In the midst of a street disturbance, he began to demonstrate his responsibility.
The bustling atmosphere of Zhuque Street was not diminished in the slightest by the coolness of late spring. The cries of vendors and the sounds of carriages intertwined, and the signs of brocade shops and the smoke from teahouses swayed together in the wind. Shen Qingci and Su Yunqing walked side by side, and their fingertips had just touched the curtain of the ink and brush shop when they were stopped by a sharp argument.
The crowd was so dense it was impossible to move, and the faint sound of a woman's sobs could be heard. The two pushed their way forward and saw a flower girl in coarse cloth kneeling on a flagstone. Her bamboo basket was overturned, and roses, glistening with morning dew, were scattered all over the ground, crushed and mangled by horses' hooves. Several fierce-looking servants stood before her, the leader, a richly dressed young man, fanning himself with a folding fan. The gold thread on his brocade robe gleamed in the sunlight, and his face was full of arrogance: "You little wretch, how dare you bump into my horse! You won't leave here today without paying a hundred taels of silver!"
The flower girl sobbed, her shoulders trembling, tears mingling with dust streaming down her face: "Young master, spare me! I... I really can't afford to pay for it. I just bumped into her by accident..."
"Accidentally?" The richly dressed young man kicked over the bamboo basket. "My fine horse is extremely precious. Even damaging a single hair would be enough for you to sell for ten years! Either pay for it, or come back to my manor as a slave to make up for the loss!"
The onlookers whispered among themselves, but no one dared to step forward—everyone recognized him as Li Xiuyuan, the son of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, who was known for his domineering and arrogant ways, and no one dared to provoke him.
Shen Qingci frowned and stepped forward to block the flower girl. He was dressed in a plain long robe, his figure as upright as bamboo, and his tone was neither humble nor arrogant: "Young master, the young lady made an unintentional mistake, why be so ruthless? A hundred taels of silver is nothing to you, but it is a disaster for her."
Li Xiuyuan turned his head and looked him up and down. Seeing that he was dressed simply but had an extraordinary demeanor, he raised an eyebrow and sneered: "Where did this wild boy come from, daring to meddle in my business?"
"My name is Shen Qingci." He stood with his hands clasped in a gesture of respect, his eyes clear and bright. "As a member of the family of an official of the court, you should set an example. It would be disgraceful to bully the weak."
"Shen Qingci?" Li Xiuyuan was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. "So he's the talented scholar who's been all the rage in the capital? What a pity, a talented scholar can't be a source of money, nor can he protect anyone." He gave a signal, and the servants immediately rubbed their hands together and surrounded him. "Get this meddlesome fellow out of here!"
Su Yunqing instinctively gripped Shen Qingci's sleeve, but saw him slightly shift his body, dodging the first servant's fist, and then grabbing the servant's wrist with his other hand, twisting it gently until a cry of pain rang out. Shen Qingci had practiced martial arts with his father since childhood, and although he didn't seek to be strong, he was more than capable of protecting himself. His footwork was as agile as a butterfly, dodging incoming punches and kicks, each move stopping short of injury, neither striking vital points nor allowing the servants to get close.
In a short while, several servants were sprawled on the ground, groaning in pain. Li Xiuyuan was both shocked and furious, pointing at Shen Qingci and trembling with rage: "You, Shen Qingci, dare to hit my men! You just wait, I'll call for help right now!"
“If you need help, young master, I will accompany you.” Shen Qingci stood in front of the flower girl, his tone calm but powerful. “However, if today’s matter is taken to the authorities, you will be hard-pressed to escape the charges of bullying the people and condoning your servants’ violence.”
Li Xiuyuan's face turned pale and then red. Seeing the pointing fingers and whispers from the onlookers, he ultimately dared not make a scene. He stomped his foot angrily and said, "You're ruthless! Let's go!" With that, he led his servants away dejectedly.
A low cheer erupted from the crowd. Shen Qingci helped the flower girl up and picked up her scattered bouquets: "Are you alright, young lady?"
The flower girl wiped away her tears and bowed deeply to him: "Thank you so much for saving my life, young master! I have no way to repay you, please accept these flowers." She held up a bunch of the most beautiful roses, her eyes full of gratitude.
Shen Qingci waved her hand and declined, saying, "It was nothing, no need to mention it. Miss, please pack your things and go home early. Be careful on the road."
Su Yunqing watched his retreating figure. The morning light filtered through the sycamore leaves, falling on his shoulders and outlining his gentle yet resolute profile. She suddenly understood that his talent lay not only in his writing but also in his chivalrous spirit of standing up for what was right. After the crowd dispersed, she stepped forward and handed him a clean handkerchief: "Brother Qingci, your hand is scraped."
Shen Qingci looked down and saw a small cut on his fingertip from a pebble, with blood seeping out. He took the handkerchief, wiped it casually, and smiled, "It's nothing."
Su Yunqing frowned slightly, took out a small bottle of wound medicine from her purse, and carefully applied it to his hand: "Swords have no eyes, be careful next time." Her fingertips touched his slightly cool skin, and her cheeks flushed slightly, but she still carefully wrapped the cloth around his hand.
Shen Qingci looked at her lowered eyes, her eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings, and the faint scent of orchids lingering in her hair. A warmth suddenly filled his heart. He whispered, "With you here, I'm not afraid."
Su Yunqing looked up and met his gentle gaze. Her cheeks flushed instantly, and she quickly withdrew her hand, turning to look at the pen and ink shop: "Let's go, it'll be closing time if we stay any longer."
The setting sun cast long shadows of the two as they walked side by side through the bustling streets. The fragrance of roses mingled with the delicate scent of ink, creating a tender ambiance in late spring. Unbeknownst to Shen Qingci, this street commotion not only revealed his chivalrous spirit to Su Yunqing but also ensured that a pair of eyes lurking in the shadows would remember his name.
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