Chapter 18: Serious Matters

Shen Yuezhuang looked at the finished plaque and hesitated for a long time without moving. The first one to lose patience was A Sang, still hanging from the tree.

She hooked her toes over a branch and did an upside-down hang, revealing her head from beneath the canopy.

“Miss Shen, aren’t you finished yet?”

Shen Yuezhuang glanced at Liu Yun, who was staring at her without blinking. She quickly shoved the plaque into her bosom.

“Forget it! I’m not hanging it up!”

She turned around and, with a sulky expression, called for A Sang to come down.

A flicker of confusion passed over Liu Yun’s face. Her gaze fell to the spot where the plaque had disappeared beneath Shen Yuezhuang’s clothes, lingering for half a second. She didn’t say anything, just stood up.

“Since you’re not hanging it up, let’s go back?”

Seeing that Shen Yuezhuang was in a mood and clearly unwilling, Liu Yun half-lowered her eyes. “It’s a serious matter.”

Shen Yuezhuang: “……”

The words “serious matter” were like a valve to Shen Yuezhuang.

In the past, she had been wild and unpredictable. Having lost her mother early on, she was spoiled more than disciplined, both by her Grandfather Shen and her Grandfather Huo.

Both sides of the family naturally knew that such indulgence was no good, but they just couldn’t bear to be strict with her. Then Liu Yun came to the Shen household.

Liu Yun was about the same age as her. She seemed steady, but she was actually secretly wicked!

Some of the tricks Shen Yuezhuang could or couldn’t imagine, Liu Yun had, intentionally or not, revealed to her.

It was around that time that Shen Yuezhuang learned that the strength of one person was, after all, limited.

Her sources of “strength” were two: Liu Yun and Li Jianyun.

Shen Yuezhuang had met Li Jianyun when she was a study companion in the palace.

Back then, forget about him—even his father was just an inconsequential prince, several somersaults away from the throne.

As the inconsequential son of a concubine of an inconsequential prince, he was either ignored or bullied.

Li Jianyun was the latter.

Once after class, Shen Yuezhuang saw him being cornered and bullied by a few imperial grandsons in the rockery. Out of a sense of justice, she stepped in for him. After that, Li Jianyun naturally became her follower.

Calling an imperial grandson the follower of a courtier’s daughter was hardly an exaggeration.

Among the three of them back then, Shen Yuezhuang’s identity was the most unquestionable. She was the one who could swagger through the capital!

Her grandfather was the Xuanwu Emperor’s childhood friend and trusted confidant. Her father held military power. She herself was the most favored companion of the Seventeenth Princess. And all this coincided with the early stirrings of the struggle for succession—for years, the whole capital had been abuzz with rumors that the Shen family had the bloodline to support the dragon!

From the family’s assistance to Taizu in founding the nation to the close bond between the Xuanwu Emperor and Shen Yuezhuang’s grandfather, it seemed as if the next emperor wasn’t decided by the emperor himself, but by who had the closest relationship with the Shen family’s Marquis of Yongding.

Rumors were everywhere, but true or not, it didn’t change the fact that the Shen family was a major asset in the succession struggle!

Under such circumstances, even Prince Rong and Prince Ning, the hot favorites for the succession, treated the Shen family with courtesy.

If not for this, Shen Yuezhuang would never have been able to rescue Li Jianyun so easily—only the sons of those princes who were serious contenders dared to block and bully people in the palace.

Back then, Li Jianyun was always sullen and silent. He didn’t speak, but after being rescued, he started silently following Shen Yuezhuang to and from class.

After this happened two or three times, the two got to know each other.

Later, learning that Li Jianyun was an unimportant prince in his household, Shen Yuezhuang often brought Liu Yun along and called Li Jianyun to go out and cause mischief.

Shen Yuezhuang’s identity was the perfect umbrella for the trio’s lawlessness, willfulness, and rule-breaking.

Any outrageous behavior could be safely and conveniently blamed on her.

But the difference was that Li Jianyun would openly use her as a scapegoat, while Liu Yun would use ambiguous words and subtle hints to guide Shen Yuezhuang into doing things herself.

Over time, in everyone’s eyes, Shen Yuezhuang’s behavior became more and more extreme.

The adults got anxious, but every time they finally steeled themselves to discipline her, Shen Yuezhuang would go crying to Liu Yun.

This made it even easier for Liu Yun to play the good guy with both sides!

Liu Yun gained the trust of Old Madam Huo and the others. Seeing that Shen Yuezhuang listened to her, they simply placed the entire responsibility for Shen Yuezhuang’s discipline on Liu Yun’s shoulders.

But Shen Yuezhuang’s temperament was not easy to control. She would listen to Liu Yun when it came to the fun stuff. But the moment Liu Yun started to lecture, Shen Yuezhuang would throw a tantrum.

Later, after Shen Yuezhuang had suffered a few major losses because she didn’t listen to Liu Yun, she gradually developed the habit of restraining herself whenever Liu Yun brought up “serious matters.”

The benefits of restraint were quite obvious. Shen Yuezhuang’s antics were always kept at a level that the Shen and Huo families could clean up after.

