Since the Grand Matriarch had given permission, she could now leave the residence without worry. For a young lady confined to the inner chambers, opportunities to go out were rare. Counting the times since arriving in Youzhou, most were related to the Shen family. Regardless of what Commander Shen meant to the Xie family, the Shen household was, for Qingyuan, ultimately not a bad acquaintance to have.
Early the next morning, she rose to dress and groom herself, carefully tucking the beast-faced jade pendant into a small pouch and securing it tightly to her button.
Chuntai teased her from the side, “These days our young miss never forgets to bring this jade pendant wherever she goes. If Commander Shen knew about this, one wonders what he would think.”
Just as she was giggling, two old servants passed by the steps carrying baskets. Qingyuan quickly gestured for her to be quiet. After they had passed, she said, “Someone else’s possession is in my keeping, and I feel guilty. Not returning it to them feels like I’ve committed theft. I expect they probably think this jade pendant is lost by now – it’s been so long… a full ten days from that banquet night until today.”
Aoxian helped her put on her face veil and adjusted the hat gauze, saying, “How do you know they’re not waiting for young miss to return it? Meeting once when it was given, meeting again when it’s returned…” She smiled and added, “Commander Shen is quite thoughtful.”
Aoxian and Chuntai exchanged knowing smiles, while Qingyuan felt helpless about her maids’ romantic fantasies. If she had harbored vague premonitions at first, they had completely dissipated over time. How could one attribute such girlish sentiments to a high-ranking imperial courtier who had suffered family misfortune in his early years? When her father hadn’t helped during their crisis, he had used her father to bring down his old enemy and incidentally extorted a large sum of silver from the Xie family. With such a person, with such deep scheming, how could one attribute maiden-like tender feelings to him?
However, since Chuntai and Aoxian enjoyed joking about this, she couldn’t be bothered to argue with them. After all, she felt happy every time she went out. Unlike her sisters Qinghe and Qingru who had their mother to accompany them – whether buying rouge and powder or visiting temples to pray – all simple matters for them. Without reliable elders to accompany her, she would never be able to go out in her lifetime. Now, thanks to the Commander’s wife’s kindness, she could go out with her maids, which was truly something to be elated about.
From the hanging flower gate to the main gate was about two arrow-flights distance. Previously, entering and exiting required questioning by the Palace Guards, but today looking over, those armored warriors were nowhere to be seen. Without anyone watching over them, the mood was much more relaxed.
Qingyuan walked quickly toward the gate. The early morning sunlight wasn’t too harsh and couldn’t penetrate the veil. When the wind blew, it stirred the gauze on her hat. This early summer season always carried a fresh fragrance like rain-washed peonies. Perhaps due to her youth, her heart could never contain too much melancholy. As she got closer to that great door, it felt as though she was breaking free from a cage, ready to spread her wings and fly out at any moment.
“Ah…”
Just as she was about to step over the threshold, she heard someone call out. Qingyuan turned her head to see Zhenlun coming from the covered corridor. Usually, those three brothers never paid any attention to her, but today, for some unknown reason, he took the initiative to greet her.
She curtsied, “Second Brother, are you going out as well?”
Zhenlun made an affirmative sound, “Going to the official academy. You’re heading to the Commander’s mansion?”
Qingyuan said yes, “To meet the Commander’s wife, then we’ll go to Huguo Temple.”
Zhenlun nodded, “Do you know Chunzhi will be arriving in Youzhou in the next few days?”
Qingyuan hesitated, then smiled, “I didn’t know. When we parted at Hengtang, he mentioned he would come to Youzhou in two months, and counting the time, it does seem about right.”
Zhenlun was quite impressed by this adopted sister’s ability to play ignorant, but it was understandable – without affection from uncles or grandmothers, she had to keep a low profile in the household. He meant well, after all, among the three brothers, he was closest to Li Congxin, and he understood clearly the young marquis’s feelings – still pining for Qingyuan until now. Looking carefully at this little sister, he used to think she still had a childish air about her, but after her coming-of-age ceremony at the post station and her proper, graceful greeting to his mother, now looking at her again, he felt she had grown up, developing a natural feminine grace, and appeared much more pleasing to the eye than before.
