HMHSE - 4

Changsun Xin began to feel a headache coming on.

The reason for choosing Youzhou for this journey, aside from its suitability for exploration, was also the Changsun family’s intention to temporarily avoid the political turmoil in Chang’an.

However, he had never expected that his sister would encounter an old acquaintance just as they arrived.

Shan Zong was once a renowned figure among the noble youth of both capitals, enjoying boundless fame. The Shan family was also a prominent and powerful clan. As a marriage alliance between prestigious families, Shen Rong’s marriage to him could be considered a perfect match.

But their separation after only half a year was truly unexpected.

When Shen Rong returned home, she simply stated that her husband was dead—something Changsun Xin didn’t believe.

That day, a group of soldiers who were supposed to escort her, along with Shan Zong’s personal attendant, chased after her return.

Changsun Xin specifically met with the attendant and learned the full details: Shan Zong wasn’t dead; he had left, giving Shen Rong a formal letter of divorce and departing from the Shan family.

The attendant then presented a list, explaining that it was something the lady had left behind in her haste. They had pursued her all the way here to deliver it.

The list detailed the compensation Shan Zong had given Shen Rong.

According to the law, in cases of divorce, the husband’s family must provide the wife with three years’ worth of clothing and food in one lump sum.

Shan Zong’s list was straightforward—he gave Shen Rong everything he owned in the Shan family.

Even if she lived off that wealth entirely, it would be enough to secure her comfort for life.

It was then that Changsun Xin believed Shan Zong had truly left the Shan family.

Not just a simple departure but a complete severance from this great aristocratic family, leaving no loose ends.

If one were to accuse him of being heartless, it was rare to see any man treat his divorced wife so generously.

Yet, he indeed turned his back without sentiment, claiming there was no marital affection after the marriage and lightly proposing a separation.

What Changsun Xin wanted to curse him for most was his cunning!

By leaving the Shan family, any accountability should fall on him personally. If the families were to get involved, it would make the Changsun family seem unreasonable.

Changsun Xin even felt a bit of admiration for his decisiveness to leave so abruptly.

As for what happened with the Shan family afterward, out of consideration for Shen Rong’s feelings, the Changsun family deliberately refrained from inquiring.

Later, they only heard that the elders of the Shan family were extremely reluctant to let Shen Rong go and seemed to have intentions of visiting the Duke Zhao mansion, but that was all hearsay.

This was because that year, the country faced many issues. First, there was the tumultuous process of the late emperor establishing the crown prince, which nearly led to military remonstrance. Then, there were foreign invasions in the northern borders.

Amidst the political turbulence, both the Changsun and Shan families were busy dealing with their own affairs, and neither had time for the other.

Thus, this divorce, which should have caused a significant uproar among the great families, went largely unnoticed and quietly passed into history.

Three years had passed, and everyone tacitly assumed that person was dead, to avoid upsetting their little ancestor at home.

Who would have thought that he would “rise from the dead” now...

Inside the guest room of the post station, Changsun Xin, thinking about this, still hadn’t relaxed his furrowed brows.

He couldn’t fathom how that Shan fellow managed to serve as the militia commander here for so long without a single whisper reaching them.

He glanced aside and saw Shen Rong sitting by a small square desk, head bowed, reading the scroll she had taken from her ancestral wooden box.

Since returning from the military compound, for two consecutive days, she hadn’t shown a smile.

Changsun Xin had doted on her since childhood and feared that she might not even be able to focus on the words in the scroll, which would jeopardize the important mission. He leaned closer and said: “Arong, if you feel uncomfortable, I’ll have the Youzhou government office arrange for the people at the military compound to stay away from us. The farther we are from that Shan fellow, the better.”

Shen Rong lifted her head from the scroll: “Why should I feel uncomfortable? I’ve done nothing wrong. It’s he who should feel uncomfortable and avoid us. If we act like this, it would seem like I care too much about him.”

Changsun Xin’s gaze lingered on her face: “You don’t care?”

“Not at all,” Shen Rong lowered her head and continued reading the scroll.

Coincidentally, a servant came from outside, saying that someone from the Youzhou governor had come to invite the master.

Changsun Xin stood up and glanced at Shen Rong. Seeing her composed expression, he felt slightly reassured: “I’m glad you’re fine. I still need to meet with the Youzhou governor. Since the position of the Youzhou military governor is vacant, the governor is the highest-ranking official here. We’ll need his assistance for our matters ahead.”

