Spring of the Blade - Chapter 41

Chapter 41

At first, she had been worried that this room would be easy to enter but difficult to leave; she was terrified of being caught red-handed, in which case she would never be able to clear her name no matter how many mouths she had to explain herself. As it turned out, she hadn't expected that the wall immersed in darkness behind them held a small door. Once opened, it led directly into the garden at the back. Dazed and confused, she followed in Shen Run's footsteps. The man in front walked with leisurely ease. To Shen Run, with the bright sun and gentle breeze, and a beautiful woman at his side, the day felt remarkably like what his life might be like thirty years from now when he retired. To enjoy such a moment in advance felt truly wonderful.

"The family garden is quite large. This is the East Courtyard; Shen Che has a West Courtyard on his side. You should familiarize yourself with the paths first; once you've been here a while, you will naturally get to know the place."

He strode ahead in a relaxed manner, his clear, resonant voice brushing past her ear like the wind. Even now, Qingyuan still couldn't fathom how everything had happened. This man was both wicked and mischievous, particularly adept at teasing. As a proper young lady who had never seen the ways of the world, she felt humiliated and very angry when he teased her time and again, yet, unfortunately, she dared not show it.

That gesture earlier, when he had tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, still left her feeling dizzy and as if she were lost in a mist whenever she recalled it. Usually, the only people close to her were Baoxian and Chuntai; between girls, smoothing each other's hair or applying rouge was as common as one hand helping the other. But to have a man suddenly use the hand that wielded a sword to tuck her hair—it made her heart hang in suspense, suspended higher and higher. That overwhelming sense of panic gripped her; she didn't even feel offended, but rather felt a pure, instinctive fear. She was like a firefly trapped in a jar; her space to move had become narrow, and the air was growing thin. His act of introducing her to his grand garden, waiting for her to grow accustomed to it over time—this autocratic attitude made fine goosebumps crawl across her skin. She tried to fall back a few paces to put some distance between them, but he was a man who could pinpoint a location just by sound. As soon as she lagged behind, he would turn to look at her—a lazy gaze, a fleeting smile—all of which were enough to fill her with terror, forcing her to hurry and catch up.

Walking through the winding, secluded small corridor, the flower hall for entertaining guests lay ahead. Behind him, Qingyuan called out softly, "Commander, I fear it will draw attention if we enter together. It would be better if you went in first, and I followed shortly after. Would that be alright?"

Her timid, pleading tone sounded exactly like someone trying to compensate after a secret rendezvous, filled with a lingering intimacy and the subtle inner workings of a young girl's heart.

He gave a knowing smile upon hearing this and, without another word, stepped toward the flower hall. Qingyuan stood alone beneath a tall magnolia tree. The wind rustled the branches and leaves above, and only then did she dare to completely exhale the murky air that had been lodged in her chest. Once she finished exhaling, she felt both sorrowful and melancholy, vaguely sensing in her heart that, barring any major disaster, she was destined to be entangled with that man for the rest of her life.

"A killer who doesn't blink, an ogre who doesn't spit out the bones"—none of these descriptions could accurately capture Shen Run. If you called him ruthless, he clearly appeared refined and elegant, with a clearer spirit than most scholars. But if you called him easygoing, he was notorious throughout the imperial court for the way he had slaughtered so many officials. His robes might be free of dust, but his hands were stained with blood; he was the sharpest blade in the Saint's arsenal.

Such a man of power and status, both righteous and wicked, held an extreme attraction for a young woman waiting to be married in the deep boudoir. If Qingyuan were the type to drift with the tide, she might have just listened and let him do as he pleased. But could this scene of flourishing flowers truly last a lifetime? He played with power and indulged his whims, planting enemies in all directions; disaster would surely befall him in the future. If she really followed him, she would likely never know peace for the rest of her life.

On the side of the flower hall, Baoxian’s figure finally appeared. She was looking around anxiously, and upon seeing her mistress standing under the big tree, she ran over beneath the scorching sun. When she reached her, she said with deep worry, "Why did you run off by yourself, Miss? There was sushan (crushed ice dessert) on the Commander’s wife’s table earlier; I was going to prepare a bowl for you, but when I turned around, you were gone..." She then whispered, "Did anything go wrong?"

