Spring of the Blade - Chapter 64

Chapter 64

This was not the first time Qingyuan had traveled to the capital, but both journeys were inextricably linked to Shen Run.

In truth, he likely already knew everything that had happened in Youzhou. Whether Li Congxin had returned or she was coming to the capital to find him, what was there that escaped his watchful eye? At times, she felt that having such a person in one's life was incredibly convenient and stress-free. He didn't require you to rack your brains trying to explain yourself; you only had to stand before him, and he would already know what you intended to do next. It was a pity, then, that she had only enjoyed this convenience for such a short time, and she didn't even know whose blessing she had stolen to deserve it. Now that it was time to return it and bring things to an end, she found, upon reflection, that she was unexpectedly reluctant.

Baoxian saw her solemn expression and said gently, "Miss, have you made up your mind? If you are still unsure, we could simply wait a little longer."

What was the use in waiting? It would end the same way regardless. The more one delayed, the more one thought, and the deeper one sank into the mire. That was not good for anyone. She dropped her hands, clutching that small jinghua silk purse in her palm. She had examined the taotie pattern inside many times; by feeling the outline, she knew exactly which part it was and where the notch was.

"It's my own fault," she said, bracing her spirit. "I didn't think things through..."

Baoxian felt for her as well. "The two best men in the world have both appeared before you. If only one had come, it would have been a blessing. With both of them arriving together, it has become a trouble."

That was very true. It was a pity that after encountering both and coming full circle, she had chosen the one she met first. As for the other, it was inevitable that she would have to disappoint his good intentions.

From Youzhou to the capital, a fast horse needed an hour; her carriage was a bit slower and would take nearly two hours. The last time she entered the capital, it was in the middle of the night; she had been too shaken to have any interest in the scenery outside. Today, however, it was different. By the afternoon, they had entered Jicheng Gate. Peeking through the curtain, she saw that no matter how hot the sun was, the pedestrians on the street moved back and forth like a shuttle. There were not only local merchants and buyers, but also foreign merchant caravans wearing exotic clothing, leading camels laden with goods, walking brazenly down the straight roads. The camel bells shook dang-dang, vibrating a long, lingering chime.

Qingyuan pulled her hand back and asked the servant, "How much longer until we reach the Dianqian Office?"

The servant poked his head out to look forward. "Once we pass Guangyun Gate, we will be in the inner city. The Dianqian Office is on the other side of the moat. We cross the drawbridge and then enter Gongchen Gate... but our carriage and horses, I fear, will not be able to enter."

Qingyuan gave an "en" in acknowledgement. "The Imperial City is not like the outside, after all. Just stop at the gate later, and I will walk in myself."

Recalling that night when she entered the city, even with Shen Run personally intervening, she had to pass through layer after layer of checkpoints. By the time they reached the long bridge, there was truly nowhere left to go. She had stepped out of the carriage and walked up to the guards on duty, saluting them. "Please, officers, could you report on my behalf? The Fourth Daughter of the Jinnan Circuit Jiedushi requests to see Commander Shen on urgent business."

Being the daughter of a high-ranking official, the guards still had to show her some respect. They only told her to wait a moment, and one of them pressed his hand to his sword and headed up to Gongchen Gate.

Heatwaves rolled by; there was not a breath of wind. A maid held up a lotus-green silk parasol, and the young lady beneath it stood straight. Even facing rows of warriors in armor, she held herself with upright integrity, neither arrogant nor servile. The young lady was beautiful, her features and facial structure flawless. In this scorching, withered midsummer world, she was as refreshing to the eyes as a clear spring. The guards’ gazes drifted over and swayed back, lingering intentionally or unintentionally for a moment, secretly beginning to guess: what exactly was the relationship between this young lady and Commander Shen? Could it be that the Commander’s luck with women had finally peaked, and a lady had finally taken a liking to him?

Soon, the person who had gone in to relay the message returned, gesturing with his hand. "Miss, please."

