Chapter 63 The One I Love: I thought... I'd lost you again.
Xie Ji locked herself in her room for a whole day, refusing to see anyone. Xie Yun arrived with her favorite snowflake pastries, but could only speak to her through the door.
"Ah Ji, don't act like a child. Your aunt is only doing this for your own good."
Xie Ji called out from inside the house, "What do you mean by 'for my own good'? This marriage was arranged by scheming; is that for my own good?"
"Don't you want to marry Young Master Wang?" Xie Yun asked back.
Xie Ji lowered her voice and said, "Of course I want to, but I won't use underhanded methods to force him to marry me."
Two nights ago, she was walking along the road when a group of people suddenly pushed and shoved her past, pushing her to the shore. She lost her balance and fell into the water. Just as she was about to swim ashore, a man suddenly grabbed her foot and struggled left and right. Looking closely, she realized it was Wang Zhen. She had saved him, but somehow the story spread that she had accidentally fallen into the water, and that Wang Zhen had sexual relations with her while saving her.
Xie Yun earnestly advised her, "Feelings can be cultivated slowly, as long as you, Aji, marry into the Prince's mansion—"
“Sister, this is different. I don’t want him to look down on me.” Xie Ji opened the wooden box, inside which lay the pair of pearl pendants that had not yet been given away.
"What I want is a harmonious and respectful marriage, not to live at the mercy of others."
Xie Yun didn't say anything more, and she didn't even know when she left. Opening the door, she saw the snowflake pastries on the floor and, against her conscience, ate them all.
A round red ball rolled into the valley, lifting a black curtain over the world. Xie Ji was asleep on the couch when he vaguely heard someone knocking on the door.
"I won't eat it!"
The unfamiliar voice outside the door put her on high alert. Xie Ji gripped the whip tighter, slowly walked to the door, and tentatively asked, "Who is it?"
"It's me, Wang Yan."
Xie Ji immediately opened the door, greeting her with a smile, "Sister Wenxuan! What brings you here?"
Wang Yan caught a glimpse of the soft whip lying on the ground inside, but fortunately, Yunyi was still properly wrapped around her waist.
"I've come to ask you about my brother."
Xie Ji hurriedly invited Wang Yan into the house, kicking the soft whip aside, "That's all, please sit down."
Wang Yan saw that she was busy running around but couldn't find anything to serve the guests, not even tea cakes.
"Just say it. I'm not here as a guest."
Xie Ji hid a wooden box behind her back and gave an awkward dry laugh. "My place is simple, please make do with it, sister."
Wang Yan's impression of her was not good at all, and a hint of impatience appeared on his face. Then he heard her promise: "I will not marry Young Master Wang."
Wang Yan had prepared a lot of reasoning to argue with her, but she blurted out this sentence. Now she didn't know how to react.
"Then... what exactly happened about your brother saving you? He can't swim."
Xie Ji smiled and said, "Oh, this one, I'm the one who saved him."
Wang Yan was stunned again. "You saved him?"
Xie Ji nodded smugly, "Perhaps he said he saved me because he was afraid of losing face if word got out. But it doesn't matter, I won't use that to blackmail him into marrying me."
Upon hearing the affirmative reply, Wang Yan turned to leave, but after taking only two steps, he suddenly turned back and instructed her, "I came here on something; please do not mention it to anyone else."
Xie Ji agreed without hesitation, stroking the wooden box in his hand, and hesitated before speaking: "I believe you, it's definitely not what's written on that piece of paper."
Wang Yan paused, but didn't turn around. Only after her figure disappeared into the night did Xie Ji realize with a start that everything was as quiet as usual. She had come and gone so silently, without anyone in the manor noticing…
Wang Yan returned, her footsteps echoing crisply through the still snow. The person standing inside suddenly turned around, strode over, and embraced her tightly, as if trying to absorb her essence into his very bones.
After a long while, Wang Yan softly called his name: "Ziqian...?"
Shen Minghuai buried his face in her neck and whispered, "I thought... I had lost you again."
"I am here."
Wang Yan embraced him, nestled in his arms, and soothed his unease with gentle caresses. Ever since she escaped from the clutches of the Yue Emperor, everyone treated her like a precious treasure, especially him. She knew Hua Xin had been secretly following her, and even if Shen Minghuai didn't come to Jishengtang, he would still know what she had done that day.
Her visit to Xie Ji this time was too impulsive. Although the Imperial City Guard was in Prince Su's hands, there was no guarantee of absolute safety. Wang Yan tugged at his clothes and looked up, deciding that she would definitely inform him beforehand next time.
A little while later, Shen Minghuai brought over two bowls of mutton soup noodles. The two sat facing each other in the courtyard and ate slowly. Every time, he would finish eating first, and then gaze intently at her.
"Did you go to the Xie residence just now?"
Wang Yan wiped his mouth with a handkerchief. "Madam Xie said she won't marry, so even if my brother wanted to, he couldn't find a wife."
