A Figure on Jade Steps in the Wind and Snow 29

Chapter 29: Martial Hall

After returning to her room, Shen Zhishu had been pondering the matter of the Martial Hall.

The “kissing” and “intercourse” reported by the spy were all an act. They had not actually touched each other’s skin at that time, but were hiding in the bed curtains, shaking the bed and whispering to each other.

Shen Zhishu was wearing only a single layer of clothing and was… doing sit-ups on the bed.

After doing dozens of them, her face was not red and her heart was not beating fast. She asked the person beside her in a low voice, “You just said you wanted to open a Martial Hall?”

Jiang Yu was pulling on the bedpost to shake the bed. But she was not very strong, and after a few shakes, she was a little out of breath, “That’s right. This was also the Emperor’s idea before. The military examinations are different from the civil examinations. The number of applicants is small, and they are mostly held in the capital and surrounding areas. And the soldiers recruited each year are mostly untrained, and their quality is really not high.”

“The Martial Hall is similar to the Imperial Academy, but it teaches not the Four Books and Five Classics, but spear, sword, horsemanship, and archery. The intention is to gather and cultivate young people with talent in martial arts from all over the country. However, we have been struggling to find a suitable headmaster, so this idea has been put on hold.”

She was also wearing only a single layer of clothing, and she couldn’t say a long string of words completely. She had to take a breath after every few words, and a small patch of her chest was wet with sweat, rising and falling slightly.

Shen Zhishu glanced at it, then looked away and looked directly into the Eldest Princess’s eyes, “Your Highness is telling me these things now, what is your intention…?”

The Eldest Princess took a breath, “Actually, the Emperor originally intended for you. On the one hand, it was because of your talent, and on the other hand, it was because Minister Shen is impartial and does not form factions, so her daughter is naturally honest and upright. If this Martial Hall were to fall into the hands of someone who forms factions for personal gain, they would definitely stuff their own cronies into it for their own selfish desires, and the consequences would be unimaginable.”

“However…?”

“However, you had not yet returned from the war at that time, and the military camp could not do without you, so it was put on hold.”

Shen Zhishu did a carp flip and sat up cross-legged, thinking for a moment, “I’m not very interested in this… but Xie Jin should be willing, you can go and find her.”

“Because she is the Seventh Imperial Princess’s aunt-general, she has to avoid suspicion in this matter.”

Shen Zhishu hissed, “Then if I’m ‘close’ to you, I don’t have to avoid suspicion?”

Jiang Yu tilted her head, as if she didn’t understand, “What does the General mean by that? I and the General only have a private relationship, and we have no dealings on the surface. The Emperor does not know.”

“She really doesn’t know?”

“She…”

Shen Zhishu suddenly leaned forward and looked directly into the Eldest Princess’s eyes, her brow furrowed low. She interrupted Jiang Yu’s words:

“If Your Highness wants me to agree, you’d better tell the truth.”

Their eyes met, and the scent of cedar drifted over lightly.

The Eldest Princess’s eyes narrowed, like a white fox whose tail had been stepped on.

Even though she was sitting on the bed, her upper body was still straight, and she looked more like a cedar tree than when she was standing.

The cedar tree said, “I don’t understand what you mean. Why don’t you tell me, General, what truth do I have to say?”

…Was she playing dumb, or was her previous speculation that “the person who drugged and monitored me is the Emperor” wrong?

Or… should she try to trick her?

Shen Zhishu changed from sitting cross-legged to kneeling, so she was a little closer to the Eldest Princess. Her muscles were tense, and her inner clothes were stretched out by her broad chest and back, showing a clear outline.

Her gaze slid from the person in front of her’s willow-leaf eyebrows to her cherry lips, and she suddenly let out a low laugh, “Does Your Highness still remember what you said at the training ground during the day?”

“Hmm?”

“Your Highness said… you and the Emperor are of one mind. May I ask, since you are of one mind, as the second master of the Forbidden City, who would have the audacity to drug you?”

