HXC Chapter40

At Youshi[mfn]5-7 PM[/mfn], the sky was getting dark. The steward of the Shen Mansion welcomed Shen Yanqing and Yi Zhi into the mansion.

 

Yi Zhi was getting married in five days, and with good news, he was in high spirits with a wide smile on his face. “I came to deliver the wedding invitation myself today. If you don’t treat me to a meal, our years of friendship will have been for naught.”

 

The two first went to visit the Shen parents. Mother Shen wanted them to stay in the courtyard for dinner, but Shen Yanqing said, “Ji Zhen is still waiting in the main courtyard.”

 

He had a hidden motive—Ji Zhen had often gotten jealous over baseless things. Now that Yi Zhi was about to get married and had made this special trip, Ji Zhen wouldn’t need to speculate about his relationship with Yi Zhi anymore.

 

Yi Zhi used the invitation as a fan. “You didn’t tell Ji Zhen I was coming. You didn’t prepare any food for me, did you?”

 

Shen Yanqing replied calmly, “The Shen Mansion won’t be short of a pair of chopsticks for you.”

 

Yi Zhi saw his friend’s open and relaxed expression and burst out laughing. “Shen Yanqing, you really are…” He clicked his tongue. “It would have been better if you were like this long ago. With that perpetually stern face, not to mention Ji Zhen, even a tiger would retreat three steps after seeing you.”

 

He then said with some emotion, “We both serve as officials in the imperial court. The emperor’s will is hard to predict, and one slight mistake can lead to eternal damnation. It’s good as it is now. Although the Ji family has fallen, at least Ji Jue’s life was spared, leaving Ji Zhen with a cherished memory. However, the Ji family was still part of the deposed Crown Prince’s faction. While the Third Prince doesn’t hold a grudge today, there’s no guarantee he won’t settle scores later. You must be careful in the future.”

 

Shen Yanqing wasn’t arrogant. He clearly understood the pros and cons and nodded. “Thank you.”

 

Yi Zhi had always disliked meddling in court conflicts, so he stopped there and changed the topic, happily talking about his own marriage.

 

When the two arrived at the main courtyard, the candles in the main room were lit, but Ji Zhen was nowhere to be seen.

 

Yi Zhi teased, “Knowing there’s no hope for me and you, he can’t even be bothered to take precautions anymore.”

 

Shen Yanqing casually called a servant and asked, “Where is the Young Madam?”

 

The servant stammered for a while before saying, “My Lord, not long after you left for court, the Young Madam had us tidy up the west wing and moved there before noon…”

 

Shen Yanqing’s expression stiffened, his lips pressing downward as he stepped inside to check. He noticed that several storage boxes had vanished from the main room. Most of Ji Zhen’s things had vanished without a trace, but the wooden box on the dressing table was still in its original place.

 

Yi Zhi, who had come happily to deliver the wedding invitation, had assumed Shen Yanqing and Ji Zhen were already a harmonious couple. He hadn’t expected the husband and wife to be living in separate rooms. Even though he had known Shen Yanqing for many years, he also felt quite awkward for his friend. After a light cough, he asked, “Is this… a spat?”

 

Shen Yanqing’s face was slightly grim. Answering was difficult, and not answering was equally so. In the end, he said, “To the west wing.”

 

Yi Zhi had no intention of getting involved in the couple’s conflict. He quickly shoved the wedding invitation into Shen Yanqing’s hand. “You should give this to Ji Zhen. I just remembered I have some urgent matters to attend to. Let’s save this dinner for another time.”

 

“Alright, I won’t see you out.” Shen Yanqing replied.

 

After Yi Zhi left, Shen Yanqing took the festive red invitation and walked directly past the corridor to the west wing.

 

The door of this room faced north, and in winter, cold winds would sweep through. Ji Zhen, who was most sensitive to the cold, had nonetheless hidden from him all the way to this spot.

 

As he got closer, he heard Ji An’s voice, “Young Master, these peanuts are so crispy and fragrant. Hurry and have a taste.”

 

Ji Zhen’s voice was light and cheerful. “I think this steamed rice cake is good too.”

 

Through the slightly open window, Shen Yanqing peered in. Silver embers glowed softly in the room, and Ji Zhen, who was wrapped in a thick fox-fur cloak, sat on a small stool by the stove, warming himself. His cheeks were flushed from the heat, and he was happily nibbling on a soft, flower-shaped black rice cake. He must have truly liked it, as the eyes that had recently been troubled with worry were now curved into a smile.

 

“Then I’ll go to the market tomorrow to buy some more for Young Master to eat,” Ji An said while squatting on the side and munching on peanuts. He was about to say more when he saw the figure by the window and fell backward onto the ground in fright. He got up once he truly saw who it was. “Lord Shen.”

