On the day Shen Jian set off, Zhuang Su happened to be in the South Courtyard. He only learned of the news after receiving it from Yan Bei and hurriedly rushed to the town entrance. By then, Shen Jian had already mounted his horse. He wore light clothing, with a large cloak covering his body, and a bamboo hat on his head. The veil hanging down concealed his face, occasionally fluttering slightly in the wind to reveal his clean and handsome chin and the cold corners of his lips. He watched Zhuang Su gallop in quietly from his horse. The horse trotted impatiently as if urging him on, but his expression through the veil remained indifferent.
Zhuang Su ran a little too fast, her breathing slightly uneven, and she didn't know what to say in the silence. She felt a slight pain in the corner of her eye and a bitter taste in her mouth. She didn't understand why this person was leaving without telling her. If it weren't for Yan Bei, she probably would have missed seeing him off.
Seeing the desolation in her expression, Shen Jian tightened his grip on the reins.
"Are you leaving?" Hearing her indifferent tone, he couldn't help but recall the night before he went to Yintang, when a girl had asked him the same question. Despite her obvious reluctance, it all boiled down to those four words—"Are you leaving?"
Shen Jian's gaze was somewhat profound, and though he had a thousand words to say, he couldn't utter them for a moment. He simply stared at Zhang Su, and both of them seemed to feel that their gazes penetrated the gauze curtain and saw into each other's eyes.
Just then, there was a faint sound of wheels rolling. Zhuang Su looked back and saw that it was a carriage from Shengxiao Valley. The carriage stopped in front of Zhuang Su, and the driver greeted her respectfully, saying, "Miss, the Valley Master heard that you came to the town entrance to see off Young Master Chen Jian, so he specially sent me to pick you up later."
Upon hearing this, Zhuang Su couldn't help but look at Shen Jian, only to see that he now had a calm expression, with none of the hesitation he had shown a moment ago. Her heart sank.
"I should go now, so no one will worry. You should go back too." Shen Jian's tone remained indifferent. He gave Zhuang Su a deep look, then hesitated. "Giddy up—" He pulled the reins, the horse turned around, let out a long neigh, and galloped away.
Zhuang Su watched him walk further and further away, feeling a void in her heart. She stood there blankly for a long while, lost in thought. Finally, with a soft sigh, she turned around and saw the coachman still waiting, rubbing his frozen hands. She felt a little guilty. "Chen Jian, wait for me..." she said softly, taking one last deep look in the direction where Chen Jian had disappeared before turning and getting into the carriage.
They returned to Shengxiao Valley. Zhuang Su went back to her room, only to find Qing Chen waiting for her early in the morning.
"Have you finished seeing Shen Jian off?" Qingchen finished her drink, glanced at her indifferently, and raised an eyebrow with a light smile.
Zhuang Su replied, "Yes. He's gone."
"So when do you plan to set off?"
The ambiguous smile in her voice startled Zhuang Su, who looked up to see Qing Chen smiling at her. She chuckled awkwardly, "Didn't Father forbid me from going? How can I set off?"
"oh?"
This sound seemed to carry a deeper meaning. Zhuang Su inexplicably felt her already icy body grow even colder. Suddenly, she was pulled away, and felt a warmth in her hand. When she came to her senses, she realized it was Qing Chen warming her cold hand in his arms. Qing Chen was sensitive to cold and couldn't tolerate being chilled. Zhuang Su tried to pull her hand away, but the other person held it firmly, unmoving.
Just as she was about to complain, she saw Qingchen's lips suddenly curl up, and her voice was indifferent: "I have already spoken with Murong these past two days. It's too cold to go out, so you don't need to go to the South Courtyard. I have Li Jiu prepare the coal, so you can stay in your room and study your lyrics and music. You don't need to see Liusu off tomorrow either; I have already sent people to prepare everything."
Qingchen spoke in her usual tone, but Zhuang Su's heart grew cold. The implication was clear—she was under house arrest.
