Chapter 37 Chaos If Jiang Xu dies, what will become of her? ...
In early October, all the new clothes processed by the embroidery workshop were delivered to Shiwan.
Several pieces of clothing were neatly folded, among which the two pieces she had specifically requested—one black and one white—were placed in the most conspicuous position.
Shi Wan glanced at it briefly, picked up the white Qi-style dress and the white rabbit fur outer robe, and placed them together with the jujube-green straight dress she had kept earlier. She then put them at the bottom of the trunk and put them away. After everything was arranged, she called Hua Lan and asked her to invite Marquis Wan Fu Lin.
A short while later, a faint commotion arose outside. Shi Wan assumed someone had arrived and went out to greet them. However, before she even stepped out of the tent, she heard a hurried voice outside, "Madam, urgent news!!!"
"His Majesty has been suddenly attacked by assassins, and his fate is unknown!"
Shi Wan suddenly stood up, her skirt sweeping over the cups and saucers on the table with a jarring noise. She then seemed to snap out of her daze, "What did you say? The King...!"
"Two days ago, in the battle against the Turks, His Majesty was seriously injured, and now..." The scout saw that Shi Wan was in a daze, so he subconsciously stopped talking, lowered his head, and after a moment, he quickly withdrew after receiving instructions.
The room was extremely quiet for a moment.
Hua Hui and Hua Lan were both isolated by Shi Wan, leaving her alone. Her heartbeat suddenly became much faster, and for a moment, Shi Wan even thought that her dream had come true.
But right now, she has no chance to verify it.
If I ask now, I might be arrested immediately. Even the freedom I've finally managed to breathe might be lost.
If Jiang Xu really doesn't survive this ordeal and dies as in the dream...
Yes, what if Jiang Xu really couldn't survive this and died like in the dream?
If he dies...
What will become of me?
A hint of worry crept into her heart. Shi Wan unconsciously shook her head, as if trying to shake off all these inappropriate emotions. After a moment, she put her hand to her forehead, her elbows unconsciously supporting her on the table, and her breathing became more and more rapid.
There was a faint tremor.
How could she worry about Jiang Xu? A man who is so fickle, he's just dead, so be it.
It's just a bit more troublesome; it's just another case of absconding with the money.
Instead of worrying about him, you should worry about yourself.
However, despite repeatedly telling herself this, Shi Wan was still somewhat uneasy. She took several deep breaths to calm herself down.
After a moment, as if he had made up his mind, he slowly got up.
......
*
A northerly wind blew in, carrying a slight chill.
As the summer heat fades, the weather on the border changes daily, growing increasingly cold.
Five days have passed since Shi Wan received the news that Jiang Xu was seriously injured and unconscious. Since then, no matter how Shi Wan asked, she only received perfunctory answers, as if she was being completely shut out.
On the lakeside, the white reeds rustled in the wind. Looking up, the vast lake was like a mirror, reflecting the faint sorrow on her face.
A moment later, a familiar voice came from behind, "His Majesty has ordered that you pack your belongings and move elsewhere with me."
Shi Wan was taken aback, turned her head and saw that it was the same guard from before. She subconsciously used the same excuse as last time, "The soldiers are all here, how could I desert in the face of battle?" She had specifically inquired about this man; he was cold and taciturn, and she heard that he had been promoted in recent years. He was originally a soldier under Wan Houyi, named Wang Shiwei. Coming to her senses, her tone became much more polite, and she tentatively asked, "Guard Wang, may I ask if there is any news from His Majesty's side?"
"How is his wound? Is it serious?"
She gently covered her chest with both hands, adopting a pose reminiscent of Xi Shi clutching her heart, and asked, "Is the King about to return? Why are you suddenly being sent to another residence?"
Wang Shiwei remained unmoved and stepped aside, saying, "I am only acting under orders. I will depart in half an hour. I hope you will hurry, Madam."
"Furthermore, Your Majesty is well."
The other party's tone was cold, and his refusal to say more was obvious. Shi Wan had only met him two or three times at most, so it was naturally not appropriate to say much under such circumstances.
Furthermore, the other party wouldn't discuss such details with someone who was neither a concubine nor a mistress. Knowing that the title "Madam" was merely a way of flattering Jiang Xu, Shi Wan simply fell silent.
After a brief standoff, she had no choice but to comply and return to her tent to pack her things. Fortunately, she didn't bring much; two boxes, large and small, were filled with everything. Once everything was in order, the group headed to the mansion a few miles away.
The carriage rolled along, its wheels grinding over the sand. The scenery along the way changed several times. After a few hours, the road became smoother and the sound became familiar.
After stepping onto the stone path, Shi Wan opened her eyes and looked outside. She had been resting with her eyes closed for a long time, and now her energy was quite good. In front of her, there seemed to be a city, with some simple thatched huts scattered around.
Such scenes are extremely common nowadays; Shi Wan had also witnessed a similar scene when she fled in haste last time.
She feigned curiosity while secretly memorizing the general route. She was multitasking, and even her breathing became much lighter. After some time, she suddenly heard Zhang Shiwei outside report that they had arrived at the house.
