Chapter 77 The Blank Space As she was reflecting, she heard Gu Ruxu say: "..."
The bamboo forest stretches endlessly, forming a vast expanse.
If you were to look down from a high vantage point, you would surely make a discovery. The shape formed by the bamboo grove resembles a half-trigram in the Tai Chi symbol, partially enclosing the small courtyard.
Now, she finds herself in the eye of the gossip, constantly feeling like someone is watching her.
Suddenly, she turned around and saw the person leaning against the door.
The sick and weak person, though clearly listless, had eyes as sharp as a hawk, like a dying lone wolf, still thinking of devouring its prey even at its last gasp.
"Lord Mu, why did you come out?" she asked, suppressing her discomfort.
The man's hair was loose, and he wore a snow-white undergarment. He had a cold and aloof air with a touch of sickly charm, and an indescribable sense of calm madness. "It's stuffy in the room, I want to come out for some fresh air."
At this moment, Yang Zhen came out, holding a cloak in her hand, and then put it on him.
He refused Yang Zhen's help and slowly walked towards the bamboo forest. As he passed Shen Qinglu, his voice, as soft as falling snow, rang out, "Could you come in and sit with me for a while?"
Through the straight bamboo stalks, you can see the stone tables and benches inside.
Shen Qinglu thought for a moment and followed behind him.
Upon entering the bamboo forest, you are greeted by the unique scent of bamboo, similar to the smell of fresh grass, but with a lighter fragrance.
"You haven't left yet, are you worried about me?" Mu Hanshi asked her with his back to her, clearly asking her, but seemingly afraid to look at her. His extremely soft voice carried a hint of unease, as if mixed with a little expectation.
Feeling uneasy, she replied truthfully, "I want to wait until you're alright after taking your medicine before I leave, so that my uncle won't worry if he doesn't know the outcome when he asks."
"That's all?"
What else?
This lush greenery is like her, and it's like him.
"Lord Mu, please speak frankly if you have something to say?"
"I just want to talk to you. I'll be happy no matter what we talk about." Mu Hanshi finally turned around, his lowered brows revealing a depth and obsession she couldn't understand.
She subconsciously took a step back, feeling wary. "Lord Mu, this is pointless. There are some things we both know perfectly well. Perhaps no one knows you better than I do what kind of person you are. And I'm sure you know what kind of person I am too. Why beat around the bush like this?"
"Do you think I have ulterior motives towards you, or towards your Shen family?"
A moment of silence was her answer.
The human heart is unfathomable and profound, and is the most difficult thing to understand.
A dragon in hiding must conceal its head and tail, not wanting to be discovered. If it truly wants to surface, it must cover itself up, both its own identity and its intentions.
Otherwise, why would he disregard the woman he loves? And why would he entangle himself with the enemy of the woman he admires?
"Lord Mu, you understand what happened today better than anyone else. Let's not beat around the bush, I really don't want to have anything to do with you anymore, and I hope you won't come looking for me again."
"You hate me that much?"
Mu Hanshi moved his hand, as if trying to grab something, but it fell halfway down.
The restraint in his eyes was like the deep sea beneath dark clouds, surging with endless darkness and heat, as if heaven and earth were about to merge into one.
How could his A'Zhu hate him?
The wind blew through the forest, ruffling the leaves on the branches and making a rustling sound.
Fearing he would go crazy, Shen Qinglu softened her tone, "It's not that I hate you, it's that there's no need to see you again."
I disagree.
"..."
Outside the bamboo grove, a maidservant came to deliver medicine.
Yang Zhen took the medicine and walked towards the bamboo forest.
Shen Qinglu was still annoyed by Mu Hanshi's words, "I disagree." She thought to herself, "Some people are not only crazy, but also extremely unreasonable. It seems the drug was too mild, otherwise they wouldn't be so energetic."
“I’ll do it,” she said to Yang Zhen.
Yang Zhen hesitated for a moment before handing over the medicine.
As she was carrying the medicine and preparing to place it on the stone table, she seemed to trip over something, and her whole body tilted to one side.
The tray fell to the ground, the bowl shattered, and the medicine spilled.
She was held tightly in Mu Hanshi's arms.
At this moment, Yang Zhen said, "Young master, this medicine... seems a bit off."
There was a bamboo shoot right where the medicine was sprayed. The bamboo shoot looked like it was being corroded by something, and it was bubbling suspiciously.
Upon seeing this, Shen Qinglu couldn't help but admire her own good fortune.