Chapter Nine: How the Cicada Sheds Its Shell (Part Two)
Qingchen spoke in her usual tone, but Zhuang Su's heart grew cold. The implication was clear—she was under house arrest.
Zhuang Su remained silent, and Qing Chen didn't interrupt either. He simply patted her shoulder gently and walked out in silence. Two people had been standing guard outside, respectfully at the door.
Zhuang Su bit her lip, watching the white-clad figure gradually disappear from sight. She closed the door and sat on the bed, her thoughts somewhat chaotic. Her gaze swept around the room, seeing only a few windows, all within sight of the doorway.
She can't escape? Zhuang Su was somewhat discouraged and began to think of a plan.
The sky gradually darkened without her noticing, then slowly brightened again. Zhuang Su lay there, eyes wide open, lost in thought, not knowing how much time had passed. Suddenly, the door creaked open, and her thoughts faltered for a moment. When she saw it was the maid bringing lunch, she hurriedly got out of bed and asked urgently, "What time is it now?"
The maid was puzzled by her expression and said blankly, "Miss, it's already noon."
Zhuang Su remembered that Liu Su had told her it was noon, and her expression turned slightly grim. She still didn't know how Qing Chen knew her thoughts. Glancing at the doorman a few times, Zhuang Su recalled the footwork Murong Shi had taught her, took a deep breath, and suddenly moved her feet.
No one else noticed for a moment; they only felt a slight breeze and saw Zhuang Su running towards the door in the distance.
"Oh no, hurry and chase after them!" Someone was the first to come to their senses and suddenly shouted. The others only realized what was happening when they heard the shout and hurriedly gave chase.
Zhuang Su ran with great effort, and the others, hearing the noise, put down what they were doing and watched from a distance, wondering what their young lady was up to this time. The outline of the Shengxiao Valley gate gradually appeared in Zhuang Su's vision, and she was overjoyed, increasing her pace even further.
However, as she ran closer, she saw a large, dark mass of people at the gate. She paused, then the people behind her continued to chase after her.
Seeing so many clearly prepared guards, Zhuang Su knew that Qingchen was determined not to let her go to the Han Kingdom. She recognized a few of these men; they were from the North Tower in Yanbei.
"Miss, please return to your room." The person behind finally caught up, panting, and said respectfully.
Zhuang Su glanced at the commotion and sighed softly, "Well, let's go back." She followed the group back to her room, closed the door, and vaguely sensed that there were even more people outside. Her brow furrowed, and she lost all appetite for the food on the table, staring blankly into the empty space.
As time passed, the sky outside gradually darkened, and her heart sank accordingly.
She recalled Shen Jian's hesitant expression as he left, and remained worried.
Having not slept all night, Zhuang Su was also feeling sleepy. Her eyelids grew heavy, and she unconsciously fell asleep on the table. Exhaustion made her sleep soundly, and even the faint noise outside in the deep night did not wake her. It wasn't until someone nudged her shoulder that Zhuang Su groggily rubbed her eyes.
There were no lights on, only sparse light filtering in from outside. She could vaguely make out a black, masked figure standing silently before her. Zhuang Su's drowsy mind instantly cleared. Glancing at her wide-open door and the several doormen lying disheveled outside, she was slightly startled: "Who are you?"
"Not bad, Qingchen isn't intimidated by this." The man scoffed softly and pulled down his mask.
Upon seeing the man's face, Zhuang Su was even more surprised: "Old Sun? What brings you here?"
"If it weren't for the young master asking me to come, I, an old man, would never have wanted to make this trip." Old Sun's expression clearly showed that he found Zhuang Su troublesome.
It was Liu Su! He hadn't left and had been waiting for her all along? Zhuang Su was overwhelmed with emotion and could only respond with a grateful smile: "Thank you for your trouble."
"Hmph." Old Sun glanced at her indifferently, turned around and walked away. "Weren't you leaving? Hurry up and follow me."
