CXD - 23

Night fell, and in the study of the Shen household.

Mu Xinhong and Qing Song stood on either side of the desk, watching Yuan Ce sit silently here since after dinner. So much time had passed, yet he hadn’t changed his posture once, nor had he blinked more than a few times.

Mu Xinhong observed him with admiration for the young general’s focus when deep in thought, but also with concern for his future.

Today, Mu Xinhong had only gone out to deal with a corpse, and something must have happened because when he returned, he saw the Princess leaving the young general’s study. Her eyes were filled with unprecedented affection, and before she left, she kindly left a message for the young general—

“There are things I’ve wanted to say for a long time, but seeing you’ve been troubled lately, I’ll wait until you’re in a better mood to tell you.”

Wasn’t that just a roundabout way of saying, “I’ll wait until you’re in a better mood to pressure you about having children”?

Heaven knew that Yuan Ce had everything under control regarding the Gao Shi incident from start to finish. Even being caught red-handed today didn’t faze him. His true troubles these days stemmed from this unexpected “sister-in-law”…

Initially thinking that, first, the Princess held an esteemed position, and second, she was essentially his late brother’s widow—killing her was not an option. To stabilize the situation, Yuan Ce accepted her as his “lover.” Who would have thought that this temporary measure would go too far!

“Young General, you aren’t really going to marry the Princess, are you?” After pondering for a while, Mu Xinhong couldn’t help but ask.

Before Yuan Ce could respond, Qing Song jumped in, “How could that be possible? Pretending is one thing, but getting serious would be disrespectful to the late Master!”

Qing Song had served the elder master in the capital since childhood and had deep feelings for him. Mu Xinhong, who had been stationed at the border, first met Yuan Ce.

Mu Xinhong retorted, “What do you mean by ‘disrespectful’? Don’t act like the Young General is taking advantage of her. Do you think he willingly offered himself to the Princess?”

Yuan Ce raised an eyelid and gave both of them a glance.

Naturally, though these two weren’t the brightest and each had their own opinion, what they said wasn’t without merit, and their conclusions converged on the same point—

This marriage was impossible.

Reflecting on their recent charade, he wasn’t sure how his late brother had privately interacted with this sister-in-law. Whether it was due to similarities in their behavior or the Princess being overly immersed in her fantasy, she hadn’t suspected him so far.

Having stabilized her trust, it was now time to create some distance. First, to avoid unnecessary trouble like today’s incident, and second, to shut down her constant nagging about marriage.

He wouldn’t stay in Chang’an for long. If he could avoid this marriage at the beginning of the month, he could certainly avoid it by the middle.

Having made up his mind, Yuan Ce lightly rubbed his fingertips and got up to leave. “I’m heading to the Marquis Yong’en residence.”

In Yao Guang Pavilion, Jiang Zhiyi tossed and turned on the bed, unable to sleep after lying there for a long time. She quietly relived the moment when Yuan Ce pulled her into his arms earlier that day. Her lips curved up, then down, then up again.

Just as her smile reached her ears, a knock came from the window behind her—

Three short taps, three long taps, then three short taps again.

Jiang Zhiyi quickly scrambled off the bed and looked toward the window.

Sure enough, Yuan Ce entered through the window as if he owned the place.

“Ah Ce Ge, why did you suddenly come!” Jiang Zhiyi laughed as she threw off the covers and hopped off the bed. A wave of frosty air hit her, making her shiver.

Yuan Ce paused, lowered his head to dust off the frost on his clothes, and walked over to the charcoal brazier inside, squatting down. “When have I ever come without being sudden?”

“That’s true; Ah Ce Ge always knows how to surprise me!” Jiang Zhiyi squatted beside him by the brazier, resting her chin in her hand as she watched him.

Her uncle treated her the same way when he was in the capital. Though he wasn’t cold himself, he’d bring in the cold air from outside, making her feel chilly, and would warm himself by her charcoal brazier before approaching her.

Remembering the sound of his knocking earlier, Jiang Zhiyi smiled. “You still remember our old code.”

It was from the day she pretended to be homeless and sought refuge with him. He remembered the strange knocking sound from back then.

