Spring of the Blade - Chapter 69

Chapter 69

Shen Run had always been arrogant; in his eyes, it seemed that aside from the Emperor, there wasn't a single person worth a second glance.

Now that he had arrived, it was considered a favor to Old Madam Xie. He cupped his hands in a perfunctory gesture and said, "I am quite busy at home, so please forgive my neglect, Old Madam. You have come at a most coincidental time. I have also just arrived home, and since we are preparing for a wedding, I must oversee everything myself. It wouldn't do to have others think we aren't taking it seriously... This is the difficulty of having no parents around; everything must be handled by one's own hand."

The Old Madam nodded, saying, "There is nothing perfect in this world. The Commander is in a high position now, and the capable must shoulder more burdens. After all, this is a lifelong event; one cannot afford to be careless."

Although the Old Madam was envious, nothing remained but a sense of loss. They had truly let the opportunity slip through their fingers; it would have been better not to have approved of Li Congxin in the first place. She had originally thought that he was a man of solitary courage, willing to risk everything for Qingyuan, and that once he inherited his title, the Xie family and the Marquis’s estate would be firmly allied. From there, further intermarriages between their descendants would make it easy to bind themselves even to the Imperial family. Who would have guessed that a youth's heart was so unreliable, and that such fervor could not last? Taking a step back, youthful recklessness before marriage was still forgivable, but the most critical issue was that Qingru clung to him, and he was so muddled and indecisive. It was no wonder Qingyuan was dissatisfied.

One wrong move, and the whole game was lost. Otherwise, why would she have to discard her dignity and personally come to plead with a member of the younger generation? All these red and green decorations, the grand displays, should have belonged to Qingyuan. To be honest, he was currently busy marrying another family's daughter; apart from the secret connection involving the ten thousand taels of silver, there was truly nothing else between the Xie family and the Shen family. At this juncture, where would one even begin to ask for favors?

The Old Madam was momentarily speechless. Without him asking for the reason, it was difficult to broach the topic. As she considered how to proceed, she saw him lean against an armchair and smile. Stripped of the certainty of his success, his appearance and charm were truly beyond what the average person could hope to match.

"I, too, have sufferings I cannot put into words. If my family had not suffered misfortune, if my parents were still alive, I would not have had to set aside official business and rush back to handle these affairs." As he spoke, he raised his teacup to Old Madam Xie, "Old Madam, please have some tea."

The Old Madam gave a soft grunt and held the cup in her hands. The gentle warmth pressed against her fingertips, and hot sweat slowly began to seep into her palms.

Shen Run maintained his indifferent demeanor, eyes lowered as he said, "But because my family is small, I cherish the hard-won bonds even more. Has the Old Madam heard of the grace bestowed upon the Three Departments? The Palace Command, the Cavalry Guard, and the Infantry Guard all receive Imperial favor. I am currently the Commander of the Palace Command; as long as I add the title of Jiedushi (Regional Military Commissioner), my wife can be officially granted the title of Lady of the County. There is an opportunity for merit right now; after this campaign, I will likely be close to becoming a Jiedushi." He sighed deeply, "I do not care about my own official rank; I am giving my all merely to earn my wife a noble title. Since her family has entrusted their daughter to me, I cannot let them regret having given her away to the wrong man."

The Old Madam felt increasingly uncomfortable. Because of Xie Shu, she had been granted the title of Lady of the County, and Madam Hu was titled Lady of the County, but both had required over a decade of bitter struggle to achieve. For the Mu family's second daughter to achieve such success at such a young age—how could one not sigh at the unpredictability of fate!

Shen Run observed the changing expressions on Old Madam Xie’s face, and feeling that he had laid enough groundwork, he slowly steered the conversation back to the main point. "I have been too occupied with idle chatter and completely forgot to ask, Old Madam, what brings you to my residence for a visit today?"

The Old Madam said "Oh," and after careful consideration, cautiously explained the purpose of her visit. Finally, she said apologetically, "By rights, I should not disturb you at such a joyous time for the Commander, but the situation is truly critical. Our family has been running around all day yesterday to no avail; after thinking it over, only you, Commander, can save the Xie family from this fire."

