Chapter Twenty-Four: When

"The fragrant flowers of this world are all worthy of accompanying you, Brother Ke. Compared to that peony—beautiful as it was, yet lacking in true scent and character—I feel this jasmine suits you far better."

The peony atop the Zhengyang Gate had come from the Xihe Garden, and she did not want him to continue lingering on thoughts of the woman who had emerged from that place.

"Brother Ke pinned a gardenia for me, and I have returned the favor with a jasmine. I think this is quite perfect."

Ke Mingxu did not move. It was not until she loosened her grip, stepped back, and then cautiously took another half-step forward, looking up at him, that he reached out to touch the jasmine on his lapel with tender care.

*Clear, icy petals, unadorned and pale, lasting from the height of summer into the chill of autumn.*

In truth, he was quite fond of the sixth lunar month, when so many white, fragrant flowers bloomed quietly in the summer nights. His courtyard was planted with only these two varieties, and it was only in these summer nights that his garden, stripped of its monotonous green, truly possessed any color.

Occasionally, when the mood struck him, he would play the zither under the moonlight in the courtyard. The fragrance of the jasmine was pure and distant, and in those moments, he felt as though he could truly commune with the great scholars of the Wei and Jin dynasties.

He did not know why, just moments ago, seeing her stand under the moon speaking to him with a smile, he had felt the urge to reach out and brush her temple. Fortunately, he had restrained his hand in time.

She always seemed so happy; whenever she looked at him, her eyes were either filled with a smile, or she was on the verge of laughter. His heart was not made of iron or stone; how could he not feel a sense of joy in return?

Although she was always full of questions when they were together, and often spoke in riddles that she found amusing, he never once thought her tiresome—never like the common sparrows in the woods, unworthy of notice. On the contrary, whenever he listened to her, he felt a sense of relaxation that required no thought.

He spent too much of his life lost in thought, which was often the source of his suffering, though lately, things had felt a little easier.

The Crown Prince said this was because she had feelings for him, but what could she possibly know of the matters between men and women? To her, he was merely a strange, unseen flower that had bloomed in the garden after a rain.

As for him, the daily necessities and worldly burdens that dragged him into the dust of life could never truly outweigh a volume of books, a verse of poetry, or the many injustices he witnessed in the world.

He had thought it through clearly when he finally placed on the imperial examinations. At such a moment, even he had felt a sense of relief. His life would hold more possibilities, and he would finally be qualified to change things.

He did not have complete confidence that he could balance these responsibilities, nor had he met anyone worthy of his true devotion. Perhaps a life of "a wife of plum blossoms and children of cranes" was more suited to him.

They would soon have to return to the hall. Wearing different flowers, they would at least not be scrutinized by those with ulterior motives looking to stir up trouble. He wondered if this was the Little County Princess’s way of being thoughtful.

"The Little County Princess seems to enjoy balance. You traded a silk handkerchief for a jasmine, a coral-flower pot for an orchid, a pouch for the moment you steadied me, and tonight, you traded a jasmine for the gardenia I pinned in your hair."

He kept a tally of the things between them.

Jing Hu laughed, revealing two shallow dimples. "I don’t just like balance; I like the spirit of 'give and take.'"

Give and take, until the day she grew up, and the day he no longer saw her as a child, but could speak to her as an equal.

"I have pinned the jasmine on your lapel, Brother Ke. The next step is yours."

What should his next step be? He remembered that she had been out of the hall for a long time.

"Mingxu is different from the Little County Princess; I have the Emperor's leave. I have already used the excuse of sobering up to stay away for quite some time. If I remain any longer, it might be improper. Did the Little County Princess not have something to ask me?"

If it was within his power, he would do it for her quickly.

The Little County Princess tilted her head as usual, standing on her tiptoes to press the back of her hand against his cheek. It did not seem particularly hot. She knew that some people did not flush even when they had drunk too much, unlike her, who turned red with even the slightest sip. Yet, with the wine rising to his head, he must be feeling warm.

She gazed at him with her large, innocent eyes. "Have you had too much to drink, Brother Ke?"

He had not. Perhaps it was she who had drunk too much, for she suddenly felt as though a faint blush had risen on Ke Mingxu’s face.

His voice remained steady. "After speaking with the Little County Princess for so long, do you think I am drunk?"

Jing Hu laughed sheepishly. "I am just being foolish."

She finally remembered the question she wanted to ask. "How did you know it was me?"

She knew Ke Mingxu was clever; even though her question was vague, he understood immediately. He had recognized her back at the Zhengyang Gate; she was asking when he had first known her.

They walked back along the path they had come, with Liu Huang following at a distance.

"Last June, I accompanied my teacher to the Yanjing docks to greet an old friend. The Little County Princess was setting out on a long journey, and I saw you there once."

"Later, I heard the boatmen say it was the Jingling County Princess from the Prince of Yongning’s estate, so I kept it in my heart."

*Kept it in his heart.* "Why did you keep it in your heart?"

She asked the question without a moment's thought, then waited nervously for his answer. It could not have been because of her sister-in-law. At that time, her eldest brother had not yet even begun to discuss marriage with her.

Under the moonlight, Ke Mingxu turned his head to look at her, his smile gentle. "The Little County Princess’s beauty is such that once seen, it is very difficult to forget."

Jing Hu stopped walking.

Beautiful as a coral flower, Jing Hu had received countless praises since she was a child. Her father had praised her, her mother had praised her, many people had praised her, and even the Emperor himself had praised her.

At first, she had been happy; no woman dislikes being complimented on her beauty. But later, she stopped feeling happy about it. She had learned a word: flattery. Many who praised her beauty were sincere, but there were far more who did so simply because she was the most beloved Little County Princess of the Prince of Yongning’s estate.

Eventually, she became too lazy to distinguish between them. Whether false or sincere, she would not change herself because of their words.

But today, she did not need to discern; she knew Ke Mingxu was sincere. His tone was so gentle—more gentle than the breeze that passed through the gardenia trees on a summer night, making the flowers tremble and carrying their fragrance into her heart.

Ke Mingxu stopped as well, his gaze resting on her, as if asking why she had halted. He had already taken a step, and now it was her turn.

"The first time I saw you, Brother Ke, was the day you rode through the streets after the examinations. When the peony blossoms fell, I was watching you from the city tower, and I had already kept you in my heart."

Now it was Ke Mingxu looking down at her. She was only a little taller than the jasmine on his chest. She looked up at him.

"Your appearance, Brother Ke, is the most wonderful I have ever seen in this world. I will never forget it as long as I live."

*Peerless beauty.* She thought of this phrase and could not help but smile.

If Ke Mingxu did not know what the next step should be, perhaps she could give him a hint. "Brother Ke, my birthday is on the Qixi Festival."