But such a simple code, three short taps followed by three long taps, commonly seen in jianghu stories, how could it be called a “code”?

Never mind; looking at the person in front of her, it made sense.

After drying off the damp coldness, Yuan Ce stood up and got straight to the point. “I’ve come tonight to bid you farewell.”

Jiang Zhiyi’s smile froze, and she abruptly stood up, shocked. “Farewell? Are you returning to Hexi?”

Yuan Ce shook his head. “His Majesty, understanding my three years of fighting outside, has decided to let me stay in the capital to recuperate for a while. Since I have nothing else to do, I plan to find something to occupy myself.”

Jiang Zhiyi knew that when he returned to the capital to meet the Emperor, her Uncle bestowed many rewards upon him but had yet to grant him an official position.

The young man, not yet of age, had only battle achievements and no administrative record. To inherit a crucial post like the Hexi military governorship might lack sufficient qualifications. It seemed her Uncle was still hesitant, leaving the position temporarily vacant.

Lately, aside from training soldiers at the camp, he had nothing else to do. However, with General Mu around, daily training indeed didn’t require his personal involvement.

Jiang Zhiyi asked, “Then what do you plan to do?”

Yuan Ce smiled. “A few days ago, didn’t you send a message through Qing Song, telling me to read more books? I think it’s a good suggestion, so I plan to return to Tian Chong Academy.”

“…”

“I, I just said that casually, how could you take it seriously!” Jiang Zhiyi waved her hand in a diagonal motion. “Tian Chong Academy is in the southeast of the city, so far from the Marquis’s residence. How can we meet often?”

“So— isn’t that why I’m here to bid you farewell?”

Seeing his eyebrows raise and his nonchalant demeanor, Jiang Zhiyi felt a buzzing in her head.

She had spoken incorrectly earlier. He wasn’t the best at giving her surprises; rather, he was the best at scaring her. He was truly infuriating!

Jiang Zhiyi stamped her foot and began pacing anxiously. “You’ve been away from the capital for three years and have only been back for less than a month. Half of that time you’ve been testing me, and now you want to go looking for more trouble!”

“…”

When it came to bringing up old grievances, no one could match her.

Yuan Ce felt a headache coming on. “Receiving the emperor’s salary, sharing his worries. Since I have no official duties in the capital, disciplining myself and cultivating my character is also not betraying His Majesty’s trust.”

“There are many people whom Uncle cherishes, yet none of the court officials seem to feel guilty about it. Don’t give me those big principles!”

…He had merely come to inform her about this matter, not to discuss it.

Seeing him at a loss for words, Jiang Zhiyi pouted. “So you’re going to study for Uncle, meaning Uncle is more important than me?”

“…Isn’t studying also for you?” Yuan Ce gritted his teeth slightly.

Jiang Zhiyi was taken aback and looked up at him. “For me? What do you mean?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, seeing his dumbfounded expression, she suddenly realized something—

In the past, the reason they communicated secretly was that he had no academic achievements, skipping school every day to gamble and get into trouble, earning a bad reputation in Chang’an. If their relationship had been revealed at the time, her uncle would have surely opposed it.

They had agreed that once he achieved success and became worthy of her, they would inform her uncle and propose to her openly.

She had thought that with his victorious return now, the timing was almost right. But if he could return to the academy before her uncle came back to the capital and cram a bit, even if just for show, it would indeed leave a better impression on her uncle…

As the conversation reached this point, Yuan Ce was contemplating how to explain this slip of the tongue. Raising his eyes, he saw the other person slowly realize.

“You—” Yuan Ce tentatively looked at her. “Do you understand?”

“Well, I understand…” Jiang Zhiyi sighed bitterly, looking at him with longing eyes. “But understanding is one thing; I still can’t bear to part with you…”

Yuan Ce remained silent for a moment, then cleared his throat. “As the poem says, ‘If two hearts are truly devoted, why should they worry about being together every day and night?’”

“The poem also says, ‘A spring night is worth a thousand gold!’”

“…”

Could these poets please get their stories straight?

Yuan Ce closed his eyes briefly, his patience wearing thin. “Then what do you want?”

