Spring of the Blade - Chapter 28

Chapter 28

The Old Madam nodded. "That is the right reasoning. Since we have paid a visit and they did not outright refuse us, we must hold onto that spark of hope. Your father originally intended to rely on the Earl of Founding the Nation to connect with the Marquis of Guangping. The Marquis is the Empress's brother, and if the route through the Imperial presence is blocked, there is no harm in starting from within the Forbidden City. Now, it seems we must slow down. Once the matter is truly concluded, the people of the Palace Command will know immediately. Your father is currently the Prefect of Youzhou, and they will see each other daily; if we formalize enmity here, the future consequences will be endless."

Qingyuan agreed, but she was more concerned about Qinghe’s future prospects. "Now that our whole family has moved to Youzhou, Big Sister’s marriage will inevitably face obstacles. Does Father still intend to rely on the Earl of Founding the Nation to cultivate relations with the Marquis of Guangping? Other matters aside, I only fear that the Earl’s mansion might feel we are being rude, which would be to Big Sister’s detriment."

The Old Madam, however, remained indifferent. "Since the two families have engaged in a marriage alliance, it would be poor form for them to watch their in-laws decline. At present, your father still holds the title of Regional Governor. When the time comes that he truly only has the title of Prefect left, would the Li family’s face remain untarnished?"

At this, Qingyuan had nothing left to say. She saw it clearly now: in their eyes, daughters born of concubines were all to be utilized. It wasn't just her; even for Qinghe, whom they had watched grow up, they were calculating how to rely on the Earl’s family the moment the marriage was settled, seemingly without worrying that the Earl’s mansion might call off the engagement. The Old Madam was truly like an Empress Dowager hidden behind a curtain, holding power; as long as the major interests stood firm and unshakable, the marriages of children born of concubines were all trivial, dispensable trifles. Qingyuan even imagined Qinghe’s reddened, tearful eyes and could not help but lower her head and sigh softly.

The Old Madam must have sensed this, as her tone softened with an air of helpless compromise. "If one can avoid troubling others, it is naturally best not to. When things aren't going well at home, we still have to hide it from the outside; who would be willing to expose their troubles to their in-laws? Once your Big Sister is married, she will have to live her life in that household. It is just that you children do not understand how vital the strength of your maiden family’s roots is to you. Take the ladies in the palace, for example; they appear golden and jade-adorned, but in private, they compare themselves—comparing who gets the most favor, whose maiden family is more flourishing. The Emperor’s favor is, for the most part, directed at their maiden families. The world says love me, love my dog, but who exactly is the 'dog'—it is complementary, is it not? It is impossible to say clearly."

Qingyuan was adept at playing along; she feigned a look of being instructed and nodded frequently in agreement.

The Old Madam looked at her again, her words taking on a tone of guidance as she laughed. "Those ladies in the palace, though they lead the most opulent and noble lives, in my opinion, it would be better to find a man without family burdens. Take the Chief Commandant’s wife, for instance—who in Youzhou does not envy her!"

Qingyuan smiled slowly. "Why? Because she married a red-hot, new noble?"

The Old Madam said that was not entirely the reason, pushing open the small, carved wooden window of the carriage to look outside. The night was descending, and the lights of thousands of homes were scattered about. Between the districts, common folk had already come out after dinner to enjoy the cool air, dressed in loose robes, swaying along the road while fanning themselves with banana-leaf fans.

The Old Madam sat upright, waiting for the cool breeze to blow in, and said in a melodic voice, "The head of the Shen family was caught up in the succession case years ago and was publicly executed; the matriarch also passed away from illness not long after. Within a year, the Shen brothers lost both parents—that could be called a catastrophic disaster. Everyone thought the Shen family name had withered away just like that, but who would have thought that ten years later, the Shen family would rise again? Shen Run and his brother leaped to become the most sought-after figures. For those maidens waiting to be married, isn't a family without a father-in-law or mother-in-law the best choice of all? A large family is lively, but in day-to-day life, there are too many vexations. Which in-laws wouldn't set rules for their daughter-in-law? Therefore, the Chief Commandant’s wife is lucky—she only serves her husband. The eldest brother-in-law has nothing to do with her. The wife of the Administration Commissioner came to visit me the other day and mentioned this very thing: whoever can be matched with Commander Shen has truly burned the high incense of their past lives."

