HMHSE - 56

Early in the morning, Shen Rong sat on the couch, marking several points of concern on the mine map. She looked up and out.

“Young Mistress, are you going out today?” Zirui, seeing her, asked.

Since the day she encountered Shan Zong on the street, she hadn’t left the house. Now, seeing her look outside, Zirui thought she intended to go out.

Shen Rong, however, shook her head: “No, not going.”

If something similar to that day happened again, her brother wouldn’t be so easily fooled.

At this thought, Shen Rong’s hand, holding the brush, paused. She couldn’t help but recall the man’s arrogant demeanor.

That day, when he had pressed her against the door, she had even wanted to ask him: Do you really like kissing me that much?

But she hadn’t asked in the end.

Her expression shifted slightly. She lowered her head to conceal it and put down the brush: “Where’s my brother? This map needs to be given to him. I’ve re-marked it.”

Zirui said: “The young master has gone back to the mountains. I hear the young mistress has been diligently re-marking the map recently, and he’s quite relieved.”

What he was relieved about went without saying. Shen Rong knew perfectly well: “Oh.”

Zirui suddenly remembered something and took a cloth from her sleeve, placing it on the table: “This is what the young master instructed me to show the young mistress.”

What was wrapped in the cloth? When opened, a small, glittering piece of gold was inside.

Shen Rong held it between her fingers, then heard Zirui say: “The young master said this was just refined. The purity is excellent, a rare sight. This is all due to the young mistress’s efforts, so he insisted it be shown to you first before being sent to the capital.”

Shen Rong’s fingers gently touched it, then placed it back on the cloth, staring at it quietly.

Seeing this meant things were finally on the right track. From now on, there was probably no real need to worry. It seemed there was nothing left for her to do here.

“Young Mistress?” Zirui, seeing her stillness, couldn’t help but call softly.

Shen Rong snapped back: “It’s fine. I’ve seen it. Just tell my brother that.”

She got up and left the room.

________________________________________

The official residence had a very small garden, but because Shan Zong originally didn’t reside there, it had hardly been maintained. Only after she moved in did servants start to make it somewhat presentable.

Shen Rong hadn’t been going out lately, so she would walk in this garden. She slowly walked past a osmanthus tree and entered the pavilion.

Just as she sat down, she heard the sound of carriage wheels and neighing horses outside the official residence. She glanced outside the pavilion: “Someone’s here?”

Donglai stood outside the pavilion: “This subordinate will go see.”

Footsteps were already echoing from the corridor. Shen Rong glanced, saw Guangyuan leading the way, and partly guessed, saying: “No need.”

Donglai stopped and saw Guangyuan, and naturally knew who had arrived.

Shen Rong remained seated, her eyes already looking towards the corridor.

“Esteemed one, a guest has arrived,” Guangyuan stopped and greeted her, secretly glancing at her.

Shen Rong noticed his unusual solemnity and felt something was amiss. She looked behind him, where several figures were approaching quickly.

It wasn’t Shan Zong.

The leader was draped in a dark green cloak, his hair bound with a jade coronet. He walked, looking left and right. When his eyes swept over her, his face instantly brightened like a spring breeze, smiling radiantly: “Ah Rong!”

Shen Rong rose in surprise: “Second Elder Cousin?”

Pei Shaoyong unfastened his cloak and handed it, along with his riding whip, to the attendant behind him, then hurriedly walked into the garden: “It’s me. I finally see you.”

Shen Rong felt it incredible: “How did you come? And how did you know I was here?”

Pei Shaoyong’s eyes curved, full of smiles: “It’s a long story, but seeing you is good enough.”

Only then did Shen Rong realize he was still standing: “Second Elder Cousin just arrived, please sit down and talk.”

Pei Shaoyong entered the pavilion, his smile never fading, his eyes constantly on her.

He wore a pristine aqua-green open-fronted barbarian robe, meticulously neat, and sat beside her.

Zirui had already hurried over to serve tea, her face also filled with unexpected surprise.

