Spring of the Blade - Chapter 68

Chapter 68

At this point, seeking help from others was clearly ill-timed. Shen Run was about to be betrothed to the daughter of the Mu family; for her to go knocking on his door would be a terrible look for everyone involved!

Qingyuan shook her head. "All three of my elder brothers have attended banquets at the Shen household and have spoken with the Commander and his brothers. It is perfectly appropriate to ask the three of them to go. Previously, I could use the young Marquis’s influence to request an audience, but I cannot do so now. One must always be mindful of avoiding suspicion. Grandmother, you should still let the brothers go first; try to sound them out. If that does not work, we will think of another way."

Zhenglun was somewhat anxious, rubbing his head and saying, "It isn't that we aren't willing to go, but the Commander is simply not an easy person to deal with." He muttered under his breath, "If we had known it would come to this, it would have been much better if Fourth Sister had accepted the Commander's proposal. If there were any changes regarding Father's situation, he would have been the first to clear the way for us. There would be no need for this last-minute scramble, or to be so desperate as to seek help everywhere."

Hearing this, Qingyuan truly had no words for such logic. The Xie family seemed to always be this way; their stance would shift at any moment to suit their circumstances. As long as there was a need, anything could be justified in two different ways.

The Old Madam sighed, supporting her forehead. "It is truly... as long as everything in the family is going smoothly, you don't realize it, but once a storm arrives, you finally understand the benefits of having real power in your hands."

Seeing that the Old Madam was in a difficult position, Zhenglun frowned and said to Qingyuan, "Fourth Sister, you are a member of the Xie family too; don't just stand on the sidelines during this moment! Chunzhi is not a narrow-minded person. If I, your brother, personally escort you, even if he has any reservations, I will take the heat for you."

Qingyuan lifted her head, her eyes looking coldly at Zhenglun. "Second Brother can silence Chunzhi, but what about others? If a young lady does not know how to value her own reputation, how can she be a proper person? If Second Brother can send me to see Shen Run, can you also take my place in marrying into the Marquis's estate?"

This silenced Zhenglun. His face flushed a deep red as he pointed a finger at her, "You..."

"That is enough." The Old Madam had to mediate. "Your sister is right. She has already undergone the minor betrothal ceremony with the young Marquis, so she is now a woman pledged to another. We cannot only look out for our own interests; we must also consider the reputation of the Marquis's estate. Which high-ranking, wealthy family would want their daughter-in-law to be out and about in such a manner?"

Zhenglun stamped his feet in anger. "Grandmother, you have forgotten—if Father runs into trouble, whether Fourth Sister will even be able to marry into the Marquis's estate is still a matter of uncertainty!"

Regardless, everyone had their own persistence. By the time the Eldest Master and the Third Master arrived after hearing the news, and the female relatives of the household had gathered in the main hall in panic, Qingyuan had not budged on her position from beginning to end.

Madam Hu had truly become like a frost-bitten eggplant during this time. Even in the sweltering heat, she appeared wearing a headpiece, her face sallow. Supporting herself on the armrest of her chair, she instructed Zhengze, "Aren't you familiar with the Chief Secretary of the Grand Marshal’s office? Go and find him to clarify the news first. Also, the vice-commanders of the Xi-Long Guard and the Huben troops—they used to serve under your father; ask them to help inquire as well. If the palace sends orders to dispatch reinforcements, beg them to be accommodating."

Zhengze agreed and hurried off into the night. Madam Hu looked toward Zhenglun again, "Second Brother, since your Fourth Sister will not agree, you are a grown man, what are you afraid of? Run to the Hall of Military Affairs—Commander Shen isn't going to eat you, is he? Look at the situation—the fire is at our eyebrows, yet one by one you all keep pushing the responsibility aside. It’s as if you don't even care about your father’s life. The standing of our Xie family has always relied on the Master to support it; relying on you juniors is a lost cause! Keep standing on the sidelines and watching the show; when the nest is overturned, I want to see if any of you will be able to escape!"

Madam Hu was, after all, the mistress of the house; at this critical moment, it still fell to her to make the decisions. Although she had insulted the juniors with sharp, biting words, no one dared to stand up to her. Zhenglun left as instructed. Seeing that he was the only one left, Zhengjun hurriedly said, "I have two friends in the Imperial Dragon Guard; I will go find them now." He also left the house shortly after Zhenglun.

