Spring of the Blade - Chapter 56

Chapter 56

When you encounter trouble and have no one to consult with, that is a difficulty every woman who marries far from home must eventually face. Fangchun used to confide in her, and even though Qingyuan was still a maiden in the inner chambers, she could deeply empathize with that state of mind. Fangchun had long looked forward to having a child, and now that it was finally happening, she was instead at a loss. At such a time, one needs to find a trusted person to deliberate with—no matter what the subject, one simply needs to deliberate to prepare for the arrival of the child.

Qingyuan was genuinely happy for Fangchun, wearing a smile throughout the journey. Baoxian watched her and laughed, "Our young lady is truly something; even other people’s business is worth this much joy to you."

Qingyuan said, "Because there are not many things worth being happy about. That she thought to tell me when she found out she was pregnant shows she considers me a person of significance."

Though she said this, she secretly had a different premonition. She wondered if Fangchun had notified the people in the capital. If Shen Che knew, he would certainly tell Shen Run. If Shen Che returned, would Shen Run return as well?

Thinking too much, she felt heavy-hearted along the way, but she had to keep it all bottled up inside. Youzhou was a strange place; the people here were one unexpected encounter after another for her. Previously, she did not dress up often, preferring clothes that were comfortable, and she disliked wearing accessories. But now, she had a permanent item on her person—that small pouch seemed to have grown onto her. Over time, it wasn't to satisfy Shen Run’s inspections, but out of habit.

Sigh, this twilight was somewhat annoying. She mocked herself with a smile, shifting her gaze out the window to look at the setting sun and the solitary duck, to look at the bustle and smoke of the marketplace, and slowly, she calmed down. She had walked the road to the Commander’s mansion several times already; calculating the time, the sun would likely be just setting by the time she arrived at the gates.

Baoxian carefully checked the gifts they had brought, chattering away about something; Qingyuan answered absentmindedly, watching the clouds on the horizon grow thicker, slowly covering the afterglow until only a narrow line remained, like a slender eye hanging in the air.

The servant driving the carriage shook the bells on his whip outside and tilted his head to report inside, "Fourth Miss, we have arrived."

As he finished, the carriage stopped. The servant turned to open the carved door and placed a footstool before the carriage. A servant woman came up to assist her, pushing the servant aside to stand near the lead horse. The Fourth Miss’s moonlight skirt was lifted by the wind and then gently settled; that slender figure floated gracefully into the gates of the Commander’s mansion in the peripheral vision. Only then did the servant dare to lift his eyes to look around; there were still nail-like guards on both sides of the gate. He dared not linger, picked up the reins, and led the horse under a sycamore tree nearby.

"Is the Fourth Miss here?" A servant woman stepped forward to salute. Judging by her attire, she was likely the head stewardess of the mansion.

Qingyuan nodded slightly, "I have come to see your Mistress."

The servant woman beamed with a smile, "Our Mistress sent word to order this slave to welcome you at the gate. This slave is the stewardess of the inner residence, surnamed Zhou; the Fourth Miss can just call me Mother Zhou." While speaking, she greeted the maid standing by, "The people accompanying the Miss have had a hard journey. The time is about right; quickly take them to have a meal."

Two maids then warmly surrounded them and led Baoxian and the others toward the corridor. Mother Zhou smiled and gestured to Qingyuan, "Miss, please follow me."

Once in someone else’s mansion, one naturally follows their arrangements. Qingyuan followed the guidance toward the garden; that wooden corridor that divided the east and west mansions had a kind of primitive beauty in the twilight. When they reached the end, the west mansion was to the right, and the east mansion was to the left. She felt nervous, worried that Mother Zhou was going to lead her to the east courtyard, but fortunately, she did not. However, she did not lead her to the covered walkway on the right either, but just kept going forward, passing through a small courtyard to a larger garden ahead.