Shen Minghuai handed her a new handkerchief. "I was just about to tell you that Uncle Wang also disagrees."
"Father didn't agree either?!" Wang Yan remembered Wang Zhen's appearance that morning and became even angrier. "What benefits? I think he's just stubborn!"
Shen Minghuai tried to calm her down, saying, "Getting angry is bad for your health. This marriage probably won't go through."
Wang Yan thought for a moment; if her father wouldn't budge, it wouldn't work. She just couldn't understand when her brother had become so stubborn. Even the Xie family's wife didn't care, so why was he insisting? If everyone used the name of propriety to do despicable things, would there be any justice left in this world?
The next day, Wang Yan thought Wang Zhen wouldn't come, but her brother came to her with a long face, worried about getting their father's approval.
She was on her father's side in this matter. Wang Yan firmly stated her position: "Since Father doesn't agree, he must understand the pros and cons better than you do. Why are you so insistent, brother? Could it be that you like that Xie family lady?"
Yesterday, Wang Zhen went to persuade his father, and his father said the same thing. This led to a long-awaited argument between father and son. Wang Zhen was simply adhering to his own sense of propriety and morality, but no one around him agreed. Yet, wasn't this the very morality they had been taught since childhood?
"The Xie family is of no help to your career. You should marry a wife who can support you."
If this hadn't happened, he should have married a wife like her. But now, she saved him, he touched her wet arms and waist, and the lessons he had learned over the past twenty years told him that he should marry her.
Then, his father stated calmly a well-known fact: the Xie family had not forced him to marry. Although the Xie family was now declining due to the emperor's favor, if he were to abandon his responsibilities because of this, how would he be any different from a snobbish person?
His father drank it, and the study remained silent for a long time. Wang Zhen left, clutching his father's last words.
Do you want to kill your sister?
Wang Yan's still pale face was clearly displayed before him. In the following days, Wang Zhen did not mention the matter again.
Winter had arrived in the blink of an eye. The Grand Princess was holding a plum blossom appreciation banquet at her residence. Xie Ji handed two plum blossom invitations to the lady at the gate and received two sachets in return before entering. A young servant led him to the outside of the plum garden, where the fragrance of plum blossoms filled the air. Stepping into the garden, he saw vermilion and green calyxes embracing each other, a stream flowing through the woods, its waters embracing pink blossoms on the left and red blossoms on the right.
Xie Yun was already seated next to the Grand Princess, with the Princess Consort of Wei, whom she hadn't seen in a long time, on the other side. Xie Ji greeted her and then found a bamboo stool to sit down, showing no interest in appreciating the plum blossoms. Suddenly, someone patted her on the shoulder.
"Ah Ji!"
Xie Ji turned around and saw A Guo holding a pot of plum blossom wine. He pulled her to sit under a red plum tree and shared with her some interesting things that had happened recently with Yelü Chuxi. He said that the Liao delegation had come to the capital, and the person in charge was Yelü Chuxi's fourth cousin, who brought many strange and interesting things for her to see.
Suddenly, a zither under the white plum tree on the opposite bank was played. It turned out that Wang Zhen had casually played a tune, which attracted the attention of all the officials and ladies around him.
"Young Master Shen!"
A-Guo let out a soft cry, drawing the attention of everyone on the opposite bank. Suddenly, a commotion erupted there; it was obvious they were teasing the couple rumored to be getting married. Wang Zhen smiled and said something, then the others scrambled to compete in reciting plum blossom poems, while Shen Minghuai remained where he was, watching this way.
"Is Young Master Wang shy? He doesn't even dare to look at you." A-Guo handed her a full cup of plum blossom wine, raised her glass to Shen Minghuai on the opposite bank, and urged the person next to her, "Don't think about those unhappy things, cheers!"
"This was an accident." Xie Ji downed his drink in one gulp, his frustration churning inside him. Looking up again, he saw Shen Minghuai standing alone with Princess Wei.
Shang Nianyao sat in front of the guqin and asked a question that kept Shen Minghuai there.
"How is Wenxuan?"
Shen Minghuai said calmly, "No need for Your Highness to worry."
Shang Nianyao smiled and said, "Remember to give her my regards."
The music started again, and a melody of "Three Variations on Plum Blossom" drew everyone over, but Shen Minghuai did not turn around.
"Ah Ji, why are you drinking here so quietly?" Cui Hanqing asked, having taken Lu Guan to find Xie Ji to paint. "And who is this?"
“My name is Aguo!” Aguo stood up briskly with the wine in her hand. Before she could explain in detail, Cui Hanqing already recognized her as the Yi woman from the southwest.
“Cui Hanqing.” Cui Hanqing pulled Lu Guan forward a little more. “Lu Guan.”
"Hello, Sister Cui, hello, Young Master Lu." A-Guo scrutinized them for a while. "Your fathers must also be high-ranking officials, right?"
Lu Guan hesitated and said, "...I wouldn't call myself a high-ranking official."
