Chapter 194: Safety

As dusk approached, the docks outside the city were packed with people. Not with dockworkers and boatmen, but with luxurious carriages and dazzling jewels, the place was impassable.

“What’s going on?” Shen Qing couldn’t help but ask.

“Didn’t that Shangguan Yue go to the Imperial Tombs? I thought the pleasure boat was closed for business.”

“Of course it’s open. Such a joyous occasion! The pleasure boat specially sent invitations to the guests to congratulate the Prince together.” A bystander explained, then looked him up and down. Seeing him in silk clothing, but not particularly exquisite, he shook his head. “You also want to board the pleasure boat to curry favor with the Prince? Don’t even think about it, the guests on that boat are all regulars.”

Someone next to him chimed in, “If you know any regular guests, you can buy an invitation from them.”

“Buy what? These prodigal sons don’t care about money at all. At this moment, they’re so proud they’re practically flying. Their families have warned them not to sell their invitations. It’s absurd, gambling has become a good thing.”

“But it seems like old customers can bring a new guest.”

“They’ve all been snatched up already. These prodigal sons have never been so popular. Their tails are all sticking up in the air.”

The surrounding people were buzzing with discussion as they watched the pleasure-seeking young men being escorted in. They all stood tall and proud, unlike their previous timid and evasive demeanor.

One of them said arrogantly, “People used to say it was shameful to hang out with this illegitimate son. Now? You all see it, you were all blind to his true worth!”

These words caused an uproar, mixed with shouts of “Young Master Zhang – take me in – I’ll serve you tea and water –” and “…Forget serving tea and water, I can make the bed and fold the quilts –” and other nonsensical jokes.

Mixing with these people was indeed shameful, but it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. The illegitimate son needed a reputation for debauchery, and the new Prince in the royal family temporarily needed it too. At least it would make the Emperor less wary. Shen Qing walked towards the pleasure boat, deep in thought.

Of course, considering this Li Yu wasn’t because he saw him as one of his own, but as a new stepping stone for his Lady.

“Hey, hey, you’re really going?”

“Don’t try to barge in, be careful of being thrown into the Jinshui River.”

“This young master was untouchable before, and now he’s even more so.”

As they spoke, they saw the unremarkable man walk up to the pleasure boat and say something to a waiter. The waiter looked him up and down, then went inside. Not long after, he returned and respectfully led the man onto the pleasure boat.

The onlookers weren’t surprised. There were many people in the capital who looked ordinary but had extraordinary backgrounds. They just regretted missing out on the excitement.

Shen Qing ascended the stairs. He could have boarded the boat directly without alerting anyone, but…

That country bumpkin was rude, he couldn’t be like her.

“Master Shen, why are you here?” A voice came from above.

Shen Qing looked up and saw Bai Li standing by the railing. The girl was wearing a goose-yellow dress, and although her hair was only adorned with a single pearl hairpin, she looked radiant and dazzling.

That country bumpkin could never have such an aura. It must be because of his Lady! Shen Qing suppressed his excitement and said, bowing his head, “There are some things I need to tell you.”

In reality, he just wanted to see what kind of status she held on this pleasure boat.

She had only been in the capital for a short time and had been hiding in the Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence. How could she gain Shangguan Yue’s trust? This Bai Li wasn’t truly his Lady after all.

However, he had just mentioned wanting to see Young Lady Bai, with the surname Shen, and the waiter, without asking any further questions, immediately went to inquire and then brought him in. It was clear that Young Lady Bai was someone in charge on this pleasure boat.

Since Bai Li had told him her location, she didn’t mind him coming. She invited him to sit down. “Tell me.”

Shen Qing came prepared. He spoke of the Emperor’s decision regarding Empress Yang’s family.

Upon hearing this, Bai Li smiled. “So, being the Emperor’s consort means facing the extermination of your entire clan.”

Shen Qing scoffed. “That Prince Changyang is nothing but a useless coward.” He paused, then added, “Also, your sister is about to give birth.”

Bai Li simply responded with an “Oh.”

Shen Qing continued, “She’s likely to have a son. My people followed Zhang Ze and saw him gathering many pregnant women…”

Bai Li sat up straight and asked, “Where are those pregnant women?”

“I can only tell you this much. Zhang Ze is extremely cautious, he changes locations three times a day…” Shen Qing said.

Bai Li looked at him coldly, her eyes filled with undisguised disgust.

