Spring of the Blade - Chapter 77

Chapter 77

In this age of peace and prosperity, the Emperor’s diligent governance had made the empire as secure as a fortress. As evening fell, lanterns were lit throughout the markets. Youzhou was a gathering place for nobles and wealthy merchants, a ten-mile stretch of indulgent luxury where a brilliant river of lights meandered forward. Looking at the scene, one felt as if they had returned in an instant to the banks of the Qinhuai River.

Walking forward, unhurried, just continuing to walk like this—even if it lasted a lifetime, one would never grow weary. Qingyuan’s fingers curled at the base of his, and though he held his hand in a loose, semi-closed fist—a perfectly measured gesture of restraint—he would have maintained his refined demeanor and upbringing even if he had been salivating with desire for ages. He was tall, and walking beside him, she truly felt like a child. She raised her eyes to sneak a glance at him, feeling a sudden flare of defiance. She tugged at his hand and asked, "Tell me, will I still grow taller?"

Shen Run heard her and lowered his head to size her up, "You are tall enough as you are. A stature like this suits me just fine."

Qingyuan was not discouraged in the slightest, "I will still grow just a little bit more. Even if I can't compare to the second Miss Mu..." She used her hand to measure against his shoulder, "...I can at least grow to here."

Shen Run heard this and immediately understood what was on her mind. He stopped in his tracks, turned to face her squarely, and asked, "Young lady, are you feeling jealous of the second Miss Mu?"

Qingyuan froze, suddenly realizing that, in truth, she really was. Though she was unwilling to admit it aloud, to dissect her own heart would only be deceiving herself.

She lowered her head, "I only spoke of growing taller; why must you drag that young lady into this?"

He smiled, "Weren't you the one who brought her up first?"

Ah, it seemed she had... but he apparently did not understand this principle: a girl may make veiled allusions, but a man must not pursue the truth to the end.

"A lady talking about another lady doesn't need to worry about being avoided," she muttered in a low voice. "For a lady’s name to be mentioned by a man who is an outsider is highly inappropriate. In the future, keep clear of it—avoid suspicion, hmm?"

Shen Run responded with an "Oh," then added, "As you wish."

Hearing this was satisfying. The hand beneath her sleeve hooked into his even more lingeringly. The touch, hovering between existence and non-existence, shifted from her palm to her fingertips, and her every breath was filled with shivering heart palpitations.

She lightly flirted against the gaps between his fingers. His breathing grew unsteady. He had seen dancing girls at banquets who were as soft as if they had no bones, clinging to people’s bodies, but that crude, wild chaos could never compare to the light, provocative teasing she exerted within these few inches.

This hand was a new plaything she had acquired; her cognitive understanding of his body began with the exploration of these very fingertips. His teeth ached from the effort of restraint. All his focus was concentrated on the space between his fingers, magnified again and again until a tingling, numb sensation enveloped his entire body.

She was likely playing a prank on purpose; why else would she linger precisely in that spot? Perhaps she was currently studying how to seduce him. He took a deep breath, watching the distant neon lights begin to spin; countless points of light swirled into the shapes of countless yin-yang fish.

He had thought only the spaces between his fingers were connected to his heart, but he seemed to be mistaken—wherever her fingers moved, wild sparks ignited. He could not avoid it; he tried every possible way, yet she was everywhere.

Qingyuan’s greatest talent was performing cheeky deeds without changing her expression. If he didn't know her character, he might have mistakenly believed it was all his imagination—that her fingers weren't nimbly threading through, or flowing upward, or resting upon his wrist.

Fortunately, his wrists were finely shaped. Years of life in the military had not caused his joints to become coarse or lose their grace. Even though every part of his body felt ready to ignite at a single touch, he strove to suppress it, keeping his arm stiff so she could clasp his wrist.

"Commander, why is your heart beating so fast?" She suddenly flashed him a brilliant smile. "Have I guessed something right? Is your conscience pricking you?"

Shen Run realized he had been teased by her. Not showing any weakness, he leaned down and pressed his face close to her ear, "I merely thought you were interested in my body, and I was just looking for a place where you could inspect it from top to bottom."

The corners of her lips still held a smile as she looked up at him, so innocent and filled with longing, "I am going to go back and tell my grandmother every single word you just said."

At just this one sentence, he was utterly defeated, "Don't! Our private jokes—telling the Old Madam would be so tedious."

Qingyuan raised an eyebrow at him, looking smug. He couldn't help but sigh, reaching out to smooth her hair, "I like the way you are now that you've returned to the Chen family—afraid of no one, thinking yourself the best in the world."

But he did not know that her audacity did not just come from having her grandparents behind her, but even more so from having him. Since she didn't know when, whenever she found herself in difficult straits, she would think of him. He was clearly a man who frequently teased her, yet she regarded him as her life-saving straw. Looking back now, it felt like a high-stakes gamble, but thankfully, she had won—he truly, sincerely liked her.

Just like this, one looking up, one looking down; the people passing by them seemed to be on the other side of the world. His hands gripped hers tightly. He leaned closer—so close he could almost hear her breath. A certain place in the depths of his heart longed inexplicably; if not for the dense crowds of people here, he would have kissed her.

