Spring of the Blade - Chapter 73

Chapter 73

With a girl on his mind, even bathing felt like a rushed affair. He scrubbed himself clean in record time, changed into fresh clothes, and stood before the mirror to carefully arrange his hair. By the time he was ready to step out, the sky was already slowly darkening.

Qingyuan’s quarters were not far away. The moment he crossed the threshold, he saw her standing beneath the veranda, head tilted back, watching a maid hang up a lantern. The light poured down from the circular frame, casting a pool of radiance onto the ground. She stood within that beam, wearing a star-blue ru skirt, her hair loosely held by a single hairpin. She was naturally fair-skinned, so any color suited her perfectly. From where he stood, her exquisite silhouette and slender neck were sights that occupied his every waking thought and dream.

The little girl was like a delicate, fragile flower that required careful protection to ensure she wouldn't be crushed. He had invested so much effort into this; perhaps no great undertaking he had ever achieved before required such focused caution. In the past, she was kept in someone else’s vase, and if he wanted to admire her, he had to rack his brain for excuses to visit. Now that she had been transplanted into his own garden, given fertile soil and nourishment to grow as she pleased, he asked for nothing more than to see her at all times.

He had even tidied up his villa in the capital. He had harbored this thought for a long time; traveling back and forth took too much time, and if he had to rush about daily, he feared he wouldn't be able to father a son. Once they were married, he would have to bring her to the capital. The halls and pavilions there were already prepared—they had been granted to him by the Emperor after he investigated the embezzlement case at the Pacification Commissioner’s Office. At the time, he hadn't bothered to furnish them properly because he couldn't bear to leave his old residence in Youzhou.

He told Shen Che of this plan, and Shen Che immediately looked at him with utter disdain, "Brother, have you considered that Fangchun and I haven't conceived a child in two years of marriage precisely because I spend too much time on horseback? Now look at you, thinking so thoroughly—had I known, I should have brought Fangchun to the capital as well."

Knowing he was in the wrong, Shen Run blustered, "If you can't decide your own household affairs, are you going to point fingers at me? Besides, it is because I have your cautionary tale to learn from that I’ve made preparations in advance... I am doing this for the sake of the Shen family's lineage, so stop with the nonsense."

In any case, if it wasn't his own child, even a younger brother's affairs were of no consequence. Once he had his own, his worries would only grow—to an infuriating degree. Whenever he saw her, he couldn't help but ponder whether it would be better to have a son or a daughter. If the child were disobedient, would it be better to send them to the official academy, or to hire two private tutors at home for strict discipline?

Shen Run, who had spent years walking through fire and water, was now about to have a home and family of his own. Back when he wielded his sword, carrying his head on the waistband of his trousers, he never imagined a day like this would come. There was a world of difference between marrying someone you truly loved and marrying someone just to get by. As long as he saw her, a sense of fulfillment welled up in his heart—Shen Run was finally going to have an heir.

The maid removed the pole used to hang the lantern, and only then did Qingyuan withdraw her gaze. Just as she was about to turn to enter her room, she saw him standing on the bluestone path in front of the door and froze. The man had just bathed; his hair was still damp, and water droplets trickling from the tips soaked his plain silk robe, which clung tightly to his chest... Her cheeks burned, but she steadied her heart and said, "Brother Shouya has returned?"

Shen Run’s heart gave a sudden lurch. He realized that the Fourth Young Lady was acting unusually today. On the previous few occasions, he had tried everything to induce her to call him "brother," but today she was so proactive. Where there is anomaly, there must be a demon.

Yet even so, he drank the poison willingly. He smiled and asked loudly, "What is the young lady doing standing here?"

She tucked both hands away, fiddling with a round fan embroidered with a small, buttery-yellow goldfish. She looked graceful and delicate, like a scallion.

She smiled at him even more sweetly than before, "Waiting for you to come back."

Shen Run was somewhat overwhelmed by the favor, to the point where he didn't dare to approach, taking half a step back, "Is that so..." He looked aside; the moon hung faintly in the sky. He gave a light cough, "Have you eaten?"

