HMHSE - 8

Changsun Xin arrived smoothly via the route from the stream last time. Upon reaching the foot of the “earthen mountain,” he immediately spotted his sister’s figure.

Shen Rong was crouched beside a tree, unmoving, holding a scroll in her hand.

He assumed she had discovered something again and hurried over, only to realize that her expression was fixed—she wasn’t reading at all but seemed lost in thought.

Just as he was about to ask, Shen Rong looked up and saw him, her eyes flickering slightly.

Changsun Xin noticed that she appeared to mistake him for someone else and understood: “Donglai said Shan Zong still came to escort you. Where is he?”

“That way.” Shen Rong pointed in a direction.

She had been here for a while.

Earlier, when Shan Zong had pulled her across with his belt, she had pressed against his chest, catching sight of his broad shoulders. For some reason, this reminded her of the dream she had on the way here.

Instantly, his chest seemed to burn hot, his strong shoulders overlapping with the scene from her dream. The more she recalled, the faster her heart raced. She almost wanted to retreat, but he held her tightly with the belt.

“If you move around recklessly, we’ll both end up down there,” he warned.

In the end, Shen Rong held onto his belt and was guided by him across the mud pit.

Once they were on solid ground, she immediately let go and stepped away, catching a glimpse of him watching her from behind as he retied his belt.

“Brother.”

Changsun Xin had just glanced in that direction when he suddenly heard her call him earnestly. Surprised, he turned back: “What is it?”

Shen Rong had been thinking about one thing for a while: “Do you think he regrets it now?”

Changsun Xin knew what she was referring to. Although Shan Zong no longer had the backing of a noble family and was far from his former glory, there was no sign of regret in him.

But since his little ancestor had asked, he responded seriously: “Of course he does! I’m sure every time he wakes up at midnight, he regrets it so much that tears soak his pillow!”

Shen Rong immediately knew he was teasing her and gave him an exasperated look, pretending she hadn’t asked.

A moment later, she suddenly said: “I want to see him regret.”

Changsun Xin was startled, then everything became clear to him.

Shen Rong was no ordinary person. From childhood to adulthood, she had always been adored and favored, blessed with extraordinary talent. She lived as if on a cloud, never experiencing setbacks from anyone.

Except for Shan Zong.

He was the only one who dared to pull her down from the clouds.

Though she claimed not to care, how could she truly not?

Moreover, he continued to thwart her wishes repeatedly, provoking her time and again.

Changsun Xin suddenly suspected that something might have happened between them here earlier.

After pondering for a moment, he asked: “Even if he regrets it, what then?”

He almost blurted out, “Are you planning to reconcile with him?”

Shen Rong’s thoughts raced, her eyes shimmering slightly as she smiled softly: “If that day comes, then as you said, I’ll find myself another spring and marry a man a thousand times better than him.”

The man in her dream could never be him.

She stood up, smoothing her hair, once again the spirited Changsun Shen Rong.

…

Shan Zong leaned against a tree.

On one side were Hu Shiyi and Zhang Wei, who had just returned from patrolling nearby and escorting Changsun Xin.

“Why did the boss come personally?” Zhang Wei whispered to Hu Shiyi.

Hu Shiyi replied quietly: “How would I know? That golden beauty went to the military compound, and he came.”

Hmm? Zhang Wei cast a suspicious glance in that direction.

Suddenly, Shan Zong waved them over.

The two quickly shut their mouths and approached.

“What is it, boss?”

Shan Zong said: “Inform them about the obstacles we’ve set up at the foot of this mountain.”

Hu Shiyi glanced at Zhang Wei, hesitating to speak, when a woman’s voice came from behind: “You might as well tell me yourself.”

Shan Zong turned around—Shen Rong was standing behind him.

He studied her, noting her composed demeanor, quite different from her earlier haste.

“Then have them inform your brother.” Listening to her tone, Shan Zong almost felt like she was the one in charge here.

“Who could be clearer than you?” Shen Rong raised an eyebrow at him, as if reminding him of who had helped her cross the mud pit earlier.

Shan Zong suddenly noticed how lively her eyes were, her pupils dark and bright.

When she had pressed against him earlier, she had looked at him with those same eyes.

As they spoke, Changsun Xin arrived.

Among the noble youths, he had also gained fame due to his family’s influence. In Luoyang, there were the Shan and Cui families; in Chang’an, the Changsun and Pei families. These families’ children were often compared by outsiders when they were young.

Shan Zong was the most dazzling. Having been compared so often, Changsun Xin inevitably developed a competitive streak until Shan Zong became his brother-in-law.

Later, after divorcing his sister, Shan Zong disappeared from public view, leaving no trace.

Now, with the changing circumstances and identities, meeting face-to-face brought many subtle nuances, not to mention the words his sister had just spoken.

This time, Changsun Xin didn’t put on airs of authority. As if he had never criticized Shan Zong’s poor vision, he clasped his hands behind his back and supported his precious sister: “Thank you, Commander Shan. Telling Arong is the same as telling me.”