Qingyuan shook her head. "I felt stuffy in the room, so I came out for a walk. There are so many magnolia trees planted here; it's very cool standing beneath them."

Only then did Baoxian set her mind at ease, saying with a smile, "The weather is hot, but you mustn't be too greedy for the cool air, Miss. It’s windy here, and if the cold gets into your skin, it will be a disaster. Let's go in quickly; they are playing 'shooting treasures' inside."

The so-called "shooting treasures" had evolved from a Dragon Boat Festival archery game. A string of items—such as sachets or pendants—was tied to a thin rope and suspended twenty paces away. The participants used small horn bows to shoot at them; each person had ten arrows. If they hit the target, they won the prize; if they missed, they were penalized with a drink. It was a simple and fun indoor game.

Hearing this, Qingyuan and Baoxian returned to the flower hall together. Zhengjun had just finished his turn in this round. He hadn't gained much, holding a cloth tiger stuffed with mugwort in one hand and drinking wine from a bowl in the other. Everyone laughed, saying Zhengjun usually held his liquor well and should drink another cup, but Zhengjun waved his hands repeatedly. "My wife cannot stand the smell of alcohol. If I drink any more, I'll have to spend the whole night reading in the study."

Everyone burst into laughter, sympathizing with the newlyweds; a good man always had to consider his wife's feelings.

The next person to step up was Shen Run. The small horn bow looked like a child's toy in his hands. He turned it over and inspected it, laughing, "Is there anyone here who does not practice martial arts? Why are you trying to fool us with this trinket meant for girls?" He then raised his voice to summon a servant, asking for a real bow and arrows.

"Shooting treasures shouldn't be limited to what's on the board. As long as you have the skill, you can take any object within this hall. Do you have any objections?" He said with a smile, patting the gold-gilded incense ball at his waist. "Even the ornaments on your own bodies—if you have the skill, feel free to take them. I, Shen, certainly won't be stingy, and I trust you all feel the same, right?"

The crowd, caught up in the fun, did not suspect he had any ulterior motives and naturally agreed.

Qingyuan watched him string the bow, her hand clutching her handkerchief tightly.

Glancing at Qingru, she appeared rather listless, likely because she hadn't been able to speak with Li Congxin alone. When Lvzhui whispered something to her, she turned slightly and shook her head.

Qingyuan couldn't help but sigh. The way that beast-mask pendant was worn was just right; the long cord passed over the beautiful curves of her chest, dangling in the air like another treasure to be won. But that tiny space was so precise that it allowed for no mistakes. Those were real bows and real arrows! If even one shot went astray, it would be a major catastrophe today.

She was almost too afraid to look, and a layer of hot sweat broke out on her back. Just as she was lost in thought, she noticed two gazes directed at her from across the room—it was Li Congxin. He was watching her quietly, his eyes as deep as pools. Seeing her look back, his slightly furrowed brows gradually smoothed out, and the corners of his lips curved into a faint smile.

For some reason, Qingyuan's heart twisted with pain, and she felt a sudden sense of guilt toward him. As people grow older, they slowly meet other people; their fates become intertwined, and a thousand threads create complex entanglements. She had originally thought that after her family moved to Youzhou, her connection with him would end. She had not expected that, after crossing thousands of miles, this passionate young nobleman would appear before her again. But what could she do? She returned a helpless smile. Even with true feelings, the gap in their status and standing was like a mountain and sea that could not be crossed.

On the other side, Li Congxin had been looking for her for a long time. After the banquet, he had wanted to talk to her, but he couldn't find her anywhere in or outside the flower hall. When he asked Baoxian, she hesitated before saying that her mistress had gone to look at the flower patterns of the Commander's wife. Yet, even after Fangchun returned, Qingyuan still hadn't appeared. More frighteningly, Shen Run was also nowhere to be seen. His heart instantly turned chaotic, worried that Qingyuan had fallen into Shen Run's hands. He was a man who dared to scheme even against princes; there was nothing he wouldn't do. Later, when Shen Run returned, she was only brought back by Baoxian a short while after. He scrutinized her face carefully, fearing he might glimpse some terrifying emotion in her expression, but fortunately, there was none. Fortunately, everything seemed as usual.

