Shen Run was surprised, affecting an air of being profaned, and let out an enlightened “Oh!” “Fourth Young Miss appears gentle and pure, who would have thought you harbored such complex thoughts! What are you doing, why cover your mouth? Could it be you find me appetizing to look at and have developed improper thoughts about me?”
Qingyuan immediately regretted her action, truly not understanding why she had made such a gesture, giving him something to seize upon.
Though she hadn’t lived many years, since she could remember, her grandmother had carefully taught her that the most important thing for a young lady was to maintain dignity and composure. You didn’t need to plan for every contingency, nor did you need to always maintain an invincible position, but when you encountered failure, you should at least fail gracefully, fail with dignity.
Qingyuan felt that for all this time, no matter what adversity she faced, she had followed her grandmother’s teachings. But in one’s life, there were bound to be one or two malignant stars, and Shen Run was her malignant star. When encountering him, all her carefully cultivated ladylike behavior became useless. He would bluff, he would turn things around on her, and she could only watch helplessly, having no recourse except to marvel at his thick skin.
But should she just let him frame her like this? Impossible! When pushed to extremes, people develop sudden wisdom. The hand covering her mouth remained in place as she feigned a yawn, bringing tears to her eyes. Then she blinked innocently, “Ah, pardon me, Commander. Usually at this time, our household would have already closed the gardens and retired… I’ve developed this habit, and have shown poor manners before the Commander.” Then she proceeded to play deaf and dumb, “What were you just saying, Commander?”
Shen Run’s upper hand didn’t last long. She had turned the tables, and his line of argument couldn’t stand. Though his attempt to frame her failed, he wasn’t discouraged. He made a sound and said: “Nothing much, I just feel that Fourth Young Miss calling me ‘Commander’ is too formal. Why don’t you call me Shen Run directly, or use my childhood name? Do you know my childhood name? My father hoped I would maintain proper conduct and refinement, so my childhood name is Shouya… if you find that awkward, you could call me Brother Shouya.”
Cringe-worthy – this kind of cringe quickly spread throughout her body, making her hair stand on end. Brother Shouya? That term of address was the most awkward of all! Though it was truly a good name – just looking at those two characters, one could envision an upright and forthright gentleman, standing in sunlight with a bright smile. But the person before her? Under the lamplight was an excessively handsome face – when a man was too handsome, it made him seem untrustworthy. Although Li Congxin was also well-featured, he was different. Even if a young noble engaged in pleasure-seeking, once he set his mind straight, his sincerity was visible. As for him, having weathered storms, each hardship had formed another hard shell. She didn’t believe she could break through these layers of walls, so despite all his attempts to draw her in, she maintained her smile while firmly refusing to fall for his trap.
He said: “Fourth Young Miss, won’t you try calling me that?”
She was skilled at deflection and picked up her spoon again to taste the soup, “Let me try this egg custard, it seems well-seasoned…”
But before she could finish speaking, he reached over, his soft fingertip lightly wiping the corner of her lips, then smiled kindly, “How did you get food all over your mouth…”
This was truly a case of evil growing by the foot while virtue grew by the inch. Qingyuan felt somewhat disheartened, thinking she might never be able to outmaneuver this old fox in her lifetime.
Fortunately, he knew when to stop. Seeing the young lady’s embarrassed blush, he straightened up and resumed a proper sitting posture, raising his wine cup to drink slowly. The previous battle of wits seemed as if it had never happened – the Commander was once again the dignified and proper Commander, speaking in a mild tone: “Regarding Liang Yi’s matter, Fourth Young Miss need not concern yourself. I’ve just heard your views, and they’re very reasonable. If we handle this openly, we can’t deal with Lady Hu in one stroke, and it would harm your reputation. Since the direct approach won’t work, we’ll take the indirect route… In any case, leave this matter to me, and I’ll ensure you won’t suffer any disadvantage.”
Qingyuan didn’t know how he planned to deal with Lady Hu and gazed at him for a long while before asking: “Has the Commander already devised a plan?”
He lowered his eyes and said: “If no one else will plan for your future, I will do so. No matter whom you marry in the future, I want you to leave your maiden home in glory, a thousand times more dignified than any legitimate daughter.”
