HMHSE - 66

After dawn, Shen Rong opened her eyes and slowly turned over. There was no one beside her.

She barely remembered when Shan Zong had left last night, only the mischief he had caused.

Thinking of it again made her heart pound faster until Zirui’s voice came from outside: “Young mistress, it’s time to get up.”

Shen Rong immediately pushed away those thoughts, sat up, smoothed her hair, and said in her usual tone, “Come in.”

Shan Zong was waiting right outside the main gate, having been there since early morning.

Changsun’s family guards, led by Donglai, had already hitched the carriage at the gate.

He hadn’t slept much in the latter half of the night. Later, seeing Shen Rong asleep, he feared disturbing her, so he simply got up early, got ready, and waited there for her to rise.

Pacing a few steps in front of the gate, he glanced at Donglai. “Is Pei Shaoyong still waiting in Hedong?”

Donglai heard his question, turned around, and bowed, answering affirmatively.

Shan Zong hummed, slowly pulling at his arm guard. His expression remained unchanged, and he said nothing else, as if it were just a casual question.

Before long, Guangyuan emerged from the gate, bowing and raising a hand, inviting the people inside to come out. He glanced at Shan Zong, unusually, his face was constantly smiling this time, no longer the worried and regretful look he usually had when a noble guest was about to leave.

Shen Rong, accompanied by Zirui, walked out of the gate. She was wearing a soft, thin green silk cape, which made her face appear even fairer, a stark, living white. Her bright eyes looked towards the man standing at the gate with his saber.

Shan Zong had already looked over. Their eyes met, and as it had been when she was in his arms last night, his heart stirred slightly. He raised a hand to touch his mouth, a smile playing on his lips. “Let’s go. I’ll see you off.”

Shen Rong went to board the carriage. As she stepped onto the stool, she thought for a moment and then turned back to ask, “You probably can’t leave right now, so how can you still see me off?”

Shan Zong, leading his horse with one hand, swung himself onto its back. “No matter, at least I’ll see you out of Youzhou.”

Shen Rong glanced at him again before lowering her head and entering the carriage.

Shan Zong spurred his horse close to the carriage, escorting her carriage towards the city outskirts.

It was still early, and there were few common people on the streets, so the journey was smooth and faster than expected. The city guards on the wall saw Shan Zong riding from the city street in the distance and opened the city gate in advance.

The carriage passed through the city gate without stopping.

Shen Rong listened to the wind blowing outside the window, occasionally glancing out. Shan Zong’s figure on horseback blocked the window, showing only his straight shoulders and back on the horse, nothing else.

Suddenly, his low voice drifted in, “Don’t you have anything to say to me?”

Shen Rong thought he had noticed her looking out. She leaned back, deliberately asking in a detached tone, “What do you want me to say?”

Shan Zong chuckled softly outside, rubbing his horse’s reins between his fingers. He stared at her blurred profile through the window, thinking how stubborn she still was. Perhaps she was only obedient when she was soft in his arms.

Since people from Chang’an couldn’t cross into Hedong for the time being, it meant they couldn’t even send letters to each other.

Shan Zong had never had this habit anyway. Even when he left home to deploy troops in various places years ago, he never specifically wrote letters back home. Now, he found himself thinking about such things, and he almost wanted to laugh. He glanced at the window from time to time, then looked at the road ahead, his heart gradually sinking.

The farther they got from Youzhou city, the closer they were to the Youzhou border.

He suddenly reached out and pressed the window. “Stop for a moment.”

Shen Rong looked up, and outside, Donglai had already called for a halt.

She lifted the curtain. Shan Zong rode his horse to the door, one hand holding the reins, the other reaching into his embrace. He had a half-smile on his face. “Here, something for you.”

“What is it?” Shen Rong had just asked when his hand extended.

She took it in her hand and looked down. It was a piece of fine white jade, dangling with a tassel. It didn’t look particularly special, but it had a meticulously carved character “Chong” on it, which, when deconstructed, was exactly his name.

“The only thing I brought from the Shan family, now I’m giving it to you,” he still had that half-smile, as if he had just thought of it. “Last time you didn’t take anything from Youzhou; this time, you have to take something.”

This was a common personal item among noble children, clearly an old possession of his. However, Shen Rong had never seen him wear it before; he probably only carried it today.

“Keep it,” he said, not waiting for her to speak, then lightly waved his hand, signaling to continue the journey.

Shen Rong unconsciously touched her cuff. Her face was nonchalant.

The sun was high in the sky. After passing the post road, they reached the Youzhou border.

By the boundary marker, the Youzhou banner fluttered in the wind.

Shan Zong reined in his horse, and the carriage beside him also stopped.

Shen Rong lifted the curtain, leaned out, and glanced at him. “We’ve arrived.”

“Mm,” he nodded, pursed his thin lips, then smiled again. “I’ll see you off this far.”

Shen Rong released her fingers and lowered the carriage curtain.

Shan Zong pulled his horse to the side, watching Donglai lead the way. Her carriage drove past him, moving forward.

The hooves of the horse beneath him pawed at the ground where the boundary marker and Youzhou banner stood, again and again. He didn’t take another step forward, only watching the procession gradually disappear into the distance with his eyes.

Suddenly, footsteps approached, only three or five people, dressed in short tunics, with cloth bands around their foreheads, looking like rough outlaws. They emerged from somewhere quickly and stealthily.

“Commander Shan, we were passing through here and happened upon you. We had to come and pay our respects,” said the man with a black leather patch over his right eye, his face fierce. He was the outlaw who had previously helped him search for Shen Rong outside the pass. He stood bowed beneath Shan Zong’s horse.

