HMHSE - 58

It wasn’t until she had walked a considerable distance that Shen Rong subtly glanced back.

Changsun Xin and Pei Shaoyong were conversing, likely not having noticed Shan Zong’s slight movement just now.

Pei Shaoyong spoke as he walked: “I’ve seen some border defense areas on my way here, but none of them are major passes. I plan to take a good look around Youzhou this time, then go back and submit a policy paper to the court, and wait for the Sage’s decision.”

Changsun Xin said: “In that case, I’ll accompany you tomorrow. Ah Rong, you come along too.”

He said this and received no response. He couldn’t help but turn to look at Shen Rong: “Ah Rong? Why are you so quiet, distracted?”

Shen Rong looked over, having only heard vaguely: “Whatever you two decide is fine.”

Changsun Xin, seeing her pale face, wondered if it was his imagination, but he felt she had been colder and more reluctant to speak these past two days.

He, intending to cheer up the young mistress, smiled: “What are you thinking about? Don’t you have anything to say to me, your elder brother, before you leave?”

Shen Rong glanced at him, then, after a moment of silence, spoke: “I’m wondering if I can come again.”

Changsun Xin’s refined and elegant face froze: “You haven’t even returned yet, and you’re already thinking of coming again?”

Shen Rong’s eyes flickered. She put away the scroll: “I’m just worried about the mountains, what if something happens again?”

Changsun Xin’s expression then softened: “That’s true, these mountains are a bit strange. It would be much more reassuring with you there, but you’ve subdued them twice already, and the mineral veins are clear. I don’t expect anything to happen. I thought it was because of something else.”

At this point, he looked Shen Rong up and down: “Everything else, is it all settled?”

“Mm,” Shen Rong was as indifferent as before, her eyes subtly sweeping over the back of the room’s door.

Just behind that door, Shan Zong’s lowered eyebrows and eyes when he released her seemed to still be before her: “You haven’t thought about it.”

Shen Rong had remained silent, looking at his deep, dark eyes.

“You haven’t thought about what I’ve thought about. This time, it’s all up to you.”

She had forgotten when he left later, only these few words remained clearly in her ears.

Suddenly, outside, there was a commotion of human voices. Some procession passed by, accompanied by drums and gongs, seemingly very festive.

Shen Rong was pulled back to her thoughts by the noise. She glanced outside.

Changsun Xin remembered: “That’s right, second cousin chose an auspicious day. It coincides with the Prefectural Residence’s celebration today. That Miss Zhao, the Prefect’s adopted sister, is marrying into Tanzhou. They sent an invitation yesterday, but I declined it for you.”

Shen Rong nodded slightly: “It’s fine that you declined.”

Pei Shaoyong arrived at the door right after, wearing the same aqua-blue double-breasted barbarian robe he had arrived in, covered by a dark green silk cloak, his barbarian boots spotless, looking ready to ride at any moment. A radiant smile was on his face: “Ah Rong, we can depart.” Shen Rong glanced at her brother, then rose and walked out. Today, she also wore a barbarian robe, plain and cinched at the waist, highlighting her slender figure.

Pei Shaoyong couldn’t help but look at her more. He suddenly noticed her high collar and a faint hint of red at her neck. He quickly asked: “Ah Rong, what happened to your neck?”

Changsun Xin, who had just followed out, also turned to look: “What happened?”

Shen Rong, holding her high collar, walked ahead first: “Nothing.”

That was the mark of Shan Zong’s kiss. As she walked, she touched it with her finger.

It still felt slightly sore, as if she could still feel the scorching force of his thin lips enclosing her then.

That scene and his words once again returned to her ears.

This time, it’s all up to you.

________________________________________

The sky was clear for miles, and the spring breeze was warm and strong. It was indeed a good day for a wedding.

The festivities at the Prefectural Residence spread throughout the city.

This area of Youzhou, having experienced multiple wars and difficult times, had always longed for joyful occasions. However, they disliked extravagance. Even though this was a wedding at the Prefectural Residence, it couldn’t be described as grand; it was like an ordinary family’s celebration, with a banquet and lively atmosphere, and that was all.

Inside the residence, before donning her wedding gown, Zhao Fumei specifically bid farewell to Zhao Jinlian and Mrs. He in the main hall.

Zhao Jinlian and his wife, dressed solemnly, sat above, receiving her formal bow.

Mrs. He, soft-hearted, couldn’t bear such scenes. Overwhelmed with emotion, she wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and was only comforted when Zhao Jinlian patted her hand.

He made a gesture to help Zhao Fumei up: “General Zhou Zhen has arrived at the residence. You should go prepare quickly, or you’ll be late for the departure.”

Zhao Fumei lowered her head, said yes, and rose.

