Bai Li’s Dream – Chapter 145

Chapter 145: Arrangements

As the Lantern Festival approached, the capital city was ablaze with lights, even more dazzling than on New Year’s Eve.

The Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence was also brightly lit inside and out.

A carriage stopped at the corner gate. A coachman sat on the carriage, wearing a thick felt hat that covered his head and face, like a sculpture.

“Old fellow, come in and sit for a while,” the gatekeeper of the corner gate called out. “It’s too cold outside.”

But the coachman seemed shy: “No, no, my Young Lady will be out soon. I won’t disturb you.”

People from humble backgrounds were often reserved. The gatekeeper of the Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence didn’t insist, reassuring him, “Our Young Madam is kind and truly skilled.”

The coachman mumbled a few words, unsure if he had heard. Suddenly, he straightened up: “My… Young Lady is back.”

The gatekeeper of the Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence looked inside and saw a maid carrying a lantern, leading two people out.

One was a young shop assistant, holding Doctor Zhang’s name card and delivering something.

The other wore a veil; her dress swayed with her movements, her figure graceful. It was the young lady who had come for medical consultation.

“Young Lady, you’re back,” the coachman said, jumping off the carriage.

His voice trembled slightly, unsure if it was excitement or worry about his Young Lady’s illness.

The Young Lady only hummed softly and stood in front of the carriage.

The coachman was still in a daze when the maid next to him stepped forward. “I’ll help you with the footstool.”

The coachman came to his senses. The Young Lady needed to step on the stool to get into the carriage.

“I’ll do it, I’ll do it.” The coachman hurriedly took the stool and extended his hand.

The Young Lady stepped on the stool, held his arm, and sat inside the carriage. She bowed to the maid: “Thank you.”

The maid returned the courtesy with a smile, watching as the coachman and the shop assistant from the medical clinic sat in front of the carriage, whipped the horse, and disappeared into the dazzling streets.

After turning another corner and getting away from the Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence, the shop assistant took the reins, and the coachman turned and entered the carriage.

The streetlights cast a dim glow inside the carriage.

The young lady had already taken off her veil and was sitting with her knees bent in a not-so-elegant posture, her chin resting on her hand. She sighed softly, her beautiful face seeming both happy and worried.

Shopkeeper Cai took off his hat: “Young Master, you really can’t do this. If you’re caught, it will be a huge scandal. This kind of reputation is different from the previous ones.”

“Caught?” Shangguan Yue was interrupted from his thoughts and didn’t quite hear. He shook his head. “No, I’ll be careful.”

This wasn’t a reminder! It was a warning, an admonition. Shopkeeper Cai was stunned. Careful? No matter how careful, there were no airtight walls in this world!

“Young Master, you can’t associate with her anymore—” He decided to be blunt.

Shangguan Yue looked at him and laughed: “What are you talking about? I’m not here to see her… I’m not here to see the Young Madam of Dongyang. I’m…”

Well, there was no way to explain this.

Forget it.

He looked at Shopkeeper Cai, who was waiting for his explanation.

“You don’t have to worry about this. I know what I’m doing.”

Know what you’re doing? You’re cross-dressing and sneaking into someone’s house for a private meeting! Shopkeeper Cai helplessly called out, “Young Master.”

Shangguan Yue ignored his worried expression, fiddling with the name card he had stolen from Doctor Zhang: “Return it to Doctor Zhang…” He shook his head again. “Keep it. It’ll be convenient to use.”

It turned out that as long as he appeared near the Young Madam of Dongyang, wanting to see her, she would also appear.

Shangguan Yue couldn’t help but smile and reached out to touch his face.

Moreover, she had complimented him on his good looks today.

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When Zhuang Li returned to the Marchioness of Dongyang’s place, dinner was served.

She simply answered everyone’s inquiries, and the matter was dropped.

The Marchioness of Dongyang was also in low spirits, probably because Zhou Jingyun had dampened her enthusiasm for entering the palace. The meal ended quickly.

“Now Consort Bai is always by the Empress’s side.”

Back in their room, the maids had all retreated, and Zhou Jingyun explained to her.

“If you go to pay respects to the Empress, you will definitely encounter her.”