Just as he was relieved, he suddenly heard a series of surprised gasps and sharp inhalations. He quickly turned his head and discovered that Shen Run had shot an arrow into the wall; the thin shaft had pierced through a dark-colored cord, suspending the jade pendant that hung on Qingru’s chest.

The arrow feathers were still trembling, and the taotie pattern on the jade pendant quivered along with it, looking like a mocking, silent laugh. Everyone was stunned. Qingru's face turned crimson. Thinking of how she had nearly become the ghost under someone's arrow, the well-bred daughter of a high official had received such a shock and humiliation that, were she not in someone else's manor and terrified of the Commander's tyranny, she would have cried regardless of dignity.

Zhengze was also flustered. Qingru was his sister from the same mother, and he didn't know how she had offended Shen Run to invite such an insult. However, he couldn't lose face by questioning him, nor could he show anger. He had to applaud the Commander's fine archery while simultaneously remaining alert for any further incidents. Looking at Qingru again, her complexion shifted from red to white, then to pale blue. He wanted to comfort her but couldn't, so he had to force a smile and say, "I have often heard that the Commander can pierce a willow leaf at a hundred paces. I didn't believe it before, but having seen it with my own eyes today, I cannot help but be convinced."

Shen Run took down the jade pendant, tossed it casually in his hand, and said with a smile to Qingru, "Second Miss, I’m afraid I have to take what you cherish. However, for a young lady from a sheltered home to be wearing a man's ornament—the daughter of a Governor-General is truly unconventional, indeed."

His laughter was resonant, and Qingru almost wished she could find a hole to crawl into. She was flustered and panicked, looking toward Li Congxin for help, but he only smiled regretfully. That smile had an ambiguous meaning; it was unclear whether he was feeling sorry for the lost jade pendant or pitying her foolish appearance.

The banquet had a small accident, but this accident was treated as an impromptu amusement. If you wanted to hold a grudge, you couldn't, because it was a game. Because of the great shock, Qingru remained stunned for the rest of the event. Qinghe saw this and turned to smile at Qingyuan. "If the family doesn't discipline her, outsiders will. At a banquet like this, wearing a man’s object—is she trying to attract the Shen brothers on purpose, acting out like that?"

Only then did Qingyuan feel a sense of vengeful pleasure. The bullying within the inner courtyard was like a slow-acting poison, taking too long to take effect. It wasn't like a man's methods—ruthless, precise, and decisive. For example, the slap Qingru had given her when she was at her most arrogant had occurred in the inner chambers where no outsiders saw it. The punishment Shen Run dealt today, however, was in front of everyone, causing her to lose all dignity without any room to cry injustice.

However, this might cause some trouble later. Qingyuan tugged on Qinghe’s sleeve. "Big Sister, I gave that jade pendant to Second Sister. After what happened today, she will surely want to hold me accountable when we return."

Qinghe was surprised. "You gave it to her?"

Qingyuan nodded, annoyed. "I told her that the jade belonged to the Young Marquis and asked her to keep it safe. I didn't expect her to hang it on her own button..."

Upon hearing this, Qinghe finally understood. "No wonder she acted that way. Trying so hard to cling to someone else, only to be looked down upon. Now that she’s been made a target for the Commander, what face does she have left before the Young Marquis? If the Old Madam and Mother blame you when we return, I will speak up for you. Do not be afraid."

Qinghe and Qingyuan were becoming increasingly aligned. If Qingyuan hadn't secretly sent her a message last time, Lady Hu surely would have annulled the marriage to the Count’s family in the father’s name. Even if she had received Li Guanling's letter later, it would have been useless, and their marriage would have been broken. Seriously speaking, Qingyuan was her benefactor. She had finally realized that all the brothers and sisters in the family combined were not worth as much as this little sister. Now that her own future was secure, her confidence naturally grew, and she dared to speak up at home. If Qingyuan encountered any difficulties, she would not sit idly by.

Qingyuan grasped Qinghe's hand with gratitude. "Thank you, Big Sister."

Qinghe smiled. "The more wretched she looks, the more I like it..."

Just as she finished speaking, she saw Lvzhui, Qingru's maid, approach and whisper, "Eldest Miss, our mistress is feeling unwell. May I ask when you will be returning?"

Qinghe glanced toward Qingru. She was still stunned, looking as if her soul had left her body. "What are your mistress’s plans? If you wish to leave now, we can just bid farewell to the Commander's wife."