It would be more appropriate to call it a courtyard house rather than a residence.
The residence was laid out with a front hall and a rear bedroom, covering a vast area. Shi Wan followed along and looked around inside and out, discovering that it was actually a seven-courtyard complex. She couldn't help but be secretly shocked. Such a residence, if not for chaotic times, would only be enjoyed by officials of the second or third rank in the central government.
However, it has now been left idle.
Her gaze swept over the area carefully. The courtyard wall was over three zhang high, inlaid with blue bricks on the outside, and seemed to stretch endlessly. Compared to the Jichuan Prefectural Governor's Mansion, this place felt more oppressive to her.
It resembled a giant cage.
"From now on, Madam, you can stay here in peace. If you need anything, just give the order to your subordinates." Seeing her stunned expression, Wang Shiwei assumed she was just scared out of her wits and couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. He continued respectfully, "The border region is not like Jichuan. Please adapt quickly."
On this side, even after Shi Wan returned to her room, a faint sense of unease lingered in her heart.
She strolled leisurely through the courtyard for the past half hour, walking from the east side to the west. Whether it was her imagination or not, she vaguely felt that the feeling of being spied on was getting stronger, to the point that... even closing the door did not completely isolate her.
Shi Wan snapped out of her daze, rummaged through the box, and saw that the clothes were still safely at the bottom. She then put them back in their original place and immediately called two maids in.
Hua Lan and Hua Hui had both been privately spoken to by Shi Wan, and both were full of enthusiasm. When they heard that Shi Wan was going to personally give gifts to the soldiers stationed here, they were both very happy.
The next morning, he helped Shiwan prepare a full pot of tea.
The autumn clothes were in full bloom. Before Shi Wan officially arrived here, people had already made some simple repairs to the courtyard, and many plants and flowers had been planted. At first glance, it looked no different from the capital city of Luoyang.
As Shi Wan brewed the tea, she subtly withdrew her gaze. There were many people guarding the entrance to the house, as well as in various corners. Even around her courtyard, there were four people stationed by each window.
It was nearly noon, and the weather on the border was colder than elsewhere. A heavy rain had fallen last night, and the white fog had solidified in the morning, making the temperature seem even lower and causing people to shiver.
Shi Wan sat on the back of the chair and said to the soldier standing not far away, "Brother."
The soldier, startled by her call, quickly stood at attention, jogged over, and bowed, saying, "Does Madam have any instructions?"
Then, her gaze swept over the large pot of hot tea and she heard Shi Wan say, "It's autumn now, and the weather changes every day. Especially this morning, the temperature dropped suddenly and it was quite cold... I saw that you were working hard on your post, so I thought I'd make some warm tea for you to drink and warm you up."
After speaking, she acted as if she wanted to personally scoop soup for him.
"You're too kind," he said, still maintaining a businesslike tone. "It's our duty as subordinates."
Seeing that Shi Wan insisted, he continued, "Please wait a moment, I still need to consult with your superiors about this matter."
Does such a matter require permission? It seems they really are watching her like a prisoner. Seeing that this approach wouldn't work, Shi Wan smiled gently and told him to hurry back, while placing the bowls and cups on a small table set up nearby.
Hua Hui was helping to scoop tea from behind when, after the guard had gone far away, she said indignantly, "This is a good deed of theirs, but they all act like they've encountered some kind of jackal or tiger. They really don't know what's good for them."
"Well, it's good to be cautious," Shi Wan replied gently. Seeing that both maids were looking at her, she subtly revealed a hint of sadness on her face, as if feigning strength, and said, "Let's wait for him to come back after he has finished asking for instructions."
After waiting a short while, the guard returned, followed by four or five unfamiliar faces. Upon seeing Shi Wan, they bowed respectfully and said, "Thank you, Madam. Please let us distribute the tea."
Wang Shiwei followed closely behind. When he saw Shi Wan, they exchanged a few simple pleasantries, and everyone smiled and expressed their gratitude. The scene was peaceful and harmonious.
The bowl of tea that Shi Wan had personally ladled was placed aside. She picked it up gently and handed it to Wang Shiwei, saying, "Guard Wang, you lead the brothers to guard this house every day, protecting everyone's safety. I respect you."
Wang Shiwei was startled and immediately stepped back, not taking the teacup, saying, "You don't need to do that, it's my duty." He assumed she was trying to show closeness and win people over, and seeing Shi Wan holding the bowl for a long time, he thought for a moment, then took it and drank it down in one gulp.
After two failed attempts to probe, Shi Wan remained calm, exchanged a few more pleasantries, and soon got up to return to her room.
In the evening, Shi Wan was engrossed in reading "The Illustrated Treatise on the Ten Circuits" when she suddenly heard Hua Hui enter the room. Hua Hui looked unwell, but when she saw Shi Wan suddenly look up at her, she quickly composed herself.
"Why the long face? Is it because Guard Wang...didn't agree?"
Upon hearing this, the young girl's face immediately showed displeasure. She had spent so much time with Shi Wan and had received a lot of care from her. Moreover, she was highly valued by her, and without realizing it, she had already invested a lot of genuine feelings. Hearing this, she was naturally indignant, "Miss, they really went too far!"
