Lady Yin was completely different from her younger sister. Though young, she was eloquent and well-spoken, treating everyone thoroughly and being very warm toward the young girls. She not only introduced the garden plants with wonderful phrases, but also had servants set up soft pavilions in the garden and arrange tables with food and drink. Before long, the girls were all talking and laughing. Even Cheng Yang, after Lady Yin’s continuous gentle consoling, gradually let go of her resentment.

Only Shaoshang remained gloomy, becoming even more disgusted by this lively atmosphere. Taking advantage of Lady Yin attending to everyone around her, she quietly slipped away.

Actually, she quite envied Cheng Yang’s character—always able to easily endure and forgive. Probably all the elders under heaven would like children like Cheng Yang. Unlike herself—she would forever remember the grievances she’d suffered and would never lightly forgive those who had hurt her.

Honestly speaking, compared to before, she had already become much more magnanimous, alright? When she was small, even if someone threw a paper ball at her head, she would pry open their collar and toss a spider inside as retaliation. But now she no longer thought of revenge at every turn, because she had learned to ignore and joke about things.

Shaoshang sighed. She didn’t know the Yin family well. To avoid getting lost and unable to return, she could only walk slowly along a small stream with her head lowered, trampling withered grass and flattening dirt clumps. With her head hanging down, she didn’t know how long she’d walked when she suddenly saw a cluster of rocks carved into the form of a barrier and flowing water.

In front of the rocks, facing the stream, stood with his back to her a young man in brocade and fine robes. The person was looking down at the thawing stream water, lost in thought. Hearing movement behind him, he turned his head.

When the two saw each other, they were immediately dumbstruck. Shaoshang froze: This debt collector again!

Today Yuan Shen wore a white jade crown and a snow-white beast fur-trimmed light blue brocade curved-hem deep robe, making him appear even more tall and jade-like, modest and refined. Upon seeing it was Shaoshang, he smiled. Truly his features were carved like jade, his bright teeth polished like gems.

Shaoshang steadied herself, thinking—the message had been passed, Sang Shi had replied, the two of them should have no grievances now. This time she must speak properly and absolutely must not create enmity again. So she raised her arms in a bow, her face full of smiles: “Truly in life, where does one not—”

“Why are you dressed like an old woman today?” Yuan Shen frowned.

She wanted to be kind to people, but who knew he refused to be a proper, well-behaved handsome man and insisted on not taking the usual path. Shaoshang glared, a breath stuck in her throat. She forced it out: “—None of your business!”

Yuan Shen looked at the girl’s full-length ochre stone-colored curved-hem deep robe today, embroidered with dark red silk thread in a curved-neck dark bird pattern—yet even such old and somber colors worn on Shaoshang only set off her skin like snow and jade, her eyebrows thick and emerald, her eyes brimming with sparkle.

He deliberately frowned: “Even my foster mother doesn’t wear this color anymore.”

Shaoshang said angrily: “What does it have to do with your foster mother!”

Yuan Shen ignored her anger and continued: “My teacher has already received Madam Sang’s letter…”

Shaoshang didn’t think before responding, continuing to retort: “What does it have to do with your teacher!… Huh?”

Yuan Shen laughed so hard his shoulders shook.

Shaoshang’s face reddened. Unhappy, she said: “If you’re going to thank someone, thank them properly—why start by saying such infuriating words!”

Yuan Shen suppressed his laughter and made a proper bow: “My teacher originally had a knot in his heart and was melancholy and unhappy. Recently he’s been much better. Today I specially thank you.”

Shaoshang sneered: “Your way of thanking—I can hardly bear it!”

“What does thanking with words count for?” Yuan Shen smiled. “I keep my word. In the future if you have difficulties, I definitely won’t refuse.”

Shaoshang was nothing if not practical. A hundred nice words couldn’t compare to a check that could be cashed anytime. Only then did she brighten, smiling sweetly: “Good, then I’ll remember this. Rest assured, I won’t have you commit treason and rebellion, nor will I have you betray trust and abandon righteousness, and I definitely won’t have you marry me! However…” She asked curiously: “My aunt only wrote six characters, and your teacher got better? Even I think that reply was too perfunctory.”

