HMHSE - 63

Approximately two kè later, Shan Ying arrived at the corridor and only saw Changsun Xin standing by a pillar.

His moon-white round-collared robe was perfectly neat, highlighting his jade-like complexion, but his face was somber, and his hands were clasped behind his back, as if he were sulking.

Shan Ying walked closer, calling, “What’s wrong, Xingli?”

Changsun Xin, hearing someone call him that so naturally for the first time, immediately turned. Seeing that it was her, he remembered that he had told her to call him that. Still not quite used to it, he didn’t respond.

Shan Ying, however, didn’t mind. She came closer, seeing him standing alone on the entire corridor, and asked strangely, “Why are you here alone? Where’s Shen Rong?”

It was better if she hadn’t mentioned it; when she did, Changsun Xin’s face darkened even more. He flicked his sleeve and turned sideways. “Don’t mention that to me. I don’t want to see any of your Shan family members right now!”

He had always been a proper gentleman; she had never seen him in such a state.

Shan Ying’s expression changed, and she took a step closer. “What do you mean? I’m asking out of goodwill. How did I offend you?”

She was also wearing men’s round-collared robes and a man’s topknot, and when she approached abruptly, she was only half a head shorter than him, radiating a compelling heroism.

Changsun Xin was somewhat caught off guard. He involuntarily took a step back and didn’t feel like arguing with her. “Never mind, I can’t explain it to you.”

“Then where’s Shen Rong?” Shan Ying pressed.

“Gone!” Changsun Xin turned and walked away.

Shan Ying found this strange and followed his footsteps.

They passed through the covered walkway and entered the open courtyard leading to the main gate, where they met Pei Shaoyong, who was walking towards them with several attendants.

“Cousin, where’s A-Rong?” Pei Shaoyong walked quickly, dressed in Hu-style clothes, riding boots, and a cape, clearly ready to set off. “I’ve been waiting for you for a long time. I just heard some commotion outside, as if others have also departed from here?”

Changsun Xin forced a smile onto his face. “That wasn’t others; that was A-Rong.”

Pei Shaoyong’s expression instantly changed. “A-Rong? Where did she go?”

“She... returned to Youzhou.”

“What?”

Shan Ying, who had followed along, also looked on in surprise.

Changsun Xin pressed his hand gently twice in front of Pei Shaoyong, trying to reassure him. “It’s nothing. I suddenly realized there were some unfinished matters in the mountains, so I asked her to go back and check on the situation for me.”

Pei Shaoyong’s brow furrowed, his expression somewhat gloomy. “Does she not intend to return to Chang’an?”

“Return, of course she will return,” Changsun Xin forced another smile. “She’s just leaving for a bit in the middle; we just need to wait for her.”

“Is that so? That’s good then.” Only then did Pei Shaoyong smile as he usually did, though it was fleeting.

Shen Rong’s reaction that day at Zhou Jun’s mansion had always stayed in his mind. He instinctively felt that Shen Rong’s sudden return was related to Shan Zong, yet he preferred to believe it was just as Changsun Xin said.

Shan Ying finally couldn’t help but speak. “Then do you two still intend to set off? I can escort you for a stretch.” She looked at Changsun Xin. “I promised you last time that I’d guarantee your journey again.”

Changsun Xin glanced at her, not expecting her to be serious about it, and that she still remembered. He was still in a bad mood, thinking, who needs the Shan family to guarantee their journey?

“No need, I’ll just wait for her here!”

Shan Ying was secretly pleased to hear that Shen Rong had returned to Youzhou, perhaps because her eldest cousin had chased after her. She readily accepted, “Good, you can stay as long as you like!”

Changsun Xin felt even more stifled. He pressed his eyebrows. Who wants to stay long? He only wanted to leave as soon as possible, not knowing how to explain it to his parents, his heart filled with worry!

Beside him, Pei Shaoyong had been lost in thought for a long time. He glanced outside the main gate and silently walked back.

At the city gate, Shan Zhao had just ordered the Shan family troops to open it and personally watched the procession leave the city.

He still felt surprised at this moment. He had expected not to see his sister-in-law for a long time, but unexpectedly, after discussing with Changsun Xin, she suddenly asked him to open the city, saying she wanted to return to Youzhou.

When he saw her off here just now, he dismounted and quietly asked in front of the carriage, “Is it because Big Brother came?”

Shen Rong, from behind the carriage curtain, spoke in a faint tone, “It’s because of myself. What I’ve done, I’ll take responsibility for.”

