Chapter 40 Jumping out the window A slender, pale finger pressed down on his shoulder, causing him to instantly...
At the beginning of the Si hour, swords flashed across the martial arts arena of the Dali Temple.
"Your starting move is too slow!" Jian Su shouted sharply, his wooden sword flashing like a snake's tongue as he aimed straight for Shen Xiaoshan's throat.
Shen Xiaoshan hurriedly parried, but because he was distracted, his movements were a beat slow. With a crisp "snap," the wooden sword struck him squarely on the right shoulder, causing him to groan in pain.
"If it were a real sword, you would already be headless!" Jian Su sheathed his sword and stood there, scolding, "Thinking nonsense while practicing martial arts, do you have a death wish?"
Shen Xiaoshan hurriedly apologized, his forehead stray hairs soaked with sweat. Seeing his sincere admission of wrongdoing, Jian Su's cold and pale face softened slightly. He glanced at him and said, "Speak your mind. Hesitating won't get anything done."
Shen Xiaoshan pursed his lips and after a long while said, "Master... I do have something important to do."
"explain."
“I…” Shen Xiaoshan looked up to meet his gaze, unable to hide the excitement in her heart, “Since I came to the capital, I have received many favors, and I have always thought about when I could repay them, but I have never had the opportunity. Now… now I can actually help her, and I am very happy.”
Jian Su looked him up and down, then suddenly asked, "Miss Meng asked you for help?"
Shen Xiaoshan was struck dumb, frozen in place: "How did you know?"
Jian Su scoffed lightly, "Is it that difficult? How many people do you actually know in the capital? Do you think I've been working for nothing all these years at the Dali Temple?"
Not to mention, he even showed that kind of expression.
They're completely bewitched.
Why is it that all these people seem to be bewitched when they encounter Meng Lingyao, even the adults...?
Shen Xiaoshan suddenly realized and clapped his hands, praising, "Master is truly a genius! This disciple admires you wholeheartedly! Master truly deserves to be the number one judge of the Dali Temple..."
"Stop talking nonsense." Jian Su interrupted his effusive praise, but the corners of his lips unconsciously turned up. "So what do you want from me?"
As they were talking, Shen Xiaoshan caught a glimpse of Pei Xu walking out of the main hall out of the corner of his eye. His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly stood up and said, "Master, I have important matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now."
Without waiting for Jian Su's response, he hurriedly chased after him.
The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review is advanced in years and has repeatedly requested to resign, but the Emperor has always persuaded him to stay. Although he still holds the official position, he has long since ceased to attend to state affairs, and most matters, large and small, of the Court of Judicial Review are handled by Pei Xu, the Vice Minister. The Salt and Iron Case involves a wide range of issues, as well as other miscellaneous cases, keeping him busy every day.
When Shen Xiaoshan first saw Pei Xu, he felt that he had become even thinner. The morning light shone through the eaves, casting dappled shadows on his handsome profile.
He looked up at Shen Xiaoshan, "What is it?"
"My lord..." Shen Xiaoshan stepped forward quickly and asked with concern, "My lord, you've been working very hard lately, please take care of yourself. Have you had your meal today?"
"Speak plainly," Pei Xu said calmly. "If you need to ask for leave, go to Jian Su. If you need to withdraw your monthly allowance in advance, go to Qing Zhou."
Shen Xiaoshan hurriedly waved his hands, "No, no."
"Um?"
Pei Xu looked at him with suspicion, only to see that the young man's cheeks were slightly flushed, his expression was awkward, and his hands were twisting the hem of his clothes in front of him.
Shen Xiaoshan took a deep breath and pulled a letter from his pocket. The letter was exquisitely made, with a light pink paper printed with a subtle begonia pattern, which contrasted sharply with his simple blue cloth clothes.
"This is...this is what Miss Meng asked me to give to the master," Shen Xiaoshan said softly, handing over the letter.
Pei Xu was stunned.
He had been keeping himself busy with official duties lately, so as to have less time to think about other things. However, this letter instantly pulled him back to that spring night of the Shangsi Festival—the dew that had fallen from the tip of the bamboo leaf seemed to still linger on his brow, exuding a bone-chilling cold.
