for us to seek refuge there. If that doesn't work, we can buy a property and live independently, inviting a young man to join our family. Life would still be beautiful!"

The person on the corridor may have sensed something, slowing their pace to look back. This startled Bu Nuan quite a bit, and in a fluster, she hurriedly stepped aside, leaning against the window frame yet feeling reluctant. She did not understand why she wanted to hide; perhaps it was an instinctive reaction. She sighed, wondering if she felt guilty like a thief. Was it not just a glance at someone? If that were her uncle, there would be no need to conceal it.

In a state of confusion, she did not know how much time had passed, and she vaguely experienced a dream. In the dream, there was a man standing there, his features indistinct. Her fingertips had once brushed against his outline, which felt very intimate and familiar, yet she did not know who he was

Sitting on the Hu couch by the window, wrapped in warmth, holding a scroll in hand, he glanced at her casually and said: "What do I have to worry about? Even if I cannot stay here, the Tang Dynasty is vast and rich; is there not a place for me to settle?"

Her fingers tapped rhythmically on the windowsill as she shook her head and sighed, "A beauty like a flower, separated by the clouds!" Then, quietly observing, she saw him return to the Bamboo Branch Pavilion, his garment fluttering as he moved through the dim light, his pure white wide-sleeved long robe seeming to be the only scenery in this world.

The jade stove flicked its tongue, serving Bu Nuan as she washed her hands and rinsed her mouth. It then held the lacquer tray and followed Xiang Nong out from behind the screen into the outer room. Bu Nuan closed her eyes, hearing the sound of the sliding door on its track, as their footsteps gradually faded away

Xiang Nong, the futa, sat down in front of the dressing table to smooth her hair, gathering her dark, heavy locks with a jade ribbon. She examined her face in the bronze mirror, youthful and beautiful, yet her brows were furrowed.

Bu Nuan was taken aback by her question, and after a long pause, he stammered, "I just find it a bit strange to see a man so fond of tending to flowers and plants"

After passing through layers of curtains, she entered the inner chamber. Xiang Nong lit the lamp early, and the room was filled with the distinctive scent of burning wax.

He stood there gazing upward, his hands clasped behind him, exuding an air of leisure and contentment. Bu Nuan recalled the words from "Xiang Fu Ren": "Time cannot be hastily seized; let us casually enjoy the moment." If he were an uncle, then he would be the most perfect combination of person and name

Bu Nuan tapped her head lightly, realizing that she was probably becoming obsessed, all because of Xiu and Yu Lu's antics! Recently, she had been having such dreams frequently, and she believed that person must be the one destined for her. The reason for her hesitation was that she still had to wait.

Bu Nuan was stunned, uncertain whether the person was her uncle. Her uncle was a general of the town, and in her imagination, he should be dressed in armor and a helmet, exuding an imposing presence. It was hard to believe he would appear in such a scholarly attire. However, upon further reflection, since Lan Sheng could be as refined as a scholar, it was not impossible for her uncle to adopt a similar demeanor after returning to the residence.

Lying on the couch, Bu Nuan was lost in thought, contemplating the most prosperous nation, the most enchanting era, and the most beautiful people... Chang'an possesses a vitality that is more vigorous than that of Luoyang. She smiled foolishly, sensing that this journey to Chang'an would surely bring extraordinary encounters

The window of the Bamboo Branch Pavilion was dark; she stood for a while feeling a chill all over her body. Just as she was about to close the window, she saw a person walking by the willows, pausing briefly in front of the red medicinal herb garden of Lan Sheng, then turning back to ascend the arched bridge, heading along the water corridor towards the pavilion in the center of the lake

Madam Shang smiled kindly and said: "I have returned, indeed, but the military is very busy. The princess is seeking a husband, and in the past few days, envoys from various countries have come to propose marriage. The young master is responsible for the palace's security and has been going to the office at dawn."

