Though Shen Che knew that even if this was the reason Ji Cheng avoided her like the plague, it could only be part of the reason.
Chu De was still squawking loudly. Shen Che released his grip, causing Chu De to stumble forward, nearly falling. He turned his head, wanting to curse, but held his tongue under Shen Che’s fierce gaze.
“You may treat your concubines this way, but did you also subdue your wife like this?” Shen Che asked sarcastically.
Although Chu De acted very manly outside, in reality, he was henpecked at home. He often talked about divorcing his wife, but given his character, marrying a lady from the Cui clan of Qinghe was truly a stroke of luck. If he tried to divorce her, his father would surely break his legs.
At the mention of the domineering wife at home, Chu De’s bravado immediately deflated. He smiled sheepishly, “How can a principal wife be treated like other women? Of course, I must respect her from the bottom of my heart.” Let alone subduing her, Chu De might not even dare to sleep with her, much less subdue her. “You know my wife. As long as I respect her, she can turn a blind eye to some things.”
“Respect?” Shen Che stared at Chu De steadily, making him wonder if there was something on his face.
While Shen Che might have gained some insight from Chu De’s unintentional words, Ji Cheng had already discovered her opportunity.
The Old Madam was talking about the Lotus Banquet at the South Commandery Prince’s mansion, “Their Sun-Reflecting Lotus is indeed the finest in the capital.”
Ji Cheng originally didn’t want to go to the South Commandery Prince’s mansion. The invitation was only extended to the masters of the Shen family, and she would be going merely as a tag-along. In the past, she wanted to attend such events to arrange a marriage, always thinking of making more appearances. Now, looking back on the past, she found it laughable and had no desire to show her face in public.
However, the South Commandery Prince’s mansion usually only held Chrysanthemum Banquets. This sudden Lotus Banquet was for another person – Fang Xuan.
Although there were countless nobles and dignitaries in the capital, those who could invite Fang Xuan could be counted on one hand. Not many people knew that Fang Xuan had returned to the capital. It was unclear how the South Commandery Prince had persuaded Fang Xuan to agree to perform a solo piece, even though she had long since retired from the music world.
The South Commandery Prince’s Lotus Banquet had stirred up the entire capital. Anyone with a bit of status was desperate to squeeze into the prince’s mansion. Although Fang Xuan had retired for many years, her fame had only increased. People considered it a lifetime honor to catch a glimpse of her.
On the day of the Lotus Banquet, the Old Madam didn’t go. Only Princess An He led Shen Qian and Ji Cheng to attend.
When Shen Qian and Ji Cheng met, there was inevitably some awkwardness. Although now the young ladies in the mansion had either married or left, leaving only Shen Qian and Ji Cheng of the same age, because of the incident with Chu Zhen, even though Ji Cheng was not at fault, Shen Qian couldn’t help but feel some resentment when she saw her. Ji Cheng understood this and didn’t often appear before Shen Qian.
Fortunately, it was said that Chu Zhen had requested to gain experience, and his father had sent him to the border under the command of Shen Xiu, the Shen family’s Second Master, for training. This spared Ji Cheng and Shen Qian the awkwardness of seeing Chu Zhen.
In the waterside pavilion of the South Commandery Prince’s mansion, Fang Xuan was looking at Shen Che, her face wearing an apologetic smile. “You don’t need to worry. I’ll be leaving in a couple of days. This time, I really couldn’t refuse. Consider it a debt repaid.”
Fang Xuan wasn’t born with such fame among the nobility. When she first debuted at Manxiang Garden, although her talent was extraordinary, there were always those who cared not for talent but only wanted to pluck the flower. If not for the South Commandery Prince’s protection, she would have found it difficult to maintain her purity. At that time, Shen Che didn’t even know her.
“Once you make an appearance, there will be bees and butterflies swarming, causing endless trouble,” Shen Che sighed.
Fang Xuan made a playful gesture, “Then I’ll have to trouble the Second Young Master to bear with it.”
Shen Che could only helplessly make a gesture of compliance.
After Shen Che left the waterside pavilion, Bing Ling said to Fang Xuan, “Miss, you know that the Second Young Master doesn’t like you associating with the Prince. Why did you agree to this? Don’t you remember that your only argument was about the Prince?”
Looking at Chu Zhen, one could tell that the South Commandery Prince must have been strikingly handsome in his youth, and even now he remained graceful and elegant. At that time, Shen Che was just a teenager in his teens, while the South Commandery Prince was a mature man in his twenties, valiant and extraordinary, and a royal prince. Fang Xuan and he had a connection that couldn’t be spoken of to outsiders.
Fang Xuan said, “Back then, I owed much to the Prince’s protection. I have no way to repay him. How could I refuse when he invited me today? Besides, Si Xing might have been jealous back then, but do you see any trace of that now?”
There was a hint of a sigh in Fang Xuan’s tone. Bing Ling complained, “They say men are fickle, and it seems true. I thought the Second Young Master would be an exception.”
Fang Xuan shook her head, disagreeing, “Bing Ling, how many people in this world can protect and love me as he has? If anyone has let anyone down, it was me who let him down first. He has no obligation to wait for me forever. I only hope that the person he admires will also love and protect him, that they will be a harmonious couple and grow old together.”
“He… has it quite difficult,” Fang Xuan knew of Shen Che’s ambitions and his grand aspirations. When she left back then, it wasn’t without the thought of not wanting to be a burden to him.
Her background, after all, wasn’t something that could be openly acknowledged.
As night fell, high candles were lit everywhere in the Prince’s mansion, reflecting in the lake water like a sky full of stars. There was no moon in the sky, but it didn’t dampen people’s elegant mood.
