Spring of the Blade - Chapter 27
Chapter 27
So, this was an official of the Palace Command. He was not at all like what she had imagined. She had thought these people would be mighty warriors capable of uprooting mountains and covering the world, yet she had not expected such refined delicacy. And yet, this refinement was not feminine; there was not a hint of gentleness in it. His gaze was sharp, possessing the seasoned shrewdness of an officer inspecting the guard, and he did not speak, waiting instead for her to announce her name and state her purpose.
Qingyuan felt a bit afraid. For some reason, her heart hung suspended, and she had an inexplicable feeling that this man would be difficult to deal with. Her previous experiences in handling people—even when engaging in schemes—had all been battles within the inner chambers among women; there were no head-on, blade-to-blade confrontations like this. Now, it felt as though she were holding a torch in the wind, with the lurking danger of burning her own hands. Thinking about it, she felt it was laughable; in the end, her experience was too shallow, and she grew nervous at the mere sight of an outsider. The Chief Commandant did not look like a wicked man, so what was there to fear? It was likely just because he was a man.
"I am the daughter of the Regional Governor of Jiannan, Xie Shu," Qingyuan composed herself, folded her hands, and offered a formal bow. "Forgive my abrupt visit, Chief Commandant."
The man raised his long eyebrows slightly. "So, the young lady of the Xie family. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit to my humble abode today?"
Officials spoke like this by and large. There was no warm, idle small talk. Perhaps colleagues might need to engage in mutual posturing, but there was no need for artificial displays of intimacy toward a young girl with whom he had no dealings.
This was actually for the best. Qingyuan felt relieved and said with a smile, "I arrived from Hengtang only two days ago. Before I left, the third young master of the Marquis of Danyang, Li Chunzhi, entrusted me to pay my respects to the Chief Commandant and inquire after your health. My sudden visit today may be improper, and I ask for your forgiveness."
"Li Chunzhi?" The man mused, shifted his gaze, and glanced at her lightly.
Both were people accustomed to navigating high society; one look was enough to know this was not the truth. It was merely an opening gambit, used to derive legitimacy from her association with the Marquis’s son. Xie Shu’s situation of late could be described as dire; though he still held the rank of Regional Governor, he had effectively been demoted to the Prefect of Youzhou. With such a precipitous fall, it was no wonder the Xie family could not sit still, even sending a daughter out to mediate. However, few ladies from the inner chambers had the courage to run to the Commander's residence to seek an audience, and since she brought up the son of the Marquis of Danyang, it must have been with Li Congxin’s authorization. Shen Che and Li Congxin were close friends; if the Xie family wanted to climb, they certainly wouldn't let this shortcut go to waste.
In fact, her intention was laid bare before him. If he didn't want to bother, he could have dismissed her in a few sentences. But it was his day off, and with nothing to do, using her to pass the time was quite amusing.
He turned and settled into the armchair at the head of the room. Outside, a maid brought in a tea tray and refreshments, carefully pouring two cups and serving them with trepidation. He twisted around to pick up the teacup, his profile and fingers, as delicate as fine porcelain, possessed an indescribable, bewitching quality in the final sliver of golden light at dusk.
Everything was under his control—a bearing that even Xie Shu, who had spent years on the battlefield, lacked. It was no wonder that local officials found it difficult to cultivate ties with those in the capital, especially those who walked the path of the imperial court every day; he seemed to occupy half of the grand, celestial majesty of the throne. Seeing him alone was enough to know what the emperors and generals in the capital were like.
He lifted his chin slightly. "Please sit, Miss." He bowed his head to blow on the tea leaves floating in his cup. "Since you have come to find me, I will not beat around the bush. Chunzhi is a rather haughty person; by all logic, he would not have let a young lady come alone to greet me. Forgive my bluntness, but what is your relationship with him? Once we clear that up, we can talk."
While this straightforward approach saved a lot of trouble, it inevitably led to awkwardness. Qingyuan pondered before saying, "Chunzhi is a good friend of my brother, and I have had some dealings with him in the past as well. The day I departed, he specifically instructed me that since he and the Chief Commandant are old friends, if I encountered any difficulties, I could come and ask for your help. I will not hide it from you: my bold visit to your residence today is indeed to beg for your assistance. I know it is presumptuous, but my father’s career has been obstructed—not because of any flaw in his conduct as an official, but because of a moment of stubbornness that led him to disagree with the Emperor's political views. Now, he cannot even submit a memorial of confession to the Imperial presence."