Madam Hu’s gaze shifted, circling back to Qingyuan’s face. She smiled coldly, "I'm afraid Second Brother won't even be able to see Commander Shen’s shadow on this trip. Fourth Girl, you have a deep friendship with him; I suspect that in the end, you will still be the one who has to make the trip to resolve this impasse."

Qingyuan remained unhurried, tucking her hands into her sleeves. "If I truly go, wouldn't that just give people an excuse to gossip? Although I was not born to the Madam, I still call her Mother. Would Mother really be willing to ruin my reputation?" Seeing the unpleasant look on Madam Hu’s face, she did not dwell on it further and turned to the Old Madam. "Grandmother, in my opinion, Second Brother should first go to probe the Commander’s stance. This matter seems ten times more dangerous than the last; in the end, it would be best for Grandmother to step forward personally."

The Old Madam sat still, gathering her thoughts for a while. Slowly calming down, she muttered to herself, "Although it is dangerous, it is not like the last time where the Hall of Military Affairs was the only path. We should think of ways in all areas; if it truly does not work, I still have my maternal nephews. They are older now, and their careers are steady..."

Since the Old Madam had her own plan, there was nothing more for anyone to say. Each returned to their respective courtyards to rest in trepidation.

The next day, while it was still dawn, they gathered in the main hall again. Zhengze brought back news that the Emperor indeed had intentions to punish them, but he had only spoken of it to his close attendants. Shen Run was currently in charge of the Hall of Military Affairs, but he had previously served as an attendant alongside Shen Che before the Emperor, and he still held that title. After passing through several circles, the matter seemed to have returned to the same old dead end.

As for Zhenglun, just as Madam Hu had predicted, he didn't even get to see a glimpse of Shen Run. A single sentence from the guards on duty at the Hall of Military Affairs sent him away, saying only that the Commander had entered the palace. With that wall standing at the door, they wouldn't let him step even half a pace into the office!

Consequently, the whole family looked longingly at Qingyuan again. Qingyuan kept her eyes focused on her nose and her heart, unmoved. In truth, she saw the situation clearly: Shen Run was always skilled at calculations, and everything was under his control. He was waiting—waiting for her to be forced by desperation to go to him again, so that her vow to uphold her promise to Li Congxin would become a joke, and she would be unable to reclaim her dignity.

Moreover, he was about to be betrothed himself. Asking her to go to him again was something she could not bring herself to do. Fortunately, the rumors remained only within the palace, and no official edict of accountability had been issued. However, that Shibu City, steep on three sides, was easy to defend and hard to attack. If it couldn't be taken soon, Xie Shu was sooner or later destined to lose his head as a sacrifice to the flag.

The Xie family was quietly in chaos. On the surface, things looked peaceful, but underneath, the silt at the bottom of the old lotus pond was about to be overturned. After all, if one suffered, all suffered. Qingyuan also felt a sense of urgency, but the Old Madam continued to point to her to take action, as if her inaction made her the sinner of the Xie family.

"At this time, what is the Third Young Master busy with?" Baoxian asked helplessly. "After the minor betrothal, he is practically half a son-in-law; is he unaware of the Young Miss's predicament?"

Qingyuan had previously been on her own and had fewer concerns about her actions, but now that she had an engagement, it was inconvenient for her to show her face. She had been counting on Li Congxin to resolve this for her. He had wide social connections; even if he didn't trouble Shen Che, he still had many friends in the capital who held important posts. No matter what, he should have some hope of exerting influence.

However, she waited all day in Danyue Pavilion, and Li Congxin’s side remained as steady as Mount Tai. She stood under the eaves looking at the moon, which hung in the sky like a silken thread. She sighed, "He likely hasn't received any word. I will go find him tomorrow morning."

The Danyang Marquis’s estate had a villa in Youzhou. She knew where it was, though she had never been there. The next day, after paying her morning respects to the Old Madam, she set out. The time for morning greetings in the Xie family was always very early, so when the carriage arrived at the gate of the Marquis’s villa, the sun had only just begun to rise.

Li Congxin did not strictly discipline his servants, so at this hour, the main gate was half-open, with only one servant leaning against the side of the gate, yawning. Qingyuan stepped out of the carriage and sent Nanny Tao over to announce that the Fourth Miss of the Commissioner’s residence had arrived. Although the servant had never seen the "real Buddha," he knew that it was the Xie Fourth Miss who was betrothed to his master, so he didn't dare to be negligent. He hurried to bow and welcome her in, laughing, "Our Young Master was drinking with his superiors yesterday, so he hasn't gotten up yet. Fourth Miss, please go into the garden first, and this one will go pass the message immediately."