“All right, all right, with such painstaking effort, how could I not empathize—” Jiang Zhiyi sighed, consoling herself that there would be more time in the future. “Then this way, I’ll see you off tomorrow morning. Surely you can agree to that small request?”

Since they wouldn’t see each other again for a while after tomorrow, she would let this last meeting slide.

Yuan Ce nodded. “Fine.”

The next morning, after a light snowfall overnight, Chang’an was covered in silver.

The snow on the eastern road was cleared early, and the sound of horse hooves on the wet slate stones echoed closer and closer, stopping in front of Tian Chong Academy.

The young man in black clothing on horseback reined in his horse, swung down, and casually tossed the reins to his attendant.

There had been a snowfall last night, and this morning he sent Qing Song to the Marquis Yong’en residence with a message, telling Jiang Zhiyi not to brave the snow to see him off, lest she catch a cold.

Yuan Ce stood at the foot of the steps, hands behind his back, looking up at the academy before him. He gazed at the ostentatious golden plaque above the gate, which lacked any scholarly aura.

This Tian Chong Academy was not established for imperial examinations.

With the rise of Neo-Confucianism, the ancient six arts of gentlemen had gradually fallen into disuse. Nowadays, scholars focused solely on studying the Four Books and Five Classics, dedicating ten years of hard study to prepare for the exams.

But there were always those who weren’t cut out for the exams yet needed to study—especially in Chang’an, where noble families abounded.

Thus, this academy was born, reviving the ancient six arts of gentlemen and teaching students “rituals, music, archery, chariot driving, calligraphy, and mathematics.” It aimed to prevent those nobles from becoming wastrels or served as a cover for some wastrels.

His late brother had been among those in this category.

Thinking about it, Yuan Ce lifted his boot tip and walked inside.

At this moment, the distant sound of carriage wheels approached, and a lavishly decorated carriage with carved flowers and embedded jade came into view.

Yuan Ce sensed something, pressed down his boot tip, and turned his head towards the road.

The golden-green carriage stopped in front of the academy. A young “gentleman,” wearing a round-necked robe underneath and draped in white fox fur, stepped down from the carriage with the help of a “servant.” Seeing him, she sighed in relief. “I made it!”

“…”

Though dressed in a male outfit he had never seen before, it didn’t stop him from recognizing the face that haunted his vision daily.

Yuan Ce frowned. “Didn’t I say not to see me off?”

“I’m not here to see you off,” Jiang Zhiyi confidently strode forward, pointing at the golden plaque. “I’m here to study at Tian Chong Academy.”

“?”

“Receiving the emperor’s salary, sharing his worries. Since I have no official duties in the capital, disciplining myself and cultivating my character is also not betraying His Majesty’s trust—weren’t those your words, Ah Ce Ge?”

“…”

“As a princess, I receive more salary than you. Being idle at home all day without doing anything substantial makes me feel guilty!” Jiang Zhiyi smiled with feigned modesty.

After a silent exchange of glances, Yuan Ce confirmed that she was serious.

“…If you want to study, you can go to a women’s school. This academy is for men. You, a girl, coming here—what kind of propriety is this?”

Jiang Zhiyi looked down at her male attire and blinked. “That’s why I cross-dressed.”

With her face and figure, who couldn’t tell that underneath this male outfit was a woman?

Yuan Ce: “People here aren’t blind.”

“Is that so?” Jiang Zhiyi looked behind her.

It was the hour for entering school, and one by one, luxurious carriages stopped in front of the academy. Noble sons stepped out of their carriages.

Jiang Zhiyi raised her head and waved at everyone. “Good morning, fellow students!”

One nearby noble son turned his head at the sound, and after a moment of realization, recalled the message he received before leaving home this morning. He politely bowed to Jiang Zhiyi. “Good morning, Young Master Jiang!”

Subsequently, more noble sons looked over, their voices overlapping—

“Greetings to Young Master Jiang!”

“Be careful on the slippery roads, Young Master Jiang!”

Yuan Ce: “….”

Jiang Zhiyi turned back to look at Yuan Ce and raised her chin. “But they can pretend to be blind.”