HMHSE - 64

Inside the official residence, in the main house.

Shen Rong held a damp cloth and wiped her face, as if also wiping away the dust from her journey. She glanced out the door and could still faintly see Guangyuan whispering with Shan Zong at the courtyard gate.

When they had just returned to the official residence, he couldn’t help but want to speak. It was indeed strange that she had left and then returned.

She slowly wiped her fingers again, turning her gaze away.

“The Young Master actually brought the noble lady back! I almost thought I was seeing things. Could it be...?” Outside, Guangyuan clapped his hands, joy inexpressible. “Could it be what I’m thinking?”

When the noble lady had come before, he had seen the Young Master rush out of the military compound, and he had already had some suspicions.

Shan Zong tossed his saber to him, a corner of his lips raised. “Yes, it’s exactly what you’re thinking.”

Guangyuan held his saber, even more delighted. Shan Zong had already walked past him.

Entering the main house, Shen Rong was sitting on the couch, turning her head to look at him.

Shan Zong glanced around. The furnishings in the room were still similar to his quarters at the Shan family’s residence. This was the first time he had entered it after staying in the military compound for so long.

Yet, Shen Rong was also here, and as he walked in, for a moment it felt like he had walked into another Shan family.

He merely thought about it for a moment, then walked straight to Shen Rong. He saw her lips, full and red, and even now, her lower lip had a strikingly fresh red mark—the trace of his fierce grinding.

Shen Rong saw his gaze and unconsciously raised a hand to lightly touch it. Her eyes moved, resting on his tightly cinched waist in front of her, then moved away.

Shan Zong asked softly, “Did I use too much force?”

He hadn’t intended to, but he couldn’t restrain himself. At that moment, he didn’t want to either, though perhaps he should have been gentler.

Shen Rong’s ears felt slightly warm, but her expression remained indifferent. She said softly, “Don’t get too pleased with yourself. Don’t think that just because I said that, I’m destined to be in your grasp for the rest of my life.”

Shan Zong looked at her expression. Ever since he mentioned the divorce paper, she had worn this look, clearly still displeased about the past, though she stubbornly wouldn’t say so directly. He understood.

Indeed, even if they were married, couldn’t she leave at any time? Changsun Shen Rong, the pampered daughter of the Changsun family, was proud and noble; no one could force her.

He stretched his lips, then pursed them, unable to smile. He stood in front of her, looking down at her. “Then what would it take?”

What would it take to be truly destined to be in his grasp, for a lifetime?

Shen Rong turned her head. “That will be entirely for me to decide.”

No sooner had she spoken than she felt his figure step closer. Her skirt was pressed tightly by one of his legs. Shan Zong leaned in, one hand supporting himself on the edge of the couch, the other cupping her face, and simply captured her lips again with a fierce kiss.

Shen Rong met his eyes in surprise, her lips tingling slightly, the tip of her tongue numb where it touched his.

His deep, dark eyes stared at her, a corner of his mouth hooked. “You’ll decide. That day will come, and perhaps you’ll also bow your head to me.”

Shen Rong’s heart beat a little faster from his heavy tone. She instinctively wanted to bite her lip, but touched her lower lip instead, wincing in pain. Releasing it, she thought of saying, “Dream on,” and met his gaze.

Shan Zong’s gaze met hers steadily. His thumb suddenly brushed her lips. “How long can you stay?”

Shen Rong seemed to have kissed his thumb. The stinging pain from where she had inadvertently bitten herself was gone, replaced by an even greater numbness on her lips. She pursed them, then brought her thoughts back. “My brother only promised me half a month. The journey there and back will take up most of that, so I only have two days left.”

If not for that, Changsun Xin would never have agreed to let her return. This was already the longest he could allow.

Shan Zong had actually expected this. Though she spoke defiantly, she had still come on this trip. His heart felt poked by something, both astringent and numb.

Shen Rong saw his unwavering gaze and lightly snorted. “I told you not to get too pleased with yourself.”

He smiled, then straightened up. Remembering her words about only two days remaining, his smile faded.

Guangyuan’s voice drifted in from outside, asking from a distance through the door, “Young Master, the men from the military compound are still outside. Should I send them back first?”

Listening to his tone, it was clear he hoped Shan Zong would dismiss the men from the military compound and stay here.

Shan Zong took a step but didn’t answer.

