HMHSE - 47

The return to the official residence was a last-minute decision.

Shan Zong had already found it troublesome to have the city gates opened specifically for him to return to the military camp. When Shen Rong asked him, he simply went along with the flow and said he was returning to the official residence.

On the quiet street, a carriage and a horse passed through, stopping silently in front of the official residence.

Because Shen Rong had gone to the banquet, a lantern still hung at the entrance of the official residence.

Guangyuan stood with his arms crossed, waiting. When he saw Donglai escorting the carriage over, he stepped forward to greet them, suddenly seeing a handsome man on horseback behind the carriage. He was immediately overjoyed: “Young Master?”

Shan Zong dismounted, tossing the reins and his sword to him. “Mm.”

Shen Rong got out of the carriage, glanced at him, and entered the residence first.

Guangyuan didn’t notice, still unable to hide his delight: “Young Master specially escorted the noble lady back?”

Shan Zong glanced at him.

He fell silent, sensing that the look was one of displeasure, probably because he had talked too much.

Meanwhile, Shen Rong returned to the main house and found the lights on inside.

On the couch by the window, Changsun Xin sat upright, clearly waiting for her.

Shen Rong dismissed Zirui, then said to him, “Well, I’ve returned from the banquet. You should have considered my previous idea by now.”

Changsun Xin pursed his lips and coughed lightly, his face still as stern as before: “You dare to suggest it.”

Shen Rong raised an eyebrow. “What other way is there? That mountain crosses the border, so this is the only way.”

Changsun Xin suddenly stood up, his refined face, however, furrowed in a frown: “Is there no other way?”

Shen Rong shook her head. “No.”

He seemed helpless, walked back and forth a few steps, then looked at her and said, “I’ll agree, but you must ensure your own safety. I’m afraid you won’t be able to get through to that person named Shan.”

Shen Rong’s eyes unconsciously looked out the window. “Then I’ll just have to make him agree.”

Changsun Xin frowned, not noticing her gaze. He shook his head and left the room.

________________________________________

In the guest room, Shan Zong dismissed Guangyuan, unfastened his arm and waist guards and tossed them onto the table. He then walked to the doorway.

The lights in the main house courtyard were still on. He looked at them twice and couldn’t help but chuckle. What was there to see? She would actually use another woman to provoke him.

He took a step back, reaching to close the door, when a woman’s figure appeared in his line of sight.

Shen Rong walked from the dimly lit corridor to the guest room door, glancing left and right. “I need to talk to you.”

Shan Zong was somewhat surprised. He propped his hand on the door, lowered his head, looked at her for a moment, then asked, “What is it?”

Shen Rong used the light from inside the door to look at his face. She didn’t see his eyes shadowed as before. She whispered, “I want to borrow your strength for a trip outside.”

Shan Zong held out a hand in front of her, as if creating a small space at the doorway where only the two of them could hear each other. “Where are you going outside?”

Shen Rong’s voice was even lower. “Beyond the pass.”

Shan Zong almost thought he had misheard and even chuckled. “What? Where do you want to go?”

Shen Rong suddenly noticed his eyes had grown darker. She steeled herself and said, “To go beyond the pass. I want to see the section of Wangji Mountain that’s outside the border.”

This was the idea she had proposed to Changsun Xin.

Changsun Xin naturally objected. For the first time in many years, he was displeased with her, simply not wanting her to take risks.

But Shen Rong’s results after exploring the earth winds were just that—she needed to go beyond the pass; it was essential.

Shan Zong’s face showed a grim smile. “So what is the purpose of seeking me out?”

Shen Rong said, “To borrow your men, to ensure my safety.”

Since she had to go beyond the pass, she needed to ensure her safety, and only the military had the ability to guarantee it.

Shan Zong made to close the door. “It seems I shouldn’t have returned to the official residence.”

Shen Rong stepped sideways, blocking the doorway, preventing him from closing it. “Don’t forget how those few outlaws escaped from Zhou Jun’s hands. They must have brought you back some useful information, didn’t they? See, I helped you too. How can you not help me?”

Shan Zong was exasperatedly amused by her again. “You really are stubborn enough.”

