Spring of the Blade - Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Qingyuan was left with no other choice. After weighing the matter repeatedly, she had no option but to tuck the beast-faced jade pendant into her sleeve pocket.

Large wine jars were lined up in the courtyard, with several servant boys squatting to one side on guard duty. Seeing her approach, they hurriedly stood up, bowing and scraping, and addressed her as "Fourth Miss."

Qingyuan nodded and went over to inspect the seals. The jar openings were capped with kraft paper and carefully bound with fine twine; at a quick glance, they truly looked like vats filled with aged wine. She had no interest in how much silver was inside, as she was not the one handling the funds, and she would never dream of prying them open. She merely instructed, "The Old Madam has ordered the carriage and horses to be prepared. Load the jars onto the carriage and cover them tightly with oilcloth. Do not let anyone catch even a glimpse of what is inside."

One servant boy agreed and scampered off to make the arrangements. She turned to ask the others, "Has anyone been here just now?"

The servants thought for a moment before replying, "The Master brought two guests here earlier. He only said that these were excellent wines from Jiangnan, and that they would be delivered to the guests' mansions later for them to sample."

Qingyuan suddenly understood. Those two guests were undoubtedly the Shen brothers. The Old Madam’s decision to assign this task to her was certainly not a random whim, and her prior encounter with Shen Run in the narrow alley had not been a coincidence either. Delivering a fortune and throwing in a daughter to boot—the Xie family’s gesture this time was truly extravagant.

But the Old Madam had not considered that if things were done in such an illicit, unclear manner, would the Xie family’s reputation even survive, even if the other party accepted the favor? Or was the reputation of a lowly concubine-born daughter actually of so little consequence? In the worst case, even if she couldn't secure the position of a legitimate wife, being a concubine would be "good enough."

Qingyuan recalled her encounter in the alleyway and could not help but feel a chill. Shen Run must have been aware of their arrangements as well. Qingyuan suddenly felt that she was truly insignificant and pitiful, tossed about and manipulated by others. Shen Run could be considered a gentleman; even though the alcohol had gone to his head, he hadn't done anything to her. If he had taken advantage of the dark of night to do something improper, who would have stood up for her? The Old Madam would likely have been thrilled to see it happen, promptly packing her up and sending her straight to the Commander's mansion!

She backed out of the courtyard and picked up a lantern, walking through the narrow alleyway. The moonlight was desolate and murky, and the high walls on both sides echoed the sound of her footsteps. For a moment, her heart was filled with a sense of loss, unsure of where she was headed. It was a cruel fate that made it so difficult to escape from such a family. She had previously thought that she wouldn't have to be like other girls, pinning all her hopes for changing her destiny on marriage, but it now appeared that no matter how high-spirited she was, she could not escape such arrangements.

She heaved a sigh, concluding that for the moment, she could only lie low and wait for the Master to weather this crisis. Once there was a prosperous future, the Old Madam would likely forget about her, perhaps shifting her focus back to using Qingru for a formal marriage alliance.

But what was to be done about this jade pendant? It felt heavy inside her sleeve, bumping against her leg with every step. That Commander must have truly been drunk; he had seemed so self-respecting and dignified the day before, nothing like the debauched young noblemen outside. Perhaps tomorrow, after he had sobered up, she could return it exactly as it was. Once things were settled, she would no longer have to live in fear.

Qingyuan was, after all, young and inexperienced in such matters, so she didn't overcomplicate things. After reasoning with herself for a while, the clouds in her mind soon cleared. She walked briskly into "A Cup of Spring" and reported to the Old Madam, "Everything has been prepared. Grandmother, please rest assured."

The Old Madam said, "Good," while observing her reaction out of the corner of her eye. Seeing that she was as composed as usual, she concluded that everything must have gone according to plan.

It stood to reason. She was a girl who had only just turned fifteen, a full cycle younger than the other party. A man like Shen Run, who had seen all the storms and trials of life, would surely not take an interest in such an ignorant little girl. The Old Madam set her heart at ease, stopped dwelling on the matter, and returned to entertaining the noble ladies. When the hour of Hai (around 10:00 PM) approached, a servant from the flower hall in the west came over to pass on a message, standing at the base of the steps to report, "Old Madam, the banquet on the Master's side is about to disperse. He sent me to report this to you."

The ladies all stood up one after another, smiling and saying, "Many thanks to the Old Madam for your hospitality today. The banquet was delicious and the short plays were a delight. We will be hosting a banquet at our home in a couple of days, and we hope to invite the Old Madam, as well as the ladies and young misses, to join us for another gathering."

After exchanging a basketful of pleasantries, they finally saw the guests out. The carved carriages of the various families were already waiting outside. The men and women had not been separated into two exits, and everyone left through the same gate. Qingyuan and Qinghe stood to the side to see the ladies into their carriages. Looking back, the men had begun to cup their hands and bid farewell. The officials had their own set of empty courtesies when dealing with one another. The Xie sisters stood under the lanterns with the Old Madam to send them off, and because of the jade pendant, Qingyuan subconsciously searched for Shen Run in the crowd. As the commander of the Palace Guard, he was a striking presence even among a throng of people; she spotted him immediately without the need to distinguish features. She had thought he would be slightly muddled from the drink, but upon closer inspection, his expression was clear and bright, and he looked entirely sober, smiling as he bid farewell to the others.

