Shen Che lowered his eyelids, ignoring Chu De’s meddling.
From the mountaintop, Shen Che’s keen eyes could observe everything happening in the Nine Li Courtyard. When that figure in imperial concubine red emerged from Woyun Hall, Shen Che immediately sat up straight.
Ji Cheng was going to pay her respects to the Old Madam, and she had, unprecedentedly, worn an imperial concubine red dress. Except for wearing bright red on her wedding day, Ji Cheng had probably only worn such a vibrant red color when she was an infant, unable to make her own choices.
The imperial concubine’s red dress made Ji Cheng’s face appear rosier. She had been ill for several days, and just two days ago, she couldn’t even leave her bed. No one had expected her to recover her spirits so quickly.
The Old Madam was quite surprised when she saw Ji Cheng. “Child, why didn’t you rest for a few more days after being ill?”
Ji Cheng smiled and said, “It was just heatstroke, not a serious illness. It came quickly and left quickly too.”
Seeing Ji Cheng’s rosy complexion, the Old Madam felt more at ease. “It’s good that you’re better. This household can hardly function without you. When you fell ill, many things fell into disarray.”
Due to the many guests in the house, when Ji Cheng fell ill, the servants couldn’t make decisions on thorny issues, which indeed led to some minor slip-ups. However, it wasn’t anything major, as they had learned the proper procedures from working with Ji Cheng for so long.
Ji Cheng knew she didn’t have the luxury of being sick. Only pampered young ladies had the privilege of lying in bed and using illness as an excuse to be spoiled. As for her? She had to shoulder everything herself, with no one to help her. If she had inconsiderately stayed in bed for a few more days, although the Old Madam would understand she was ill, she would undoubtedly be displeased by the additional troubles that arose.
This illness made Ji Cheng think through many things. She couldn’t divorce Shen Che. Wasn’t her initial goal to marry into a noble family? She had almost forgotten her original intention. For a divorced woman like her, with good looks and considerable wealth, she would likely be targeted the moment she left the Shen family’s door. Ji Cheng had no qualifications for divorce.
Ji Cheng didn’t know why she had been so delicate these past few days. It was just Shen Che’s cold treatment, yet she had felt so wronged that she wanted a divorce. She must have lost her mind.
Now that Ji Cheng understood her situation clearly, she could only try to please the Old Madam more. She hoped that her obedience and understanding would earn her the Old Madam’s support if things changed in the future.
As Ji Cheng was conversing with the Old Madam, she heard the curtain-lifting maid announce, “Second Young Master.”
Ji Cheng and the Old Madam both turned their heads to look.
Shen Che entered from outside, wearing a long robe of blue with auspicious cloud and longevity patterns, making him appear even more handsome and elegant. Ji Cheng thought of her sickly appearance, which she had to conceal with rouge and clothing, and the comparison made her situation even clearer.
Shen Che’s gaze fell on Ji Cheng briefly before sweeping past her, as if she were merely a piece of furniture in the room.
The Old Madam, upon seeing Shen Che, asked, “Have you eaten?”
Shen Che’s peripheral vision caught Ji Cheng standing obediently beside the Old Madam, her eyes lowered, showing no emotion.
“I’ve eaten. I just came to inform Great-Grandmother that I’ll be away for a few days, so I won’t be able to pay my respects,” Shen Che said.
The Old Madam nodded, “Where are you going? Have you chosen your attendants?”
“I’ve made plans with some friends to travel south for a while,” Shen Che replied.
“What about your duties at the ministry?” the Old Madam inquired further.
Shen Che smiled, “It’s just a matter of showing up. I’ll have someone inform Minister Hu. I don’t like staying at the Court of Judicial Review anyway. Perhaps I’ll speak to my Imperial Uncle about getting a nominal position in the Imperial Household Department instead.”
Unable to manage Shen Che’s affairs, the Old Madam didn’t say much more, only expressing a few words of concern before turning to Ji Cheng, “Ah Che is going on a trip. Go back and pack his luggage for him.”
The “wooden stake” Ji Cheng finally raised her head and responded, “I’ll go right away.”
Shen Che stared at Ji Cheng’s retreating figure for several moments. In the past, even when he entered a room and appeared not to look at Ji Cheng, her every move would not escape his notice. But never before had she looked at him only once before lowering her head like today.
Meanwhile, Ji Cheng returned to the Nine Li Courtyard and instructed Nishan to pack Shen Che’s luggage. Shen Che’s daily needs had never been her responsibility, and she hadn’t thought about crossing that line.
