When Shen Lingzhen returned to the inner courtyard, she was still rather sullen.
Jianjia and Bailu exchanged glances and tried probing with questions several times. Seeing she was unwilling to explain the reason, they could only give up and follow her instructions, retrieving a cross-collared narrow-sleeved jacket and skirt convenient for sitting and moving, along with a simple front-opening long outer robe, and helped her dress in the layers.
As they tied her waist sash, the two finally heard her speak, though her words came without context. “They say a drop of water’s kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring. So what do you think—how should one repay a life-saving favor?”
Jianjia recalled, “This servant has heard storytellers in teahouses say that if the benefactor is attractive, one should pledge oneself in marriage. If the benefactor is unattractive, one should serve as an ox or horse in the next life.”
“But what if the person repaying the favor has pledged herself, yet the benefactor refuses to accept this sentiment and instead remains guarded and defensive toward her at every turn?”
Jianjia sensed something amiss. “Young mistress, what trouble have you encountered?”
The detailed circumstances of Shen Lingzhen’s previous disappearance and rescue involved an unidentified man. To avoid gossip and scandal, Duke Yingguo and the Grand Princess had strictly suppressed the news. Even Jianjia and Bailu didn’t know about the existence of such a “life-saving benefactor.”
It wasn’t that Shen Lingzhen didn’t trust them, but this matter concerned Huo Liuxing’s secret. She couldn’t make the decision alone, and before understanding the full situation, she absolutely shouldn’t rashly reveal it. So she found an excuse. “It’s not my matter. I just came across a similar anecdote while studying history and felt indignant on behalf of the person repaying the favor.”
“If the benefactor refuses to be candid, there must be some unavoidable difficulty,” Bailu reasoned. “This servant thinks that since it’s about repaying a favor, one should touch the benefactor’s heart—follow the benefactor’s wishes. Otherwise, wouldn’t it instead become repaying kindness with enmity?”
Shen Lingzhen paused, thought it over, then lowered her head and touched her nose. “Then I was being unreasonable.”
Jianjia immediately objected. “How could you be unreasonable? Your words are what’s reasonable! If a young lady like you pledged herself in marriage, let’s see who would dare not appreciate it. Anyone who comes along, this servant will chop them down!” She nudged Bailu with her elbow. “Right?”
Bailu caught on and said “oh” three times. “Right, right. What this servant said earlier applies to others. If it were our young mistress, naturally it would be a different matter entirely.” She looked at Jianjia. “…I’ll chop them with you!”
Shen Lingzhen was amused by the two, and thinking about Bailu’s earlier words, felt her anger had been somewhat unreasonable. Now her brows unfurrowed and her mouth no longer drooped. She smiled and said, “My husband said he’d take me to stroll the night market. Move quickly, don’t keep him waiting.”
——
But as the saying goes, good things take time. When Shen Lingzhen arrived at the front courtyard, she heard that the Fourth Prince, who had spent two days inspecting Qingzhou’s border defenses, had made a nighttime visit.
Her cousin who had accompanied the wedding party had already returned to the capital. The burden of entertaining this distinguished guest fell on her shoulders, so naturally the night market visit had to be postponed.
In the reception hall, Huo Liuxing and Yu Wanjiang sat on the left and right sides of the lower positions respectively, while the seat of honor held a young man with thick eyebrows and large eyes, wearing a treasure-blue round-collared robe, exchanging pleasantries and laughter with them.
It was Zhao Xun.
Shen Lingzhen entered and first curtsied to Zhao Xun. “Fourth Prince.”
Zhao Xun feigned annoyance. “You girl, always so proper—how dull! I’ve told you countless times, in private just call me cousin brother. Come, sit.”
Shen Lingzhen had no choice but to change her address to “cousin brother” and bowed to Yu Wanjiang before taking her seat.
Truth be told, though she and this fourth cousin had known each other since childhood, they couldn’t really be called close. Firstly, her mother had always taught her that the distinction between sovereign and subject was like an unbridgeable chasm—she shouldn’t associate too intimately with imperial family cousins of her generation. Secondly, Zhao Xun’s personality was outgoing and impulsive. Though he had passed his twentieth year, he still acted on whims. She, accustomed to being well-behaved, simply couldn’t get along with him.
Case in point: this wedding escort visit. After this distinguished person arrived in Qingzhou, on a momentary impulse he had abandoned everyone to inspect the border defenses. And tonight, late in the evening, he had suddenly showed up without any prior notice.
