This was Shen Yuezhuang’s first time as an official. She might be unfamiliar with official behavior, etiquette, and procedures, but when it came to dealing with a half-hearted playboy like Jiang Huan, she had him exactly where she wanted him!
As a former playboy with a ‘very good sense of limits’ herself, she simply didn’t believe that Jiang Huan had no money.
A sense of limits meant you always kept something in reserve for yourself!
Shen Yuezhuang’s reserve was the Shen family. That’s why she could still spend carefree even when she had no money of her own.
But the Jiang family? Lord Jiang had personally admitted they were broke!
The Jiang family was broke, yet Jiang Huan was still found in gambling dens, the most volatile of all places. Shen Yuezhuang didn’t believe he was completely broke!
Maybe in Lord Jiang’s eyes, his nephew showing restraint in how much he asked for each month was a sign of good sense. But Shen Yuezhuang knew too well that behind this kind of ‘restraint’ was a ‘private stash’!
Having a private stash wasn’t a problem. Having a private stash funded by Lord Jiang’s salary wasn’t a problem either. But when it came time to repay a debt, for him to shrink back and say it had nothing to do with him? That was pure ingratitude!
Shen Yuezhuang didn’t give him a month’s grace period. It was settled: pay up in three days. She made him sign the deed and press his thumbprint.
Seeing that the time was about right, Shen Yuezhuang tucked the deed away and waved her hand. “Let’s go, Young Master Jiang. I need you to come to the palace with me.”
“To the palace?!” Jiang Huan’s voice cracked. His face went pale with shock. “Lord Shen, I’ve already signed your agreement!”
“Don’t make such a fuss.” Shen Yuezhuang looked condescending, as if he were being very unsophisticated. “It’s a task assigned by His Majesty. Now that there’s progress, it’s protocol for me to report it at the palace.”
Jiang Huan was half-convinced. But Shen Yuezhuang was already calmly brushing down her robe as she stood, speaking with an air of obviousness. “Let’s go. It’ll take a while just to get the audience at the palace.”
Jiang Huan: “…”
I’ve never been an official, but my uncle runs the Court of Judicial Review. You’d better not be lying to me.
~~~
Inside the Longevity Palace, the Empress Dowager held a copy of the Book of Songs, sitting sideways by the window.
The sunset outside was magnificently tragic, as if the blazing red sun was slitting its own throat at the edge of the sky, its bloody afterglow instantly dyeing half the horizon.
Liu Yun’s gaze was not on the book in her hands, nor on the beautiful scenery outside the window. Her eyes floated vaguely in front of her, her expression melancholy. She seemed to be lost in thought.
The pensive Liu Yun appeared much softer. The sunset cast a soft, fuzzy golden halo around her smooth, cold profile. Even the dark, rust-colored silk, which looked like dried blood, seemed less severe, gaining a brilliant, almost ethereal beauty as if she were about to ascend as an immortal!
Ruixue had just entered to serve tea. Seeing this scene, her heart skipped a beat, and her footsteps faltered.
The Empress Dowager of the past had always been sharp and cold.
She had been busy protecting herself, climbing the ranks, managing the rear palace, and planting informants…
This required Her Highness to be like a sharp sword, like a swift beast.
But perhaps the recent peace in the rear palace had made her feel safe? She was even showing this kind of lazy comfort, like a dozing tiger.
Yet… it wasn’t quite comfort. At least, there was no satisfied look of having gotten what she wanted on her face.
Ruixue couldn’t figure it out. But the sound of her own footsteps, though ordinarily soft, seemed loud and out of place in this silence, causing Liu Yun to snap out of her reverie.
Liu Yun’s eyelashes fluttered. It was as if a melting ice sculpture had suddenly acquired some trace of worldly smoke and fire. Then she squinted and glanced out the window.
The beautiful scenery that so many admired was, in Liu Yun’s eyes, nothing but a blinding glare. Looking displeased by the harsh light, she casually picked up a book to shield the side of her face.
Ruixue finally stepped forward and said respectfully, “Your Highness, the small kitchen has prepared Rock Sugar Snow Frog.”
Liu Yun gave a faint, indifferent sound of acknowledgment, looking unconcerned.
Ruixue left the hall again. Liu Yun turned her back to the window, her gaze falling back onto the book.
