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

Shen Kuo led Wang Qian outside, not forgetting to turn back to see if anyone had followed—even though he knew his good brother wouldn't come.

At least not now.

Then, since the weather was cold, he found a small teahouse and rested with Wang Qian for a while. After sitting down, Wang Qian coughed heavily a few times and drank some hot water from the table before feeling a little better.

Shen Kuo then asked, "Is there anywhere you'd like to go, Madam Wang? Let's go there for a stroll first."

Wang Qian thought for a moment, then took out a piece of paper from her bosom, unfolded it, and handed it to Shen Kuo. She then said, "These are the places I wish to visit, and I have already been to some of them."

Shen Kuo glanced at Wang Qian, then took the note and began to read it:

Glazed Pagoda; Jinming Pond; Daxiangguo Temple; Xiyu Tower; Pingluan Tower...

Only three places were crossed out: the Glazed Pagoda, the Western Language Pavilion, and the Pingluan Pavilion. Shen Kuo smiled and said, "Would Madam Wang like to see them all?"

Wang Qian nodded and then said, "Actually, there are many more places, but I only heard about them from the guests outside. I know the names of some, and I don't know the names of others."

"Those who know are all on this paper. As for the rest whose names we don't know, I'm afraid they won't be able to go."

As she spoke, Wang Qian's eyes suddenly dimmed, but the light quickly disappeared. Shen Kuo didn't notice, because his attention was entirely focused on the paper.

He sensed something was amiss, then smiled and said, "This Jinming Pond is an official garden; how did Lady Wang find out about it?"

"Huh?" Wang Qian quickly understood what he meant and immediately felt a little frustrated. Then she said, "Does that mean we can't go? If not, then let's delete it."

But Shen Kuo shook his head and said, "You can go. Jinming Pond was opened to scholars for recreation before this year. I just wanted to ask where Lady Wang heard about Jinming Pond."

Wang Qian said, "I heard it from you, sir. You said there were beautiful water shows and military exercises on the water. Unfortunately, I only heard about it from my room at the time, so I don't know if it's true."

Shen Kuo then returned the paper to Wang Qian and said, "In that case, let's go to Jinming Pond. It's relatively close to Brother Han's house, so if we get caught, we can easily run there."

Wang Qian became happy at this moment and nodded vigorously.

"Then let's set off. It's early morning now, and there aren't many people around."

After Shen Kuo finished speaking, he stood up and then saw Wang Qian take out the silver ingot from her small pocket, seemingly preparing to pay for the tea.

Amused, he asked, "What is Madam Wang up to?"

Wang Qian said matter-of-factly, "It's used to pay for tea. You have to pay for everything, whether it's food or drinks."

Shen Kuo then took out a piece of silver and placed it on the table, saying, "So much silver is not worth paying for two cups of tea. A piece of silver is more appropriate."

Wang Qian nodded and had no choice but to put the silver ingot back into his pocket before leaving with Shen Kuo.

......

To ensure their "secret operation," Shen Kuo and Wang Qian deliberately avoided the residence of the Marquis of Fuping.

The journey wasn't far; after walking for a while, they arrived at Jinming Pond. It was freezing cold, and even though it was the winter solstice holiday, few people were willing to go out.

The pond was frozen over, and the dragon boats that had been moored there had long been moved. So, from Shen Kuo and Wang Qian's perspective, the entire Jinming Pond was clean and even somewhat deserted.

Looking at the tranquil yet slightly desolate Jinming Pond, Shen Kuo worried that Wang Qian might be disappointed, so he seemed to turn to Wang Qian and say, "Although Jinming Pond is less lively at the moment, this quiet scene in winter has its own unique charm."

Wang Qian nodded gently, a slight glint in her eyes, and said softly, "Being able to see the water play performance that you mentioned, even in this season, is enough to satisfy me."

Seeing this, Shen Kuo suggested, "Since we're here, let's take a walk along the pond; it won't be a wasted trip."

"Okay."

The two then walked slowly along the path outside Jinming Pond. Wang Qian was closer to the lakeside and walked cautiously, occasionally stopping to gaze at the sparse branches and the gray sky reflected on the pond, as if searching for something.

However, the surface of the pool was already covered by a thick layer of ice, like a huge silver mirror, quietly reflecting what Wang Qian was looking at.

The surrounding buildings and scenery appeared even more ancient and solemn against the winter backdrop. The exquisite pavilions and towers were now covered with a thin layer of snow, resembling elegant ink paintings.

Occasionally, a gust of wind blows, and the snow on the branches falls gently, making a soft sound.

"Look, over there!" Wang Qian suddenly pointed to an open space not far away and said excitedly. Shen Kuo looked in the direction she was pointing and saw a flock of sparrows hopping and playing in the open space, occasionally flapping their wings and taking flight, adding a touch of life to the quiet Jinming Pond.

"What kind of bird is that? Why does it like to hop around but never fly?"

Shen Kuo smiled and explained, "It's not that I can't fly, I'm just hungry and looking for something to eat on the ground."

"Oh, I see. Birds also have to worry about food and water," Wang Qian sighed and said.

Her sighs turned into wisps of white mist in the cold air, as if adding a touch of warmth to the silent world. They stopped and watched the sparrows quietly until they flew away.

Wang Qian looked around and suddenly said, "I really hope to have the opportunity to witness such a grand occasion in person."

Shen Kuo paused: "What grand occasion?"

"The kind of grand event that adults are talking about, like dragon boat races and naval drills in spring and summer, must have a lot of people, right?"

"Hmm," Shen Kuo hadn't seen it either, but he nodded nonetheless, saying, "It's alright, Madam Wang will definitely be able to come and see it in the future. If all else fails, someone will come to help Madam Wang..."

"They escaped!"

These words seemed to be spoken by Shen Kuo deliberately lowering his voice. Wang Qian chuckled upon hearing this, and then said, "What nonsense are you talking about, Master Shen? I'm afraid the adults will be even stricter with you after we return this time."

"Even with strict measures, there's still some airtightness!" Shen Kuo laughed, then pointed to the entire Jinming Pond and read aloud:

"Twenty steps around Jiuli Pond, a fairy bridge with vermilion railings spans like a rainbow. Camel Peak rises and lies in the water. Baojin Pavilion connects, its jade palaces exuding endless charm."

In March, the scenery is bright and the flowers are like a sea, willow branches gently sway in the spring breeze. Men and women from all over the city enjoy themselves together. Listening to the night rain at Lotus Lake, the verdant scenery is especially enchanting.

After listening, Wang Qian said, "This poem does describe the magnificent scene of Jinming Pond at that time. Although I did not see the magnificent scene, listening to Master Shen's poem can be considered as if I have seen it, right?"

"It's not worth it. These sights will still be there next year, so we can come back then!"

As Shen Kuo spoke, he waved his hand, mimicking Han Zhi's boldness, unaware that Wang Qian found it somewhat comical. She stared at him, lost in thought, and then laughed.