HMHSE - 55

Shan Zong sat on his horse, clutching a tattered piece of leather in his hand.

The piece of broken hide, given to him as money by the madman, was grey and dirty. Two characters were embroidered on it, so worn and faded that they were barely discernible without close inspection.

Yet, he looked at it for a long time, then put it into his bosom. He gazed at Mount Wangji ahead and spurred his horse into it.

Hu Shi-yi was on mountain patrol duty today. Seeing him arrive, he hurried over: “Chief, shouldn’t you be recuperating at the military camp? Why are you in the mountains again?”

Shan Zong dismounted and walked towards the mine entrance, a nonchalant expression on his face: “This little injury isn’t enough to keep me from moving.”

Hu Shi-yi secretly winced. “Little injury”?

Just looking at his recovery speed, he truly deserved to be trained by the Shan family, known as a lineage of generals.

However, his unpretentious demeanor showed no hint of him once being a noble from the Shan family.

It was currently a time for rest. The group of serious criminals were squatting around the mine entrance, their coarse cloth prison uniforms and wild, grassy hair covered in dust. They were eating from lotus leaf packets under the whips of the soldiers.

Shan Zong swept his gaze over them and instructed Hu Shi-yi: “Give them some extra, as a reward for their actions that day.”

Hu Shi-yi cupped his fist and went to relay the message.

Although he hadn’t seen it himself, he had heard that the group of serious criminals had suddenly appeared, frightening an escaped enemy soldier, and thus helped Jin Jiaojiao.

Who could blame them? They all looked like monsters, and in these vast mountains, could they not be scary? Hu Shi-yi thought.

Soon, two large buckets of clear water appeared before the convicts, and each person received an extra meal.

Wei Shenwu squatted on a patch of grass, weighing the lotus leaf packet in his hand, still chewing on unfinished food. He stared at Shan Zong: “We did it for the little beauty. If it was just you, I’d really want to help.”

He bit into the lotus leaf packet, his eyes grim, as if he were chewing on Shan Zong’s flesh: “Such a good woman, you’re truly wasting her, bah!” He spat out a mouthful of lotus leaf debris.

Naturally, a soldier’s whip lashed out from the side.

Hu Shi-yi even went up and kicked him: “You bastard, you’re complaining when you’re given food and drink! You’re asking for a beating!”

Shan Zong, however, didn’t discipline him today. He only glanced twice, even twitching his mouth at the last sentence, his eyes merely dark.

“What was just being said here?” Changsun Xin strolled over from the other end, suspiciously glancing at Shan Zong, then looking towards the prisoners.

Wei Shenwu had already been lashed several times and kicked into the pile of prisoners.

Jiachen San pressed his shoulder, and he grunted a few times, seeming to obey Jiachen San’s words, no longer deliberately offending.

Changsun Xin hadn’t heard clearly, assuming he had misheard. He glanced at Shan Zong, seeing him holding his saber and looking behind him, with a scoundrel-like demeanor. The more he looked, the more displeased he became, so he turned and left.

Hu Shi-yi walked up to Shan Zong: “Chief, Jin Jiaojiao didn’t come. I haven’t seen her, only Assistant Minister Changsun came alone.” He finished, observing Shan Zong’s expression.

Shan Zong averted his gaze. No wonder he hadn’t seen Shen Rong, she hadn’t come.

“Got it,” he said, turning and leaving.

________________________________________

Inside the official residence, Shen Rong finished writing a letter to report her safety. She handed it to Zirui to send out, instructing her to send it quickly to Chang’an by swift horse, so her parents would be at ease.

Otherwise, she was worried her mother might make other arrangements.

After the letter was sent, she left her room and walked to the corridor, reaching the outer courtyard gate, where she met Guangyuan.

“Esteemed one,” Guangyuan stopped and greeted her. He had just seen her since her return and couldn’t help but look at her a few more times: “Is the esteemed one going to the mountains? I’ll arrange it for you.”