It was a passage from the Tang Feng chapter.
【The bundle of firewood is tied up; the Three Stars appear in the sky. Which night is this night, that I see this good man?】
Liu Yun’s unsettled heart grew even more agitated. She stood up and paced the hall, unconsciously stopping in front of the broken screen.
The screen hadn’t been replaced. It was still the broken one.
Liu Yun looked at the auspicious cloud that had been sawed off at the base of the screen. A sudden, immense wave of loss washed over her. It was as if all the vague discomfort and indescribable suffocation of the past half-day had gathered into an ocean, drowning her.
Liu Yun couldn’t stop the tightness in her throat. She opened her mouth for a long time before she could let out a breath.
Her pale fingers tightened around the book. A clear, cold voice sounded in Liu Yun’s heart: She’s gone today. Who knows when I’ll see her again!
The thought had barely settled before a voice echoed in her mind.
“Greetings, Empress Dowager!”
The voice was both distant and near. Distant, like the ungraspable time from noon; near, as if it were right within her reach.
Liu Yun let out a bitter, self-deprecating laugh in her heart. The voice was just as it was in her memories, with that fake solemnity and false, off-key flippancy.
Liu Yun’s expression was hidden in the half-light, half-shadow of the room, making it look mournful.
Seeing that Liu Yun wasn’t paying her any attention, still focused on the broken screen with an expression of grief, Shen Yuezhuang was deeply conflicted.
It seemed she had come at a bad time. The Empress Dowager was still mourning her broken screen, and she was the culprit. Perhaps… it would be best to sneak away now if she wanted to protect Shen Qingjue’s gold reserves?
It wouldn’t be good if, on top of her father wanting to beat her to death, she completely offended Shen Qingjue, right?
Shen Yuezhuang was weighing her options, already taking a big step back, when Ruixue returned with the Snow Frog.
She still didn’t spare Shen Yuezhuang a single glance, just stopped beside her. “Your Highness, the Snow Frog is ready.”
Oh? Some good stuff?
Shen Yuezhuang’s steps backtracked. She craned her neck, looking at the translucent, crystalline dessert in Ruixue’s hands.
Her stomach growled accordingly.
Shen Yuezhuang hesitated between freeloading and getting beaten, but ultimately decided to live in the moment. She planted her feet firmly on the ground and looked up at Liu Yun.
Her eyes were very bright, full of the spirit of someone who had done a good deed and was waiting for praise and reward. That looks delicious. I want some. Get me a portion!
But the look in Liu Yun’s eyes was… a little hard to describe.
Liu Yun’s expression was complex and puzzled as her gaze swept back and forth between Shen Yuezhuang and Ruixue.
After a moment, she looked at Ruixue, her tone measured. “Didn’t you see there was someone standing next to you?”
Liu Yun had only turned around when Ruixue called her.
So, the moment before, she had been laughing at herself for having auditory hallucinations. Now, she blinked, and a living, breathing person was standing right in front of her. Not only did she have no idea when she had appeared, but Ruixue was also acting as if this person, who shouldn’t be here, didn’t exist!
Liu Yun started to wonder if she was lovesick to the point of delusion. First, she heard things, and now she was seeing things right before her eyes!
As soon as Shen Yuezhuang heard this, she very self-consciously squeezed in next to Ruixue, helpfully explaining, “Her Highness means, since I’m here, make another portion for me.”
Then, with an air of great generosity, she waved her hand dismissively at Liu Yun. “It’s fine, I don’t mind waiting. Don’t blame Ruixue for not reading the room.” She pulled out Jiang Huan’s IOU from her robe. “Perfect timing. I came to the palace to report my progress. I can do that while I wait for the food.”
She spoke while unfolding the paper, taking a few quick steps to Liu Yun’s side. “This is Jiang Huan’s IOU. He was supposed to come to the palace too, but the Emperor didn’t have time to see me. Liu Fushun told me His Majesty said it would be fine to report any important matters to Your Highness! But since Jiang Huan is a man, it’s not convenient for him to enter the palace, so I came alone. We agreed he’d pay me back in three days. If he can’t, he’ll have to…”
Marry me.
Before she could finish the sentence, Liu Yun raised a hand to her head, looking pained, and silenced her.