Pei Shaoyong took a sip of tea before smiling: “My aunt was worried about you. Originally, she wanted to send Elder Brother here, but I begged her, and she finally allowed me to come.”

Shen Rong understood in her heart. She had been worried her mother would be overly concerned and make further arrangements, and it seemed her fears were realized.

Pei Shaoyong looked around, surveying the uneven flora in the garden. He frowned, finding the small-to-medium-sized official residence not very comfortable, not even comparable to a fraction of the Duke of Zhao’s mansion.

“Ah Rong, I just learned that you weren’t in Mount Li before, but have been in this border region for so long.”

Before Shen Rong could speak, he said thoughtfully, “Don’t worry, if you don’t want to say, I won’t ask. As long as you’re well, that’s all that matters.”

Shen Rong pursed her lips.

Under the corridor, Guangyuan quietly watched for a moment, then silently withdrew.

________________________________________

The news quickly reached the mountains. Changsun Xin was also surprised to learn that his second cousin from the Pei family had arrived and hurried back earlier than planned.

The Changsun family’s attendants immediately became busy, preparing a banquet to welcome the guest inside the official residence.

The sky hadn’t completely darkened yet, but lights had already been lit early in the hall.

Shen Rong returned to her room to change clothes. When she walked in, Changsun Xin was already sitting inside, wearing a loose, soft casual robe, looking at the opposite side: “What did Mother tell you?”

On the opposite side was Pei Shaoyong, his eyes constantly watching the door. When he saw Shen Rong, he called out: “Ah Rong, come sit quickly.”

Shen Rong walked to Changsun Xin’s side and sat down.

He then replied: “My aunt only said not to pay too much attention to what you see or hear, just to make sure Ah Rong is safe and sound.”

Changsun Xin nodded. There was nothing much to tell him about the mines either. He was here naturally because Ah Rong was being worried about by the family.

Then he felt strange: “Then why did you come?”

Pei Shaoyong said: “Actually, my aunt originally didn’t agree to let me come. She still wanted to send Elder Brother, probably thinking he was the most reliable at handling matters.”

“First Elder Cousin is naturally reliable,” Changsun Xin pressed: “Then how did you come?”

Just then, attendants came in, serving dishes one by one.

Pei Shaoyong was interrupted for a moment. He looked at Shen Rong again, his smile somewhat irrepressible: “Naturally, there’s a reason, and it’s quite a good thing.”

Changsun Xin snorted: “You, Pei Erlang, are still playing coy with me.”

Shen Rong glanced at the opposite side. He was still smiling: “It certainly seems to be a good thing, otherwise Second Elder Cousin wouldn’t be so happy.”

Pei Shaoyong smiled: “Naturally, that’s because...”

Footsteps suddenly sounded from outside.

He paused: “Who’s here?”

Shen Rong turned to look towards the door.

Just as dusk was setting, a figure walked to the door, shrouded in gloom, half-lit by the indoor light.

Pei Shaoyong only saw a tall, straight man standing at the doorway, clad in a fitted black barbarian robe, cinched at the waist with a leather belt, wearing riding boots.

Then he saw his face—a face with sharp features, keen sword-like brows, dark, bright eyes, and a slight upward tilt at the corners when he raised them, revealing a hint of unruliness. The lamplight carved a deep shadow beneath his nose, and the corner of his thin lips was indistinct.

Pei Shaoyong observed carefully, growing more and more shocked. He suddenly stood up: “Shan Zong?”

This appearance, how could he not recognize it?

Shen Rong looked at Shan Zong. Pei Shaoyong had already turned to look at her.

Her eyes flickered, then she looked away.

Changsun Xin almost asked, “What are you doing here?” but realizing whose territory this was, he didn’t know what to say for a moment and only managed: “This is the current Military Commissioner of Youzhou.”

“What?” Pei Shaoyong’s gaze darted between Shan Zong and Shen Rong. So, Ah Rong had been on his territory all this time?

