Chapter 119

From a distance, Lu Wensheng noticed a carriage parked by the roadside—a bluish-gray carriage drawn by two horses. It looked familiar, resembling the one he had seen outside Panlou a few days ago—the one Nianxi had been riding in.

He instructed the coachman to slow down. And then, his gaze met a pair of clear, lustrous almond-shaped eyes. Just a fleeting moment passed, and he noticed a green jade hairpin amidst her cloudy hair and misty temples. Her finely arched brows and unparalleled beauty, accentuated by the snowy backdrop, presented a unique earthly elegance.

The carriage came to a halt.

Lu Wensheng instructed his attendants to invite Miss Wen into his carriage.

As expected, she politely declined.

So, he personally got out, walked over to her carriage, and, through the carriage window, his gaze gentle and his voice soft yet rich, asked: “Where is Miss Wen heading?”

Nianxi was a little surprised by Lu Wensheng’s kind gesture. His servant had already come to invite her, and she had clearly declined. She hadn’t expected him to approach her in person.

“Duke Fu,” she responded.

The snowflakes were heavy, and he wasn’t holding an umbrella. Soon, his black hair was covered in white frost.

“The coachman is already on his way and will arrive soon to take me back to the manor. Thank you for your kindness.”

“The snow is heavy,” Lu Wensheng said gently, seemingly aware of Nianxi’s concerns, and added unhurriedly, “Why don’t you ride in my carriage back to the mansion first? I’m in no rush and can wait here.”

He stood there with the grace of a clear moon after a storm, serene and composed, waiting quietly in the swirling snow. Clad in a brown fur coat, he seemed untouched by the chaos of the mundane world.

Nianxi met his gaze and gently nodded. “Thank you. Sorry to trouble you.”

He demonstrated utmost sincerity, opening an oiled paper umbrella to shield her from the drifting snowflakes. As she walked beside him, she realized just how tall and upright he was. To accommodate her height, he tilted the umbrella completely to her side. In the short distance between her carriage and his, his black cloak was already dusted with melting snow. On the other hand, she had only a few snowflakes brushing her clothes from the cold wind.

Nianxi couldn’t really bring herself to let him wait in the snow while she rode his carriage back to the manor, even if his intentions were kind. So she turned back and asked, “Where were you heading, Duke Fu?”

Standing before the carriage, Lu Wensheng remained calm and composed, but a faint smile appeared in his eyes at her question. He told her the direction.

The weather was harsh, with snow falling heavier by the moment, the streets growing emptier, and the cold ever more biting.

In a soft voice, Nianxi said, “Our destinations align. There’s no reason for me to leave you waiting outside in such weather. Thank you for giving me a ride part of the way.”

Nianxi was not one to be pretentious. Having lived nearly thirty years, she had long learned to accept kindness gracefully and wouldn’t hesitate out of embarrassment or unease.

Lu Wensheng softly acknowledged with a slight “hmm,” paused momentarily and said, “Then we shall trouble Miss Wen.”

For a noble with high rank and authority, being able to express himself in such a manner was already remarkable. Moreover, it was just sharing a carriage—what kind of trouble could it really be?

Perhaps, due to Lu Huai’s influence, he was particularly sensitive when interacting with young women. However, Nianxi, with a clear conscience, did not feel troubled at all.

She slightly bowed and expressed her gratitude, saying, “Thank you, Duke Fu.”

The Duke Fu mansion’s carriage was much more spacious and luxurious. The heater inside the carriage burned brightly, quickly warming Nianxi’s entire body.

Lu Wensheng was a reticent man. He conducted himself properly and with great tact. Aside from instructing the coachman to head towards Yiqiao Street, he did not speak to Nianxi again.

For two unfamiliar individuals, silence was sometimes the best.

Nianxi quietly glanced at him.

Lu Wensheng, with his eyes lowered, was reading a book. They were separated by a small table, his expression serene and focused.

To pass the time, Nianxi began observing the intricately designed gilt bronze Boshan censer on the small table. Its body and lid were adorned with layered mountain ranges, interspersed with hunters and wild animals. The inlaid gold patterns were colorful and stunningly beautiful.

Wisps of delicate smoke rose from the censer top, light and fine-like threads, carrying a cool aroma. The fragrance lingered, reminiscent of plum blossoms blooming in the snow, exuding a warm and mellow woody scent.

It conveyed a subtle warmth.

Earlier, when Nianxi walked alongside him, a faint fragrance of spring hidden in the snow seemed to waft from the sleeve of his cloak.

Perhaps she stared too intently, for even Lu Wensheng noticed. He looked up from his book and saw the girl’s bright, gleaming eyes with a touch of innocence and charm. In the carriage, she resembled a pure, pristine magnolia blossom. He couldn’t help but ask, “Do you like this scent?”

His sudden voice broke the silence in the carriage, startling Nianxi, who had been fixated on the censer.

“My apologies,” Lu Wensheng quickly added in a gentle tone.

Nianxi didn’t raise her head. She pointed to the wisp of smoke above the censer, waiting until the delicate thread of smoke straightened again as if it were soaring toward the heavens before she spoke: “Look—”

Lu Wensheng, unaware of what significant discovery she had made, followed her gaze and watched intently for a while. As her words fell, the thread of smoke dispersed, becoming a hazy mist. Only then did she look up and say with a bright smile:

“I don’t understand fragrances; I just think this censer is beautiful.”

At last, Lu Wensheng understood why the little one, Xiaoqi, liked her.

Soft and gentle on the surface, yet brimming with quirky cleverness. She had clearly been shocked, yet she purposely created an air of mystery, making him unwittingly join in her moment of inexplicable observation.

But at the same time, it was a very novel experience.

Most of the time, women in his presence were reserved, deliberately cultivating an air of grace and beauty. This, of course, did not mean that he was so remarkable as to attract such attention from these women, but it was enough to show Miss Wen’s composure and ease. For someone of her age, this was not an easy feat.

He was ten years older than her, and aside from the slight embarrassment she initially showed when expressing her gratitude to him, the rest of her responses were always equal and balanced.

Neither influenced by status, age, nor even gender.

Neither arrogant nor obsequious, and without deliberate flattery.

It was just a small joke, yet it was rare for it to make Lu Wensheng feel relaxed, his mood lifting along with her gentle, cheerful smile.

“If you like this Boshan censer, it’s yours,” he offered.

Nianxi smiled and shook her head. “If that were the case, wouldn’t everyone hope to ride Duke Fu’s carriage just to receive a treasure?”

Her words were playful, but the intention to decline was clear.

Lu Wensheng was never one to force others, so he let the matter drop. He lowered his gaze back to his book while she continued to pass the time by staring at the swirling smoke from the censer. Neither spoke again, yet the initial awkwardness had vanished, replaced by a shared sense of calm and ease.

The carriage stopped at the Wen residence’s entrance.

After stepping down from the carriage, Nianxi gave a slight bow to Lu Wensheng and thanked him for giving her a ride. He didn’t step out but continued watching her until she entered the residence. Just before the gate closed, the red-clad figure turned around and waved at him again.

Amidst the swirling snow, his gaze softened.

After Nianxi had left, Lu Wensheng’s carriage remained stationary for a long while until a servant approached to inquire. Only then did he nod, and the carriage began to move away.

Lu Wensheng could no longer concentrate on his book. Instead, much like Nianxi earlier, he found himself staring at the intricate gilt Boshan censer on the small table before him.

The smoke rose gently in wisps, and he stared at it for a long time.