 

Ji Zhen glanced toward the window, his cheeks slightly puffed. He appeared obedient and clever, yet the sparkle in his eyes had clearly dimmed.

 

He stuffed the last half of the rice cake into his mouth and stood up just as Shen Yanqing pushed the door open.

 

Ji Zhen clapped the crumbs from his hands. Before Shen Yanqing could speak, he blurted out the speech he had prepared. “You’re back from court. I have something to tell you. From now on, I want to live in the west wing. I’ve already moved my things, and I didn’t take anything I shouldn’t have.”

 

Shen Yanqing merely stared at him, the glow of the burning charcoal flickering in his dark eyes.

 

Ji Zhen waited briefly for a reply, his heart racing, then timidly added, “You don’t want me to leave the mansion, so I’ll just stay here, is that alright?”

 

Shen Yanqing stepped inside, dismissed Ji An, and ran his hand over the wooden table. He turned and slowly sat down before finally looking up and saying, “You never discussed this with me.”

 

Ji Zhen pursed his lips and spoke with hesitation. “But when you moved into the east wing, you didn’t tell me either, did you?”

 

He felt his argument was reasonable, yet the true reason was something he could never reveal to Shen Yanqing. So, he added in a low voice, “I just think it’s quieter here…”

 

Shen Yanqing studied Ji Zhen closely, clearly noticing his caution and unease. Ji Zhen didn’t like being here, he just wanted to put as much distance between them as possible.

 

“Yi Zhi was just here,” Shen Yanqing said, forcing down the urge to question him. He handed over the red invitation. “He came to give you a wedding invitation.”

 

Ji Zhen’s eyebrows twitched as he slowly reached out and opened it. Inside was indeed the invitation for Yi Zhi and Miss Lin. The red invitation was adorned with an artist’s rendering of twin birds, symbolizing a devoted couple. As he touched the lifelike drawing, he couldn’t help but think of his own wedding invitation with Shen Yanqing.

 

His invitation and Shen Yanqing’s bore a depiction of twin lotuses, symbolizing a couple united in heart and deep affection. Such a beautiful wish was something he had long since stopped hoping for.

 

Ji Zhen looked up and smiled. “It’s in five days.”

 

Shen Yanqing’s gaze was so profound that Ji Zhen couldn’t understand it. He had to look away, muttering, “That’s good, that’s really good…”

 

For some reason, Ji Zhen suddenly felt a lump in his throat. He took two deep breaths and walked to the dressing table to put the invitation away. As he turned, he was embraced tightly.

 

Shen Yanqing held him with both arms and said in a low voice, “I’ll have people move your things back.”

 

Ji Zhen remained silent.

 

Just as Shen Yanqing was about to call the servants, Ji Zhen finally mustered the courage to look at him and said firmly, “I don’t want to move back.”

 

Shen Yanqing’s voice was low. “The west wing is cold in the winter and hot in the summer.”

 

Ji Zhen hastily moved two steps away. “But I just want to live here.”

 

Shen Yanqing frowned. For a moment, he seemed to see the spirited Ji Zhen from before and was speechless. After a long pause, he said helplessly, “As you wish.”

 

Once Ji Zhen experienced what it meant for the west wing to be cold in the winter and hot in the summer, he would naturally move back to the main courtyard. As for other things, Shen Yanqing couldn’t say if he didn’t want to or didn’t dare to think about them in detail. Once he understood Ji Zhen’s true intention for moving out of the main wing, it would be a heartbreaking blow.

 

Fortunately, there was still plenty of time.

 

Ji Zhen ultimately settled into the west wing. However, except for the nights, Shen Yanqing would still go to the west wing to have meals with Ji Zhen. The number of times they met and talked decreased, and indeed, as Ji Zhen wished, many unnecessary quarrels were also reduced.

 

But as one day, two days, and three days passed, the stack of calligraphy practice sheets in Shen Yanqing’s study piled up like a small mountain, yet the pampered Ji Zhen showed no sign of moving back at all, as if he was truly determined to live in the west wing for a long time.

 

Yu He tidied up the paper on the floor and ground ink for his master while saying, “My Lord, you’ve been practicing for almost an hour. You should take a break.”

 

Shen Yanqing paid no attention and continued to write poetry with his brush.

 

“This morning, the Old Madam sent someone to ask about you and the Young Master sleeping in separate rooms.”

 

His brush paused slightly.

 

“If this continues, the Old Madam will have the Young Madam kneel in the ancestral hall again…” Yu He paused. “Didn’t the Young Madam often look for you when you lived in the east wing? All the rooms in this main courtyard belong to you. You can stay in whichever room you want, whether it’s the east or west wing.”