The garden was already lit with lamps; scattered clusters of light made the surroundings look hazy and indistinct. She had never been here before and was secretly surprised that this Commander’s mansion was even larger than she had imagined. But not seeing Fangchun, she called out, "Mother Zhou, where is your Mistress?"

No sooner had the words left her lips than she knew asking that question was superfluous. Leaning against the moon gate ahead was a person with a dashing figure and a relaxed manner. His cold, clear voice fell like a murmuring stream onto a zither, careless and indifferent: "They are a married couple reuniting after a short separation; Fourth Miss, do not go and disturb them. I happen to be free, so let me keep you company and chat instead."

Qingyuan stood there without moving. Her earlier premonition had come true, but instead, she felt a sense of finality. It was just the wrong time; meeting the wrong person at the wrong time was a great taboo. She said, "What a coincidence. I did not know the Commander had returned to Youzhou. The day is late, and since I cannot see Fangchun, I shall take my leave now."

She was a young lady who observed rules and proprieties; she did not believe in night-running for private trysts. After she finished speaking, she turned to leave. Shen Run gave a soft "Ah," "Fourth Miss, stay your steps. That case where you were attacked has made some headway; I was just thinking of telling you. Do you want to hear it?"

Qingyuan paused upon hearing this, tilted her head, and asked, "How is it?"

The man by the door also mimicked her tilt, "Are we just going to stand here and talk? This is not the first day you have known me, Fourth Miss. Can you not trust my character?"

As for whether she could trust it, that was obvious, but once the word "character" was involved, one had to be extremely cautious. Qingyuan smiled, "Commander, what are you saying? I was saved by your hand, which is why I have the life to stand here today. Even if Qingyuan could not trust anyone in the world, she would not doubt you."

He felt that this remark was quite pleasant to hear, so he turned and walked while saying, "Then come into the garden, sit down, and let us talk properly."

Qingyuan looked back; she didn't know when Mother Zhou had left, only seeing a few maids passing by in the distance, holding lamps and laughing. She had no choice but to follow him into the garden. It was that time of day when it was neither dark nor light, and every pebble she stepped on crunched. The man in front was scented with a very pleasant fragrance, like Hengwu herbs mixed with Suhe oil. In such a deep, thick twilight, a cold yet lingering feeling wandered about.

Commander Shen was different from ordinary warriors, which was a rare trait. She had seen him wearing his python robes, and she had seen his casual attire at home; few men looked pleasing to the eye whether they were standing or sitting. The temporary decline of the Shen family only made his convictions firmer and his actions more methodical; it did not leave any ugly scars upon him.

On this night with a cool, blowing breeze, his voice was also cold and clear, "That day I only treated you to the coarse tea and plain food of the Hall of Supreme Command, which I truly feel sorry about and have been dwelling on for days. Today, it is a coincidence that we have the opportunity to make up for that debt. Let us eat while we talk." He turned his head slightly, showing her his handsome profile and half of his neck, and smiled slightly, "Fourth Miss, you would not refuse to give me this favor, would you?"

I do not know why, but even though his words and actions were dignified, she still saw a sense of soul-stirring charm in them. It just goes to show that the first few impressions one makes are important; once solidified, no matter how much you reform, it is of no use.

As for her, that embarrassing state she was in when hiding in the cabinet—surely that wouldn't haunt her in his mind for the rest of her life, would it! It was too late to regret her past actions, so she had to try to appear calm, responding vaguely: "Should we not call the Commander and Fangchun over?"

Shen Run was very direct, "Why call them? I find them bothersome."

He often had such quick, blunt moments in his speech. Qingyuan had heard enough of them to no longer be surprised. However, it was truly strange for the two of them to sit opposite each other eating. After taking her seat, she was still more concerned about the case, "What headway is this that the Commander speaks of? Have you found the person pulling the strings?"

