In the depths of the secluded alley, Yuan Shen stood for a while longer until the boy and driver came to urge him before slowly boarding the carriage. After another bumpy ride, he returned to Jinyang Ward where the wealthy clans gathered. It was already mealtime with cooking smoke rising.

The Yuan residence was an ancient dwelling built over several generations. Over ten giant trees arranged according to stellar positions had long grown into towering ancient trees. Their vigorous branches covered in thick snow blanketed the entire residence in all directions, making it vast and profound.

When young Yuan Shen walked here, even with old servants carrying lanterns ahead, he often felt afraid. But his mother told him: In this world, things won’t avoid you just because you fear them. The moon is hard to make full, people are hard to make whole—you must learn to get used to the ways of the world.

Now, he would never be afraid again.

Returning to his quarters, a kindly-looking old woman came forward, smiling: “Young master has finally returned. Going out so early in the morning, aren’t you afraid of catching cold?” As she spoke, she directed the maids to attend Yuan Shen in changing clothes and using hot soup.

“What is Mother doing?” Yuan Shen warmed his hands with a steaming hot towel before asking.

The old woman was slightly surprised and answered: “Madam is still burning incense in prayer. Does young master need Madam for something?” This mother and son ordinarily only saw each other once every three to five days.

Yuan Shen’s movements paused as he said: “Tell Mother not to tire herself too much—she should rest earlier.”

It wasn’t really anything. He just wanted to tell his mother that recently he had encountered a young girl. They’d met only three times in total, yet two of those times ended with her fleeing in disarray.

He also wanted to tell his mother that from the first meeting, he felt he and that young girl were very similar. Even amid brilliant lights and human reunions, they still preferred to follow behind the crowd, still walked alone in solitude. At the slightest disturbance, their first response was cautious self-preservation, suspecting others’ intentions. Without confidence in a safe retreat, they would never lightly venture into dangerous ground.

Yuan Shen leaned back against the hidden cushion, placed another scalding towel over his face, and thought with a smile—this time she should obediently pass on the message.

…

This time, a certain person didn’t guess wrong. Shaoshang no longer dared delay.

If this matter had befallen Roommate Leader Blog Sister—that model girl who had grown up as class monitor, excellent student, and Youth League branch secretary—she would probably be indignant: “By what right do you order me to do this and that, by what right do you threaten me?” However, Shaoshang, this apprentice bad girl, thought otherwise. Did people need reasons to bully you? Even socialist small towns were like this, let alone this feudal society.

She had been able to muddle through in shady areas for so long without any critical leverage being held against her precisely because she knew when to be firm and when to be soft. When sensing things weren’t right, she’d turn and run. Distinguishing which people could be provoked and which couldn’t—this was how she could smoothly reform. Unlike Snot Girl, whose head got hot and she was really fooled into acting as lookout during a theft. If her parents hadn’t later washed dishes abroad and developed a small restaurant so they could bring her over, who knows how long she would have been entangled.

Upon returning to the residence, Shaoshang didn’t even drink water before hurrying to Sang Shi’s room. She saw Sang Shi holding a small silver knife, trimming and shaving Cheng Zhi’s beard. Beside them sat a basin of hot water and soap cream, plus a jar of moisturizing face cream. As the silver blade moved, the old married couple spoke sweet nothings, finding amusement in their sickliness.

One said: Madam, when your fingertips touch my face, they’re truly as tender as spring branch flower buds.

The other said: If you keep smiling, keep smiling, I’m going to cut your face! Then Jun Gu will cry down the city walls!

The first said again: Every part of my body belongs to Madam. Forget shaving—if Madam wanted to embroider flowers on it, that would be fine too. This humble servant is entirely at your command…

Shaoshang felt extremely nauseated and turned to leave. Thinking of Yuan Shen, that debt collector, afraid he’d concoct some new scheme if there was no news in the next moment, she could only steel herself and turn back. This time she made heavy footsteps, startling the middle-aged lovebirds inside.

—”I have words to speak with Third Aunt. I ask Third Uncle to temporarily withdraw.” Her face was completely serious.

