HMHSE - 71

In the afternoon, Zirui entered Shen Rong’s room as usual to attend to her.

Shen Rong was spreading out a scroll, organizing the geographical and local information she had gathered from her trip beyond the pass. In truth, she had already finished it; she was merely passing the time.

Zirui approached and asked, “Young Mistress, would you like to go out for a walk?”

Shen Rong shook her head. “Forget it, lest my father inquire.”

Her father had sent someone to ask about her situation these past two days, so she simply didn’t even leave her room.

After putting away the scroll, there was nothing else to do. Shen Rong sat by the table and suddenly asked, “How is he?”

Zirui replied, “Commander Shan probably hasn’t left yet. But Donglai said his mission is complete, so I don’t know how long he’ll stay.”

Shen Rong pursed her lips, recalling their hurried words in the shop, and remained silent for a moment.

Suddenly, she heard someone outside the door say with a laugh, “Who is A-Rong talking about?”

Shen Rong looked up. Changsun Lan, dressed in a loose apricot-yellow ruqun, walked in with a gentle smile.

“Sister, why are you here?” she stood up.

Changsun Lan said, “I came to ask you to come with me to the East Market to taste the newly arrived Lingnan black tea. I’ve already spoken with Mother.”

Shen Rong initially wanted to politely decline, but hearing the latter part, she smiled. “Alright.”

Changsun Lan went to wait in the carriage outside the door first.

After Shen Rong had changed and applied her makeup, she said as she stepped into the carriage, “Sister, if you’re setting up a meeting for someone else today, I’ll get off halfway.”

Changsun Lan was startled by this remark. She then instructed the coachman to start the carriage and said, “You’re referring to Second Brother, aren’t you? From last time, I could tell you have no interest in him. Today, you can rest assured and just come with me.”

Shen Rong had indeed thought of Pei Shaoyong. If it were his arrangement, she would get off halfway, simply using her cousin’s carriage to go out.

“Sister, please don’t mention it again. Just pretend it never happened, lest Second Cousin finds it difficult to get married in the future.”

Changsun Lan nodded. “Of course. I’ve already heard about your matter from your Eldest Cousin. It’s not Second Brother; I didn’t expect it to still be that old acquaintance.”

Shen Rong sat properly in the carriage, saying nothing. It was to be expected that she would know.

Changsun Lan glanced at her expression, took her hand, and spoke intimately between sisters: “He is currently only a Youzhou Militia Commander. To others, he might be considered a high official, but I see that Father is not satisfied, and the Shan family has also restrained its prominence... The most unmentionable thing is still that divorce. I expect his purpose in coming here this time will absolutely not be achieved.”

Shen Rong’s face paled. She recalled the few words she had exchanged with him in the shop that day and let out a low hmph. “He brought that upon himself.”

Changsun Lan laughed. “Since you say so, why do you keep looking back at him? You can just cast him aside.”

Shen Rong twirled the silk ribbon around her waist, thinking that this was the exasperating part. Despite her anger, she had still returned to Youzhou that trip.

“Dream on! I won’t let him off easy,” she murmured to herself.

Hadn’t he told her to take revenge on him?

Changsun Lan didn’t hear clearly, but she was amused by Shen Rong’s distracted expression.

The carriage arrived at its destination, along a main street in the East Market, where merchants and commoners flowed ceaselessly, occasionally interspersed with a noble’s carriage or two.

After getting off the carriage, Changsun Lan again took Shen Rong’s arm, and they walked inside together.

Before entering, Shen Rong looked around, but didn’t see any familiar figures. She followed Changsun Lan to a private room on the second floor, asking, “Is coming here arranged by Eldest Cousin?”

Changsun Lan replied while climbing the stairs, “Nothing can be hidden from you! Otherwise, how would I know about your affairs? But he doesn’t tell me everything.”

Shen Rong looked at her. “What didn’t he tell you everything about?”

“I don’t know, so I can’t say anything,” Changsun Lan sighed softly. “Your eldest cousin only said that some things were just his wild guesses, without any basis, and told me not to mention them carelessly to you. Although I wanted to ask, I thought he probably didn’t want to say too much to me.” At this point, her face seemed a little wistful.

Shen Rong stopped, carefully observing her expression. Not knowing the situation between the couple, she couldn’t say much, only offering comfort: “Sister, you don’t need to overthink it. I think Eldest Cousin has always been very good to you.”

Changsun Lan smiled as if returning to herself, nodding. “It’s nothing, we’ve always been very harmonious.” She then pointed ahead, “You go first, I’ll go choose the tea.”

Shen Rong looked at her again before walking forward.

At this moment, by the window of the private room, Pei Yuanling had been standing until now, finally spotting Shan Zong riding his horse down the street.