Shen Rong glanced at him, understanding. “You still have business?”

“Mm, before you came, I was guarding the mountains.”

After returning to Youzhou, he had personally guarded Mount Wangji. It wasn’t until the soldiers he had arranged to listen for movement reported again that he led his men and rushed to meet her, just in time.

“Then why aren’t you going?” Shen Rong took out the brocade pouch containing her book, pretending to want to read.

Shan Zong looked at the sun outside, then at the scroll of “Nu Ze” in her hand. His voice deepened. “Then I’ll go first and come back later.”

“As you wish,” she said dismissively.

Shan Zong watched her lower her long eyelashes, her pale profile, then turned and walked out.

Only then did Shen Rong glance at the door, then leaned back against the couch. She wasn’t actually reading the scroll; she hadn’t read a single word.

She knew he must be very busy when she saw him rush to Hedong so quickly. Why bother coming back specially?

She thought that it would have been better to just send a message. But after he brought up the divorce paper after she arrived, it stirred up old grievances in her heart.

Yet, hearing that she might not be able to come for several months or half a year, she had already made her decision. She pursed her lips, unable to describe the feeling in her heart.

Shan Zong walked onto the corridor, took the saber Guangyuan handed him, and seeing his reluctant expression of wanting to speak, waved him away.

After Guangyuan left, he didn’t leave himself. He turned back and looked at the main house again, recalling her words: “Don’t get too pleased with yourself. Don’t think that just because I said that, I’m destined to be in your grasp for the rest of my life.”

Shan Zong’s lips formed a thin line. He wanted to smile again, his fingers tracing the hilt of his saber.

He had said that one day he would make her stop being so stubborn, but for now, there wasn’t much time left for them to be together.

He tapped the scabbard with his finger, his feet still unmoving. Suddenly, he turned and walked back.

Shen Rong had just put away her book when she heard quick footsteps. She looked up and saw Shan Zong enter the door.

His riding boots clacked on the floor as he walked straight to her, reached out a hand, and gripped her arm.

“Didn’t you just leave?” she asked in surprise, looking at him.

Shan Zong pulled her to her feet, a roguish grin on his face. “I’m the one who settles the people, but I lack someone to settle the mountains, so you’ll come with me.”

Since there wasn’t much time, they would go together.

________________________________________

Mount Wangji now had increased personnel and heavy guard.

Hu Shiyi had arrived earlier and was squatting under a tree trunk, whispering to Zhang Wei about what he had seen on the post road, leaving Zhang Wei stunned.

“Really?”

Hu Shiyi clicked his tongue. “Of course it’s real. In my opinion, Boss and Jin Jiaojiao are back together.”

Zhang Wei asked, “What do you mean ‘back together’?”

“Are you stupid? Former wife becomes current wife, what else is that but ‘back together’?”

“Oh, right.”

“What did I tell you?” Hu Shiyi slapped his thigh. “Aren’t they a match? See, I was right on the money.”

Zhang Wei didn’t agree with him this time. He gestured with his mouth towards him, indicating that he should stop talking for now.

Hu Shiyi turned his head back and saw Shan Zong arriving, closely followed by Shen Rong. He immediately shut his mouth; not a word was heard from him.

Shen Rong reached the mine shaft and first looked down into the pit. She had expected it to be very busy now, but found there was no activity.

There was no sound of ore being mined below, and the few officials from the Ministry of Works who had started smelting here with his brother had not appeared.

“Could it be that everything has become lax since I left?”

Shan Zong stood beside her. “Those hardened criminals are still in solitary confinement; mining and smelting are temporarily on hold.”

Shen Rong found it strange. “What happened to them?”

Shan Zong didn’t want to tell her about the sudden riot earlier, briefly saying, “They weren’t obedient enough, so they naturally needed to be disciplined.”

She looked around. “Where are they confined?”

“Don’t look,” he said. “Lest you be frightened.”

Shen Rong was actually convinced, especially after witnessing his ruthless efficiency with a blade. Who knew what methods he used? She remained silent.

Shan Zong didn’t actually want to scare her, so he smiled. “Just kidding.”

Shen Rong shot him an exasperated glance.

His smile deepened. “Wait for me here.”

Shen Rong watched him tuck up his clothes and descend into the pit using a wooden ladder. When she looked up, she happened to see a well-ordered team of soldiers approaching from the direction of the pass, numerous in number, looking even more vigilant than usual.