Shan Zong glanced at him, then at Shen Rong, saying nothing. He pulled out a map from his chest and unfolded it with a flick.

Shen Rong took a step closer and grasped one corner of the map.

He raised his hand, pointing at three spots around a mountain in the middle.

It was the very “earthen mountain” before them, though on this military map, it was labeled as Wangji Mountain.

The two stood side by side. On the other side, Hu Shiyi and Zhang Wei watched, unconsciously drawing closer together.

Hu Shiyi: “I don’t know why, but seeing the boss with this golden beauty feels quite…”

Zhang Wei whispered: “Compatible? I think so too.”

Hu Shiyi marveled silently. Though this golden beauty was proud and untouchable, she was indeed a rare beauty.

As for Shan Zong, among their group of men, everyone thought their boss was dashing and handsome. Together, these two really caught the eye.

On the map, Shan Zong’s finger tapped only three times. When he looked at Shen Rong again, she was no longer looking at the map but at the scroll in her hand, only glancing at it briefly before rolling it up.

As the scroll was tucked into the brocade bag, the title flashed before his eyes: The Rules for Women .

Did she usually read this? He couldn’t help but glance at Shen Rong again.

“I remember.” After putting the book away, she said.

“Really?” He doubted she had actually looked carefully.

“Naturally, crystal clear.” Otherwise, why had she consulted the scroll earlier? It was merely to confirm the location.

Shan Zong lazily smiled upon hearing this.

Let her have her way. Just don’t get stuck somewhere later and need help.

To his surprise, her next words were: “Even if I forget, I can always ask you again.”

His smile faded, and he glanced over—she had already walked toward Changsun Xin as if she hadn’t spoken those words, not even sparing him a glance.

Changsun Xin led the way, guiding everyone deeper into Wangji Mountain.

Zhang Wei, whose duty was to protect them, stared intently, puzzled: “Could it be that this Minister Changsun believes there are minerals in this mountain?”

Hu Shiyi, having just tucked away his earlier musings, flatly denied: “Don’t joke. We’ve been here for three years—if there was anything, we’d have found it by now.”

Shan Zong passed by, saber in hand, casting a glance at him: “So capable, do you want to switch to the Ministry of Works?”

Hu Shiyi was startled, unaware of when he had approached. He hoped Shan Zong hadn’t overheard their earlier whispers about him and the golden beauty.

“Boss, look,” he gestured with his chin, “Do you really believe there’s anything in there?”

Shan Zong glanced at the group again.

The most striking figure was still Shen Rong. Changsun Xin, who had originally been leading, was now walking behind her.

He looked again, strangely noticing that not only Changsun Xin but everyone else was following her.

…

The mountain wind lifted Shen Rong’s cloak as she walked slowly at the foot of the mountain, her eyes scanning the surroundings.

“The mountain sits north, tilting eastward. A hundred paces along the slope should lead to a river.” She traced the mountain’s contours with her hand and made her judgment.

No sooner had she finished speaking than Donglai returned with two others, bowing to report: “Young Mistress, there’s a river at the eastern corner of the mountain.”

Changsun Xin exhaled in relief and smiled: “Bullseye.”

The ancestral scrolls always provided useful indications of mountains, rivers, and marshes.

Now that she could match them perfectly with this place, there must be something here.

Shen Rong’s expression relaxed: “Let’s gather the wind.”

Exploring the terrain meant studying the geography. Gathering the wind referred to collecting the external products of this geography.

Donglai brought people to follow.

Shen Rong walked intermittently, heading toward the eastern river. Occasionally stopping, she would tap the ground with her toes—sometimes on a stone, sometimes on a blade of grass.

Donglai then instructed the others to collect those items.

This process took a long time. By the time Shen Rong finished, it was already late.

As she walked back, she glanced toward the direction they had come from but didn’t see Shan Zong.

Hu Shiyi and Zhang Wei had waited at least two hours before they finally saw the group returning.

The accompanying guards actually emerged carrying things, many of them holding cloth bags.

They had never seen mineral prospecting before and exchanged curious glances, finding it novel.

Shen Rong still walked at the front.

Upon reaching them, Donglai brought her horse over, and she mounted it, casually asking: “Just the two of you?”

Hu Shiyi replied: “Yes, just us two here.” But inwardly, he thought, with two teams guarding this place, wasn’t that enough?

This wasn’t just any golden beauty; she was a celestial treasure!

Zhang Wei, being more straightforward, elaborated: “The boss went to patrol the fortress. He said this place had nothing to do with him, so he left whenever he wanted.”

As he spoke, he recalled the scene when Shan Zong left—he had watched them move about in the mountain for a long time, muttering “interesting” under his breath before departing.

Zhang Wei didn’t know what he found interesting and decided not to tell this noblewoman.

Shen Rong held the reins, her expression cold, but then remembered her resolve and couldn’t help but smile faintly.

Let him leave if he wants. There’s plenty of time. Could he really run away forever?