6 – Playing with Swords
Shen Qiu looked at Ye Chen and said, “I don’t know what you’re trying to do. Your attitude toward me has changed too drastically. I think I need some time to process this.”
“And… what you’ve lost, I can’t retrieve for you. I’m not that person either, so please see clearly and don’t misplace your affections.”
“Since the Shen family needs your protection, I’ll obey. There are no outsiders now, so you don’t need to act…”
The more Ye Chen listened to Shen Qiu’s words, the heavier his heart grew. She thought he had been acting all along? What should he do? How could he make her let down her guard? That person—that person was long unworthy of being compared to his Qiu’er.
Before Shen Qiu could finish, Ye Chen knelt directly before his parents’ memorial tablets, raised his right hand, and swore, “I, Ye Chen, swear before my parents that every word I’ve spoken since I awoke last night is true. If I am acting, may I die a miserable death. If I am deceiving Qiu’er, may my parents know no peace in the afterlife.”
Initially, Shen Qiu paid little attention to Ye Chen’s oath—who hadn’t heard empty vows of “miserable deaths”? How many people actually faced consequences?
But Ye Chen’s subsequent words truly frightened Shen Qiu. Swearing by his own parents was deeply disrespectful, especially since Ye Chen’s filial piety was known throughout the capital. Though not quite matching the legendary “Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars,” it was still remarkable.
Shen Qiu hurriedly knelt before the tablets, kowtowed, and said, “Father, Mother, please do not blame him. Your son spoke recklessly. Your daughter-in-law apologizes on his behalf.”
Then she said solemnly, “If you must swear an oath, why involve your parents in such a jest?”
But when Shen Qiu turned, she saw Ye Chen’s face streaked with tears. Shen Qiu panicked slightly—what was happening to Ye Chen? Since waking from a nightmare last night, he seemed like a completely different person.
Hesitantly raising her hand, unsure whether to wipe his tears, she stammered, “You… you should just speak. Why are you crying? I… I believe you, alright? Please don’t cry!”
Ye Chen immediately seized Shen Qiu’s hand and pressed it against his own face, gazing at her as he said, “I know you can’t accept my changes immediately. But as long as you believe me, I’ll prove my sincerity to you.”
Shen Qiu studied him and tentatively asked, “Aren’t you afraid I’m just humoring you with empty words?”
Ye Chen smiled and replied, “No. My Qiu’er has a chivalrous heart. Once she gives her word, she never breaks it.”
Shen Qiu didn’t know where he’d gotten such an assessment, but he wasn’t wrong—she, Shen Qiu, never went back on her promises.
Shen Qiu raised her hand and wiped Ye Chen’s tears with a feigned expression of distaste. Suddenly, Ye Chen embraced her and wept again, crying like a child, murmuring, “My Qiu’er, I’ve returned. I’ll never let you suffer again.”
Shen Qiu pushed against him slightly, but Ye Chen only held her tighter, sobbing, “Let me cry just this once. I won’t cry anymore after this.”
Shen Qiu stopped resisting and gently stroked his back. Ye Chen was overjoyed—this was the catharsis of recovering what was lost and releasing years of longing.
When they left Xi Garden, Shen Qiu and Ye Chen walked arm in arm. The restraint that had shadowed Shen Qiu’s face was gone.
Shen Qiu was inherently free-spirited and unrestrained. Since he was willing to humble himself, giving him another chance wasn’t impossible.
Well, let time take its course. Time never lies. What they truly were to each other—they had all the time in the world to find out.Ye Chen brought Shen Qiu back to the bamboo grove they had visited before. Only upon entering did they discover the hidden world within.
Inside the grove was a clearing with a pavilion beside it. Within the pavilion stood a wooden couch with a small table, flanked by meditation cushions. This clearing was truly an ideal place for martial practice.
Shen Qiu looked at Ye Chen with suspicion. He smiled and said, “I know Qiu’er is a master of swordplay, so… might I have the honor of witnessing your skill?”
Ming Yue seized the moment to step forward and said, “Madam, why not demonstrate your Falling Leaves and Flying Sand set? Let the Duke see what you can do.”
Shen Qiu narrowed her eyes at Ming Yue. When had she switched sides? She then turned to Ye Chen and asked, “Must you see it?”
Ye Chen leaned his head on Shen Qiu’s shoulder, coaxing playfully, “It’s not that I insist on seeing it, but… could I just stay like this, leaning on your shoulder?”
Shen Qiu took a deep breath, pushed Ye Chen away, and leaped forward, instantly rising several yards into the air. Ming Yue called out loudly, “Catch the sword!”
In one swift motion, Ming Yue drew a Soft Sword from her waist—flexible as a belt—and tossed it to Shen Qiu, who caught it with a mid-air flip.
Xing Er approached Ming Yue and asked, “When did you get the sword? I had no idea.” Ming Yue merely chuckled without replying.
With a few sweeping movements, Shen Qiu gathered a circle of bamboo leaves around her. Though a woman, her Swordplay was fierce and imposing, honed on the battlefield.
Shen Qiu had indeed seen combat. Almost every winter, the northern Tatars would clash with their forces. By then, she had returned to the northwest from the capital, and after coming of age, she took to the battlefield each year.
Watching Shen Qiu wield the sword with unrestrained grace, Ye Chen couldn’t help but smile. The Soft Sword seemed to come alive in her hands.
This was his Qiu’er. She was meant to be like this—different from all the women confined to the inner chambers of the capital.
She could advance to defend their homeland and retreat to share romantic moments with him. All he needed to do was protect her innocent heart and her purity, allowing her to soar freely.
Ming Yue said, “So, what do you think, Duke? Isn’t our young lady impressive? Far better than those women hidden away in the capital’s inner quarters, right?”
Ye Chen glanced at Ming Yue and replied, “She’s my wife, not ‘your’ young lady. She’s my madam, understand?”
Ming Yue and Xing Er stared at Ye Chen in disbelief. The change in him from yesterday to today was too drastic. No wonder their lady was struggling to adjust—even they, as her maids, found it hard to adapt!
Ming Yue suddenly felt goosebumps and twitched her lips, saying, “Yes, she’s the madam, not the young lady.”
As they were speaking, Shen Qiu sheathed her sword and landed beside them.
Just as Shen Qiu handed the sword back to Ming Yue, Ye Chen suddenly pulled her into an embrace, planted a loud kiss on her cheek, and declared, “My wife is so remarkable—truly worthy of being mine.”
Ming Yue and Xing Er blushed from their faces down to their necks. Stammering, Xing Er said, “Um, we’ll head back first.”
With that, she dragged Ming Yue away as if fleeing.
Ye Chen asked Shen Qiu, “Why did they run off?”
Shen Qiu shot him a glare without answering. Ye Chen held her close and asked, “Is my wife feeling shy?” Then he burst into laughter. How long had it been since he felt such joy? In his previous life, from the moment he married Shen Qiu, he could scarcely remember being this happy.At first it was anger mixed with heartache, but after realizing he had fallen in love with Shen Qiu, it turned into self-blame, guilt, and heartache.
Seeing Ye Chen’s laughter becoming somewhat uncontrollable, Shen Qiu said, “Birth control soup.”
Ye Chen immediately stopped laughing, wrapped his arms around Shen Qiu and said, “My dear, shall we still have lunch with grandfather and grandmother?”
Shen Qiu then took a deep breath and replied, “Yes, let’s eat with them. Meals are livelier with more people, and they probably enjoy having family around them.”