“From now on, you don’t need to specifically come and pay respects,” Shan Zong’s eyes remained fixed ahead; only his mouth moved. “Remember my words: after you’ve done what I asked, stay far away.”

“Yes, yes,” the man replied repeatedly.

Shan Zong suddenly raised a finger and pointed ahead. “See that group of people? They’re heading towards Chang’an. Tell everyone on the road to look after them, and it’s best to ensure a smooth journey.”

“Yes, I see them,” the man replied, looking carefully twice. He then cautiously asked, “May I ask who that is...?”

Shan Zong’s lips spread into a grin as he watched the carriage shrink in size, its canopy becoming a tiny speck in his vision. “My wife.”

________________________________________

Within a few days, at the Hedong garrison’s encampment, preparations were made for another departure outside the main gate.

Shen Rong had only arrived the night before, and the place was already bustling with preparations. She didn’t even have time to see Shan Zhao or Shan Ying before being asked to continue her journey.

Pei Shaoyong accompanied her outside the main gate, looking at her profile as they walked. “A-Rong, I’m eager to return to Chang’an. If you feel tired, you can rest more before continuing.”

Shen Rong didn’t pay much attention; after all, it was her responsibility. “It’s fine. It’s my fault you were delayed for half a month; leaving now is what’s right.”

Pei Shaoyong smiled. For some reason, the more he heard her speak such understanding words, the more he felt that her return trip was out of the ordinary. “Cousin said you returned to Youzhou to resolve matters in the mountains. Is everything alright now?”

Shen Rong continued walking, her expression calm. “The mountains are very stable.”

Pei Shaoyong was about to ask two more questions, but they had already reached the main gate, so he stopped speaking.

Changsun Xin was already standing by his horse. He looked at Shen Rong as she approached, wanting to speak but hesitating.

Ever since she returned, he had been holding back a stomach full of things he wanted to say. But Shen Rong was too shrewd, with a completely unconcerned expression. If she didn’t want you to see anything, you truly couldn’t.

Considering Pei Shaoyong was still there, he held back repeatedly, but still couldn’t bring himself to ask.

“Brother,” Shen Rong paused in front of him, took out a folded sheet of yellow hemp paper from her sleeve, and handed it to him. “I’ve never kept anything from you. This is the situation in the mountains you entrusted to me before I left. Read it after you return to Youzhou.”

Changsun Xin felt much better hearing her say she never kept anything from him. He took the paper and tucked it into his sleeve. “That’s more like it.”

Shen Rong turned to board the carriage. “Then I’m leaving.”

Pei Shaoyong watched her enter the carriage, a much more relaxed smile on his face. He mounted his horse and said, “Cousin, don’t worry, I’ll take good care of A-Rong.”

He then added softly, “I won’t tell aunt a single word about this stop in the middle.”

Only then did Changsun Xin truly feel relieved and nodded. “That’s good.”

He stepped aside two paces, allowing them to depart.

“Shen Rong, wait!” The carriage hadn’t moved yet when Shan Ying suddenly rushed out of the gate, hurrying to the carriage. “Why are you leaving so soon? I still wanted to say something to you.”

Naturally, it concerned her eldest cousin.

Shen Rong’s heart was clear. She spoke through the carriage curtain, “No need to say anything. I really have to go.”

Shan Ying saw that she didn’t want to delay and found it difficult to press her. She could only reluctantly give up. “Then we’ll talk next time.”

No sooner had she spoken than a soft scoff was heard, coming from Changsun Xin’s mouth. “Then there’s no need. There won’t be a next time.”

Shen Rong looked out through the window. She saw him leading his horse a few steps in the opposite direction from Shan Ying, as if deliberately creating distance between himself and her. Her gaze shifted between the two of them. “What happened?”

Shan Ying also looked at him.

“Nothing happened.” Changsun Xin pursed his lips and lightly coughed, urging, “Hurry back. Don’t make Mother wait any longer.”

Pei Shaoyong also urged, “Let’s go, A-Rong.”

Shen Rong guessed that her brother was still displeased with the Shan family. She couldn’t help but think of Shan Zong, pursed her lips, and said nothing more.

The procession set off before her, heading west towards Chang’an.

Only then did Changsun Xin glance at Shan Ying, then stepped into the stirrup and mounted his horse.

Ever since she had offered to host a banquet for him that day, which he had refused, she had become invigorated. Whenever she had free time, she would seek him out, clearly intending to foster a good relationship with him.

Unless he was a fool, he would know what she was trying to do. Offering courtesy for no reason, wasn’t it just to get the Shan family and Changsun family to put aside their past grievances?

Later, he refused all further invitations. Now, seeing her, he simply kept his distance intentionally.

Shan Ying didn’t pay attention to his words just now. Seeing him mount his horse, she asked, “Are you leaving too?”

“Naturally,” Changsun Xin maintained his dignified posture. “I was just waiting for A-Rong. I should have left long ago. What does it mean to keep staying at the Shan family’s place?”

It was a good thing Pei Shaoyong promised not to tell his mother; otherwise, he wouldn’t know how to explain it when he returned.

Shan Ying directly turned to lead her horse. “Then I’ll escort you for a stretch.”

He frowned and pointed beside him. “Why do I need you to escort me? I have my own guards.” Indeed, he had several Changsun family guards accompanying him.

Shan Ying said, “I told you I’d guarantee your journey once. Since you’re leaving from Hedong, how can I let you just go like that? If word gets out, wouldn’t it make outsiders think my Shan family members are impolite?”

Changsun Xin simply had a headache. He spurred his horse and left. “No need!”

As usual, he gave her no opportunity.