Bai Li’s Dream – Chapter 131

Chapter 131: Nightfall

The room was filled with warmth, and newly delivered narcissus flowers adorned the windowsill.

“Madam just had someone deliver them,” Chunxiang said with a smile. “She said they would bloom around New Year’s.”

Zhuang Li turned her head to glance at the flowers, nodding with a smile.

Chunhong stood before her, gently wiping fragrant balm on her freshly washed hands, muttering softly, “Young Madam cut her hand today. Apply more balm so it doesn’t leave a scar.”

Chun Yue held the kitchen list handed over by the servant, carefully considering it, and occasionally turning to ask Zhuang Li, “Shall we keep only two meat dishes for dinner tonight and breakfast tomorrow?”

Zhuang Li hummed in agreement, settling onto the soft and plush folding stool. She took a sip of hot tea, her gaze sweeping over the maids bustling about the room in an orderly fashion, then out to the lanterns swaying on the corridor.

“Has the Marquis’s Heir not returned yet?” she asked.

He returned yesterday afternoon, but it’s already dark and he’s still not here.

Could he be in the outer study?

Chunxiang quickly shook her head. “He hasn’t returned.” Then, with a smile, “I heard Jiang Yun say that the Marquis’s Heir has been rushing to finish his work these past two days so he can avoid going to the government office sooner.”

✿✿✿

✿✿✿

Zhou Jingyun stepped out of the government office. The Imperial Street was brightly lit, but aside from the patrolling guards, there were no officials coming and going.

Jiang Yun led the horse over. “With today’s work done, there’s no need to come tomorrow, right?”

Zhou Jingyun nodded.

“Then Young Madam must be delighted,” Jiang Yun said with a chuckle. “The Marquis’s Heir can stay home and accompany her.”

Zhou Jingyun smiled faintly. “She’s quite busy herself.”

She used to be busy writing and reading, but now she’s busy collaborating with Doctor Zhang on medicine, and also busy learning about New Year customs from Mother.

She keeps herself occupied.

Jiang Yun, leading the horse, said, “Being busy by oneself and being busy with the Marquis’s Heir are two different things.”

Zhou Jingyun glanced at him with a smile. “You seem to know quite a lot.”

Jiang Yun chuckled, about to say something when a voice called out from behind, “Marquis’s Heir.”

Zhou Jingyun’s hand tightened on the reins as he turned to look. On the brightly lit street, a group of people approached, chatting and laughing. One of them waved at him, and the others, noticing him as well, began to talk amongst themselves.

“It’s Marquis Zhou’s Heir.”

“Musician Shen knows Marquis Zhou’s Heir?”

“That shows your lack of knowledge. Back then, the Marquis’s Heir was also in the presence of the previous Emperor. How could he not know Musician Shen?”

“I still remember when Musician Shen and the Marquis’s Heir played together. Although the Marquis’s Heir was young at the time, his guqin skills were quite good.”

Yes, they do know each other. Those who served in the previous court all know. Since old acquaintances are now serving in the same court, it’s only natural to greet each other.

“Musician Shen,” Zhou Jingyun said calmly.

Shen Qing smiled and bowed. “The Marquis’s Heir is working so late before returning home.”

“The Marquis’s Heir is truly diligent,” others chimed in. “He didn’t even attend the banquet last night.”

Zhou Jingyun said with a smile, “Having just joined the Ministry of Revenue, the duties are quite different from my previous post. I dare not slack off, lest I fail to live up to His Majesty’s expectations.”

The group looked at Zhou Jingyun’s face and showered him with praise.

“Since we’ve met the Marquis’s Heir, I have a newly acquired guqin score I’d like to discuss with you,” Shen Qing said, taking out a booklet from his sleeve and gesturing towards the government office. “Would it be convenient for the Marquis’s Heir?”

The people around them chimed in, “It’s too late at this hour.” “Musician Shen, don’t delay the Marquis’s Heir from returning home.” “It’s freezing cold.”

Shen Qing smiled, seemingly not hearing them, and opened the booklet, appearing eager to show it to Zhou Jingyun.

