Du Yu said, "It wasn't seduction. It was just that one time in front of your shop, she asked me for a drink of water."
Zhen Shu sneered, "She can do a lot of bad things even without eating or drinking, so why would she need to drink water?"
She placed the cup on the kang (a heated brick bed) and searched for her shoes, saying, "Last time she almost sold me to Magistrate Wang, and this time it's you again. You actually believe her?"
Du Yu recalled seeing her in Yingtian Prefecture last time, when she said she had come to offer herself as a concubine. He exclaimed softly, "Was that her idea too?"
Zhenshu got up, leaned against the wall, took two steps outside, and then asked, "Did you take advantage of me?"
Du Yu lowered his head in shame and whispered, "Yes."
Zhen Shu gritted her teeth and pointed at Du Yu, saying, "Then remember this: we have no relationship from now on, and never pass by my shop again."
Seeing her staggering as she walked out, Du Yu came out to help her and explained, "I was just afraid you'd get sick."
Zhen Shu sneered and shook off his hand, saying, "Thank you!"
After saying that, he broke free from him, walked to the courtyard gate, and shouted, "Open the gate!"
Mrs. Su was startled. Grandma Su got up, took the key, and poked the lock cylinder, saying, "It must be successful. You should thank me."
She felt a little dizzy from sitting for so long, and it took her a while to unlock the door. As soon as she lifted the door, she saw a chastity scroll fall out from inside, almost knocking her over. Madam Su jumped over in a panic to support her and asked, "My child, how are you feeling?"
Zhenshu glanced at the two women, her head still throbbing as if it were about to explode. She rubbed her head and walked ahead, the wind clearing her head somewhat, before heading back to the mounting shop alone. Seeing Zhenshu leave, Granny Su seemed reluctant, then returned with a smile and asked Du Yu, "How was it just now?"
Du Yu slammed the door shut, leaving them outside. Madam Su and her aunt looked at each other, and after a long while, Madam Su finally said, "It was all for your own good, but now we're being treated like thieves."
After saying this, he took Aunt Su with him and left.
Zhenshu returned to the framing shop and helped Granny Wang prepare dinner in the kitchen. When Madam Su arrived, Zhenshu remained silent. Madam Su herself felt like a thief, and after sitting upstairs for a long time, she called Zhenyi over and asked, "Was I wrong to help you find a marriage partner?"
Zhenyi said, "That's right."
Su cried aggrievedly, "Isn't that right? I did it all so that you could all have a place to settle down and marry well. Now I've been treated like a thief."
After saying this, she burst into tears. Zhenshu brought hot water upstairs and happened to see Su Shi sobbing on the table. She thought to herself, "The bad guy is really so self-righteous."
When Su saw Zhenshu come up, she was so frightened that she dared not cry. She leaned over the table, covered her head with a handkerchief, and peeked at Zhenshu.
After all, Song Anrong was dead, and only Madam Su remained as an elder in the family. As her daughter, Zhenshu couldn't possibly blame or resent her. Zhenshu put the basin down and rinsed her face, asking Madam Su, "Mother, are you going to live in the countryside?"
When Su heard Zhenshu's voice, it sounded fine, so she thought that it was true that she would be called back after just one visit, just as her great-aunt had said. But then she realized that it didn't sound quite right, so she stammered, "Why would I go to the countryside? It's not good to live on a heated kang bed in the countryside."
Zhenshu suppressed her anger and said, "If you don't want to live in the countryside, then you must cut off all contact with that Aunt Su from now on. If I or the staff ever see her coming to our little building again, I will send you to the countryside immediately."
Having made so much effort over the past ten years to return to the city from the countryside, the Su family trembled with fear upon hearing that they were to be sent back to the countryside. They nodded and said, "Absolutely not, absolutely not."
Because she was still worried about what happened at Du Yu's house, and didn't know if the two of them had gone into the alley, whether Zhen Shu had suffered any losses, or whether she had changed her mind, she stammered and asked, "Did Du Yu do anything to you?"
Zhenshu asked, "Mother, what do you want him to do to me?"
