The rain in the Capital was always lingering, much like the tangled and unending emotions between Shen Qinghuan and Péi Yànshū. At this moment, a fine, dense drizzle wove itself into a pale veil, enveloping the majestic Imperial Garden. The bluestone-paved palace pathways gleamed with a cold light through the curtain of rain, resembling an impassable chasm lying between them.
Shen Qinghuan stood in the pavilion of the Imperial Garden, gazing blankly into the curtain of rain. A moon-white palace dress drifted gently in the wind, making her figure appear all the more frail. Her thoughts drifted back to many years ago, when she was not yet the Empress, and he was not yet a subject.
At that time, Shen Qinghuan was the deeply cherished legitimate daughter of the Shen Mansion, innocent, carefree, and cheerful. Péi Yànshū was a newly emerged scholar of humble origins, exceptionally talented and imposing. The two accidentally met at a poetry gathering, where Shen Qinghuan was deeply captivated by the impromptu verses composed by Péi Yànshū, while Péi Yànshū was equally touched by Shen Qinghuan's vivacity and intelligence. Afterward, they frequently arranged outings in the countryside, discussing poetry and painting in the study, their affection quietly growing through their time together.
Chapter 243