 

Shen Yanqing finished his last stroke and glanced at Yu He out of the corner of his eye.

 

Yu He rubbed his nose. “Although I don’t have much knowledge, this humble one heard that after a quarrel by the head of the bed, a couple should make up by the foot of it. My Lord, a harmonious family prospers in all things.” He couldn’t help but grumble, “No matter how many poetry you practice here with your calligraphy, the Young Madam won’t see them anyway…”

 

Shen Yanqing set the paper aside and said lightly, “You’re getting more and more talkative now.”

 

Yu He chuckled. “It’s because you are so generous and tolerant, My Lord, that this humble one dared to give my advice.”

 

“Just grind your ink.”

 

“Yes…”

 

—

 

The black boots crunched softly against the thick snow with each step.

 

Inside the west wing, the candlelight flickered dimly. Ji Zhen, who was just about to go to sleep, heard the sound and called out, “Ji An, it’s cold. Go back to your room. You don’t need to stand guard tonight.”

 

He waited for a long time but didn’t get a response from Ji An. Instead, he noticed the person outside was trying to push the door open.

 

Ji Zhen had already locked the door, so outsiders naturally couldn’t get in. Thinking it was a servant, he climbed off the soft bed, walked to the door, and asked curiously, “Who is it?”

 

He saw a figure outside the door, but they didn’t make a sound.

 

Ji Zhen hesitated and placed his hand on the door. An idea struck him. He hesitated briefly, considered it, and then still opened the door.

 

Moonlight, snow, and Shen Yanqing arrived together late at night.

 

Ji Zhen had already guessed who it was. After a moment of surprise, he stepped aside for Shen Yanqing to enter.

 

Aside from the west wing being locked, Shen Yanqing’s trip was relatively smooth. He closed the door, turned around, and was about to speak when he noticed that Ji Zhen had already walked to the soft bed.

 

Ji Zhen looked at him with clear eyes and began to undress in his sight.

 

Shen Yanqing suddenly felt a sense of absurdity. He took a couple of steps forward and seized Ji Zhen’s wrist, almost grinding his teeth as he asked, “What are you doing?”

 

As the door opened and closed, the warmth of the silver charcoal was pulled out. Ji Zhen shivered and hunched his shoulders, biting his lip as he said, “Did you come for this?”

 

Lately, the other party had been extremely keen on this, and he couldn’t think of any other reason.

 

But Shen Yanqing’s ice-cold gaze made him feel embarrassed. He had misunderstood. Feeling a sense of unrequited self-pity, Ji Zhen’s face flushed and turned pale. “I thought…”

 

Shen Yanqing took a deep breath and helped him straighten his clothes. Halfway through, he became angry and pushed the person onto the bed, saying sternly, “What if it is?”

 

The blush on Ji Zhen’s cheeks deepened slightly. He tucked his legs, lowered his head, and didn’t speak, adopting a submissive posture.

 

He was so obedient that he expected Shen Yanqing to be pleased, but instead, Shen Yanqing shoved him forcefully onto the soft bedding.

 

Shen Yanqing had had enough of the lifeless Ji Zhen. His features twisted slightly, half with anger and half with heartache. “Ji Zhen, where did all your spirit from before go?”

 

Ji Zhen asked back in confusion, “Isn’t it better this way?”

 

He clearly remembered that Shen Yanqing used to hate his willfulness and capriciousness the most. Now that he no longer forced Shen Yanqing and even listened to him in everything, what else could Shen Yanqing be unhappy about?

 

Ji Zhen’s eyes turned red with grievance. He curled up slightly with a dazed expression.

 

Shen Yanqing stroked Ji Zhen’s face with his brows knitted tightly. Even he couldn’t answer Ji Zhen’s question—whether it was good or bad was no longer his to decide.

 

He let go of the trembling Ji Zhen. A turbulent undercurrent churned in his chest. After suppressing it several times, he tried to speak calmly. “We have to get up early tomorrow to go to the Yi Mansion. I just came to see you, nothing else.”

 

Only then did Ji Zhen stop trembling. He thought for a moment, crawled further in, and asked softly, “Then, do you want to sleep here?”

 

The night dew and snow were deep, and he knew how long and difficult the path to the main wing was.

 

Shen Yanqing remained silent for a moment before climbing onto the bed. Ji Zhen turned his back to him, closing his eyes as Shen Yanqing wrapped his arms around him from behind.

 

The red candle rolled and flowed, shedding tear-like drops, while someone stayed awake until dawn.

 

The author has something to say:

Good friend Yi Zhi (x)

Attendant Yu He (x)

Lord Shen’s mouthpiece (√)

Proverbial sayings: Lord Shen, you really are a turtle’s relative, you can truly hold it in!