The Cinnabar Mole of a Beijing Circle Tycoon

The car stopped in front of a small brick building hidden behind pine and cypress trees. The waiter respectfully opened the door, and the warm air mixed with the faint scent of pine wood wafted out.

"Mr. Meng, you've arrived!"

Meng Jiangyu responded calmly, "Hmm!"

"A private room has been prepared for you, please come this way!"

Meng Jiangyu led Shen Qingyao inside, and Shen Qingyao looked around the place with timid eyes.

The decor of this club-style restaurant is far more sophisticated than that of ordinary places.

The dome features a replica of the coffered ceiling pattern, with gilded lines gleaming warmly under the overhead lights. The walls are not pure white, but rather a beige with a sense of age, adorned with several ink paintings, their brushstrokes simple yet demonstrating skill.

The floorboards underfoot are made of solid rosewood, making no sound when you step on them.

The waiter led the way with light and slow steps. The buttons on his cheongsam and the copper ornaments on the wall were all in the same hidden pattern, revealing the ingenuity of "concealment" everywhere.

Unassuming, yet its true worth is revealed in the details.

Throughout the entire journey, Meng Jiangyu never let go of his hand.

The private room boasts a superb view, offering a panoramic vista of the entire Forbidden City.

As Shen Qingyao sat down, her fingertips brushed against the brocade cushion on the back of the chair. The texture was as delicate as fine brocade, and the pattern was a simplified lotus scroll, which subtly echoed the brick carvings on the palace wall in the distance.

"The decor here..." She didn't know how to describe it for a moment, only that every detail was meticulously crafted, yet it never felt cluttered.

Meng Jiangyu picked up the menu, his fingertips tracing the gold-embossed words, "Half of these tables, chairs, and decorations are old items moved from the old house."

Shen Qingyao then noticed that the copper candlesticks on the corner of the table had a natural patina on their edges, and even the wall clock had a brass movement that made a soft "tick-tock" sound as it ticked, which intertwined with the rustling sound of snow falling outside the window, as if slowing down the pace of time.

The waiter served teacups, the white porcelain as thin as an eggshell, and the tea soup shimmered with an amber glow when poured into the cup.

Holding her teacup, Shen Qingyao looked out the window at the snow falling on the palace walls, and then at the space in front of her that blended ancient charm with elegance. Suddenly, she felt that this might be another way to understand the Forbidden City.

Without even setting foot on the palace walls, one can still touch the subtlety and refinement hidden within the passage of time in a similar tranquility.

"The food here is just as exquisite as the decor," Meng Jiangyu said, handing her the menu with a smile in his eyes. "Want to try some?"

Shen Qingyao nodded, her gaze sweeping over the dishes on the menu. Several of them were replicas of recipes from ancient books, and even the cooking methods exuded the flavor of bygone days.

She suddenly realized that true refinement is not about deliberate replication, but about hiding respect for time in every piece of wood, every utensil, every cup of tea, and every meal.

The snow was still falling outside the window, while the warm light inside flowed quietly. This little world achieved a wonderful harmony with the distant Forbidden City.

Red walls and white snow gradually spread out in the twilight, and the snow on the glazed tiles reflected the last bit of sunlight, like a flowing traditional Chinese painting.

As soon as the two sat down, the snow started falling again outside the window. The fine snowflakes slanted and wove a hazy white veil over the magnificent palace.

"You can see the whole picture from here." Meng Jiangyu poured her a cup of hot cocoa. "It's more comfortable than walking around inside."

Shen Qingyao held the warm cup, looking out the window at the Forbidden City covered in snow, and the oppressive feeling from before gradually dissipated.

The waiter was exceptionally attentive when serving the food, his eyes filled with cautious reverence, and he even spoke in a soft voice.

"This property belongs to the Xu family; they are the owners of Fenghua Palace," Meng Jiangyu explained casually, as if he had seen through her confusion.

"Oh, I see. You two are close, aren't you?"

"Yes, our two families are old friends. I'll introduce you two sometime."

Shen Qingyao nodded slightly.

His phone vibrated as soon as he finished speaking.

In the group chat of my childhood friends in Beijing, Xu Mingxuan's message popped up the most: "Fifth Brother, you're awesome! Taking your wife to my restaurant to see the snow? How romantic!"

Zhou Yanqiu followed closely behind: [Your news gets here fast, kid.]