Cheng Zhi grabbed a hot towel to cover his face, saying irritably: “Withdraw what! Can’t you see your elders are busy? Whatever important matter it is, can’t it wait till later?” This dead girl with no sense of timing!

Sang Shi smiled and poked her husband’s forehead, then intimately pulled Shaoshang over: “Don’t mind him. Niaoniao, whatever it is, speak.”

Shaoshang kept shaking her head, insisting Cheng Zhi withdraw. Cheng Zhi couldn’t prevail over his niece and was about to leave, but Sang Shi held him back, saying: “Niaoniao, go ahead and speak. There’s nothing of mine your uncle doesn’t know.” She had already guessed a few points.

“You really want me to say? Fine, I’ll say it!” Seeing Sang Shi completely unperturbed, Shaoshang thought it would be even better not to hide things from Third Uncle, so she said: “Recently someone called Yuan Shen found me and told me to pass a message to Third Aunt. He recited some messy rhapsody that I didn’t memorize. In any case, the meaning was that an old friend is concerned about you and requests just a word or two.”

She finished in one breath and quickly stared at Sang Shi’s expression. Who knew Sang Shi looked completely bewildered: “Yuan Shen? Yuan Shangjian? Isn’t that the eldest young master of the Jiaodong Yuan clan? Apart from that day’s banquet, I’ve never met him!” She thought it was someone else.

Instead, Cheng Zhi struck his palm: “Oh, I remember now! Isn’t this Yuan Shangjian that young disciple he took in that year? Didn’t he even run to your brother to boast a bit, saying something about beautiful jade and fine talent?”

Sang Shi made a sound of understanding and said with relief: “So it’s him.” She turned back to ask Shaoshang: “Then what? What does he want to do?”

Shaoshang spat blood: “Didn’t I say? An old friend is concerned and only requests a word or two… Well, actually I don’t know what he wants to do either. That Yuan fellow just told me to pass on this message—nothing else beyond that…” Ancient people are really annoying—couldn’t they speak more clearly?

Sang Shi said doubtfully: “Just a word or two—what word or two? I haven’t seen him in over ten years… Ah… I remember now.” She turned toward her husband: “Didn’t we encounter him on our way back to the capital… Oh, I know what he means.”

Speaking thus, she drew out a wooden slip from the writing desk and wrote in elegant small characters on it: “Cough illness has healed, no need for concern”—six graceful small characters. She casually handed it to Cheng Zhi, saying: “Have someone send this over.”

Cheng Zhi took it and looked, then laughed: “So it was this matter—your memory! At the time he chattered endlessly, and you said to tell him once you’d recovered.” He didn’t say much else and went out to order someone.

Shaoshang grabbed Sang Shi, exclaiming in shock: “That’s it?!” Six characters solved the problem, yet she had tangled with that Yuan fellow for so long, nearly causing a bloodbath! “You didn’t even write a greeting or signature!”—that way she could have peeked to see who it was written to.

Sang Shi said with a smile: “He recognizes my handwriting—no need to write it.”

Shaoshang weakly supported her knees, crouching on the plush cushion like a dazed little frog.

She looked resentfully at Sang Shi: “Third Aunt, won’t you tell me the story behind this?” For example, what that person’s surname and given name were, how your romantic entanglement developed, and so on…?

Sang Shi picked up that small silver knife and tested the blade edge with her fingertip: “It’s a long story.”

Shaoshang refused to give up: “We can speak slowly!”

Sang Shi glared: “When people say those four words ‘it’s a long story,’ the meaning is they don’t want to talk about it.”

“Then I won’t ask.” Shaoshang was helpless. She knew Sang Shi seemed easygoing but had very firm opinions, so she could only settle for second best: “However, Third Aunt can at least tell me—why didn’t that Yuan fellow come directly to find you to speak, instead taking such a roundabout path?”

Hearing these words, Sang Shi stopped the small silver knife in her hand. After pondering for a long time, she smiled bitterly: “…Because I once said to someone, ‘In the future, whether it’s you yourself, or your relatives, friends, disciples, or students—none of you should come see me or send letters or gifts to me.’ Just youthful words spoken in anger, but that person was stubborn and agreed.”