Jiang Yu sat there motionlessly, her hands clasped on her thighs. She didn’t answer, just raised an eyebrow slightly.

Shen Zhishu continued, “Only the superior can persecute the subordinate with impunity. Then who is Your Highness’s superior…”

“Be careful with your words, General,” Jiang Yu suddenly interrupted. “If it weren’t for me sitting here, these words would have reached the Emperor’s ears tomorrow.”

…Just “be careful with your words,” not “there’s no such thing.”

Shen Zhishu narrowed her eyes, “Your Highness didn’t refute—”

“Shen Zhishu.”

The tone of this sentence was different from what Shen Zhishu had heard before. It was no longer indifferent and flat, nor did it contain any amorous feelings. It was low but cadenced, like a warning of an impending storm.

Jiang Yu met her gaze without blinking, and it was filled with the cold glint of swords and knives.

However, the storm never came.

After the brief intimidating feeling passed, the plea hidden underneath quietly emerged—

Don’t say any more. And don’t ask any more.

Please.

Jiang Yu’s lowered eyelashes trembled silently in the candlelight, casting a semi-real shadow, like a dandelion blown by the wind.

It was also like a porcelain vase transported thousands of miles from the West, precious but delicate, and could be broken with a single careless move.

Shen Zhishu narrowed her eyes and looked at her. After a moment, she sighed, raised her arm, and touched the top of her head very lightly.

Jiang Yu didn’t move, just closed her eyes, and a mist of water appeared under her brow, just like when she was in love before.

Being soft-hearted is a very bad characteristic, Shen Zhishu thought.

Just a moment ago, she was thinking that she wouldn’t stop until she had asked something, but now, looking at the person in front of her’s slightly flushed corners of her eyes, she suddenly couldn’t say any more harsh words.

She changed her sitting position and suddenly asked, “If I agree to be the headmaster of this Martial Hall, will I be solely responsible for it?”

“No,” Jiang Yu’s voice was a little hoarse, and she cleared her throat twice. “We will run it together.”

“Hmm?”

“There needs to be a member of the imperial family to keep things in order.”

“Then I can’t give Your Highness an answer right away,” Shen Zhishu shrugged. “I have to go back and ask Minister Shen’s opinion.”

“It’s alright,” Jiang Yu said. “The nature of this is different. If the General agrees, it’s not a private relationship with me, but an order from the Emperor.”

**

And Shen Hantan, as Jiang Yu had expected, did not refuse outright—

“If it is really the Emperor’s intention, it is worth a try, and it will also pave the way for you in the future. But you must be down-to-earth and cautious, and you must not make the mistake of being greedy and careless, and even less can you form factions for personal gain, so as not to fail the Emperor’s grace.”

The Eldest Princess also personally visited the next afternoon to show the imperial family’s emphasis on establishing the Martial Hall.

At that time, Xie Jin was at the General’s Manor, practicing archery with Shen Zhishu. When the Eldest Princess came in, she was drawing her bow and nocking an arrow, squinting at the golden ring hanging above the target.

Hearing the doorman’s announcement, she was about to put down her bow and arrow to bow, but Jiang Yu spoke first, “General Xie, there’s no need to be polite, just continue with your practice. I originally came to find Lord Shen, and it just so happens that General Xie is also here. When the General is free, I would like to discuss the matter of the Martial Hall’s martial arts masters with you.”

“Martial Hall?” Xie Jin hurriedly relaxed, handed her bow and arrow to a young attendant by the side, and smiled, “I just heard Zhishu mention the Martial Hall, saying that Your Highness invited her to be the headmaster?”

“Indeed,” Jiang Yu nodded. “Lord Shen is already the General Who Assists the Nation at such a young age, she is truly a heaven-sent talent. In addition, Minister Shen is honest and upright, and her family style is pure and upright, so she is the most suitable person to be the headmaster of this Martial Hall.”

Xie Jin puffed out her chest as if she was proud, “My friend is a divine person, with a limitless future.”