She was caught in such a coincidence that she didn't know whether to feel fortunate or regretful.
Before Mu Hanshi could give any orders, Yang Zhen rushed out of the bamboo forest, grabbed the maid, and brought her before them.
"Tell me quickly, who sent you?" Yang Zhen said coldly, his previous kind demeanor gone, replaced by a sharp and ruthless expression.
The maid's mouth moved, and almost at the same time Yang Zhen uttered the word "bad," she fell to the ground with a "thud."
Shen Qinglu's view was immediately blocked by the man's large hand.
Mu Hanshi turned her around, took her a few steps forward, and said, "Keep walking forward, don't look back."
The extremely low sound no longer resembled falling snow, but rather a lover's murmur, carrying a scorching heat.
A strange feeling suddenly welled up in her heart, as if this scene were something she had seen before. Like the twilight at dusk, it inexplicably made her want to cry.
After walking a few steps, her vision opened up to a bamboo forest, the path beneath her feet, and cicadas waiting outside the bamboo grove.
Xia Chan quickly came over to help her, and the two of them did not look back even once until they left the bamboo forest.
"Young lady, is that person dead?"
Shen Qinglu shook her head, "I didn't see it, it must be dead."
That kind of behavior suggests they must be the legendary assassins.
Mu Hanshi once said that many people had wanted him dead over the years, and it seems that what he said was true.
They kept walking, and after passing through the bamboo grove and walking a little further, they reached the garden of the Marquis's mansion.
Artificial hills, strange rocks, small bridges, and flowing water—scenery abounds at every turn. A winding path leads to a hidden paradise, and you might suddenly encounter someone you don't want to meet, with no time to hide or retreat.
"Miss Ali." Mu Lin saw her too, as if she were his savior.
The reason was simple: Jiang Xinyue was also there.
Compared to the previous two days, Jiang Xinyue seemed to have lost even more weight, appearing almost skeletal. Not only was her makeup heavy, but her hair ornaments were also layered upon layered, making one fear that her incredibly thin neck might break under the weight.
Jiang Xinyue had finally found an opportunity to spend time with Mu Lin in private and was doing her best to show off her good qualities when her plans were suddenly ruined. How could she possibly be in a good mood?
"Miss Chen, what are you doing here?"
The tone was so sharp that it was almost like an interrogation.
Even if it wasn't for her sake, Shen Qinglu still wanted to explain to Mu Lin.
After hearing this, Mu Lin quickly thanked him, "I only heard from someone when I left the camp that my Ninth Uncle seemed to be unwell, so I rushed back. I wonder how he is now?"
Shen Qinglu pondered what had just happened, thinking that Mu Hanshi might not want others to know, so she said, "When I left, Lord Mu had already taken his medicine and rested."
"Then I'll go see him later." The boy's bright but slightly complicated eyes didn't dare to stare at her for long, and his gaze wandered for a moment. "I'll take you there."
She wanted to say no, but seeing how eager Mu Lin was to get away from Jiang Xinyue, she didn't object.
The two had only taken a few steps when Jiang Xinyue's angry voice came from behind, "Cousin, are you just going to leave me like this?"
“Miss Ali is a guest, so I should see her off.”
“Cousin, Miss Shen is a female guest. How can you personally escort her?”
Jiang Xinyue wasn't blind; she could certainly see that Mu Lin's feelings for Shen Qinglu were unusual. The way he clearly had affection for her, yet suppressed it, fueled her jealousy.
She pointed to the old woman beside her and said, "You, take Miss Chen out."
The old woman obeyed the order and walked towards Shen Qinglu.
Shen Qinglu said no, saying she knew the way.
“This is the Marquis’s residence, and the Marquis’s residence has its own rules. If you, an outsider, get lost or go to places you shouldn’t go, it’s not a good thing. Miss Chen, don’t you think so?”
"Cousin Xin, what nonsense are you talking about?" Mu Lin said sternly. "Quickly apologize to Miss Ali."
Jiang Xinyue's eyes reddened when she saw him defending Shen Qinglu.
"Cousin, why are all men like this? What's so great about her? She's just got a seductive face, always showing her face and flirting with other women..."
"Miss Jiang, be careful what you say."
Shen Qinglu remained silent.
What does this have to do with anything?
He then said to Mu Lin, "Young Master Mu, I know the way out of the manor. Please wait."
"Ignore her, let's go." Mu Lin had practiced martial arts since childhood, had been to the border and fought on the battlefield. He was definitely not the kind of person who was full of poetry and gentlemen. He had no pity for Jiang Xinyue's tears and only wanted to escape.