If Shen Rong truly wanted to go, no one could stop her. But the trip outside the pass had made Changsun Xin suspicious. Not wanting to upset or worry her mother, she still shook her head and said, “Never mind, not for now.”

Guangyuan could only comply, whispering yes. He worried about his own young master, wondering how he was after his return, as he hadn’t been able to visit the military camp yet.

Zirui returned after delivering the letter. Seeing Shen Rong standing aimlessly outside the courtyard gate, she suggested, “Young mistress, why not take a walk in the city? It’s not like going to the mountains anyway.”

Shen Rong thought for a moment: “That’s fine.”

Guangyuan heard this and quickly moved: “I’ll prepare a carriage for the esteemed one.”

________________________________________

As spring deepened recently, Youzhou City had also become much livelier, with many merchants coming and going.

When Shen Rong got out of the carriage, she happened to see Mrs. He, surrounded by a retinue of attendants, enter a fabric shop across the street, everyone around them laughing and chatting.

Zirui said by her side, “During the days the young mistress was away, the Prefectural Residence was preparing for that Miss Zhao’s wedding. I heard it’s not long now.”

She nodded, guessing it was indeed Zhao Fumei’s wedding date approaching: “Then let’s not disturb them. We’ll just walk around casually.”

Zirui beckoned to Donglai, instructing him to follow behind.

Donglai caught up, observing his surroundings. Within a few steps, he noticed extra people nearby and glanced at the young mistress ahead.

Shen Rong walked to the front of a barbarian merchant’s shop, where she saw small trinkets displayed for sale at the entrance. A string of bells hung on the side, gently jingling.

It immediately reminded her of the bells on her waist when she was dancing before, and she unhappily rolled her eyes.

An arm, wrapped with an arm guard, reached out before her, picking up the bells.

She turned to look at the man who had suddenly appeared.

Shan Zong held the string of bells and glanced at them, seemingly recalling the same thing. He curved his lips, then tossed them back. Turning his head, his dark eyes looked at her: “Not going to the mountains anymore?”

Shen Rong looked left and right. He must have been on patrol, and his soldiers were still at the end of the street.

“Not going anytime soon,” she said nonchalantly.

Shan Zong took a step closer: “Because of me?”

Shen Rong glanced at him again, whispering, “You know, why ask?”

Shan Zong touched his mouth. He had guessed it long ago, not surprised at all, yet he spoke lightly: “Your brother isn’t unaware of where this is. This is Youzhou, not Chang’an.”

That’s right, this was his territory. Could he really be completely isolated?

Shen Rong turned and walked forward, speaking softly for fear of being overheard: “You’re still very proud...”

Shan Zong watched her, slowly following. In truth, he didn’t appear proud at all.

Shen Rong’s light, flowing ruqun dress was in front. A green silk ribbon was tied at her high waist, hanging long and swaying back and forth with each step, brushing against his robe hem and riding boots.

Most common people, seeing Shan Zong, were mostly deferential and dared not look too long.

He and Shen Rong walked a few steps apart, patrolling the city as before, only his gaze occasionally moving forward to look at the woman’s figure.

Shen Rong deliberately didn’t look back the entire time, walking one street without entering any shops, just casually observing.

When she turned to head back, she found him still behind her.

“Finished patrolling this street?” She raised an eyebrow: “I have nothing else to see.”

Shan Zong nodded, glanced at the carriage at the other end: “One more street to patrol. It passes the official residence, so I can give you a ride. Let’s go.”

Shen Rong hadn’t said anything yet, and he had already decided everything. He lifted his robe with one hand and slowly walked towards the carriage.

Zirui lagged far behind, looking at Donglai.

Donglai shook his head at her. They understood each other, and each conscientiously followed at a slow pace.

________________________________________

The military patrol reached the vicinity of the official residence, continued forward as usual, and proceeded with their patrol.

Shan Zong rode his horse alone beside the carriage, all the way to the official residence.