Zhou Jingyun looked over.

As his gaze fell on the booklet, something tumbled out with a ‘plop’. The others looked over as well and saw it was a letter.

“How did this get into the guqin score?” Shen Qing, with his sleeves rolled up, hurriedly picked it up and tucked it into his sleeve, then smiled at Zhou Jingyun. “I remember the Marquis’s Heir is fond of ancient melodies. I wonder if you’d be interested in taking a look.”

Zhou Jingyun looked at him and slowly nodded. “Yes.” He gestured invitingly. “Musician Shen, please.”

Shen Qing didn’t stand on ceremony. Holding his guqin and gathering his robe, he walked inside.

Zhou Jingyun followed closely behind.

The others shook their heads helplessly. “He’s truly a guqin fanatic.” “He was spoiled by the previous Emperor, has no sense of propriety.” “It seems he hasn’t learned anything after all these years outside.” “Let’s go, let’s go. We don’t understand the obsession of these guqin lovers.”

The group continued along the Imperial Street, chatting and laughing.

Jiang Yun stood outside the government office, his brow slightly furrowed. This Shen Qing could actually stop the Marquis’s Heir, who was eager to return home?

It seems there’s more to it than just the guqin score.

He looked inside and called over an attendant. “Go inform the household that the Marquis’s Heir has some matters to attend to and will return a little later.”

The attendant acknowledged and rode off on horseback.

The embers in the brazier still held some warmth, and with the lamps lit, the room felt even cozier.

“It’s a pity the Marquis’s Heir didn’t attend the banquet last night,” Shen Qing said with a smile. “If you had seen Princess Jinyu, you would have thought she was a different person.”

Although Zhou Jingyun hadn’t attended, he had already heard about it. Master Zhang, the Emperor’s teacher when he was a prince, and Prime Minister Zheng, who had been previously demoted, were both invited back by Princess Jinyu.

It was said that after being reprimanded by the Emperor, Princess Jinyu had reflected on her actions behind closed doors, determined to change her ways and do something beneficial for the dynasty. So, she dismissed her attractive attendants and spent a fortune seeking out virtuous officials for the Emperor. Finally, she found these two. Princess Jinyu personally visited them, her sincerity moving them. The two, who had been disillusioned with the court and living in seclusion, returned to meet the Emperor, willing to assist him in restoring the Great Zhou to its former glory.

“The banquet was truly a joyous occasion for both the Emperor and his officials, a cause for celebration throughout the land.”

“Princess Jinyu was invited to sit beside the Emperor, respectfully addressing him as ‘Imperial Brother’ time and again.”

Shen Qing said with a loud laugh.

Zhou Jingyun stood in the room, looking at him with a calm expression. “So?”

“So?” Shen Qing looked at him and smiled. “Do you know who persuaded the Princess to change her ways?” He pointed at himself. “Me.”

Him? Zhou Jingyun looked at him without speaking.

Shen Qing frowned again, muttering to himself, “However, it was somewhat unexpected. I thought the Princess would need some time to ponder, but she acted so quickly, so decisively.”

And she was so confident, the confidence of someone holding a winning hand.

This kind of confidence wasn’t something he could weave into a dream.

It seems he had underestimated this woman.

“So what?” Zhou Jingyun said.

What did it have to do with him?

Shen Qing smiled.

“Nothing much. Just adding some excitement to the court. Isn’t it exciting enough?” He said, sitting down at the desk, relaxed and casual. “I’ll be going to the Yang family later. Now that the Princess has changed her ways and wants to become a pillar of the court, a good assistant to the Emperor, how can the Empress still be quarreling with the Emperor all day long?”

He let out a cold laugh.

“They all say the Empress is a woman meddling in politics. Now let them see what real meddling in politics by a woman looks like.”

Zhou Jingyun understood now. Shen Qing was trying to stir up Princess Jinyu and the Empress’s ambition for power. His expression remained calm as he looked at Shen Qing’s sleeve. “What do these things you’re doing have to do with my private letter? Why did you intercept my letter?”

