Spring of the Blade - Chapter 87

Chapter 87

Living like this every single day would likely wear a person down, but this kind of torment was not necessarily bad. Throughout the night, the wind and snow never ceased, and Commander Shen was not idle either, as if he were trying to make up for all the years of deprivation in one go. However, his young wife, who had just experienced intimacy for the first time, could hardly keep up. Later, while she was drifting between sleep and wakefulness, he still persisted in being affectionate, and she slapped him away, "It’s almost dawn; are you born in the Year of the Ox?"

Commander Shen replied, "I wasn't born in the Year of the Ox; I was born in the Year of the Dragon."

The nature of the dragon is the most lustful, mingling with all things. Qingyuan felt as though he were cursing her, too. Unfortunately, she was so sore and exhausted she couldn't open her eyes, so she just hugged him haphazardly and murmured sleepily, "Husband, let’s sleep for a bit. If we get up too late, it will be embarrassing..."

And so, they slept until midday.

This was the benefit of not having parents-in-law to attend to; otherwise, on the second day of marriage, one would have had to rise early to pay respects to the elders. When Qingyuan opened her eyes, she was slightly disoriented, unable to tell where she was. Looking left and right at the room filled with red and green decorations, she finally remembered that she was married and had moved into the Shen mansion.

Shen Run was sleeping soundly, curled against her chest. She felt a bit embarrassed, pulled her collar closed, and gave him two shoves, "Wake up, we’ve overslept."

It had been rare for Shen Run to sleep so soundly over these past few years. He held a high position, and his duties at the Palace Command kept him constantly on edge. As Yan Fu used to say, he could only close one eye when sleeping, and at the slightest sign of trouble, he had to jump up and head out. However, he had been too exhausted last night, and with her by his side, he felt especially at peace; he had slept until now without feeling that anything was amiss.

He blinked his drowsy eyes and reached out with a long arm to wrap it around her waist, "What time is it?"

Qingyuan was flustered, "It’s almost noon... Oh, get up! The servants don't know how long they’ve been waiting. And the ancestral hall—I need to go and offer incense to your parents." She looked as if she were about to burst into tears, "What do we do? We’re going to be a laughingstock, it’s all your fault! All your fault!"

Shen Run was unbothered. She was busy trying to find her clothes, but he pulled her back, parted her cross-collared robe, and kissed her round, exquisite shoulder.

"You are the most important person in this mansion; who would dare laugh at you? As for my parents, don't worry. They would be considerate of their old son who finally married at twenty-six and won't blame you." After he finished speaking, he shamelessly wrapped his arms around her, "Let's take a nap."

She was stifled with annoyance, "I didn't know before that you were this kind of person."

He laughed with his eyes closed, "I am only like this in front of my wife."

Qingyuan heard him call her "wife" so naturally and suddenly felt a sense of emotion; she was truly a wife now.

His brows were relaxed and his eyes bright. Watching him in the daylight through the window, his appearance was like that of a youth who had just come of age. Who would have guessed that when he put on his armor and helmet, he would be such a majestic and awe-inspiring figure? For the first time, Qingyuan felt an attachment to someone that she could not bear to part with. Even Da Yuanzi had not made her feel so itchy and restless. Only he—the slight upward curve of his lips made her feel endlessly enchanted.

She whispered into his ear, "You sleep. Sleep a little longer, just a little while, don't mind me." Then she kissed the corner of his lips, then his eyelids, whispering softly, "I like you so much."

How could he sleep? He laughed even more smugly, closed his eyes, and pointed to his lips, "Kiss here."

She mumbled, "I haven't brushed my teeth yet." She kissed his lips with a crisp, audible sound.

Suddenly, he flipped her over and pinned her down with agile movements, "Wife, shall we do it again?"

Qingyuan coyly said it wasn't possible, "Do you want to kill me? Besides, I still need to go and check on Fangchun."

At the mention of this, Shen Run felt disappointed. Originally, it was supposed to be a joyous wedding at home—what could be better than the whole family being happy? Yet they had to create a scene about separating at such a critical moment. The Shen family tradition had always been one of mutual respect between husband and wife; such things had never happened before. Fangchun was just too idle, acting on every whim and making Shen Che run around like a headless fly.

