Shaoshang stood in the corridor with a cold face, taking several deep breaths of the deep winter’s cold air, until her lungs were numb from the cold.
She was very willing to forget her childhood, but after coming to this wretched place, the gossip, finger-pointing, and judgmental looks… the whole damn set came at her again! Having barely fought through the hellish college entrance exam, getting into the best department of a TOP 10 university, plus one high-quality senior she secretly admired—the future had looked promising. Now she had to struggle all over again. The damn heavens truly made no sense!
The more Shaoshang thought about it, the angrier she became. She couldn’t even stay in the corridor anymore. She had Lian Fang drape a thick fur-lined coat on her and strode out of the courtyard forcefully, not permitting a single maid to follow.
Since childhood, when her heart was troubled she loved to be alone, wandering aimlessly. When she was tired from walking, she’d have no energy left to be troubled. At this time, the Cheng manor’s main hall and eastern courtyard were full of sounds of feasting, guests like clouds, servants like shuttles. Shaoshang glanced at it coldly, turned without looking back, and headed toward the western side courtyards.
This estate occupied quite a bit of land. After the Cheng family moved in, they had insufficient manpower and time, so many places still hadn’t been tidied up. For example, this small hillside on the western side—reportedly Old Madam Wan liked quiet and seclusion and had never landscaped it. So when Shaoshang looked out, she saw two or three places with crooked twisted mountain rocks, a small pond frozen over with ice, and over ten old withered trees of indistinguishable species.
With her previous life’s stamina, Shaoshang could probably have tramped over this hillside four or five times. But now, just climbing to the top of this steamed-bun-shaped hill she was already panting like an ox. After struggling to slide back down to the bottom, she shook her legs and shuffled to the pond’s edge, finding a large round rock that was dry and cold to lean on.
Slowly adjusting her sitting posture on the round rock, Shaoshang suddenly recalled an old story she’d read in her previous life—
A newly retired former courtesan rejected for the Nth time the devoted admirer who had pursued her for many years, expressing weariness with the mortal world and having no intention of marrying, then disappeared from human society. Many years later, that devoted admirer encountered the courtesan again and discovered she had married an ordinary husband, borne children, and lived daily among firewood, rice, oil, and salt.
The devoted admirer broke down: Since you were willing to marry, why didn’t you marry me? Your husband isn’t much richer than I am.
The courtesan replied: You can play music and sing, he can’t even read musical notation. You’ve read extensively, he only loves reading magazines and newspapers. You have distinguished bearing, he’s three inches shorter than me. But there’s one advantage—he’d never seen me or heard of me before, so he doesn’t know my past. He only took me as a widowed woman alone, so I married him.
The devoted admirer was dumbfounded: I never minded your past.
The courtesan replied: Not minding is not as good as not knowing. I’m tired and not a strong person. I don’t want to trouble myself over the past anymore.
Shaoshang deeply resonated with this phrase “not minding is not as good as not knowing.” People aren’t that fragile and don’t need so much sympathy and comfort. She could handle things herself—she just didn’t want others to know, that’s all.
So she particularly understood how Yin Xiangzhe could never accept his more noble, beautiful, considerate, and gentle childhood sweetheart, ultimately choosing the silly sweet heroine instead. It wasn’t that the childhood sweetheart wasn’t good, but that he actually didn’t need your understanding gaze, didn’t need your empathetic consolation—he only needed you to have never seen his unpleasant teenage years at all.
During junior and senior high school, Shaoshang had also envied those female classmates who roughhoused, laughed, and went together to the cafeteria and evening self-study. It wasn’t that no girls had extended the small hand of friendship to her, but it was as if there was a strange membrane—no matter what, they couldn’t become good friends.
Instead, in the university dormitory, four female bookworms from all corners of the world with vastly different habits and even not-very-good tempers, going in and out together daily, roughhousing and making up, were actually extremely harmonious.
The fundamental reason was probably that they had never seen Yu Cailing’s wretched childhood.
—But in this strange world, where could she find girls who didn’t know about Cheng Shaoshang’s embarrassing past? Thinking of the good friends she could never see again, Shaoshang felt a wave of gloom and hung her head dejectedly over the hard ice surface.
“…Miss, have you been well since we last met?”
A somewhat familiar clear male voice came. Shaoshang straightened up with a start and slid down from the round rock to stand properly.
She saw a young scholar wearing a sapphire blue brocade curved-hem scholarly robe had somehow walked to the pond’s edge, standing five or six steps away from her. He appeared to be in his early twenties, several inches taller than eldest brother Cheng Yong, with a handsome and slender figure.