Shen Qing smiled and took out the letter that seemed to have accidentally fallen to the ground earlier from his sleeve, placing it on the desk.

Under the lamplight, Zhou Jingyun could clearly see that it was a letter from Zhuang Li to Madam Zhuang. Calculating the days, it should have been on Madam Zhuang’s desk by now.

Yet, it had just fallen out of Shen Qing’s guqin score.

This was why he had followed Shen Qing in without hesitation to look at the guqin score.

Clearly, Shen Qing wasn’t interested in showing him any guqin score either.

Shen Qing smiled. “I told you before, I was originally going to take Zhuang Li away. I’m quite familiar with Master Zhuang and his wife.”

Quite familiar.

“So? Does that give you the right to seize my belongings?” Zhou Jingyun said, not bothering to speculate or ask how he was familiar with Master Zhuang and his wife. His voice was cold. “Shen Qing, I’m not familiar with you.”

Shen Qing smiled. “Marquis’s Heir, calm down, don’t be angry. I came here today to explain.”

He reached out and picked up the letter.

“Have you read the contents of the letter?”

Zhou Jingyun said coldly, “I’m not that despicable and shameless.”

✿✿✿

Shen Qing sighed helplessly. “The Marquis’s Heir used to be just stubborn, but now his temper has become so bad.”

Zhou Jingyun laughed. “Not just my temper. My character isn’t that good now either. Do you think that just because I saved a so-called member of Empress Jiang’s faction once, I wouldn’t report them?”

He took a step forward.

“Shen Qing, haven’t you grasped reality yet? Do you still think you can act with impunity?”

Shen Qing’s eyes darkened. “Yes, without the Empress, I can’t act with impunity anymore.” He then smiled. “But, fortunately, the Empress has returned.”

Zhou Jingyun said coldly, “Wake up.”

Shen Qing smiled.

“Wake up? Should I wake up, or should others wake up? It’s like when you’re dreaming, everyone thinks they’re awake.” He looked at Zhou Jingyun. “Do you know who the Zhuang Li you brought home is?”

Zhou Jingyun said calmly, “I know what I’m doing. You don’t need to remind me.”

Shen Qing leaned back in his chair. “I know you know she’s Bai Xun’s daughter, a fugitive from Empress Jiang’s faction. Let me rephrase, is she really Zhuang Li?”

“Who she is has nothing to do with you,” Zhou Jingyun said, somewhat annoyed, reaching for the letter on the desk.

Shen Qing reached out and pressed down on the other side of the letter. “Of course it does. Because she’s the person we’ve all been waiting for.”

Zhou Jingyun looked at him. “What person?”

Shen Qing gave a strange smile. “Didn’t you see with your own eyes what kind of person she is?”

As he spoke, Zhou Jingyun felt his fingers pressing on the letter stiffen. His vision blurred, and instead of Shen Qing’s face, he was back in his own home, in his bedroom. A woman on the bed looked up at him.

It wasn’t Zhuang Li’s face, it was…

The woman smiled at him. “Zhou Jingyun.”

With that voice, Zhou Jingyun stumbled back abruptly.

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Firecrackers exploded in the courtyard, their sound mixed with the laughter of maids.

Zhuang Li looked up, her gaze drawn outside. Night had already fallen.

“Has the Marquis’s Heir not returned yet?” she asked.

Chun Yue said, “The Marquis’s Heir sent word earlier, saying he had some matters to attend to and would be back later.” She then urged, “Young Madam, please have your dinner first. The Marquis’s Heir would feel bad if he knew you were waiting for him on an empty stomach.”

Zhuang Li smiled and agreed.

Chun Yue hurriedly instructed the servants to serve the meal. Just as the food was laid out, Chunxiang rushed in excitedly. “The Marquis’s Heir is back!”

Zhuang Li quickly stood up and looked outside, but she didn’t see Zhou Jingyun following behind.

“The Marquis’s Heir went to the study first,” Chunhong added from behind. “He might still have some work to finish, but he’ll be here soon.”

…….

…….