Qingyuan cast a glance toward the inner room, "I was waiting for you."

This made him feel even more uneasy. Commander Shen had experienced all manner of great storms and waves, yet he found himself unable to advance or retreat now. He looked at her, smiling hesitantly, "You are truly... too considerate today."

Qingyuan patiently coaxed him, "Brother, you galloped a thousand li to return the same day just to have a meal with me, didn't you?" Seeing him hesitate, she lifted her skirt and walked toward him step by step. When she reached him, she shot him a look that spoke volumes, then reached out to touch the corner of his wide sleeve, giving it a slight tug, "Let’s go."

Shen Run’s heart thumped. Two years ago, he had roamed through fields of flowers, but only Qingyuan’s every frown and smile could make his entire body feel numb. This little girl clearly wasn't very skilled at such tactics—she had even blushed shyly while tugging at him—but it was exactly this unique Jiangnan-style charm that left him at a loss for what to do.

The weight of her touch fell upon his sleeve, and he followed her into the room involuntarily. In the small western hall, a table was set by the window with a few small dishes and a pot of clear wine. She pursed her lips into a smile and said, "Sit," while lifting her sleeves to pour him a cup of wine.

"I must thank you for managing everything so thoroughly for me. Yesterday, the way the Old Madam acted truly made me lose my composure, but thinking about it carefully today, there is actually nothing bad about it. The Xie residence is not a place for long-term residence; their abandonment of me is, on the contrary, my good fortune." She raised silver chopsticks to serve him food. Her delicate wrists turned slightly, and when her gaze met his, she smiled, "Here, I’ll offer flowers presented by another—I hope Brother won't mock me."

Shen Run took a dazed sip of wine. He didn't dare drink much, fearing she might have put poison in it.

"Young lady, today..." he said with an awkward smile, "you are quite different from usual."

She gave an "un" sound, raised her eyes, and asked, "Different? How am I different? I truly, sincerely want to have a good talk with you. Do you think I'm acting strangely again? You helped me this time, so how should I repay you? Are you... really asking me to pledge my body to you?"

Shen Run swallowed. Even if he had that thought, he didn't dare nod at this moment for fear she would think him frivolous and lacking the demeanor of a gentleman. He bowed his head and said no, "I respect the young lady. If I did it merely for that, I would be failing you."

Qingyuan nodded, "Fortunately... I know you are not that kind of person. However, it is a bit improper for me to stay in your mansion for no reason. Since the mansion is preparing for the engagement, I might as well lend a hand. If there is anything you need me for, please don't be a stranger." As she spoke, she blinked her innocent eyes, "Brother, when do you intend to present the betrothal gifts to the Mu family?"

Although he deeply desired for her to be close to him, the constant "Brother" was becoming more than he could handle. To hide his panic, he raised his cup to his lips and murmured, "Soon... what do you want to do?"

Qingyuan looked down, "I am hoping the Mu young lady will enter the house soon. I saw her at the temple that day; she is truly a peerless beauty, unmatched in heaven or earth, and a perfect match for you. Now that my engagement with the Danyang Marquis’s residence is broken, I naturally hope you two will be happy. You must treasure her and treat her well; don't let her end up like me." As she spoke, her eyes curved into smiles, "Brother, go present the gifts tomorrow! And then, do a kindness to the end—would you be willing to adopt me as your foster sister?"

Shen Run was shocked, "Fourth Young Lady, you want to take all the good things in the world for yourself."

She looked a bit disappointed, "Is that not good? And here I was, calling you 'Brother' at every opportunity."

He didn't know what kind of medicine she was hiding in her gourd, so he knitted his brows and sized her up, "I am the one who decides when to present the gifts; there is no need for you to rush. For now, just live in the mansion with peace of mind. I will have arrangements for you in the future."

Hearing this, she gave a dull nod, then shot him another glance, "In your heart, can you still not let me go?"