Yuan Shen’s expression first stiffened, then immediately returned to normal. He smiled again: “At your young age, what do you know of elder matters? You probably can’t even understand the words. My teacher said those six characters reminded him of childhood fun with Madam Sang.”

Shaoshang cursed inwardly: What’s not to understand about this? It’s just that reality is too sad, so brain-filling provides comfort.

“By the way, were you waiting here deliberately? How did you know I would come?” She was too lazy to fuss over ancient history and found this matter strange instead.

Yuan Shen smiled slightly. He had also received an invitation, but coming to the door so early in the morning today had startled the Yin family members. Setting this aside, he only said: “Not waiting deliberately. But hearing the Cheng family was also coming, I came here to try my luck.”

Shaoshang was even more puzzled.

Yuan Shen looked at the girl’s slightly furrowed delicate brows and said gently: “Actually, people all have habitual patterns. Last time at your home, I saw from afar you walking all over the slope, finally stopping at the pond beside the rocks. So I thought if you were unhappy again, you’d probably come here.” He swept his sleeve pointing around—sure enough, it was still beside rocks and water.

This psychological analysis was quite accurate. Shaoshang nodded secretly, but the last sentence went off track again. She held back her anger: “What do you mean ‘unhappy again’? Are you implying I have a perverse temperament?”

Yuan Shen raised an eyebrow: “Do you think you’re very kind and amiable?”

Shaoshang choked. This… she had just offended a whole room of girls. Both hosts and guests, not missing a single one.

She let out a breath and decided not to fuss too much, saying lightly: “I’ve already fulfilled my responsibility. I only hope young master will keep your promise and remember that once a word is spoken, even a team of four horses cannot overtake it.”

“Keeping promises is natural. However…” Yuan Shen heard the farewell meaning in her words and deliberately said: “What if I want to seek you out in the future? Did Madam Sang tell you not to pass messages for me anymore?”

Who knew Shaoshang slowly shook her head: “Young master is learned and intelligent—why say such things? As long as that previous message was passed, no matter what happens later, it won’t be my turn to interfere again.”

Yuan Shen said with interest: “How so?”

Shaoshang smiled lightly: “If Third Aunt doesn’t wish to hear news of your teacher in the future, I definitely won’t go against my elder’s intentions. But if Third Aunt is willing, she will naturally interact openly in the future. Would she really need me, a junior, to continue secretly passing messages for her? So no matter which outcome, it’s no longer my concern.”

The girl’s eyes were clear, almost not befitting her age. Yuan Shen was momentarily speechless.

Shaoshang continued: “The message bearer was sent by my uncle. What did that messenger say?”

Yuan Shen was silent for a moment before saying: “Your uncle attached a letter stating that Madam Sang’s words back then were spoken in anger, the grievances are resolved, and in the future if my teacher has anything to say, he can send letters directly.”

Shaoshang’s tone carried a bit of mockery: “Grievances resolved—I’m afraid the romantic ties have also dissolved.” Any discerning person could see Sang Shi had long since let go.

Yuan Shen said nothing. He actually also didn’t approve of his teacher’s actions. Old matters from years past, already beyond salvage—why dwell on them obsessively, hurting body and heart? Rather than constantly being dejected, better to strive forward.

Shaoshang became curious again and couldn’t help asking: “By the way, who exactly is your teacher?”

Yuan Shen laughed: “Madam Sang didn’t tell you?”

Shaoshang sighed helplessly: “Third Aunt kept it mysterious. I asked eldest brother, but he said…” She gave the young man before her a sidelong glance. “Young Master Shangjian has studied for many years, adopting strengths from many schools, thus has studied under many teachers.” This era actually didn’t emphasize studying under a single school!

“Probably I haven’t read as many books as young master’s teachers. I just wonder if I’ve recognized more characters than young master has teachers.” She mocked herself.

Hearing this, Yuan Shen laughed heartily, almost to tears. Looking at the girl, his eyes were bright as stars, his heart inexplicably joyful.

Shaoshang looked up and saw that debt collector’s long eyelashes slightly moistened, refined beyond words. Her heart grew solemn. She said seriously: “This matter is concluded. In the future, young master, don’t come looking for me anymore. If I have matters, I’ll go find you.” If people saw them together later, that would truly be not eating the mutton but getting covered in its stink.

“This matter is concluded?” Yuan Shen’s smile stopped, his heart displeased. After just these few sentences, she had already twice distanced herself from him.