Someone was heavily guarding the stone bridge leading to the waterside pavilion in the lake, and those hoping to catch a glimpse of the great Fang Xuan could only leave disappointed. As the banquet began, there were first songs and dances to accompany the wine. After a round of drinks, the startling sound of gongs and drums rose, signaling people to be quiet.
Listening carefully, there was a faint sound of a flute, like smoke and clouds, slowly coiling and rising into the air, enveloping everyone in that heavenly music.
Before Fang Xuan’s flute sounded, Ji Cheng, like most people, thought that Fang Xuan might have talent, but half of her fame must have been due to excessive praise. She was too beautiful, with various legends surrounding her, especially with Shen Che adding a vivid stroke to her story – the Second Young Master wanted to marry her as his principal wife. With such legends, it would be impossible for her not to be famous among the nobility.
However, after that ethereal and exquisite flute sound began, all distracting thoughts vanished. Only a voice deep in the heart was asking, could such music be heard in the mortal world?
As the flute sound slowly faded, the surroundings remained silent, even breathing was so light and slow. It was a long while before someone came to their senses, and by then, Fang Xuan had already gracefully departed long ago.
“Heavens,” This exclamation expressed the feelings of everyone present.
It wasn’t necessarily fortunate to have heard such heavenly music; for the rest of one’s life, everything else might pale in comparison. Ji Cheng sat in her place for a long time. Although her background was ordinary, beautiful and intelligent women often tend to think highly of themselves and find it hard to truly admire other women. But today, she genuinely admired Fang Xuan from the bottom of her heart.
Without even seeing the person, the Fang Xuan who could play such music was enough to captivate everyone.
Ji Cheng sighed, feeling somewhat ashamed. She had originally planned to use the Lotus Banquet to get close to Fang Xuan, hoping to become close friends. This way, if Shen Che wanted to deal with her, he would have to consider not hurting the jade vase when catching the mouse.
But now, Ji Cheng’s initial plan had vanished like smoke. She felt it was too utilitarian and vulgar, unworthy of polluting Fang Xuan’s ears.
Yet Ji Cheng also thought, what virtues did Shen Che possess to deserve Fang Xuan? It served him right that Fang Xuan ignored him.
By now, the venue had resumed its lively chatter and laughter. Many people were chasing after the South Commandery Prince, hoping he would introduce them to the great Fang Xuan. The fairy had floated away, leaving only a back view for everyone, causing great regret and dissatisfaction.
The South Commandery Prince smiled and said, “Madam Fang has already taken a boat southward. I don’t know her whereabouts. Having heard such heavenly music today, what more could you regret?”
She’s already left? Ji Cheng was puzzled upon hearing this. Shen Che, who was out early and back late every day, hadn’t managed to win the beauty? This calls for a drink, a big one.
Although it was a banquet, Ji Cheng always remembered those unspeakable things that happened in the darkness of the last Chrysanthemum Banquet. So after hearing Madam Fang’s flute, she had been sitting with Princess An He. Princess An He also disliked socializing and, after sitting for a short while, led Shen Qian and Ji Cheng to bid farewell.
The hour wasn’t too late yet. Ji Cheng thought that since Madam Fang was leaving, Shen Che would naturally go to see her off. The Nine Li Courtyard would probably be empty, so she could go check the accounts and finish up early.
Who knew that before Ji Cheng could push open the wardrobe door, she saw candlelight shining through the cracks. Shen Che was boiling water to make tea, engrossed in reading, looking quite content. Where was the dejected look of a man whose beloved was leaving?
Ji Cheng quietly took out the account books, too lazy to disturb Shen Che.
Although the two were under the same candlelight, they were “unrelated” to each other, without any communication. Only their shadows cast on the rush mat seemed to lean intimately together.
Ji Cheng hadn’t finished looking at the accounts in her hand when she accidentally caught sight of three new large red boxes in the corner. She couldn’t help but break the silence, “Are those also account books?”
Shen Che looked up at her words, glanced lightly, and replied, “Yes, the accounts from the Northwest have also arrived. You’re capable, so take a look at all of them.”
Ji Cheng’s eyes widened, almost wanting to flip the table. Although she slept little due to insomnia, she couldn’t be ordered around like this, could she? Even a donkey turning a millstone gets to doze off sometimes.
“The Qixi Festival is in a couple of days. Tomorrow night, we need to set up the Qiqiao Tower to worship the stars, and Qian has invited me to release lanterns on the Ying River. I won’t be coming over these two days. If you need them urgently, I can take the account books back to look at,” Ji Cheng said.
“It’s Qixi again?” Shen Che put down the book in his hand and looked into Ji Cheng’s eyes, seeming somewhat emotional.
Being looked at like this by Shen Che, Ji Cheng couldn’t help but recall the events of last year’s Qixi Festival. She had disguised herself as a Persian dancer and danced in front of Shen Che, wearing so little that it barely covered her chest, and her waist was completely exposed. Even remembering it now made Ji Cheng feel ashamed and her face burn. No wonder Shen Che had viewed her as a plaything from the beginning.
Seeing Ji Cheng’s blushing cheeks and avoiding eyes, Shen Che’s lips curled into a smile. He asked, “Are you all wearing the five-colored threads again this year?”
Last year’s Qixi, Ji Cheng’s five-colored thread had inadvertently fallen on Shen Che. Even if Shen Che could foresee everything, he probably couldn’t have predicted that he and Ji Cheng would be entangled to this extent today. Throwing away the five-colored thread back then was truly an inauspicious act.