Zhenlun nodded again, “Nothing much, I just wanted to let you know, probably the day after tomorrow, he should arrive.”
Qingyuan said alright, understanding Zhenlun’s intention in specifically telling her this. After getting in the carriage, Aoxian said softly, “This young marquis is quite devoted, following from Hengtang to Youzhou, such a long journey…”
Qingyuan smiled, “When he arrives, it will be good to thank him properly, that register was a great help.”
Speaking of great help, it wasn’t entirely accurate, but it did indeed point her in the right direction. Things in this world are all formed by chance coincidences – without that register, perhaps her father would still be trapped in his predicament. As for her, she might have been treated like a key to open doors, casually given away to some guard captain watching over the Xie family.
Whatever the future held, no one could say for certain right now. Qingyuan didn’t think too much about it. The carriage clattered to a stop in front of the Commander’s mansion. The guards had seen her several times, and with Xie Shu’s reinstatement, they were increasingly respectful toward her.
“The Madam instructed that when Fourth Miss arrives, there’s no need to announce her, she can enter directly,” the guard waved, and the doorkeeper from inside came out, eagerly leading her toward the long corridor.
This was her third visit, and the path had become familiar. The enormous mansion was proper and orderly, with only the plants being particularly well-tended. In the height of summer, it would be even more lush. The wooden corridors passed through a world of verdant green; for a moment, it felt like walking into a paradise beyond this world.
At the end of the corridor, Fangchun happened to be coming over wearing a face veil, walking while saying, “Is it hot today? I had another carriage prepared with an ice chest.” She gestured with her hand, “This big, loaded with food and drink. We won’t need to eat temple food at noon, we’ve prepared our own.”
Qingyuan made a sound of acknowledgment, quite surprised by her arrangements. She had never heard of anyone taking a carriage out and specifically bringing an ice chest. This Commander’s wife’s thoughtfulness had reached a level that left her speechless.
Fangchun smiled, “This is something only someone like me, who’s unsociable yet fond of comfort, would think of. The temple is crowded, and we might run into this madam or that madam. Greeting them is fine, but if they set up a vegetarian table, wouldn’t we have to eat at the same table with them? I don’t like dining with unfamiliar people, it’s better just the two of us, nice and quiet. Last time the Palace Commander and the Commander attended your family’s banquet, this time let you try our household’s food. Our chef is quite good, skilled in both northern and southern cuisines. In the future, whatever you want to eat, just say the word.”
Qingyuan took it as a jest. Fangchun wasn’t the type to be cautious and calculating; she had the straightforward style of one above worldly concerns, saying whatever came to mind. Even as they were about to leave, she took her on a detour up to the cool painting tower, pointing to the eastern courtyard from afar, saying, “Look, that’s the Palace Commander’s courtyard. By rights, after I married Shen Ce, we should have moved out to establish our household, but you know, the Shen family endured hardships in their early years, and Shen Ce is very attached to the Palace Commander, so we divided the family but not the residence, still living together in the old mansion.” She smiled at Qingyuan, “However when the elder sister-in-law enters the family in the future, we’ll have to ask her opinion. It’s all manageable anyway – we’re the closest of kin, and everything can be discussed. If we separate residences in the future, we’ll build houses nearby, making it convenient to visit each other.”
Qingyuan smiled appreciatively, “Indeed, large families have their liveliness, and small families have their mutual care. With fewer people, we must rely on each other – such affection is precious!”
Fangchun blinked, “Isn’t it? You came today, aren’t you going to ask if the Palace Commander is here?”
Qingyuan had wanted to ask, but since she brought it up first, she swallowed her words and touched her small pouch, saying, “My father’s recent crisis passed without serious consequences, thanks to the Palace Commander’s mediation. My grandmother did say that when the Palace Commander is free, we should properly thank him. But those are matters for my brothers to handle, so I won’t inquire about them…” Then she smiled, “The Palace Commander probably doesn’t have a day off today, right?”
