After days of continuous drizzle, the weather finally cleared, sweeping away the stifling atmosphere in the air.
Shao Qing gestured toward the desk, where a familiar small box lay: “The treasures A Quan previously gave you have been salvaged. The clothes in your luggage got soaked and have been hung outside to dry. Check if anything is missing.”
Lian Yue expressed her gratitude: “Thank you.”
Then, feigning fear, she asked: “What happened to those river bandits?”
Shao Qing reassured her: “Don’t worry. The county magistrate here is a disciple of the Yuan Clan. While you were unconscious these past two days, A Jing borrowed troops from the magistrate and wiped out all the river bandits in this area. The bandit leader was beheaded, and the rest have been imprisoned. There’s no need to be afraid.”
Lian Yue’s gaze fell upon Yuan Jing, who happened to look over at the same time, their eyes meeting.
His eyes seemed to see right through her.
She lowered her gaze, avoiding his eyes, and murmured: “Will Madam Wu still send assassins after me?”
Yuan Jing explained: “The journey was her only chance to assassinate you. Once we reach Ruyang, people from Xiangyang won’t be able to infiltrate. You can rest assured.”
Lian Yue seemed doubtful: “Really?”
Shao Qing added: “Xiangyang has its own problems to deal with right now. Her orders won’t be able to get out for some time.”
Lian Yue was puzzled: “Why?”
Shao Qing chuckled softly: “Why else? A Quan has surrounded Xiangyang. Not even a mosquito could fly out.”
That was an exaggeration.
Lian Yue looked to Yuan Jing for confirmation. Seeing him nod, she felt relieved.
After ensuring the young lady was fine, the group rented a boat at the nearest ferry and set sail again for Ruyang.
During this time, neither Lian Yue nor Yuan Jing mentioned the incident from that night, pretending as if nothing had happened.
No one deliberately spread rumors, and there was no gossip circulating around her.
In the room.
Yuan Jing was kneeling before the desk, holding a brush as he wrote. The river breeze blew through the half-open window, lifting his hair and robes, making him appear ethereal, as if about to ascend to immortality.
A knock sounded at the door.
Yuan Jing said calmly: “Come in.”
Shao Qing pushed the door open and approached the desk. Glancing down, he asked curiously: “You’re writing the Qing Xin Jing, right? What are you writing that for?”
Yuan Jing finished the last stroke, set down the brush, and replied: “For the Moon Consort.”
“This is an internal cultivation technique for martial artists. The Moon Consort doesn’t know martial arts. Giving this to her is like casting pearls before swine.” Shao Qing first laughed, then grew puzzled. “Wait, although it’s called Qing Xin Jing, the technique is extremely domineering and can only be practiced by women. You’re not planning to teach her martial arts, are you?”
Yuan Jing set the bamboo slips aside to let the ink dry before rolling them up.
He said: “Why not?”
Shao Qing facepalmed.
Yuan Jing asked: “What brings you to me so early in the morning?”
Remembering his business, Shao Qing handed him a newly received message: “Take a look.”
After reading the letter, Yuan Jing set it aside and said: “Yang Jian is a man of unpredictable moods, but I’ve heard a secret rumor that he has past connections with Madam Wu. It’s highly likely he will send troops to Xiangyang.”
He didn’t state it explicitly, but Shao Qing understood the reason. It was said that the death of Lu Xun’s elder brother was related to Yang Jian.
Hearing this, Shao Qing narrowed his eyes: “We must send troops to intercept the reinforcements.”
Yuan Jing said, “I will arrange this matter.”
After the two had discussed in detail, Shao Qing went out, while Yuan Jing turned his gaze to the bamboo slips beside him. His expression darkened as he picked them up and walked out.
Arriving at Lian Yue’s door, he remained silent for a moment before reaching out to knock.
The door opened.
Lian Yue looked up at him, surprise flashing across her face, and stepped aside to make room. “Young Master Yuan, what brings you here? Would you like to come in?”
The young woman was dressed in thin inner garments, her hair disheveled and eyes drowsy, clearly having just woken up and climbed out of bed.
Yuan Jing entered, and Lian Yue closed the door tightly behind him.
He turned, looked down at her, then glanced at the closed door and frowned slightly, though he said nothing.
Lian Yue asked in confusion, “Young Master Yuan, what’s the matter?”
Yuan Jing handed her the bamboo slips he was holding. “This is the Qing Xin Jing. You may read it in your spare time.”
Lian Yue said, “The Qing Xin Jing?”
Her face showed bewilderment, but inwardly she was grumbling.
Was it really necessary to make her read something like the Qing Xin Jing just because she had accidentally hugged him in a feverish daze last time?
Was he mocking her?
Or warning her?
Though inwardly furious, Lian Yue obediently took the bamboo slips. After unrolling them, she looked at him with a troubled expression. “I can’t understand it.”
Yuan Jing thought she couldn’t comprehend the content and remarked, “It is indeed quite complex. It’s normal not to understand.”
After all, it was an internal cultivation technique.
She murmured, “Actually, it’s the characters I can’t read. I don’t know how to read.”
Yuan Jing said, “You’re illiterate?”
Lian Yue explained, “I wouldn’t say completely illiterate. I recognize a few common characters, but the ones here are too complicated. I don’t know any of them.”
Yuan Jing’s lips tightened. “Moon Consort, given your exceptional skill in chess, you expect me to believe you’re illiterate? Don’t you find that absurd?”
He stepped closer to her and said coldly, “Or perhaps, have you had enough of pretending?”