"Cousin!" Jiang Xinyue's pride was wounded, and she was filled with jealousy and pain. She didn't know where the thought came from, but she blurted out, "If you take one more step forward, I'll jump!"
Beside her was a pool of water. The water rippled gently in the breeze, shimmering with a soft light.
The weather is getting warmer, and the grass by the pond is sprouting, making it a lush and green sight.
This is the season of life, free from the threat of death.
Of course, Mu Lin couldn't just ignore her.
"Cousin Xin, what are you doing?"
She had reached the water's edge, her eyes red-rimmed, her frighteningly thin body looking as if a gust of wind could topple her over. "Cousin, you can't do this to me... You know how I feel, my heart is truly with you. For you, I haven't dared to eat my fill these past few years, afraid you'd think I'm fat... Do you know I've only eaten half a pastry since last night..."
"What are you talking about?" Mu Lin frowned, her eyes filled with disbelief. "You've become so thin because of me?"
“Cousin, have you forgotten?” she said, tears streaming down her face. “The year I had my hairpin ceremony, I heard you telling someone… that it’s better to be thin, because if you’re fat you can’t even run. I’ve always remembered those words, and I haven’t dared to forget them for a single day.”
Mu Lin looked blankly at Shen Qinglu and subconsciously looked at her. "I never thought she was fat."
Suddenly, he remembered something and slapped his forehead. "I remember now."
Jiang Xinyue was overjoyed. "Cousin, you remembered! Look at me, I'm getting thinner and thinner, don't I look good?"
"You..." He didn't know what to say for a moment. "I did say that, but I wasn't talking about you. I was talking about horses. Horses are faster when they're lean and strong."
"What did you say?" Jiang Xinyue clearly couldn't accept this answer. "You're talking about the horse, not me... Then what have I been for these past few years?"
Her eyes reddened even more, and she shed even more tears, looking as if she were about to collapse. "I'm not even as good as a horse. I'd rather be dead!"
Unexpectedly, Shen Qinglu had anticipated this and had been slowly approaching her while she was talking to Mu Lin. As soon as she turned around, Shen Qinglu grabbed her arm.
Shen Qinglu was quite strong, but she was very light. With a pull, a twist, and a push, she lost her balance and fell to the ground.
Before she could react, Shen Qinglu sneered, "If I weren't afraid of being implicated by you, I wouldn't bother saving you. You want to threaten Prince Mu with your death? How can you do this to your aunt? I really feel sorry for Madam Hou. She dotes on you, her niece, but you're causing her trouble."
"My family matters are none of your business!"
"Do you think I want to take care of you?" Shen Qinglu took a deep breath, her voice lowered, filled with obvious sadness. "I was pushed into the water and almost drowned. I know that feeling."
“Miss Ali…” Mu Lin wanted to comfort her, but didn’t know what to say.
She shook her head. "I'm fine now. I just can't stand seeing people not cherish their own lives. Miss Jiang, you can't be so selfish. Think about Prince Mu, think about Madam Hou. Have you ever thought about them? Do you know that if something happens to you in the Hou Mansion, the person who will suffer the most is Madam Hou!"
No one knew the hardships of a merchant's daughter marrying into a noble family better than Jiang Yingshui.
Even though her mother-in-law was open-minded and her husband respected her, the constant gossip and the many eyes in the household forced her to be diligent and conscientious, daring not to slack off in the slightest.
Over the years, thanks to the Marquis's mansion, the Jiang family has become imperial merchants. The more prestigious this is, the more she needs to perform at her best and not allow anyone to find fault with her. Everyone says she is lucky and praises her for being blessed, even her closest relatives think so, believing that she can get everything she has today simply because of her husband's love and favor.
She helped her family, brought them honor, and was used to giving and settling disputes for them. She assumed her family would also consider her feelings and wouldn't cause her any trouble.
She had always known Jiang Xinyue's thoughts and had subtly expressed her disagreement to Lin Shi. Putting aside social status, as a mother, she naturally hoped that her son could marry a wife who was presentable in every way.
If Jiang Xinyue were to have an accident at the Marquis's residence, there would only be two outcomes if word got out: either Jiang Xinyue's reputation would be damaged, or she herself would be criticized.
Neither option was favorable to her, yet her own niece disregarded it all and showed no concern for her whatsoever. The only one who truly cared for her was a complete stranger.
"Auntie!" Jiang Xinyue complained, feeling wronged, "This Miss Shen is really going too far, she actually pushed me."