He sighed, fell back to the side, and covered his eyes with his hand, "Actually, I was thinking we shouldn't get involved in their affairs. Even though you are now the sister-in-law, Fangchun is a few years older than you, and her maiden family is involved. If you don't handle it well, you’ll end up being blamed instead."

Qingyuan knew this truth as well as anyone, but she could not just watch a perfectly good family fall apart. She still possessed a youthful sense of justice and said to herself, "Before I had entered the house, it was indeed hard to intervene in family affairs. Now that I am the mistress of the house, it is only proper to ask a few questions. Yesterday, Mother Zhou told me that that Ninth Miss Yao seems to have other intentions..." It was difficult to explain the details to a man, so she laughed and said, "Fangchun is kept in the dark right now. If no one wakes her up, I fear she will continue to be muddled and ruin a good marriage."

Shen Run was sharp-witted; even if Qingyuan didn't spell it out, he understood. He frowned and said, "There are truly such shameless people in this world."

Qingyuan got up to get dressed, and as she tied her belt, she said, "You men have the outside world to conquer, while women are cooped up in the inner courtyard all day, dealing with nothing but chores, weddings, birthdays, and funerals. You can stir up a storm in a tiny space—after all, even a snail shell can hold a dojo." She turned back to pull him up to dress, carefully fastening his jade belt, and said, "I will mediate with Fangchun, but you still need to advise the Second Brother. You must tell him to be wary of that Miss Yao and not let her do anything while Fangchun is confused. A girl’s reputation is of the utmost importance. If she takes half a step wrong in that regard, she will have to be brought into the house whether you want it or not."

Shen Run listened to her instructions. Clearly a young girl, yet her thoughts were so thorough and far-sighted. He hugged her and teased, "Which one are you? The delicate darling from last night, or today’s mistress of the house?"

Qingyuan was bashful and blushed, pushing his hands away lightly, "I am the mistress of the house when I am outside, and I am the delicate darling in front of you."

This made his heart thump with excitement again. He held her in his arms and rubbed her affectionately, "I must have done something good in my past life to have married you in this one."

As newlyweds, they were as clingy as they could be, and it was only with great difficulty that they finally let go of each other to let the maids outside come in to serve them.

The maids carried in hot water, and Baoxian and Hongmian entered the inner room with the vanity box and silver basins. Qingyuan saw the smiles on their faces and felt a bit awkward, standing aimlessly on the wool rug.

With a soft sound, the bamboo blinds moved in the corridor. She turned to look outside, and indeed, it had snowed all night, turning the courtyard white. The intensity had lessened a bit now, the snow falling fine and swirling... Sometimes the snow on the branches was too heavy and would fall with a thud, causing the branches to tremble and shaking the snow on other branches loose.

Shen Run stood to the side, adjusting the fox fur on his collar, and drawled, "If we could set up a small red clay stove in this kind of weather, and I could stay inside with my 'raccoon-slave'—not stepping outside—how wonderful that would be."

Qingyuan knew he was teasing her again and muttered, "What raccoon-slave..."

He leaned over, pointed a finger at her, and said, "I and... my raccoon-slave... will not go out." She was so angry she almost bit his finger off.

However, the snow fell so gently and silently that people's hearts felt washed clean. She braced her hands against the wooden railing, leaned halfway out, and turned her head, letting the snowflakes land on her face. Baoxian stood to the side, helplessly urging, "Madam, please come inside soon, lest you catch a cold."

This kind of sheltered life, slow and unhurried—it was truly wonderful. Qingyuan glanced at Shen Run; his eyes were filled with such doting affection that she felt embarrassed. She quickly pulled herself back and sat upright at the vanity. Hongmian came up to braid her hair. The hairstyle she wore as a girl could no longer be used; her hair and bangs were all smoothed back with hair oil. Even her hairpins and jewelry were changed to styles that looked opulent and dignified.

She picked through her collection and finally chose a small gold-gilded, kingfisher-feather-inlaid goldfish pin. She held it up and said, "Use this one."