Night had deepened. Lamps were being lit one by one in the study. Zhou Jingyun sat at his desk, his vision still somewhat blurry, Shen Qing’s voice echoing in his ears.

“Is that Zhuang Li you see?”

“Do you know Zhuang Li?”

“Who is Zhuang Li? Is it Bai Li?”

“Do you know Bai Li?”

“How do you know she’s Bai Li?”

“Does Bai Li know she’s Bai Li?”

“Is Bai Li necessarily Bai Li?”

Who else could Bai Li be but Bai Li? What he saw that morning was just his hallucination!

How did Shen Qing know about his hallucination?

But when he asked again, Shen Qing didn’t answer, only patted the letter on the desk meaningfully. “She’ll tell you herself in time.”

She’ll tell him herself.

Who was the ‘she’ Shen Qing was referring to?

Zhou Jingyun clenched his fist and slammed it on the desk. Feng’er, who was lighting the other lamps in the room, was startled.

“Young Master?” he asked.

The bright lamplight helped Zhou Jingyun’s vision focus, and his mind cleared. He looked at Feng’er and waved his hand dismissively. “You may go.”

Feng’er acknowledged and placed another lamp on the desk before retreating.

Zhou Jingyun lowered his head, looking at the letter under his hand.

Shen Qing seemed to be sitting across from him again, a smile on his face.

“If you don’t believe me, look at the letter, see who the writer thinks she is.”

Zhou Jingyun looked at the letter, slowly reaching out. The letter was still sealed. Because it was being delivered by him, the seal was simple, a gentle tear would open it…

“Is the Marquis’s Heir here?”

A woman’s voice came from outside the door.

Zhou Jingyun stiffened, instinctively grabbing a book to cover the letter. He looked up and saw Feng’er lifting the door curtain.

“Marquis’s Heir, Young Madam is here.”

Zhuang Li stood outside the curtain, wrapped in a cloak, looking in with a smile.

“Why are you here?” Zhou Jingyun stood up and said with a smile.

Zhuang Li walked in. “I’ve had dinner and was on my way to Mother’s. I wanted to see if you were done with your work.”

Zhou Jingyun hummed in response, then hesitated for a moment. “I still have some matters to attend to. I won’t be going over. I’ll pay my respects to Mother tomorrow.”

Zhuang Li smiled and said, “Alright. Then I won’t stay any longer. I’ll be on my way.”

Zhou Jingyun nodded, then looked outside and saw two maids waiting. “Take a few more people with you.”

Zhuang Li said, “I’m just within the residence, not going out.” She looked at him and smiled. “Zhou Jingyun, I’ll be going then.”

Zhou Jingyun watched her leave with a smile, his gaze lingering on the lowered curtain, the room falling silent once more.

He slowly sat down, his eyes fixed on the desk. He reached out and picked up the book, revealing the letter underneath.

A draft seemed to slip in from under the door curtain, the candlelight flickered, and a shadow appeared beside the desk.

Zhuang Li, wrapped in her cloak, watched as Zhou Jingyun, with a dazed look, picked up a letter.

She didn’t need to get closer to recognize it as the letter she had written, the one pleading for help, which should have been on Madam Zhuang’s desk at this very moment.

Zhuang Li turned and walked outside.

Feng’er dazedly lifted the door curtain, Chun Yue and Chunhong, their eyes glazed over, greeted her.

“Young Madam, walk slowly,” Feng’er mumbled.

Whether it was the voice or the rustling of the curtain, Zhou Jingyun, holding the letter, suddenly snapped out of his daze and stood up instinctively.

The room was empty.

“Feng’er,” he called out.

Feng’er poked his head in from behind the curtain. “Marquis’s Heir?”

“Young Madam…” Zhou Jingyun hesitated, then asked, “Was she here?”

Feng’er blinked in confusion. “Young Madam just left. Marquis’s Heir, do you want me to call her back?”

Left, yes, Zhuang Li had been here, and had already left.

What was wrong with him? He felt as if Zhuang Li had just been standing here, watching him.

Zhou Jingyun lowered his eyes to the letter in his hand.

No wonder people said a guilty conscience betrays itself.