Shan Zong had two or three soldiers with him. It was unclear if they came from the official post or the government office. Although he had reached the end of the street, he didn’t come directly over. Instead, he stopped, as if waiting for something.

Pei Yuanling narrowed his eyes to see more clearly, finally making out a carriage approaching in the distance.

It was the Duke of Zhao’s carriage.

Shan Zong dismounted, tossed his saber to the soldier behind him, and strode towards the carriage.

Pei Yuanling couldn’t help but rest his hand on the window sill, his eyes widening slightly.

The person in that carriage was the Duke of Zhao.

The common people around made way, but Shan Zong walked without stopping directly to the side of the carriage, standing tall and straight like a pine tree, his hands cupped in a salute towards the carriage.

He probably said something, but it was inaudible.

The carriage, however, only slowed for a moment before continuing to drive past him without stopping.

Pei Yuanling watched the figure slowly lower his hands, standing there resolute and imposing, like a pine tree in winter.

He thought, How incredibly bold of him, to just block the Duke of Zhao’s carriage like that. As he watched, he couldn’t help but frown.

Having known Shan Zong for many years, he had never seen him like this. The proud genius of yesteryear would never have needed to resort to seeking an audience in the middle of the street.

Even so, the Duke of Zhao didn’t give him a chance.

Pei Yuanling couldn’t help but sigh. Suddenly sensing someone, he turned his head to see Shen Rong standing beside him, looking out the window, her face expressionless.

He immediately put on a smile. “A-Rong, you’re already here! I just noticed. What did you see?”

Shen Rong’s eyes flickered. She turned around. “I didn’t see anything.”

“I thought you saw something,” Pei Yuanling said with a smile, looking at her. “You rest for a bit. I’ll be back shortly.”

Shen Rong casually responded, listening to his footsteps as he walked out.

Pei Yuanling quickly went downstairs and straight to the backyard, just in time to catch Shan Zong riding his horse over. He said helplessly, “You asked me to make this arrangement, but you only show up now.”

“Something came up,” Shan Zong walked over, his steps pausing. “Where is she?”

“She’s arrived,” Pei Yuanling pointed upwards. “But I just saw her, and her face looked a bit off.”

Shan Zong grunted in response, said nothing else, and bypassed him to go inside.

Pei Yuanling watched his retreating back, feeling his unusual silence, wondering if it was because of what had just happened.

This time, he had suddenly asked for help to bring Shen Rong out, and he probably hadn’t expected to encounter the Duke of Zhao’s carriage on the way.

Shen Rong hadn’t sat down. She took two steps, head lowered, to the doorway. Suddenly, a pair of men’s riding boots appeared before her eyes. She looked up to meet a pair of deep, steady eyes.

Shan Zong had walked here, meeting her perfectly.

“I knew it was you,” Shen Rong’s voice involuntarily softened, yet she deliberately avoided looking at him.

Shan Zong stared at her averted face, studying her carefully. She was wearing a high-waisted ruqun with an upright collar, exposing her snow-white neck, her waist slender and soft. He couldn’t help but lower his voice. “Still angry?”

“What am I angry about?” Shen Rong raised an eyebrow, still not looking at him.

Shan Zong looked at her feigned nonchalance, knowing she was still being stubborn. He went along with her words. “Yes, what are you angry about? I’m the one who has no outlet for my anger right now.”

Shen Rong immediately turned her face towards him. “What right do you have to be angry?”

Shan Zong’s lips curved into a smile, as if he was just provoking her to turn around.

Shen Rong almost said “you deserve it” again, but remembering what she had just seen on the street, she ultimately held back.

In truth, she had seen everything.

He naturally had the courage to block her father’s carriage, but he was as restrained now as he had been flamboyant in front of her before.

Just like that time he earnestly proposed marriage.

She recalled his straight figure standing there as the carriage passed, wondering what he was thinking at that moment.

Suddenly, an arm hooked around her, and her waist was embraced, pulling her against his body.

Shan Zong brought her back to her senses before releasing her. He looked down at her. “What are you spacing out for?”

Shen Rong hadn’t heard him mention this matter, so she could only pretend not to know, but then she remembered her cousin’s words: “Your trip to Chang’an this time is destined to be fruitless.”

Shan Zong’s throat moved, his eyes deep. “I can’t stay on this mission for too long. It’s probably true.”

Precisely because he knew time was short, he had directly blocked the carriage. But if the Duke of Zhao wasn’t willing to see him, Lady Pei would be even less likely to.

He only thought about it internally. When he looked at her again, his lips quirked into a smile. “Don’t worry, I’m the one who wants to marry you. Naturally, I’ll take care of these things.”

Shen Rong’s eyes flickered at his words, her heart tightening and loosening, as if gently pinched by a hand. “Silver-tongued.”