He was about to speak when from beyond the rock barrier came a burst of hurried footsteps mixed with the heated argument of a young man and woman—

“Lou Yao, you stop right there, stop! I’m not done speaking!” A clear, pampered girl’s voice.

“I already know—you don’t need to say more!” An impatient young man’s voice.

“What do you know? The Xiao family does have this intention, but my father hasn’t agreed yet…” The girl’s voice was full of smugness. “If you treat me better, I’ll tell Father to decline this matter! After all, you and I have been betrothed since childhood—I can’t bear to treat you this way!”

“No need to bear it! Go marry that person!” The young man’s voice was extremely angry. “I’ve never been attached to our betrothal. It’s only because our Lou family values keeping promises that I’ve endured until today! Now that your family is willing to seek higher places, I truly couldn’t ask for more!”

“Bullshit! Don’t speak so nicely—what keeping promises? Isn’t it because my father has shown favor to your family!” That girl was also angry now. “Since you know of this kindness, why from childhood to now have you never been willing to accommodate me, never willing to treat me well? Either scolding me for being pampered or finding fault everywhere! I’ll tell you honestly—if not for Father pressuring me, I wouldn’t want to marry you either!”

The young man roared violently: “Stop pretending! You think I don’t know? You already met that Prince Xiao recently, praising him in front of everyone as handsome and brave, understanding and considerate, surpassing me a hundred times a thousand times! Good, good—now I won’t stop you from pursuing your great prospects. Hurry and go marry him…”

The speaking voices gradually drew nearer. It looked like this young couple would soon pass the rock barrier.

Yuan Shen remained motionless, muttering to himself “so it’s them.” But Shaoshang searched around. Though she wasn’t afraid of trouble, one less trouble was better than one more. She glimpsed a concave spot in the rock barrier that could accommodate one person.

She was about to go hide there when Yuan Shen, who had been watching her, followed her line of sight and also discovered that hollow. His mind stirred, suddenly growing mischievous. Taking advantage of his height and long legs, he crossed over in two or three steps and hid inside first. This left Shaoshang alone in the open.

This bastard!

Shaoshang watched helplessly as the spot she’d found was taken by someone else. Her hair practically stood on end. She wanted nothing more than to tear Yuan Shen alive, splash him with nitric acid then sulfuric acid, then hydrochloric acid after sulfuric acid, then chop him into char siu bao and toss him by the roadside to feed dogs!

At this moment, that young couple had already come around the rock barrier.

First was the young man. He had thick eyebrows and large eyes, his face showing anger. He looked about sixteen or seventeen, his stature already quite tall. Upon seeing a beautiful and delicate young girl standing here, he immediately froze.

Shaoshang was also embarrassed and laughed awkwardly twice.

The young man thought about how much of their argument the girl before him had heard. His face rapidly turned the color of pig liver. Then without a word, he turned and left.

Following behind was the young girl, who was born fair and pretty but whose fierce and vicious expression completely destroyed her originally good appearance. Seeing Shaoshang standing there, she immediately snapped: “What are you looking at! Look again and I’ll gouge out your eyes!” Then without waiting for Shaoshang’s response, she hurried after the young man.

Shaoshang: Damn it!

After the two left, Yuan Shen leisurely emerged from the cave.

Shaoshang’s eyes were red with anger. No longer caring about any damned etiquette, she cursed loudly: “You bastard!”

Yuan Shen wasn’t angry either, saying lightly: “Didn’t you just say ‘this matter is concluded’? Today I’m teaching you—this matter isn’t finished.”

Saying this, he stepped forward. His tall form loomed overhead. An adult male who had stood in court for many years—his presence couldn’t compare to Shaoshang’s brothers. Shaoshang immediately felt a sense of oppression. She secretly resented this—she knew this fellow’s usual gentle and refined appearance was put on.

Since she couldn’t outmatch him, better to withdraw early. Shaoshang thought extremely fast. She immediately bowed and said “farewell,” then simply turned to leave. But Yuan Shen wouldn’t let her go. His long legs strode forward, continuing to follow behind, speaking intermittently—

“Do you know who those two people are?”

“Don’t want to know!” Shaoshang walked quickly ahead.

