Spring of the Blade - Chapter 57

Chapter 57

Shen Run was taken aback, feigning a look of being insulted, then exclaimed with a sudden realization, "Fourth Miss, you appear gentle and virtuous, but who would have thought you harbor such complex thoughts! What are you doing? Why cover your mouth? Are you perhaps finding me so delectable that you’ve developed devious intentions toward me?"

Qingyuan instantly regretted her actions; she truly could not understand why she had made such a gesture and handed him such leverage.

She had not lived for many years, but ever since she could remember, her grandmother had diligently taught her that the most important thing for a young lady was to remain poised and calm. You do not need to be infallible, nor do you need to always stand in an invincible position, but when you do suffer a defeat, you must at least lose with elegance and without losing your demeanor.

Qingyuan felt that in all the time that had passed, no matter the adversity, she had lived up to her grandmother’s teachings. Yet, in everyone’s life, there is inevitably a bane, and Shen Run was hers. Meeting him, the maidenly poise she had painstakingly cultivated proved entirely useless. He blustered, he turned the tables, and she could only watch helplessly. Aside from lamenting his thick skin, she had no other recourse.

However, was she to just let him slander her? Not a chance! When a person is pushed to the edge, they naturally find a spark of wit. She did not lower the hand covering her mouth, but instead used the moment to fake a yawn, one so wide it brought tears to her eyes. Then, she blinked innocently, "Sigh, I have let the Commander see me at my worst. Usually, by this hour, our home has long since closed the gates and retired... I have formed the habit. I have been disrespectful in front of you." She then proceeded to play dumb, "What was it the Commander just said?"

Shen Run’s advantage clearly could not be held for long; by her counter-attack, his rhetoric lost its footing. Having failed to successfully frame her, he was not discouraged. He uttered a low "Hmm," and said, "Nothing. I only felt that Fourth Miss calling me 'Commander' left and right was too distant. Fourth Miss, just call me Shen Run, or call me by my courtesy name. Do you know my courtesy name? My father hoped I would be upright and scholarly, so my courtesy name is Shouya... If you feel awkward saying that, calling me 'Brother Shouya' would also suffice."

It was stomach-churning—a sourness that raced through her limbs and made her hair stand on end. Brother Shouya? This form of address was the ultimate awkwardness! It was a beautiful name, though; just looking at those two characters felt like seeing an upright, honest gentleman standing in the sunlight, laughing brightly. But as for the person before her—with that overly handsome face under the lamp, a man whose looks were too good made one feel he was untrustworthy. Although Li Congxin also possessed a refined appearance, he was different. Even if a young noble公子 was a bit indulgent, once he settled his heart, his sincerity was visible. As for him? He had weathered storms, and every ordeal was a hard shell. She did not believe she could chisel through those heavy barriers. Thus, even though he exhausted every method to woo her, she still carried a smile and resolutely refused to fall for his traps.

He said, "Fourth Miss, won't you try saying it?"

She was very skilled at prevarication and lifted her spoon to scoop some soup, "Let me taste this egg custard; it’s been steamed quite flavorfully..."

But before she could finish, he reached out, gently wiping her lip with his soft fingertip, and smiled benevolently, "How did you manage to get it all over your mouth..."

This was the reality where "the devil is one foot tall, but the Way is ten." Qingyuan felt a bit discouraged; she felt that she might never be able to outsmart this old fox in her entire life.

Fortunately, he knew when to stop. The young lady blushed in embarrassment, and he straightened his posture, sitting upright again, and raised his wine cup to drink slowly. The battle of wits and courage just now seemed as if it had never happened. The Commander was once again the dignified and upright Commander, saying calmly, "As for the matter regarding Liang Yi, you need not concern yourself. I just heard your insight, and it was very reasonable. If dealt with openly, it would be impossible to bring Lady Hu to justice in one stroke and would actually be detrimental to your reputation. However, since the overt path is blocked, we shall go covertly... In any case, leave this matter to me; I guarantee you will not suffer any losses."

Qingyuan did not know how he planned to deal with Lady Hu, so she stared at him for a long time, "Has the Commander already thought of a plan?"

He lowered his eyes, "No one is planning for your future, so I shall plan for you myself. No matter who you marry in the future, I want you to leave home in glory, a hundred times more dignified than any Di daughter."