Qingyuan’s heart filled with mixed emotions – she truly hadn’t expected such an unexpected champion to charge into her difficult life, wielding his sword in all directions to protect her interests, and for such a strange reason – a second-rank official couldn’t find a wife and wanted to catch her to be his lady. Being protective was human nature, and Shen Run’s protective nature was particularly prominent, probably stemming from his painful experiences in his youth. But how long could such enthusiasm last? Who knew? Today’s fresh flowers and brocade might tomorrow become a half-withered potted plant thrown in a corner, partly reminiscing about the careful pruning when first acquired, partly feeling it was taking up space – neither pleasant to keep nor worth discarding.
However, she was indeed moved. Shen Run, true to his experience in criminal justice, often spoke with words that struck straight to the heart. Whether in interrogation or in using clever tricks to bewitch people, he knew where one’s weak points were, where to touch to make one itch or hurt, leaving no room for escape.
She sighed, “Commander’s kindness, I fear I’ll have no way to repay in the future.”
“If you can’t repay, then repay with yourself,” he smiled ambiguously, “After all, I never engage in losing propositions.”
Qingyuan fell silent, slowly stroking her knee in thought, feeling a desire to test this Commander’s self-control. Could a man who constantly preened like a peacock before young ladies truly have such unwavering conviction?
“Does the Commander truly mean this? I’ve been wondering earlier, why did you all go to such lengths to lure me into the mansion, what was it all for?” As she spoke, she propped up one arm to support her chin, giving him a soft, gentle glance, “You keep approaching me, surely you have ulterior motives. Qingyuan is just a powerless concubine’s daughter, how could she withstand the Commander’s machinations? Now that I’m in your Shen mansion, Commander sometimes gives me meaningful looks, sometimes provokes me with words – what exactly do you want? You keep saying I have improper thoughts about you, but isn’t it the Commander who craves my beauty, craves it beyond control?”
Well, the words were said, and they began to ferment in both their hearts. Shen Run’s gaze suddenly changed from hazy to incredibly sharp and clear.
Previously, he had always maintained the initiative, whether teasing or provoking, enjoying watching the changes in her expressions. An innocent young lady, pure as a white paper – whatever he drew on it became reality, and this feeling was truly quite interesting. But the self-assured Commander Shen had never imagined that once the brush was in her hands, its ink-saturated tip would come crashing down on him, leaving him unable to parry.
She wasn’t confused – she was the most clever girl in the world, and putting learning into practice wasn’t difficult for her at all. The lanterns under the hall’s eaves swayed in the evening breeze, scattered light bands swinging back and forth, and those doe-like dark bright eyes just stared at him. He suddenly found it somewhat difficult to breathe – truly, a long-abstinent man couldn’t withstand such temptation. If he were to lose control, it would frighten her.
He diverted his gaze, waves of heat rolling up in his heart. He raised his finger to undo his collar button, the silver hook making a light ‘ding’ sound as it brushed against the clasp. As coolness slowly flowed in, he thought that now he was like her that day hiding in the cabinet, fallen into the other’s palm, unable to escape.
His mouth dry, he swallowed lightly. Qingyuan saw that exquisite Adam’s apple move, realizing that men too could have such a helpless yet beautiful side. Her smile grew even more apparent, “Commander?” She recklessly tested once more at the cliff’s edge.
He didn’t look at her, making an ambiguous sound of acknowledgment.
“You haven’t answered my question yet.”
Sweat emerged at his hairline, crawling there restlessly as if about to trickle down. He wanted to wipe it away, but his hand, raised halfway, withdrew again – he couldn’t let her see his discomfort.
“Yes…” he did not attempt to deny it, answering quite frankly, “Indeed, I do crave Fourth Young Miss’s beauty. If you weren’t beautiful, I wouldn’t bother pursuing you. ‘A gentleman pursues a fair lady’ – I see nothing wrong in admiring your beauty.”
“But Commander, didn’t you tell my grandmother last time that I was too young to tell if I was beautiful or not?”
Young ladies could be petty indeed – his words from that time had bothered her until now, and she had been waiting for a chance to even the score.
So in matters like these, a man should yield when he ought to yield. He took a sip of wine and said: “If I had told your Old Madam that Fourth Young Miss was as beautiful as flowers, I fear you would have been prepared and sent to my chambers the very next day… Doesn’t Fourth Young Miss have ambitions to become a principal wife? One marries a wife for virtue and takes a concubine for beauty – I won’t praise your beauty, so you might as well give up that hope.”