Qingyuan had not expected it to go so smoothly. She bowed slightly in thanks and stepped onto the long bridge. The bridge was about a dozen zhang long. Only when she reached the center did a cool breeze carrying the scent of water blow past. She quickened her pace. Once through Gongchen Gate, she was inside the Dianqian Office. Thinking that someone inside must have given the order, she encountered no further obstacles. A eunuch came up to lead the way, bowing his waist. "Please follow me, Miss."

She was familiar with the main hall of the government office. She followed the eunuch inside, but the deeper she went, the more anxious she felt. As for Shen Run, even if she had seen him a thousand times, every time he appeared, her heart still raced. She had always felt she was composed and steady, but that poise was merely a show for others; only she herself knew what she was like on the inside.

She wanted to see him but dared not. She still remembered that embrace in the garden last time, that solid chest that brought her such a sense of secure reliance. But today, she feared it would end in an unhappy parting. She couldn't help but feel saddened. In truth, she quite liked his arrogance; she liked his self-admiring, sharp-tongued banter when he would say, "The Fourth Miss could not overcome the agony of lovesickness and has finally come to find Shen Run."

She sighed, her heart feeling dismal, and her footsteps lost their lightness. Finally, they reached the depths of the palace halls, but the seat was empty; he was not there. She asked the eunuch in surprise, "Eunuch, is the Commander not here?"

The eunuch said yes. "The Commander ordered me to come out to receive you, but it seems he had official business... and has left for now."

Qingyuan said "oh" and nodded to the eunuch. "Thank you, Eunuch. I shall wait a while."

The eunuch bowed and retreated. Within the vast, grand hall, she was left all alone.

He knew the purpose of her visit and did not want to face it, so he dared not show himself. Qingyuan waited in the hall. In a corner tower not far away, someone stood with his hands behind his back, looking into the distance. The lattice windows were flung open, and she stood beneath the scattered bamboo curtains. She didn't know what she was contemplating, her head slightly lowered, her figure appearing to carry a hint of sorrow.

A good woman fears a persistent man. After his relentless, self-indulgent wooing, she surely must have developed some feelings for him by now. Yet, no matter how extraordinary his powers were, he could not control the development of the situation. It wasn't that a mere Li Congxin left him at his wit's end; he was simply hindered by her, unable to make a move against that noble young man.

Sometimes, it is not a good thing for a young lady to be too principled. She was too restrained, too self-reflective. Even if he exhausted every trick in his repertoire, she remained unmoved. He looked at that figure, wanting to see her but not daring to. It pained his heart to have her wait in vain; if he went to see her, he feared she was coming to bid him farewell, and that thereafter they would walk different paths, never to cross again.

Shen Che watched him looking miserable from the side, crossing his arms. "Planning to give her up?"

Shen Run frowned. "I didn't expect the Marquis and Marchioness of Danyang to be so helpless with this son. As members of the imperial family, they should at least prioritize their reputation!"

Shen Che didn't say it out loud, but thought: You don't care about your reputation, why should they fear anything when the emperor is far away? Now, the situation was right before them: one could be married, and the other, once agreed, would be wed. The Commander had been busy for over a month, watching the meat slip through his teeth. The blow was by no means small.

"Why not find someone else? Whether in Youzhou or the capital, there are plenty of people more likable than the Fourth Miss Xie. Look at her..." Shen Che said, "She's still a child, stubborn, and doesn't understand romance. Every time you throw a flirtatious glance at her, she’s like a piece of wood. I feel embarrassed for you..."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the Commander’s "eye-daggers" killed him on the spot. "When did I ever throw a flirtatious glance at her?"

Shen Che touched his nose, not daring to argue. "Perhaps I saw it wrong..." But, of course, he returned to the point. "It is fine to take an interest in a girl, but now that Chunzhi has his parents' command, given the Fourth Miss's temperament, I fear it’s already settled."

Shen Run listened, and after a long while, he snorted. "Can a person's habits be easily changed? Li Congxin is a well-known playboy who is merely pretending to be pure in front of the Fourth Miss. He can fool a little girl, but he cannot fool me. Back at the Donggao night banquet, don't you know how he was sprawled on a beauty's lap while drunk? How many times has he caused trouble with respectable women, and how many times did he carefully smooth things over? Do you not know? Or do I not know? With such a temperament, I fear he will be another Xie Shu, only capable of being passionate, but never constant. How unlike me; once I set my sights on someone, it is for a lifetime."