Shen Run poured her a cup of wine and replied in a calm voice, "It is Liang Yi, the Zhenwei Captain of the Xilong Guard. He previously served under Lady Hu’s father and only entered the Xilong Guard after General Hu retired. This man is quite sentimental; the daughter of his former superior had a request, so he agreed. He thought a young girl like you would be very easy to deal with, but he did not expect me to intervene. Now, I fear he is regretting his actions to the point where his intestines are turning green. I have already sent people to find him. Fourth Miss, you do not need to worry; if he is sensible, he will come to see me on his own."

"And if he plays dumb?" Qingyuan asked, "How does the Commander plan to deal with him?"

He raised his eyebrows and smiled, "If I could not deal with him, wouldn't my Hall of Supreme Command be a useless office? I have a hundred ways to make him open his mouth, but unfortunately..." He looked at her soulfully and sighed.

Qingyuan hesitated, "Commander, if you have something to say, do not hesitate to speak. Unfortunately what?"

"Unfortunately, among my hundred ways, there is no way to make you fall in love with Shen Run." He rested his chin on his hand, his tone aggrieved, "Fourth Miss, do you like Shen Run today?"

Qingyuan thought for a moment and shook her head, "Commander, why do you always say such wild and tigerish things? I am a decent girl; if you tease me again, I am leaving."

Shen Run was stunned by her words, "Wild and tigerish?" This term was used too well. In her eyes, he truly was a wolf-like figure now.

She really rose to leave. He hurriedly reached out and held her sleeve. The two had been sitting opposite each other, and this posture had a hint of pleading in it. But the Commander never cared about bowing and scraping before the person he liked, so he could not let go of the sleeve, even though his tone softened, "Alright, alright, can I not talk to you properly?"

Qingyuan knew in her heart, however, that this person was not serious to his core. Your righteous corrections could last for at most the duration of a cup of tea before they were rekindled again.

However, she still wanted to pry some news from him. The weight of his hand on her sleeve was very light, as light as a feather brushing against her heart. Qingyuan sat back down, "If that Liang Yi confesses regarding Lady Hu, how does the Commander plan to deal with her?"

Shen Run retracted his hand, his fingertips pinching the fine porcelain cup and rotating it, watching the tide-like curves cover the cup wall. Although this fruit wine was light, the fragrance was thick and rich. She did not drink, and he did not urge her, only raising his eyes to look at her, "I want to ask you, Fourth Miss, what are your plans?"

The girl under the lamp had a stunning complexion; that faint layer of gold tinted her brows and eyes, and even the hesitation at the corners of her eyes had a unique charm.

She placed one arm on the table, her slender wrist adorned with a five-colored tourmaline bracelet. It was not as opulent as those wearing gold and silver, but had a delicate charm, combining a girl's cute thoughts. She must have been very hesitant; she pinched and released her five fingers, released and pinched them again, before finally saying: "If it were up to my heart, she harmed my mother before and has come to harm me again; I wish I could make her pay in blood immediately. But regarding this matter, although there was a plan, it was not implemented, and I am still alive. Even if the matter blew up, the Xie family would not just sit idly by. For the matriarch of the house to be involved in such a lawsuit would be a great damage to the Xie family’s reputation. Even if the Old Madam tried everything in her power, she would save her. If I remained unrelenting and brought about rumors of framing a Di mother, it would not be worth the loss. As for that servant, he was a house-born slave; if the master mistakenly killed him, at most she would be beaten one hundred times and fined some silver. If the family does not pursue it, the matter passes." She sighed as she spoke, "It is all because I escaped death, the play could not be performed, and there is no way to punish her to death."

Shen Run laughed at hearing this, "If you had died, would trading two lives for one be a good deal? It is better to be alive. To be alive and see her reputation ruined—for her to cry while you laugh, and to laugh right in front of her—wouldn't that be more satisfying?"

Hearing him say this, Qingyuan actually laughed, "The Commander speaks truly; that is what I thought initially, too. But to let her off so easily leaves me feeling unwilling."

He put down his wine cup and served her some food, "Fourth Miss, do not just focus on talking; try the delicacies from our small kitchen. This was just made by a new chef from Jiangnan; see if it suits your palate."