Of course, as a legitimate prince of dragon blood and phoenix marrow, he truly didn’t need to be concerned about such matters.
Zhao Xun glanced at Shen Lingzhen’s attire and turned to ask Huo Liuxing, “Looking at cousin sister’s outfit, were you about to leave the residence with her?”
Huo Liuxing nodded. “We just finished dinner and thought to take her out for a walk to aid digestion.”
“Then my timing is unfortunate.”
“Your Highness is too kind.”
“I don’t have any urgent matters either. Since that’s the case, why don’t I accompany you both to aid digestion first?”
Huo Liuxing smiled modestly. “Urgent or not, Your Highness’s matters must take priority.”
Zhao Xun waved his hand again. “It’s not my matter—it’s your matter.” He signaled an attendant with his eyes.
The attendant left on the order. Shortly after, a middle-aged man wearing a soft cap and sporting a handlebar mustache entered the hall respectfully carrying a medicine chest.
Huo Liuxing’s smile remained unchanged. “This gentleman is?”
“‘Southern Luo, Northern Huang’—has cousin brother-in-law heard of them?”
Huo Liuxing nodded. “In the north, the Huang family is Hua Tuo reborn; in the south, the Luo family has miraculous healing hands. This ‘Southern Luo, Northern Huang’ refers to our Great Qi’s two renowned divine physicians. But I’ve heard that Physician Luo has traveled the four seas in recent years studying medicine. It’s been seven or eight years without news of him. Without fate, one could hardly meet him. Could this be…”
“Naturally I don’t have such fortune or fate.” Zhao Xun smiled and gestured with his hand. “This Physician Lu Yang was once a distinguished disciple under Physician Luo in his youth. He now serves at my side. Some time ago, I personally witnessed him cure a patient who had been bedridden for three years due to weak legs, which made me think of you, cousin brother-in-law.”
Having said this much, without needing to hear more, everyone present understood this distinguished person’s intention—he had brought a physician to treat Huo Liuxing’s legs.
Shen Lingzhen caught on, her heart suddenly alarmed.
Treating illness was a wonderful thing, but what if upon examination they discovered there was no illness…
Yet Huo Liuxing maintained his calm demeanor. “My legs have been ruined for ten years. I’ve tried and exhausted every method. I myself have no hope left. I’m grateful Your Highness still remembers me.”
“It’s not that I remember—it’s the court.” Zhao Xun’s smile held rather meaningful implications. “Your Huo family has guarded the border for decades without cease, protecting the peace of Great Qi’s northwest. The court will not treat meritorious officials unfairly.”
Huo Liuxing nodded. “Your Highness gives too much credit. It’s merely a subject’s duty—hardly worthy of being called meritorious.”
“Cousin brother-in-law needn’t be overly modest. Your Huo family’s capabilities are seen and remembered not only by the court but also by enemy states and common people. Since childhood, I’ve heard palace elders say that a mighty and skilled Xiqiang general once frankly stated that as long as the Huo family guards Great Qi’s northwest for even one day, he wouldn’t dare lead troops one step beyond their bounds. During this inspection of Qingzhou’s border defenses, I’ve also heard many commoners praise Commissioner Huo highly. What was that phrase they used…”
He frowned in recollection, made a fist with his right hand, struck his left palm, and his eyes lit up. “Oh, they said—loves the people like his own children!”
At these words, the spacious hall suddenly felt as if countless fine strings had been pulled taut.
Yu Wanjiang’s expression froze slightly.
Huo Liuxing seemed to pause for a moment, then smiled again. “I’ve been watching the sky from the bottom of a well in this residence for many years. Had I not had the fortune to hear Your Highness speak today, I wouldn’t have known that the common people outside already possessed such learning that they can speak in eloquent phrases.”
Zhao Xun’s smile diminished slightly. He stopped discussing this topic and jutted his chin toward Lu Yang, indicating he should step forward. “Lu Yang, ‘properly’ examine Lord Huo’s two legs.”
Huo Liuxing smiled faintly and nodded to Lu Yang. “Then I’ll trouble Physician Lu.”
Shen Lingzhen’s hands hidden in her sleeves quietly clenched as she watched helplessly while Kongqing voluntarily stepped forward to assist, removing Huo Liuxing’s boots and slowly rolling up his outer robe and trouser legs. Lu Yang opened his medicine chest, took out a wooden mallet, and began tapping various acupuncture points on his legs.
Each strike of the wooden mallet felt as if it struck Shen Lingzhen herself, making her heart pound like a drum.