“One is named Lou Yao, the youngest son of the Hedong Lou clan head. The other is called He Zhaojun, the only daughter of the current Cavalry General He Yong. They’ve been betrothed since childhood and have also loved to quarrel since childhood.”

Shaoshang suddenly turned back, impatiently saying: “Are you done yet? Do I owe you money? Did I eat your family’s millet? Young Master Yuan, you’re also a person of standing—I hope you’ll respect yourself!”

Yuan Shen wasn’t angry at all. Hearing about the “millet” remark, he even found it privately amusing. Moreover, he said gently: “You’re also grown now. Not only should you read and write characters, but matters like aristocratic genealogies, ritual ceremonies, dyeing fragrances, cooking and weaving—you should quickly learn these too. I see besides losing your temper and quarreling, you know nothing.”

He suddenly thought of something and changed his words: “What plans does your mother have? Having just returned to the capital, is she temporarily unable to find a good female teacher? I could recommend one or two…”

“What does this have to do with you anyway!” Shaoshang shouted with all her might, trembling with anger. She staggered forward two steps, then turned back and shouted loudly: “Don’t follow me anymore!”

Yuan Shen was slightly surprised. He didn’t know how these words had touched the girl’s displeasure. Being mature beyond his years, he knew not to speak about things he hadn’t figured out. For now, he only silently followed behind the girl.

Shaoshang knew Yuan Shen kept following but paid him no mind, only walking rapidly ahead in indignation. Seeing the garden she’d left earlier ahead, she turned back with a cold smile: “Ahead is where young girls gather—are you going to follow there too?”

Before her words finished, she heard from the side hedge a group of girls’ discussion—

“What you said is true? That Cheng Shaoshang is really that crude and cowardly!” A timid girl’s voice.

“Of course it’s true. Unfortunately today I came late with Miss Wang, otherwise I would have exposed her in front of all the elder sisters! Acting all proper when others don’t know about her previous conduct! Isn’t it just because General and Madam Cheng came back that she pretends not to recognize even the little sisters she used to play with!” This girl’s voice was sharp.

“So that’s how it is! I saw her acting arrogant, pressing Elder Sister Yin’e sentence by sentence—I thought she was so remarkable…”

“Don’t worry. Just now when I heard, I immediately told Elder Sister Yin’e.”

…Four or five girls spoke over each other, recounting Shaoshang’s numerous misdeeds.

Shaoshang wasn’t angry. She only felt that sharp voice seemed somewhat familiar. Thinking briefly, she immediately remembered—wasn’t this the diamond-faced girl from the Cheng family banquet? She was about to go forward to look, planning to conveniently deal with this gang of cheap-mouthed dead wenches and let them know why the national flag is so red.

Who knew Yuan Shen from behind stepped forward, grabbed her back collar, neatly pushed her behind a tree, pressed down her head like whacking a mole, then strode forward himself. Shaoshang was greatly shocked and hurried to poke her head out from behind the tree to look.

She saw Yuan Shen with a stern face walking straight into that hedge.

Those girls, seeing it was him, were both startled and delighted, calling out in varying lengths—this one coy, that one coquettish, another very affected like Mickey Mouse. But before they could express their admiration, Yuan Shen already said coldly: “What were you just saying?”

The girls were momentarily speechless. No matter what, being seen by one’s male god while speaking ill of others was never very wonderful or romantic.

“Crude? Cowardly?” Yuan Shen’s expression was cold and disdainful. “In my view, destroying people’s reputations and slandering at will—this is the greatest crudeness in this world! Not daring to come forward yourself, sowing discord behind others’ backs, fearing the world isn’t chaotic enough—this is the greatest cowardice!”

As soon as these words came out, the girls all changed expression—some ghastly pale, some flushed red. Especially that diamond-faced girl, sensing Yuan Shen’s sword-like gaze shooting directly at her, wished she could drill into the ground.

“Discussing behind backs, acting sneakily—do you think others will think more highly of you? What kind of person is Miss Cheng—her character good or bad, can’t others see for themselves? They need you to presume to be clever! I hope you all conduct yourselves well, be cautious and careful!”

The girls were scolded until they dared not raise their heads. Two were almost crying. Following Yuan Shen’s final rebuke, they immediately scattered like birds and beasts.