Hongmian was a bit troubled, "This one is too childish..."

Shen Run took it and pinned it in her hair, "Just use this one; it looks good."

Then, there was the exchange of loving glances in the mirror. The newly married couple was truly so affectionate that it was almost grating.

Baoxian, however, was very happy. She had witnessed the difficulties her mistress faced during her half-year at the Xie family—she had been slapped by the mother and daughter of the Hu family, and the slights she endured were countless. It was good now; she had married into a good family, her husband had status, and he loved her dearly—the past grievances were finally compensated for, and she would be able to enjoy her blessings from now on.

Once her hair and makeup were finished, Shen Run held an umbrella and led her to the ancestral hall. Once inside, they lit candles, offered incense, and knelt to bow. Qingyuan prayed piously while kneeling on the mat, "Father, Mother, I slept late today. It is your daughter-in-law’s negligence, please forgive me. Since I have entered the Shen house, I am a member of the Shen family for the rest of my life. Though I am young, I will learn to serve my husband well and manage the household. Please protect us from the spirits in Heaven, keep us free from storms, and grant us a flourishing family soon..."

Shen Run knelt beside her, listening to her mumbling with her eyes closed, and found it truly amusing. She was still full of childlike spirit—a mistress not easily fooled in front of the servants, but silly and even a bit heartless in front of him.

He bowed to the ancestral tablets and asked her what she had said. Qingyuan naturally could not tell him the truth and said vaguely, "I told Father and Mother that you will surely take good care of me in the future, and asked them not to worry."

He raised his brow and glanced at her sideways. Feeling guilty, she grinned and linked her arm through his, "I also told Father and Mother that I will take good care of you, so you won't go hungry or cold, and you won't suffer any grievances."

In fact, that last sentence was the most important. Men were not cast from iron; they also had times when they suffered grievances, only they didn't speak of it. Like Shen Che, who was now living in who knows what kind of situation. Shen Run was worried and said to Qingyuan, "In the evening, let’s have a reunion dinner together and call over the people from the West Mansion."

Qingyuan agreed, "While you are all at home, if we speak our minds, perhaps Fangchun will change her heart."

Shen Run nodded, feeling a bit sorry for her, "It’s only the second day of our marriage, and I’m letting you worry about those things."

Qingyuan said, "A peaceful household is the first priority. Otherwise, even if we are happy, if they fall apart, how can this family be stable?"

So, upon returning, she ordered the servants to make arrangements, sending Baoxian and Hongmian in person to invite Shen Che and his wife to the East Mansion. During the meal, the two brothers joked as usual. Having experienced life-and-death, Shen Che could not be impolite to his new sister-in-law, no matter how uncomfortable he felt inside.

Fangchun, however, was a bit awkward. She raised her cup to congratulate Qingyuan, saying, "Sister-in-law, ever since Elder Brother took a fancy to you, I have been hoping you would marry in soon to keep me company. Now that you are here, I am truly happy. I toast you."

In truth, she still had that straightforward personality, but having been instigated by others, she had built a wall around her heart and no longer shared her feelings with the Shen family.

Qingyuan clinked her cup against hers, "I know you have always been lonely. In my heart, you are not a sister-in-law; we are the same as sisters. From now on, I will accompany you. When they are not here, we will keep each other company."

Shen Run grunted, "Duties at the Palace Command are indeed busy. After the New Year, Cheng-bing’s official title will be promoted another rank, and I fear he will be even less free. If you two have each other’s company, we brothers can rest easy while we are out. The residence in the capital is almost ready. We will stay in Youzhou before the New Year, and after the New Year, when the weather warms up, the whole family will move to the capital. That way, husband and wife can always be together, and no misunderstandings will arise." He paused and called out to his sister-in-law, "Father and Mother are no longer with us. As the older brother, I am the head of the household. You lost a child earlier, but no one in this house blames you. You and Cheng-bing are both young; what is such a small setback? Once you have recovered your health, you can have children in the future."