“Aren’t you the same?”

He suddenly stretched out his arm, hooked her waist, and pushed her behind the door. “Don’t provoke me.”

Shen Rong was startled, looking at the ambiguous smile on his face. She was a little unsure whether he was talking about going beyond the pass or something else.

“Who just came into the official residence?” A faint question was heard from somewhere outside; it was Changsun Xin’s voice.

Shan Zong remembered that Changsun Xin was still in this official residence.

He glanced at Shen Rong in front of him, his voice low and deep: “Are you really going?”

Shen Rong glanced at his hand resting on her waist. “Mm.”

Shan Zong withdrew his hand and stood straight. He paused, then said, “Wake up early tomorrow, and listen for my movements at any time.”

Her eyes lit up. “You agreed?”

He opened the door. “Before I change my mind.”

Shen Rong stepped out the door and walked a few paces, then looked back at him. He stood leaning against the door, facing her. After a few glances, he closed the door in her sight.

She finally understood: he was still somewhat reluctant for her to make this trip.

________________________________________

Changsun Xin was completely unaware of the slight commotion at the official residence. He was only worried about what Shen Rong was going to do, and he couldn’t sleep for most of the night.

It wasn’t until early the next morning, before dawn, that Zirui came to the door to report: “Young Master, the young mistress asks you to remain in the mountain to monitor the earth winds.”

Changsun Xin woke with a start, sitting up in bed: “She still decided to go?”

Zirui affirmed from outside the door.

________________________________________

In the main house, Shen Rong put on a stone-green layered-collar nomad’s robe, tightened her sleeves, and tied her hair into a braid. This would make it easier to move through the mountains and forests, and she wouldn’t be too conspicuous at first glance.

She adjusted her clothes in front of the mirror, then walked towards the window that revealed the grayish-blue pre-dawn light. She reached out and pushed it open, immediately seeing a pair of men’s legs in riding boots. She looked up and whispered, “Why are you only just here? I’ve been waiting for you.”

Shan Zong had his sword sheath extended, about to tap on the window, when she unexpectedly pushed it open. Facing her overly bright and beautiful face, he looked into the room behind her.

The furnishings in this room were the same as when she was at the Shan family’s home. The sight of her reaching out and pushing open the window towards him felt somewhat unreal.

He pursed his lips, then pulled at the corners of his mouth, acting as if he hadn’t seen anything, and turned to say, “Let’s go.”

By the time Changsun Xin rushed over, the main house was already empty.

Shen Rong only brought Donglai. Riding a fast horse, she followed Shan Zong, rushing all the way to Wangji Mountain.

They arrived back at the border mountain area, just as the sky began to show a hint of fish-belly white.

Shan Zong dismounted, and Shen Rong immediately dismounted as well, signaling Donglai behind them to do the same, fearing they might encounter the previous traps again.

This time, they took a new path. Shan Zong grasped Shen Rong’s wrist, then glanced at Donglai. “Follow my footsteps closely.”

Donglai bowed his head, pretending not to see him leading the young mistress forward first.

As usual, they avoided several traps. Shan Zong finally released Shen Rong and walked forward to a stone staircase entrance covered in thick dust and dead leaves. “Go up.”

Shen Rong followed him up, all the way to the top of the border wall, which was the section that intercepted the last part of Wangji Mountain’s range.

The sky was a pale, indistinct white. A strong wind howled past. Over a dozen soldiers were already waiting on the city wall, led by Hu Shi’yi and Zhang Wei.

As soon as they saw Shan Zong, they walked over.

Hu Shi’yi said, “Chief, as you instructed, everything is ready.”

Even in the middle of the night, Guangyuan had taken Shan Zong’s militia commissioner’s order and rushed to the military camp to relay the command, telling them to select a dozen elite soldiers to wait here. This left them completely confused, and they had gotten up in the middle of the night to pick out the men.

Shen Rong walked two steps closer to Shan Zong. Only now did she truly understand. “So you had already made arrangements.”

Shan Zong tilted his head towards the area beyond the pass. “It’s still not too late to change your mind.”