Shen Run responded with an ambiguous air, "I have heard the Emperor mention this matter. I was speaking about it to Chengbing when I returned. Commissioner Xie is a veteran general who has fought on the battlefield for many years. I wonder what went wrong this time, that even a small Shibu City cannot be taken."

The Old Madam became even more awkward, tucking her hands into her sleeves and saying, "Warfare relies on the alignment of heaven, earth, and men. The situation on the battlefield changes in the blink of an eye; it is hard to explain clearly."

Shen Run nodded. "That is true." However, after those two words, there was nothing further to add.

The Old Madam knew that he would not take the initiative to lend a hand, so she had no choice but to be blunt, "Regardless, I implore you, Commander, to think of a way for us. As long as you can help the Xie family escape this dilemma..."

"Why did the Fourth Miss not come?"

Old Madam Xie was in the middle of her passionate plea when he suddenly blurted this out. He then smiled again, "Could it be that because the Fourth Miss is now betrothed to the Danyang Marquis’s estate, it is inconvenient for her to have further contact with Shen?"

The Old Madam caught a glimmer of hope in his words. It seemed he had not completely given up on Qingyuan, so she replied, "Commander, you likely do not know, but the marriage between our Fourth Girl and the Danyang Marquis’s estate is no longer being discussed. She did not come because you are now betrothed; she feared that if she appeared, it would invite idle gossip, and it would not be good if it reached the ears of the Second Miss Mu."

Shen Run smiled upon hearing this, "Conducting business in the open, yet afraid of idle gossip? Even though I am about to marry, it does not mean I cannot associate with other young ladies."

The Old Madam was stunned, perceiving his underlying meaning. He meant that although his marriage to the Mu family was settled, it did not prevent him from having other interests. If Qingyuan came to beg him, he would still help for the sake of his affection for her. But one must always pay a price to have others do favors for them. She could come, and the matter could be resolved, but as for status, that would be hard to guarantee.

In any case, with things at this stage, the choice depended on the Old Madam's decision. Shen Run stood up and paced to the doorway. Outside, the servants were bustling with joyful arrangements; everything was ready, save for the bride.

His "take it or leave it" attitude was exactly like that of a corrupt merchant—the price was set, the willing would take the bait, and if they were unwilling, the deal was off. He wasn't talking about money this time; he was only talking about people.

Shame filled her; she was utterly disgraced. The Xie family was a house of luxury and status, yet she had not expected that in the end, they would have to use a daughter to plug a hole. It was tragic that she would be demoted from a wife to a concubine, or perhaps not even be considered a concubine—perhaps she would spend her life as an unnamed mistress outside the house, while the other woman would eventually receive all the honors and titles... But with their path narrowed to this, what else could she do!

The Old Madam stood up, struggling to maintain her dignity, and said with a smile, "That is true. You young people have an easier time talking among yourselves; there is nothing for an old woman like me to chat about. I shall take my leave now, and I will have the Fourth Girl come to ask the Commander for advice later."

This declaration hit the mark in his heart. The Commander maintained his gentle, refined demeanor and replied warmly, "I will have someone see the Old Madam out. You need not worry, Old Madam; after all, no news has come from the palace yet. With me by the Emperor's side, nothing will go wrong."

The Old Madam responded twice. Seeing the steward of the residence approaching, she politely declined his offer, saying there was no need to escort her.

If he wouldn't escort her, then so be it. Shen Run stood on the steps and cupped his hands, "In that case, I shall await the arrival of the Fourth Miss. At that time, I request that the Old Madam personally escort her."

The Old Madam could not remember how she had emerged from the Shen residence; she only felt an oppressive tightness in her heart. As she walked, she muttered, "This Shen Run is taking advantage of another’s misfortune; he is truly no hero."

Nanny Xu, who was accompanying her, supported her and said, "He has never cared about having a good reputation. In Youzhou, who does not know his character? It is no surprise he would do something like this. But the Fourth Miss is a woman of her own mind; I fear she will not agree to this."

"She has been burdened by her mother; originally, she could not expect a very good marriage, but to fall to this point—it is still a grievance that is hard to calm." The Old Madam sighed deeply, "It is that the girl was born too beautiful; it is like a large signboard held over her forehead. With so many men coveting her, what wouldn't they do to scheme for her? As for the Fourth Girl... it is hard to speak clearly. With her temper, I fear there will be a huge disaster if she finds out."

