The Legend of Zhen Huan: Year after year, we share the spring breeze

"Where's my sister?"

Zhen Huan was studying the blueprints and didn't even look up when she heard this: "Sister Mei is in the spinning room. She's learned all of Aunt Wang's unique skills these past few days."

An Lingrong became more curious after hearing this, and went to the spinning room while holding up her skirt.

When we arrived at the front yard, the familiar creaking sound gradually became clearer.

Among the neatly arranged rows of spinning wheels, she recognized the familiar figure at a glance - Shen Meizhuang was wearing a half-worn indigo coarse cloth dress, with only a plain silver hairpin in her hair, and was sitting among a group of spinning women.

She was seen deftly flipping the yarn with her fingertips while whispering with the aunts beside her. Someone said something witty that made Shen Meizhuang smile brightly.

An Lingrong rubbed her eyes unconsciously. If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, who would have believed that this was the current empress dowager?

"Your technique is much better than when I was learning!" The woman sitting next to her clapped her knees in admiration, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes shaped like chrysanthemums. "Look at the twist, it's so even!"

"It's all thanks to your teaching!" Shen Meizhuang smiled modestly.

"You are smart!"

Shen Meizhuang was about to answer when she suddenly looked up, as if sensing something. When her gaze fell on An Lingrong at the door, her eyes suddenly lit up.

"Rong'er!" She stood up hastily, took two steps at a time, and came to An Lingrong's side, holding her hand. "Are you tired? Why didn't you rest first before coming here?"

An Lingrong was about to reply when she felt something strange on her hand.

When she got outside, she looked down and saw that there were several watery blisters on Shen Meizhuang's originally white and slender jade fingers. Her eyes suddenly turned red. She carefully held Shen Meizhuang's hand and blew on it gently: "Sister, does it hurt?"

Shen Meizhuang smiled nonchalantly, "It doesn't hurt! Aunt Wang said that once these blisters scab over and form calluses, it won't hurt anymore."

"Sister, I asked you to come here to enjoy the scenery, but look at you, why..."

"Rong'er," Shen Meizhuang took her hand, her eyes gleaming with a light An Lingrong had never seen before. "I like being with them. Listening to them talk about family matters and learning their skills is more interesting than playing the piano or reading books."

An Lingrong looked at the cotton wool stuck in Shen Meizhuang's hair and felt a little dazed for a moment.

"Sister..." Her throat choked slightly, and her fingertips gently brushed away the cotton wool on Shen Meizhuang's temples: "I think you are a little different."

She paused and added, "Better...better than before."

Shen Meizhuang was stunned when she heard this, then smiled.

She pulled An Lingrong to sit on a wooden bench in the corridor and pulled out a white handkerchief from her sleeve. It was no longer the exquisite Suzhou embroidery from the palace, but an ordinary cotton handkerchief. She expertly wiped the sweat from An Lingrong's forehead. "Really?"

An Lingrong nodded heavily.

From afar came the creaking sound of a spinning wheel, mixed with the laughter of the female workers.

Shen Meizhuang looked over An Lingrong's shoulder at the busy spinning room, her voice so soft she seemed to be talking to herself: "They are all lively people, who can make noises and laugh, worry about the daily necessities, and laugh heartily at the smallest things. I feel very at ease when I am with them, just like..."

She paused, as if searching for the right words. "It's like finally stepping onto solid ground."

An Lingrong noticed that when Shen Meizhuang said this, the corners of her eyes and eyebrows relaxed, and even her breathing became more comfortable than when she was in the palace.

The sunlight filtered through the hair scattered by her ears, casting tiny shadows on the ground.

It turns out that my sister is most beautiful when she takes off her gorgeous clothes and jewelry.

The cotton wool stained in the spinning workshop, the blisters on her fingertips, and the rough yet heartwarming family stories were all gradually filling the void left in her heart by the years spent in the deep palace.

"Sister, as long as you are happy!"

"Ok!"

After Shen Meizhuang and Zhen Huan's birthdays, the weather in Jiangnan gradually became warmer, and the air began to be filled with the sweet fragrance of gardenias.

The sudden downpour had just subsided that day, and a few wisps of cloud still hung in the sky. The three of them arrived in the city and walked slowly along the bluestone path beside the stream. The wet flagstones shone faintly after the rain, reflecting the green shadows of the weeping willows on both sides.

A breeze blew by, bringing with it the coolness of moisture, so pleasant that one can't help but slow down.

An Lingrong walked in the middle, with Shen Meizhuang on her left and Zhen Huan on her right. She looked sideways at her two sisters and suddenly felt that this scene was too beautiful to be true.

"Sister, Sister Zhen," An Lingrong took a deep breath, her voice so soft it was almost drowned out by the sound of running water. "The Dragon Boat Festival is coming soon. Let your cousin take you back to the palace!"

As soon as she said this, she felt her throat tighten slightly. These days, they almost forgot their identities.

Upon hearing this, Zhen Huan looked at Shen Meiyu with a smile, and they smiled at each other.

Zhen Huan turned around with a sly glint in her eyes: "Rong'er, Sister Mei and I have discussed it. From now on, we will live in Suzhou City permanently!"

"Ah?" An Lingrong was stunned for a moment, thinking she had misheard.

Shen Meizhuang also smiled softly, held An Lingrong's hand, and said softly, "Even if we go back, we will miss you every day. Why don't we stay here and be closer to you?"

An Lingrong's eyes lit up with surprise, and her heartbeat quickened a bit: "Of course I hope you can stay, but... Hongxu..."

Before she could finish, Shen Meizhuang smiled and shook her head: "I have already written him a letter, asking him to tell others that Huan'er and I went to Mount Wutai to pray for the country."

What a powerful reason.

Zhen Huan smiled with her eyebrows curved, and reached out to gently tap her forehead: "I just got some ideas about that steam engine. Even if you chase me away now, I won't leave!"

Shen Meizhuang looked An Lingrong in the eye and said, "Rong'er, you have such a great ideal, so Huan'er and I naturally want to contribute. Just keep moving forward, and I'll help you with the accounts and stabilize the rear."

At this moment, An Lingrong suddenly felt as if they had returned to the time when they used to depend on each other, but this time, there were no more rules to bind them.

She took their hands, placed them on her chest, and made a solemn promise: "We are still young, so let's do something meaningful and make the most of this precious time. When we are old and can no longer walk, we will return to the capital, find a secluded place, and spend our lives together."

"it is good!"

"it is good!"

Three hands clasped together.