As she spoke, her clear eyes looked at him plaintively. The girl, as pure as an orchid in the inner chambers, displayed an expression of embarrassment and helplessness on her face, and she carefully bowed to him once more. "Even if you do not do it for the sake of Chunzhi, I ask you to consider the years my father has served the Imperial Court. Could you please relay a message to the Commander-in-Chief? My father is willing to request an assignment to defend the Shibo City, and begs for the Commander-in-Chief to speak on his behalf to the Emperor. Or, if the Chief Commandant could put in a good word, just for the Commander-in-Chief to spare a moment to see him—that would be saving the lives of my entire family."
She spoke at length, her words filled with earnest and painful sincerity. The man in the seat merely frowned, a mocking smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"What is your rank in the family, Miss?" he asked.
Qingyuan was slightly stunned. "My father has four daughters; I am the youngest, the fourth."
The smile at his lips widened, making him seem like one whose intentions were difficult to discern. If his rising tone hadn't sounded so arrogant and unfeeling, his voice might have been described as lazy and lingering. He said slowly, "Since you are neither the son of the house nor the eldest daughter, why did this task fall upon you? Isn't Chunzhi a friend of your brother? Why didn't they come, and why did you?" He stood up, pacing slowly with his hands behind his back, the jade belt at his waist framing a tall, straight figure. Having finished, he tilted his head to inspect her searchingly.
When one has to ask for favors, one must inevitably endure a few cold words. Qingyuan pressed her lips and smiled. "Perhaps it is because my friendship with Chunzhi is adequate, and I have the best temper."
This answer caught him off guard, for while it sounded harmless at first, it was loaded with subtext upon reflection. What did it mean to have the "best temper"? It was clearly an insinuation that he was difficult to deal with! He had seen countless people and witnessed all sorts of faces. Since the Shen family’s resurgence, not a single person who had once acted high and mighty dared to breathe loudly in his presence. Now, a girl had appeared—small in stature, but bold in spirit—who dared to use words to choke him!
He narrowed his eyes. The last of the sunset was gone, and as the sky darkened, her face became less distinct, leaving only a blurred silhouette.
He wanted to look at her, but could not see clearly. That face likely held an expression of stubbornness, now concealed beneath the darkness.
Finally, the maids arrived in succession to light the lamps. Seeing him frowning as he looked at her, Qingyuan felt her heart jump. She had been showing off just a moment ago, but only now did she feel a lingering fear. However, if this Chief Commandant was already this difficult to handle, she couldn't imagine how much harder the Commander-in-Chief would be. She had thought that by using Li Congxin’s name, he would show some courtesy, but it seemed he was impatient—perhaps because her father’s problem was truly too thorny. She might have come to the wrong place; she had thought about official affairs too simply. If it were truly so, there was nothing to be done; she had done her part, and now it was all in the hands of Heaven!
"How old is the Fourth Miss this year?" he asked suddenly. "Are you betrothed?"
Qingyuan let out an "Ah," raising her eyes blankly. "This... has nothing to do with the purpose of my visit today."
His eyebrows and eyes held a refined, teasing quality, though his gaze was sincere. "I was merely asking out of curiosity; you needn't be so guarded, Miss."
How could she not be guarded? Qingyuan’s heart tightened; she did not know what he was plotting. By rights, a decorous gentleman should not ask such questions, especially one who was already married; he should observe boundaries in his speech. Unfortunately, these men of military background had never placed much weight on propriety and rituals; they called such rashness "chivalry."
Qingyuan was secretly annoyed, regretting her decision to come forward and handle this affair, but there was no helping it. She had come alone to his residence, which would naturally lead to misunderstandings; since she had already lost her dignity, could she still expect him to treat her with respect? But it would be better to sidestep the question, so she said: "Could the Chief Commandant lead the way and introduce me to my father? If the matter is accomplished, I will certainly reward the Chief Commandant handsomely."
He ignored her as if he hadn't heard, asking on his own: "Is the Fourth Miss betrothed to Li Chunzhi?"
Qingyuan was left dazed by his questioning. The people of the Palace Command were indeed used to dealing with officials; they didn't know how to beat around the bush, and inquiring about someone else's private affairs was just like interrogating a criminal. She drew a breath and forced a smile, shaking her head. "The Third Young Master and I are merely acquaintances; we have not reached the point of discussing marriage. I have troubled the Chief Commandant."