The answer to this question would normally be harmless, but when two people were sparring and playing mind games, it became especially important. Shen Run was full of wariness, yet he answered smoothly, "In my time in officialdom, I have seen plenty of fleeting romance and fickle affairs. As for this bit of lingering affection... I truly cannot let it go."

"No wonder..." she smiled subtly, "your incense today smells very pleasant. Did you specifically bathe and change just to come see me?"

Shen Run was rendered speechless. Watching her sit on the stool and adjust her posture slightly—which, in his eyes, looked like a lingering, enticing movement—a sense of itchiness arose in the bottom of his heart. It was an itch he couldn't scratch, one that left him at a total loss.

"Actually, the moment you stepped into the courtyard, I was watching you," she said, resting her chin on her hand as she stared at him. "Are you very afraid I’ll run away? If you came back and found me gone, would you look for me?"

He feigned a casual air and laughed, "Naturally I would look for you. The world outside is treacherous. As long as you step out of the Commander’s mansion, I guarantee that before you walk a single mile, there will be human traffickers waiting for you." After saying this, he cast her a soul-stirring glance, "With such a beautiful appearance, how many people are drooling over you? Those who snatch people away don't care whose heart you belong to..." He suddenly realized he had let something slip and hurriedly changed the subject, "Furthermore, I cannot help the Xie family resolve their crisis for nothing. My reputation is poor, and I never make a losing business deal. You should know that."

Qingyuan thought for a moment, "How is it a losing deal? Didn't you originally plan to rely on the Shibao City campaign to be promoted to Jiedushi so you could earn a title of honor for your wife? When all is said and done, this is a win-win business deal. You don't need to fob me off, Brother."

And that was why it wasn't good for a woman to be too clever; if she analyzed a problem too thoroughly and grabbed onto a handle, she wouldn't let go. Shen Run, unwilling to be manipulated by her, stroked his chin, "In my case, there is no such thing as not being able to have both fish and bear's paw. Can't I want both merit and the Xie family's bribes?"

She then dangled that Taotie jade pendant and swayed it in front of him, "Oh my, how strange. This jade pendant has grown legs and come back on its own."

Shen Run played the part of the surprised one, exclaiming, "Indeed! I was just saying yesterday, how could it have disappeared?"

Both of them feigned ignorance, staring at each other with smiles that were both reserved and hypocritical. Qingyuan knew that getting this old fox to confess was likely impossible, so she took back the beast-faced pendant and lowered her head to hang it on the button at her chest.

"Brother, eat your food." She was calling him "Brother" quite fluently now, but he lowered his eyes and refused to look at her, likely fearing that if their gazes met, she would cook up some other scheme.

Qingyuan’s desire to tease him grew stronger. A person who was close to one's heart was the world's best artist of love, capable of sparking many creative ideas she wouldn't have dared to imagine before. She feigned touching the edge of the table and suddenly let out an "Aiya." Sure enough, he raised his eyes, "What is it? Did you get hurt?"

A fine sandalwood table like this could never have a splinter, but she nodded with great seriousness and mumbled aggrievedly, "It pricked me."

He immediately took her hand to examine it. Her slender fingertips were soft, pink, and tender, like flower branches carved from white jade. He had no time to appreciate the beauty; he checked them one by one carefully, "Where did you get hurt?"

Qingyuan chuckled secretly, "Look, here..."

Where was "here"? She raised her index finger. He looked it over thoroughly but didn't find even a trace of red.

"Can't find it?" She hissed, inhaling sharply, "Look closer."

A lamp was burning at the corner of the table. He couldn't help but lean in closer to see by the light. Suddenly, her fingertip flicked upward, brushing against the corner of his lips. While he was dumbfounded, she pulled her hand back, mumbling, "It probably just scratched me; it didn't break the skin." As she spoke, she stood up, walked to the door, and called out to Baoxian, "Call someone to clear the table."