Shen Zhishu: …

Shen Zhishu poked Xie Jin’s waist and whispered in her ear, “The Eldest Princess already knows that our mutual affection is an act, so don’t pretend.”

Xie Jin suddenly turned her head, her voice a little hoarse, “When did this happen???”

Shen Zhishu’s voice was a little guilty, “Just… a few days ago.”

“A few days ago? You haven’t told me for so many days???”

Shen Zhishu let out a dry laugh twice, “Isn’t it almost the New Year, and there’s a lot to do, so I forgot when I got busy?”

Xie Jin gritted her teeth, her face written with “I’ll settle the score with you later.” She turned and invited the Eldest Princess, whose expression was indifferent and it was unclear whether she had heard their conversation, into the flower hall, “It’s windy outside, why don’t Your Highness go inside and rest.”

An attendant brought a chair and a small table. Jiang Yu sat down gracefully, took the tea handed to her by an attendant, and said in a faint voice:

“I already have a candidate for the martial arts master in mind. I have discussed it with the Emperor and have temporarily decided on a few. General Xie is on the list. I just don’t know if the General is willing.”

Xie Jin cupped her fists and said, “It is Zhiyu’s honor to be valued by His Majesty and Your Highness. This subordinate will definitely not fail your trust and will do my best to assist Your Highness in establishing the Martial Hall.”

Jiang Yu then turned to Shen Zhishu, “There is one more thing—the Emperor and I have only selected three martial arts masters, and with you, there are only four. If we have to say it’s enough, it’s enough, but the martial arts masters will be a little tired. If you have any other suitable candidates, please nominate them here.”

Shen Zhishu shook her head and was about to say, “I’ve just returned to the capital, and I don’t even know everyone. Apart from Xie Jin, I don’t know anyone else,” when she heard Jiang Yu add:

“It doesn’t have to be someone from the court. As long as they are talented and competent, common people are also acceptable.”

So a figure flashed through Shen Zhishu’s mind…

She suddenly turned her head and called over her trusted subordinate, “Go to the Shen Residence and invite Aunt Ying and Huamei.”

—Huamei’s lightness skill was truly remarkable. That night, she had hidden on the roof of the General’s Manor without a sound, and even she had not noticed. Afterwards, she had pulled Aunt Ying up onto the roof, and their speed was so fast that probably even she couldn’t catch up.

She was a useful talent.

When Aunt Ying and Huamei rushed over, the three people in the hall had already had three rounds of tea.

Shen Zhishu explained the whole story, and Aunt Ying slapped her thigh, “That’s great. Anyway, I plan to stay at the Shen Residence for three to five years now, and I won’t be leaving the capital with Huamei for a while. If Huamei can be of use, she will be overjoyed. Right, Huamei?”

Huamei was a person of few words and nodded seriously.

“That’s very good,” the Eldest Princess nodded slightly. “I still have to see the other lords, so I will take my leave first.”

Shen Zhishu stood up to see her off. Xie Jin glanced at her good friend, and just as she was about to stand up and follow, for some reason, a flash of inspiration struck her, and she sat down again, not following.

She watched as the two of them walked side by side to the door, and then Shen Zhishu held the main door and bowed her head to bid farewell to the Eldest Princess.

From her angle, she couldn’t see Jiang Yu. Shen Zhishu’s broad back had completely enveloped her—

Shen Zhishu was as big as two Eldest Princesses.

A thought suddenly popped into Xie Jin’s mind: setting aside their identities, one was heroic and valiant, and the other was cool and aloof. They actually looked quite good together.

But then she thought again, their identities could not be set aside—

Minister Shen would probably not allow her daughter to stand by the Eldest Princess’s side and become a supporter of the Second Imperial Princess.

She stood up leisurely and walked unhurriedly to the door, just in time to hear the Eldest Princess say the last sentence to Shen Zhishu—

“There is a dinner party at my manor tonight to entertain the first generation of the Martial Hall’s headmaster and martial arts masters. Please tell General Xie and Huamei to be sure to grace us with their presence.”