Madam Su said, "If he hadn't mentioned your past relationship, I wouldn't have listened to Aunt Su's advice to manipulate you like this."
Zhenshu flung her handkerchief and angrily said, "Is my daughter so lowly? Does she have to marry someone who once degraded her?"
Su whispered, "I heard he is the son of the Protector-General."
Zhenshu sneered, "If he were the Protector-General, I would consider it, but my son is out of the question."
After saying this, she took the water, poured it out, and went back to her room to sleep. Outside, Madam Su sighed and muttered to herself, "So, has this plan come to fruition, or not?"
The next morning, Du Yu arrived at the Censorate looking as if he had lost his parents, staring blankly behind a large desk, his hand on his forehead. Seeing that no one was around, Huang Zijing quietly ran in and asked, "Boss, did things go well yesterday?"
Du Yu waved his hand and said, "Go away, go away, go to the side."
Huang Zijing exclaimed in surprise, "What? Those two old women didn't bring Miss Song to you?"
Du Yu was somewhat annoyed and lowered his voice, saying, "They've come, but she..."
After saying that, he clenched his fist and slammed it on the table, shouting, "Absurd, absurd!"
Huang Zijing was so anxious he was practically tearing his hair out, so he raised his voice and asked, "So you've already said no? Is Miss Song still willing?"
Du Yu was both annoyed and confused. He waved his hand and said, "Go away, don't bother me."
Before Huang Zijing could say anything, the two felt a chill down their spines. They looked up and turned around to see Yu Yichen standing behind them. The two quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "Your subordinates greet Inspector."
Yu Yichen said, "Come to my room."
Du Yu didn't know how much he had overheard, but since he hadn't said anything anyway, he entered Yu Yichen's office, cupped his hands, and asked, "What instructions does Your Excellency have?"
Yu Yichen held a cup of hot tea in his hands, his fingers sliding up and down the lid of the teacup, but he didn't lift it to take a sip. After a while, he put down the teacup and asked, "Where is the Deputy Inspector staying now?"
Du Yu said, "It's in the east city."
Yu Yichen pressed on, "Where is the East City?"
☆、109|Chapter 109
Du Yu said, "Inside the alleys in the back streets of the East Market."
It turned out that he was indeed still pestering Zhenshu.
Yu Yichen frowned, looked up at Du Yu, and asked slowly and deliberately, "Are you getting used to living here?"
Du Yu knew, of course, that he was asking this because of Zhen Shu, but when he thought that he and Zhen Shu were a proper married couple who had formally bowed to heaven and earth, and that Yu Yichen had no relationship with Zhen Shu, why should he be afraid of him? So he stepped forward and replied, "I'm used to it."
Yu Yichen waved his hand and said, "Go."
Mid-Autumn Festival arrived in the blink of an eye. With Zhang Rui dead, there were no longer any obstacles between Zhenyuan and Liu Wensi. In the Liu family of Hanjiahe, Liu Wensi had long regarded Zhenyuan as his wife. In order to hold a simple wedding for them, Zhenshu took the time to carefully prepare a set of jewelry for Zhenyuan as a dowry, and also made her auspicious clothes and ornaments. They were just waiting to be transported to Liujiazhuang after the Mid-Autumn Festival to hold a proper wedding for them.
On the Mid-Autumn Festival, since there were no curfews at night, everyone would go out to enjoy the moon. Zhenshu had no desire for her lover to pass the imperial examination, nor did she want to look like Chang'e. So, after everyone in the shop had gone out, she took off her door panel, washed herself, and put on only her undergarments to lie on her bed and read "In Search of the Supernatural".
She was only wearing loose-fitting trousers, her bare feet spread out on the bed, engrossed in watching something, when she suddenly heard what sounded like someone knocking on the door downstairs. She assumed it was the apprentice returning, so she ignored him and intended to call Zhao He from the shop's attic to open the door for her.
After waiting for a while, the knocking started again. Clearly, because they were on the other side of the small building, Zhao He hadn't heard it. Helpless, Zhenshu went downstairs and asked at the door, "Who is it?"