"Yes!" Zhuang Su hurriedly followed, but after taking only a few steps, he turned back, ran to the cabinet, rummaged through a box, took out a jade pendant, and then caught up again. Seeing Old Master Sun's puzzled look, Zhuang Su shrank back and chuckled, without answering.
When the two arrived at Shengxiao Valley, Zhuang Su, at Elder Sun's request, also moved with utmost care. As they approached, Elder Sun exclaimed in surprise, "Eh?" Zhuang Su couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"
Old Sun frowned: "When I came here, there were clearly many people guarding this place, but now I don't know why they're all gone."
Zhuang Su recalled the guards from the North Tower she had encountered during the day. Looking towards the entrance, she found it deserted and was puzzled.
Old Master Sun laughed heartily and walked confidently toward the gate. Zhuang Su tried to stop him, but to her surprise, he walked out of Shengxiao Valley's gate with an air of righteous indignation, and indeed, no one appeared. Relieved, she also walked out with a composed demeanor.
As she left Shengxiao Valley, Zhuang Su couldn't help but glance back silently. The valley was quiet at this moment, as if only the wind blew. This was the place where she had lived for five years.
Father should be sleeping right now… Zhuang Su suddenly thought, a faint sense of guilt creeping in. What would Qing Chen do if she found out she was gone? Instinctively, she wanted to go back, but when she thought of Chen Jian, she gritted her teeth, turned around, and walked away, never looking back.
"I'll go find Shen Jian first, and then we'll come back together after I've finished my business..." She spoke softly, as if she were talking to herself.
Old Sun, walking ahead, had a meaningful smile on his face.
As their figures receded into the distance, a figure slowly emerged from the main gate of Shengxiao Valley, watching them leave with a slight smile playing on her lips. She glanced up at the plaque of Shengxiao Valley, a hint of mockery flickering across her face beneath her veil.
A quiet night. The lonely moon remained in the sky, its light hazy.
Outside the town, a thatched hut burned a roaring bonfire. A boy occasionally tossed a few pieces of firewood into the fire, and the firewood and fire would suddenly ignite, casting flickering light on his handsome face.
"Crackling... crackling..." The campfire leaped restlessly.
Two figures appeared in the distance. The boy looked up and put on a gentle smile: "Susu, you got out safely?"
Zhuang Su heard Liu Su's greeting from afar and felt slightly embarrassed: "I'm sorry for delaying Second Senior Brother's schedule."
"Are you cold? Come and warm yourself up." Liu Su beckoned Zhuang Su to her side, took a shawl and covered her with it. "I was just going to wander the world freely, there's no need to delay me."
"Second Brother is always so good-tempered." Zhuang Su chuckled, rubbing his hands together to warm them by the fire, and asked, "Don't find me troublesome when we're on the road."
"How could that be?" Liu Su looked at her affectionately and smiled, "I was already feeling bored traveling alone, so I would have much rather had someone accompany me."
"Alone?" Zhuang Su glanced at Old Sun and asked, "Isn't Old Sun coming with us?"
Liu Su was drawn to her gaze, glanced at Old Master Sun, and shook her head slightly: "Old Master Sun can't do that. The family's foundation is here, and he has to go back and take good care of it."
This was the first time in five years that Zhuang Su had heard Liu Su mention his home, and he was a little curious: "My second senior brother's home is in town? Why didn't I know that before?"
Liu Su chuckled: "That's because I rarely go home; I basically stay in Shengxiao Valley."
Seeing his indifferent reply, Zhuang Su didn't know how to ask any further questions, and simply uttered a quiet "Oh." To this day, she still didn't understand why someone like Liu Su would willingly stay in Shengxiao Valley to learn that inexplicable opera. Perhaps it was just out of interest, she told herself.
Liusu piled up a haystack in a corner of the thatched hut, tidied it up, and laid out a quilt. She said to Susu, "Susu, we'll be spending the night here. Tomorrow morning, Master will probably find out you're not here. You must be tired, so rest for a bit. We'll set off tomorrow."
