HMHSE - 96

The official residence has had many visitors in recent days.

Because one person woke up, the city above and below returned to normal in just a few days. The gloomy atmosphere in Youzhou City was gone, and the official residence also became lively.

A team of a dozen Shan family soldiers stood neatly in front of the guest courtyard on the right side of the official residence.

In front of the courtyard on the left side was a team of Sun family guards.

Duke Zhao sat in the guest room, already dressed in plain clothes. “I heard you lived here when you were exploring the mountains for mining?”

Shenrong came to pay her respects as usual and sat beside him. Her eyes shifted slightly. “Yes, Father. The room you’re in now is the room my brother stayed in. He didn’t live here back then, only at the military camp.”

Duke Zhao looked at her. He now understood that she and that young man had been together since they started exploring the mountains for mining.

“What needs to be said must be said. The reason I agreed to let him come to Chang’an to visit my home that day was, first, because I knew he was seriously injured and unable to keep his appointment, which was understandable. Second, his father, the Supreme Commander of the Guards, guaranteed that there were secrets in his case. But most importantly, it was what he said in front of me that showed he values you very much.”

Shenrong listened quietly, feeling that her father had more to say.

Sure enough, Duke Zhao continued, “The fact that you two got married privately during the war is a special circumstance that I can overlook for now. But don’t think that my permission for him to visit means I’ve given my complete approval. His matters haven’t been resolved yet, and your mother won’t agree easily.”

Shenrong had more or less guessed what he meant. She nodded lightly. “I understand.”

This was undoubtedly a reminder to her that they were still officially divorced and served as a warning.

After speaking, Duke Zhao saw her expression and couldn’t bear to say anything more. His voice softened. “All right, go now.”

Shenrong got up and left the room, walking toward the guest room.

The guest room was not far from the main house; it was the one Shan Zong used to stay in.

The day before, after Guangyuan had brought him safely from the military medical station below the city to this official residence, he had consciously moved him into the main house.

With her father still there and Shan Zong needing to rest quietly, she had moved into the guest room he used to frequent.

As she passed the corridor outside the main house, Guangyuan came toward her. The moment he saw her, he said, “The young master is waiting for the lady.”

Shenrong glanced at the main house and walked inside.

The room was lively. Zhao Jinjian was there today, and Shan Zhao was also present, sitting on either side of the bed.

A small table in front of the bed held a chessboard.

Shan Zhao sat there, in high spirits. “It’s been a long time since I’ve played a war game with you, Big Brother. Let’s have another round. It’s a good way to keep you from getting bored.”

Zhao Jinjian stroked his short beard, watching them. After a while, he looked at the bed and sighed with relief, exclaiming, “You really are Shan Chongjun. You can already get up after only a few days. You really scared everyone.”

Shan Zong wore a black Hu-style tunic and was sitting up. He held a chess piece in his hand, toying with it. He looked up, his eyes meeting Shenrong’s as she entered, and a smile appeared on his lips.

Shan Zhao had already seen Shenrong and quickly got up. “Sister-in-law, come quick. Without you, Big Brother has no heart for our match.”

Shenrong glanced at Shan Zong after hearing this and walked over.

Zhao Jinjian’s face was smiling, and he nodded a greeting to her.

While she was returning the greeting, a hand secretly pulled her from behind. She followed the pull and sat down next to the man, pressing down on the hem of his Hu-style tunic.

Shan Zong did it all naturally. He continued the conversation from before, his voice no longer as hoarse as it had been. “I heard someone from the court was sent here when I collapsed.”

Zhao Jinjian nodded. “I was following that special envoy from the court, the Marquis of Heluo. I’ve been busy with that these past few days, which is why I’ve only just been able to come and see you. We should talk about the current situation.”

Upon hearing this, Shan Zhao grew worried. “Prefect Zhao, do you know what the court’s intentions are? Will anything happen to my Big Brother?”

“This has nothing to do with you. Don’t ask too many questions,” Shan Zong said, toying with the chess piece. “After this game, you should pack up and head back to Luoyang.”

Shan Zhao was stunned, never expecting him to issue such a command to leave.

“What are you doing, Big Brother? It’s been so many years since we could get together as a family. We finally made it here.”

Shan Zong looked at him. “You know I’m under investigation. Until this matter is resolved, I shouldn’t have any connection with the Shan family. You don’t know, but the Supreme Commander of the Guards does.”