Even if there were many noblewomen present and she stayed at the back, it wouldn’t be safe.

After all, she was a new bride that many people were curious about.

Especially since she had indirectly dealt with the Empress before because of the palace flower incident.

Zhuang Li nodded: “The Marquis’s Heir is absolutely right.”

Zhou Jingyun glanced at her and saw her speaking with a smile, but she seemed absent-minded.

“How is that Young Lady Li’s illness? Is she doing okay?” he asked hesitantly.

Zhuang Li smiled at him: “She’s fine. It’s nothing serious, just overwork. She’ll be fine with some rest.”

Zhou Jingyun hummed in response and said nothing more, heading towards the washroom.

Zhuang Li’s gaze followed him silently.

Just like seeing Jiang Yun in the Marchioness of Dongyang’s dream, she was surprised at first glance, but then it wasn’t so surprising. Intercepting her letter wasn’t the end. Based on the letter’s content, they would have to keep an eye on the Marchioness of Dongyang and investigate thoroughly.

So when she heard Shangguan Yue say that the man knew Zhou Jingyun and that they were very likely together today, she was shocked, but then again, not so surprised.

Since the man had appeared when she was dying, it was normal for him to reappear after Zhou Jingyun brought her back to the capital.

Someone arranged it, someone carried it out. It was reasonable.

Zhuang Li withdrew her gaze and turned to walk into the bedroom.

Zhou Jingyun paused at the entrance of the washroom and looked back. He saw Zhuang Li making the bed, the night lamp casting a gentle glow on her.

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On the fourteenth day of the first lunar month, the entire city was already adorned with lanterns.

Because of the palace lantern banquet on the sixteenth, the Imperial Street was also decorated, looking less solemn.

The government offices were also bustling with officials. The emperor’s grand banquet had kept many officials busy since before the New Year.

“Jingyun, you’re here so early.”

Several officials greeted Zhou Jingyun with smiles.

“After we finish today’s work, we can relax a bit tomorrow.”

Someone else invited him: “Let’s go lantern viewing in the city tomorrow night.”

The fifteenth was the most lively lantern viewing festival in the city, with the people of the capital practically celebrating all night long.

Zhou Jingyun responded to each of them with a smile and then excused himself: “I’m going to the palace to see His Majesty.”

An official reminded him: “Don’t talk too much about complicated matters when you see His Majesty. Wait until after the festival, so as not to spoil His Majesty’s mood, which won’t do you any good either.”

Another official joked: “Don’t worry, as long as Jingyun sits in front of His Majesty, His Majesty will be happy no matter what he says.”

Zhou Jingyun was used to being teased about his appearance and didn’t mind or get angry. He smiled and headed towards the Imperial City.

His main purpose in going to the Imperial City today was to ask the emperor for leave, lest the Empress be displeased if Zhuang Li didn’t enter the palace.

However, the Lantern Festival…

He looked at the tall lantern mountains that had been set up around the Imperial City.

On his way back, he would buy a lantern from the street and give it to her.

Although there were lanterns at home.

But, it was a festival.

Zhou Jingyun looked ahead and exhaled softly. Although there had been many strange things recently, life still had to go on.

Everything else was illusory; only the present was real.

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“Young Madam, look, the lantern Aunt sent.”

In the carriage, Chun Yue held up a lantern for Zhuang Li to see.

Early this morning, not long after the Marquis’s Heir had left, Zhuang Li told the Marchioness of Dongyang that she was going to deliver newly made incense to Madam Xue.

The Marchioness of Dongyang agreed. After Zhuang Li left, she complained to Mama Xu, “I don’t know what Jingyun is thinking, insisting on keeping her confined at home. Even if her background is humble, she can cure my sister. No one would dare to look down on her.”

This time, she was truly only angry at her son and didn’t think her daughter-in-law was instigating him not to attend the palace banquet. Mama Xu smiled and comforted her, “Let him be. There’s no rush. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future.”

✿✿✿

Zhuang Li was unaware of the Marchioness of Dongyang’s complaints. When she arrived at the Xue Residence, Madam Xue was delighted to see her and kept her for lunch before letting her go. Before leaving, she gave her a large pile of gifts.