Lu Linchuan chimed in, "[Just a while ago you said you didn't care about anyone, and now you're taking a girl to see the snow in the Forbidden City?]"

Meng Jiangyu tapped the screen with his fingertip and replied: 【Get lost.】

The group chat immediately became even more lively. Xu Mingxuan sent three gloating emojis in a row, and Zhou Yanqiu added: "[This deserves a discount for your sister-in-law.]"

Shen Qingyao caught a glimpse of the words "sister-in-law" on the screen, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she pretended to be focused on the snow outside the window: "You two... are very close?"

"We grew up together, they're really mischievous." Meng Jiangyu put away his phone, placed a piece of dessert on her plate, and said, "Just ignore them."

The snow outside the window fell heavier and heavier, and the Forbidden City gradually disappeared into the white snow, leaving only the outline of the red walls stubbornly exuding warmth.

Soothing piano music filled the restaurant, and the sweet aroma of hot cocoa mingled with the fragrance of food, keeping out the chill from outside.

Shen Qingyao suddenly felt that the oppressive atmosphere in the palace just now was perhaps a perfect backdrop to the tranquility she felt now.

With him by my side, warm drinks to soothe my stomach, and snow falling as a beautiful scene, I am very happy.

"The snow scene here seems even more beautiful than before," she said softly.

Meng Jiangyu followed her gaze, a smile appearing in his eyes: "Outsiders naturally find the scenery beautiful."

The snow was still falling outside the window, and the Forbidden City became even more serene in the wind and snow, like a silent old man guarding hundreds of years of stories.

Holding the warm cup, Shen Qingyao gazed at the red walls and white snow, and suddenly spoke softly: "I used to think that I liked the Forbidden City because I was attracted by these magnificent palaces. Red walls and yellow tiles, flying eaves and brackets, just looking at them is breathtaking."

She paused, her fingertips gently tracing the name on the rim of the glass: "But standing here today, I realize that's not it. What's truly unforgettable are the people who once lived here."

Meng Jiangyu listened quietly, gesturing for her to continue.

"Just like the Fourth Prince, he has the world in his heart, and he also has the Thirteenth Prince in his heart. For the sake of the world, he can have murderous intentions towards Mingwei; but because of the Thirteenth Prince's entrustment, he can still act with affection but keep his feelings within the bounds of propriety towards Mingwei. He seems heartless, but his feelings are extremely deep."

Shen Qingyao's gaze fell on the corner tower in the distance, her tone tinged with melancholy.

"And then there's Yinxiang, who clearly had more talent to be an emperor, but because of a promise, he was willing to stand behind the Fourth Prince for the rest of his life, living a carefree and devoted life. Even the most unruly Fourteenth Prince was the same; he clearly had the strength to fight for the throne, but when it was within his grasp, he disdained to take it because it 'wasn't his own.'"

She turned to look at Meng Jiangyu, her eyes shining: "They each have their own integrity, and they live such vibrant lives. These are the true soul of the Forbidden City. For hundreds of years, people have talked about them endlessly, isn't it precisely because of these vivid personalities?"

Meng Jiangyu picked up the teapot and poured her some more hot tea.

The snow outside the window gradually subsided, and the sunlight peeked through the clouds, gilding the palace walls with a golden edge.

Shen Qingyao gazed at the red walls, then suddenly remembered something: "I used to always wait for a snowfall, thinking that only when the snow fell could this deep palace truly become the Forbidden City. But now I understand, what truly transforms the Forbidden City into the Imperial Palace is not just frost and snow."

She pointed to the palace walls in the distance: "Look at these red walls, guarded for hundreds of years, remembering the summer clouds and the autumn gold, but perhaps not remembering how many women's youths were locked within them. 'Once you enter the palace gates, it's like entering a deep sea,' isn't that what they're talking about?"

Shen Qingyao's voice softened, tinged with regret.

Meng Jiangyu took her hand on the table, the warmth of his fingertips soothing her slightly coolness: "So what you like is never the cold palace, but the people hidden in the bricks and tiles, and the feelings in people's hearts."

Shen Qingyao smiled and nodded. When she looked up, she saw a ray of sunlight shining through the window and falling on their clasped hands.

The Forbidden City in the distance appears even more solemn after the snow, its red walls reflecting the white snow, like a painting that can never be finished.

It turns out that some scenery is more moving when viewed with a story in mind.