Shan Zong did not enter the room. He glanced at Shen Rong; she sat primly beside Changsun Xin, her profile outlined by the lamplight, her eyes fixed elsewhere.

“Hearing that an esteemed guest has arrived at the official residence, I came to take a look. Please enjoy your meal,” he said, turning and leaving.

Pei Shaoyong watched his figure come and go as he pleased. Hearing his words, he realized something: “Could this be his...”

Changsun Xin coughed lightly: “Didn’t you just mention what my mother told you?”

Only then did Pei Shaoyong fall silent. He looked at Shen Rong opposite him, wondering what she was thinking at the moment, fearing that saying more might displease her.

“Don’t look at me, start eating,” Shen Rong suddenly said blandly, picking up her chopsticks.

Changsun Xin smiled to ease the tension, raising his wine cup: “Right, where were we just now? Second Elder Cousin Pei still hasn’t explained why he was able to come, and what that good thing is?”

Pei Shaoyong smiled, though not as brightly as before: “I was able to come because I passed the Imperial Examinations chosen by the Sage.”

He had mentioned before wanting to achieve fame and status, and Shen Rong remembered that.

But to pass through layers of examinations was not something that could be easily done in a year or two.

It was a fortunate coincidence that perhaps after the Sage had punished many old officials from the previous emperor’s reign, there was a lack of talent, which led to the re-establishment of the Imperial Examinations.

This was a temporary examination set up to recruit extraordinary talent. Scholars and officials could take the exam, and those who passed would be given preferential official positions or promotions.

Pei Shaoyong naturally wouldn’t miss the opportunity. He immediately went to take the exam and passed two rounds quite smoothly, receiving an assessment from the Sage that happened to be related to border strategies.

With this legitimate reason, he used the excuse of needing to visit the frontier to plead with his aunt to let him take this trip in place of Pei Yuanling.

He hadn’t expected Shen Rong to actually be staying in a border region.

“Otherwise, I wouldn’t have known you were in Youzhou, so far away,” he finished, raising his wine cup and looking at the opposite side.

He had also not expected Shan Zong to be in Youzhou.

“That truly is a good thing,” Changsun Xin found it hard to believe: “You have good luck, to have caught such an opportunity. Perhaps you truly will earn the Sage’s appreciation, who knows.”

Shen Rong didn’t pay attention to the conversation. She was picking at a piece of soft pastry in a porcelain dish with her chopsticks, wondering why Shan Zong had suddenly come.

________________________________________

Shan Zong sat down in the guest room. He could still faintly hear occasional laughter from the front hall.

Guangyuan walked in, helped him remove his arm guards, and whispered, “I thought the young master wouldn’t come.”

He was the one who delivered the message, saying a strange man had arrived looking for the esteemed one.

Shan Zong had been busy training soldiers recently and couldn’t really leave, otherwise he would have come sooner. But he still rushed over.

Only after arriving did he discover that the so-called guest was Pei Shaoyong.

It seemed not surprising either.

A servant from the official residence came in, carrying a bowl of fragrant clear soup, which they placed on the table before withdrawing.

Shan Zong glanced at it: “What made you think of making this?”

Guangyuan looked at his expression and whispered, “It was specifically made following the Luoyang style, intended for the esteemed one. I imagine she doesn’t need it now.”

Shan Zong couldn’t help but chuckle at that. Only he would think of such things.

“Just make it and send it to her later, and don’t mention Luoyang,” he said, pulling at the corner of his mouth: “Do you think she still wants to recall her life in Luoyang back then?”

He got up and went out.

The welcoming banquet in the hall seemed to be over. Changsun Xin’s voice drifted from the opposite corridor.

Pei Shaoyong followed behind him, occasionally looking to his side, where Shen Rong was.

As if sensing something, Shen Rong turned her head and looked over.

Shan Zong took a step towards them, but then saw her turn her face away again, as if she hadn’t seen him, walking through the corridor towards the main house.

He stood still, arms crossed, leaning against a corridor pillar, watching for a long time, a self-mocking smile on his lips.