Shen Rong casually acknowledged, listening as he left the room.

Once the room was quiet, she closed the scroll in her hand.

She had already recalled the scene at the military compound. At that time, he had sat there watching her for a long while—what did it mean?

The more she thought about it, the more it felt off. She casually threw aside the cushion she had been leaning on.

“Master?” Zirui heard the noise and peeked inside from the door.

Shen Rong knelt upright, pretending she hadn’t done anything, and asked calmly: “Has Donglai’s injury healed?”

“It’s still healing.”

“Then shouldn’t you go take care of him?”

Zirui quickly agreed and left the doorway.

Shen Rong threw the cushion again.

Suddenly, a thunderous male voice came from outside: “Hurry up! They’re almost here... What’s with those damn nobles? Disturbing them is nothing, but delaying matters is fatal!”

That coarse voice immediately reminded Shen Rong of the one that woke her up that day.

She put away the scroll and walked to the window.

A bearded man rushed out from the corner of the courtyard, shouting loudly toward the back: “Hurry up! Damn it, have your legs gone soft?”

Shen Rong leaned against the window, watching. A guard quietly approached, asking whether to drive them away.

She shook her head and told them all to retreat.

Her exploration had been delayed, and she had nowhere to vent her frustration. Now that she had encountered them, if she heard another disrespectful word, she would definitely seize this opportunity to humble the offender.

Before the bearded man could speak again, a distant call came from outside the courtyard: “They’re here!”

Then came the sound of horses neighing.

People entered the post station, not just one, but several. Their footsteps rang out clearly. Upon closer inspection, it sounded like boots stepping on the ground, mixed with the clinking of weapons and armor.

Shen Rong looked toward the sound and saw a troop entering the courtyard through the corridor. The leader looked very familiar.

It was none other than the man who had blocked her path at the military compound that day.

The bearded man shouted when he saw him: “Hu Shiyi, are you here to collect the prisoners?”

The man replied: “Hell no, not just me!”

Shen Rong rolled her eyes at both of them and turned her head away.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the bearded man rush over: “Commander Shan, you’ve come personally.” His tone suddenly became extremely respectful.

“Mm.”

She immediately turned her head back.

At the entrance of the corridor, the man stepped in slowly, carrying a saber under his arm. He entered with his head down, holding a piece of yellow hemp paper and reading it. He wore tight black Hu-style clothes, his hair neatly tied, tall and straight like a pine tree.

Perhaps out of vigilance, once he stopped, he raised his head to scan the courtyard. With just two glances, his gaze fell directly on the window.

Shen Rong’s eyes met his squarely, and she unconsciously held onto the window frame to stand up straight.

Shan Zong was the same as before—his face sharply contoured, his gaze piercing, always seeming to carry an air of unruliness.

Suddenly, she remembered a long-ago afternoon when her mother brought a portrait to her room and mysteriously showed it to her.

She glanced at it and casually remarked: “Not bad.”

Her mother laughed: “I know you well. If you say ‘not bad,’ then you’re actually very satisfied.”

She didn’t admit it, but just before her mother closed the portrait, she secretly took another quick look.

It was a side profile of a man, the lines sharp as if carved with a knife, exuding an indescribable handsomeness.

It was said that the painter had painstakingly sketched it from Luoyang for her to see.

Later, during their wedding, standing beside him, she stole glimpses of the same side profile.

She remembered this face too clearly. Even though his few returns home were brief, and they only met hurriedly a few times, she recognized him instantly at the military compound.

And with just one glance, Shan Zong turned his head: “Where’s the cargo?”

The bearded man immediately shouted: “Quick! Bring out the goods!”

Those he had been yelling at earlier gradually emerged from the corner of the courtyard, shoving and pushing several disheveled, peculiarly dressed people. Those individuals were tied together with a rope, dragged over like dead fish.

Shan Zong crumpled the paper in his hand and tossed it to Hu Shiyi: “Go have the postmaster post it.”

Hu Shiyi left, and the bearded man walked two steps closer to him. His previous arrogance completely disappeared, replaced by a fawning smile: “Commander Shan, five in total—two Xi people, three Khitan people. We captured them at the border.”

