In the Northern Song Dynasty, he started by marrying the eighth daughter of the Su family.

It started snowing again outside. Su Zhen held up an umbrella and saw Han Zhi to the door.

Perhaps because of last night's nightmare, her face remained tense, as if she were still troubled by it. Han Zhi gently pinched her cheek and whispered:

"Alright, alright, I'm going to the Imperial Academy now. Eighth Sister, stay home and rest well to calm your mind."

"Um……"

Su Zhen gripped the umbrella tightly with both hands and nodded. Her lips were pursed, and she didn't say much. Han Zhi gently pinched her chin, slightly opened her mouth, and gave her her first kiss of the morning.

"Stay home and wait for me to come back. I'll buy you something delicious. Tell me, Auntie, what do you want to eat?"

"This concubine..." Su Zhen wanted to nod, but quickly shook her head and said, "This concubine can eat anything. Whatever my husband buys, this concubine will eat. Just remember to come back."

Han Zhi patted the top of her head and was about to leave, but Su Zhen reached out and grabbed him. Little Black, following its master, also stepped forward and bit Han Zhi's hem.

"My lord, remember to come back..."

Her voice was barely audible, and Han Zhi replied, "Okay, I will definitely come back."

Hearing the assurance, Su Zhen's face relaxed, a slight smile appeared on his face, and he let go of Su Zhen's hand to let him go.

Watching Han Zhi get into the carriage, she didn't forget to remind him, "My lord, please be careful on the road." Then, she saw her husband lean halfway out of the carriage, waving and calling out:

"I've invited the two ladies from the Bao family; they'll be keeping Eighth Sister company today! Remember to have a good time!"

Su Zhen also raised his hand and shook it, saying, "Okay!"

She stood quietly at the door, watching the carriage disappear into the distance, and felt a pang of loneliness. Qian Su then joined her, saying:

"Wife, it's getting chilly, let's go back inside."

Su Zhen glanced in that direction again, then, supported by Qian Su, went back to his residence.

……

After receiving Yueping's message, Bao Wan and Bao Fu rushed to the Marquis of Fuping's residence. They went straight to Su Zhen's room, where they found her sitting alone on a couch, a long scroll spread out on her skirt. Around her, many papers were scattered about.

Her pen was gently held between her index and middle fingers, and her gaze was fixed on the window, even though it was closed; she seemed somewhat lost in thought.

"Lady Su?"

But she didn't seem to be lost in thought for long. After Bao Wan called out once, she turned around and looked at them.

"Bao Niangzi".

Su Zhen casually put the pen aside, then tidied up the scrolls and papers before getting up to invite them to sit down.

"What's wrong with Madam Su today? She seems a bit lost in thought, unlike her usual bright and cheerful self." Bao Fu had heard the gist of what Yue Ping had said, so she asked.

Su Zhen shook his head slightly and said, "I just had some dreams last night, so I was a little absent-minded and lost."

At this moment, Bao Wan picked up the scroll, opened it, and saw that it was a long poem written by Su Zhen:

"Peach blossoms fall, the cold moon shines through the window, and sweet dreams are hard to hold onto."

I recall the scolding voices rising at the gate of the compound, my playful younger brother, his eyes brimming with tears.

The view ahead is empty and desolate; I wonder what it is, yet I say that impermanence is a strange phenomenon.

Day after day, the waiting for the matchmaker never came, adding to his sorrow.

The Cheng family was suddenly heartbroken, forced to marry off their daughter, leaving the father helpless and at a loss.

I had high hopes for Cheng because of his good looks and talent, but his parents-in-law treated me with extreme cruelty.

Burning books and destroying one's will, frequent beatings and scoldings, and the six months of pregnancy were even more miserable.

Returning to the Su family, she poured out her bitterness and sorrow, her clothes soaked with tears.

Wenjun's talent is unmatched, and Ba Niang's ambition is such that she would not willingly endure such humiliation.

Unable to have a son, he was heartbroken and bedridden, gradually passing away.

The moonlight, like water, falls silently upon my face, leaving only tearful eyes gazing at the vast expanse.