As soon as her words fell, footsteps were heard ascending the stairs outside.

Shen Rong heard them, guessing it was her cousin or elder cousin. She immediately stepped away, retreating from in front of him.

Shan Zong watched as the distance between them instantly widened by several steps, silently suppressing the smile on his face.

If things between them couldn’t be out in the open, they would always be like this.

The footsteps ascending the stairs outside grew closer, rapid and urgent, until they reached the door. “Boss, Youzhou military affairs.”

It was a soldier.

Shan Zong’s gaze swept towards the door of the room, and he quickly went out.

Shen Rong was momentarily stunned, then followed him out. The soldier had already hurried downstairs.

Shan Zong held a booklet in his hand, tucked it into his robe, and turned to look at her. “I need to deal with military affairs immediately.”

Her gaze lingered on him, sensing something was amiss. “Is something wrong?”

Shan Zong looked at her, his eyes seeming deeper and more somber than usual. “Nothing.”

With that, he started to go downstairs. After two steps, he paused, then suddenly returned, cupped her face, and lowered his head to kiss her.

Shen Rong’s lips were heavily kneaded, mixed with his hot breath. Before she could recover, he had already let go. He breathed out, looking into her eyes, then turned and continued walking downstairs.

Pei Yuanling immediately came up, glancing downwards. “What’s going on? After all that effort to get you here, he’s leaving now?”

Shen Rong bit her hot lips, walked down a few steps. She could no longer see him outside. “Mm.”

He seemed to have something unfinished to say, yet he suddenly left. She always felt something must be wrong.

________________________________________

Half an hour later, Shen Rong was sent back to the Duke of Zhao’s mansion by Changsun Lan’s carriage.

Entering the mansion gate, she happened upon her father standing on the veranda.

She couldn’t help but recall what she had seen earlier, Shan Zong being left out on the street. She walked over and called out, “Father.”

The Duke of Zhao asked, “Did you go out with your sister today?”

“Yes.”

The Duke of Zhao nodded.

She hadn’t expected Pei Shaoyong to be there too, standing beside a pillar on the veranda. She only noticed him when she got closer.

Shen Rong saw him wearing a brand new official robe and **boots. She greeted him as usual, “Second Cousin.”

Pei Shaoyong looked at her. “I came to deliver an edict today. The Saint is very pleased with the first batch of gold and has instructed me to draft an imperial decree for the commendation. He also feels the mine is important and has ordered the Youzhou Militia Commander to return as soon as possible.”

The Duke of Zhao merely grunted in response. At his age, he was already unfazed by favor or disgrace.

Shen Rong knew this was bound to happen, which was why Shan Zong had said this mission wouldn’t keep him long.

She glanced at her father, feeling that he should be relieved. Shan Zong was leaving, so there was no need to guard against him anymore.

“Father, please handle things. I’ll take my leave first.” She turned and left.

Pei Shaoyong watched her figure recede, unable to help but wonder if it was because of Shan Zong. He turned to look at the Duke of Zhao, glancing several times, finally unable to resist asking, “I heard Shan Zong requested to call on your house. What did Uncle say?”

The Duke of Zhao suddenly recalled the matter of that boy stopping his carriage on the street earlier.

If it were anyone else, he would have found it rash and reckless, but from inside the curtain, he had only seen Shan Zong’s straight back and steady eyes, as if he had no choice but to come, and it was only right that he came.

“What a pity,” the Duke of Zhao sighed, his hands behind his back. “I had great expectations for him back then. Who knew he would do such things after marriage? Now, meeting him again after a few years, I can hardly tell what kind of person he is anymore.”

Pei Shaoyong still remembered what he had said at the official post, that ruthlessness that didn’t at all seem like someone from an aristocratic family.

“Indeed, it’s hard to tell,” he whispered. “I heard Zhou Jun, the Commandant of Danzhou, say that he once broke his word in battle. For someone like that, marrying and then abandoning isn’t uncommon.”

The Duke of Zhao was quite surprised. “Is that true?”

Pei Shaoyong paused, having said these things out of some anger. After speaking, he felt it was inappropriate and frowned. “I don’t know if it’s true or false; I just heard this claim.”

The Duke of Zhao slowly took two steps. “Battle records have always been kept; it’s easy to find out if this incident occurred...”

At this point, he paused again. The Duke of Zhao remembered that it had taken considerable effort to even find out the boy’s official position last time.

He had never mentioned this matter to Shen Rong. After a brief contemplation, he said to Pei Shaoyong, “Since you are now the Imperial Palace Secretary, you should have the opportunity to verify it. Baseless claims should not be mentioned.”

Pei Shaoyong was stunned for a moment, then lowered his head and assented, secretly taking note.