The Old Madam had used such oblique references to say all this, merely to give her a reminder or to have her pay attention to Shen Run, in case she missed such a good opportunity. Qingyuan found it merely amusing. Although the Shen family had suffered, Shen Run reached the rank of an official of the upper second grade; officials from the capital were always more desirable than those sent out to the provinces. Truth be told, her father’s rank of Regional Governor was even below his. Earlier, when Li Congxin told his mother he wanted to marry her, the Old Madam and Madam Hu had ground their teeth and said she was climbing too high; now, they actually dared to fantasize about a Commander of the Palace Command.

Qingyuan smiled and said, "Grandmother, I think Second Sister is a very good match for Commander Shen. Second Sister is born of the First Madam; if she were to marry the Commander, it would not be a slight to him."

The result was that the Old Madam fell silent. After a long while, she finally said, "Qingru has that hair-trigger temper; how could she ever be a match for a military man!"

Yes, indeed. Although Shen Run held a high position and great power, his reputation was not good; in Youzhou, he even bullied others to accumulate wealth. Who, besides fearing him, did not spit upon him behind his back? With such a personality, he would be no better to women. Qingru had been raised in the palm of the Madam’s hand, never having suffered, and she did not know how to be flexible. If she were to offend him somewhere and was beaten, scolded, or killed by a blade, with Shen Run’s power, could the Xie family possibly risk their lives against him?

So, thinking it over, only she was the most suitable candidate—someone who could endure being wronged and would not dare to utter a sound if bullied. In the event that the marriage was secured, her father would have an arm to lean on; if she failed to find favor in the Shen household, they could at most simply act as if they had no such daughter, and the Xie family would suffer no real loss.

Qingyuan just listened and offered a faint smile. In the blink of an eye, the carriage reached the gate of the Xie residence. Her father and the whole family were waiting inside; upon seeing them return, they all came out to greet them.

"How did it go?" Xie Shu looked at the Old Madam, then at Qingyuan. "Did Fourth Girl see Chief Commandant Shen?"

The Old Madam’s expression was flat. "We saw the true Buddha, and all that needed to be done was done. That side neither said they agreed nor said they refused. Tomorrow, you must personally pay a visit to meet Shen Run. Whether it is a memorial or a plea, do not say anything; just deliver an invitation and invite him to a banquet at the residence. If he comes, there is a glimmer of hope; if he does not come, then give up on this path and find another way."

Everyone felt blank after hearing this. There was no clear result, and everything remained ambiguous, which truly made people feel unsettled.

Qingru scoffed. "I thought that since Fourth Younger Sister was going out to handle it, even if not ten parts successful, there would be seven or eight, but who knew it would be all thunder and no rain—a wasted trip."

Qinghe, having heard her words, looked at Qingyuan. That girl was like a figure made of dough; even after being ridiculed, she was still smiling. Moreover, since her own marriage was obstructed due to the move from Hengtang, she felt a breath of anger held in her chest. She interjected, "Second Younger Sister is so eloquent—why didn't you go with her today? Perhaps if Commander Shen saw Second Younger Sister’s face, he would have resolved our family’s predicament tomorrow, one never knows." This made Lian Yiniang tug at her sleeve frantically.

Qingru was one who could not tolerate a grain of sand in her eye; she was allowed to ridicule others, but not allowed to have others cast aspersions on her. She immediately retorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "Big Sister, if you are unhappy, why vent it on me? It wasn't me who caused the Earl of Founding the Nation’s family to delay setting a date."

The sisters went back and forth, uncovering each other’s shortcomings until Xie Shu roared, "What time is it, and you still have the heart to bicker?"

The sisters were both startled. Qingyuan shook her head at Qinghe, and Qingru was pulled behind the Madam.

Xie Shu steadied his spirit and looked up at the crescent moon in the sky. "It is too late today; otherwise, I could have made a trip... Who knows if the Shen brothers will be in Youzhou tomorrow? It all depends on luck!"