Shen Che heard him bragging, smiled sheepishly, and offered a few agreeable words.

"Then, brother, what do you intend to do? If you go directly to tell Chunzhi, I fear he will not step aside."

There were naturally plenty of roundabout methods. The Fourth Miss's decisive temperament had its advantages, but one could not be too hasty; one had to wait a little longer. He looked deeply at the person by the window. Hiding was not a solution; one could hide today, but not tomorrow.

Over there, Qingyuan held the purse tightly in her hand; after holding it for so long, her palm was burning hot. She didn't know if he was intentionally avoiding her. She had been standing here for a good quarter of an hour; perhaps he had made up his mind that he did not want to hear her finish her words. Since that was the case, whether she said it or not was unimportant. She opened her palm and took the beast-face jade pendant out of the purse, walking a few steps forward to place it right in the center of his desk. When he returned, he would see it; once he saw it, he would understand her meaning. The entanglement of just over a month—in essence, it all boiled down to this one jade pendant. Once returned, the matter was concluded. Look, it wasn't actually that difficult.

It was just that there was still some lingering attachment. She looked at it carefully for a moment. Having kept the object on her person for so long, it felt as if it had become a part of her body. But there was no help for it; in the end, it did not belong to her. She stretched out a finger and carefully wiped the face that wore a furious expression, then withdrew her hand, intending to bid farewell. But as she turned around, she suddenly saw someone standing behind her. She gasped. "Oh! Why does the Commander walk without a sound? You really gave me a fright."

Shen Run did not answer her, shifting his gaze to look at the jade pendant. "Is the Fourth Miss here to return a token of love?"

Qingyuan choked, lowering her head. "It was never a token of love; it was merely something the Commander entrusted to me. Now the time has come; it should be returned to its rightful owner."

He remained silent, his eyes fixed on her, that gaze capable of piercing her heart. Being watched by him, she suddenly felt miserable, as if she were a faithless person who should accept the torture of her conscience.

Remaining silent was not a solution either. Qingyuan said, "The young Marquis has returned to Youzhou; the Commander should already know. Since I have given him my word, I must fulfill my promise. The Commander is a dragon among men; one day you will surely meet a perfect match. Qingyuan has received the Commander’s misplaced affection, and in my heart, I truly feel ashamed..."

"You need not feel ashamed," he said suddenly. "I forgot to tell you, I am also getting engaged in the next two days."

Qingyuan’s heart stumbled; she grew anxious. Yet, she could not lose her composure; she could not let him see anything, so she smiled. "That is a good thing. I have not yet congratulated you, Commander..."

He gave an "en" in acknowledgement. "You also know that young lady. A few days ago at Huguo Temple, you had a chance meeting."

Her eyes darted as she thought carefully, shaking her head. "Too much happened that day; my mind was a mess. I don't know which lady the Commander is referring to?"

His expression was indifferent as he said coldly, "The Second Miss of the Magistrate’s family. That day, her grandmother introduced her to you. Surely the Fourth Miss has an impression of her?"

Only then did Qingyuan remember—that tall, fair, cold beauty. In terms of beauty, the Magistrate's daughter was beyond reproach. Placed together with him, they were truly an excellent match.

She let out a long "oh." The sudden realization in her tone occupied only a fraction; the rest was filled with hollow sorrow. "I have met the Magistrate’s daughter. Our Old Madam also kept praising her for being refined. You are truly blessed, Commander. However... did she not enter the palace for the selection?"

There was no elder who truly cherished their descendants who wanted to fill that hole with their girl. Commander Shen was never an entirely selfless person. He took money to do favors for others; besides, the girl’s health was indeed poor. With a slight intervention from him, she was screened out. However, this time he didn't take the Mu family’s silver; he only made a small request—to announce publicly that the Second Miss Mu would be engaged to Commander Shen. Although the Mu family hesitated, being able to withdraw their daughter from the imperial selection meant they did not quibble over such things. Moreover, given the Commander’s official rank and family background, even a real marriage would not be an insult to the Second Miss, so they readily agreed. As for him, he knew Li Congxin was determined to succeed; relying on force to intervene was no longer useful. For now, he needed a facade to facilitate the things that would come next.