Xie Shu repeatedly pleaded with him, "Everything depends entirely on the Commander."

Shen Run curled the corner of his lips slightly, "Easily done. The Commissioner hosted a grand banquet today to entertain me and these gentlemen; I am well aware of that. The Commissioner should wait another two days. Once there is news from before the Emperor, I will immediately dispatch someone to notify you."

Xie Shu showered him with thanks. At long last, those dozen large wine jars had begun to show results; the Commander understood the worldly principle that one should resolve problems for those who have paid the price.

As the group descended the steps, Shen Run led the others in bowing again to the Old Madam, "Many thanks to the Old Madam for your hospitality."

The Old Madam smiled and nodded, "My hospitality was lacking, and I have neglected the Commander and the Deputy Commander. I ask the Deputy Commander to convey my regards to your wife. She was unwell today and could not grace my humble home with her presence; tomorrow I shall send someone to inquire after her health, and if she has recovered, I invite her to come and sit with us."

Shen Che returned the salute, thanking her. While they exchanged pleasantries, Qingyuan carefully observed Shen Run. His gaze brushed over her without pausing, and he turned to speak to someone else. Qingyuan felt somewhat perplexed; if not for the weight of the jade pendant in her sleeve, she would have suspected that she had imagined the whole thing—that Shen Run had never appeared in the alleyway and had never slipped her a beast-faced pendant.

She could not fathom the reason. As Shen Run mounted his horse, he glanced at her lightly. That small girl, standing by her grandmother’s side looking utterly dazed, was a far cry from the person who had reasoned with him so sharply at his mansion that day.

He turned his horse around, a hint of a smile rising in his eyes. Xie Shu was not much of a man, but the daughter he had sired was quite likable.

Guided by a wind lantern in front, Qingyuan looked up to see the martial generals whipping their horses into a gallop, looking dashing and spirited. The horse hooves struck the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. She squinted her eyes as the row of figures gradually moved further and further away. Beside her, the Old Madam tutted and said, "I merely thought this Commander was a coarse martial man; I never expected him to be so handsome."

Handsome he might be, but his blade was honed sharp. In just the blink of an eye, ten thousand taels of silver had vanished.

Qingyuan wanted to look at Qingru, so she pursed her lips and smiled. Qingru did not understand her meaning and gave her a disdainful glare.

After a busy day, the heavy burden was finally lifted from everyone’s hearts, and they all let out a long breath. The Old Madam turned and said, "Let's go back. Tomorrow, once we have paid our respects to the young Madam Shen, our duties will be complete."

Before long, everyone returned to their own courtyards. Qingyuan sat at the gnarled-wood, lotus-and-caltrop-shaped table, watching Baoxian and Chuntai busily preparing for her bath and bedtime. Suddenly, she blurted out, "How long does it take for a person to go from being drunk to sobering up?"

Baoxian and Chuntai turned to look at her, wondering why she asked such a thing. Chuntai said, "I have seen people get drunk one day and still have a hangover the next. I suppose at the fastest, it would take an entire night."

"Is there anyone who can sober up in just a moment?" she asked hesitatingly.

Chuntai replied, "How could such a person exist! If they really sobered up that fast, it means they weren't drunk in the first place."

Qingyuan said nothing more, lowering her head to contemplate on her own. Seeing her like this, Baoxian set down the incense burner and approached, whispering, "Miss, has something happened?"

She remained silent for a moment before fishing the beast-faced jade pendant from her sleeve and placing it on the table. The light from the glass lantern shone down, illuminating the fierce beast's head. Contrary to the savage pattern, the jade was delicate, warm, and smooth, reminiscent of Prince Lanling wearing a Nuo mask as he entered the fray.

"Where did this come from?" Baoxian and Chuntai stood in front of the table, looking at each other in bewilderment.

Qingyuan gave a somewhat awkward smile, "When I was passing through the courtyard, I happened to run into Commander Shen on the way, and he forced this into my hand."

Now, no one knew what to say. Three heads were pressed together, thinking hard about the pendant.

"Commander Shen gave this to you while he was drunk?"

Qingyuan hummed in agreement, "I smelled the alcohol on him."

Chuntai was startled, "Did he... did he do anything to you?"

Qingyuan thought for a moment and shook her head, "It was fine... he didn't... do anything."

But what could it mean to thrust this jade pendant upon her so inexplicably?

"Perhaps the Commander has some interest in you."

But that made no sense. The Xie family had practically told him to his face that the Fourth Miss was a tribute to the Commander. If he were interested, he wouldn't have been so willing to accept all ten-plus vats of wine. Moreover, a pendant like this was clearly an item a man carried on his person. For a monstrous, baring-fanged object like this to be gifted to a young lady was highly inappropriate. Therefore, after much deliberation, the only conclusion was that the man was indeed drunk at the time and not in control of his own actions. After all, everyone's constitution was different; what if the Commander was the type who got drunk quickly and sobered up quickly?

