The case in Jiangling Prefecture was settled, and Xie Changxi sent out two confidential letters—one to Han Cheng, and one presented to the Son of Heaven.
Though the case was closed, Xie Changxi did not rest. He remained in Jiangling for two more months, and by virtue of his authority as Judicial Commissioner, he sorted through the backlog of old cases that had accumulated over the years, one by one.
Those cases that Zhao Mingli had suppressed and refused to handle—he dug them up one by one and retried them all.
The review of all these cases stretched all the way to year's end, when the imperial court issued a decree summoning him back to the capital after the New Year to report on his duties.
Shi Jun had not been idle since her arrow wound healed, and she continued to attend to Xie Changxi as she always had.
However, Lanfang had taken the initiative to shoulder much of the work, and Shi Jun only attended to Xie Changxi at night when he bathed and changed.
These past few months, Shi Jun had been reluctant to serve him up close. She always felt that Xie Changxi's gaze toward her had grown increasingly lingering and tender, and the mere thought of it sent a chill down her spine.
Soon they would be returning to Bianjing, and Xie Changxi would have to fulfill his promise to grant her commoner status.
At this critical juncture, nothing must go wrong.
Shi Jun simply told herself she had misread those looks.
In the eleventh month, Shi Jun received new clothes, bestowed by Xie Changxi—Lingxiang and Lanfang each received some as well.
On the eve of the Little New Year, every household lit their everlasting lamps.
Snow fell in flurries, and red lanterns hung beneath the eaves.
Shi Jun was wrapped in a stone-blue cloak over a plain pleated skirt, gazing up at the fresh snow on the pine and cypress trees.
Though it was winter, the sky was still clear, and a thin layer of sunlight filtered down.
Lingxiang and Lanfang were stomping through the snow nearby—this was their first New Year.
"Sister, come build a snowman too." Lingxiang came forward and took Shi Jun's hand.
Shi Jun looked up with a light smile and brushed the fresh snow off her. The two of them played in the snow until their sleeves were soaked.
Lanfang was crouching on the ground drawing circles. When Shi Jun approached, she hung her head even lower. Seeing that Lanfang wasn't speaking, Shi Jun went over and asked, "What's wrong? On such a happy day, why the long face?"
"I just don't understand why Sister was deceived by that Luluo. Anyone could see she wasn't a good person, and Sister even defied the master's orders for her sake." Lanfang puffed out her cheeks and muttered sullenly.
She had long since told Shi Jun that Luluo was no good, but Shi Jun had still insisted on helping her.
Shi Jun's brows furrowed slightly, at a loss for words at Lanfang's reproach.
The matter of Luluo had indeed been set in motion by her. If she hadn't spoken up to plead for Luluo, none of what followed would have happened.
Lanfang bit her lip and said, "The master treats us so well. How could Sister do such a thing? If anything had happened to the master, I would never forgive you, Sister."
The master was her benefactor, providing her with food, clothing, and shelter. Moreover, the master spoke gently and conducted himself with grace.
If she were in Sister's place, she would never betray the master for the sake of an outsider.
Lingxiang knew that Lanfang's words were not without reason, but they were too harsh—how could she hate Sister over this?
If it hadn't been for Shi Jun taking the two of them away from the broker's shop back then, who knew where they might have ended up.
"Sister, Lanfang is still young—don't hold it against her." Lingxiang first tried to soothe Shi Jun, then gently scolded Lanfang, "Lanfang, how can you speak to Sister like that! Sister has always been kind-hearted; it's only natural she was deceived for a time."
As the three of them stood at an impasse, a figure passed by the moon-gate archway. Taking a closer look, it was Mama Qin approaching with a steaming pot of fish cake and lotus root soup.
Mama Qin keenly sensed something amiss, and she smiled, saying, "Come, have something warm to drink. While the master hasn't returned yet, let's celebrate the New Year first. Don't carry old grudges into the new year—harmony brings prosperity."
The moment Lanfang caught the aroma, she forgot everything else. Awkwardly, she ladled out a bowl for Shi Jun, then filled one for Lingxiang.
Shi Jun had barely taken a sip of the fish soup when Mama Qin said, "That lazy kitchen boy was caught by the master earlier."
"What happened?" Lingxiang swallowed in a gulp and asked in confusion.
Mama Qin raised an eyebrow, teasing them with suspense, and only after a long pause did she speak. "He wasn't being lazy at all—he'd taken Luluo's silver and was working for the prefect."
Shi Jun had known about this for some time, so when Mama Qin brought it up, she wasn't surprised—but Lingxiang and Lanfang were startled.
Lanfang pursed her lips and said, "I knew she wasn't a good person!"
"That day I saw Hemu escort Luluo out. Her hands and feet couldn't move at all, and her face was twisted beyond recognition." Mama Qin's brows knitted high, and she let out a sigh of regret.
Thinking back to when Luluo had first entered the household—what a bright and lovely girl she had been, only to end up with her hands and feet ruined.
Shi Jun paused mid-motion and turned to look at Mama Qin. "Mama, what happened to her?"