Lvzhui looked like she was begging for it. "We must go, we must go! Eldest Miss, please hurry and bid farewell to the Deputy Commander's wife."

Qinghe dawdled for a little while longer before going to say goodbye to Fangchun, thanking her for the hospitality and saying that it was getting late, and since she had her sisters with her, they needed to return first.

Fangchun was surprised. "I was just having someone prepare the evening banquet; why are you leaving so soon?"

Qinghe smiled and said, "With no elders present, we must return while the daylight lasts. We appreciate your kindness, Madam."

A melancholy smile appeared on Fangchun’s face. She said with infinite regret, "If that is the case, I will not force you to stay. Let me see you all out."

The group exchanged farewells once more. After they boarded the carriage, Fangchun delivered exquisite food boxes to each of them one by one, smiling, "These are shortbreads made by the family. You can take them back to eat yourselves, or reward your servants with them." She then prepared two large boxes to be presented to the Old Madam and the Governor-General’s wife. Such attention to detail—the etiquette was more than complete.

As the carriage left the ward where the Shen residence was located, Qingyuan placed the box of shortbread on her lap. She stared at it intently but did not have the courage to open it.

After Shen Run took back the jade pendant, he hadn't had any more contact with her. As long as everything was as usual in this food box, then the pendant could be considered returned, and she would never have to worry again.

Seeing her taking one big breath after another, Baoxian couldn't help but laugh. "Miss, you still have to open it eventually. Better to see it sooner so you can plan ahead."

That was true. Qingyuan steadied her nerves and pulled open the exquisite little drawer.

With four eyes between them, they looked inside cautiously. The shortbread box was neatly divided into square compartments, each filled with different kinds of small pastries. In only one compartment lay the grinning beast-mask, staring directly at them with an expression that seemed both crying and laughing.

Qingyuan felt all the air leave her body. She took it out, held it in her palm, and said listlessly, "Really... I tried every way I could, yet I still can't get rid of it."

Baoxian felt sorry for her as well. "Since that is the case, you should keep it well from now on, Miss."

She had no choice but to keep it; if there were another mishap, Shen Run would not let her off. Earlier in the small room, she had said all that needed to be said, but unfortunately, it seemed it hadn't brought the matter to an end. Now it appeared that Fangchun also knew about it; no wonder she had shown her such inexplicable kindness from the very beginning. Now it seemed true—there is no such thing as an unmotivated liking in this world.

The return journey was faster than the trip there. It was as if Qingru's carriage in front was rushing, and to avoid being left behind, the carriage behind had to lash the horses to catch up. After about the time it took to burn a stick of incense, they had already arrived at the Xie residence.

The people inside the gate came out to welcome them. As Qingyuan got off the carriage and looked back, Qingru's feet had barely touched the ground when she collapsed limply. Lvzhui’s piercing, chicken-like scream echoed through the dusk before the Xie residence. "What happened to my mistress? Someone, come quickly..."

Then, in the ensuing chaos, the entire inner courtyard of the Xie residence exploded. Qingru was carried into her Qilan Courtyard, where several doctors took turns treating her. She remained in a state of convulsion on the bed, frightening Lady Hu so much that she lost her wits, loudly questioning Lvzhui: "She was perfectly fine when she left. How did she end up like this when she returned?"

Lvzhui only sobbed, stuttering that her mistress had been frightened after the Commander, Shen, shot the jade pendant off her body.

The Old Madam was suspicious upon hearing this. Normally, when a man goes to such lengths to take a woman’s personal possession, he must have his own intentions. Perhaps the martial official wanted to test the girl’s courage, but it turned out Qingru was useless and had been scared to this extent.

However, Lady Hu thought it strange. Because of a certain "Brother Chunzhi," Qingru had run over to have her mother look at her outfit before going out. At that time, she hadn't been wearing any jade pendant. She asked Lvzhui which pendant it was.

Lvzhui sobbed and raised her hand, pointing at Qingyuan. "That jade pendant was given to our mistress by the Fourth Miss! Now that our mistress has been frightened out of her wits by Commander Shen, Old Madam and Mother should just ask the Fourth Miss. It must be the Fourth Miss who wanted to harm our mistress!"