Shan Zhao didn’t quite understand, but he felt that her tone was firm and completely different from the troubled look she had when she first arrived. She was still the same vibrant sister-in-law he had first met. He stepped back a few paces and watched her depart.

Donglai went first, and the Changsun family’s guards cleared the way on either side, escorting the carriage out of the city.

They went straight out of Hedong, heading north, back to Youzhou.

________________________________________

A contingent of soldiers entered Youzhou several days later.

The horses halted, almost uniformly dismounted, and rested on the spot.

By the roadside stood a boundary marker and Youzhou banners, with a group of soldiers sitting on the ground nearby.

Hu Shiyi walked over with dry rations and a water flask. “Boss, we’re in our territory now, so you don’t have to worry. Get some good rest.” He then handed him the water flask.

Shan Zong sat with his back against the large boundary stone, one hand resting on his knee, looking relaxed, yet showing a hint of fatigue. He took the water flask, pulled out the stopper, and took a large gulp, then hummed in response.

Hu Shiyi sat cross-legged beside him and looked at his face. “If I had known there was nothing wrong in the prefecture, we wouldn’t have had to rush back so quickly. Boss, did you finish your conversation this time?”

“Finished,” Shan Zong leaned languidly against the boundary stone, his back resting on the two characters for Youzhou. A smile spread across his lips. “Whether there’s something or not, I should come back as soon as possible. I should be rooted right here.”

Hu Shiyi then remembered his rule about not leaving Youzhou. He shoved a piece of dried meat into his mouth and chewed. “Since you’re not leaving Youzhou, why did you make an exception for this trip, Boss?”

In his opinion, whatever he had to say, it would have been better to wait in Youzhou until Jin Jiaojiao came next time.

Shan Zong took another drink of water, capped the water flask, and tossed it back to him. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, then he tugged at the corner of his mouth again. “There are many things one must try, even knowing they’re hopeless. Regretlessness can only be claimed after one has done it.”

Hu Shiyi even forgot to chew his dried meat. He had followed Shan Zong for three years and had never heard him speak such words. He suddenly felt a sense of heart-to-heart connection.

But he felt that what he was talking about was Jin Jiaojiao, and also like something else; he was puzzled for a moment.

When he looked again, Shan Zong had already leaned back against the boundary marker, closing his eyes for a short rest. “Wake me up in a kè.”

“Alright,” Hu Shiyi said no more, continuing to chew his dried meat and ponder.

However, before a kè had passed, a soldier ran over. “Boss, there’s movement from the rear.”

Shan Zong instantly opened his eyes, propped himself up with his saber, and stood. “What movement?”

During marches, it was customary to constantly listen for movements from all directions, with scouts leading the way and bringing up the rear.

The soldier who had rushed back was from the rear, and he cupped his fists. “Someone is rapidly following our route on horseback. From a distance, they appear to be guards.”

Hu Shiyi stood up, spitting out the dried meat. “Don’t tell me it’s General Zhou Zhen’s men. We’re already out of Danzhou!”

Shan Zong thought for a moment. “Keep an eye on their movements, and report back at any time.”

The soldier took the order and left.

Shan Zong mounted his horse with his saber and ordered everyone to return to the city.

________________________________________

Another few days passed in a flash, and the carriage was still on the road.

Shen Rong, by habit, sat in the carriage with a book spread on her lap.

She read for a while, then put it away.

Outside the carriage, Zirui said, “Young mistress, Donglai is back.”

Immediately after, Donglai’s voice was heard: “Young mistress, I couldn’t catch up after chasing for three days. They were too fast.”

“Mm, it’s fine,” Shen Rong said indifferently. She wasn’t here to chase him either.

She looked out the window, and just as when she first arrived, she saw the border landscape: the vast and magnificent Heshui plains, the rolling mountains, as if veiled by a pale, yellowish-gray mist.

Ahead was a straight, deserted post road.

Shen Rong withdrew her gaze, knowing they would arrive soon.

Suddenly, hoofbeats approached, swift as a gust of wind, surrounding them.

The carriage abruptly stopped.

The guards outside also halted.

“Young mistress,” Donglai called softly, as if a reminder.

Shen Rong lifted the carriage curtain and leaned out.

On the post road, by the few houses of the post station, their group stood still, surrounded by a circle of military cavalry.

Within the cavalry, Shan Zong rode out on his horse, sitting upright and straight, staring at her, his dark eyes almost unmoving.

The woman leaning out of the carriage, her ruqun fluttering in the wind, was uniquely graceful, like a dream come true.