Lian Yue had known from the first glance that this man was extremely difficult to deal with. Indeed, her judgment of people had never been wrong.
If he said she was pretending, then she would pretend.
The young woman bit her lip, her eyelashes fluttering, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. Her voice was full of grievance. “Have I done something wrong? Why are you suddenly being so harsh?”
Yuan Jing disliked hypocritical and fickle people, and in his eyes, Lian Yue was exactly that.
Lu Xun had not been dead for long, yet she showed no sign of grief, as if she had no feelings for him, and she often crossed boundaries.
Yet, whenever she overstepped, it was either not her suggestion or occurred when she was ill—seemingly beyond her control.
To blame her entirely felt forced.
Yuan Jing looked down into Lian Yue’s eyes. She initially tried to meet his gaze with her tearful eyes but soon lowered her head guiltily, her dark hair slipping over her slender shoulders.
He said coldly, “What do you think?”
She asked, “Young Master Yuan, are you still angry about that day in the hunting lodge, when I clung to you for warmth?”
The doors and windows in the room were closed, making it dim. The young woman took a step forward and asked earnestly, her words shifting the tense standoff between them into an ambiguous atmosphere.
Yuan Jing pressed his lips together and remained silent.
Lian Yue took another step closer, rising on her toes to look up at him. “It was my fault last time. I was too frightened, and your body was so warm. I couldn’t help but want to cling to you and hold you. It felt less scary that way. Since you didn’t refuse, I didn’t let go. I didn’t expect you to hold it against me.”
Her tone was sincere: “All the faults are mine. I overstepped my boundaries. I’m sorry, please don’t be angry with me.”
Though her words admitted fault, not a trace of genuine remorse could be felt.
She certainly had a talent for provoking people.
Yuan Jing sensed she was deliberately using such words to obscure the truth. He couldn’t help but lower his head. At this moment, Lian Yue was standing very close—just a little closer and they would touch.
The young woman’s hair had slipped into her collar, the dark strands making her already pale skin appear snow-white and captivating.
He said, “I wasn’t referring to this matter.”
Lian Yue pouted, “Then why were you so harsh earlier?”
Yuan Jing turned his head away, walked to the cushion and sat down, not pressing further about her illiteracy. He said coolly, “Since you can’t read, come here. I’ll teach you once.”
Lian Yue stared blankly at the empty space before her for a moment before turning around. Seeing he had already settled, she pressed her lips together and sat opposite him.
Although she didn’t appreciate Yuan Jing using the “Qing Xin Jing” to imply her impure intentions, being able to learn more characters made her willing to recite this scripture a few more times.
He unrolled the bamboo slips.
“The Way: If the heart is like clear ice, nothing can startle.”
“When breath settles, the heart grows calm; when the heart is calm, one perceives the essence of all things.”
“…”
After finishing the recitation, Yuan Jing looked up and asked, “Have you remembered it?”
Lian Yue blinked her eyelashes and said awkwardly, “Young Master Yuan, I don’t have a photographic memory. I haven’t memorized it.”
So Yuan Jing taught her repeatedly until she could recite the text completely. Then he said, “When you have spare time, Moon Consort should commit this to memory.”
Lian Yue smiled, “Alright.”
The boat approached the dock, and outside was bustling with activity.
Yuan Jing stood up and accidentally glimpsed her fair, delicate calves. He immediately averted his gaze and said, “We should be arriving at Ruyang soon. Please prepare yourself, Madam.”
Without another word, he opened the door and left, seeming almost like he was fleeing.
Lian Yue looked herself over—up and down, left and right—but found nothing amiss. She muttered, “What’s wrong?”
She opened the window and saw the dock filled with boats and bustling crowds. Even in these troubled times, under the governance of the Yuan Clan, the people of Ruyang were temporarily spared the suffering of war and displacement.
After a few glances, Lian Yue closed the window, changed into a blue gown, combed her hair and applied makeup, then packed her meager belongings.
By the time she finished packing, the boat had steadily docked. Boat workers came to help move the luggage ashore and load it onto carriages prepared by the Yuan Clan.
There was still some distance to enter the city.
Lian Yue obediently boarded the carriage. After about half an hour of travel, the group entered the city. Soon, the surroundings grew lively, and the carriage gradually slowed.
She lifted the curtain to see streets paved with bluestone. Her gaze fell upon an old man in patched clothing hunching his shoulders while selling charcoal.
Groups of children begged together, their clothes barely covering their bodies, walking barefoot on the cold stone as if numb to the chill.
The carriage continued onward.
Lian Yue didn’t look further. Such was the state of the world—nothing she could change.
Later, the carriage stopped at a residence. The house steward immediately came forward to greet them. By now, Yuan Jing and Shao Qing had already disembarked and were giving instructions, to which the steward bowed repeatedly.
Lian Yue also stepped out of the carriage, watching them from a distance, momentarily hesitant.
The two approached her.
Yuan Jing said, “Come with me. I’ll take you to your quarters.”
Lian Yue nodded.
The steward arranged for someone to move the luggage. Holding a small box and bamboo slips in her hands, she followed behind the two.
Shao Qing slowed her pace to walk alongside Lian Yue and asked, “What did you and A Jing discuss behind closed doors today? He seemed displeased after coming out.”
Lian Yue glanced at the back of the person ahead, then shifted her gaze to Shao Qing, looking utterly bewildered. “I don’t know either.”
She sighed and added, “I feel that Young Master Yuan… seems to dislike me.”