HMHSE - 10

As dusk fell, Shen Rong bid farewell to Lady He and returned, still smiling, her entire being fragrant.

Entering the main room, she found Changsun Xin sitting there.

Changsun Xin looked up and noticed her smile, curious: “Seems like you had a pleasant time with the governor’s wife?”

Shen Rong immediately wiped the smile off her face: “No.”

She had only been recalling the scene of that man outside the window earlier.

Changsun Xin didn’t dwell on it and sighed: “I’ve been worrying about something.”

“What is it?” Shen Rong asked and then realized: “Could it be that the results of the ‘wind collection’ weren’t good?”

Changsun Xin nodded: “Not just that—there’s also a letter from Chang’an.” He pulled a letter from his sleeve and handed it over.

Shen Rong took it and read. The letter was addressed to Changsun Xin, written in their father Zhao Guogong’s own hand.

Shortly after their departure, another high-ranking official in Chang’an had stirred trouble, and the Zhongshu Sheren had been disgraced and sentenced to exile by the new emperor without mercy.

Zhao Guogong had specifically written to inform Changsun Xin about this.

Changsun Xin understood clearly. On the surface, their father was merely informing him, but in reality, he was reminding him to expedite the mineral search.

Since the whole family doted on their sister, they wouldn’t pressure her directly and instead wrote specifically to him.

But this couldn’t be rushed. Reminding him alone wouldn’t help—it still depended on Shen Rong, especially since things weren’t going well now.

After finishing the letter, Shen Rong handed it back: “What exactly were the results of the wind collection?”

Changsun Xin shook his head: “Nothing at all.”

They hadn’t gone out for several days after collecting the wind; they had been examining the “collected winds.”

Plants and stones served as markers for mountains, rivers, and marshes, some providing guidance and revealing what minerals might lie beneath.

But Shen Rong never expected him to say they had found nothing—did that mean there were no minerals?

She frowned: “How could that be?”

The ancestral scrolls couldn’t be wrong; she believed there should be something there.

Changsun Xin said: “I think so too, but those plants and stones we brought back aren’t particularly special.” He sighed again: “There probably isn’t even a scrap of copper or iron in that mountain.”

Shen Rong sat down beside him, quietly contemplating.

Changsun Xin suddenly remembered something: “By the way, Father mentioned at the end of the letter that Cousin Pei Er has inquired about you. He doesn’t know you’re in Youzhou yet—should we send him a reply?”

The Pei family was also a prominent clan in Chang’an, their mother’s maiden family, making its members their cousins.

The “Cousin Pei Er” Changsun Xin referred to was someone Shen Rong would call Second Cousin Brother—Pei Shaoyong, who frequently visited the Changsun household.

Shen Rong’s journey hadn’t been disclosed to outsiders. Apart from their family, no one knew she was already in Youzhou, thousands of miles away.

This cousin, close to them as usual, was naturally concerned and asking about her wasn’t surprising.

Distracted, Shen Rong didn’t take it to heart and shook her head: “Let’s skip it. We need to focus on dealing with the current situation.”

Changsun Xin leaned closer: “So, how do you plan to handle it?”

Seeing his urgency, Shen Rong couldn’t help but laugh: “We’ll go back once more. The sky hasn’t fallen yet—I refuse to believe we can’t accomplish this.”

Watching her relaxed expression, Changsun Xin felt reassured.

It was no wonder the whole family spoiled her. With her around, everything always seemed clear and bright. She wasn’t the kind of person to wallow in sorrow or admit defeat.

Shen Rong immediately stood up to prepare and called out to Zirui: “Remember to send the message to the military compound.”

…

Early the next morning, training proceeded as usual at the military compound.

Shan Zong heard a soldier report: Someone from the official residence came with a message saying Minister Changsun’s group would enter the mountains again.

He emerged from the training ground and called for Zhang Wei.