Shaoshang fell silent, thinking to herself that her speculation was correct—indeed it was melodramatic peach blossom romance.

Seeing her long silent, Sang Shi asked with a smile: “What’s wrong with you? We’re talking about my affairs, yet you have this gloomy appearance.”

Shaoshang shook her head: “I think Third Aunt’s words were very thorough—they almost completely sealed off all paths that person could use to come find you to plead their case.”

These words at first hearing were just ordinary angry words, but thinking carefully, they truly cut off all methods of directly contacting Sang Shi.

Also, because it involved old romantic ties, those who knew about it back then might not be willing to pass messages—like Sang Shi’s brother. As for other Cheng family members, Yuan Shen obviously also didn’t want his teacher’s private affairs known to everyone. The message-bearer needed to be intimate with Sang Shi yet not too unreservedly close with the Cheng family members—didn’t it just fall to herself?

Actually, she wasn’t the most suitable candidate either. If Cheng Wei were older, mother-daughter message-passing would be more appropriate. Unfortunately, Cheng Wei was too young—accidentally creating more problems than solutions would be terrible.

Sang Shi hadn’t expected Shaoshang to say this. For a moment she felt melancholy, thinking to herself that in a woman’s life, having no opportunity to say such words was the real blessing. The aunt and niece were silent for a moment before Sang Shi suddenly remembered something and became spirited again: “Right—how did you encounter that Yuan Shangjian, where did you meet him, when?”

Shaoshang wasn’t surprised by this string of questions. She sighed: “This matter is also ‘a long story.'”

Sang Shi glared at her. Shaoshang looked back innocently. The two faced each other for a while before both laughed.

Sang Shi shook her head: “You don’t have to tell me. But when your mother asks later, you’d better think up a good excuse. Your mother seems not to be managing you, but there’s no one you’ve seen or place you’ve gone that she doesn’t know about.”

Shaoshang said profoundly: “Not so, not so. As long as Third Aunt doesn’t speak, no one should know that Yuan fellow asked me to pass a message.”

How clever was Sang Shi? She immediately pressed: “You two met privately?” Her face couldn’t help but float with suspicious color.

Shaoshang feared this most and hurriedly cupped her hands pleading: “Don’t guess randomly, don’t think wildly—there’s nothing at all. If Third Aunt doesn’t believe me, I can make an oath—look, heaven above, earth below, if I have private affairs with that Yuan Shen, then let me…”

“Stop, stop!” Sang Shi hurriedly blocked her, one hand gently patting Shaoshang’s mouth. “Little nemesis! Can oaths be made carelessly? Even if there were something, what of it? Mutual admiration between men and women is human nature. As long as propriety is maintained…” Seeing Shaoshang about to become anxious and angry again, she hurried to say: “Fine, fine, fine—I believe you, I believe you, isn’t that enough?!”

Shaoshang glared threatening at Sang Shi for a long time, then said indignantly: “Uncle also mustn’t speak, otherwise I’ll never pay attention to you again! Speaking of it, I only got implicated because of Third Aunt!”

Who knew Sang Shi’s thought process was different from others: “Sitting at home, disaster falls from the sky. In life, unless one has no relatives or friends and is utterly alone, no one can guarantee against being implicated. What matters is how you respond after being implicated…” Her eyes swept sidelong as she smiled: “From what I can see now, your response wasn’t very good—did someone catch you with a weakness?”

Shaoshang was questioned until her face turned greenish. She dejectedly admitted: “That’s right. I was careless for a moment and made a mistake. Originally it was entirely that Yuan fellow’s fault, but because I promised then went back on my word, it became that I was also at fault. Therefore, I plan to cut the Gordian knot and quickly conclude and settle it.” In summary, it was still because she kept thinking of herself as Yu Cailing.

Sang Shi smiled slightly. Shaoshang probably didn’t know she was naturally born with an appearance that made people want to tease and ruffle her.

Seeing Sang Shi not speaking, Shaoshang hurried to say: “Third Aunt, you absolutely cannot speak of this, and neither can Uncle.”

