15. Discussion Meeting (Part 1)
"This appearance... is too striking."
After leaving the Imperial Guard training ground, Xiao Pingchuan rode his horse directly back to the General's Mansion.
As soon as he dismounted, Xiao Pingchuan ordered martial law to be imposed at the general's residence.
Shen Suqin watched as, in an instant, the general's guards, both overt and covert, filled the courtyard, turning the general's mansion into an impregnable fortress.
Xiao Pingchuan pulled her back to the study.
The study was a very important place in the general's mansion, and he actually brought people in like that.
"Was it the Crown Prince who sent someone to find you?" Xiao Pingchuan asked bluntly.
"yes."
Xiao Pingchuan remained silent for a long time before asking, "Do you have any questions for me?"
Shen Suqin shook her head; she didn't want to know, nor did she want to get involved.
Xiao Pingchuan nodded.
He was still bleeding, whether from his own blood or someone else's, it was unclear, and soon a small puddle formed at his feet.
Shen Suqin couldn't bear it and suggested, "Let me apply the medicine first, and then you can see a doctor for a proper examination."
Xiao Pingchuan hesitated. The two were not yet married, and he wondered if being dressed in such disheveled clothes might offend them.
Shen Suqin, on the other hand, didn't think that much about it. In the apocalypse, who cares whether you're male or female? So she was always a bit oblivious to gender differences.
"Hurry up and take it off, how can I apply the medicine if you don't take it off?" she urged.
Xiao Pingchuan's fingers tightened, then he hesitated for a moment before loosening his belt and taking off his shirt.
When Shen Suqin looked up again, what appeared before her was a broad back as thick as a small mountain, covered with scars, some new, some old, some deep, some shallow.
She paused, holding the wound medicine, and hesitated for a moment to reach out and touch it.
Xiao Pingchuan waited for a while, but when she didn't move, he thought for a moment, then pulled his clothes up to cover his back and said, "Did I scare you?"
Shen Suqin shook her head, and realizing that he couldn't see her, she said, "No, take off your clothes."
"Um."
The wound medicine was taken by Shen Suqin before she left. It was prepared at great expense and was very effective, but it was also quite strong. It would sting when applied to the wound.
Sure enough, as soon as she applied the ointment with her fingertips, she saw Xiao Pingchuan tremble.
“I’ll be gentle,” she said.
Xiao Pingchuan shook his head: "No need."
It wasn't that he was afraid of pain, but rather that he felt somewhat uncomfortable with the warm, smooth touch of Shen Suqin's hands.
"I want to know, were you scared when you led people to storm the training ground today?" Xiao Pingchuan tried to change the subject.
Shen Suqin carefully applied the medicine, gently blowing on it as she did so, saying, "Don't be afraid."
"You knew there would be danger, right?"
"Know."
"Then why aren't you afraid?"
Shen Suqin patted his shoulder. "Don't tremble. Why are you so afraid of pain?" She picked up a clump of ointment. "I don't know, I'm just not afraid."
She probably knew that Feng Sanhe wouldn't dare to do anything to Xiao Pingchuan.
"Thank you," Xiao Pingchuan said sincerely.
He knew that a simple thank you was not enough, and he also knew that Shen Suqin had done a lot for him. He wondered what he had done to deserve such deep affection.
"You're welcome," Shen Suqin said, as it was really nothing to her.
"I will not let you down," Xiao Pingchuan promised.
Shen Suqin was puzzled. What had he failed to do? Oh, those 300,000 shi of grain.
So she replied, "Okay."
At this moment, Xiao Pingchuan held the blood-soaked sachet in his hand. He carefully stroked it, but the sachet had lost all its fragrance and was filled with the smell of blood.
If he wasn't too angry when Feng Sanhe ordered him to be beaten, he was truly furious now when he saw the blood-soaked sachet.
He thought coldly, "This Feng Sanhe will cripple one of my legs sooner or later."
After applying the best medicine, Shen Suqin handed him the wound medicine, saying, "Keep this medicine for yourself, don't give it to anyone else. It contains many precious medicinal herbs and is very effective, you know?"
Xiao Pingchuan: "Alright. I'll send someone to take you back. I heard you refused when Xu Youcai arranged guards for you. Why?"
"I'm not used to having people around me."
"But this time you've offended Feng Sanhe, so you can't refuse me anymore."
Shen Suqin thought for a moment and said, "That's fine too."
She could ask this person to help her protect her parents.
"I'll be waiting for you at the entrance of the Yinshan Residence for our intellectual discussion tomorrow," Xiao Pingchuan said.
"Your injury?"
"They're just superficial injuries, nothing serious, they'll be fine overnight."
Shen Suqin was speechless: "General, you should take care of your health. Look at all those wounds on your body. They must not have been treated properly back then, which is why you have so many scars."
Xiao Pingchuan took it as her concern for him and felt comforted. He said gently, "I will be more careful in the future."
"Um."
......
The next morning, Ju Tao came to help Shen Suqin get up, as they were going to Yinshan Residence for an appointment.
Ju Tao took out the clothes she had bought from the clothing store a few days ago from the closet and brought them to the bedside: "People in the capital like such flamboyant styles, all colorful and gaudy, it hurts my eyes to look at them."
Shen Suqin waved her hand, "I won't wear this. I'll wear what I usually wear on Fuliang Mountain."
"But didn't Miss say she wanted to keep a low profile?"
“I’ve discovered that in the capital, being too low-key just gets you trampled on.” She lay on the bed, her two soft, white hands supporting her head. “People should be a little high-profile sometimes.”