Shen Qing couldn’t help but feel annoyed. He gritted his teeth and finished his sentence, “…I’ll have my people keep a close eye on him.”

Bai Li took a piece of incense from a nearby spice box and handed it to him. “Use this as a marker.”

This was the marker for dream-walking that she had learned from Madam Zhuang. Shen Qing knew of this technique, but it wasn’t something everyone could possess. Just as he only had the ability to weave dreams, he couldn’t transform into other forms or enter others’ dreams to travel through the world.

Indeed, she was a rare treasure in this world.

Such a treasure should naturally belong to his Lady, to be used by her. Shen Qing lowered his eyes to accept the incense, then looked up again. “Madam Zhuang is missing.”

Bai Li frowned. “What?”

Although Master Zhuang and his wife no longer held the same place in her heart as before, hearing that Madam Zhuang was missing…

Shen Qing sneered, “She was probably taken by Zhou Jingyun’s people.”

Zhou Jingyun? Bai Li’s tense shoulders relaxed. Then it was alright, he must have done it for her own good.

…

…

Night fell. Zhou Jingyun reined in his horse, stopping in front of a residence in the eastern market of the capital. Feng’er ran to knock on the door. With a rhythmic sound, the door opened from the inside.

“Brother Jiang Yun!” Feng’er shouted happily, throwing himself at him.

Jiang Yun lifted him up with one hand and nodded to Zhou Jingyun who was walking over. “My Lord.”

Zhou Jingyun nodded and walked inside. Feng’er, who had been put down, closed the door and stood guard.

“Was the journey smooth?” Zhou Jingyun asked.

Jiang Yun nodded. “It was alright.”

Madam Zhuang was surrounded by people watching her, especially the old woman by her side who was skilled in inducing illusions. Several times, he had managed to take Madam Zhuang away from Dengzhou, only to lose her inexplicably. Fortunately, he hadn’t given up and had repeatedly outmaneuvered them.

“Madam Zhuang also taught me a method, which is to inflict pain.” Jiang Yun said with a smile, shaking his arm.

Zhou Jingyun looked at his arm. Even though it was covered by clothing, he could imagine the numerous cuts on it. “Take good care of your wounds, don’t damage your body.”

Jiang Yun nodded with a smile. “Don’t worry, My Lord.”

Zhou Jingyun entered the room and saw a graceful woman in her forties sitting at a desk, writing.

✿✿✿

At first glance, Zhou Jingyun subconsciously froze, as if he had seen Zhuang Li.

Indeed, she had been raised by Madam Zhuang, their manners and demeanor were exactly the same.

“My Lord, you’re here.” Madam Zhuang put down her brush and stood up.

Zhou Jingyun averted his gaze. “Madam Zhuang, please don’t blame me. I believe it’s safer for everyone if you’re in my custody.”

Madam Zhuang sighed. “Actually, the reason I willingly allowed myself to be confined was because I felt ashamed and didn’t know how to face My Lord and…Ah Li.”

“I don’t care about what happened before. I just want to ask one question.” Zhou Jingyun said, “When you were traveling in the mountains and forests, were you looking for someone like her?”

Madam Zhuang shook her head. “No, not at all. At that time, Zhuang Feizi heard that Mian’er…”

Mian’er? Zhou Jingyun was stunned by this name.

Madam Zhuang also smiled. “Back then, when Zhuang Feizi first arrived in the capital, he met Empress Jiang. At that time, she hadn’t entered the palace yet and was just a child. She attended a few of his classes with her family. She was intelligent and talented, Feizi liked her very much. Later, her family fell into ruin and she entered the Court Entertainment Bureau. Zhuang Feizi even asked me to go and ask her if she wanted to be redeemed, but she refused.”

She sighed as she spoke.

“That child had great ambitions.”

Jiang Mian’er’s background was no secret. She came from an official family that had been implicated in a crime. Her parents died in prison, and she entered the Court Entertainment Bureau. She was beautiful, intelligent, and excelled in singing and dancing. She quickly rose to prominence at court banquets and was favored by the late Emperor, thus rising to a position of power.

She was certainly not someone without substance. Back then, when he talked with her, it was he who couldn’t keep up, she never faltered. So, she had studied under Zhuang Feizi and was considered intelligent by him. No wonder. Zhou Jingyun lowered his eyes. “In other words, Master Zhuang was already Empress Jiang’s man.”