Qingyuan still felt a little panicked and whispered, "I'm hungry."

Hunger was a major issue. A husband’s role is to provide clothing and food, and Shen Run knew very well how to fulfill his duty in front of a young lady. He glanced ahead, "The Hongyan Tower is up ahead. Allow me to treat you to a meal." As he spoke, he held her hand and led her quickly toward it.

The crowd grew thicker. This was the most prosperous market in Youzhou, with tall buildings standing on both sides. Beside the road was a camel caravan belonging to foreign merchants, with small stalls set up on the camels’ humps. There were all kinds of dazzling trinkets, as well as stunningly beautiful foreign girls on raised platforms, spinning and leaping until they turned themselves into tops.

The waiter inviting guests in front of the Hongyan Tower possessed the sharpest pair of eyes in all of Youzhou. He recognized every official figure, especially someone as formidable as Shen Run. Even without a heavy guard of palace troops, it was enough to make this fellow’s blood boil as if he had seen his own father.

"Commander... Commander must be busy, yet you have the leisure to visit our humble shop today!" The waiter stepped forward, using a brand-new towel to polish Shen Run’s official boots without a hint of stinginess, greeting him enthusiastically, "Oh my, the Commander didn't use a carriage—look, I've dirtied your golden feet... Quick, quick! This servant will serve you and the young lady in the private room upstairs. The Heaven-Number-One suite is still empty; it was just renovated yesterday. Young lady, please go in and sit—it faces the stage below, and if you open the window, you can see the full panorama of the Rouge River."

Perhaps because Shen Run had never brought a female companion before, the waiter couldn't help but glance at Qingyuan twice. When their gazes met, he laughed awkwardly, "Young lady, what tea do you prefer? Our Tieguanyin here is the best. Shall I brew a pot for the Commander and the young lady?"

Shen Run disliked this kind of fawning, especially when directed at Qingyuan. He immediately said coldly, "Just bring the best. Why all the chatter?"

This was the Commander in public—a pair of cold eyes, an aura of malevolence. He had condescended to grace them with his presence, only to have to listen to your nonsense; if you dared to prattle on again, he would kick you out of the building.

The waiter shrank back in fear, promising him repeatedly, and led them upstairs.

The Hongyan Tower was magnificently built, divided into two floors. In the center of the main hall was a massive wooden staircase, wide enough for three or four people to pass abreast.

Qingyuan lifted her skirts, following Shen Run up the stairs. Only halfway up, she heard someone call, "Fourth Younger Sister." She raised her eyes to see Li Congxin and Zhenglun standing on the other side of the staircase. Zhenglun cupped his hands to Shen Run in a sycophantic manner, "Commander, I was just planning to pay my respects at your mansion tomorrow; I didn't expect to meet you here."

Li Congxin had eyes only for Qingyuan. Seeing an old friend again, his gaze was filled with infinite sorrow. After the engagement was broken that day, he had not given up, going to the Xie mansion twice, but he had not seen her again. The Old Madam had only told him to seek another match, but she hadn't told him that the Fourth Young Lady had already followed Shen Run. It was such a pity; for her to go and be a concubine for someone—it truly insulted her. Now, seeing her—a beauty at the side of a wolf—the soreness and bitterness rising from the bottom of his heart was like a surging river, impossible to express.

"It was I who ruined you." The young Marquis’s self-reproach at this moment was sincere. If he had not fallen into Shen Run’s trap, the Fourth Young Lady would not have had her engagement broken, nor would she have gone to be a concubine for the one surnamed Shen. He hated Shen Run, and he hated Xie Old Madam for disregarding their kinship, but he would never hate her. He knew she was forced by helplessness—a small concubine-born daughter, how could her arms be stronger than a giant’s thighs!

Qingyuan was still the same—courteous and distant. She stepped back, performed a curtsy, and said, "Third Young Master, I am living very well now."

Li Congxin wanted to speak but stopped, hesitating several times before saying in a low voice, "You don't need to lie to me. I know... it isn't well. It’s all my fault."

Qingyuan couldn't help but frown. This noble公子 (young nobleman) was having his overly sentimental problem again, endlessly taking the blame upon himself as if owing her a debt were a kind of merit.

She smiled, "Third Young Master, at this stage, self-reproach is useless. I don't think you would be willing to re-engage me, would you?"

He hesitated, as expected. This was an impossible thing. If she were still at the Xie house, he would naturally seek her hand with his whole heart, but she was now with Shen Run... not to mention whether this character like a Yama king would let her go, even if he would, the Marquis’s household would absolutely not agree to it.

Seeing the atmosphere become awkward, Zhenglun hurriedly said, "Fourth Younger Sister, why don't you come home? Grandmother thinks of you every day; her tears have almost run dry..."

Qingyuan felt anger surge like a mountain when she heard this, "Second Brother, it is clear that your Xie family treated me as a gift to send away. Do you truly expect me to go back? Where in this world is there a household like yours? Pushing your own flesh and blood out—as long as it benefits you, whether it be face or propriety, you don't care in the slightest!"