Hu Shiyi ran over: “Boss, Zhang Wei already went ahead. I did hear the messenger say that Minister Changsun specifically requested you to come—he has something to ask you.”

“Changsun Xin?” Shan Zong casually slipped on his arm guard, wondering if Shen Rong wasn’t coming today.

Hu Shiyi, who had just come from duty in the city, informed him: “I ran into Zhang Wei when I left the city earlier. They were already heading toward Wangji Mountain. It seems different from last time—they’re bringing tools.”

Shan Zong thought for a moment, picked up his saber, and headed out.

Hu Shiyi didn’t know his exact plans and could only follow with his men.

Just as they were leaving the military compound, he realized—how many times had it been? Why did it feel like they were getting used to serving the golden beauty’s group again?

Despite several large groups entering the deep mountains consecutively, the mountain paths showed no signs of excessive trampling.

Shan Zong deliberately surveyed the area as he rode into the mountain. He was somewhat surprised—the Changsun family’s trips into the mountains these few times seemed very familiar, though they shouldn’t have been to Youzhou before.

Faint figures were already visible in the mountains.

On horseback, Shan Zong saw Changsun Xin’s group heading straight toward Wangji Mountain, just as Hu Shiyi had said. They were indeed carrying tools, seemingly planning to dig into the mountain on-site.

Only after passing the mud pit from the other day did Shan Zong rein in his horse. His gaze swept around, and then paused, spotting the woman standing against the wind.

She had come after all. He smiled faintly, suddenly understanding who had specifically requested him. It was an unspoken agreement.

Shen Rong stood there while Zirui was removing her cloak. She looked toward the mountain path and saw the man with the saber mounted on his horse.

“Ready?” she prompted.

“Yes.” Zirui quickly folded the cloak and stepped aside.

Shen Rong walked toward him.

Shan Zong had just dismounted and turned to see her.

“So you decided to come yourself this time?” She was wearing Hu-style clothing again, with narrow sleeves and a cinched waist, standing elegantly before him.

“To see if you all fell into the mud pit,” Shan Zong scanned her figure and tossed the reins aside: “Don’t expect me to save you if it’s too late.”

“Underestimating me…” Shen Rong muttered, thinking that with her around, those places had already been avoided. Yet she suddenly asked: “If they really fall in, how would you save them?” As she spoke, she glanced meaningfully at his belt.

Shan Zong caught her gaze and smirked: “How to save them depends on the situation.”

All men—how they saved others varied. Did she think everyone would treat her the same way? He found it amusing to think about what she might be pondering.

“I heard your brother has something to ask me,” he got straight to the point.

Shen Rong said: “It’s actually me who has something to ask you.”

Shan Zong, arms crossed with his saber, had already guessed and wasn’t surprised: “Ask.”

Shen Rong pointed in a direction: “Those mud pits aren’t natural—are the areas originally soft and wet?”

“Mm.” That’s why they were used as traps. Shan Zong glanced at her: “Why are you asking this?”

“Guess,” she widened her eyes, her face radiant in the mountain breeze.

Shan Zong looked at her once more, then shifted his gaze—did he have the leisure for such musings: “In the future, ask Zhang Wei if you have these questions.”

“I want to ask you.”

He lifted an eyebrow, amused by her matter-of-fact tone.

When he looked again, she was already pacing lightly in front of him, seemingly lost in thought. The hem of her Hu-style clothing was pinched between her fingers, gently twirling.

After a while, she looked at him again: “Wait a moment.” Without waiting for his response, she walked past him.

Shan Zong watched her go and instinctively tugged on the reins.

Telling him to wait—what was she coming back for?

“Chong Jun!” Someone suddenly called him.

A slow horse descended the mountain path in the distance—Zhao Jinlian arrived with a group of attendants.

He dismounted and approached. Sensing Shan Zong’s intention to leave, he stopped him: “Mining is a major matter. Both of us must assist, or I won’t be able to explain to my superiors.”