Yet seeing Huo Liuxing’s completely composed expression, she didn’t dare intervene to stop it, lest adding superfluous details backfire and ruin things. She could only stare unblinkingly at that wooden mallet, and whenever a strike seemed heavier, her hands trembled along with it.
This appearance made it seem to others as if she was feeling sorry for Huo Liuxing.
Huo Liuxing turned his head to look at her and smiled in comfort. “My legs have long ceased to feel pain. You don’t need to worry.”
Shen Lingzhen thought to herself that this wasn’t what she was worried about, but she couldn’t say so in front of others. She could only nod and go with the flow, saying, “I’m feeling the pain for you, husband.”
Huo Liuxing lowered his voice to whisper in her ear. “So you’re no longer angry?”
As he leaned close, his exhaled breath scattered in wisps against her ear. Shen Lingzhen felt ticklish and dodged backward, pinching her own earlobe and looking at him with mock reproach as she muttered, “Who said so? I’m still angry…”
Behind them, Kongqing retracted his chin with an expression that read “My good young master, how can you flirt in front of elders and distinguished guests? This is truly scandalous, absolutely scandalous!”
The tense atmosphere in the room eased.
From his seat of honor, Zhao Xun pondered for a moment. “Um, cousin brother-in-law, martial artists have exceptional hearing—I’m sure you understand deeply. This can’t be helped, so…” He leaned forward half a step’s distance, propped his elbow, and asked with great interest, “What quarrel are you two having? Tell me so I can mediate fairly.”
Shen Lingzhen’s face flushed red with embarrassment as she glanced at Huo Liuxing.
Huo Liuxing turned to respond, smiling. “Your Highness has stumped me with that question. If I knew why she was angry, I wouldn’t be in such a predicament.”
Shen Lingzhen sighed inwardly, thinking how could you not know, keep pretending, but outwardly she could only cooperate with his lie. “Why am I angry? Naturally because my husband is hiding things from me.”
Huo Liuxing seemed both exasperated and amused, but his tone still carried warmth. “What am I hiding from you? Why don’t you speak up in front of His Highness and Mother and let us hear?”
If she really spoke up, the whole family would likely lose their heads! How could he deliberately make things difficult and test her adaptability?
Shen Lingzhen endured the grievance and had a sudden inspiration. “I asked my husband if he had any injuries, and you insisted you didn’t. But I saw with my own eyes that your elbow has a large patch of broken skin… To suffer such a serious injury yet hide it from me—isn’t that my husband’s fault?”
“…”
This time, not only Huo Liuxing, but also Zhao Xun and Yu Wanjiang, along with Kongqing and Jingmo, Jianjia and Bailu—everyone froze.
Even Lu Yang, who was still tapping Huo Liuxing with the wooden mallet, couldn’t continue his examination. He looked up at Shen Lingzhen in astonishment, then realizing his impropriety, hurriedly lowered his eyes again.
Seeing this atmosphere, Shen Lingzhen worried whether her lie was too forced. She quickly provided evidence, standing up to pull over Huo Liuxing’s arm, rolling up the wide sleeve, and pointing at the slightly reddened skin on his elbow. “Physician Lu, look—this is the injury. I told my husband to properly treat it, but he wouldn’t listen.”
“…” Yes, it should be properly treated, or in a little while it would heal completely.
Zhao Xun stood and stepped forward, squinting as he carefully examined the broken skin, then laughed heartily. “Indeed, this matter is cousin brother-in-law’s fault.”
Yu Wanjiang also couldn’t help but smile. “Liuxing, Lingzhen is concerned about you. Look what a good child she is.”
Shen Lingzhen smiled at her accommodating cousin and mother-in-law to express her gratitude, then sat back down properly.
Zhao Xun bent down to whisper in Huo Liuxing’s ear. “This cousin of mine was raised in the palm of my aunt and uncle’s hands. Since childhood, she hasn’t even had bumps or bruises and has never ventured outside. A wound that looks like it might scar may indeed seem very serious to her. Be understanding.”
Huo Liuxing coughed lightly and nodded in acknowledgment.
Zhao Xun straightened up, clasped his hands behind his back, and ordered, “Lu Yang, then treat Lord Huo’s wound.” He gave another attendant a look. “You go arrange the carriage. When the examination is finished here, I’ll go night touring with cousin sister and cousin brother-in-law.”
Shen Lingzhen had just secretly exhaled in relief when her heart rose into her throat again.
She looked in the direction the attendant had withdrawn after receiving the order. For some reason, she felt tonight’s darkness seemed frighteningly black.