Yuan Shen’s anger hadn’t subsided. He stood in place for quite a while before returning behind that tree to find Shaoshang. Who knew the tree’s back was empty—wind blew leaves, grass and trees swayed gently—the person had already gone who knows where…

Shaoshang walked with her head hanging, listless and powerless, once again following the stream in reverse direction.

Compared to being mocked and ridiculed, she hated being pitied even more. She preferred to openly quarrel and scold with clear weapons.

Walking with her head lowered, she looked down at the embroidered pattern on her robe hem—today’s outfit was one of the rare exceptions where she approved of Madam Xiao’s actions. Beauty was a double-edged sword. It could lift you to the nine heavens’ summit like the Feiyan and Hede sisters, but could also plunge you into Avici Hell—examples were countless. If powerful people took a fancy to her beauty but refused to properly marry her according to rites, only wanting to take her into their rear courtyard—what then? Cheng Yang didn’t have this trouble.

Thinking carefully, from appearance to character, she was trouble everywhere. This was probably one of the reasons Madam Xiao didn’t like her.

Just when her mood was knotted, who knew she encountered Yin Yin’e coming from the opposite direction, two maids following behind.

Upon seeing Shaoshang, her face showed delight. She couldn’t wait to say: “Good! I was just going to find you! I’ve already heard everything—back then your parents abandoned you, that second aunt of yours taught you nothing, you probably don’t even recognize many characters…”

Shaoshang narrowed her eyes.

This was endless! She needed to think of a method to both deal with this little wench and not cause trouble for Old Man Cheng.

“Elder Sister Yin’e, why not first dismiss those around you? I have words to speak to you alone.” Shaoshang pretended to act humble and submissive.

Yin Yin’e thought she wanted to yield and apologize, so with a magnanimous expression she sent away the maids. But Shaoshang wanted them to go even farther so they couldn’t hear. Yin Yin’e thought she still needed to preserve some face for General Cheng, so she had the two maids walk a hundred feet away and stand with their backs turned, not permitted to peek.

“I already know what kind of person you are. Lying and fighting, bullying the weak—yet you had the nerve to lecture me just now?! Fine, you’re young so I won’t quibble with you. I won’t make you apologize to me in front of everyone… Ah, ah…” Yin Yin’e’s smug tone immediately turned to cries of pain.

It turned out Shaoshang didn’t wait for her to finish. She silently charged forward, immediately delivering an uppercut heavily to Yin Yin’e’s abdomen, then twisting arms and wrenching hands—grabbing her hair and administering a thorough beating!

Yin Yin’e was scared stupid. She couldn’t imagine even if her head split open that Shaoshang would actually strike?!

After a few punches from Shaoshang, Yin Yin’e’s chest, back, ribs, and abdomen all hurt. Shaoshang then used her fingers forcefully, vigorously pinching and twisting vital points. Yin Yin’e shrieked like a plucked hen. Beneath her clothes there must be a mass of bruises.

Shaoshang sneered inwardly. Speaking of fighting technique proficiency, eighteen Yin Yin’es combined couldn’t match her one. Unfortunately this body of hers wasn’t strong enough—combat power was halved. Yin Yin’e was also a full half-head taller than her and occasionally drew bows and rode horses in daily life, so had ordinary strength. After gaining the initial advantage, Shaoshang immediately suffered counterattack.

However, Yin Yin’e obviously didn’t know how to fight well. Besides a completely chaotic wild punching style, she had no other skills, only relying on being tall with greater strength, wildly swinging her arms. Before long, the two girls twisted into a ball, rolling onto the withered grass. Only then did Yin Yin’e think to cry out loudly, calling the maids to return.

The two maids first turned back. Seeing clearly, they were shocked and hurried over to help their young mistress.

On the other side, Yuan Shen, who was searching for Shaoshang, had also just arrived. Seeing the two girls twisted in a fight, without time to think carefully he hurried over, thinking he should at least protect the small and weak Shaoshang first.

From the woods, Lou Yao, who had just escaped He Zhaojun’s entanglement, heard the commotion and also ran out. Seeing this situation, the young man was dumbstruck on the spot. After hesitating a moment, he thought he couldn’t fail the Lou clan sons’ responsibility, so quickly ran over to mediate the fight.

Though it was winter, the sun was bright and clear, the sky high and vast. This was a very good day. Very good, very good.