Nanny Xu hesitated, "Does the Old Madam mean to trick her? If we do this, the Fourth Miss will be ruined, and you are willing to let it happen, Old Madam?"

If asked whether she was willing, naturally she was not. These children were all heirs to her blood, the very flesh from her body. But what if she were unwilling? At a critical juncture like this, protecting the Master was the top priority. As for this granddaughter who had been brought back halfway through her life—what if they had to pretend she had never existed?

The Old Madam was heavy with thought throughout the journey. Upon returning to the garden, she met no one and sat alone in a daze until the evening. Sighing to no avail, she turned to look outside; the sunset was spreading across the sky. A flock of birds flapped their wings, flying across the horizon, transforming into seven or eight small black dots that instantly scattered in different directions.

She finally made up her mind and called out, "Invite the Fourth Miss to come."

Yue Quan accepted the order and headed to Danyue Pavilion. Chuntai happened to be at the door and went to greet her, "Why have you come at this hour, Elder Sister?"

Yue Quan nodded, "Is the Fourth Miss inside?"

Before the words had faded, the Fourth Miss emerged from the inner room. The young girl’s figure was somewhat slender; she wore a jade-hairpin-green blouse and skirt. She stood in the afterglow of the setting sun, a hint of a smile still on her face as she asked, "Did Grandmother send for me? Have the others arrived?"

Yue Quan said, "She only sent for you, Miss. The Old Madam has not seen anyone else since she returned from the Commander's residence."

Qingyuan said she understood, "You go back first; I will come once I change my clothes."

Retreating into the room, Baoxian knitted her brows while smoothing her hair, whispering, "It seems the Old Madam still has designs on you, Miss. You must be very careful."

How could Qingyuan not know? Now that the engagement with the Danyang Marquis’s estate was broken, there was nothing to hold her back. The Old Madam had been to the Commander’s residence once; Shen Run likely would not have given her a good look, and in the end, he would still require her to show herself. With no way to retreat, she had no choice but to harden her heart and make the trip. It was just that he was about to be betrothed; seeing him now would inevitably be awkward.

Though reluctant, she had no other choice. After tidying herself up, she headed to Huifang Garden. Upon entering the moon gate, she saw the Old Madam standing under the eaves. She stepped forward to offer a bow, "Grandmother, you sent for me—do you have some instructions?"

The Old Madam gave her almost no opportunity to refuse, turning to instruct Nanny Xu to prepare the carriage, while simultaneously taking her hand, "My good child, Commander Shen is a man who cannot be moved by reason. He gives me no face at all. In this predicament, for the sake of your father and daughter, I beg you to mediate one more time! Only this once; if it does not work, then it is fate, and you will have done your duty. At least no one can gossip and say you stood on the sidelines while watching your father fall into misfortune."

Qingyuan secretly gave a bitter laugh. Everyone knew how to pin labels on her—asking her to be understanding, asking her to be filial, but no one had ever cared about her feelings. She had been prepared before coming; it was no surprise that the Old Madam would arrange this for her. Since there was no way to escape, she said, "It is almost dark; it is inconvenient for me to go alone. Perhaps Grandmother should send one of the brothers to take me."

"There is no need for them. Let us go together, just like last time." The Old Madam smoothed her temples, looking at her in the twilight—a young, tender girl, her youngest granddaughter. She suddenly felt a sense of sadness. To throw her into this without a word was truly a great humiliation for the Xie family. But there was no other choice... no other choice...

Qingyuan forced a smile, "What is wrong, Grandmother?"

The Old Madam collected herself and only said, "I know in my heart that you are unwilling to go. Forcing you at this time—you have been wronged. Fourth Girl, it was my selfishness that forcibly brought you back from the Chen family; you must resent me. But we are blood relatives closer than any other; even if you hate and resent me, you are still a descendant of the Xie family. Without your father, where would you have come from?" It was as if she were convincing herself, trying to make her own heart feel at ease. Seeing the time was right, she grabbed Qingyuan’s hand—grabbing it tightly—and took her into the carriage.