“He wasn’t exactly her man, she never asked us to do anything for her. It was just that after she became Empress, she remembered the unfinished lessons from her childhood and wrote letters to Feizi for advice. Feizi also regarded her as a disciple.” Madam Zhuang said softly, looking at Zhou Jingyun. “Just like how he treated you. Apart from that, there was no other interaction. She was the Empress, he taught his books. It was just that later, we suddenly heard that she had passed away, and we felt it was a pity. So, Feizi and I traveled around to distract ourselves, and that’s how we happened to meet Ah Li.”

Zhou Jingyun looked up at her. “So, you immediately had an idea?”

Madam Zhuang looked helpless. “No, not at all. At that time, Feizi and I really liked her. We never thought we would encounter such a natural treasure in this world. We also knew that the world wouldn’t recognize her, and the people around her would be afraid of her. So, we wanted to take her away and raise her well, so that such a precious gem wouldn’t be buried.”

She sighed as she spoke.

“Until three years later, Shen Qing came to us. We had never interacted with him before, nor did we know this person. He came and said that it was her Ladyship who told him to find us…”

He said such strange things, but Zhuang Feizi believed him.

And then, the Bai family incident happened, Zhuang Li went dream-walking and got lost in the sea of her heart, so…

That’s how everything that followed came to be.

Zhou Jingyun remained silent for a moment. “I understand. At first, you were indeed overjoyed to find such a treasure. Later, you did weigh your options and made a choice.”

Madam Zhuang opened her mouth, then sighed again. “We wronged her.”

Silence fell over the room.

“Is she… alright now?” Madam Zhuang asked softly. “I heard on the road that the Marchioness of Dongyang had passed away.”

She smiled as she spoke.

“With her temperament, she’s fierce, she wouldn’t just sit and wait for death, she must have escaped.”

Zhou Jingyun said coldly, “If they could, no one in this world would want such a temperament.”

Yes, who wouldn’t want to be gentle and quiet, safe and sound? It was just that they were forced by circumstances. Madam Zhuang’s expression dimmed and she fell silent.

“She’s doing very well now.” Zhou Jingyun said, “That’s why I still need to keep you in sight, to prevent you from affecting her.”

Madam Zhuang looked at him. “My Lord, you’re very thoughtful. Meeting us was Ah Li’s misfortune, but meeting you is her fortune. Thank you for not abandoning her like we did.”

Zhou Jingyun didn’t respond to this, he stood up. “Madam, please rest early.” He said and walked out.

Walking onto the street, the evening drum had reached its final beat.

“My Lord, it’s close to the other residence from here. Why don’t you rest there?” Feng’er suggested.

If they were stopped on the way, it would be another hassle to explain.

Zhou Jingyun whipped his horse forward. “No, let’s go home.”

Feng’er could only urge his horse on helplessly. The Lord was really strange now. There was no Madam at home anymore, yet he always rushed home as soon as it got dark.

Going home to an empty and lonely house.

Zhou Jingyun heard Feng’er’s muttering beside him, but he ignored him. What did a child understand? Although Zhuang Li was gone, she had been there, and the house was filled with traces of her. How could it be called empty and lonely?

…

✿✿✿

The night was deep, and the pleasure boat on the Jinshui River was even more lively than usual.

But Bai Li wasn’t staying in the main hall. As she had said before, all the rules remained the same, and if there was any trouble, they could call for her.

However, at this moment, given Shangguan Yue’s new identity, no one dared to cause trouble here.

Accompanied by the sounds of revelry that drifted in and out, Bai Li fell into a deep sleep in the darkness, until someone shook her shoulder.

“Bai Li, Bai Li.”

A female voice whispered in her ear.

“Wake up, come see the excitement.”

Excitement?

What excitement?

Bai Li abruptly opened her eyes. She saw a brilliant night sky. She wasn’t on the pleasure boat, but sitting on a white jade railing, her feet dangling in the air, her dress fluttering gently.

As her dress fluttered, a pair of fair feet appeared beside her, also swaying gently. A ruby anklet on her ankle sparkled.

She slowly turned her head to look at the person beside her. The woman beside her tilted her chin slightly, her neck white and slender.

“I used to love sitting here, overlooking the entire palace.” She said, then turned to look at Bai Li. “Later, I jumped from here and fell to my death.”