The man outside the door replied, "My name is Sun Yuan."
Zhen Shu and Yu Yichen had not seen each other for more than three months since they parted ways at the East Market. She had said before that she would not marry him, but last time she was too weak-willed and he coaxed her to the inn, almost scaring her out of her wits. This time she was determined not to listen to his coaxing again, so she did not open the door and said loudly, "Tell him I'm not going."
After saying this, she turned to go upstairs, but then heard Sun Yuan say, "Father-in-law is not feeling well and is currently lying in a house in Chuanzi Alley. I've sent someone to call you, Miss."
Zhenshu flung open the door and saw a young eunuch standing there. It was the newcomer, Sun Yuan. She quickly asked, "What happened to him?"
Sun Yuan dared not speak again and silently lifted the sedan curtain. Zhen Shu hurriedly turned around and told them to drive the carriage far away before calling out loudly to the downstairs shop in front, "Uncle Zhao, I need to go out for a bit. Please close this door behind me."
After saying this, Zhao He responded, and then hurriedly went upstairs, put on a coat, ran out, got into the carriage, and told Sun Yuan to hurry on his way.
With a flick of his whip, the coachman propelled the carriage along the street.
With a heavy heart, Zhenshu lifted the curtain and asked Sun Yuan, who was running quickly, "What illness does your father-in-law have?"
Sun Yuan waved his hand and said, "I don't know, you'll understand when you get there."
Zhenshu sat in the car, her mind in turmoil. Seeing the car enter the alley, she jumped out and ran forward, entering through the corner gate of the main courtyard, then running into the smaller courtyard and up to the small building, her body sweating profusely from the exertion. Finding Yu Yichen absent from the first floor and the building empty, she quickly went up to the second floor. Upon reaching the second-floor hall, she saw a slender figure sitting cross-legged with his back to her on the balcony, bathed in the soft moonlight – none other than Yu Yichen.
As long as he can sit, it proves he's still healthy. Zhen Shuxin composed herself slightly, then slowly walked over and asked, "Where do you feel unwell?"
Yu Yichen pushed aside the guqin in his arms, pulled Zhenshu to sit in his lap, and asked, "If I'm well, can't I call you here?"
Zhenshu suddenly realized that he had tricked her into coming here, and angrily punched his chest, saying, "You're going to die! You actually tried to fool me with something like this!"
After saying this, he shrugged and burst into tears.
It turned out that Zhen Shu knew Yu Yichen had offended too many people, and now he had also made enemies with the Tartars. Although she was busy in the shop every day, she was constantly worried about whether he would be assassinated, defeated by his rivals, or abandoned by the emperor. Because of these thoughts in her heart, she was extremely anxious as soon as Sun Yuan spoke.
Yu Yichen let her cry on his shoulder until she had cried her heart out before saying, "I'm sorry, little shopkeeper. I was just afraid that a normal excuse wouldn't be enough to get you to come out."
Zhen Shu glared at Yu Yichen and pointed at his nose, saying, "If you use this excuse again, I will never come out."
Yu Yichen pointed to the bright moon in the sky and said, "The moon is bright tonight. I am playing the zither here. I thought that if you could hear me, it would be meaningful for me to play the zither. So I thought I would trick you into coming to listen."
Zhenshu was still recovering from the earlier panic, so she simply lay down on the balcony, resting her head on his lap, and said, "Let's play the zither later. I just want to calm down right now."
The moonlight streamed down like a ribbon. Yu Yichen sat cross-legged, with Zhenshu nestled in his arms. Sun Yuan quietly brought over some yellow wine and placed it to the side. Yu Yichen reached for it, poured himself a cup, tasted it, and then fed it to Zhenshu, asking, "Is it good?"
Zhenshu swallowed the yellow wine and chuckled, "Delicious."
She suddenly recalled that day at Du Yu's house, when she had been staggering and unconscious as if drunk. Perhaps it wasn't a sleeping potion at all, but some kind of strong yeast or something similar that she had ingested, which made her feel hot and restless, and she had genuinely thought she had been drugged, allowing Du Yu to get his way. Thinking of this, she remembered Aunt Su and wished she could crush her two delicate little feet.