In addition to festive snacks, there was also a lantern.

Zhuang Li looked at the lantern with a smile and nodded: “It’s very beautiful.”

Chun Yue said, “We’ll hang it in the room when we get back.”

Zhuang Li didn’t look at the lantern again. She reached out and lifted the curtain to look outside: “The Marquis’s Heir should be almost finished with his work. He said he could go home in the afternoon when he left.”

Chun Yue nodded. When they left this morning, the Young Madam had asked the Marquis’s Heir if he would be finished with his work after noon today, and the Marquis’s Heir had replied yes.

Zhuang Li looked outside and suddenly said, “Why don’t I go pick up the Marquis’s Heir?”

Pick up the Marquis’s Heir? Chun Yue looked at her.

“Not to the government office, just wait for him at the entrance of the Imperial Street,” Zhuang Li said, her smile joyful and her voice full of excitement.

That way, if the Marquis’s Heir suddenly saw the Young Madam waiting for him, he would be very happy too. Chun Yue nodded: “Okay, okay.”

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Standing on the top floor of a restaurant near the Imperial Street, Shopkeeper Cai walked over to Shangguan Yue and looked out with him.

“Old Cai, you should be busy with your own affairs. It’s too dangerous to follow me,” Shangguan Yue said, frowning as he turned around.

Cai Songnian’s public identity was the shopkeeper of Yuqing Hall, and he had pledged allegiance to the Censorate, providing them with lists of people to investigate.

If it was discovered that he was closely acquainted with Shangguan Yue, the Censorate might also target Shangguan Yue.

“Young Master has been the son of the Imperial Consort’s Husband for so many years. They must have investigated you thoroughly long ago. The Censorate won’t care,” Cai Songnian said, staring outside over his shoulder. “Besides, the valuables from the gamblers you collected on your pleasure boat were all sold to us. You’re our biggest customer. It’s only natural for me, the shopkeeper, to serve you.”

What danger could there be to his identity?

Princess Jinyu already knew and would protect him under her wing.

Even if it was exposed, it wouldn’t matter.

Compared to that, Young Master’s association with a married woman was the most dangerous thing.

“Here it comes,” he said, watching a carriage slowly approaching from the street corner.

Shangguan Yue also saw it, the familiar carriage of the Marchioness of Dongyang, and the four or five guards beside the carriage. Even though the street was crowded with people and carriages, it was still very eye-catching.

Shangguan Yue couldn’t help but smile as he looked at the carriage, but then he frowned, his expression a bit tense.

“Is this too dangerous…” he murmured softly.

Cai Songnian’s ears perked up, and he grabbed Shangguan Yue’s arm: “Of course it’s dangerous! This is the Imperial Street, where officials come and go. If you two are seen pulling and tugging here, everyone will know.”

Compared to that, it would be better to be caught in the Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence, at least the family scandal wouldn’t be made public.

He tightened his grip on Shangguan Yue’s arm, making up his mind. Even if he had to knock Young Master unconscious, he wouldn’t let Young Master and the Young Madam of Dongyang meet in public!

Shangguan Yue was amused by him.

“Old Cai, I’m not here to see her,” he said. “I’m helping her see someone.”

Last night, Bai Li had asked him to help lure Shen Qing out. He thought it was a bit risky. Hadn’t she suffered at this man’s hands before?

But Bai Li insisted: “I won’t really meet him. I’ll just be nearby, taking a look.”

At that time, Bai Li’s face looked terrible. Shangguan Yue couldn’t bear to disappoint her again, so he had to agree.

They agreed to meet at this street corner. He would send a eunuch to summon Shen Qing from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices in the name of the princess’s residence.

And Bai Li would sit in the carriage at the street corner, pretending to be waiting for her husband, just to take a look.

Although he didn’t need to show up in person, and he didn’t understand the methods of fighting between vengeful ghosts, he was still worried and wanted to watch the scene. If they really fought, he would immediately fall asleep, maybe that would help.

“Here he comes,” Shangguan Yue whispered, his eyes fixed on the direction of the Imperial City.

A young eunuch was walking and chatting with Shen Qing.