Compared to before, this “ability to stay within bounds” was a relief to the adults. The biggest change was that Shen Yuezhuang was given more freedom.

Shen Yuezhuang had tasted the sweetness. Gradually, whenever Liu Yun said “serious matter,” she would instinctively comply, like entering the palace last time, or returning to the monastic cell now.

But she hadn’t expected Liu Yun to bring her back just for breakfast!

Shen Yuezhuang was like a cat guarding its food. She ate her vegetarian meal in a grumbling, mumbling way. Forcing herself to endure until A Sang left, she then sat down and slammed the table.

“I want to go home!”

Liu Yun just frowned at the bitter tea in her cup. The astringent, sour taste made her purse her lips. She set down the cup and looked at Ruixue.

Ruixue understood and went to rummage through a wooden box in the corner. Shen Yuezhuang declared with righteous indignation, “I also need to go persuade my grandfather to let me be a female official! You can’t keep me locked up here!”

“How will you persuade him?” Liu Yun turned her head, a cold smile curling on her lips. “By going to gambling dens and brothels? By spending money and watching courtesans dance?”

Shen Yuezhuang was struck right in the weak spot. She immediately lost half her momentum. She tried to bluff, “I’d been cooped up too long and needed to relax. I was planning to talk to him properly after a couple of days!”

Then she grumbled under her breath, “It’s your fault for locking me up in the palace!”

Liu Yun just laughed coldly. She produced a string of prayer beads from somewhere, each bead a snowy white, with uneven surfaces carved with some pattern.

She spun those beads between her slender, beautiful fingers with incredible speed. She barely managed to suppress the anger between her brows, but her words still carried a cold, domineering edge.

“Your grandfather is not someone you can persuade. This matter must be decided by the Grand Preceptor himself. And there’s no need for you to go back and worry about it!”

Before Shen Yuezhuang could argue, Ruixue stepped forward.

She carried a bundle in one hand and an empty silk pouch in the other. She curtsied to Shen Yuezhuang and said, “On the day Miss Shen was found drinking and spending the night at the brothel, this servant went to the Grand Preceptor’s mansion to report. Upon hearing of Miss Shen’s behavior, Grand Preceptor Huo was so angered that his vital energy surged, and he fainted. When he awoke and learned that Her Grace had brought Miss Shen to the temple for prayer and quiet reflection, he was somewhat relieved. He also asked this servant to tell Miss Shen that she need not return home for the next few days.”

As if afraid that Shen Yuezhuang wouldn’t believe her, she then held out her hand. “These are the daily clothes and a small pouch of silver that were sent for Miss Shen.”

Shen Yuezhuang darted forward and grabbed the empty silk pouch. She shook it, and then held out both hands, palms up.

“Where’s the money?”

Ruixue didn’t flinch. “After Miss Shen boiled the wontons yesterday, the kitchen stove in the temple exploded. Grand Preceptor Huo gave a total of fifteen taels, three qian, and nine wen. After deducting Miss Shen’s and Miss A Sang’s room and board for the past two days, the remaining five taels and three qian were supplemented by Her Grace with another four taels and seven qian, all of which was compensated to the temple for repairs.”

“Wait…” Shen Yuezhuang looked incredulously at herself. “I’ve only slept twice these past two days and eaten a few vegetarian meals. How did I spend ten taels?”

Ruixue: “Besides Miss Shen’s own food and drink, there was also Miss A Sang. Two days ago, when she woke up, she broke a Bodhisattva statue and a desk in her room. This morning, while practicing, she damaged a sapling in the temple. Also…”

“Alright, stop!”

Shen Yuezhuang clutched her chest. “I’ve got heartburn.”

Great. Came out to play, got locked up for two days, and now I owe silver for two and a half rounds!

She marched up to Liu Yun, brandishing the empty pouch. “I haven’t just gone to the Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion and the Thousand Gold Workshop just once or twice. Grandfather has always been sturdy enough to tear the roof tiles off the house. I might half believe that he fell and hurt himself, but there’s no way he was angered into sickness by me!”

If the old one could tear off roof tiles, then the young one could climb walls and trees. It truly was a case of “like father, like son.”

Liu Yun took a deep breath. The beads in her fingers spun faster and faster. But finally, unable to contain her anger, she slapped the small table beside her. “Since this is what was reported, it must be the truth!”

“I don’t believe it!” Shen Yuezhuang dropped the empty pouch on the table as well. “Unless you let me go home and see for myself.”

“Go home?” Liu Yun suddenly smiled. “The money for the Phoenix Splendor Palace you burned down came from Shen Qingjue. Yesterday, you spent a thousand taels at the Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion and put it on Shen Qingjue’s bill again. As for the Grand Preceptor’s mansion, the news that Grand Preceptor Huo has fallen ill has already spread throughout the capital. The Huo Mansion has closed its gates to visitors. Where do you want to go back to?”

Already spread?

A hint of panic finally appeared on Shen Yuezhuang’s face. “He’s really sick?”