"Mother, it's not like that..."
Before Mu Lin could finish speaking, she interrupted him, "Didn't you say you were going to see your Ninth Uncle? Don't linger here."
She then said to the old women and maids, "Why aren't you helping Miss Biao back home!"
“Auntie…” Jiang Xinyue protested, “I was pushed…”
“I saw it and I heard it.”
Jiang Yingshui's words successfully shut down Jiang Xinyue's words.
Just as Mu Lin was about to head towards the bamboo forest, he saw Yang Zhen coming towards him.
Yang Zhen held a brocade box in her hands and walked up to Shen Qinglu. "Thanks to Miss Shen, my young master is much better now. He asked me to give you some things to express his gratitude."
Inside the brocade box was a bamboo pen, the kind that looked quite ordinary.
Jiang Xinyue felt much better upon seeing this, and muttered, "For such a small favor, all I get in return is an ordinary pen."
Yang Zhen glanced at her but said nothing, yet she felt a chill in her heart.
“Ninth Brother has always been refined; anything he gives must be of the highest quality,” Jiang Yingshui quickly interjected, annoyed that her daughter was so troublesome.
She secretly regretted it, remembering Jiang Yingshui's words of advice.
“My mother-in-law and the Marquis both value my brother-in-law highly. You must not underestimate him or offend him. Also, remember to avoid his courtyard.”
These are Jiang Yingshui's original words.
Jiang Yingshui knew from her mother-in-law and husband's attitude that her brother-in-law was a favorite. As a daughter-in-law and wife, she naturally had to go along with their wishes and act in accordance with their demands in every way.
To show how much she valued her cousin-in-law, she decided to personally escort Shen Qinglu out of the mansion.
She didn't speak the whole way, and neither did Shen Qinglu.
The two walked silently until they reached the gate of the Marquis's residence.
As they were about to part, Shen Qinglu finally spoke. When she looked at people with her black jade-like eyes, they were like the cleanest and hardest jade in the world, possessing unquestionable purity and unwavering will.
"I am just a junior, and I am really unworthy of the Lady Hou's escort. The Hou family is large and prosperous, and the Lady Hou has many things to worry about. There is no need for her to go to such lengths for a child from a family with whom we have a long-standing friendship."
Jiang Yingshui understood the meaning behind those words.
It was precisely because I understood that my feelings became even more complicated.
She watched the carriage disappear into the distance and murmured, "...She was such a sensible child, what a pity."
*
The carriage was not heading towards the Shen family's residence, but rather towards the General's Mansion.
Shen Linlang was not there; she had already returned to the Shen family.
Gu Ruxu said, "Your mother told me before she left that you should stay here for a few more days, and she would come to pick you up after your yard is all set up."
Shen Qinglu obediently agreed and recounted the events of the day.
"I was really frightened, afraid that Lord Mu was unwell because he drank my soup. Fortunately, he didn't drink the soup, otherwise I really wouldn't be able to explain myself."
"He must have eaten something else that caused his discomfort," Gu Ruxu comforted him. "Fortunately, it was a close call, and you were a great help."
When she saw the gift, her expression became somewhat subtle. "This pen..."
"Aunt, is there something wrong with this pen?"
Shen Qinglu examined it and found that it was just an ordinary bamboo pen with nothing special about it.
"There's nothing wrong with it, it just looks like I made it myself."
Did you make it yourself?
Shen Qinglu looked down on it; she didn't care for it.
As they talked, they arrived at the courtyard where she was.
Gu Ruxu looked at the empty entrance and asked her with a smile if she had thought of a name.
She already knew the answer, but pretended to have thought it through carefully, saying, "I've learned something from the unexpected disaster a few days ago. It's hard to guard against the hearts of petty people. As long as you act uprightly and honestly, and leave a clean reputation in the world, you won't have to fear the slander and defamation of others. Aunt, what do you think about naming this courtyard 'Leaving Blank Space'?"
"Leave blank space?" Gu Ruxu repeated the two words. "This name is not bad. I remember a few years ago someone was looking for friends through poetry and came up with a four-character first line of a couplet, which included the two words 'leave blank space'."
"What four-character couplet?" she asked casually, handing the calligraphy brush to Xia Chan.
Xia Chan put the writing brush back into the brocade box and placed it on the silk.
The coin itself isn't worth much, but the box is nice.
As she was reflecting, she heard Gu Ruxu say, "It seems to be the phrase 'Why leave blank spaces'."
"!"
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