Sang Shi gave her full assurance: “Good, good, good—I absolutely won’t speak. If your uncle dares to speak, I’ll drive him out of the room!” Shaoshang wasn’t an affected person. Hearing her speak so absolutely, Sang Shi truly believed there was nothing else between the two.

Over the next several days, Shaoshang held her breath in concentration, strictly on guard to prevent Madam Xiao from coming to inquire. Who knew no one came to ask her at all?! She was puzzled—had the tigress dozed off? However, it wasn’t entirely without abnormalities—

These past days, Madam Xiao would occasionally look at her face and figure with worried eyes, making Shaoshang’s whole body bristle with unease.

Cheng Shi looked at her with increasingly proud eyes, like that year when Grandmother’s back garden radishes won first place at the town vegetable fair.

Most bizarre was eldest brother Cheng Yong—such an upright person, yet recently upon seeing Shaoshang he showed some evasive expression. She had wanted to inquire about who exactly Yuan Shen’s teacher was but never got her wish.

What she didn’t know was that Madam Xiao already knew about the charcoal-gifting matter that very night. She knew even less that although no one knew about her meeting Yuan Shen in the alley, although she and Yuan Shen had both restrained their words and actions, the discernment of seasoned old servants was sharper than they imagined—

That evening after dinner, Cheng Shi held two volumes of court political discussions recorded by Wan Songbai’s household guests, slowly explaining them to his eldest son. Madam Xiao sat high in the seat of honor in the adjacent room, inquiring of the two old warehouse managers how Cheng Yang had conducted affairs. Who knew that as they spoke, they actually brought up Yuan Shen, directly drawing over the Cheng father and son.

“…They only spoke these few sentences?” Madam Xiao frowned.

The deputy manager said: “This old servant never left for even a step. The young lady and Young Master Yuan only spoke these few sentences—nothing else beyond that.”

Madam Xiao’s gaze turned toward her son. Cheng Yong hurried to say: “Not a bit wrong. Your son did discuss rhapsodies with Yuan Shangjian and also mentioned this matter to Niaoniao.” Actually he’d only casually mentioned it once or twice.

“What about Yangyang?” Madam Xiao said hesitantly. “She didn’t see Young Master Yuan?”

The deputy manager shook his head saying “never saw him.” The head manager beside him hurriedly smiled and added: “At that time, wasn’t Third Miss in the back warehouse inventorying goods with this old servant?”

Hearing this, Madam Xiao felt somewhat disappointed.

Cheng Yong’s heart gave a thump as he silently cursed himself for jinxing things—whatever one feared came to pass.

He hurried to say: “Niaoniao’s words and conduct were proper—this is very good. If there’s nothing else, you two old sirs should also go back and rest.” These two were both old soldiers who had followed his parents for many years. Steady people, they’d been injured in battle and only then went to manage the warehouse.

The two servants were about to take their leave when Madam Xiao glimpsed the deputy manager’s eyes carrying a smile, his expression hesitant as if wanting to speak. After thinking for a moment, she let the head manager leave first and kept the deputy manager.

“If you have something to say, speak directly.” Madam Xiao said. “Is there something improper?”

The deputy manager shook his head: “The young lady had nothing improper—her speech was appropriate. However, that Young Master Yuan…” He couldn’t help but smile slightly. “He looked at our young lady several times.”

He had also seen the world. For a well-bred clan young master like Yuan Shen who was self-possessed and proper, in a situation without elders introducing them, upon first meeting a young girl, after face-to-face greetings if there was further conversation, the normal practice was to fix one’s gaze several feet ahead.

Yuan Shen’s attitude was warm. He nodded and smiled at the servants, but the old servant noticed he mostly rested his gaze on their own young lady (actually watching Shaoshang’s reactions). After the young lady said “it’s rhapsodies, not poetry,” he even smiled like spring wind brushing one’s face. That genuine aura of pleasure radiating forth truly didn’t seem like mere courtesy.

Cheng father and son and Madam Xiao finished listening, their expressions varied.

“Our young lady is likable,” the deputy manager said with a beaming smile, like an old grandfather proud of his pretty little granddaughter receiving others’ favor.