Just as she finished these words, she heard rapid footsteps coming along the corridor. The figure and appearance were somewhat similar to Shen Che’s. As he walked, he threw the whip in his hand to an accompanying servant and asked in a loud voice, "Who is looking for me?"
Qingyuan was stunned. Judging by the tone, the one who just arrived was the real Shen Che. Then who was this person?
Her doe-like eyes looked at the man in the room in astonishment, then back toward the corridor. The man in the room looked thoroughly disgruntled. He turned back and said, "The guest has been waiting for you for half a day. Where have you been?"
Shen Che’s temper was clearly different from this man’s; he was more easygoing, carefree, and cheerful. He laughed and said, "Jiangliu asked me to recommend someone, and I couldn't get out of it, so I went to handle it." Saying this, he stepped into the room and saw the girl under the lamps at a glance. He exclaimed, "Is it the young lady who is looking for me?"
Qingyuan no longer knew how to continue the conversation. She had said so much before, only to find out she had been barking up the wrong tree. No wonder he had seemed so indifferent when she mentioned Li Congxin; it was truly because Li Congxin had no deep friendship with him.
What to do? She felt both embarrassed and relieved; in a way, this was fine. But this awkwardness was not easy to hide on her face. Qingyuan bowed and performed the courtesy to Shen Che as before. "The Third Young Master of the Marquis of Danyang asked me to greet you, saying he has not seen you for a long time and misses you greatly. The Third Young Master will enter Youzhou in two months, at which time he will sit down with the Chief Commandant to catch up."
Shen Che laughed out loud. "This guy is a strange one; I've never seen him miss me like this before!" This was the warmth one should expect between close friends.
Qingyuan turned to look at Shen Run. "Commander-in-Chief, I have been muddled."
Shen Run’s expression was cold and detached. "Since the message has been delivered, Fourth Miss, please go back."
She naturally wanted to leave immediately, but having said so much without getting an answer, she was not quite willing to give up. So, she mustered her courage and said, "The Commander-in-Chief already knows the purpose of my visit, so... so..."
Shen Run clearly intended to end the meeting, saying coldly: "It is getting late. Fourth Miss, you should return."
"Commander-in-Chief," Qingyuan urged, "my father has also performed great feats of service for the Imperial Court in the past. He has only taken a wrong turn for a moment; I beg the Commander-in-Chief to save him."
Only then did Shen Che understand the purpose of this girl who had dropped from the sky. He sized her up. "Was it Chunzhi who told you to come find me?"
Qingyuan said yes. "The two esteemed lords, my grandmother at home has also questioned my father, fearing that he might have inadvertently offended you both. But no matter how much he thinks about it, my father says he has not. My father has been an official for nearly thirty years, and his subordinates and students are countless. If any one of them has caused trouble, it certainly was not my father’s intention. I beg the Commander-in-Chief and the Chief Commandant to exercise your discernment."
Shen Che looked at Shen Run, equally astonished by the girl’s boldness.
Looking at her closely, she was no more than fifteen or sixteen. Her beautiful, vibrant face was trying to feign composure, yet there was still a trace of childishness in her expression. Many men did not dare to be presumptuous before the Commander, yet she dared to argue reasonably—truly a newborn calf not afraid of a tiger. They had heard something about this Fourth Miss’s background; Xie Shu had been a hero for a lifetime, yet it was unexpected that, upon meeting such an obstacle, he would have to rely on this young daughter, only recently reunited with the family, to come forward. It showed that there was truly no one left in the Xie family.
"Official affairs are not something a mere woman can fathom." Shen Run was uncharacteristically patient today and was willing to waste a few words with her. "Go back early. A young lady staying in another man’s residence until sunset will only invite gossip behind your back. Let your father solve his own affairs; you, Miss, should just live your life well within the inner chambers."
In fact, from the moment she stepped into this residence, the premonition of failure had been coiling around her like a snake, unable to be shaken off. Success or failure depended on fortune; if she had met Shen Che first, the result might have been different.
"Life in the official world is full of ups and downs, but my father is a military man by background. To have come to this point after a life of hardship is truly too miserable. The Commander is right; I am a young lady, and cultivating myself in the inner chambers is of the utmost importance, but as a child, who can watch their father suffer a calamity?" She finished speaking with neither humility nor arrogance. There was no need for further words. She bowed once more to the Shen brothers and retreated from the flower hall.