Shan Zong, stern in his black clothes, stood under the corridor of the Prefectural Residence. He walked along, looking around. The residence was bustling with activity, but he didn’t see that woman’s figure, nor any member of the Changsun family attending the banquet.

He turned, about to leave, when a voice behind him called: “Envoy Shan.”

Shan Zong stopped and turned. Zhao Fumei stood before him.

Her slightly lowered head was already adorned with jewelry, and her face powdered. She only needed to put on her wedding gown before she could leave with Zhou Jun. “I came to bid farewell to Envoy Shan and thank you for saving my life back then. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have my current good fortune.”

Shan Zong said, “I don’t remember it anymore.”

Zhao Fumei still kept her eyes lowered, bowing: “I know this is not according to custom, and I know Envoy Shan no longer remembers, but I still remember, so I cannot act as if this kindness never existed.”

She looked up at him, then lowered her gaze again, her voice so low it was almost inaudible: “May Envoy Shan be well from now on, and may everything go as you wish.”

Shan Zong curled the corner of his mouth. Everything as I wish? Who could make him wish for anything?

He said nothing, turned, and left.

After a few steps, from behind a corridor pillar, Zhou Jun, dressed in red wedding attire, appeared, his slender eyes staring at him with an inscrutable meaning.

“Congratulations,” Shan Zong left two words, but his eyes seemed not to have seen him. He strode past directly.

Zhou Jun glanced in the direction he had come from. When he turned back to look at him, he had already walked towards the mansion gate, his steps unceasing, leaving the Prefectural Residence directly.

________________________________________

Around noon, the wedding procession finally left the Prefectural Residence and headed out of the city.

By the city gate of Youzhou, the streets were crowded with onlookers, bustling with noise and laughter. Only the guards on the city wall remained stoically on duty.

Zhou Jun rode ahead on horseback, leading the carriage carrying Zhao Fumei, and the procession, neither long nor short, was escorted by Tanzhou soldiers.

Not far outside the city gate, a detachment of Youzhou military camp soldiers was waiting.

Shan Zong sat on his horse, his eyes fixed on the city gate.

Hu Shi-yi rode beside him, chuckling: “Chief, I thought you had a grudge with General Zhou Zhen. It was good enough that you went to the Prefectural Residence to offer congratulations today. I didn’t expect you to even come send him off.”

He was originally the one meant to lead the men here as a formality, representing the Youzhou military camp to see off the Tanzhou General, but he hadn’t expected Shan Zong to come in person.

Shan Zong didn’t respond.

Hu Shi-yi turned his head to look, only seeing his solemn profile, as if he hadn’t heard a single word just now.

“Chief?”

Shan Zong’s eyes finally moved. He asked: “Besides the wedding procession, have any other groups left?”

“Other groups?” Hu Shi-yi scratched his chin, thinking carefully: “No. We’ve been waiting here all morning to send them off. We haven’t seen any other groups come out.”

Shan Zong nodded. That’s right, if there were other groups, they would avoid the wedding procession before departing.

________________________________________

At this time, outside the official residence’s main gate, Shen Rong’s carriage, surrounded by numerous guards, was waiting to depart.

Guangyuan rushed out of the gate, his hands tucked into his sleeves, his brows furrowed deeply.

The esteemed one was actually leaving again, and there had been no hint of it before. He had only just found out.

As he thought, he glanced at Pei Shaoyong, intuitively feeling it was his idea.

Changsun Xin, with his cloak tied, walked out to the carriage and said to the curtain: “The wedding procession has passed, the road is clear. Let’s set off. I’ll escort you for a bit.”

Shen Rong, from behind the carriage curtain, said: “No need.”

Pei Shaoyong rode his horse, guarding the front of the carriage, and chuckled: “Cousin, are you perhaps worried about me?”

Changsun Xin mounted his horse: “No, not that. I won’t escort you far, just past Tanzhou will do.”

Pei Shaoyong knew that the siblings had come with important matters, and they would likely discuss some mountain affairs on the way. He could only chuckle: “That’s fine. Cousin cares for Ah Rong, as he should.”

Shen Rong said nothing.

The carriage set off. They had specifically waited until now, and the road was indeed much smoother, heading directly out of the city.

Only Guangyuan sighed deeply, looking at the distant carriage.

________________________________________

Outside the city, Zhou Jun’s wedding procession had long since departed, and even the dust on the road had been swept away by the spring breeze.

Hu Shi-yi, leading his horse that was pawing the ground, looked beside him: “Chief, they’ve been gone so long, aren’t we going back yet?”

Shan Zong still looked at the city gate: “You all go back first.”

Hu Shi-yi looked left and right, waved twice to the people behind him, and as he rode his horse towards the military camp, he looked back at the city gate again. He suddenly saw a group of people coming out.

