Небо над реками и озерами очень чистое

Глава 107

"Third Brother!"

Xie Feilan leaped after him, and Xie Jingze sighed and followed. Jun Suiyu carried the beauty back to her bedroom, and Shuangjing and a group of maids followed her in. Shen Mingzhu was completely bewildered and wanted to ask the strangers who had suddenly appeared, but when she turned around, they were already gone. She was stunned and confused.

The empty study remained silent for a long time.

"Black Hawk".

"Yes," a low voice replied from outside the window.

"Go and record the names of the treasures in the Night Pavilion."

"yes."

He stopped abruptly as he flipped through the pages, his fingertips lightly brushing over a spoon-shaped design as black as ink, silently reading the tiny characters annotating the side. The words were few, but startling, instantly resolving his confusion.

The Divine Wood Osmanthus Jade Key is said to have been left behind by Shennong.

It has a warm, smooth texture and a spoon-shaped keratinous substance. It can neutralize the properties of various herbs, rendering medicinal toxins ineffective.

He picked up the small spoon she usually used and examined it closely. Neither gold nor jade, light and elegant, seemingly ordinary, yet it was enough to render his medicine ineffective, easily deceiving her and making her…

With a swift movement of their fingers and palms, the priceless treasure shattered into countless pieces, turning into dust that fell in a flurry, scattering across the entire silk scroll.

He closed his eyes in despair.

Mingzhu

"You're so reckless, completely disregarding your health. Do you know how dangerous that is?" Jun Suiyu sat by the bed, listening to the whole story, and rarely spoke words of reproach. "You're simply not suited to be pregnant."

"...I inquired about it before." She said calmly, nestled in a thick, soft silk quilt. "I also know there are risks, but it's imperative."

"What do you mean by 'must'?" Jun Suiyu couldn't help but feel angry. "Before you married into the family, I already made it clear to Xie Yunshu that he didn't want children at all. You finally got Hai Mingxiao and are living a peaceful life, why go through all this trouble? Don't tell me you want children, you're not even someone who wants to be a mother."

A faint smile appeared on her fair, snow-white face. "You... really understand me."

"Why exactly?"

"Actually, I don't care about having children at all." Knowing she couldn't hide it, she was quite frank. "But since I've married him, I have to have one."

"The Xie family forced you?" The tone became serious.

She paused, as if pondering how to explain.

"Since I've used the Xie family's influence to obtain the medicine, I should naturally reciprocate. I don't like being indebted. I've carefully considered the risks involved, and given the current situation, things shouldn't be unexpected. I originally disliked the constraints of my family background; it's too troublesome. But as a wife, I must be appropriately accommodating. Going it alone would be too costly. Following established rules is more advantageous. Hai Mingxiao's physical condition is already at its best; delaying it will only put us at a disadvantage in the long run." Her calm, clear voice analyzed the situation meticulously, as if she were planning a flawless offensive and defensive strategy.

There is another hidden factor that has not been revealed.

The Jun and Xie families, one in the south and the other in the north, are currently evenly matched, each occupying their own territory. However, there is no guarantee that they will not one day unify the martial arts world. The Jun family is only one lineage, which cannot compare to the Xie family's large and numerous members. If the balance of power shifts in a few decades, the threat will not be underestimated. To ensure that the marriage alliance is effective in mitigating future threats, it is essential to leave behind descendants. Only by integrating a member of the Jun family into the core of the Xie family can this be achieved.

"...Being in such a family, Yunshu's excessive protection is easily criticized, especially towards a wife with a flaw." She curled her lips slightly with sarcasm. "Rather than avoiding it and giving others a handle to use against me, it's better to take a risk and hide behind the scenes pretending to be ignorant and turn a blind eye. It's not my style. Besides...he cherishes his family, and I don't want him to lose anything by marrying me."

Slender fingertips intertwined, and a touch of tenderness appeared in her cool eyes. "He has done so much for me, so sometimes I want to do something for him too."

After listening to her, Jun Suiyu spoke for a long time.

"Have you ever thought about what would happen if..." The sigh trailed off. "How he would feel."

“I can’t hide under your wings forever.” After a moment of silence, she smiled faintly. “You all want me to live a normal life, to obtain… worldly, ordinary happiness, and some things must be done. He was born into this family, and he has both benefited and suffered from it. Watching him navigate all sorts of situations, bearing all the burdens and humiliations… is not a pleasant experience.”

After a long period of silent eye contact, Jun Suiyu looked away.

“Pianxian, I understand your feelings.” His jade-like face remained expressionless. “But if you do this… I will never forgive myself.”

Fine beads of sweat appeared on his smooth forehead.

Shen Mingzhu's sleeve was tightly gripped by a burly woman, leaving her unable to move forward or backward. She watched helplessly as a growing crowd gathered, their gloating laughter filling her with a sense of utter despair. She was nearly in tears. From a young age, she had been adorable and pampered by her elders. The Shen family was a prominent clan, and she had never suffered any hardship. A month ago, she had boldly slipped out of her home to explore the world. Relying on her cleverness, sweet talk, and decent skills, she had traveled smoothly and without incident, feeling quite pleased with herself. She was looking forward to returning home and boasting to her parents and brothers, but today, her bad luck struck.