After a moment of silence, Pei Xu finally accepted the letter, his voice calm as still water, "Do you know what this is about?"
"I don't know," Shen Xiaoshan answered honestly.
Upon hearing this, Pei Xu's eyes darkened. "You dare to deliver letters for others without knowing why? If it involves illegal activities, you will also be implicated. As a member of the Dali Temple, don't you even understand this basic principle?"
Shen Xiaoshan was terrified by that imposing gaze and hurriedly said, "If it were anyone else, I certainly wouldn't help. But this is Miss Meng's letter, so I..."
His eyes were moist, revealing pure innocence and trust, like a frightened fawn.
Seeing his expression, Pei Xu felt a familiar sense of helplessness. He lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes casting a faint shadow. When he opened his eyes again, the turmoil in them had subsided. "Alright, go ahead and get busy. I've accepted the letter."
"Yes." Shen Xiaoshan bowed respectfully before stepping down.
As he reached the corner of the covered walkway, he was suddenly grabbed. Turning around, he saw Jian Su. He was handsome, and his snow-white skin appeared even more striking against his cold expression.
"Did you just deliver a message to the master for Miss Meng?" Jian Su asked in a low voice. "What is she planning to do now?"
Shen Xiaoshan broke free from his restraints, unusually firm, "Miss Meng is not a prisoner of the Dali Temple, and she does not need to explain to others what she wants to do. The letter was received by the magistrate. If Master is curious, he can ask the magistrate."
When he spoke, his eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, revealing a sharpness rarely seen in others.
Jian Su was stunned for a moment, then reached out and ruffled his hair hard, laughing and scolding, "Finally, you're starting to look decent."
A gentle spring breeze blows through the many courtyards of Dali Temple.
Passing through Shen Xiaoshan's hair, his back was straight, and his shoulders were beginning to show the strong outline of a grown man.
A gentle touch brushed against the jade pendant at Pei Xu's waist, its clear sound startling the swallows nesting under the eaves. The pale pink letter lay quietly in his palm, like a butterfly fluttering its barely perceptible wings.
He lowered his eyes and stared for a long time, his expression unreadable.
-
Meng Lingyao chose a private room on the second floor of Juxianglou as the meeting place, as a return gift for their previous meeting at Linlangge. She started preparing several days in advance, as she was opening a shop comparable to Linlangge, and this was a warm-up for the event.
She tended to a pot of golden-edged daphne buds that were about to bloom, and had several maids arrange some seasonal fruits. She remembered that when she rode in Pei Xu's carriage, and also that day at Linlang Pavilion, she hadn't smelled any fragrance of spices. She figured the host must not like them. Therefore, when arranging the decorations, they had deliberately put away the incense burner and only used the fragrance of fresh flowers and fruits.
"Miss, how about this celadon tea set with crackle glaze?" Songlan came in carrying a brocade box. "The shopkeeper said it was a new find from the storeroom."
Meng Lingyao slowly shook her head, "Too deliberate." She pushed open the carved window facing the street, and a vendor's cry came from the morning mist, "Go get a set of plain white porcelain, the kind you want..."
She carefully chose her words, “Like the color of the first snow melting on bluestone.”
"Yes." Songlan blinked and left.
It's springtime, with willow catkins dancing in the air and distant mountains shrouded in mist—perfect for receiving guests.
On the appointed day, Meng Lingyao arrived at Juxiang Tower early in the morning. She chose a light pink ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) that perfectly complemented the fine weather, and her makeup was simple, fresh, and elegant, deliberately showcasing an effortless beauty.
She rested her chin on her hand, gazing at the tea on the stove.
She had ruled out the possibility that Pei Xu wouldn't come to the appointment from the very beginning. How could anyone not accept her invitation?
Just as the first wisp of silvery steam rose from the tea stove, footsteps sounded from the stairs. Meng Lingyao paused, and the white porcelain covered bowl gently tapped onto the tea tray.
They arrived early.
On second thought, given Pei Xu's personality, it's not surprising that he arrived so early.
The door opened, revealing a figure in a long black robe. Jian Su strode in, his face as cold and stern as snow, his phoenix eyes gleaming with scrutiny.
