Song Yue looked at him and asked calmly, "I don't quite understand, what does Lord Lu mean?"
“You know who I’m talking about,” Lu Shenyun said. “Shen Qingchen.”
"So it was her." Song Yue's lips curved slightly. "Lord Lu, you must have misunderstood. I didn't ask her to leave; I merely recommended her to serve as the prefect of Yuanjiang in Yunnan. What, does Lord Lu think she's not up to the task?"
As the sun set and dusk approached, the last rays of sunlight fell upon the two figures. Song Yue wore a scarlet robe, while Lu Shenyun wore a black robe; they faced each other, their contrasting attire striking. Their tall figures loomed diagonally across the stone path of the Thousand-Step Corridor.
"Whether she can handle it or not, I don't care." Lu Shenyun said coldly, his thin lips moving quickly. "That's Yunnan, it's far away and chaotic, you can't let her go."
Song Yue smiled slightly and flicked his sleeve. "She's an official of the Ming Dynasty, just like you and me. It's precisely because of the unrest there that she's needed to maintain peace and protect the local people. Isn't that our duty?"
Lu Shenyun looked directly into his eyes and said succinctly, "Don't you feel any heartache at all?"
A spring breeze blew by, lifting the hems of their robes.
In the air, apricot blossom petals fluttered and fell.
After a moment of silence, Song Yue replied calmly, "Everyone has to grow. It's not bad for her to go to a place and gain experience for three or five years. It's a good thing for her."
"Are these words meant for yourself, or for me?" Lu Shenyun asked bluntly.
Song Yue pursed her lips slightly. "Lord Lu is aloof and has always been a loner. I've known you for many years, and I've rarely seen you care about anyone like this. Why are you so concerned about my student this time?"
"She saved my life."
“Oh, right, I remember you two have that kind of relationship.” Song Yue said, looking at his arm. “I also heard that you saved her a few days ago? Lord Lu is the number one military general of our Ming Dynasty. I didn’t expect that he would be injured while dealing with a few petty thieves. It seems that his desire to repay the debt of gratitude is quite urgent. But when she went to Yuanjiang, Yunnan to serve as the prefect, it was the Emperor…”
Before he could finish speaking, Lu Shenyun interrupted him, "You still owe me a favor. Now, I want you to repay me."
Even if Lu Shenyun hadn't mentioned it, Song Yue would have almost forgotten that when Ming Xiang was taken to the Beizhenfusi Yamen, he had taken Qingchen to demand her return, thus incurring a favor from Lu Shenyun. At that time, Lu Shenyun didn't show himself, but only sent Huang Yu to tell him that he would ask for the favor back when he needed it in the future.
He knew very well that, given Lu Shenyun's personality, he would never ask him for a favor. Unexpectedly, times had changed, and for Qingchen's sake, he actually spoke up.
The entanglements and bonds between them are quite interesting.
"Then how does Lord Lu wish me to repay this favor?" Song Yue asked.
“You are the smartest person in the court, I know you can come up with many solutions.” Lu Shenyun pursed his lips slightly. “Please, Your Excellency, don’t let Qingchen go to Yunnan.”
He was the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, always calm, composed, and aloof. But no one knew how nervous and flustered he felt when he heard she was going to Yunnan. He didn't know if she could endure the long journey, or if she could handle everything there, but he knew he couldn't bear the feeling of being separated from her by such a vast distance.
The journey is too long, and letters are too slow; this parting may be forever.
"I can't do it." While asking Lu Shenyun for a favor, Song Yue said decisively and resolutely, "I'm sorry, Lord Lu, I cannot grant your request. I can only repay this favor another day."
Lu Shenyun was neither surprised nor taken aback by the answer. He knew Song Yue quite well.
A wise person is naturally difficult to persuade and has already made his own plans before acting. However, he also knew that scholars always valued their promises, so he didn't expect Song Yue to refuse without any hesitation.
He paused for a moment, then looked at him and said, "Your Excellency has been well-versed in Confucianism and Mencius since childhood, and you conduct yourself according to the principles of benevolence and righteousness. Are you going to go against your principles because of this matter?"
He knew how pale and powerless his words would be in the face of Song Yue, a man who was not good with words. But he still clung to the last glimmer of hope that he could persuade him.
Song Yue simply smiled and said, "Lord Lu, can't you see that in this court, benevolence and righteousness have long been forgotten?"
He continued, "Those who understand the times are wise. Lord Lu should also keep up with the times like me. Don't talk about right and wrong, just talk about advantages and disadvantages. If my student does well in Yunnan, it will benefit her, benefit the court, and benefit me and you. So why not do it? Don't you think so?"
Principles? In this chaotic world, facing someone who burned his entire family to the ground, what principles can one even talk about?
"I know I can't convince you." Lu Shenyun knew that further words were useless, so he stopped talking and only asked, "When do you want her to leave?"