When Chu De was intercepted by Shen Che and given one hour to prepare for the trip south, he immediately started cursing Shen Che’s inconsiderate behavior.
“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t interfere? Didn’t you say you weren’t interested? Do you have any conscience? I just managed to pacify Little Nine last night, and now you’re here to separate us again!” If Chu De could overpower Shen Che, he would make him kneel and beg for forgiveness.
Shen Che merely replied coolly, “Your Little Nine has too bad a temper. Come on, this time I’ll take you to find a Little Ten to marry.”
Chu De thought to himself that his Ninth Concubine had indeed become a bit overbearing lately, and taking a Little Ten would be nice and fresh.
On the way out of the city, Chu De rode his horse alongside Shen Che and said, “You know to advise me to take a Little Ten, why don’t you advise yourself to take a Second or Third Wife?”
Shen Che turned his head to look at Chu De and said, “You know very well that I’m impotent.”
Chu De was completely bewildered. In this world, probably only Shen Che could say the words “I’m impotent” so matter-of-factly and shamelessly.
Shen Che had barely been gone from the Shen residence for two days when Li Rui cried out that her belly was hurting. After a day and night of labor, she gave birth to a daughter, nearly suffering from postpartum hemorrhage.
Perhaps moved by compassion due to her dangerous delivery, Shen Jing moved his bedding back to the east wing room. Of course, the couple didn’t share a bed, but because of the little girl, Yuer, the relationship between husband and wife became more harmonious, and they gradually began to have things to talk about.
Ji Cheng knew about these developments because the Old Madam often went to the Third Branch to see Yuer. Although she didn’t like her daughter-in-law Ji Lan, she couldn’t get enough of the chubby little girl.
Ji Cheng watched as the Old Madam used a jade pendant to entertain Yuer. It was a high-quality Hetian jade carved with a double fish pattern, which the Old Madam loved and often wore. Now that she was using it to amuse Yuer, it was clear she intended to give it to the little girl. Li Rui sat on the bed with her chin held high. Although she was quite depressed about not having given birth to a son, which also displeased her mother-in-law, seeing how much the Old Madam adored Yuer made Li Rui’s tail rise again.
Although Ji Cheng didn’t like Li Rui, she had to admit that Yuer was truly beautiful. Her face was white and tender, so plump that one couldn’t help but want to take a bite. Perhaps it was because she had reached that age, but Ji Cheng could hardly take her eyes off Yuer. She couldn’t help but think that if she and Shen Che could have a child, it would surely be as adorable and fair as Yuer.
Thinking of this, Ji Cheng couldn’t help but look down on herself again. She had already made up her mind to let go, but every time something happened, she couldn’t help but think of him.
Ji Cheng let out a soft sigh. The Old Madam glanced at her, also sighing inwardly. She couldn’t understand what Shen Che was thinking either. Every time she asked him, he would change the subject, and eventually, he simply avoided going to Ruiying Hall altogether.
As June passed, the Qixi Festival of the Magpie Bridge meeting was approaching. Now that all the eligible young ladies in the Shen family were either married or engaged, the Qixi Festival wasn’t as lively as before, and there were no more requests for skills or five-colored threads. However, the maids downstairs were very enthusiastic. Yuqian had even dragged Liuye to the garden to catch weaving maidens, just to seek a good omen.
Ji Cheng sat on the couch, having already threaded several dozen five-colored threads. She didn’t know what had come over her, but she just couldn’t stop herself from threading the five-colored threads. In previous years as a young lady, she hadn’t had this kind of patience, but this year, sitting alone, she had produced these useless things.
Last year’s Qixi Festival wasn’t exactly a beautiful memory. Shen Che had disappeared for a night with Zha Yina, but Ji Cheng still remembered the river lantern he had released, and she also remembered waking up the next day with her sleeve fastened by the five-colored threads.
Thinking of this, Ji Cheng felt heartache again, and she began to pull out the threaded five-colored threads one by one from the needle holes.
But when had Shen Che ever cared about five-colored threads? He had just gone on a trip and already attracted another Nanzhao Princess. Recently, this romantic gossip had been spreading like wildfire in the capital.
That Nanzhao Princess was even more direct than Zha Yina had been. It was said that she had fallen in love with Shen Che at first sight, and then followed him around wherever he went.
Indeed, they were barbarians with no sense of propriety or shame, Ji Cheng thought. She rarely judged people so harshly, but after all, she was jealous in her heart, both envying and resenting the Nanzhao Princess’s courage and directness. Sometimes she hated herself for not being able to lower her head.