He nodded: “Good job.”

The bearded man’s eyebrows flew with joy, as if receiving immense praise.

Shan Zong picked up his saber: “Hand over the goods and go to my military compound to claim your reward. I’ll search their quarters.”

The bearded man quickly pointed the way, chattering: “Who knows where these damn nobles came from, taking up all the space and forcing us to move to that cramped corner.”

“Is that so?” Shan Zong chuckled and headed in the direction the man pointed.

Shen Rong silently watched until now, staring at the direction he walked, pondering his chuckle. Suddenly, she smiled, lifted her hem, and turned to leave the room.

The bearded man was handing over those people to the soldiers Shan Zong brought. Suddenly, he saw a young woman walk out of the spacious guest room in the distance. Her dress trailed the ground, her arms wrapped in light gauze, walking past without looking sideways.

He froze for a moment, blurting out: “Who is that?”

“The noble you cursed.”

The bearded man was stunned, watching her pass by.

Shen Rong had no mood to deal with him at this moment. After crossing the courtyard, two guards quietly followed her, only to be dismissed again.

She walked alone through the corridor until she reached the most secluded corner, seeing several crowded servant quarters.

The doors were all open, seemingly kicked in, with locks hanging crookedly, swaying precariously.

Just as she approached, a man in black stepped out from the middle room, ducking his head.

Shen Rong collided with him head-on, stopping a few steps apart.

She lightly scanned him twice and suddenly spoke: “What kind of military rank is the militia commander?”

Shan Zong, upon meeting her, wasn’t surprised at all and surprisingly cooperated by answering: “Overall command of regional troops, responsible for training and defense.”

Shen Rong knew this perfectly well; she was just pretending. She raised an eyebrow and sighed: “You left the Shan family and, solely by your own efforts, secured this position as a regional military leader. I must say, I admire you.”

If anyone couldn’t detect the sarcasm in her words, they’d be a fool. But Shan Zong smirked, brushed the dust off his hands, and responded: “Indeed.”

Shen Rong frowned, wondering if he was brushing her off again. Suddenly, an idea struck her, and her eyes flickered: “That’s right—you must be pretending not to recognize me.”

Shan Zong’s eyes shifted toward her.

How could he not recognize Changsun Shen Rong? He had identified her at first sight in the military compound.

But he opened his mouth and said: “Should we know each other?”

Shen Rong’s face slowly tightened: “I certainly recognize you, Shan Zong.”

The way she pronounced his name carried a unique undertone.

The two stared at each other.

Just then, Hu Shiyi found them, stopping abruptly upon seeing Shen Rong: “It’s you!”

He thought the boss had already apologized, so why was this woman still unwilling to let go? He gruffly said: “Esteemed lady, today we’re here to detain enemy spies. Other matters can’t be纠缠起！”

Shen Rong only looked at Shan Zong and ignored him.

Hu Shiyi felt deflated and could only report to Shan Zong: “Boss, the ban order has been posted by the postmaster. Once the mountain roads are sealed, no outsiders will enter.”

Shen Rong immediately looked over: “What are you sealing?”

“The mountain.” Shan Zong’s gaze shifted away from her, switching hands to hold his saber, and walked out.

Shen Rong watched him pass by. The hard leather of his arm guard brushed against the soft silk draped over her arm, creating a faint, fleeting tug.

...

Outside, the enemy spies were detained, and the troops prepared to return to the military compound.

Hu Shiyi caught up with Shan Zong’s pace: “Boss, I thought I heard that woman call you by your name earlier. Are you just letting her do that?” Not knowing the reason, he assumed Shen Rong was being arrogant.

Shan Zong stepped into the stirrup and mounted his horse: “Your ears are quite sharp.”

Hu Shiyi widened his eyes: “If she knew your status in Youzhou, she wouldn’t dare to look down on you so much! Earlier, you should have taken the opportunity to suppress that woman’s arrogance!”

Shan Zong smiled: “Do you think I have nothing better to do?”

Hu Shiyi fell silent under his smile and retreated, deciding not to offer any more reckless advice.

Shan Zong tightened the reins and spurred his horse onward, inexplicably recalling that earlier call of his name.

A highborn lady, pampered and indulged, should have had nothing to do with him by now. How had they unexpectedly met again in this frontier land?