That was the promise in the solemn oath before the Emperor, sealed in the late Emperor’s secret decree. He was still the one who had cast himself out of the Shan family and should not have any connections with any faction that had military power, except for Youzhou.

Shan Zhao noticed he was still calling him “Supreme Commander of the Guards” instead of “Father,” and a realization dawned on him. Until now, he hadn’t called his parents “Father” or “Mother,” nor had he responded to being called “Big Brother.”

That somber look he gave him shortly after he woke up was not just because his sister-in-law wanted them to leave, but because he was truly avoiding them.

“Then...”

“You’ve all seen me, and I’m fine. Go back to Luoyang first.” Shan Zong lowered his eyes, his throat moving. “Take good care of Lady Yang.”

Shan Zhao looked at him in silence, his face full of worry. He wanted to say more but held back. In the end, he just clasped his hands and said, “I’ll go and pass on your message to Father and Mother.”

After he left, Zhao Jinjian sighed. “It seems I don’t need to tell you about the situation. You probably already know.”

“Mm.” Shan Zong looked at Shenrong beside him. “Just tell me directly.”

Shenrong didn’t react, and instead reached out to hold a chess piece in her hand.

Seeing that he wasn’t avoiding Shenrong, Zhao Jinjian spoke directly. “The Marquis of Heluo secretly went to the military camp that day and took away all the records of your military duties from the past few years. This shows how seriously the late Emperor took your matter. He left a team of Imperial Guards in the Youzhou official residence to monitor your injury. I also guaranteed with my reputation that you would turn yourself in as soon as you recovered from your injury, and only then did he return to Chang’an overnight. The fact that people from the Shan and Sun families are here now probably hasn’t escaped his notice. I came today to warn you, but I see you already understood and sent your brother away.”

Shan Zong’s face was expressionless, as he had expected all this. “I’ll trouble you to send a letter explaining that the Supreme Commander of the Guards came to testify for me, and Duke Zhao came for the mine. Both are justified.”

Zhao Jinjian nodded and sighed. “I understand. Don’t worry. If not for the imperial decree, I never would have guessed that you came to Youzhou with so many issues, Chongjun.”

Shan Zong only smiled. Then he suddenly said, “It’s about time for me to change my dressing.”

Zhao Jinjian understood and got up. “Then I’ll be going. You take good care of your injury.”

He then left.

It was getting dark outside. Shenrong was still holding the chess piece. She heard the man’s low voice beside her. “Is that game fun?”

She turned her head, and he took the chess piece from her, tossing it onto the board.

“Shouldn’t you change your dressing?” she asked.

“Already done,” Shan Zong said lazily, pulling open his tunic to show her the newly bandaged wound. He smelled of medicine.

Shenrong glanced outside and saw no one. She propped herself up with one hand and slowly leaned closer to him. “Prefect Zhao’s words mean that you’ll be taken to Chang’an as soon as you’ve recovered, right?”

Shan Zong nodded. “Yes.”

“And that you shouldn’t have any contact with others while you’re recovering?”

“Yes.”

Shenrong’s face grew a little paler. “No wonder.”

No wonder he said what he said. If that was the case, in addition to the Shan family, the Sun family would also be asked to leave Youzhou.

This time, Youzhou was truly his prison.

Shan Zong met her gaze. “It was bound to happen. I’ve been waiting for this day.”

Shenrong was silent. She thought of his preparations. He really had been waiting for this day.

This day had been too long in coming for him and for the Lulong Army. He probably wished it would come even sooner.

In his gaze, she suddenly saw Shan Zong squint at her face.

Shenrong just then realized her hand was resting on his waist, and her body was leaning against him, her upper half pressed against his chest. She couldn’t help but move her hand away a little so as not to press on his wound.

A hand on her lower back pulled her back, and his arm held her, pressing her against him. That roguish smile appeared on his face again. “Won’t going to Chang’an mean I can go to the Duke’s manor? This is a good thing.”

Shenrong’s nose was close to his chin, and she could smell the medicine on him more clearly.

“Then I’ll go back to Chang’an with my father first.”

“Mm.” Shan Zong smiled. “If you go back first, I’ll recover faster.”

“Is that so?”

“That way I can go see you sooner.”

Shenrong felt he was saying this on purpose, but her heart was still lightly tugged. After a moment of silence, she took his chin in her hand. “Then get better soon.”