Liu Yun glanced at her, not bothering to hide her irritation. “No. The situation at court is murky. The Xiongnu attacks are becoming more brazen. The two factions are locked in endless debate over whether to go to war. Your grandfather doesn’t want to be the one to stick his neck out, so he’s conveniently claiming to be sick and staying home.”

In this situation, whether Shen Yuezhuang had business or not, she was “not needed” and “not allowed” to go home.

Shen Yuezhuang let out a long sigh and collapsed into the chair beside her.

Seeing her like this, Liu Yun’s expression softened slightly. She was about to speak when she heard Shen Yuezhuang ask tentatively, “Do you think, since I spent a thousand taels on Ninth Lady, if I went to stay with her for a couple of days, she wouldn’t kick me out?”

Liu Yun: “……”

~~~

Whether or not Ninth Lady would kick her out was an open question. But Shen Yuezhuang wasn’t kicked out by Liu Yun.

Not only was she not kicked out, but even her desk and chair were moved over. Her Grace the Empress Dowager generously declared that this was for Miss Shen’s convenience in copying her scriptures!

Since Grand Preceptor Huo was “sickened” by her, they naturally needed to prepare a stepping-down step for his “recovery.” Perhaps if they offered a good enough step, her grandfather would agree to let her be a female official.

That was Liu Yun’s excuse. Shen Yuezhuang didn’t believe it at all. But whether she believed it or not, she couldn’t refuse it, because the money her grandfather had given her was spent. Her food and lodging were now being charged to Her Grace the Empress Dowager’s account.

He who eats is soft-spoken; he who takes is weak-handed. For Shen Yuezhuang to get her back up, she would at least have to wait until after dinner!

So, before dinner, she had agreed to copy sutras for another half hour. But the moment she put down her chopsticks, she stood up and headed for the door.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed her wrist with an iron grip, nearly crushing it.

Shen Yuezhuang swallowed the words of rebellion and backtalk she had been planning. She sucked in a cold breath and furrowed her brow, only to see Liu Yun lying face-down on the table with an ugly expression.

The temperature of the hand on her wrist quickly dropped. The coldness made Shen Yuezhuang’s heart stop for a beat. Her pupils contracted, and her face showed undisguised panic.

Her trembling hand reached out to check Liu Yun’s breath, but was smacked away with moderate force by Liu Yun’s other hand. She breathed a sigh of relief and half-knelt beside her, leaning in to look at Liu Yun’s face.

“Your body is so cold. What’s wrong?”

“I’m not dead yet, anyway!”

Liu Yun was panting heavily. Her tone was impossible to read—self-mocking or sardonic. After a few breaths, she said, “Call Ruixue in. You go.”

Whatever the case, she didn’t want Shen Yuezhuang to see her like this. It felt like it proved that her decision to ignore Shen Yuezhuang’s objections and enter the palace was a mistake.

No one could go through life without making mistakes. But she had always been correct in Shen Yuezhuang’s eyes, so she found it especially unbearable that the result of her choice made it look like a mistake.

Hearing Shen Yuezhuang call for Ruixue as she’d asked, she felt a little relieved and urged her away more urgently.

Shen Yuezhuang looked down at her own numb wrist. “You’re holding me. How am I supposed to leave?”

Liu Yun: “……”

She was merely holding onto Shen Yuezhuang’s wrist by instinct. At her words, she struggled to loosen one finger.

The moment Liu Yun slackened her grip, Shen Yuezhuang pulled her wrist free.

Shen Yuezhuang wanted to leave. Liu Yun should have been relieved. But her empty palm still made her mood inexplicably heavy.

Perhaps it was that the physical pain made all psychological reactions infinitely larger. Liu Yun felt that the coldness in her palm had reached her heart.

Before, the cold had only seeped out from the cracks in her bones. This time, it came from within her heart. It was so cold that it felt as if all the blood in her body had coagulated, and even her breathing became difficult!

Never before had she been so acutely aware that her act of forcibly keeping Shen Yuezhuang by her side was just a temporary, fleeting, illusory form of self-deception.

The realization caused a tearing pain in her heart. It hurt so much that she wanted to abandon all reason. She instinctively curled her fingers, trying to reach the retreating wrist.

But it was, naturally, beyond her reach.

Liu Yun felt herself sinking, sinking deeper and deeper, growing colder and colder, darker and darker…

“Ugh!”

Liu Yun grunted. Her descending body seemed to be caught by a tree that had suddenly grown in its path. She weakly opened her eyes to see Shen Yuezhuang’s face looming over her, her expression a mixture of panic and anger.

Her idle hand, still holding the wrist she had regained, hung limply in the crook of Shen Yuezhuang’s arm. “What… are you doing?”

Ruixue, returning with the medicine bottle, saw Shen Yuezhuang stripping off the Empress Dowager’s outer robe in a few swift motions. She was horrified.

“Miss Shen, what are you doing?!”

Shen Yuezhuang looked up briefly at Ruixue. “Obviously! This robe is too heavy. Can you carry her in it?”

The ornate, cumbersome robe fell to the floor. Shen Yuezhuang carried Liu Yun, now clad only in a white undergarment, to the bed.

She panted. “Hurry up and bring the medicine!”