Zhenglun had taken a heavy verbal blow, and his expression was quite unsightly, but he was afraid of Shen Run, who was watching coldly from the side, and could not refute her.

Qingyuan had vented her anger. In the end, this matter didn't directly involve Zhenglun, so she slowly calmed down and asked, "Does the Old Madam really think of me?"

Zhenglun nodded quickly, "She truly misses you, Fourth Younger Sister. These past two days, it has been, firstly, for the Master, and secondly, for you..."

"Then why hasn't the mansion sent a carriage to pick me up?" she asked coldly. "I suppose you were all prepared to throw this granddaughter away from the start, or why else would the Old Madam leave me at the Commander’s mansion that day and go back all by herself?"

Zhenglun was accustomed to the Fourth Girl who acted subserviently. Now, seeing her so aggressive, he was surprised and a bit annoyed. He said with irritation, "Fourth Younger Sister, don't be unforgiving..."

Shen Run, however, sneered, "Second Master Xie, she is no longer the Fourth Young Lady of your household. Since you begged me to handle matters and sent her to my mansion, I must advocate for her. She is returning to be the Eldest Young Lady of the Chen family. Regardless, your Xie household only fed her for half a year; she used that half-year to keep Commissioner Xie safe—that is enough to pay the Xie family back."

Zhenglun’s face turned pale and then red from his words. He managed to say, "Commander, you are flesh and blood—how can you say it is broken just like that..."

"Why can't it? My imperial troops haven't even been deployed outside the pass yet. Commissioner Xie’s life hangs by a thread. If I say it can be broken, it can." After speaking, he laughed coldly, "I almost forgot. Second Master, when you return, take a message to your Old Matriarch: I am in need of a mistress for my household. I didn't expect the Old Matriarch to just throw the young lady out of the mansion. I must thank the Old Matriarch; without her achievement, where would I find such a good wife!"

As these words were spoken, Zhenglun and Li Congxin were both stunned. Shen Run was clearly about to be engaged to the Mu family; how had his head wife been replaced halfway through? A huge sense of melancholy surged from all sides. It was unclear if they regretted missing Qingyuan as a person, or if they regretted that, by losing her, she had achieved such a great success.

Shen Run felt there was no need to let her face these unpleasantries anymore. He took her hand and said, "Young Lady, the meal upstairs should be ready. Didn't you say you were hungry? Why delay here?"

Qingyuan didn't say more. She nodded slightly toward them and turned to follow Shen Run upstairs. She had finally spoken the words she had kept in her heart for days to the Xie family, and having him there to back her up was truly gratifying. But after the gratification, she realized something and said, "I haven't agreed to your proposal yet; why are you spreading it around so wildly?"

Shen Run smiled with a beauty that seemed to make time stand still, "Don't you think being my wife is the most powerful revenge against them?"

There was truth in that. She rested her chin in her hand, thinking, and looked at him. After looking, she shook her head with a sigh.

He felt nervous and laughed, "Young Lady, what is it? Am I not enough to make you feel proud, or did I not perform well today? Were you not satisfied with the kitten I hired for you?"

Qingyuan sighed again, "I was thinking: though I have returned to the Chen family, if I lose the Commander’s protection, will they snatch me back to the Xie mansion again?"

Shen Run’s expression was profound, "What do you think?"

"But I don't want to agree to you so easily; after all, my anger from that night hasn't dissipated." She boredly dipped her finger in the water in her cup and slowly drew his face on the tabletop—two long, slender eyes, a high-bridged nose. After she finished, she was startled; it actually looked like a fox.

Often, grievances can be coaxed away through beauty. He moved closer, mimicked her gesture of resting half his cheek on his palm, and leaned in closer as he exchanged glances, "How can the young lady dissipate her anger?"

Qingyuan’s earlobes burned like they were on fire. She suspected that he was planning to offer himself up? In truth, a fifteen-year-old girl was not ignorant of everything, but because of rules and propriety, she kept it deeply buried.

Looking at his appearance—his eyes filled with spring—there was not the slightest bit of the Commander about him! She dragged her chair a bit further away and stammered, "You... what are you trying to do? There are people coming and going here, under the watchful eyes of the public..."

"Do you want to scream? If you create a scene, it will be to your disadvantage. At worst, I will just marry you—that would be exactly what I desire."

Qingyuan glared at him, most of her anger leaking away.

"That night, you weren't like this..." he said despondently, though his fingers climbed to the corner of her lips, touching them gently. "What I owe the young lady, I shall return to you tonight. You may touch wherever you wish... and then I will permit you to hold me."

Qingyuan’s brain was a bit muddled, but she didn't need to think too deeply to perceive that this was a losing deal, "Are you compensating me, or are you intentionally taking advantage of me?"

He was engrossed in his caress, marveling that her lips were truly like honey, her eyes like hooks. This slight touch alone was enough to make one unable to stop.

Seeing she was about to suffer a loss, and seeing his fingertips becoming increasingly lingering, Qingyuan bit down on his finger in a fit of pique.

He was startled at first, but after the shock, a shimmering wateriness floated into the depths of his eyes. He laughed, "I truly can’t wait to marry you. You are so clever; in the future, you will certainly be... very... satisfying.”