"The weather suddenly changed today, and you were thinking of them, personally brewing tea for them. But this Guard Wang... instead of remembering this kindness, he started making things difficult for them!"
Shi Wan wasn't surprised. She slowly turned another page. "If they won't let me go out, then I won't. Besides, I've been dreaming about the King a lot lately. I guess we'll be able to meet soon."
As for this difficulty... she continued, "Have they agreed to the purchase?"
Seeing Hua Hui shake her head, Shi Wan was taken aback for a moment, then belatedly asked, "Did Guard Wang say anything?" Hua Hui and Hua Lan, unlike Yu'er, were both people Jiang Xu had sent to her side, and were practically colleagues with Wang Shiwei.
She has a history of running away and has just arrived here, so it's normal that she's not allowed to leave the house right now.
But if even buying things isn't allowed... that's a bit strange.
“He only said that the order came from the King himself, and he had no right to interfere; he was just following orders,” Hua Hui sighed. “Besides, I tried to find out some information today, but to no avail.”
Previously, it was difficult to inquire about information, but if you became familiar with someone, you could still find out a little bit. Hua Hui's dejected state suggests that she hasn't even had the chance to "become familiar with someone."
Shi Wan nodded to indicate that she understood, and then dismissed the person.
For several days afterward, she tried to subtly probe the situation, but as she had expected, the guards in the mansion, apart from the necessary conversations, did not utter a single word.
Two or three clumps of golden chrysanthemums peek out from between the blue bricks in front of the steps.
The autumn atmosphere deepened, and the west wind blew, causing chrysanthemum petals to sway in the breeze.
Shi Wan remained well-behaved for a few days. Seeing that the guards didn't respond, she simply entertained herself. She spent her days either making tea and wine, drinking a small cup, or reading books to pass the time. Then she would write letters and ask the guards to deliver them to Jiang Xu.
By mid-to-late October, the frequency of mail delivery had increased significantly.
Fortunately, perseverance pays off, and on October 20th, they finally received Jiang Xu's reply.
After sending out more than a dozen letters, she finally heard a reply. Shi Wan immediately forgot about her calculations and subconsciously opened the letter and carefully scanned it.
However, this letter was no different from the previous ones, containing only a few words and, as usual, reporting that everything was alright.
Jiang Xu had written this a long time ago, and now it's been quite some time before it was finally delivered to her.
......
*
A few days later, Shi Wan deliberately stayed up for half the night every day, and only after confirming that her eyes were completely dark did she leisurely find an excuse to call Hua Lan in.
As night falls, the occasional chirping of insects can be heard outside the window, and a gentle breeze brings a touch of coolness.
As soon as Hua Lan entered the room, she saw Shi Wan leaning against the chaise longue, gazing at the heavy light green bed curtains, seemingly lost in thought. When she came to a stop, Shi Wan turned her head as if startled awake.
Shi Wan sighed, "Hua Lan, I'm worried about the King."
Seeing her haggard face and heartache in her eyes, Hua Lan comforted her, "Madam, don't worry too much. The King will surely be alright."
Upon hearing this, Shi Wan silently shed tears, picked up a plain handkerchief to cover most of her face, and said sadly, "More than half a month has passed, and even the last letter seemed to have been written a long time ago... Hua Lan." As she spoke, she couldn't help but reach out to hold the other's hand, "These past few days I've been dreaming about the King again, dreaming that he went to the battlefield, was slashed by an assassin, and then..." As if unable to continue, Shi Wan gradually began to cry.
After a moment, having listened to another round of comforting words from the person beside her, and seeing that the time was right, Shi Wan softened her tone and said tremblingly, "Hua Lan, go find Wang Shiwei tomorrow and ask him about the King's whereabouts. Also... ask if you can send some people with me to the temple to pray for the King's well-being."
Seeing that Hua Lan agreed, she forced herself to wipe away her tears, leaned against the wall in a different direction, and after a while, her voice was trembling with sobs again, "You can go now, just stay outside and keep watch. I'll be alone for a while."
Seeing this, Hua Lan felt even more distressed. The next morning, she hurriedly went to find Wang Shiwei and brought him over.
Upon meeting, Shi Wan couldn't help but start crying, "Guard Wang, His Majesty has been injured for almost a month. I stay in the courtyard every day, and I'm completely cut off from news. Even the only letters that can tell me about His Majesty's condition are from a long time ago."
Halfway through her sentence, she saw Wang Shiwei standing a few steps away, looking troubled and about to refuse. She couldn't help but sob a few times, interrupting her, and said earnestly, "I don't ask for anything else, just peace of mind. I know... you also have orders to follow. If you are worried, you can come with me to pray for the King." Her tone was extremely humble.
Shi Wan looked frail and delicate, and after staying up late for several days in a row, she looked like she was about to collapse at any moment.
Even with a history of escape attempts, with him and his colleagues watching over him, he probably wouldn't have been able to run more than a few steps.
After a long silence, Wang Shiwei finally nodded in agreement.
-----------------------
Author's note: It rained so hard today, thankfully it's a bit cooler now~ [eating melon emoji]
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