She looked down at Shan Zong’s figure and suddenly understood why he had been in the mountains recently.

It seemed the pass hadn’t been peaceful lately either.

She couldn’t help but recall his weariness when he chased her to Hedong, and his words, “It was worth it.” Shen Rong’s thoughts stirred; it was false to say she was completely unmoved.

But then she saw Hu Shiyi and Zhang Wei peering at her from under a distant tree. She raised a hand to smooth a lock of hair by her temple and turned to look at the wind blowing past the mountain.

“Say, once Jin Jiaojiao becomes the Boss’s current wife, what should we call her?” Under the tree, Hu Shiyi suddenly thought of this trivial matter.

Zhang Wei shook his head. “How would I know? Before, seeing the Boss’s unyielding demeanor and fierce temperament, I thought he’d live alone in the military compound his whole life. Who would have thought he’d get back together with his former wife?”

Hu Shiyi nodded in agreement. “Exactly.”

Shan Zong, saber in hand, lowered his head and entered the tunnel lit only by torches.

All the way to the bottom, it branched into several newly dug tunnels, descending three layers deep. The mining spaces were supported by wooden pillars, like small chambers. Outside each chamber, soldiers with whips and sabers stood guard.

That group of hardened criminals was now dispersed and separately confined within.

Shan Zong entered one of the chambers and said, “Light.”

A soldier holding a torch brought it in, fastened it to a bracket on the wall, and then retreated.

The dark surroundings were illuminated, revealing piles of ore in the corner and Wei Shenwu, tightly bound hand and foot, lying by the rock pile.

His mouth and nose were again covered with the black hood from before. His half-long, messy hair resembled withered grass. He glared at Shan Zong, his left eye still a gruesome white scar, but the previous malice was gone. Days of dark confinement had sapped his strength.

Shan Zong drew his saber and used it to lift the black hood that gagged him. “Anything else to say?”

Wei Shenwu gasped for breath, revealing the red marks on his neck from where Shan Zong had fiercely gripped him that day. He let out a raspy, eerie laugh. “My skills aren’t as good as yours, old man. I have nothing to say.”

“That’s sensible of you.” Shan Zong turned to leave, but then heard his sinister chuckle again.

“I heard the little beauty’s voice. She’s back with you again.”

Shan Zong, with his back to him, said coldly, “None of your business.”

Wei Shenwu laughed, grinding his teeth, making a grating sound. “You’re like this whenever she’s mentioned. Heh, if she knew what kind of person you truly are, I wonder if she’d still come back!”

Shan Zong tightened his grip on the saber, abruptly turned, lifted Wei Shenwu with one hand, pointed the tip of his saber at his throat, and said with dark eyes, “It’s not your place to define what kind of person I am.”

Wei Shenwu grinned, appearing fearless of death, clearly provoking him on purpose.

“I advise you to stop testing my limits, and stop with these useless resistance attempts,” Shan Zong said, his voice heavily suppressed. “This is the last time. If you provoke me with her again, I will truly grant your wish!”

Wei Shenwu’s purpose had been seen through. His smile vanished, and he panted heavily through gritted teeth.

“Continue solitary confinement!” Shan Zong threw him back onto the pile of rocks.

The soldiers outside immediately entered upon hearing the command.

Shan Zong turned to leave, hearing slowly approaching footsteps in his ears.

Shen Rong had stayed above for a moment, then descended into the pit. As soon as she reached the bottom and was about to turn into another tunnel, an arm reached out and embraced her waist, pulling her over.

She was startled. It was dark all around, with only a torch in front of her illuminating the figure of the man before her.

Shan Zong held her. “Did I scare you?”

Shen Rong glanced at his face. The firelight flickered in his eyes, passing over his thin lips. Beneath his prominent brow bone, his eyes were deep and somber.

She was clearly accustomed to seeing him, yet at this moment, she suddenly felt that this face was even more heroic and extraordinary in the darkness. She said softly, “There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

Shan Zong’s heart, which had been in turmoil, now calmed like a tide. His hand on her waist tightened unconsciously, pulling her outward.

As Shen Rong walked out with him, she asked, “Are you planning to take me with you everywhere?”

He chuckled softly. “I wish I could.”

Unfortunately, her stay was too short.