Whether these words could resonate with Shen Run probably depended on luck. Qingyuan walked back along the corridor, the maid leading the way. The lanterns under the corridor swayed, one every ten steps, casting a soft light down from the circular openings at the bottom. Dealing with such formidable people truly consumed immense mental effort; she had never been so exhausted from talking. The moment she stepped out of the gate, her feet felt weak; she felt as if she were walking on clouds.
Baoxian had been waiting under the steps. Seeing her come out, she hurried forward to support her. "Miss, how did it go?"
She shook her head and walked toward the carriage parked in the alley. The Old Madam had waited for a long time; hoping to see her return, she lifted the curtain to welcome her into the carriage and ordered the driver: "Go back."
"What happened? Did you see the Chief Commandant?" the Old Madam asked.
Qingyuan nodded. "Not only did I see the Chief Commandant, I saw the Commander-in-Chief as well."
The Old Madam was very surprised. "The Shen residence is a constant bustle of guards; I never expected the Commander to have returned to Youzhou. Did you state your business clearly? What was the Commander’s meaning?"
Qingyuan was silent for a moment before saying: "Your granddaughter said everything that could be said; I explained Father’s hardships and remorse to the Commander-in-Chief. As for whether he will help or not, I truly cannot be certain."
The Old Madam mused wistfully. It was a long while before she sighed and nodded. "Well, you have done all you could. If this path fails, we will think of another way." Looking at her granddaughter in the light outside the carriage canopy, she knew how difficult it had been for her, and she changed her tone. "You worked hard today. I have seen your heart for this family, and so has your father. In the end, we are bound by blood. Regardless of who is close or distant, in truth, you are all my granddaughters, all from the same roots. How could I bear to favor one over the other? It is just that your Second Sister is more pampered; she was born of the First Madam, and there is nothing to be done about that. When she is married off in the future, there will be fewer family matters, and then there will be benefits for you."
These were all empty words, meant to comfort her. Qingyuan smiled and did not respond.
Qinghe was only two years older than she was; she would have to wait until Qinghe was settled before she could catch her breath in the Xie family. But would this breath really be smooth? Not to mention whether Madam Hu would let her live in peace, there was Qingru—with that character, there would be endless trouble in the future that would need cleaning up. Of the married daughters, few truly stopped caring about their maiden family; even though they were married, their minds and spirits remained, and how could they pass up an opportunity to trip her up!
"Grandmother," Qingyuan said softly, "In the past, young ladies would not step out of the gates. We are considered enlightened now, but visiting a man’s home and discussing business with him like this is, after all, not right. This is all I can do for Father; I will not concern myself with outside affairs hereafter. I ask Grandmother to be considerate of your granddaughter."
The Old Madam naturally had nothing to say. What had been done this time was indeed unconventional; where would a respectable family allow a young lady to rashly visit a man! It would have been one thing if she had only seen Shen Che, but who would have expected her to run into Shen Run? Now, the Old Madam felt some regret. If the matter wasn't accomplished and they were looked down upon instead, the loss would outweigh the gain.
"I was thinking the same," the Old Madam said. The light of the lantern flickered, casting her face in a state of uncertainty. "You are, after all, a lady of the inner chambers; decency is of the utmost importance. Let today’s excursion be the last of it. In the future, let your father think of a way. But having seen that Commander-in-Chief, how did he strike you—is he easy to talk to? He is a new official in his post and difficult to cultivate, and your father hasn't even met him yet."
Qingyuan thought about it. Before he asked her age, everything had seemed normal, but afterward, it had become skewed.
"Judging by him, he is indeed as the rumors say—extremely calculating and difficult to deal with. If Father is to navigate through him, he must proceed with extreme caution. This kind of person looks like an iron face, but once money is involved, he will inevitably open his mouth like a lion."
The Old Madam patted her knee and sighed: "As long as the task gets done, spending some money is reasonable. In your opinion, should we continue to push in this direction?"
"Since we have already taken this step, it is not appropriate to bypass him now," Qingyuan pondered. "Your granddaughter has no wisdom, but since Grandmother has asked, I will ramble on a bit. We shall set the banquet as planned and formally invite him with an invitation. If he comes, there is room for negotiation; if he does not, we will seek another way, and at least we will not have shown him disrespect.”