However, luck seemed to be better than imagined. Early the next morning, they sent someone to inquire at the Commander’s residence and confirmed that Shen Run would not be returning to the capital today. Xie Shu did not hesitate to mount his horse and ride straight for the Commander’s residence.

After all, he was still an official of the second rank, so the Shen family had to show him some respect. The gatekeepers led Xie Shu into the flower hall, serving him tea while saying, "Please wait a moment, Regional Governor. The Commander will be here shortly."

Xie Shu sat down, feeling restless even while drinking tea. After waiting for a full quarter of an hour, he saw a silhouette appear on the corridor directly opposite. He hurried to his feet and paced to the door to welcome him. This was his first time seeing the commander of the Palace Command; he had heard that Shen Run was a man of great talent, but he had not expected the man himself to be even more refined and elegant than rumors suggested. The Palace Command was responsible for the Emperor’s security processions; in terms of splendor, no other civil or military official could compare. With such richness and luxury added to such godlike features, it was understandable that he would be difficult to deal with. After all, the more superior a person was, the more they held a lofty, exclusive perspective.

But as a person in the officialdom, even if one were arrogant, one would not lose one’s manners. Shen Run cupped his hands in greeting from afar. "I did not know the Regional Governor had honored us with his presence. I apologize for the lack of a proper welcome."

Xie Shu said he did not dare, yet he felt a bit of lingering anxiety in his heart. In his current circumstances, when others called him "Regional Governor," he felt a sense of undeserved shame. He had spent twenty or thirty years on the battlefield, and the greater part of his official career had been spent in military camps. Who would have thought that today he would be reduced to bowing his head to a junior? The rise and fall of officialdom—truly, thirty years on the east bank of the river, thirty years on the west.

"The Commander is a busy man. We are officials in the same court, and it is only today that we finally get to meet," he said with a smile, striving to maintain his composure, hoping his words and actions would not seem too pathetic.

Shen Run naturally knew that he had no business calling without a reason. The Xie family was an established and influential clan; to think of how glorious the Regional Governor of Jiannan had once been, with eyes looking up at the sky, and now to see him humble and bowing to climb the social ladder—when one thought about it, wasn't it ironic?

Shen Run walked gracefully toward him with a smile. "It is truly because official duties are overwhelming. I knew the Regional Governor had entered Youzhou, but I haven't had a moment of leisure to pay a visit, and I ask for your forgiveness." As he spoke, he gestured toward the flower hall. "Please, Regional Governor."

Both were men of internal cultivation; they were very polite on the surface. After a round of mutual deference, they entered the hall and took their seats.

Xie Shu, following the Old Madam’s wishes, did not state his real intention. Matters like begging for help were best discussed at the dinner table. At the moment, with empty words, no fine wine to liven the spirits, and no bribes to open the door, merely trying to strike up a friendly acquaintance as colleagues was purely a waste of breath.

Therefore, he spoke the polite words about setting a banquet at home and wishing to invite the Commander and the Chief Commandant to grace them with their presence. Then, looking at Shen Run, he saw his expression of profound regret, sighing, "What is to be done? It is not that I am unwilling to attend the Regional Governor’s banquet, but I truly cannot get away from my duties. Tomorrow I return to the capital; in two days, foreign envoys will arrive; the Empress’s birthday is next month, and the inspection of the guards is right before us... Let us try next time. Next time, I will host a banquet and invite the Regional Governor to gather at my humble residence."

This was clearly a polite refusal. Xie Shu knew in his heart that this path would not be easy. However, to say he would seek another way—after all, everything before the Imperial presence had to pass through the hands of the Palace Command, and circling around would only lead him back into their hands, inevitably causing greater embarrassment. It was better to persist until the end. Or perhaps he had offended him somewhere in the past; today, he would find out the truth. Even if the man truly intended to throw stones at someone who had fallen into a well, he would not feel wronged.

"Since you are returning to the capital tomorrow, there is no day like today. Why not invite the Commander and the Chief Commandant to move your visit to my residence tonight? I do not know if that would be convenient for the Commander?" Xie Shu said with a forced smile. "My ancestors moved from Youzhou to Hengtang. Over these years, old acquaintances have grown distant. I will not hide it from you, Commander—when I encounter trouble, there is no one to help. Years ago, I had some friendship with your late father. This banquet is intended merely to catch up on old times, nothing more. Please, Commander, do not refuse."