“The princess really doesn’t hold all-night banquets anymore,” the young eunuch said. “She’s dismissed all the people in the house, leaving only the old and ugly ones.”

Shen Qing laughed and said, “The princess doesn’t have to go to such lengths. After all, she’s a princess of our Great Zhou. It’s too much of a grievance.”

“No grievance,” the eunuch hurriedly waved his hand. “The princess is very happy. She says that life is much more refreshing this way. Now she’s invited Duke Zheng to guide her in painting, and she wants to learn the guqin to congratulate His Majesty at tomorrow’s palace banquet. She’s just worried that her skills aren’t good enough, so she asked Master Shen to come and give her some pointers.”

Shen Qing was about to say something, but the young eunuch quickly added.

“She doesn’t expect to master it in one night. The princess only hopes that her technique won’t be too flawed.”

Shen Qing didn’t say anything more and nodded with a smile: “I will do my best to help the princess showcase her talent.”

The two of them chatted and laughed as they walked along the Imperial Street.

The passing officials glanced over and looked away indifferently. A musician and a eunuch, mere servants.

A young official slowly followed behind Shen Qing, holding several scrolls of documents in his arms, as if he was going to deliver them somewhere. His gaze occasionally glanced ahead, and then he stopped, looking past Shen Qing and the eunuch, towards the street corner.

There was a carriage at the street corner, and familiar guards—

The young official’s face suddenly changed, and he turned and ran back.

This was a common sight on the street. Officials were often in a hurry and moved quickly.

The young official ran all the way to the gate of the Imperial City and happened to see Zhou Jingyun coming out.

“Ah, Marquis Zhou’s Heir.” He rushed over, bowing clumsily, and held up the documents in his hand. “I just happened to run into you. Take a look, is there a scroll here that your department is responsible for?”

The people around them saw this and chuckled, “Managing finances is troublesome, isn’t it? You get caught wherever you go.”

Zhou Jingyun smiled and said to everyone, “It’s my duty, it’s my duty.” He approached the young official and looked through the documents in his arms.

The young official whispered, “Shen Qing has been summoned by someone from the princess’s residence.”

This was his man, planted in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices to keep an eye on Shen Qing.

If Shen Qing could keep an eye on him, he could naturally keep an eye on Shen Qing.

Zhou Jingyun nodded to indicate that he understood and pulled out a scroll: “This one, let me take a look—”

But the young official didn’t leave. Instead, he moved closer and lowered his voice: “Your wife is at the street corner, seemingly waiting for you.”

Zhou Jingyun’s hand holding the scroll paused, and then his face changed. He looked ahead. Among the officials coming and going, he could see Shen Qing and the eunuch walking. Further away, there was a familiar carriage—

He clenched the scroll in his hand.

“I’ll look at it later and return it to you.”

With that, he ran forward.

His cyan cloak billowed behind him as he ran.

Everyone around was startled.

“What’s wrong?”

“Is that Zhou Jingyun?”

“Why is he running? What happened?”

“What does His Majesty need so urgently?”

“Ah, I’ve never seen Marquis Zhou’s Heir in such a hurry.”

“Marquis Zhou’s Heir looks so handsome running—”

“Still as a maiden, swift as a leaping deer—”

Zhou Jingyun ignored the surprised gazes and discussions around him. He only had eyes for the carriage at the street corner.

At this moment, he felt that the Imperial Street was truly long.

He had never felt it was long before.

He untied his cloak and draped it over his arm, lest its fluttering slow him down.

His official hat was also wobbling, so he reached up and took it off, holding it in his hand.

His hair might be messy from running.

It didn’t matter.

He ran past the surprised gazes, overtaking Shen Qing and the eunuch. He heard the young eunuch’s surprised voice, “Eh—it’s Marquis Zhou’s Heir—why is he running? What happened?”

Shen Qing watched Zhou Jingyun run past him abruptly. His crimson official robe was like a sharp arrow, gliding past.

Shen Qing followed the arrow’s trajectory and looked towards the street corner. He saw a carriage. The guards beside the carriage said something inside, and the curtain was lifted, revealing a woman’s face.

A beautiful jade face, like shimmering pearls, like ripples on clear water.