A young girl, though extremely prudent, still showed some naivety in certain subtle ways. Fangchun observed her expression with interest – after finishing that speech, her final fleeting glance looked particularly adorable.
Fangchun chuckled, “Let me count – the next day off is quite far away, at least half a month from now.”
Qingyuan had known early on that she wouldn’t be able to return the jade pendant, so she wasn’t in a hurry.
The two of them left the mansion together, and sure enough, there was a carriage waiting outside. Fangchun took her to look, and when the carriage door opened, there sat a square bronze ice chest, its front cast with a tiger head, mouth wide open showing its fangs. Qingyuan recognized it at once, “This ice chest has a history – it’s an antique from the previous dynasty.”
Fangchun squeezed into the same carriage with Qingyuan, and along the way inquired about Qingyuan’s situation while also introducing her family circumstances: “When outsiders mention the Shen brothers, they always harbor some trepidation, but the Shen family’s roots are in scholarship. The old master was very good at choosing names. Have you heard the courtesy names of the Palace Commander and the Commander?”
Qingyuan shook her head, the daylight filtering through a layer of silver-red gauze, casting a gentle glow on her cheeks.
“Shen Run’s courtesy name is Shouya, and Shen Ce’s courtesy name is Chengbing.” When Fangchun mentioned her first encounter with her husband, there was a hint of shyness in her eyes. “When he first reported to my father’s command, I saw his name card and fell in love with his name at first sight. At that time he didn’t know me, but I knew him, and I was the one who found ways to befriend him first. Later, when the Palace Commander entered the service of the Privy Councilor, he followed and returned to the capital, and there were three whole years without any news. When I saw him again three years later, he came with ten carriages of betrothal gifts and took me home as his bride.”
Listening to their past story, simple and direct yet passionate and heartfelt, these people who had once seemed so distant to her gradually became clearer. Shouya, Chengbing – indeed, both names embodied refinement and clarity. The year Shen Zhibai met with trouble, the brothers were only fourteen or fifteen, privileged young nobles suddenly falling from heaven to earth’s core. The hardships of the past ten years had seeped into the texture of fate, beyond investigation now.
Qingyuan sighed softly, “At least their suffering has turned to sweetness. Just yesterday at home we were saying, to achieve the second rank at such a young age – how many throughout history have managed that?”
Fangchun said, “Firstly when the old master was implicated in the Crown Prince designation case, it turned out in a roundabout way that the person he supported succeeded to the throne. Secondly, when the Emperor ascended and Prince Yi caused trouble, with rebel forces attacking Gongchen Gate, it was the brothers who held the defense. His Majesty remembered their military merit and was moved by the old master’s kindness, so naturally promoted the brothers vigorously.”
These brief sentences were enough to sketch out the Shen family’s rise and fall. Women’s inner chamber lives were mostly trivial, while men’s official careers were full of dramatic waves. Qingyuan sighed, “The times make heroes indeed.”
Fangchun laughed, “Now that the hero-making is done, what’s left is just enjoying good fortune.” She moved closer, “Fourth Sister, has your family discussed marriage arrangements for you?”
Qingyuan shook her head with a smile, “I have three elder sisters above me, and none of them have married yet. How could it be my turn?”
“This isn’t like dividing family property – why must it follow seniority?”
Qingyuan didn’t want to discuss these matters with her and brushed it off perfunctorily, turning to look outside the window. Huguo Temple was the largest temple in all of Youzhou, and it was said that even the Empress had come here to pray in earlier years, so the temple had always maintained prosperous incense offerings. The sound of Buddhist chanting could be heard from afar, and the air was filled with lingering sandalwood fragrance. She simply lifted the gauze curtain, and the temple’s apricot-yellow walls appeared among the mountains and forests. Qingyuan became somewhat excited, “That’s it, isn’t it?”