But as soon as these words were finished, the smile on Shen Run’s face slowly faded. He bowed his head to take a sip of tea, lowered his eyes, and said "Oh" in a lingering tone. "Did you truly have a friendship with my late father, Regional Governor?"

Xie Shu was stunned. He vaguely sensed that the reason the Palace Command had repeatedly withheld his memorials might lie right here.

If one spoke of friendship, they had been in the same examination year, so how could they have had no dealings at all? Earlier, before he went to Jiannan to serve as Prefect, he had served in the capital; at that time, he had worked with Shen Zhibai, and the two were quite familiar. Later, he transferred to Bashu, and gradually lost contact with the capital. Until Shen Zhibai was implicated in the succession turmoil, he had only heard about it and sighed at most, but in the end, he couldn't help with anything.

Now that Shen Run was pressing him in his words, he could not help but think carefully. "I did indeed have quite a friendship with your late father, but unfortunately, in the third year of Tianzhao, I was transferred to Bashu, and the connections in the capital grew distant."

The bamboo curtain hanging in front of the hall tapped against the pillar with a rhythmic da-da. The daylight filtering in through the curtain fell on a pot of bamboo on the drip terrace. Silence descended in the flower hall—an immense silence that made one feel suffocated. After a long time, he heard Shen Run let out a short, light laugh. "In fact, our brothers and the Regional Governor have had dealings before, but at that time, the Regional Governor was buried under a mountain of military affairs and did not notice us."

Xie Shu hesitated. "When did this happen? I have absolutely no impression of it."

Shen Run smiled. "At that time, because our father was convicted, our brothers were punished and served in the army. For about two years, we were at the Jianmen Pass, under the Regional Governor's command."

Xie Shu’s brain buzzed. He had completely forgotten about it, but after being reminded by him, he remembered that such a thing seemed to have happened. The Shen brothers had tried to find someone to pass a message to him, hoping to gain his care and promotion. At that time, he was busy, and secondly, he figured that a family convicted of such crimes would have little chance of rising again, so he didn't bother to get involved. Who would have thought that the tables would turn? He had found himself trapped, and it happened to be in Shen Run’s hands. It was truly true: "Never bully a young man for being poor."

But knowing it in his heart was one thing; how could he admit it? Xie Shu said with feigned astonishment, "There was such a thing? Then why didn't you come to find me? Based on my friendship with your late father, I would have promoted you no matter what, at least to save you from some suffering."

All high officials had two faces: one for the powerful and wealthy, and one for the common folk. So many years had passed; the lack of old friendship could have been covered up by playing the fool long ago. Shen Run knew these people’s nature deeply; there was no need to dwell on whether they were unfeeling or not.

He gave a faint, cold smile. "At that time, our situation was awkward; clinging to the Regional Governor would only have caused you trouble. I originally thought there would be no chance to get to know each other, but I did not expect your daughter to call on us last night; it was truly unexpected. In fact, why did the Regional Governor need to go through such a large circle? If you had come to me directly, wouldn't it have been less of a headache?"

Xie Shu tasted the sarcasm in his words. The situation now was just like it was back then, only the one begging for favors had become himself.

Shen Run stood up and paced slowly in the center of the room. "The Regional Governor may not know yet, but the Emperor intends to dispatch Fu Chunshan to lead troops to attack Shibo City. Once this policy is issued, the Regional Governor’s position will likely be insecure."

He held a small smile, clearly displaying a soft face, yet his eyes shone with a cold, glittering light. Xie Shu stared at him dumbfounded. He understood clearly that once someone was capable of replacing him on the expedition, sparing no cost to help the Emperor regain the face lost in the beginning, then Fu Chunshan would be promoted and granted titles, and he would inevitably end up removed from office and investigated.

Shen Run watched as his complexion turned from pale to white, and from white to pale. He had frightened him enough, so he laughed. "Today is a clear and beautiful day, a good day for a banquet. Since the Regional Governor has extended such a sincere invitation, how could I be so unappreciative? Regional Governor, please go ahead and prepare. When the time is right, I will bring my brothers to trouble you.”