Xiu insisted on placing it into her hands: "It is of little value, but in the future, we will have to rely on you, Mama, for more care! Our lady is young and may not be thorough in some aspects, so we ask you to guide her more. " Seeing Mama Shang's hesitant expression, as if her ten fingers wanted to grab it but did not dare to, Xiu simply lifted the rattan cover, packed the items into the food box, and pushed it towards her leg, smiling, "This is only proper. We know that the general holds a high position and has a generous salary, treating those below him with kindness. Such a small thing may not catch Mama's eye. But this is our lady's intention, so please accept it, as it is meant for the children at home to buy some candy."

The wind was somewhat strong, causing his sleeves to swell. Although the Smoke and Waves Tower is situated at a high elevation, it is not far from the Drunken Collar Lake. Standing on the tower, one could clearly see even his flying hair, truly resembling a jade mountain about to topple, gracefully like a startled swan

The warmth of the blanket allowed them to entertain themselves as they pleased. In her view, her uncle's arrangement was merely to prevent her from feeling neglected. He was busy with his duties, and the head of the household was in the temple fasting, leaving only a room full of maids and servants without any proper demeanor. Lan Sheng was his close friend, and it was only through him that the invitation seemed formal. His heartfelt intentions, however, were misinterpreted by them, which truly left one both amused and exasperated.

When she woke up, she was in a state of panic, her heart racing wildly, as if something was about to break free from its cocoon. After gasping for breath for a while, she calmed down slightly, got out of bed to pour herself a glass of water, and then sat there pondering who that person could be

The wet nurse was startled and hurried over to ask, "What is going on with all this commotion?"

The warmth enveloped me, and I realized that the one I saw last night was indeed my uncle. Since he had already left, there was no need to rush over to pay my respects. I simply sat down and allowed them to dress me, saying: "The old lady and the young lady from the Ye family have returned. Please send someone to inform me, and I will go over to pay my respects."

"Yes, I understand." Bu Nuan smiled and, seeing that everyone below had left, signaled for Xiu to bring out some money and silk to reward her

Madam Shang rubbed her hands together and awkwardly said, "How can this be appropriate? There is no such custom in the residence"

The jade furnace sent Lady Shang to the door, and upon turning back, she said: "Since Uncle has such strict rules, how can he entrust General Lan to welcome the young lady? The young lady is an unmarried girl; what does it mean to have a man come to pick her up?" She stroked her chin and exclaimed in surprise, "Could it be that Uncle intends to match the young lady with General Lan, allowing you to meet first, and if all goes well, have General Lan come to propose?"

"What is the young lady thinking?" Xiang Nong asked softly, as she applied jade cream to her chest, gently spreading it with her fingertips, the fragrance wafting through the warm and delicate texture of her skin. She lowered her eyes, cool and indifferent. Xiang Nong was accustomed to her expression and paid it no mind, only saying: "Now that we have arrived in Chang'an, there is no need to worry. Since Uncle has promised to take us in, he will handle everything himself."

Madam Shang bowed slightly and said, "When the young master left, he instructed that since the lady is unfamiliar with the surroundings in Chang'an, she should not rush to leave the residence. It would be best to rest for a couple of days and wait for the young master to have some free time to take the lady out for a stroll."

The next day, she woke up feeling dizzy. The wet nurse brought someone to help her get dressed, and the maidservants of the Shen residence entered one after another, observing the proper etiquette while preparing breakfast. She instructed them to forgo the formalities and suddenly recalled the events of the previous night, leaping barefoot off the couch to open the window

The scroll in hand felt heavy, almost impossible to hold. Casually placing it on the table, I turned over and fell asleep in a disheveled manner without even covering myself with the quilt.

The jade furnace pouted and muttered: "Perhaps he is even pleased to be discussed by us! Even a blind person can see that delivering it to the gate of the Shen residence is already fulfilling the uncle's request. Why then does he use the excuse of looking at the red flowers to bring it to the Misty Wave Tower, and linger by the Drunken Collar Lake for such a long time? Is it not because he has intentions towards you?"

Bu Nuan was left dumbfounded, and only then did Madame Shang realize that she was making things worse. She smiled awkwardly and said, "The young master is not an unfeeling person; however, having come from a military background, he is inevitably strict. As the legitimate niece, he cares for you dearly and will not be overly harsh. Just put your mind at ease!"