Shen Rong glanced at the vast, dim land beyond the pass, squeezed her palms, but still shook her head, saying softly, “Others may not know, but you certainly do. I need to see it with my own eyes to determine the entire ore vein. The old scroll did not record it; perhaps it’s time for someone to add a new entry.”

Shan Zong looked at her eyebrows and eyes. Indeed, he knew. Wasn’t that her ability?

“Ropes,” he suddenly commanded.

Hu Shi’yi and Zhang Wei, who had been guessing what the two of them were saying in low voices, heard Shan Zong’s neither high nor low command and immediately motioned for their men to act.

Hu Shi’yi secured a smooth ring at the top of the city wall, passed a sturdy long rope through the ring, and handed one end over.

Shan Zong took it, tying it around his waist while saying, “Keep the rope steady, and all of you turn your backs.”

Hu Shi’yi and Zhang Wei exchanged glances. Together, they tightly pulled on one end of the rope to steady it, then turned their backs, also signaling the dozen or so soldiers who were tying ropes to turn their backs.

Shan Zong tied the rope, glanced at the sky, then moved close to Shen Rong, swiftly wrapping the rope around her waist as well.

Shen Rong had just lowered her head to look when her waist felt heavy. Shan Zong placed both hands on her waist, actually lifting her up directly.

She was startled, grasping his shoulders. When she regained her senses, she was already supported by him, standing on the top of the city wall, much higher than before.

Shan Zong stepped up, tightened the rope, binding her and himself together, and whispered, “This is the fastest and most unexpected path.”

Shen Rong pressed tightly against his taut waist, her forehead touching his chin, feeling his breath brush over her head with each word. Perhaps it was the unobstructed strong wind that made her body sway slightly, and she unconsciously held her breath.

She couldn’t help but glance down at the pass, but before she could see how high it was, her face was turned back by the man’s hand.

“I’ve selected a dozen top-notch experts to protect you, all unfamiliar faces, not easily noticed,” Shan Zong hugged her tightly, then suddenly ordered, “Down!”

Hu Shi’yi and Zhang Wei, with their backs to him, took a step, intertwining and tightening the ropes. They responded, “Down.”

Shan Zong held the rope with one hand and Shen Rong with the other, leaping down from the city wall.

The rope passed through the ring, pausing, then released gradually as Hu Shi’yi and Zhang Wei applied force, lowering them little by little.

Only then did Shen Rong realize how high the city wall was. All she could hear was the wind by her ears.

Shan Zong held her. They were entwined, as one. Everything around them was cold, only his chest and waist pressed against her were warm. Shen Rong felt his whole body was taut.

Suddenly, a chuckle came from above. Shan Zong actually managed to laugh: “I’ve never seen a woman as daring as you.”

Shen Rong couldn’t help but look up, her hair brushing against his chin, a slight tickle.

He lowered his head. “If I were you, I wouldn’t move around.”

“It’s not like you didn’t start it...”

The rope above suddenly paused, and the rope shook abruptly. Shen Rong instinctively pressed closer to him, wrapping her arms around his waist.

Shan Zong’s lips curled slightly. His hand around her immediately moved to the back of her neck, pressing down hard, protecting her as he lowered his head. He loosened his grip on the rope and slid down quickly.

It wasn’t until her feet touched the mountain rock and the hand at the back of her neck released that Shen Rong lifted her head from his shoulder, her heart still beating rapidly with tension.

Below her was a treacherous downward slope, with wild forest stretching ahead.

Another rope descended beside them, and Donglai slid down.

Immediately after, the dozen elite soldiers slid down one by one, waiting on the side.

Shan Zong unfastened the rope in his hands, his eyes on her. “I won’t leave Youzhou. I’ll wait for you here. You only have a few hours; you must return before dark.”

Shen Rong remembered. This time, there was no Ministry of Works document to order him to go out. She nodded, steadying her feet.

Shan Zong pulled the last section of rope from her waist. “Go.”

Donglai walked over. Shen Rong led him towards that mountain range.

Shan Zong watched her retreating figure, speaking softly, “Protect her well.”

The dozen soldiers cupped their fists in acknowledgment and quickly followed, disappearing into the mountain forest with Shen Rong soon after.