Mama Qin's eyes darted around. Based on her years of experience, she was certain of what it was, and she said with conviction, "They must have cut her tendons—she can't move at all."
Hearing this, Shi Jun looked at the oily film floating on the surface of her bowl, and her stomach churned violently.
She could imagine how much pain Luluo had been in, and the sound of Luluo's agonized screams seemed to echo in her ears.
Shi Jun rose and ran to the corner to vomit. She felt that what she had just eaten wasn't lotus root soup, but human flesh—a soup of blood-soaked human flesh.
The biting chill of winter gripped her sleeves and collar. At that moment, Shi Jun suddenly thought of Tang Zhisheng.
His legs were broken, his tongue cut out, and his entire family was sent away to the estate.
Who had such power? Who else could it be?
Only Xie Changxi.
Tang Zhisheng had forced her to marry him, Nanny Liu had made things difficult for her, and Luluo had deceived her.
They had all wronged her, true, but they didn't deserve to be crippled like that. It was too cruel.
A human life was so weightless, completely beyond one's own control.
A chill ran through Shi Jun's heart, as if her skin had been peeled back and wind and snow were pouring into her spine, cold enough to make her sick.
She was frightened and alarmed. Counting over her actions these past days, she had never wronged Xie Changxi—she had only wanted him to keep his promise.
In the corner, Shi Jun took a long while to steady herself. She had never wronged Xie Changxi. She had no need to be afraid.
Rosy light began to rise, the setting sun shining on the thin snow, reflecting scattered glimmers.
Because of the Little New Year, Xie Changxi returned to the residence early, and Shi Jun waited for him in front of the courtyard.
Xie Changxi ordered Hemu to bestow the peace charm upon her. When Shi Jun held it in her hands, it felt heavy, and an inexplicable restlessness weighed on her heart.
Hemu, for his part, had never seen Xie Changxi bestow such trinkets on servants before. In the past, any rewards were merely gold, silver, and jewels.
That evening, Shi Jun tied on the peace charm and was grinding ink in the study. Xie Changxi glanced sideways at her, seeing her with lowered brows and downcast eyes, without anger or joy, like a porcelain figure.
His heart stirred, and he set down his brush.
"Can you write?" Xie Changxi asked with a smile.
Shi Jun was momentarily startled, then replied respectfully, "A little."
Xie Changxi rose slowly and handed the brush to Shi Jun, a hint of amusement showing between his brows—gentle and clear.
Shi Jun looked at the brush suspended before the desk, lowering her gaze even further to avoid meeting Xie Changxi's eyes.
She carefully took the brush and stood before the desk.
"What would you have me write, my lord?" Shi Jun asked in a low voice, holding the brush.
Xie Changxi stood behind her, watching her, and said softly, "Write whatever you know."
He had once ordered Hemu to investigate Shi Jun's background. Her parents had passed away, and she had been sold to the marquis's residence by her aunt by marriage.
Shi Jun had her back to Xie Changxi, yet that burning gaze seemed never to fade. As she raised the brush now, her heart was troubled, and a poem suddenly surfaced in her mind.
In the end, Shi Jun set down her brush and wrote on the rice paper: Alone in a foreign land, a stranger—
Before she could finish, the pressure behind her grew ever closer, the faint scent of aloeswood surrounding her.
The hand holding the brush was grasped by another.
Shi Jun's heart pounded violently, her eyes trembling, her fingertips quivering almost imperceptibly—the tremor causing a drop of ink to fall onto the paper.
Xie Changxi truly did harbor other intentions toward her.
Xie Changxi lowered his gaze and saw the characters she had written—elegant and clear, yet not frail.
The writing was like the person: possessing a certain backbone.
"The writing is like the person," Xie Changxi said, his voice not loud, as if speaking to himself, or perhaps to her. "Soft yet not weak, resilient yet not rigid. Not bad."
Shi Jun set down the brush, pulled free of Xie Changxi's hand, and stood to the side with a bow. "Thank you for your praise, my lord. It's not worthy of the stage."
Seeing Shi Jun startle like a frightened bird, Xie Changxi lost interest and let her leave.
Shi Jun received the order as if granted amnesty.
Xie Changxi simply took Shi Jun for a dull-witted thing who had not yet grasped his meaning. He was not yet married, so there was no rush.
In any case, Shi Jun could only follow him.
Shi Jun returned to her room and retrieved the blank deed of manumission from beneath her pillow. She looked at it for a long while, then ultimately put it back.
Xie Changxi had helped her after all. Even if he harbored such intentions, if she was unwilling, surely he would not force the matter.
Once the new year passed and they returned to Bianjing, she would bring up the matter of releasing her from servitude.
She was merely an insignificant person. Xie Changxi, young and accomplished, high in position and great in power—what kind of girl could he not obtain?
Surely he wouldn't spend much thought on her. It was just a passing whim.
With this thought, Shi Jun felt somewhat reassured. Now she only had to wait to return to Bianjing.
That night, she had a bizarre dream. In the dream, her parents were waiting for her to come home, and Ahe was holding her hand, saying she wanted to live on together with her sister.