Ju Tao chuckled to herself, put the brocade robe aside, rummaged through the chest and took out a plain shirt woven from blue silkworm silk, which she handed to her. This blue silkworm silk was something that money couldn't buy.
"It has to be the clothes from our mountain, light, flowing, soft and comfortable against the skin."
Shen Suqin nodded, "Help me put on some makeup later, we're going to cause a ruckus today."
Ju Tao's eyes lit up when she heard this. Her sister Qin was already beautiful enough without makeup, but if she did, she would probably outshine all the other noble ladies.
On the other side, Shen Suqiu arrived at Yinshan Residence early, accompanied by Liu Xi.
She was to entertain guests on behalf of her teacher today, so she put a lot of effort into dressing up. She wore a sky-blue brocade dress with a cloud-patterned floral design, covered by a light gauze overlay. As she moved, the gauze danced lightly, making her look incredibly graceful and elegant.
"Your outfit today is quite eye-catching," Liu Xi said to her as soon as they met. "Look at those men staring at you; they probably didn't expect the famous and talented woman to be so beautiful."
"I know what I look like, so stop with the nonsense," Shen Suqiu said calmly.
Liu Xi sighed helplessly, "You really are stubborn."
Shen Suqiu: "Thank you for the compliment."
"I wonder what Shen Suqin will be dressed like. Do you hope she'll look like a nouveau riche from a humble family, or as elegant and beautiful as you?"
"I don't care what she wears. My mission today is to tear off her mask."
“She’s really having a tough time against you. Speaking of which,” Liu Xi leaned closer and lowered her voice, “Old Zhan doesn’t usually concern himself with these mundane matters. Tell me straight, is this discussion today under the Zhan family’s or the Chen family’s?”
Shen Suqiu's aura turned colder, and she said unhappily, "So what if I'm surnamed Zhan? So what if I'm surnamed Shen?"
"If the surname is Shen... I'll go home and urge my brother to go to the Shen family to propose marriage as soon as possible."
"There's no need for a marriage proposal; your brother is not good enough for me."
Hearing this, Liu Xi was not angry at all; instead, her attitude became even better. "No, I'll tell him to try harder."
"Alright, stop joking around. Come with me to the door to greet the guests."
Yinshan Residence was a separate courtyard of the Imperial Academy used specifically for entertaining guests. The guests who could be entertained by the Imperial Academy were either imperial relatives or famous scholars. Ordinary noblemen who did not have real talent and learning were not even allowed to cross the threshold.
Today is an exception; it is not only open to the public, but also open to all family backgrounds and social statuses, allowing even ordinary people to enter.
So today, almost everyone in Tuan with a name or surname has come. Even if they don't understand, it's good to have a reputation.
Shen Suqiu, acting as the hostess, greeted guests at the door on behalf of her teacher—the highest honor for a scholar from Tu'an.
"Oh, Miss Shen," the newcomer was a colleague of Shen's father. He cupped his hands in greeting to Shen's father, "Like father, like daughter. You are blessed, Lord Shen."
Shen Jinghe waved his hand, "Suqiu earned it herself, she wouldn't dare to pat herself on the back."
"Father," Shen Suqiu bowed respectfully to Shen Jinghe under the gaze of everyone before saying to the man, "Uncle Yang, what brings you here?"
"It's rare for Elder Zhan to come out of seclusion, we dare not miss it. Miss Chen, please make yourselves at home."
Shen Suqiu bowed politely and beckoned a servant to escort the two inside.
Not far away, several young ladies from prominent families who had recently arrived gathered together, lingering before entering the garden.
They were waiting for the legendary Shen Er, wanting to see what she looked like.
"I heard his nickname was Zhaozhao, so he must have been short, chubby and round."
"That's how country girls are, crude and ignorant. There'll be a good show to watch later."
The group burst into laughter.
A moment later, the thunderous sound of horses' hooves suddenly came from afar, and then the dense crowd at the street entrance split in two. A line of tall horses galloped in, and just as they were about to collide with the gossiping ladies, they suddenly reined in their horses.
The horse's hooves rose high, and the man on its back was handsome and dashing. With a wave of his hand, his personal guards behind him all tumbled off their horses, looking majestic and imposing.
The person who arrived was Xiao Pingchuan. He slightly raised his chin and glanced around, trying to see if Chen Er had arrived.
After looking around and not seeing anyone, he dismounted, tossed the reins to his guard, and chose a corner to wait with his arms crossed against the wall.
"Is he Xiao Pingchuan?" someone asked in a low voice.
Several people nearby shook their heads.
“It was him. I saw him the day he entered the city. The main gate was wide open. He looked very imposing.”
“I saw it too; the Northern heavy cavalry are truly like weapons of mass destruction.”
"But he looks so young, and his appearance... is a bit too striking..."
Just then, the Shen family's carriage slowly drove up.
"Shh, stop talking, it's coming."
Everyone unconsciously held their breath.
The carriage stopped, and Shen Suqin leaned out of the carriage. Her face was as bright as a lotus flower and as clear as the moon. She wore a tea-white cross-collar long skirt that swayed lightly like mist, and her temperament was like a secluded orchid in a valley.
Xiao Pingchuan, who had been leaning against the wall, slowly straightened up, his eyes only seeing Shen Suqin and no one else.
Even when he stared intently at someone, he couldn't see them clearly; instead, it felt like he was witnessing a morning mist in the mountains, swirling snow in the wind, or clouds obscuring the moon...
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