The warmth that seeped through her clothes, the breath of the living person before her… all proved that this was a real, headache-inducing person!
Liu Yun furrowed her brow for a moment, her thoughts somewhat scattered.
“You, I mean… when did you come in?” She then asked Ruixue again, “Was no one announced?”
“I saw her.” Ruixue lowered her head, her tone as flat as her expression. “I know my crime.”
Of course, Ruixue had seen Shen Yuezhuang enter. But first, she was still angry about the broken screen. Second… she felt that the look on Her Highness’s face just now was somehow related to Shen Yuezhuang!
She couldn’t explain it, but she knew it wasn’t anything good! Nothing that would make her mistress happy!
Out of spite, she simply didn’t want to acknowledge her. Pretending not to see was already the result of her forcing herself to hold back!
As for the other eunuchs and maids in the Longevity Palace, they had all seen their Empress Dowager personally escort this person out of the palace herself at midday. Only a fool wouldn’t see how special she was to their mistress!
So, no one dared to stop her. And since they didn’t know how to act, they saw Ruixue ignoring her, so they just followed suit.
With the entire Longevity Palace pretending she was invisible and inaudible, Shen Yuezhuang walked into the palace as if it were deserted.
It was all just a misunderstanding!
Nothing major. Aside from making the Empress Dowager briefly question her own sanity, there was no real problem.
Well, her progress report was far more important than all that!
Shen Yuezhuang tugged on Liu Yun’s sleeve. “I’m trying to report official business! Can you please listen seriously?”
I really hate these people who live in their own worlds, never paying attention to anyone else’s needs!
Shen Yuezhuang’s face was full of discontent. She squeezed in front of Liu Yun, counting on her fingers. “I ran around the city all day, risking my life to be caught by my father and have my legs broken! Do you know how long it would have taken to get the money back according to Lord Jiang’s plan? It would have taken the Jiang family over a year of eating air! But I managed to get Jiang Huan to pay it back in three days!”
Shen Yuezhuang was agitated. “None of you care about how I managed to persuade that useless son of the Jiang family all by myself!”
The more she spoke, the more frantic she became. She pointed at the remnants of the red glow outside the window. “The sun is already down. I haven’t had a drop of water or a bite to eat! I’ve been working tirelessly on public affairs! But all you care about is why no one announced my arrival!”
“Alright, alright.” Liu Yun let out a long breath, her forehead throbbing from the noise. “You can have that bowl of Snow Frog, okay?”
“…” Shen Yuezhuang pouted. “Two bowls!”
Liu Yun’s brow was still furrowed, but she let out a short, amused laugh, as if she had been browbeaten into submission. “Ruixue, tell the kitchen to make another bowl.”
Ruixue left. Liu Yun handed the first bowl to Shen Yuezhuang.
“Eat up. Maybe it’ll shut you up and give me some peace!”
She took the IOU from Shen Yuezhuang’s hand, sitting down in her chair with an air of interest. She lifted it to her eyes, a hint of softness in her expression. In a tone that sounded flat but somehow exaggerated, she said, “Let me see how our Lord Shen managed to charm and heroically persuade this young Master Jiang to sign this IOU!”
This was clearly a tone used to coax a child, Shen Yuezhuang fell for it, hook, line, and sinker. She sat down on the armrest of the chair next to Liu Yun.
It was terribly improper. But Liu Yun didn’t say anything, which only made Shen Yuezhuang feel even more emboldened.
But before she could swallow her first bite of Snow Frog, she watched as the gentle spring breeze on Liu Yun’s face gradually turned into a summer storm. In the blink of an eye, her face was full of frost.
An uncanny stillness hung in the air for a long time. The fingers holding the paper were so stiff from tension.
But even stiffer than her fingers was the smile Liu Yun forced.
The curve of her lips should have been a brilliant smile. But when she raised her eyes to look at Shen Yuezhuang, an unspeakable storm was brewing within.
“Failure to repay on time, enters the Shen family as a son-in-law who marries into the bride’s family. Hah!”
The laugh was extremely light, but cold. It was so cold that Shen Yuezhuang actually shivered!
Then, Liu Yun ground out the words, as if breaking through bone and fighting her way past clenched teeth.
“Very good! Shen Yuezhuang. You’re quite something!”