Hu Shiyi mumbled beside him, “So, all these days we’ve been keeping an eye on movements, and it turns out we were watching for Jin Jiaojiao?”

Only then was he certain it was real.

Shen Rong also looked at him, not having expected that they would encounter each other here, before reaching Youzhou.

“Surprised?” she asked softly.

Shan Zong finally moved his dark, deep-set eyes, nodded, and his throat moved slightly. “Indeed.”

Shen Rong smoothed her attire, stood straight outside the carriage, and looked at him. “I’ve come to give you an answer.”

Shan Zong pursed his lips, raised a hand, and Hu Shiyi immediately led the cavalry to retreat further back.

Donglai also led Zirui and the guards to retreat to the other side.

Shan Zong dismounted, tossed aside the reins, and stared at her for a moment. “What kind of answer requires you to return in person to say it?”

“Of course, I must say it myself,” Shen Rong softly hummed, her voice low, as if speaking to herself, “Otherwise, how could I be content?”

Shan Zong looked down at his long, thin shadow stretched by the sun, his posture still upright and unbending. When he looked up, he was already calm. “Speak.”

Shen Rong looked at him, her hands holding her pibo clasped in front of her. She slowly raised her chin, looking down at him imperiously, her gaze disdainful. “Plead with me, and I might consider becoming husband and wife with you again.”

Shan Zong’s eyes snapped open. She was still staring at him in that manner, her gaze clear, her voice seemingly lingering in the wind.

She was waiting for him to speak.

Shan Zong stared at her, his saber cradled in his arm, and a smile played on his lips, gradually turning into a roguish grin. “Why don’t you come closer to me and say it?”

Shen Rong’s sidelong glance shifted slightly, meeting his gaze unflinchingly. The roguish grin on his face seemed to deepen.

She suddenly pulled up her clothes with one hand and stepped down from the carriage using the footstool.

Her feet hadn’t even touched the ground when the man’s long strides reached her. Her hand was seized, and she was pulled quickly towards the houses of the post station beside the road.

It was an old, gray, low-lying house. As soon as she entered, Shen Rong was pulled by Shan Zong directly into his embrace.

“Really?” He held her firmly around her lower back with one hand, looking down and asking in a deep voice, “Are you telling the truth?”

Shen Rong was held so tightly by him that when she looked up, her forehead brushed against his chin. His face still showed unvanquished fatigue, with dark circles under his eyes and a slight bluish tint to his chin. Only the smile in his eyes and at the corners of his mouth remained as before, both wicked and mischievous.

She looked at him twice, her voice unconsciously softening. “You’re playing tricks. What kind of pleading is this?”

Shan Zong hummed. “This doesn’t count. My proposal of marriage counts.”

Remembering the circumstances of his proposal that night, Shen Rong remained silent.

His voice deepened further. “So, it’s true then.”

Shen Rong looked at his face and, after a moment, said, “Aren’t you afraid I’m still seeking revenge on you?”

Shan Zong’s roguish smiling face came closer, his forehead resting against hers as he looked into her eyes. “Come, then, take your revenge on me.”

Only take revenge on me.

The next moment, Shen Rong’s lips felt warm.

He kissed her.

She clutched his sleeve with one hand, tightening her grip. He was kissing her too hard, grinding and rubbing, as if wanting to use all his strength.

She raised her neck, her face brushing against his slightly bluish chin, a faint itch. She had no time to breathe.

Suddenly, she lightly inhaled at his lips. Instantly, her waist was pressed tight as Shan Zong’s mouth covered hers, and her fingertips tingled.

Outside, Hu Shiyi’s men and Donglai’s guards stood at opposite ends of the road, looking at each other, no one making a sound.

After a long time, the two of them finally emerged from the house.

Even though they saw them, they could only pretend not to, because Jin Jiaojiao was being led out by their boss, holding her hand.

Although he let go quickly after they came out, Hu Shiyi still caught a glimpse, and quickly turned his head to look at the sky, pretending not to see.

Over there, Donglai was looking at the ground.

Shan Zong supported Shen Rong’s lower back, helped her into the carriage, and gripped her arm.

Shen Rong turned back, her lips still crimson and glistening.

Shan Zong glanced at them, his lips twitching. He looked into her eyes. “If you still have that divorce paper from back then, bring it out.”

Shen Rong’s expression immediately turned cold. “You’re still bringing that up.”

He reined in his smile. “It has to be resolved somehow.”

It couldn’t just be ignored as if it never happened.