Only then did Qingyuan pick up a chopstick of deer meat strips, tasted it carefully, and nodded, "This is the flavor. Our dishes in Hengtang lean toward the sweeter side and emphasize rich, oily, red sauces. Your mansion is full of hidden talents; where did you find such a good chef?"

Shen Run smiled without answering; naturally, he would not tell her that this chef was poached from the biggest restaurant in the capital. He had always been far-sighted. She was born in the south and would always have a nostalgia for the dishes of her hometown. In the future, if they were married and she became pregnant like Fangchun and wanted Southern food, having a ready-made chef would save the trouble.

However, it was not good to tell her this. If he said it, he was afraid he would be beaten by her, so he just said casually, "Shen Che’s wife has news of a pregnancy; this is the first child of our Shen family. Shen Che is not often in Youzhou, and you are close to her; please take care of her in the future! Come to the mansion often. You can dispatch the servants below as you wish. If you want to eat something good, tell Mother Zhou and let her prepare it for you." He spoke in an entirely domestic tone and then asked her, "Do you lack anything? Like rouge and powder... there is a decent rouge shop in the capital; even the concubines in the palace hire people to buy from there. In two days, I will have someone send you a few boxes. You can keep what you like for yourself, and give away what you don't."

Qingyuan was a little embarrassed; she did not know why this man was so familiar. A girl’s rouge and handkerchiefs—these were very private things, small tastes belonging to a girl’s deep chambers. Once a man intervened, the flavor was just wrong.

She lowered her head, holding her chopsticks in her mouth, and muttered, "We have a matron in our family who specializes in procuring these things..."

He reached out and gently removed the ivory chopsticks from her lips, "Do not speak with chopsticks in your mouth; be careful of chipping your teeth. I was just afraid those matrons would judge people by their appearance, keeping the good things for the eldest or second young ladies and leaving you with only what was picked over."

Qingyuan became even more uncomfortable. Before him, she felt like an ignorant child; he was even worried she would chip her teeth. However, it was true that she was using the scraps picked over by others, but she did not care about those things. She used very little rouge and powder anyway. If she fussed over such small matters, how much anger would she have to endure in her daily life?

She gave a soft "Mm" and put down her chopsticks. He seemed puzzled, "What, is the food not good?"

Qingyuan said it wasn't that, "I am full."

Shen Run laughed, "Full after eating only two bites? There will be many times we eat together in the future; if you are this reserved, won't you go hungry every time?" As he spoke, he scooped some minced meat sauce for her, "This is delicious; it is the most home-style dish from your Hengtang. You must have eaten it when you were at the Chen family. I did not often eat Southern food before, always feeling it was too sweet and greasy, but now I have found the flavor is just right—salty and sweet, suitable, just like you."

And there he went again. Qingyuan touched her forehead and said, "Commander, you cannot always think about teasing me; it makes my heart flutter with anxiety."

"Anxiety is good," he said calmly, "If I do not tease you, how will you willingly become my wife in the future? You have to get used to me being unserious in front of you. Anyway, I do not go tease other people; in the future, you will know my benefits."

Qingyuan was flushed red from his words, and in annoyance, she scooped a spoonful of vegetables and stuffed it into her mouth, "If the Commander thinks I am like a refined lady who can be married back to guard the house, then you are mistaken. I am very crude, have a bad temper, and love to hold grudges."

He said it did not matter, "I will make you like me."

The conversation reached a dead end again. She stared blankly at him, really unable to understand why a person’s goal could be so clear.

He noticed those two gazes falling on his face and gave her a charming smile without hesitation, "Why are you looking at me like that?" That sentence was sent lightly on the tip of his tongue; their meeting eyes were like hooks, hooking tightly together as he leaned his face forward. Then his gaze moved down, landing on her bright red lips, "Fourth Miss, do you have some ideas about me? Looking at a man like this is not a good thing. If you keep looking... if you keep looking, I am going to..."

Qingyuan was startled and covered her mouth with her hand.