Actually, for a brother-in-law to say such things to his younger brother’s wife was truly awkward, but he did it for the sake of the family and did not care about the taboos. Fangchun was stunned for a moment, only lowering her head to wipe away tears. Qingyuan took her hand and said, "Don't cry. I’ll take you to the back to wash your face; your powder is all smudged."

Qingyuan led her away from the table, through the cloister, and into the back room. The maid wrung out a hot towel to serve them. After wiping her face, Qingyuan applied a fresh layer of powder for her and said, "Sister, I will still call you sister. You are older than me, so in front of you, I will not act as a sister-in-law. I sincerely hope we can all be well. Look at these two brothers; they are rising in status, and there is no telling how many people outside are envious of us. We must hold onto what we have and never destroy our own home or lose our footing."

Upon hearing this, Fangchun lowered her eyes, put the powder puff into the case, and sighed, "You don't understand..."

"I do understand. I have long heard of you and the Second Master. You told me back then that you were willing to marry into his family and waited three years for him. When he became successful, the first thing he did was send ten carts of betrothal gifts to marry you. You are both people who value affection and righteousness; how is it that things have become so bad now? Listen to me, there are two kinds of people in this world: one who would split their heart for you, and another who treats you as important in every way but is actually using flattery to destroy you. You know in your heart who is doing it for your own good and who is intentionally pulling you into the abyss. It’s just that you’ve heard them for so long that you’ve started to believe it. You have maiden family members, and so do I. Maiden families come in all shapes and sizes—there are those like my grandfather and grandmother, and then there are those like the Xie family." Qingyuan paused and gave her a shy look, "There is something that even our master doesn't know. I’ve always been too embarrassed to tell you. Would you like to hear it?"

Seeing her say this, Fangchun became even more curious and hesitated, "What is it?"

Qingyuan pulled her to sit down and whispered, "Early on, the reason I associated with you was because I followed the instructions of Old Madam Xie. Although the Old Madam’s intentions were not made clear at the time, I could see that she wanted me to enter the Commander’s mansion—but not for the sake of the Commander, but rather for the Military Governor."

Fangchun was astonished, "That old wolf, where does she get such a black heart?"

Qingyuan shook her head, "There are many people in the world with black hearts; Old Madam Xie is not the first, nor will she be the last. That we, with our backgrounds, could marry into the Commander’s mansion—isn't it like a dream? I am a bit better off; although my mother died with her grievances unavenged, my father is, after all, a Jiedushi. As for you, you come from Yunzhong, your father’s official position is not high, you have no power or influence, and you have no one to rely on. There are many who want to replace you. Do you know how many people would clap and cheer if you really separated?"

After talking for a long time, Fangchun seemed touched, but she still didn't seem to listen completely. She lowered her head and said, "I understand what you mean, but not all maiden family members are heartless. I have had no mother since I was small; it was my cousin who raised me. In my eyes, she is no different from my own biological mother. As for Haoxue, she is truly genuinely concerned for me. She is a girl from a good official family, yet she runs to the mansion every day. Does that not invite gossip behind her back?"

Qingyuan smiled, thinking that Haoxue’s earnest advice had truly reached Fangchun’s heart. How could she, in a few short words, move someone who had been nagged for months? Only by putting facts in front of Fangchun would she likely be convinced.

Arguing now was useless; it was better to smooth things over first. She said, "How about this? I beg you, Sister, to promise me one thing. I was only married yesterday; if you two make a scene about separating, I don't know how outsiders will talk about me. If you care for me, do not mention these two words before the New Year. Let’s wait until after the New Year, can we?"

Fangchun looked at her hesitantly. Seeing her looking at her with such earnest, pure eyes, she couldn't bear to refuse. Counting the time, there was still more than a month left—mentioning it then would be fine. In reality, she didn't know what she really wanted—she loved Shen Che deeply, yet her heart was twisted, and she could find no relief, torturing herself day and night.

She nodded, promising. Qingyuan breathed a sigh of relief, "And don't mention it in front of Miss Haoxue, okay?"

Fangchun had no other choice and nodded again.

Qingyuan was certain that in this way, the Yao family would not be able to sit still. And if they could not sit still, they would cause chaos. Once they lost their footing, their fox tails would be exposed.