“Three days from now.” Song Yue glanced at the darkening sky. “But today will be over soon. If Lord Lu is reluctant to part with my student, perhaps he should go and see him soon. I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave.”
With that, he flicked his sleeve and walked straight past Lu Shenyun.
Will you give it to her?
Song Yue paused slightly, "I'm too busy with court affairs to leave. If it's convenient for you, Lord Lu, could you see me off? Thank you."
After saying that, he lifted the curtain and got into the carriage.
Lu Shenyun stood there, squinting as he watched the carriage drive away into the distance.
That night, Xu Silin sat alone in his study.
In the afternoon, he also received news that Qingchen was going to Yunnan.
He remained silent, his mind preoccupied with this matter.
Yunnan? Song Yue actually recommended her to go to Yunnan?
He didn't understand. Weren't the master and disciple already in love? If they were in love, how could they bear to be separated by such a vast distance? Could it be that Qingchen's love for Song Yue was just unrequited?
But he knew Qingchen's personality; she wasn't a proactive person, and with a secret about being beheaded hidden in her heart, it was even less likely that she would take the initiative to confess her feelings to Song Yue.
Who exactly is Song Yue...? The more Xu Silin thought about it, the less he understood. He held the cup in his hand, but the wine inside remained untouched for a long time.
The candlelight flickered, illuminating his young and handsome features, and the interplay of light and shadow outlined a sculpted face.
Honestly, he was very reluctant to let Qingchen leave; he desperately wanted her to stay in the capital, somewhere he could see her. However, the current situation didn't seem so bad to him. Because Song Yue had hurt Qingchen's feelings.
When he first heard the news, he immediately thought of going to find Xu Yan and asking him to help Qingchen stay. But after thinking about it carefully, he gave up the idea.
Although Qingchen left the capital, it was all caused by Song Yue. She will remember very clearly how the person she loved cruelly broke her heart.
It's better that she's gone. If she doesn't see him again, with time, she might slowly forget Song Yue, her heart broken. And during this time, he can focus his energy on his career, relying on the Xu faction to climb the ranks as quickly as possible.
He'll bring her back once she's forgotten about Song Yue.
By then, he will no longer be the Xu Silin he is now.
Thinking this, Xu Silin drank the wine in his glass. It burned like a knife, cutting into his throat. He had already drunk many glasses before, and his head was starting to throb slightly.
Qingchen is leaving, and Mingxiang probably doesn't know yet, so he needs to tell her. If she has anything she wants to say to Qingchen, he can pass it on to her.
Thinking this, he stood up, put on his cloak, and went to Mingxiang's courtyard.
In Mingxiang's room, a solitary lamp burned, its wax dripping silently. She sat listlessly before the table.
When she saw Xu Silin arrive, she looked up at him.
She could smell alcohol on him; she smelled it as soon as the door opened and the wind blew into the room. He had been drinking.
"Have you eaten yet?" Xu Silin asked, sitting down opposite Ming Xiang.
She nodded.
"I came to tell you," Xu Silin's face was already flushed, and the veins in his neck were bulging, "Qingchen is about to go to Yunnan."
As soon as she finished speaking, Mingxiang was momentarily stunned, her beautiful eyes blinking slightly.
Yunnan?
Although she had never left the capital, she had heard of that place. It was a long and winding road, where a single parting could mean being thousands of miles away.
She thought that the moment she lost her virginity, the worst moment was the moment when she would never be able to meet Qingchen again. But she never expected that something even worse was yet to come. She was even going to never see Qingchen again.
Qingchen is going to Yunnan, leaving only her in the capital in ruins.
"Will he come back?" She gazed at the candlelight for a long time before asking sadly.
Xu Silin understood her feelings and remained silent by her side until the effects of the alcohol began to take hold. He rubbed his brow, his breathing becoming heavy. "What did you say?"
Seeing his expression, Mingxiang stopped asking questions.
Whether she came back or not seemed to make no difference to her. She was already a woman who had lost her virginity, a concubine in someone else's mansion; how could she still harbor any infatuation?
Mingxiang stopped speaking, her mind filled with complicated thoughts, a feeling of gloom and despair.
The candlelight burned quietly, clouds drifted by outside the window, and moonlight fell indifferently into the pond.
After an unknown amount of time, Xu Silin's consciousness gradually faded, his head slumped, and he slumped onto the table. Ming Xiang, having gathered her thoughts, stared at him intently.
After a long pause, she called out, "Xu... Silin."
The sound was soft, carrying the innate gentleness and purity of a woman. It easily pierced his eardrums and entered his dim dream.
It was as if Qingchen was calling him.
Mingxiang stood up, walked to his side, and after standing there for a moment, removed the cloak from his back, letting it slide to the ground. Xu Silin stirred, murmured something, and then remained still. Mingxiang didn't hear what he said.
She helped him up and assisted him to the bed. He immediately collapsed onto the bed.
Then she began to reach out and undo his robe.
Soon, she took off his robe, revealing his young and strong chest.
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