Fangchun said it was and urged the driver to go faster. Though it wasn’t a festival or holiday, quite a few carriages were parked outside the mountain gate. When the carriage door opened, their maids came to assist them, helping them put on their face veils. Qingyuan adjusted Fangchun’s hat brim, and then they walked together toward the main hall.
Huguo Temple had one hundred and eight steps, and after climbing to the top, one reached a vast platform. In the middle of the platform stood an iron incense burner over ten feet tall, and beyond the incense burner was the main hall of Huguo Temple.
Qingyuan followed Fangchun inside, reverently kowtowing to the Buddha and offering incense. Fangchun, usually casual in manner, became careful in every way inside the temple. With a solemn expression, she bowed deeply, her forehead pressing firmly against the prayer mat. After rising and retreating from the hall, she asked Qingyuan, “What did you pray for?”
Qingyuan said, “Peace for the whole family.” But her interpretation of “whole family” didn’t include the Xie family, but rather her grandparents of the Chen family in Hengtang. Chuntai handed over a bundle of incense, and as she lowered her head to tear off the seal, she asked, “And you, Sister, what did you pray for?”
Fangchun said with a blush, “Naturally, also for family peace. And one more thing – I prayed for a child. The Commander and I have been married for two years without any news, and I’m getting a bit anxious.”
That she was willing to share her inner thoughts showed she didn’t consider Qingyuan an outsider. As an unmarried girl, Qingyuan didn’t know how to comfort her. Just then, seeing fortune-tellers by the hall entrance, she suggested, “Sister, why don’t you have your fortune told?”
Fangchun was impetuous by nature, wanting to fly into action the moment she thought of something. The bundle of incense in her hand wasn’t yet lit, and she didn’t have time to pay respects at various places, so she stuffed it all into Qingyuan’s hands. She pointed to the lamp pavilion where a row of candles burned for visitors to light incense, then pointed to the iron incense burner on its white stone base, “Just light them all and put them in there, let the various deities divide them among themselves.”
Qingyuan held the incense Fangchun had handed over, watching as she and her maid turned back, stopping halfway to exchange greetings with some familiar faces.
Aoxian said, “The Commander’s wife truly has a straightforward temperament.”
Chuntai took half the incense from Qingyuan’s hands and gave half to Aoxian, sticking out her tongue, “Letting the deities divide it themselves – she dares to say such things.”
Aoxian went with Chuntai to the lamp pavilion, which was only four or five zhang from the great incense burner. Because there were too many open flames, Aoxian asked the young miss to wait by the incense burner – they would light the incense and bring it back, lest the young miss accidentally sing her clothes.
Qingyuan had to follow their arrangement and stand there alone.
Looking up at the sky, today it was clear with scattered clouds, the dome azure blue, so blue it seemed to draw one’s soul in. But the platform’s elevation meant the wind was stronger than below, blowing her veiled hat and skirts about, obscuring her vision. She raised her hand to part them – the face veil had a seam in front, the long soft fine gauze covering most of her body, parting like opening a curtain.
But when she lifted her hat veil, the first thing she saw was not the blue sky above Huguo Temple, but a man with handsome brows and eyes. Like that day, he wore an intricate brocade surcoat, his eyes deep and complex.
Qingyuan had encountered him three times before – twice at dusk, once in deep night. In her impression, he was certainly a very handsome person, but exactly how handsome remained vague. Now seeing him under the bright clear sky, that noble steadiness, even the hidden meanings beneath his slightly upturned eye corners, all seemed to have a different flavor. If the golden-armored soldiers behind him were a steel blade, then he was the exquisite pattern on the blade’s back – you think it’s decoration? It’s the blood groove.
She had been hoping to return his item to him in person all this time, but now actually seeing him, her heart shrank back. Not knowing how to begin, she stepped back half a step and folded her hands in greeting, when she heard his low, deliberately subdued voice—
“Fourth Miss, it seems I left something with you.”