Hearing that they were going to paint, A-Guo followed them. The four of them walked together in the plum grove, the two girls, smelling of alcohol, supporting each other as they entered the snow-white world, their drunkenness dissipating somewhat.
Passing by the Poetry Terrace, Lu Guan initially intended to take Wang Zhen along, but he turned to look for Shen Minghuai. Lu Guan had no choice but to stride back to Cui Hanqing's side and casually ask, "Madam Xie, about your affair with Yiheng—"
Xie Ji smiled and said, "Young Master Wang and I are friends."
Cui Hanqing nudged Lu Guan with her elbow, "I told you not to ask around."
Several people were already standing in front of the desk, two of whom were dressed in brightly colored clothes, making them very conspicuous.
"Why didn't Wang Yan come with Shen Minghuai?" Liu Chengze asked regretfully.
Liu Chengen waved his pen in front of his third brother, "She's been hunted down by the whole city, and she still likes him? With the Duke of Dingguo as prime minister, she'll definitely cherish Shen Minghuai like a precious treasure!"
Liu Chengze sighed, "I like her even more now... Doesn't that make her a better match for me? How could she possibly be a match for Shen Minghuai?"
Xie Ji walked up and kicked Liu Chengze, "Keep dreaming. Whether the two of them are a good match or not is none of your business. Take a piss and look at yourself in the mirror, are you even human?"
"Xie Ji!" Liu Chengze threw down his pen and yelled, "It's you again!"
Xie Ji was stopped by Cui Hanqing, who was standing to the side, and still said angrily, "If you keep talking nonsense, I'll tear your mouth apart."
"Come on! Tear it—" Liu Chengze's spine went limp in an instant as his second brother dragged him away, leaving behind an unsightly picture of plum blossoms.
"princess."
Everyone bowed to Xie Yun, except for Shang Shifan and Cui Chongqi, who argued incessantly over the wine warmer beside the Grand Princess. One insisted on a realistic depiction, the other on an impressionistic one, and neither would yield to the silk painting. Only when Shang Nianyao helped the Grand Princess over did the two fall silent.
"Where's Xiao Minghuai? Has Xiao Minghuai finished painting? His brushwork is the most exquisite, let him do it."
Shen Minghuai rushed over upon hearing the commotion and took over Shang Nianyao's position.
"Great-aunt, Minghuai is not young anymore."
The Grand Princess grasped his hand, saying, "No matter how old you are, you'll still be a child who needs your great-aunt to hold your hand."
The Grand Princess's granddaughter, Qian Jia, moved a chair over. "Grandmother, Young Master Shen just had his coming-of-age ceremony a few days ago. Have you forgotten? We're all adults now, but you still treat us like children."
The Grand Princess pulled Shen Minghuai in front of her, "You're a grown man now, it's time for you to get married. Do you have a wife you like? Your great-aunt will arrange a marriage for you two."
Some people started to whisper, but the Grand Princess was old and her hearing was failing, so she only heard Shang Shifan shout.
"Yes! I heard that Minghuai and Fourth Sister Wei are very close. Lord Wei will be returning to the capital at the end of the year to report on his duties, so we must keep a close eye on them!"
Qian Jia glanced at Shang Shifan with extreme displeasure, and the Grand Princess quickly looked at Shen Minghuai, "Is what he said true?"
“Minghuai isn’t in a hurry to get married.” Shen Minghuai walked to the table. “I’ll paint a picture of plum blossoms for my great-aunt.”
As evening approached, the entire plum garden was bathed in a rosy glow, and the group finally picked plum blossoms and headed home. The carriage from the Prince Wei's residence had barely left the Grand Princess's residence when it turned and headed straight for Jisheng Hall.
Green Calyx shouted from inside the hall, "Quickly summon your best doctor! If anything happens to my princess, none of you will escape!"
Shang Nianyao quickly scanned the hall, but couldn't find Doctor Xu who had come to the mansion that day. Hesitating about what excuse to go to the backyard, she saw a female doctor striding in.
"Your Highness, this way please."
Green Calyx grabbed Xu Ning'an's wrist. "Why is it a female doctor? There's no one else here—"
Xu Ning'an stared at her and smiled slightly, "I am the next head of the hall appointed by my master. There will only be more and more female doctors in Jisheng Hall. If you don't trust me, you can go to another clinic."
Shang Nianyao gently pulled open the green calyx and held Xu Ning'an's hand tightly. "Doctor, thank you for your trouble."
"Please wait here for a moment." With that, Xu Ning'an helped Shang Nianyao into the inner hall. As she was taking Shang Nianyao's pulse, the princess suddenly asked a question about someone with great caution.
Xu Ning'an paused, slowly withdrew her hand, and was about to tell her the pulse when the princess suddenly became agitated, ignoring her order to leave and standing firmly in place.
"There's no time! Prince Wei will find this place soon. If you want to protect Jishengtang, let me see her!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com