Yu Yichen asked, "What are you thinking about, young shopkeeper?"
Zhenshu shook her head and said, "I wasn't thinking about anything, I just thought the moonlight was beautiful."
Yu Yichen took her hand in his, their fingers intertwined, and gently shook it. He saw that her eyes were indeed fixed on the full, bright moon in the sky. He still stroked her lips; a smile played on her lips, occasionally shifting to pain before quickly disappearing. A lingering melancholy also weighed on his heart, and suddenly, as if possessed, he asked, "Shall we leave the capital?"
Just as he had thought, this was indeed the topic she was most interested in.
Zhen Shu indeed brought him back to his senses, and he asked in surprise, "Now?"
Yu Yichen said, "In the future, probably not long from now."
Zhenshu stood up and sat cross-legged opposite him, smiling incredulously as she asked, "Really?"
Yu Yichen nodded with a gentle smile: "Really."
Zhenshu asked, "Where to?"
Yu Yichen said, "You decide."
Zhenshu raised her head and pondered for a while before asking, "How much longer?"
This is something he cannot decide right now. Seeing Yu Yichen gently shake his head, Zhen Shu's eyes dimmed as he said, "Even if you say now, immediately, or tomorrow morning, I would be infinitely happy."
Yu Yichen said, "It really won't take long."
After speaking, he pulled over the guqin and plucked the strings, producing a dull, lingering, elegant sound. Zhenshu, who knew nothing of music, listened quietly, when suddenly she felt a movement of light and shadow behind her. Turning to look outside, she saw tall lanterns gradually rising all around, some depicting Chang'e flying to the moon, others the Jade Emperor in the Moon Palace, and still others Wu Gang chopping down the cassia tree, their flickering flames drifting towards the sky. Although more and more lanterns appeared in the sky, eunuchs continued to light and place lanterns into the air. Then, they gradually raised two very tall lanterns on either side of the courtyard, their bright red light illuminating the entire courtyard as if it were daytime.
Sun Yuan led several eunuchs to carry a short-legged kang table to the balcony. They then placed pomegranates, dates, chestnuts, plums, grapes, and other fruits on the table. Tall candles were lit around the table, and lampshades were placed over them, illuminating the entire balcony. The eunuchs scurried over, bringing plates of round, golden-yellow mooncakes. Zhenshu picked one to taste; it was filled with flaky pastry and maltose, and tasted better than her own. She assumed it was from the palace.
Zhenshu laughed and said, "It's already past midnight and you're only now putting these out."
Yu Yichen continued to pluck the strings, smiling as he said, "If you hadn't come, what would have been the point of me playing these things?"
He suddenly pressed the keys on the zither and asked Zhenshu, "Are you going to steal vegetables?"
Stealing vegetables is also a Mid-Autumn Festival custom, more widespread in rural areas. Legend has it that those who steal vegetables from others' gardens on Mid-Autumn Festival night will be able to marry a good husband the following year. In the capital, land is incredibly valuable, and there's not enough space for everyone; where would one find land to grow vegetables? Therefore, this custom is not widely observed in the capital.
Zhenshu shook her head and said, "I'm not looking for a perfect husband, so why would I steal vegetables?"
Yu Yichen pointed and said, "There's a row of scallions planted in that flowerbed since spring, but they've been wasting so much time going by without anyone picking them. Why don't you go down and pick a couple and bring them here?"
When Zhen Shu returned, it was still snowing heavily, and she hadn't seen the flower garden. Hearing him say this, she jumped up, slipped on her shoes, and ran to the flower garden to take a closer look. Sure enough, a row of scallions grew high in the corner, seemingly untouched, with a thick layer of withered leaves on the ground. She picked two scallions, shook off the dirt, and took them back to the small building. Seeing Yu Yichen still playing the zither, she placed them on the table and said, "I suppose you haven't been here before either, otherwise why haven't you used a single scallion?"