Shaoshang’s first feeling was alertness, and she cursed herself inwardly for being confused, not even bringing a single maid.
She couldn’t worry about her sore legs. She performed a proper bow, glanced sideways with her eyes, and said politely: “I don’t know what instruction this young master has?” She thought even if Madam Xiao were here, she couldn’t pick out a single fault in her words and actions.
That young man, seeing Shaoshang’s unfamiliar expression, frowned slightly: “We just met at the lantern festival a few days ago. Miss is a noble person who forgets easily.”
Shaoshang felt a wave of embarrassment. She’d had two romantic encounters at the lantern festival and didn’t know which one this person was. However, losing face was unacceptable. She immediately said: “Though we’ve met, I don’t know the young master’s esteemed surname and great name.”
That young man smiled slightly: “Surname Yuan, given name Shen, courtesy name Shanjian.”
Shaoshang’s heart went “ah.” She raised her head to look and saw this Yuan Shen had handsome elegant features and a refined, cultured, noble temperament. Just standing there alone, he made this desolate hillside seem like a star tower or cloud platform—elegant and refined.
—Eldest Brother Cheng had mentioned this person in his educational sessions these past days. Born into a Jiaodong noble clan, his father was a high regional official in some place. Three years ago, when His Majesty the Emperor first summoned the empire’s great scholars to expound on classics, he was only eighteen. Representing his teacher in debate over classics, he had already gained considerable fame, and was later granted the office of Palace Attendant by the Emperor.
Still using numerical values to measure, this meant Young Master Yuan was born into a second-tier prominent family, his father belonged to the 1.5-tier of important ministers, and he himself had achieved success at a young age—climbing to first-tier cabinet minister in the future was practically guaranteed. Uh, if he didn’t make mistakes.
However, speaking of which, why had he condescended to come to the Cheng family? Could he also be invited by the Wan family?
Shaoshang collected herself and said respectfully: “Young Master Yuan honors us with your presence—the Cheng family’s humble dwelling is graced with brilliance. However, however…” She wasn’t very good at roundabout pleasantries, so could only cut straight to the point. “My father and the others are up ahead!” She thought this handsome guy was probably lost.
“I know.” Yuan Shen smiled in a refined and handsome manner. “I came specifically to find you, miss.” His voice was gentle and slow, his enunciation clear. Especially those two words “specifically”—he deliberately emphasized them, as if striking at your heart.
Shaoshang stopped smiling. Her right hand slowly smoothed down the standing hairs on the back of her left hand inside her sleeve. She looked at him quietly for a while before saying: “Could it be I’ve offended you in some way, young master?”
After that day’s lantern festival, she had long thrown the romantic encounters to the back of her mind. Her experience as a juvenile delinquent had taught her not to be too presumptuous. Tattooed Eyebrow Sister, just because someone let her win two balls at the pool table, had fabricated an entire deeply moving secret love for herself, then spent years degrading herself chasing after boyfriends. Big Sister Boss had used this cautionary tale to educate the younger girls countless times.
Being sentimental harms the body. As a woman, being more unfeeling leads to better health and longevity.
Yuan Shen’s smile grew deeper.
He had secretly investigated the Cheng family and finally decided Miss Cheng the Fourth was the best candidate. Originally he thought if she was an ordinary young lady, even if her temperament was poor, he could add more earnest words and gentle smiles, and would surely move her to help him with his task.
Fortunately, that day at the lantern festival he had specially gone to look at her. With just those few glances, his intuition told him this Miss Cheng the Fourth was definitely not the same as the rumors outside described.
“Why doesn’t the miss first ask why I’m here today?” Yuan Shen spoke in circles. “General Cheng is greatly talented. That day at the Battle of Yiyang…” Before he finished speaking, Shaoshang had already moved diagonally several steps, clearly about to go around him back to the main hall.
Yuan Shen’s figure moved. Without seeming to take more than a few steps, he precisely blocked Shaoshang’s path. At this time he had already put away his relaxed expression and said solemnly: “Miss Shao, isn’t this somewhat rude?”
Shaoshang’s expression was cold as she said: “You and I don’t know each other, and our two families have no prior relationship. For you to block me here, young master—that is what’s rude.”
Actually, the customs of this era weren’t strict about separation between men and women. Not to mention in the countryside where young men and women singing and playing together were commonly seen—even among noble aristocratic families, unmarried couples traveling together, male and female young masters meeting privately at river festivals, were not unheard of.
