“Miss…” Mo Qing was slightly startled, frowning as he looked at the young woman before him.
He knew that some wealthy families treated human lives as if they weren’t human at all, buying servants as if purchasing livestock. At this moment, this young lady’s meaning was probably also to regard him as one of those servants, which naturally gave rise to a sense of displeasure in his heart. Yet when he looked into her eyes, that displeasure seemed to dissipate instantly like mist.
The way she looked at him was not with arrogant disdain, but with a faint gratification and respect, causing suspicion to ripple through his heart. Unconsciously, he blurted out: “Miss, have we perhaps met somewhere before?”
Shen Miao sighed softly: “We haven’t.”
“Then why…”
“Sir, your features are proper and your bearing extraordinary—you should be a person destined for greatness. Yet now you’re selling the sword that has accompanied you for many years, clearly at the end of your rope. You’re destitute and in urgent need of money, but even if you get money today, it still won’t solve your future troubles. I am the legitimate daughter of the mighty General, and when my father returns to the capital at the end of the year, I can introduce you to him. Your excellent martial skills would be wasted if buried, which would be a true pity.”
“General Shen?” Mo Qing was suddenly stunned. He hadn’t expected the young woman before him to be Shen Xin’s daughter. Shen Xin’s reputation was known to all in Ming Qi; he was a steadfast rock on the battlefield. A man should establish merit and career, and if following such a leader… Mo Qing felt as if the blood in his body instantly became scalding hot.
However, in the rumors of the capital, Shen Miao was an absolute fool, though she seemed to have somewhat redeemed herself at the Golden Chrysanthemum Banquet a few days ago, but not many people had seen it with their own eyes. Now seeing her in person, it was clear the rumors weren’t necessarily true.
“If the young miss is truly willing to recommend me, I naturally won’t decline. If I have the opportunity in the future, I will certainly repay this kindness.” Mo Qing had a straightforward and forthright temperament, and given this opportunity, he didn’t refuse.
Seeing this situation, Shen Miao smiled slightly and took out a silver ingot from her sleeve, tossing it to Mo Qing. She said: “I don’t need you to repay the kindness, just sell your martial skills to me. My father will only return at the end of the year. During these days, you need to follow me back to the Shen residence. I want you to pretend to be a guard of the Shen household, but you must secretly ensure my safety.”
These words sounded quite unexpected to Mo Qing. He had also heard that between great families, though the surface might be covered with flowers, privately there were countless sordid tactics. Seeing that Shen Miao mentioned her safety, he understood that the young lady before him probably wasn’t living as comfortably in the Shen residence as it appeared on the surface. Mo Qing was somewhat surprised—since Shen Miao was Shen Xin’s daughter, why was her situation still so difficult? But with his steady temperament, he didn’t ask aloud, only said: “I will follow the young miss’s instructions.”
“Take this silver first for your urgent needs,” Shen Miao said. “After you’ve settled your affairs, you must come to the Shen residence within three days. I will arrange your placement.”
Mo Qing cupped his hands again in salute. He carried a strong air of the jianghu about him, and after he left, both Guyu and Jingzhe frowned slightly. Jingzhe said, “Young miss, this person is suspicious. If he harbors ill intentions and enters the residence, I’m afraid…”
Shen Miao walked toward the carriage: “What is there to fear? This kind of person is much cleaner than those currently in our courtyard.”
At present, the Western Courtyard was filled with spies from the Second and Third Households, and her people were pitifully few. Besides, this Mo Qing was certainly not a stranger.
Sitting in the carriage, Shen Miao sighed inwardly. After being reborn, she hadn’t expected to encounter Mo Qing here.
This Mo Qing, in her previous life, had been the commander of the imperial guards, originally recommended by Shen Xin for his exceptional martial arts skills. During the years when Shen Miao was a hostage in Qin, Mo Qing had protected her as a guard. Without Mo Qing’s help, returning safely from the perilous Qin would have been nearly impossible.
Mo Qing was loyal to Shen Xin, and naturally also loyal to Shen Miao. Unfortunately, after Shen Miao returned to Ming Qi, due to Madam Mei’s scheming against her, Madam Mei framed Mo Qing with a false accusation of improper behavior toward palace women. Fu Xiuyi had long wanted to remove Shen Xin’s people, and despite Shen Miao’s desperate attempts to prevent it, they were in vain. She could only watch helplessly as Mo Qing died under a fabricated crime.
Now, seeing Mo Qing again, she hadn’t realized his current situation was so desperate. But it was precisely because of Mo Qing’s predicament that he was so easily recruited. Shen Miao understood Mo Qing’s nature—he was most loyal and upright. For the trip to Wolong Temple in three days, she had originally planned to use other methods, but with Mo Qing, it would be much more convenient.
Upon returning to the Shen residence, since Shen Yue and Shen Qing had gone to the Yi residence as guests, only Shen Miao was at home. Just as she arrived at the Western Courtyard, Matron Gui came forward to greet her, smiling obsequiously: “The young miss has returned. This old servant has had the kitchen prepare some sweet soup. Would the young miss like some?”
“Yes, please,” Shen Miao replied.
Seeing that Shen Miao, who had been cold to her these days, suddenly became warm and pleasant, Matron Gui was delighted and quickly said: “This old servant will fetch it right away.”
By the time Matron Gui brought the sweet soup, Shen Miao had already been resting in her room for a while. Matron Gui carefully placed the sweet soup on the table, smiling and saying: “Young miss, all the preparations for visiting Wolong Temple in three days have been made. Is there anything else you need?”
Old Madam Shen had previously arranged for them to offer incense at Wolong Temple in three days, praying for peace in the Shen household. Ren Wanyun would lead the three young ladies together, while the rest need not follow. Matron Gui had been busy with this matter these past few days.
Shen Miao glanced at her and said with measured tone: “Matron is quite enthusiastic about this matter.”
Matron Gui faltered, then smiled: “The young miss rarely leaves the courtyard, so naturally everything must be prepared properly.”
“With Matron accompanying us, everything will certainly be proper.” Shen Miao suddenly smiled. That smile, falling in Matron Gui’s eyes, made her feel somewhat uneasy.
“The Second Madam has arranged everything meticulously, so there won’t be any mistakes,” Matron Gui said.
“Then I trouble Matron Gui to thank Second Aunt on my behalf.” Shen Miao nodded: “You may go now.”
Hearing this, Matron Gui finally breathed a sigh of relief, quickly said a few words, and withdrew. Somehow, Shen Miao had become very strange lately. It seemed that staying with her created an invisible pressure that dampened even her usually arrogant demeanor. However, once outside the door, she straightened her back and swept a disdainful glance at the room, saying in a voice only she could hear: “After these three days, let’s see if you still dare to be so presumptuous before me!”
In the room, Shen Miao took the bowl of sweet soup in her hand, walked to the window, and with a wave of her hand, poured half the bowl of sweet soup into the soil beneath the leaf flowers outside the window.
“Young miss, do you want to go to Wolong Temple?” Bailu asked hesitantly.
“Yes, I will go,” Shen Miao answered.
In her previous life, it was at this time that she accidentally overheard the maids of Rong Jing Hall talking, learning that Old Madam Shen intended to marry her to Prince Yu. On the night before going to Wolong Temple, she had fled to Prince Ding’s residence and offered herself as a concubine. Although that decision was also wrong, it coincidentally helped her avoid another calamity.
Now, she would neither flee nor hide, but would follow them to Wolong Temple. Whoever wanted to see her make a spectacle of herself, she would turn them into the most inept show instead.