Just then, Zi Wu, who was in Li Congxin’s service, came up and spat at the servant. "Are you muddled? The Third Master hasn't risen yet, and you want to make the Fourth Miss wait in the garden? Why don't you welcome her to the flower hall!" As he spoke, he gave the servant a sharp look.

Qingyuan noticed this and said with a smile, "It doesn't matter; we are not outsiders." She bypassed Zi Wu and headed toward his inner courtyard.

Zi Wu was anxious behind her. The gatekeeper had no idea about the situation in the inner courtyard, and he had just brought her in like this. The Fourth Miss was clever; what if she noticed something? He gripped his heart and quickened his pace to catch up. Happily, the Third Master had heard the report and come out of his room; it wouldn't have been appropriate for a young lady to barge straight into a man’s sleeping quarters. The Third Master smiled, "Fourth Sister, why have you hurried over so early in the morning?"

Zi Wu let out a long sigh of relief. He looked at the Fourth Miss; she was always as gentle as ever, speaking warmly, "I have a matter I need to discuss with you, Brother..."

Who would have thought that before she could finish, they would hear a sweet, coquettish voice coming from the bedroom behind him, complaining loudly, "Sweetheart, where are my clothes!"

Li Congxin’s expression changed instantly. He stammered, "Fourth Sister, it isn't like that, I... I accompanied the Minister of the Secretariat to a banquet yesterday, and at that banquet... I drank a few too many cups..."

Qingyuan’s expression gradually turned cold. She felt a ball of fire burning in her chest, almost making her feel nauseated. But she could not lose her composure—no matter how awkward or wretched the situation, she could not lose her composure. She forced a smile, "Sigh, I came at the wrong time. It turns out the Third Young Master has a guest."

Li Congxin felt a roar in his brain. Hearing her call him "Third Young Master" again, it clearly signaled an intention to draw a line between them. He knew that things had gone terribly wrong this time. He hadn't intended this; it was just that when a man was socializing, with wine and women everywhere, cup after cup poured down, he eventually lost control of himself. He regretted it too. Ever since he saw her at the Spring Banquet, he had only thought of her. In these past few months, he truly hadn't touched another woman. He had wanted to keep himself pure, but last night, after a few cups of yellow wine, this woman had climbed into his carriage and onto his bed.

Earlier, when he heard the servant announce her in the courtyard, he had panicked and begged that woman not to make a sound. He had never expected that all would be lost in the end. He suddenly realized he had been plotted against; someone had set this trap to leave him with no way to defend himself.

"Fourth Sister..." His heart was in turmoil as he tried to explain to her, "It is not as you think; there is a misunderstanding inside. Please listen to me..."

She pulled her arm away from his grasp. "You and I have not yet finalized the major betrothal, so Third Young Master still has room to choose. But to do something like this..." She frowned with a smile, "is truly unrefined. Since you intended to marry, even a concubine should be avoided, let alone someone from the outside! I truly came at the wrong time today. I’ve hit a wall and have no idea what to say... I will send someone to return the gifts later. As for our affair, let it end here."

After she said these words, he felt as if his heart were being sliced by a blade. Regretful and anxious, he tried to grab her, "Fourth Sister... Qingyuan..."

Nanny Tao stepped in to block him, her tone cool, "Young Marquis, please show some self-respect. Since things have reached this point, let it go. Our Young Miss knows that your honorable residence was not fully in favor of this marriage; it was only because of you, Young Marquis, that she summoned the courage to agree. Before you have even bowed in the wedding ceremony, you have already betrayed our Young Miss; how could she ever dare to entrust her life to you again?"

Li Congxin was overcome with shame. With tears in his eyes, he called out to her, but she did not even look back, heading straight for the gate.

Sitting in the carriage, tears rolled into her eyes. Qingyuan lowered her head and dabbed at them with a handkerchief.

Baoxian felt indignant for her, saying angrily, "It really is true that mountains and rivers are easy to change, but a person’s nature is hard to move. It’s such a pity for you, Young Miss, to have wasted all this effort."

It was right to be sad. She had thought that such a refined gentleman, even if he had been a bit frivolous in the past, might one day have a change of heart. But she had clearly been too naive. She didn't regret the effort; all beauty stems from distance. She had never gotten close to him before, so everything she saw was just an illusion. In truth, this was the kind of person he had always been. She had given him a chance, and she hadn't failed in her sincerity toward him. Now that the road had come to an end, she had at least kept her conscience clear.