Shen Run understood. This girl had learned the art of flirtation and was testing her mettle. He liked it, yet felt an unbearable itch in his heart, and he enjoyed this hazy probing. It was a pity that just as he had tasted a hint of the flavor, it came to an abrupt end; what remained were endless, surging undercurrents and tremors. Just as he wanted to have it out with her properly, the maids outside filed in, one by one. With so many people around, he could only sigh in frustration.

"It’s getting late, you should go back," she said, bowing politely. She turned to instruct Baoxian, "See the Commander out for me."

Baoxian stepped forward, head lowered and eyes submissive, gesturing outward, "Commander, please."

What could he do? Staying here and pestering her wouldn't do. He sighed softly and laughed, "Get some rest, Young Lady. I have some good news to tell you tomorrow."

What kind of good news? He had dangled a hook, and when Qingyuan wanted to pursue it, he had already turned and walked out.

The mistress and maid began to speculate. Baoxian said, "It’s eight or nine parts likely related to the Xie family—either there's news about the Master, or the Commander plans to trip the Xie family up again."

Qingyuan pondered, "Maybe he got my personal savings back."

Baoxian covered her mouth and giggled. Once everyone had dispersed, she leaned in to tease in a low voice, "I heard everything from the outside; you really act like an old hand in the field of love, Young Lady."

Qingyuan blushed and muttered, "Who told him to tease me so much? I have to win back a round to feel secure."

As for the inner truth, she still hadn't spoken of it—that Mu young lady, whom she didn't necessarily have to take seriously, still made her feel uneasy, to a greater or lesser degree. She was also afraid of the fake becoming real, as Fangchun had said. If she didn't care about Shen Run, none of these troubles would exist, but she did care. The more she cared, the more she trembled with fear. But she couldn't ask, and he was still keeping it bottled up, so the two of them had to compare their wits to see who would surrender first. He did have one good point: even if he took full advantage of her with his words, he never crossed the line, which gave her the courage to dare to spar with him.

While Qingyuan was left savoring the aftertaste of that flick, in a room not far away, the person who had been teased stood before a mirror, slowly stroking the corner of his own lips.

The door was half-closed, the window half-open. A firefly paused on the osmanthus tree in the courtyard, then, blinking on and off, flew to the top of the tree.

The weather had been fine at first, but around the Hai hour, it suddenly began to rain. A gust of wind blew into the bottom of the window, extinguishing the lamp on the table. A fine, dense drizzle beat against the window paper like a child tossing sand.

With a roar of thunder, lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating the room in a ghostly blue. A pale, clear human face paused before his bed. Seeing it suddenly gave him a start.

So she had come after all. He smiled in the darkness and asked with his eyes closed, "What’s wrong? Afraid of thunder?"

The person crouching by the bed didn't speak. After a long silence, she asked, "Do you want water?"

He said he didn't, turned over, and his low voice was like sleep-talking, "If you aren't sleeping, what are you doing coming to my place?"

Qingyuan clutched the edge of the bed and asked, "What was the good news you mentioned earlier?"

He burst into laughter, made a humming sound, and didn't answer her. She couldn't wait for his reply, so she stretched out a finger and poked him, "Are you asleep?"

What man on earth could remain indifferent to a woman who broke into his room in the middle of the night! He searched carefully for her in the darkness, and using the faint light cast by the lanterns under the eaves, he saw a blurred silhouette.

"Want to know?"

She gave an "un" sound, truly not afraid of him at all.

He suddenly stretched out his arm and scooped her up, "What time is it? Do you know what the outcome will be if you run into a man's room in the middle of the night?"

But in this dim night, in this deep mansion cut off from the world, with no elders or bitter enemies watching them like tigers, she became a bit daring.

She carefully touched his face, "Shen Run, do you like me?"

He gave an "un" sound, "I like you."

"Will you only have me in your heart from now on?"

He gave an "un" sound again, "There has only ever been you alone."

"Then tell me, why is the mansion decked out with lanterns and festoons?"

He had been feeling dazed, but hearing this question, he suddenly became sober. He didn't fall for her trap, but instead diverted the subject a hundred thousand miles away, saying vaguely, "Young lady, let me hold you.”