A complex mix of emotions stirred in Qingyuan’s heart. She truly had not expected such a "Cheng Yaojin" to intrude into her rough-hewn fate, slashing and blocking with a blade to protect her, for a very strange reason: a second-rank official could not find a wife, so he had to capture her to be his lady. Protecting one's own was human nature, and this trait in Shen Run was particularly prominent, likely stemming from the painful experiences of his youth. But how long this enthusiasm would last, who could say? Today the flowers are blooming in splendor, but tomorrow perhaps it becomes a half-withered potted plant tossed in a corner, cherished for the careful pruning of its early days, yet seen as a waste of space—tasteless to keep, but a pity to discard.

However, she was truly touched. Shen Run, as expected of someone who worked in criminal justice, possessed words that could reach straight to the heart. Whether through interrogation or manipulative enticement, he knew where your weak points were—what would itch or ache when touched, leaving you unable to even run away.

She sighed, "I fear I will have nothing with which to repay your kindness, Commander."

"If you cannot repay it, then give yourself to me," he smiled ambiguously, "After all, I never engage in loss-making deals."

Qingyuan sealed her lips, slowly stroking her knee in thought. A longing grew in her heart—she wanted to see exactly how steady this Commander’s resolve was. Could a man who peacocked before young ladies all day long truly possess such unwavering conviction?

"Is the Commander’s statement true? Earlier, I was wondering why you went through such painstaking schemes to trick me into the mansion." She said, propping her chin on one arm, and cast a light, soft glance at him, "You approach me repeatedly; surely you have a motive. Qingyuan is but a powerless, low-status Shu daughter; how can I endure such torment from you? Now that I am here in your Shen mansion, you flicker your eyes at me one moment and provoke me with words the next—what is it you really want? You always say I have devious intentions toward you, but isn't it actually that you, Commander, are so greedy for my beauty that you cannot extricate yourself?"

There, she had said it. The words began to ferment in each of their hearts. The way Shen Run looked at her changed instantly from hazy to incredibly profound and clear.

Earlier, he had been the one occupying the initiative, whether bantering or teasing. He loved watching the changes in her facial expressions. A young girl who did not understand affairs of the heart was as pure as a blank sheet of paper; whatever he drew upon it was what it became—this feeling was truly interesting. But the self-confident Commander Shen never expected that once the brush was in her hand, the ink-laden tip would fall upon him in a way he could hardly parry.

She was not foolish; she was the smartest girl in the world, and applying what she had learned was not difficult for her. The lanterns under the eaves of the flower hall swayed in the evening breeze, bands of scattered light swinging back and forth. Those bright, dark eyes, like those of a young deer, just gazed at him so, and suddenly he felt it difficult to breathe. Truly, a man long deprived cannot withstand such provocation; if he were to act on it, he would surely frighten her.

He looked away, waves of heat churning in his heart. He raised a finger to undo his collar, the friction between the silver hook and the clasp making a soft ding. A coolness slowly flowed in. He thought that he, like her the day she hid in the cabinet, had fallen into the palm of the other, unable to escape.

His mouth felt dry and tongue scorched; he swallowed gently. Qingyuan watched that exquisite Adam's apple roll. So, a man also has such a flustered and lovely side. She became even more smilingly, "Commander?" She tested the waters on the edge of the cliff again, not fearing for her life.

He did not look at her and gave a vague "Mm."

"My question, Commander has yet to answer."

Sweat beaded on his forehead, crawling there as if about to drip down. He wanted to wipe it, but his hand stopped halfway and retracted; he could not let her see his unease.

"That is right..." He did not want to deny it, answering frankly, "I am indeed greedy for your beauty. If you were not beautiful, I would not bother to woo you. 'Fair maidens are the lords' good partners'; I do not think there is anything wrong with admiring your beauty."

"But the last time, you even told my grandmother that I was too young to tell whether I was beautiful or ugly."

A young lady is petty. That one sentence from back then had kept her harboring resentment until now, always planning to find a way to turn the tables.

So, on issues like this, a man should know when to concede. He sipped his wine and said, "If I had told your grandmother that you were as beautiful as a flower, I fear by tomorrow you would have been packed up and sent to my room... Fourth Miss, you have great ambitions, determined to be the primary wife. One marries a wife for virtue and takes a concubine for beauty; I will never praise your beauty, so give up on that idea."