Rumors said that the Nanzhao Princess was as beautiful as a celestial maiden, and this time she had come to the capital with the Nanzhao envoy for a political marriage. However, Emperor Jianping was no longer able to be intimate with beauties, so he planned to choose a son from the imperial clan for the marriage. Although Shen Che’s surname wasn’t Chu, he had royal blood, and he was Emperor Jianping’s most favored and trusted nephew. A marriage alliance with the Nanzhao Princess would be suitable, but unfortunately, Shen Che was already married, and although Nanzhao was a small country, their princess wouldn’t become someone’s concubine.
Therefore, in the past two days, Ji Cheng had heard that people were starting to worry about her, after all, as a merchant’s daughter, she was indeed not a match for Shen Che. Even though Shen Che was a frivolous playboy, his handsome appearance was too good. The young ladies and young married women in the capital despised him on the one hand, but on the other hand, they couldn’t help but look at him and think about him.
Although Ji Cheng wasn’t too worried about losing her position, after all, the Shen family wasn’t the kind to divorce a wife and remarry, she still felt upset because of those rumors.
On the night of the Qixi Festival, the sky was full of stars, and truly beautiful weather. Although Ji Cheng didn’t go out, standing on the hilltop of the Nine Li Courtyard and looking out towards the garden, she felt that the lights of the capital were brilliant and bright, and she seemed to hear the bustling sounds from the banks of the Ying River.
Tonight, who knows how many river lanterns carrying emotions and hopes will be released into the water, and who knows if Shen Che will accompany the Nanzhao Princess to release lanterns? Although Ji Cheng didn’t allow herself to think wildly like this, she couldn’t help it.
Although others mocked the Nanzhao Princess for her shamelessness, Ji Cheng knew that with Shen Che’s abilities, if he didn’t want the Nanzhao Princess to follow him, the princess probably couldn’t even touch his shadow.
The gloom in her heart only made her look haggard. Unable to sleep, Ji Cheng took her Light Snow Sword and went to the sword-dancing platform on the hilltop.
By now, the Light Snow Sword in Ji Cheng’s hand was as easy to use as her arm. During the three years, she had mourned for Cloud Mother, although she hated Shen Che, she truly loved that Light Snow Sword. She practiced with Light Snow every day, especially loving the snow-like cold light in the sword’s aura.
Ji Cheng’s sword dance in the past was leisurely and self-entertaining, light as snow. But today, that sword aura seemed to contain killing intent. The snow was no longer as light as flying flowers, but rather a great display of cold light. Although the Qixi Festival was at the end of summer, Ji Cheng’s dance had brought out the biting cold of winter.
After one dance, not only was her mood not relieved, but it became even more tangled. Ji Cheng, panting heavily, used the sword sheath to support her body, wanting to dance another piece, but she had no strength left. Her arms were so sore she couldn’t lift them, just like her current situation, having no strength to cheer up.
After a long while, Ji Cheng finally straightened up. As she turned to the side, she saw Shen Che standing under a tree not far away, watching her.
Ji Cheng’s nose tingled. Hadn’t he gone out tonight?
Neither of them spoke. Although the starlight was bright, the shadows of the trees obscured Shen Che’s expression. Ji Cheng couldn’t see clearly and couldn’t help but walk a few steps forward.
Ji Cheng stopped three feet away from Shen Che. She looked up at him slightly, and blinked her eyes, her emotions surging. She had too many things she wanted to say but didn’t know where to start. After hesitating for a while, seeing that he was still waiting, she finally found three parts courage.
Just as she was about to speak, a mischievous evening breeze brought a faint sweet scent of rouge to Ji Cheng’s nose. It was a very pleasant fragrance, and the girl who used such a scent must not be a vulgar person.
The words Ji Cheng was about to say were extinguished by this rouge fragrance. She had lost her courage and her interest.
Perhaps because today was supposed to be a sweet day for lovers to meet, such a contrast made people lose their calm. Ji Cheng didn’t speak again, nor did she linger. She brushed past Shen Che and went down the mountain.
Shen Che didn’t try to keep her. Only after Ji Cheng left did he curl his lips in a self-mocking smile. How could someone without a bit of love in their heart lower their head?
Shen Che looked up at the sky, then went straight down the mountain and out the door towards the bustling Ying River.
By this time, most of the people on the banks of the Ying River had already left. Shen Che gently placed a lotus lantern into the water with his left palm, using his hand to push it towards the center of the river to prevent it from getting stranded downstream on the bank later.