"Jian Zuo Cheng?" Meng Lingyao was slightly taken aback. "How did you come to be here?"
Although they had met a few times, she only recently learned from Zhao Xu that this person's name was Jian Su, who held the official position of Left Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and that the two were old friends.
Jian Su sat down opposite her, looking completely at ease. "Since this is a restaurant, am I not allowed to come?"
“Of course they come.” Meng Lingyao picked up the teapot, poured more than half a cup of tea, and placed the white porcelain cup in front of him with a “thud.” “But those who come uninvited…” she raised an eyebrow, “are mostly unwelcome guests.”
Jian Su took the teacup and said calmly, "Miss Meng, are you asking me to leave?"
"How dare I?" Meng Lingyao sat down, then suddenly smiled. "I'm just curious, how could Vice Minister Jian, an official of the Court of Judicial Review, actually embezzle from his post?"
"Outrageous!" Jian Su's face darkened. "How could I do such a despicable thing?"
"Then why are you here?" Meng Lingyao looked him straight in the eye and questioned him, "Were you following Shangguan... or did you secretly read Shangguan's letter?"
"Of course not!" Jian Su was furious, his ears turning red, but he couldn't utter any righteous words for a moment. He had indeed taken a shortcut, subtly inquiring about Pei Xu's itinerary through the coachman, and then arriving just in time. Of course, he couldn't say these things aloud.
“I have my own methods.” He put down his teacup. “However, I have come here today to speak with Miss.”
Meng Lingyao raised an eyebrow. "Please speak."
“Zhao Xu has feelings for you, Miss, and I’m sure you’ve noticed it too,” Jian Su said bluntly. “If you feel the same way, you should treat him with care. If you don’t, it’s better to let go sooner rather than later, so that he won’t get hurt.”
Meng Lingyao's expression changed slightly, but before she could speak, Jian Su continued, "And my master, Miss, don't be so confident in your beauty. You won't let go of Zhao Xu, and you can't seduce my master either."
Meng Lingyao laughed angrily, "By what right does Left Chancellor Jian come here to question me? Is it because you are General Zhao's father or brother, or Lord Pei?"
Jian Su was taken aback.
“Since you are not one of them, what right do you have to question them on their behalf?” Meng Lingyao’s tone grew increasingly cold and hard.
Jian Su took a sip of tea and said confidently, "I am an old friend of Zhao Xu and also your subordinate. How can I stand by and watch them get mired in trouble?"
Meng Lingyao suddenly stood up and slowly walked towards him. Jian Su subconsciously tried to move, but a slender white finger pressed down on his shoulder, rendering him instantly unable to move.
"The Left Chancellor speaks so eloquently." Meng Lingyao leaned closer, her red lips slightly parted, "Is it truly so, or... do you have some other motive?"
Jian Su's pupils suddenly contracted.
She was so close that her beautiful face was reflected directly in his eyes. Her eyes were clear and bright, with slightly upturned corners, and an indescribable fragrance wafted over him.
His fair cheeks flushed crimson, almost to the point of bleeding, and with a wave of his hand, he knocked over half a cup of tea on the table. "Absurd... outrageous."
Meng Lingyao scoffed lightly and gracefully stepped back, saying, "Minister Jian, you'd better leave quickly."
She suddenly pushed open the window and pointed outside, "So that your parents won't see this absurd scene."
Jian Su subconsciously followed her movements and, almost instinctively, climbed out of the window.
It wasn't until he landed somewhat disheveled in the backyard that he realized—why was he supposed to follow Meng Lingyao's orders?
Meng Lingyao leaned against the window frame and mocked, "Jian Zuo Cheng is quite skilled."
"It's just that the way she landed..." she snapped the window shut, "...was a bit unseemly."
The window had just closed when footsteps sounded outside the door again, each step steady and measured. The person paused outside the door and gently knocked.
This response came from Pei Xu.
Meng Lingyao straightened her skirt and sat down again. "Please come in."
Pei Xu pushed open the door, revealing himself dressed in a light-colored robe, with exquisite features and a refined, aloof demeanor.
His gaze swept across the table, pausing for a moment on the water stain.
Meng Lingyao followed his gaze, her smile slightly stiffening.
This is bad.
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