After hearing this, Qingyuan felt a surge of melancholy in her heart. This person was truly good with words, making her not know whether she should continue to make things difficult for him. Yet, he kept talking about marrying a wife. She had already promised Li Congxin; that matter could not be reversed. If she were to become entangled with Shen Run, it truly would not be the behavior of a decent young lady.

She looked toward the courtyard gate, "I originally came to see Fangchun, but now it seems I cannot. Commander, I had better take my leave; if I return too late, I fear the Mistress will have something to say."

He replied gloomily, "The Second Miss and Third Miss have entered the palace for selection; does the Commissioner’s wife still have the leisure to manage you?"

Qingyuan was surprised, "Commander, how did you know they were undergoing selection? Isn't the imperial selection unrelated to the Hall of Supreme Command?"

"The Imperial Household Department and the Hall of Supreme Command have some dealings. Since I care about the Fourth Miss, I naturally care about the Xie family as well. If I were negligent and they sent you into the palace, that would be terrible!" After he finished, he paused and asked, "Are you not worried that if the Second and Third Misses are selected, they might act against you?"

Qingyuan smiled, "Are the waters of the palace not deeper than those of the Xie family? With the Second Sister's temperament... Commander, you might think I am malicious, but I actually hope she enters the palace so I don't have to take action myself. In this world, the law of the jungle is everywhere; she likes to press down on others in everything, but she won't live in the palace until next year’s Qingming Festival."

Shen Run laughed, "It seems I was over-worrying. I had originally thought to pull her down before the jade tokens were issued, but hearing you say this, letting her enter the palace is not so bad. I will notify the Director of the Ye Court later to ensure she does not enter the Shenlong Hall to see the Emperor. Many palace maids spend their whole lives growing old and dying in the deep palace; just transferring her to the Shangyang Palace will settle the matter."

If there were outsiders here now hearing their plotting, they would surely be terrified! They were so much like wolves and tigers conspiring to harm others, yet it was strange—the two of them could discuss such things with such composure, in such perfect unison.

Qingyuan gave a wry smile, "Since returning to the Xie family, I seem to have changed a great deal. I have learned to be like them, starting to calculate everything, with a poisonous heart."

Shen Run rested his forehead and asked, "Then do you want to return to the Chen family?"

She nodded, "I do want to go back. I grew up in the Chen family since I was young; my grandfather and grandmother both loved me dearly..."

"But Hengtang is remote; it is difficult for me to see you even once..." He pondered, his deep eyes gazing at her again, "Yun Ya—that name suits you better than Qingyuan."

She was slightly startled, but that name was already far from her. After returning to the Xie family, she had been ranked, becoming a blurry-faced member among those sisters. Now that he mentioned the maiden name she had been called by for over ten years, a sense of unfamiliarity gradually arose, and she could not bear to profane it. She was now steeped in schemes all day long; she was no longer worthy of those two pure characters.

However, after wallowing in self-pity, she discovered something wrong, "How does the Commander know these things? You sent people to investigate me?"

His gaze rippled, "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win every battle. There is no need for you to be surprised at this; not only do I know what you were called, I even know how old you were when you started teething and how long you wet the bed."

Qingyuan nearly lost her breath, "Commander, you cannot use your official position for such things; your Hall of Supreme Command is the most glorious office before the Saint!"

He laughed derisively, "Glory is only for public display. The Hall of Supreme Command handles many affairs; as long as it is necessary, even pillow talk between a husband and wife is not a secret, let alone your little trifles."

This was what was terrifying about him. Before him, you had no privacy to speak of; what he should know he knew, and what he shouldn't know he knew, too. But there was no help for it—that was the profession he was in. The office looked so dignified, but in reality, it did such undignified things.

However, he finally had one good quality, knowing to ask her, "Are you angry, Fourth Miss?"

Qingyuan was the type of person who knew how to take a step back in all things, and she did not have the habit of raising her eyebrows at every disagreement. She just said calmly, "Commander, you hold great power and can investigate whomever you wish, but I also have a word of advice for you: anything in excess is just as bad as not enough; once you go too far, you will create enemies. If you only know how to make enemies and not how to cultivate allies, sooner or later, you will find that there is no one in this entire court you can rely on. By then, being attacked from all sides—even if the Saint remembers old feelings, the wrath of the masses cannot be offended. One who is trusted but not utilized will surely be a Commander like you."