Madam Xiao forced a smile: “Just know about this matter yourself—don’t let others know.”

The deputy manager hurriedly put away his smile, clasped his military fist salute, and replied solemnly: “This old servant knows the young lady’s reputation is important and will absolutely not speak further.” When one family’s daughter is sought by a hundred families, since their own young lady’s future marriage had no set arrangement yet, there mustn’t be gossip.

After saying this sentence, he bowed and withdrew.

Cheng Shi pretended to be reserved as he stroked his beard, just wanting to boast a few words, but glimpsing his wife’s brow furrowed like a knot, he said: “What’s with this appearance of yours? Don’t blame Niaoniao again. Yangyang was inventorying goods—it’s not like Niaoniao prevented her from meeting that Yuan Shangjian!”

Madam Xiao weakly let out a breath. Now she could see the aftereffects of the writing desk incident. Whenever she showed the slightest displeasure toward her daughter, her husband and son would suspect she was being biased again. She lightly scolded her husband: “What nonsense are you talking! How could I think such a thing?!” If she said there was no regret for Cheng Yang, that would be untrue, but sometimes this was just fate.

Cheng Shi said proudly: “Young people, what with admiring this and desiring that… Hey, Yong’er, how does that saying go?”

Cheng Yong said with a bitter face: “Knowing to admire beauty and desire youth.”

“Right, that’s the one.” Cheng Shi slapped his thigh. “Alright, you should go back too. Don’t tell Niaoniao about today’s matter—don’t let the child think wildly.”

Cheng Yong acknowledged, bowed to his parents, and withdrew.

Cheng Shi saw his son leave, then turned to his wife and said: “What’s there to fret about in this? If that Yuan Shen truly takes a fancy to Niaoniao and comes to the door seeking marriage, we’ll just agree. Didn’t you have me inquire about his character these past days? He doesn’t lust after women or indulge in drink, isn’t impetuous or wild, conducts himself very properly, and is quite favored by His Majesty. In the future… he might even rank among the Three Dukes… I think he’s quite good. Alas, it’s more that we’re not worthy of the Jiaodong Yuan clan’s noble purity.”

Speaking to this point, he sighed: “I estimate they just saw Niaoniao is beautiful and looked a couple extra times. Don’t think too much.”

Having walked official circles for many years, he deeply knew these aristocratic clan marriages—unless like the late Old Madam Wan and the deceased Duke Wan, who truly loved each other inseparably—otherwise mostly matched status and background. To speak unpleasantly, if this world hadn’t fallen into great chaos, giving them these grassroots heroes an opportunity, the Yuan and Cheng family backgrounds would be as different as clouds and mud.

Madam Xiao suddenly said: “I will never let Niaoniao become someone’s concubine.” No matter how noble the family gate, she was unwilling.

Cheng Shi was startled: “What have you been thinking about—so it’s this! Didn’t we agree on this long ago? We’d rather the family status be lower as long as Niaoniao can live smoothly and comfortably.” No matter what, he could still protect his daughter.

Only then did Madam Xiao reveal a smile. Immediately after, she said loudly: “Sir, don’t belittle yourself! What worthy or unworthy—along our entire journey, we never oppressed the common people, never killed good people to claim false merit. We protected the local elders, remained loyal to His Majesty in quelling rebellion, fought our way through with our own abilities—looking up and down we’re worthy of heaven and earth. What is there to pity ourselves for! Are aristocratic clans eternally unchanging? Those who followed the tyrannical emperor in evil deeds, those who followed the wrong usurper—even if not exterminated, they’re gasping their last breath. And those who wanted to preserve themselves wisely but were harmed by the calamity of war—they only have these few years left. If their clan can’t produce children capable of turning things around, how can they still be called worthy in the future?!”

“Well said!” Cheng Shi loudly praised, his fan-like large hands gripping his wife’s shoulders, embracing her. He was full of gratitude and pride. “Having you as my wife—what more could a husband ask!”

Tears glimmered in Madam Xiao’s eyes. She thought to herself: She was the one who was truly blessed.