Shan Zong gestured toward Zhang Wei and Hu Shiyi guarding nearby: “Isn’t this assistance enough?”

Zhao Jinlian whispered a few words to him.

A letter from the Zhao Guogong residence had arrived at the Youzhou government office the other day, expressing concern for Youzhou’s livelihood. At the end, it inquired whether the mountain terrain was peaceful. He understood—it was a hint to assist more in the mining efforts.

“I plan to write to Zhao Guogong, informing him that you are here to guard, which should reassure him,” Zhao Jinlian said.

Shan Zong played with the hilt of his saber: “I advise you not to mention it.”

Zhao Jinlian was startled and about to ask why when he recalled Changsun Xin publicly saying Shan Zong’s vision was poor.

Reflecting on it, he realized there might be bad blood between them. He broke out in a cold sweat, grateful he hadn’t yet penned the letter.

“You should change your temper,” Zhao Jinlian sighed, intuiting it was trouble Shan Zong had caused in his younger, more reckless days. Who could blame him when he was inherently fearless?

After speaking, he waved his hand, and his attendants went inside to deliver tea and hot soup to Changsun Xin’s group.

“There needs to be reconciliation between you two. You’ll bump into each other often. You’re still the chief of the local garrison—do you still want to advance in the future?” Zhao Jinlian sighed again, shaking his head.

Shan Zong actually laughed aloud; he truly hadn’t considered advancing.

“What’s so funny?” Zhao Jinlian was puzzled.

“Nothing.”

“Never mind, come to the governor’s residence tomorrow,” Zhao Jinlian said, lifting his official robe and personally stepping deeper into the mountain to find Changsun Xin.

Shan Zong had intended to leave but suddenly recalled the previous situation. He hesitated, stopped, and glanced at Shen Rong. Then, narrowing his eyes, he crossed his arms.

She was still the one leading.

Shen Rong looked far ahead at the mud pit and then at the mountain ridge before her.

Youzhou, located in the north, had rugged mountains, and even the internal terrain varied greatly. Surprisingly, there was such a stretch of soft, wet land.

Changsun Xin approached and asked: “How is it?”

“Just exploring the terrain isn’t enough,” she said: “We need to drill the earth.”

Changsun Xin nodded and called for someone.

Donglai came first. The guards were dressed smartly, each holding tools they had brought—mountain shovels, iron picks—all crafted from high-quality iron, made from the iron ore they had previously discovered.

Drilling the earth meant digging three feet deep to explore downward, but it had to be done in the right place to yield results.

Shen Rong took out the scroll, reviewed it once more, put it away, and said: “Follow me.”

She slowly walked along the direction of the mud pit, calculating distances carefully. Stopping, she said: “Dig three feet here and proceed toward the eye of Wangji Mountain until you reach the riverbank at the eastern corner of the mountain. Dig three feet down the riverbank. Report anything that emerges.”

Donglai acknowledged, and everyone immediately got to work.

Changsun Xin came forward to shield her from the dust: “This wind won’t be drilled in a short while—you’ve set the position, so don’t tire yourself here.”

Just then, they spotted Zhao Jinlian approaching. Shen Rong decided to return along the original path, remembering she had told the man to wait earlier.

Before leaving, Changsun Xin had already gone ahead to greet him. She faintly heard Zhao Jinlian’s words: “Tomorrow, I will host a banquet at my residence—please honor us with your presence…”

Shan Zong, watching from afar, realized he had been staring for quite a while.

But Shen Rong had already gracefully walked to him: “I thought you wouldn’t wait.”

He asked: “Wait for whom?”

She deliberately glanced around: “Is there anyone else here?”

A roguish smile appeared on Shan Zong’s face, and he remained silent.

He knew when to speak and when not to.

Such as now.

Shen Rong waited for his words but only saw his smile. She thought, what’s so funny? His face looked mischievous.