Shen Run was stunned for a moment by her words. The insight was not profoundly deep, but it hit the hidden concerns in his heart. He had crawled out of hell and reached his current status, yet he still felt a sense of emptiness beneath his feet. Yet this young girl had suddenly become someone who could stand behind him, back-to-back, facing those arrows shot from all directions. He had always thought girls did not think far ahead, that hidden in their boudoirs, they knew nothing of the world’s suffering and cared only for flowers and powder, how could they understand the court’s situation? Meeting her now, beyond her resourcefulness, she possessed such deep foresight, which only made him more certain: this was the peerless choice for a virtuous wife.

He nodded, "Your words are very reasonable. I do indeed lack an assistant who can help me win over hearts. With you, would turning enemies into friends be a difficult task?"

Qingyuan smiled, "It is a pity I am not a man, otherwise if I entered the Hall of Supreme Command, I would surely be able to share your worries."

She was playing the fool again. Sharing worries did not necessarily mean entering the Hall of Supreme Command. A man expands territory on the outside, while a woman manages the network of ladies in the circle; that is also a way to walk side by side. He had a strong urge to go to the Xie family to propose marriage immediately, but the agreement at Bihua Temple two days ago could not be changed. He let this fire burn in his heart. A rare young lady requires sufficient patience to negotiate; the more eager he was, the more cautious he had to be.

He looked at the sky outside the flower hall; a crescent moon hung on the horizon. Under the open balustrade window, a trailing branch of wisteria passed through, cutting the moon into two. He said, "The hour is late; let me escort you back."

Qingyuan said it was unnecessary, "There are maids and servants waiting outside; I can go back myself."

But he did not listen to her, taking the lead to escort her, accompanying her all the way to the gate of the Xie mansion.

Previously, he had always used the case as an excuse, but this time he did not. Mounted on his horse, he looked down at her. Hidden beneath his long lashes were a pair of gentle eyes, "Go inside, Fourth Miss."

Qingyuan bowed, "Thank you for the escort, Commander. Please return."

He only nodded, said nothing more, turned his horse, and led his entourage away in a grand procession. Although the garden gates were already locked, it did not hinder the rapid spread of news. By the next day, not only did the brothers and sisters of the mansion know, but even the uncles, aunts, and cousins of both the east and west mansions knew.

"I said it; the Fourth Girl is not something trapped in a pond, but those ignorant people just love to keep her down." Madam Jiang nudged Madam Pei with her shoulder, making faces.

Madam Pei smiled; hindered by Lady Hu’s presence, she said harmoniously, "That is why there is the old saying: better to wrong the boys than the girls. A girl’s future prospects are immeasurable. Look at the Second Miss and Third Miss; having passed the first selection, if they pass the second and third, they will be entering the palace to become Imperial Consorts... Four generations back in our family, we produced a Xiuyi Consort, it is only a pity that the glory was severed later. If it can be continued now, it is also for the Mistress’s dignity and the girls' good fortune."

Madam Pei had always been like this, a knife cutting tofu—bright on both sides. Madam Jiang scoffed; since she did not know the future of Qingru and Qingrong, it was better not to offend Lady Hu too much for the time being, so she just curled her lips and stayed silent. Lady Hu was wary of the entanglement between Qingyuan and Shen Run, but she still harbored a bit of luck, not believing that a powerful official as experienced and knowledgeable as Shen Run could truly take a fancy to such a little girl.

But who knew that by the afternoon, the matron at the gate would move in two very large boxes, saying they were sent by the Commander for the Fourth Miss. The whole family waited eagerly to see what was inside, and it turned out to be dozens of boxes of various rouges.

When a man sends rouge, what else is there to say? Qingyuan was in a dilemma, but Lady Hu laughed, "Good child, it seems our family truly has a triple blessing at the door. But a girl cannot be promised to two families. Since we cannot afford to offend the Danyang Marquis mansion, nor can we afford to offend the Commander’s mansion, you must have your own calculations. To play both sides—that is not something a decent girl of our family should do. If word gets out, it will be the laughingstock of everyone. You must remember that, eh?”