Zhuang Su was already exhausted, so upon hearing this, he didn't object, but simply asked, "Which way are we going?"
"The Han state is south of the Chu state, so we can just head south."
"Okay." Zhuang Su responded obediently, yawning repeatedly. "Then I'll go to sleep first."
"Go to sleep."
Zhuang Su snuggled into the covers, her mind at ease, and soon fell into a peaceful sleep. Old Sun was no longer there; Liu Su stood alone by the campfire, adding firewood from time to time, her expression gentle.
The wind outside seemed to be blocked, only howling but never penetrating the thatched hut.
The next morning, Zhuang Su was groggily awakened by a series of soft noises. Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she saw Liu Su standing in front of her, looking at her with amusement. She was immediately embarrassed, and her sleepiness vanished almost entirely.
Once Zhuang Su had made all the necessary preparations, the two set off.
Walking along the tree-lined road, gradually moving away from the town, Zhuang Su truly felt that she was leaving. However, she didn't look back even once more, afraid that if she did, she wouldn't be able to hold on. In her hand, she clutched the only jade pendant she had brought with her, crystal clear.
When Chen gave her this jade tablet, he repeatedly emphasized that she must not lose it or let anyone see it. It must be something very important.
Liu Su walked in front of her, and the two remained silent the whole way. Looking at his back, Zhuang Su couldn't help but sigh at his undeniable beauty. She had once jokingly said that if he dressed as a woman, he would be more beautiful than her. Now, five years later, Liu Su was tall and slender, yet his beauty was still undeniable. Standing beside him, Zhuang Su felt a pang of shame and inferiority.
According to Liusu's itinerary, her first stop will be Yangzhou.
As the saying goes, "In the third month of spring, one should go down to Yangzhou." If one wants to study poetry and music, Yangzhou is certainly an excellent place.
Chapter Ten: The Moon Shines Over the Past (Part 1)
A gentle breeze rustled through the branches, swirling a few sparse leaves before they fell to the ground. Silence reigned in Shengxiao Valley, and the people standing there wore expressions of worry. Several carriages lay outside the gate, covered in snow, their wheels leaving tracks in the snow-covered ground behind them.
Ma Li kept stamping his feet restlessly.
Coal burned inside, casting a blackish-red glow. A figure in white stood by the window, gazing out, his expression unseen by anyone.
Two people sat in the chairs behind him, with tea on the table, but neither of them touched it.
The servants coming and going outside deliberately kept their footsteps low, not daring to peek into the room. A hazy sandalwood scent filled the air, and wisps of smoke rose slowly into the sky without a breeze, drifting away into the ethereal void.
Murong Shi frowned slightly. Yan Bei's expression was no less furrowed.
Qingchen remained silent throughout.
After an unbearable silence, hurried footsteps approached from afar. Li Jiu ran in, entered the room, observed everyone's expressions, and reported, "I just received a report from a scout that Liu Su and the other person should have gone to Yangzhou."
"Crack—" The cup in Qingchen's hand suddenly shattered, the wine splashing out, faintly tinged with red. But he seemed oblivious, his voice devoid of emotion: "So they really did head south?"
Li Jiu was at a loss for words.
Murong Shi frowned as she looked at his hand, which was cut by the shards: "Li Jiu, have you found out who injured those guards?"
Upon hearing this, Li Jiu hurriedly replied, "I've already sent people to examine those wounds. They were all caused by a single cut to the throat, and the wounds were very fine. It must have been the work of a master of concealed weapons. Should we send someone to investigate?"
“No need,” Qingchen said calmly, stopping him. “I know who it is.” He tilted his head slightly, the cold wind ruffling his hair and slightly disheveling his clothes. He paused, his words softly reaching their ears: “I haven’t been out and about for ten years, have I…”
A sigh.
Murong Shi's expression changed slightly upon hearing this, and she immediately stopped her, saying, "No."
Qingchen turned around, looked at her calmly, and pursed her lips slightly: "I will not implicate the Yiye Alliance."