"Has the Fourth Miss forgotten what I do for a living? The Dianqian Office’s intelligence network extends in all directions. Keeping someone is as simple as it is to deal with someone you are determined to." As he spoke, he secretly observed her expression. This girl was truly capable of handling great things; there wasn't even a trace of distraction. He did not know if it was because she was too proud, or if she truly did not care at all that he was going to engage with someone else. He felt somewhat dissatisfied, so he said in a deep voice, "I forgot to inform the Fourth Miss: your household's Third Miss has been selected and has now entered the Eastern Garden of the Yeting Palace as a Cairen (Talented Lady). The Imperial decree will be delivered to your residence tomorrow."

Qingyuan nodded. "The Earl’s family is coming to set the wedding date, and the Third Sister has also entered the palace. Truly, as the saying goes, even if a shed is built a thousand li long, there is no banquet that does not come to an end."

Her sorrow in her words for her sisters was even greater than that for him. He sneered, "If you didn't send that Third Sister of yours into the palace, keeping her by your side would only be a disaster. Raised by Madam Hu, don't expect her to be of one heart with you. Sending her into the palace is actually easier to control; in the future, when an opportunity arises, I will just send her far away."

Even at this moment, he was still considering things for her. Qingyuan’s shame deepened, yet other than a "thank you," there seemed nothing else to say.

She thought for a moment and said, "Let me congratulate you first, Commander. I fear we will not have the chance to meet again in the future." Every one of their previous meetings had been intentionally facilitated by him; once they went their separate ways, their destiny would end here.

The corners of his lips curled into a sarcastic smile. "I also congratulate the Fourth Miss for finally being able to shake off Shen."

She was stunned, raising her eyes to look at him, but quickly averted her gaze. In a flurry of panic, she said, "It is getting late, and I must hurry back to Youzhou..."

But he grabbed her wrist firmly, pressing her. "Youzhou is not just a stone’s throw away from the capital. Did the Fourth Miss travel such a long distance to find me only to return my jade pendant? Is it not because you missed me, wanted to see me, and wanted me to find another way to plan a future for us?"

Qingyuan was backed into a corner by his pressure. Although everything she thought in her heart had been spoken by him, one living in this world must always consider the feelings of others. She struggled a little. "Commander, please have some self-respect."

He said he would not, pulling her into his arms with force. "Fourth Miss, you and I have been this close before, have you forgotten? Li Congxin has returned, and you tell me to have self-respect. The Fourth Miss is truly a cold-hearted person."

Qingyuan’s face flushed scarlet. This man was always like this; were it not for his power and influence, he would be nothing but a marketplace rogue. Her heart was also frantic; the Dianqian Office was full of people coming and going. What would it look like if someone saw them! She pleaded in a soft voice, "Commander, you promised that you would make a decision once the Third Young Master returned. A man of honor should be true to his word."

What "true to his word" meant, he no longer knew; he only knew how slender and soft the willow-like waist was beneath his palms. That exquisite figure was even more boneless than he had imagined.

The fragrance of the young girl was something that no precious spice in the world could blend; it was uniquely hers. He leaned in closer, his misty gaze surveying her face, his faint breath almost meeting hers. He murmured in a low voice, "Fourth Miss, don't marry him. Will you marry me instead? I will treat you very well. Whatever you want, I will give you. I will never let you suffer any grievances, okay?"

Qingyuan was shamed and distressed. Outside the window, guards passed by from time to time. Although they looked straight ahead, it did not mean they had not seen. She was truly getting angry, and she shouted in a fit of rage, "Shen Run, if you do this again, I shall be truly furious!"

He paused slightly. At that moment of drooping his eyes, the man who was usually arrogant and wild displayed a kind of wounded weakness. "I have long been furious! How can you still not see it!”