On the way, the Old Madam remained silent, and Qingyuan vaguely sensed something, but because the person she was going to see was Shen Run, she was not as afraid as she had been the first time. The anxiety in her heart came from the change in their current circumstances. When the carriage reached the gate of the Commander's residence and she saw the bright red lanterns hanging under the eaves, she truly realized that the man was genuinely about to be betrothed.

The Old Madam did not get out of the carriage, saying softly, "Go on. Grandmother will wait for you here."

Qingyuan nodded and walked over the threshold with Baoxian. Inside the threshold, that same nanny from before was already waiting. Seeing Qingyuan, she respectfully bowed, "The Fourth Miss has come. Greetings to you, Fourth Miss. Please follow me; the Master has been waiting for you for a long time."

Qingyuan heard Nanny Zhou address Shen Run as "Master." It was fine; she had aged him by ten years in a single breath. But it was probably for the sake of convenience in addressing the Mu girl in the future. As the official mistress of the house, it would be inappropriate to call her the "Eldest Grandmother."

She walked along that long corridor that ran through the Shen residence, but this time she did not follow it to the end. Halfway there, Nanny Zhou paused and turned back with a smile, "You know, Miss, the East Garden is the Master's residence, and the West Garden is the Second Master's residence. The Master is waiting for you in the East Garden; please proceed, Miss."

Two maids holding lanterns came forward, bowed gracefully, and said, "Greetings to the Miss. Please follow us."

Qingyuan nodded to thank them for their trouble and followed them over the vermilion threshold. Baoxian wanted to follow, but she was blocked by Nanny Zhou, who smiled, "The Master has words for the Fourth Miss; it would be inconvenient for Miss Baoxian to be nearby. Tea and snacks have been prepared in the tearoom ahead. Miss Baoxian, please go there to have some; once the Fourth Miss calls for you, someone will naturally notify you."

Baoxian felt uneasy all day. The Young Miss had gone into that residence alone, and she truly could not set her mind at ease, so she said, "Nanny, our Young Miss is young and timid. Look, it is already dark..."

A wide smile blossomed on Nanny Zhou’s face, "This is the Commander's residence; what does Miss Baoxian have to worry about! You care for your Young Miss, but how do you know she isn't the treasure of our residence?"

Baoxian was stunned by Nanny Zhou’s words. Nanny Zhou did not offer any explanation. She beckoned for people to come over and, with a mix of pulling and persuading, dragged her to the other end of the corridor.

This was Qingyuan's second visit to the Commander's residence, but it was the first time she had entered Shen Run's private garden. His living quarters were far more ingenious than she had imagined: a wooden-framed house with a curved roof, with beams carved into the shape of lotus petals and flower calyxes. There were very few military generals as refined as he was. He paid attention to his appearance, scented his clothes, and had his accessories custom-made. Every time she saw him, his hair and clothing were meticulous. Such a man, amidst those rough, sweat-smelling men, was like a flower. Now that she had intruded into the world he had constructed, she was even more astonished at how much thought he had put into the act of "living."

The little maid holding the lantern sent her to the eaves and then gracefully withdrew. She lifted her skirt to step onto the terrace. In the flickering light of the lamps, someone was casually approaching from the other side of the wooden corridor. He wore a cloud-patterned crepe silk robe for lounging at home; the soft fabric swayed with his steps, and in the dappled light, she had the illusion that he had waded through water to reach her.

He stopped five steps away from her and greeted her, "You came?" His tone was certain.

He had been certain she would come. Qingyuan felt awkward because of her current situation and saw no need to beat around the bush. She lowered her head and said, "You already know the purpose of my visit, right?"

He crossed his arms and leaned loosely against the pillar nearby, "You, you... do you not have even a form of address?"

Qingyuan was helpless, "Commander, my purpose..."

"The Commander does not know your purpose." He smiled, "Fourth Miss, think about it carefully."

Qingyuan took a breath, "Shen Run..."

He knitted his brows, "I heard theFourth Miss has a request for me? So this is the tone one uses when begging for a favor?"

Her head was spinning; this man’s affectation was endless. Looking left and right, and seeing there were no outsiders, she hardened her face and called out, "Brother Shouya, my purpose..."

He raised his fair, slender right hand, signaling her to say no more, "Don't be in such a hurry to plead for the Xie family. First, make one thing clear: your Old Madam has gifted you to me—did you know that?”