A group of guards cleared the way, tightly protecting the carriage in the middle. Two richly dressed young masters rode on horses in front of the carriage.

“Jin Jiaojiao?” He looked at Shan Zong’s figure in surprise, then understood what was happening. So, the Chief was waiting for her.

The moment Shan Zong saw that procession, his eyebrows furrowed. He hadn’t seen her at the Prefectural Residence, so she was indeed leaving.

He stared at the carriage in the middle, looking at its curtain. The curtain fluttered, but he couldn’t see the figure inside.

Shen Rong sat in the carriage, holding a scroll, spread open on her lap, facing the section of Mount Wangji.

Outside, Changsun Xin and Pei Shaoyong occasionally exchanged idle chatter about irrelevant topics.

The carriage curtain suddenly fluttered as if the wind had grown stronger, blowing onto the scroll. The surroundings also quieted. Only then did she realize they were outside the city. She turned her head, looked out through the window lattice, and her gaze sharpened.

Outside, the sound of horse hooves gradually stopped.

“Why did he come?” Pei Shaoyong asked in a lowered voice.

Changsun Xin cleared his throat, trying to smooth things over: “What’s the matter? He controls the military and political safety of this area. What’s wrong with him being at the city gate?”

Shen Rong stared at the figure on horseback. He slowly rode closer, one hand holding his saber, his eyes fixed on her from beginning to end.

She didn’t know if he could clearly see her face, and her heart tightened for no reason.

Changsun Xin saw Shan Zong ride towards them without looking away, and couldn’t help but spur his horse forward first: “Envoy Shan, what brings you here?”

Shan Zong’s gaze swept past him, still fixed on the carriage: “Just a few parting words, no need to be so flustered.”

Changsun Xin was choked for a moment, thinking, Who’s flustered? He turned back to look at the carriage.

The carriage curtain fluttered again in the wind, and Shen Rong’s voice came from within: “Let him come and speak.”

Pei Shaoyong looked over in surprise: “Ah Rong?”

Shen Rong said faintly: “It’s fine.”

Donglai immediately led the guards away. Even Zirui, who had been sitting outside the carriage, dismounted.

Changsun Xin frowned and rode his horse back to the carriage, patting Pei Shaoyong’s shoulder, motioning for him to follow.

Pei Shaoyong stared at the carriage repeatedly, then at Shan Zong on his horse.

He suddenly saw Shan Zong’s eyes lift and sweep over him, like a sharp blade cutting through the wind. He couldn’t help but grip his reins tightly, having perceived the ill intent in Shan Zong’s eyes, and his face changed.

“Second Elder Cousin,” Changsun Xin tugged at his sleeve.

Pei Shaoyong looked at the carriage again, then finally spurred his horse to follow Changsun Xin to the side of the road to avoid them.

“Don’t forget what my mother told you. For Ah Rong’s sake, just pretend you didn’t see anything and don’t mention it when we get back,” Changsun Xin whispered to him. Pei Shaoyong was particularly bothered by Shan Zong’s glance, but hearing “for Ah Rong’s sake,” he said nothing, retreating far to the roadside, watching that end.

Shan Zong had reached the carriage window, his head lowered, mostly obscured by the carriage, so outsiders couldn’t clearly see anything.

Only Shen Rong knew that through the thin gauze of the window lattice, his face was blurry before her, only the deep darkness in his eyes most prominent.

“Is this your answer?” he asked in a deep voice.

Shen Rong looked at his face, then slowly looked away, not knowing what to say.

Perhaps it was precisely because of this that she chose to leave now.

“Changsun Shen Rong.”

Through the thin veil, she clearly saw his throat bob, his eyes dark as he stared at her.

“I deserve this. I knew you just wanted me to submit, and perhaps I should never have let you succeed.”

His throat bobbed again, and the corner of his mouth twitched, just once, then his lips pressed tightly together.

Shen Rong had never seen such an expression on him. She silently lowered her eyes.

“Ah Rong,” Pei Shaoyong couldn’t help but call out a distant reminder.

The horse pulling the carriage shifted its hooves, causing the carriage to move forward slightly.

The window lattice was suddenly gripped firmly by a hand. The carriage jolted, Shen Rong was startled, her eyes flickering—it was Shan Zong’s hand.

His long fingers clasped the lattice, two veins bulging on the back of his hand, indicating immense force.

But the next moment, his hand released its grip.

When Shen Rong turned to look out, he had already spurred his horse away, his black-clad figure galloping swiftly, his expression unseen.

Shen Rong sat in the carriage. Only then did her fingers twitch, her heart beating rapidly twice, and she turned her head only after his figure disappeared from her sight.