Guangyuan saw them at the official residence gate and was naturally overjoyed: “I was just thinking of going to the military camp to visit the young master, and here he is! I’ll go prepare tea.” With that, he hurried back into the mansion.

Shen Rong heard him say “visit” and glanced at the horse.

Shan Zong swung his leg over, dismounted, and walked over with his saber. His steps were still brisk, and he seemed fine.

Shen Rong turned and entered the gate. He followed, his riding boots clanking on the corridor.

“Since Guangyuan knows you’re injured, he’ll definitely try to persuade you to stay,” she said as she walked.

“Mm, but your brother probably won’t be too happy about it right now,” Shan Zong said with a faint smile.

Upon hearing that, she couldn’t help but turn her head.

His gaze met hers: “What, am I wrong?”

“You’re right,” Shen Rong even glanced to see if her brother had returned, then looked at him: “Then why did you still come?”

Shan Zong walked over, lowered his head to look at her face. He saw himself reflected in her upturned eyes, his face still holding that faint smile. He took her wrist and pulled.

Before long, Guangyuan had prepared tea and came to invite Shan Zong, but the two were no longer in sight on the corridor.

Zirui and Donglai had only just entered the mansion gate, standing far off under the corridor.

In a side room in the inner courtyard, Shen Rong leaned her back against the door, her chest pressed against the man’s.

Shan Zong lowered his head and covered her lips.

Shen Rong’s breathing quickly quickened. He held her lips, his tongue trying to part her teeth.

As her teeth loosened, he succeeded, and the back of her ears flushed with heat.

Finally, when his strength lessened, she got a chance to breathe, rubbing past his lips, tilting her head slightly, and saying indistinctly, “You came to misbehave...”

Shan Zong pressed his forehead against hers, his chest rising and falling. His voice was unusually deep: “What’s misbehaving? I’m already being good to you.”

“Nonsense,” Shen Rong pushed him, but he didn’t budge an inch.

He lowered his head and suddenly bit her lip hard.

Shen Rong felt a numb sensation, leaning against the door, panting. A heavy feeling in her waist, her fingers twitched—it was his hand moving there.

The soft, gauze-covered ruqun brushed against the thick barbarian robe, a faint rustling sound.

Footsteps gradually sounded from outside. Judging by the noise, it seemed the Changsun family’s guards were returning from the mountains.

Shen Rong steadied her breathing, staring at the man in front of her: “You must be doing this on purpose, showing up brazenly.”

Shan Zong was still close to her, smiling, then reining it in amidst his soft breaths, staring at her eyebrows and eyes.

She was clearly the brazen one.

Even he hadn’t expected when this uncontrollable urge to be close to her had emerged.

________________________________________

Indeed, it was the Changsun family’s guards returning.

Changsun Xin had just returned from the mountains. He dismounted, entered the official residence gate, and seeing Zirui and Donglai both on the corridor, he guessed Shen Rong had been out.

“Ah Rong went out?” he walked over and asked.

Zirui curtsied: “She was bored staying inside. This servant accompanied the young mistress for a stroll in the city and returned quickly.”

Changsun Xin nodded, walking further inside: “That’s good. Since she’s back, I’ll go find her.”

He hadn’t walked much further when Shan Zong came walking towards him.

He carried his saber under his arm and wore riding boots, glancing at Changsun Xin.

Guangyuan went to greet him: “Young master...”

“There are still military duties. I’m returning to the military camp. I’ll come back next time,” Shan Zong bypassed Guangyuan directly.

Passing by Changsun Xin, he didn’t say anything either, just swept his gaze past him and walked straight towards the official residence gate.

Changsun Xin turned around, chasing his retreating figure. He wanted to say something, opened his mouth, then gave up.

After all, this was his official residence; he couldn’t stop him from entering.

He just knew he had no leverage against him in Youzhou—this local tyrant!

Changsun Xin looked back to where Shan Zong came from. Not seeing Shen Rong, he assumed the two hadn’t met, and finally gave up.