His chin was slightly rough. Shan Zong let her hold him like that, his eyes always holding a hint of a smile. “Of course.”

The lamps in the corridor outside lit up one after another, and the room grew dimmer.

Guangyuan suddenly spoke from outside the door. “Young Master, the master and mistress are here.”

Shenrong’s thoughts returned, and she moved away from him.

“Zong’er, we’ve come to see you.” It was Lady Yang’s voice.

They must have come to say goodbye after hearing Shan Zhao’s message.

Before they could enter, Shenrong glanced at Shan Zong and left first.

...

The official residence became more lively with the sound of people walking.

Donglai stood outside the guest room, reporting in a low voice. “Prefect Zhao has sent a message to the Duke, conveying the Marquis of Heluo’s intentions. Because of the Commander Shan’s matter, no outsiders are allowed in Youzhou. It seems the Sun family must suspend their mining operations and return to Chang’an. The Duke asked me to inform the Young Mistress.”

Shenrong didn’t need to be informed. She calmly adjusted the lampwick. “Let Father decide.”

“According to the Duke’s wishes, preparations will begin immediately,” Donglai replied and left.

Shenrong wasn’t surprised at all. Suspending the mining operations meant the Marquis of Heluo’s influence couldn’t interfere, so her father was naturally willing to leave as soon as possible.

She looked out the window. The lamps in the direction of the main house were bright, and the Shan family members were already leaving.

She guessed Lady Yang would be the most reluctant. She could see her walking out of the courtyard next to the Supreme Commander of the Guards, wiping away tears with her sleeve.

She wanted to close the window but saw a man’s figure slowly walking along the corridor outside the main house, his back to the light. He was wearing a Hu-style tunic. If she hadn’t looked closely, she might not have noticed that he had turned his head and was looking in her direction.

Guangyuan reminded him, “Young Master, why did you come out? You should be resting.”

He laughed softly. “I’m waiting for someone.”

Shenrong stood silently for a moment, closed the window, and walked to the bed. She untied her outer garment, ready to lie down, but then tied it back up. Suddenly, she turned and left the room.

The door to the main house had just closed, and Guangyuan was already gone.

She walked to the door, her footsteps a little hurried. She stood in front of the door’s crack, breathing in and out, and then reached out to lightly scrape the door with her fingers.

The next moment, the door suddenly opened, and a hand pulled her inside.

Shenrong fell straight into the man’s arms. He had been waiting for her, and his arms wrapped tightly around her.

“Your injury...” Shenrong felt the white bandage on his chest.

“Kissing you is fine,” Shan Zong said in a low voice. His lips moved from her ear to her lips, blocking her mouth.

The bitter taste of medicine lingered on her tongue. Shenrong’s arms were pulled by him and draped over his shoulders. She slowly wrapped them around his neck.

She finally felt his breath on her again, intense and full of life.

Shan Zong’s kisses were precise and forceful. His hands were on her waist, pressing her against him, and he fiercely devoured her lips.

Shenrong’s lips quickly went numb. With his lips pecking and holding hers, her heart beat like a drum. She willingly opened her lips slightly, meeting his even more forceful suction, and her whole body unconsciously trembled.

His face was half in light and half in shadow from the firelight. His deep eyes stared at her as he slowly retreated, holding her, until they reached the bed.

When they sat down, their lips were still together.

They finally separated because Shenrong was about to run out of breath. The kiss had been too intense, and their lips still clung to each other when they parted.

In the lamplight, Shan Zong held her body and breathed against her lips. “They all said goodbye to me. Don’t you have anything to say to me to say goodbye?”

Shenrong held his neck and raised an eyebrow. “Yes, I’ll ask you. If you could do it all again, would you still divorce me?”

“Yes.”

Shenrong’s eyes widened slightly. Then she heard him say, “But if I had met you sooner, I would have asked you then if you would be willing to go with me.”

She let go of his hand. “Then ask me now.”

Shan Zong’s eyes were dark. “Would you be willing to go with me?”

“No!” Shenrong said, then looked at him and turned her face away.

Shan Zong’s expression was calm, his eyes fixed on her.

Her gaze shifted slightly. “It would be different if you asked me now.”

The corner of Shan Zong’s mouth instantly turned up, and he wrapped his arms around her from behind.

“Now, and in the future, no matter where I go, I will ask you.”

Shenrong’s heart fluttered. The knot in her heart from back then was suddenly untied.