Tsk tsk! She clicked her tongue in approval, truly a beautiful person! Tall and graceful, with features like a painting, her eyes seem to hold countless charms in their glances... She tilted her head in contemplation, countless charms... It seems somewhat inappropriate to use this phrase for a man, but apart from this, she could find no other words to describe it.

Yulu sat on the crescent stool, peeled a pear, and handed it to her, glancing at her and saying: "If I thought too much, I should feel that you are also interested in him. He grows his red medicine, why do you want to join in the fun?"

The sound of dripping water echoed softly, and it was already midnight. She rose and approached the window, pushing it open to look outside. The moonlight was splendid, casting a silver glow over the world. The moonlight reflected on the lake's surface, creating shimmering ripples. The wind lantern hung high on the mast in front of the Bamboo Branch Pavilion, while small lanterns were lit at intervals along the corridor. From the vantage point of the Misty Waves Tower, the water pavilion and corridor meandered gracefully through the thin mist, exuding an ethereal ambiance reminiscent of a fairyland. The wind lantern remained high on the mast in front of the Bamboo Branch Pavilion, and small lanterns were lit at intervals along the corridor. From the vantage point of the Misty Waves Tower, the water pavilion and corridor meandered gracefully through the thin mist, exuding an ethereal ambiance reminiscent of a fairyland.

Xiang Nong lit the Lingling incense and couldn't help but laugh at Bu Nuan's dazed appearance: "This girl Yu Lu has lost her mind. Hasn't she gotten tired after bumping around for two days on the road? Why doesn't she tidy up and go to sleep instead of babbling nonsense here and being annoying!"

Bu Nuan glared at her: "You are also making a fuss for no reason! You dragged him into this for no good reason. He was only asked by his uncle to greet someone at the alley, yet you are scheming against him behind his back. Isn't that a grave injustice for him!"

The jade stove brought in the snow pear, and the interface teased, "A son-in-law who enters through the back door is most likely powerless and without influence, how can he compare to General Yunhui! Xiu is right, if the lady could marry General Lan, wouldn't all her troubles be resolved!"

Madam Shang nodded and said: "Madam is indeed a meticulous person! Speaking of the rules in the residence, there is nothing particularly special. The old lady does not have much, merely the usual precepts of a large family. Only the master is somewhat particular; no one in the residence is allowed to go to the pavilion in the middle of the lake without his permission, not even Madam Zhi Xian. Furthermore, when he asks you a question, you must answer truthfully, without a single lie. If he has started a sentence, you must continue it; you are not allowed to speak out of turn or make noise... Moreover, when he asks you a question, you must answer truthfully, without a single lie. If he has started a sentence, you must continue it; you are not allowed to speak out of turn or make noise..." Madam Shang, fearing to frighten her, quickly smiled and said, "It is not as terrifying as that; the master has a relatively gentle temperament, he simply prefers quietness. The residence does not allow for noise, and the same goes for military discipline. There was one time when I was ordered by the old lady to deliver cold medicine to him at the camp; in that large central military tent, there were at least twenty or thirty officers and soldiers, yet it was as silent as a grave, not even a cough could be heard..." There was one time when I was ordered by the old lady to deliver cold medicine to him at the camp; in that large central military tent, there were at least twenty or thirty officers and soldiers, yet it was as silent as a grave, not even a cough could be heard...

Xiu was beaming with joy, "That's great! If it really goes this way, there is an eighty to ninety percent chance that this matter will succeed"

Bu Nuan slightly furrowed her brows. She had heard her mother say that her uncle was strict with rules when she was at home, but now she truly felt it here. The servants in the house each performed their duties, not speaking a word more than necessary, nor taking a step beyond what was required. Even their glances and expressions were restrained and disciplined. She was not allowed to move about freely, which she presumed was part of the family rules. Although she was not entirely satisfied, she understood that being under someone else's roof was different from being in her own home, and she had to abide by certain constraints.