As the night ended, the pillowcase remained dry, and the soul departed, the fragrance fading.

Thinking of Zhaojun's departure to marry a foreign land, her sorrow and resentment were hard to bear;

Alas, Wenji returned to Han, her talent unparalleled, yet she too endured hardship.

Su Ba Niang's life was short; like a flower withering away, she left behind only regrets that filled the courtyard.

I ask Heaven, how can you bear to see this person pass away, tears streaming down my face?

I dreamt of returning to the old compound as the sun was setting, leaving only memories like fleeting smoke.

The moon shines coldly over the empty courtyard, a lone figure stands; the wind howls mournfully on the ancient road, horses neigh.

Where has her unparalleled beauty gone? A wisp of her fragrant soul has transformed into a jade flower.

This is a long narrative poem, written with such vividness that it seems unlikely to have been a dream. Rather than a dream, it's more like something she actually experienced.

After reading it, Bao Wan asked, "Madam Su, what is the meaning of what is written on this scroll? Is the Eighth Sister mentioned not Madam Su?"

Su Zhen shook his head and said, "This is the me in my dream, not the me on the bed. Zhuangzi dreamed of a butterfly, but did he not know whether this butterfly was a butterfly or Zhuangzi himself?"

Bao Fu frowned, took the scroll, and after reading it, said, "Madam Su is a real person. How can she be compared to that dream woman?"

"It's all just a fleeting dream, why make such a fuss? If Master Han sees Lady Su like this, he'll probably be furious when he gets back."

Su Zhen slowly let out a breath and remained silent. Bao Wan pondered for a moment, then said, "Since Madam Su has worries, it is difficult for us sisters to resolve this issue."

"However, I do know a temple where the Bodhisattva is efficacious and the master is reliable. Why don't you come with us, sisters, to go there, draw a fortune stick, and ask some questions? You might just find the answer."

Su Zhen was intrigued. What if it could interpret dreams? That would be wonderful. So she nodded and was about to leave when she saw Ma Ping and Qian Su standing at the door, looking somewhat reserved.

She was puzzled and asked, "What's wrong? Is there a problem with your husband?"

Ma Ping immediately bent over and said nervously, "My lady, just now I was taking my husband to the Imperial Academy. I originally intended to go straight there, but my husband asked me to take a detour to a carpenter's shop."

"Going to the carpenter's shop? What is my lord going there for?" Su Zhen frowned slightly and asked.

“Madam Fu, it was Ah Lang who said he wanted to have a little trinket made, but he didn’t tell me exactly what he wanted to make,” Ma Ping said. “But because of this, no matter how fast I drove the horse, Ah Lang was still late.”

"So, Ah Lang was stopped at the door by a gentleman and scolded. I know I was wrong, so I came to apologize to my wife."

At this moment, Su Zhen's sorrowful mood was instantly washed away by her anger. She clenched her small hands, took a deep breath, and said, "I understand. When my husband returns, I will hold him accountable. This matter has nothing to do with you. You may leave."

"Yes, thank you, my lady."

As Su Zhen watched Ma Ping and Qian Su leave, the anger in her heart could only be transformed into a long sigh. She squatted down, weakly supporting her cheek, her body trembling slightly.

Bao Wan quickly helped her up and asked, "Madam Su? Are you alright?"

Su Zhen slowly raised his head, his eyes lowered, and asked, "Madam Bao, given my husband's behavior, should I be angry or not?"

"What are you saying, Madam Su? Whether you're angry or not is entirely up to you." Bao Wan found these words rather puzzling.

“We should also see why this Mr. Han went to that carpenter’s shop. If he is truly indulging in such frivolous pursuits, it’s not too late to get angry then,” Bao Fu added.

"The most urgent thing now is to consult the oracle and resolve Su Niangzi's inner conflict. Otherwise, even if we find out the answer to one question, we'll still be missing another. This lingering worry will likely harm her health."

Su Zhen glanced slightly towards the door, then stood up, leaning against it. Finally, she sighed and murmured:

"I entrust my heart's secrets to the zither."

Sorrow accumulates, sorrow accumulates.

Youthful beauty fades and turns to dust...