However, no era would advocate indulgent, licentious, chaotic male-female relations, right? Being cautious was always correct. Moreover, her situation was special—there was still the formidable Director Xiao. If she seized upon Shaoshang’s faults, there’d be another round of lectures.
“Your great name, young master, even someone as uncultured as I have heard of it.” Shaoshang slowly moved back several steps, maintaining a distance of several paces. “If you have something to say, young master, you might as well speak directly. At this time and place with the cold wind howling, this weak young lady cannot bear it. Surely you don’t intend to start from when Pangu separated heaven and earth?”
The corner of Yuan Shen’s mouth curved: “Good, Miss Shao speaks straightforwardly. Then I’ll speak plainly…” He paused before saying, “The miss may not know, but I truly have a matter to request.”
Shaoshang was puzzled: “Request of me?” This person surnamed Yuan far surpassed her in social status, talent, and reputation. What could she possibly help him with? Hmph, a king seeking a bronze player—either treachery or thievery!
“I only ask that the miss convey a message to your third aunt, Madam Sang.” Yuan Shen extended his arms, brushed his sleeves, and bowed to Shaoshang.
Shaoshang was even more puzzled: “My family is not pedantic. If Young Master Yuan has something to say, you can directly visit and speak to my third aunt. Why take such a roundabout path…”
If only it could be that simple. Yuan Shen smiled bitterly: “For reasons not suitable to discuss with outsiders, I cannot speak directly to Madam Sang. Therefore, therefore I can only trouble you, miss. This matter, speaking of it as large is not so large, speaking of it as small…”
“Yes.” Shaoshang suddenly said.
Yuan Shen was startled and said hesitantly: “What did you just say…?”
Shaoshang said simply: “I’ve agreed. What message do you want me to convey? Just tell me.”
Yuan Shen fell silent for a moment. None of this girl’s words and actions matched his predictions. Clearly he was many years older than her, yet there was a feeling of speaking as equals. He had originally come with the smile of an adult amusing a child, but now couldn’t help but become solemn. He said in a clear voice: “Then I thank you very much. Miss, you need only say to Madam Sang: ‘Offering empty words while hoping for sincerity, expecting the Separated Palace south of the city. Climbing the Orchid Terrace to gaze into the distance, my spirit roams restlessly outward. What old friends seek is nothing more than wind’s pause and water’s sound.’ That will suffice.”
The corner of Shaoshang’s mouth twitched. She thought: And this is “will suffice”?!
Yuan Shen, seeing her silent for a long while, pressed: “Does the miss have some difficulty?”
Shaoshang mumbled: “Could, could we remove those poetic lines in front and only say the last sentence?”
Yuan Shen: …
Desolate slope, withered trees, broken mountain rocks.
Cold sun, cold wind, frozen pond.
Yuan Shen felt his knowledge had truly expanded greatly today.
He said expressionlessly: “Those two lines aren’t poetry, they’re from Master Sima’s rhapsody.” And one of the most famous ones at that.
Shaoshang also said expressionlessly: “Young master seems to be requesting my help with something.”
Yuan Shen: …
So, because he was asking a favor, he had to obliterate a scholar’s heart by having his rhapsody called poetry? Was she the reincarnation of Zhao Gao?!
Yuan Shen closed his eyes. He thought why was he getting angry with a young lady who hadn’t even read many volumes of books, and then said: “Fine. Miss, just convey ‘An old friend is concerned, only seeking a few words for peace of mind.’ That will suffice.”
Shaoshang nodded and also bowed to Yuan Shen, then went around him and walked back quickly, extremely decisive and efficient.
Yuan Shen turned to watch, gazing at the girl’s retreating figure for a long time.
When he had just arrived here, he had only seen that girl curled into a tiny ball, sitting on the round rock hanging her head dejectedly, like a little quail drenched by rain with nowhere to go, feathers sparse and scattered, extremely pitiful. Who knew that upon hearing someone approaching, she immediately erected all her defensive quills, full of vigilance and wariness. In an instant, the quail had turned into a hedgehog.
Since he was fourteen years old, young ladies who met him either blushed shyly or showed appreciation and praise. There were also those who deliberately did strange or proud things to attract his attention. But like Cheng Shaoshang, with completely genuine suspicion and fear, not put on at all, even hastily running away—this was truly the first time in his life.
However, Yuan Shen would soon know that his understanding of Miss Cheng the Fourth was still very shallow.
That’s right, because someone had absolutely no intention of keeping her promise.