"Return it tomorrow." Qingyuan looked at the jade pendant with some distress, "Leaving it here creates too many possibilities. The longer it stays, the harder it will be to explain."

It just so happened that the next day, the Old Madam summoned her to talk, asking her to represent the family and visit the young Madam Shen at the Commander’s mansion. "Go and probe the situation. The Shen family only has this one mistress in charge now; such a large sum of cash will inevitably require her oversight. You don't need to probe too deeply; just see if the Deputy Commander lets slip a word or two about wanting to resolve this predicament for our family, and that will be enough."

Qingyuan asked slowly, "Since the silver has been accepted, would they not act?"

The Old Madam shook her head slowly, "How can one ever be certain in such matters? If we had the time to slowly wear them down, that would be one thing, but the imperial court is about to appoint someone else to attack Shibao City. Once this major task falls into other hands, our Xie family will face an absolute catastrophe. My good child, you must take this matter to heart. Inquire carefully; you must not be careless."

Had it not been for the jade pendant, she would never have been willing to show her face in public. For a young lady from a sheltered household to constantly visit other mansions would be detrimental to her reputation if word got out. But there was no other way for now. Inquiring was one thing, but more importantly, she needed to return the item. Since she couldn't explain the details to others, she followed the Old Madam's instructions and withdrew from the main chamber.

Yuejian oversaw everything in the Huifang Garden. Before Qingyuan had even passed through the garden, the gifts to be brought along had already been prepared. But before they were loaded onto the carriage, she said, "Fourth Miss, please wait a moment. It is hot today, and we need to change the screens of the carriage and sedan chair. It should take about two more cups of tea."

Qingyuan smiled and agreed. Since returning to the Xie family, she had gotten along with everyone and was willing to speak kindly to all, so none of the household servants disliked her.

Today, she wore a jade-colored top with a honey-yellow skirt. In the early summer season, contrasted against the swaying greenery and lush foliage outside, she had a certain refreshing and carefree elegance. Seeing her waving a magnolia-patterned circular fan, Yuejian asked, "Miss, did you bring an umbrella?"

The sun was climbing higher. Although there wouldn't be much exposure on the road, it was unavoidable when getting in and out of the carriage.

Qingyuan said she hadn't, "I left in such a rush that I forgot."

Yuejian smiled and said, "That is perfect. I have one here that was just made, it is the exact same color as the fan in your hand, and it is also painted with magnolias. Miss, sit for a while, I will go fetch it for you."

Seeing her hurry off, Qingyuan didn't have the heart to tell her not to, so she smiled at Baoxian and waited peacefully under the eaves. However, it seemed that one could never avoid the people they didn't wish to see. Over there, Qingru was passing through Huifang Garden with Madam Hu. Madam Hu had always ignored her; she didn't acknowledge her greetings and walked past without looking her way. But Qingru slowed her pace, squinted at her, and asked, "Fourth Sister is so busy these days. Where are you off to now?"

Though Qingru was disliked by everyone, she was, after all, the legitimate daughter of the house. If Qingyuan ignored her, Qingru would surely find another reason to pick a fight. So, she told the truth about the Old Madam assigning her to visit the Shen mansion. Upon hearing this, Qingru immediately shot a look at Qingrong and jeered, "Our younger sister here must be planning to enter the Commander's mansion. I have no other thoughts, but I feel sorry for Brother Chunzhi. That register was originally a well-intentioned gift; who would have thought it would become a ladder for others to climb to heaven. If he knew that you were stepping on his shoulders to ingratiate yourself with the Shen brothers, I wonder what he would feel in his heart."

Qingru had always said whatever was most unpleasant to hear, and Qingyuan had heard it so many times that she had grown accustomed to her sharp tongue. Perhaps because the weather was growing stiflingly hot, she no longer had the patience to endure her, so she said, "Wouldn't that be just what Second Sister wants? If you lodge a complaint before the Third Young Master, from then on, he will have eyes only for you. However, I must advise you, Second Sister: Youzhou is not Hengtang. Our family is currently being watched by the Palace Guard. If you say the wrong thing, it could lead to a calamity that costs us our lives. It doesn't matter if you insult me, but please do not drag the Commander and Deputy Commander Shen into it. If these words were to spread, even if Father wanted to favor you, I fear he would not be able to protect you."

After she finished speaking, she felt refreshed and invigorated. Just then, Yuejian returned with the umbrella, and the carriage canopy had been changed as well. She opened the oil-paper umbrella and held up her fan to compare them, laughing, "It is as if it were cut from the same piece of silk. Many thanks, Sister Yuejian." As she spoke, she descended the steps and headed toward the sedan hall.

Qingru and Qingrong were left behind, gnashing their teeth. "This little slut is becoming more and more brazen."

Yuejian, who was standing nearby, did not care for the petty behavior of this legitimate daughter, but not knowing what to say, she gestured with her hands, "Second Miss, Third Miss, the sun is fierce under the corridor; it is better to move inside."

Qingru gave a cold snort and turned to walk inside. The filigree butterfly hairpin on her head fluttered wildly, just as frantic and angry as she was.