After hearing this, Qingyuan felt a wave of melancholy. This man was truly skilled with words, making her unsure whether she should continue to challenge him. However, with his constant talk of marriage, and her having already agreed to Li Congxin, there was no room for change. Getting entangled with Shen Run now would not be proper behavior for a respectable young lady.
She glanced toward the courtyard gate, “I originally came to see Fangchun, but it seems that won’t be possible now. Commander, I should take my leave – returning too late might cause the Madam to speak ill of me.”
He said softly, “Haven’t Second Young Miss and Third Young Miss gone to the palace for selection? Would Lady Shi still have time to concern herself with you?”
Qingyuan made a sound of surprise, “How does the Commander know they’ve gone for selection? Isn’t the selection of imperial consorts unrelated to the Palace Command?”
“The Department of Internal Service and the Palace Command have some dealings. I care about Fourth Young Miss, so naturally, I also pay attention to the Xie family. What if I was careless and they sent you into the palace? That would be disastrous!” He paused after speaking, then asked her, “Aren’t you worried that if Second Young Miss and Third Young Miss are selected, it might be disadvantageous to you?”
Qingyuan smiled, “Isn’t the palace deeper than the Xie family? With Second Sister’s personality… Commander might think me cruel, but I hope she enters the palace, saving me from having to act myself. In this world, the strong prey on the weak everywhere. She always likes to dominate others – she won’t survive in the palace until next year’s Qingming Festival.”
Shen Run laughed, “It seems I worried too much. I had planned to pull her down before the jade tablets were distributed, but hearing you say this, letting her enter the palace isn’t bad either. I’ll have a word with the Director of the Palace Domestic Service, just ensure she doesn’t enter the Dragon Hall for an imperial audience. Among those palace women, many spend their whole lives dying in the deep palace. Moving her process to Shangyang Palace will settle the matter.”
If outsiders were hearing their plotting now, they would probably be terrified! How like wolves and tigers planning to harm someone – yet strangely, when the two of them discussed such matters, they could be so calm, so instantly in agreement.
Qingyuan smiled bitterly, “After returning to the Xie family, I seem to have changed a lot. I’ve learned to be like them, always calculating, becoming ruthless.”
Shen Run propped his forehead and asked her, “Then do you want to return to the Chen family?”
She nodded, “I do want to go back. I grew up in the Chen family since I was little, grandfather and grandmother both loved me dearly…”
“But Hengtang is remote, it would be very difficult for me to see you…” he pondered, his deep eyes gazing at her again, “Yunya – that name suits you better than Qingyuan.”
She was slightly stunned. But that name was already far from her now – after returning to the Xie family, she had been assigned a rank, becoming just one indistinct member among the sisters. Now, hearing the intimate name she had been called for over ten years brought a sense of unfamiliarity. She didn’t dare to profane it – with her days full of scheming, she was no longer worthy of those pure characters.
However, after her self-reproach, she noticed something amiss, “How does the Commander know these things? Did you have people investigate me?”
His eyes rippled, “Know your enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles without defeat. Fourth Young Miss need not be surprised by this – I not only know what you were called before, but also which month you got your first tooth, and until what age you wet the bed – everything is crystal clear.”
Qingyuan nearly choked, “Commander, you can’t use your official position to do such things – your Palace Command is the most prestigious office before the Emperor!”
He heard this and sneered, “The prestige is only for show. The Palace Command handles many matters – when necessary, even married couples’ private bedroom talk isn’t secret, let alone your little matters.”
So this was what made him frightening – before him, you had no face to save. What he should know, he knew; what he shouldn’t know, he also knew. But there was nothing to be done – this was his profession. That seemingly dignified office did such undignified things.
However, he at least had the decency to ask: “Is Fourth Young Miss angry?”
Qingyuan was the type of person who knew when to take a step back and didn’t have the habit of frowning and glaring at every little thing. She only said softly: “The Commander holds great power and can investigate whoever he wishes, but I must advise the Commander – everything has its limits. Excess will only create enemies. If you only know how to make enemies but not how to win people over, sooner or later the Commander will find that there is not a single trustworthy person in court or beyond. When that time comes, with enemies front and back, even if the Emperor remembers old friendship, one cannot defy public anger – those who trust but do not employ will surely be your fate, Commander.”