The tears slowly cooled. She sighed, "The house is in turmoil right now; we shall prepare the return of the gifts ourselves."

However, it was necessary to report back to the Old Madam. After she entered the garden and explained the events in full detail, the Old Madam actually relaxed, "In this way, neither side is delayed, which is also for the best..."

Yet, such a grand and spirited joy ending in such a desolate fashion was truly sigh-worthy.

Qingyuan had only just finished reporting to the Old Madam when word came from outside that the Young Marquis requested an audience.

The Old Madam looked at Qingyuan. Reading her intention, Qingyuan frowned. "I will not see him. Grandmother, please dismiss him."

She retreated back to Danyue Pavilion, so the Old Madam had no choice but to invite the Young Marquis into the main hall. The young nobleman, who was usually so high-spirited, looked wretched. He bowed with cupped hands, "Grandmother, I have made a mistake this time, and Fourth Sister cannot forgive me. I beg Grandmother to intercede for me... I put so much effort into this marriage; if it is abandoned now, I have failed Fourth Sister, failed my parents, and failed myself."

The Old Madam lowered her eyelids and sighed, "Young Marquis, it is common for men to have their dalliances; you need not blame yourself too much. It is just that one young lady is not like another. Other families might not care, but our Fourth Girl is sensitive by nature; there is nothing to be done about that. She just came and told me, and judging by her tone, I fear there is no room for negotiation. Since that is the case, a forced melon is not sweet; you would be better off making other plans." She shook her head with infinite regret, "She sincerely wanted to be with you, but look... it was fated that there was no union. You should return. We will not spread the reason for the breaking of the engagement, so rest assured."

When the woman’s side is unwilling to marry, there is no need to make anything public; any clear-eyed person could see that it must have been the young Marquis’s old habits of philandering that flared up again. Li Congxin stood in the main hall in a daze for a long time, but it was all in vain. Finally, with a long sigh and a dejected spirit, he left.

Yue Jian was fanning the Old Madam from the side while expressing her regret for the Fourth Miss, "It would have been such a good marriage."

The Old Madam pursed her lips and said nothing. At a time when the Master’s life hung in the balance, it was better that this marriage was broken.

Just then, the elderly maid from the garden gate came in to report that the boy sent out had returned with word that Commander Shen had already returned to his estate. The Old Madam gathered her spirits and murmured, "I must go personally. I know that Shen Run is waiting for me right now."

The carved carriage of the Xie residence passed through the city and arrived at the main gate of the Shen residence. The doors were wide open, and servants were bustling in and out, moving items wrapped in red silk. The Old Madam paused for a moment; seeing the scale of the preparations, she knew that Shen Run had begun the arrangements for his marriage to the Mu family.

Sigh, coming at such a time was indeed terribly awkward, but the Master’s current situation left no room for retreat. If the Emperor did not issue an edict, only those close to the matter knew, and their room for action was limited; once the Emperor issued the edict, the storm would be upon them in an instant, and it would be too late to seek help through connections. So, after thinking it over, the only path left was Shen Run. Qingyuan was now absolutely unwilling to come, so if there were to be conditions to be negotiated, she, the old woman, would have to go in person.

The steward at the Shen residence gate welcomed her quite warmly, "Is the Old Madam here to see someone, or do you have some instructions?"

The Old Madam said, "Sorry to trouble you to announce me. I am from the Xie family of the Commissioner’s residence, seeking an audience with Commander Shen."

The steward was surprised, "So it is the venerable Madam of Commissioner Xie’s household! Please forgive my lack of recognition." As he spoke, he led them inside, "Old Madam, please wait for a moment in the flower hall; I will immediately have someone report to the Master."

The young servant who received the order took it and hurried into the garden. The Shen family’s hospitality was very thoughtful; the steward ordered tea, which was presented to the Old Madam personally.

The Old Madam thanked him, and intentionally or not, inquired, "It seems your honorable residence is preparing for a wedding. I heard that the betrothal will be finalized in these two days?"

The steward smiled with his hands tucked into his sleeves, "Indeed. Our Commander is busy with official duties and does not have the time to go through all the six rites. We have negotiated with the Grand Magistrate’s family; we will just finish it all at once. The date has been set for the wedding next month. The Commander and Commissioner Xie are colleagues at court, so they will certainly send an invitation; at that time, I hope the Old Madam will honor us with your presence."

The Old Madam felt a sense of loss, her heart growing heavier and heavier. She could not ask any more questions, so she simply kept a smile on her face and agreed repeatedly.