Shen Run was stunned by her words. Though the insight wasn’t particularly profound, it struck at his hidden worries. Having climbed up from hell to reach his current position, he still felt unsure of his footing. But suddenly this young lady had become someone who could stand behind him, back-to-back, facing the hidden arrows coming from all directions. He had always thought young ladies couldn’t think far ahead, that sheltered in their chambers they didn’t know the world’s hardships, only caring about flowers and powder, not understanding court politics. Now meeting her, finding such deep insight beyond her intelligence, he became increasingly convinced that she was the perfect choice for a wise helper.
He nodded, “Fourth Young Miss speaks very reasonably. Indeed, I lack an arm that can help me win people over. With Fourth Young Miss, wouldn’t turning enemies into friends be an easy matter?”
Qingyuan smiled, “It’s a pity I’m not a man – if I entered the Palace Command, I could surely help ease the Commander’s burdens.”
She was playing dumb again – helping didn’t necessarily require entering the Palace Command. While men expanded territories outside, women managed connections in noble ladies’ circles – both were ways of working side by side. He felt a strong urge to propose to the Xie family immediately, but the agreement at Bihen Temple from a few days ago couldn’t be changed. He let this fire burn in his heart – for such a rare young lady, one needed sufficient patience to maneuver. The more urgent the matter, the more cautious one must be.
He looked at the sky outside the flower hall, where a crescent moon hung at the edge of heaven. Under the wide-open railings and windows, a low-hanging wisteria branch happened to pass through, splitting the moon in two. He said: “It’s getting late, let me escort Fourth Young Miss back.”
Qingyuan said it wasn’t necessary, “Maids and servants are waiting outside, I can return by myself.”
But he didn’t listen to her, independently leading his escort, accompanying her to the Xie mansion’s main gate.
This time he didn’t even use the case as an excuse. Sitting on his horse, he looked down at her, beneath his long eyelashes lay a pair of gentle eyes, “Fourth Young Miss, please go in.”
Qingyuan curtsied, “Many thanks for the Commander’s escort. Please return, Commander.”
He merely nodded, without saying more, turned his horse around, and led his attendants away in grand fashion. Although the gardens were all locked up, it didn’t prevent the rapid spread of news. By the next day, not only did the brothers, sisters-in-law, and sisters in the mansion know, but also the uncles, aunts, and cousins of both the east and west compounds.
“I always said that the fourth girl wasn’t an ordinary person, yet those inexperienced people love to suppress her,” Madam Jiang nudged Madam Pei with her shoulder, making meaningful faces.
Madam Pei smiled, and being mindful of Lady Hu’s presence, diplomatically said: “That’s why there’s an old saying: better to shortchange a son than a daughter. When daughters are married off, their future possibilities are limitless. Like Second Young Miss and Third Young Miss, they’ve passed the first selection now, and if they pass the second and third selections, they’ll soon become imperial consorts… Our family, four generations ago, produced a Royal Consort, though unfortunately that glory was later interrupted. If we could continue it now, it would bring honor to the Madam and good fortune to the young ladies.”
Madam Pei was always like this, smooth on both sides like a knife cutting tofu. Madam Jiang snorted a laugh, but not knowing how Qingru and Qingrong would fare in the future, she temporarily didn’t want to offend Lady Hu too much, so she just pursed her lips without speaking. Lady Hu was wary of Qingyuan’s connection with Shen Run, but still harbored some wishful thinking, not believing that such a worldly powerful official as Shen Run would truly be interested in such a little girl.
But who knew that later that afternoon, the gate keeper brought in two large boxes, saying they were sent by the Commander for Fourth Young Miss. The whole family eagerly waited to see what was inside, and it turned out to be dozens of boxes of various rouge.
When a man sends rouge, what more needs to be said? Qingyuan was caught in a difficult position, but Lady Hu smiled, “Good child, it seems our family truly has three joyous occasions coming. However, as one young lady, you can’t be promised to two families – we can afford to offend neither the Danyang Marquis’s mansion nor the Commander’s mansion. You must have your calculations, but playing both sides is not something a proper young lady from our family should do. If word gets out, it would be laughable – you must remember this, hmm?”