God knows she only spilled a cup of tofu pudding.

Unfortunately, the bowl of tofu pudding was spilled all over the flower and bird paintings that were being sold by the calligraphy and painting shop on the side of the road.

Seeing the vibrant flowers and willows turned into a bloody mess, and the thrush reduced to a drenched chicken, she had no choice but to resign herself to agreeing to compensation. The snobbish shopkeeper, taking advantage of her being an outsider and ignorant of the trade, quoted an outrageously high price. Although she was a novice when it came to calligraphy and painting, Shen Mingzhu wasn't a fool to be taken advantage of. She'd barely said a word when the shopkeeper's wife rushed over, wailing and crying, leaving her sweating profusely, helpless against the shrew. She wanted to give up, but she didn't have enough money on her, leaving her in a dilemma.

During the struggle, the woman's hand suddenly slipped, and she staggered and fell to her knees. She instinctively wanted to help her up but stopped herself. A familiar-looking young man stood in the crowd, watching with amusement in his eyes.

"Aren't you leaving yet?"

A whisper reached her ears as a reminder. She hesitated for a moment, looking at the man, before the woman, who had gotten up, grabbed her tightly.

Seeing the helpless and embarrassed pretty face, the young man took a step forward, then suddenly stopped.

"How much does she have to pay?" A gentle voice, clear amidst the noise, asked an elegant and composed young man in a blue robe.

When the shopkeeper saw that a noble young man had arrived, far from being as easily bullied as a young girl, his confidence immediately waned.

"One hundred taels." He licked his lips, forced a quote, and began to boast. "Young master, don't be fooled by the high price. This 'Emerald Splendor' painting is the work of a master from the previous dynasty. The peonies in the painting have strong, elegant stems and abundant blossoms and leaves, and the birds are lifelike. The entire work possesses extraordinary charm and is extremely valuable, worthy of being passed down through generations. I displayed it here not for sale, but to seek a connoisseur to appreciate it. Unexpectedly, it has been ruined like this..." He sighed and shook his head as he spoke, displaying a heartbroken regret. "What a waste of talent, like burning a zither and boiling a crane."

Shen Mingzhu had seen him twice more from afar since the conflict, and recognized him as the young master of the Jun family. However, the way he was described made her even more ashamed. Having been caught red-handed by Jun Suiyu, she couldn't bear the humiliation even if she could run away. After thinking it over, she had no other choice but to humbly beg him.

"Young Master Jun, could you lend me some silver? I don't have that much with me. I'll return it as soon as I get back."

“Miss Shen, there’s no need for you to be so polite.” Jun Suiyu glanced at the young man in the crowd who showed a hint of concern, then turned to face the shopkeeper.

"I have had the opportunity to see the Mingcui painting before, and one hundred taels is not much. But this one... the beak is drooping, the wings are shrinking, and the colors are dull. It doesn't even capture the shape. How dare they use it to cheat people?"

"You...you're just spouting nonsense." Suddenly exposed, the shopkeeper retorted fiercely but inwardly, unwilling to back down. "All the items in my shop are genuine. Making baseless accusations is clearly an attempt to evade responsibility."

"The genuine work was created by the previous dynasty's emperor. The secret seals used were mixed with powdered agate, pearl, and crystal, which can be seen to shimmer in the sunlight. This is a well-known omen. Does the seal above bear this mark?" Jun Suiyu flicked the scroll. "The 'Mingcui Tu' has been collected by many famous collectors, with five leaving inscriptions. This painting has more than three inscriptions. Finally, I would like to ask, according to our dynasty's criminal law, what is the crime of privately forging a painting? What is the punishment for passing off a fake as a genuine? What is the penalty for fraud and forced sale?"

The shopkeeper's face grew paler and paler, his back bent more and more, and he dared not refuse any longer.

Moving from the bustling city to a quiet room in a restaurant brought immediate peace and quiet.

"Thank you both for getting me out of that predicament." Shen Mingzhu looked relieved after being freed from the situation.

"I was merely offering a small word of support," Jun Suiyu said, glancing at the young man beside her. "Miss Shen should thank this man."

"Mo Yao greets Young Master Jun and Miss Shen." His demeanor was no different from usual, but Jun Suiyu sensed a slight unease. Upon seeing the smiling beauty, he immediately understood.

“This young master… I…” Shen Mingzhu felt that he was a stranger.

"I am a subordinate of Young Master Xie, and I often accompany my lord."

"Brother Mo is the head of the secret guards, and he often secretly protects Pianxian and Yunshu nearby," Jun Suiyu explained on his behalf, a hint of amusement in his smile. "Recently, Miss Shen and my sister have been chatting and getting closer every day, so Brother Mo is naturally familiar with them."

Mo Yao had been following Bai Fengge for several days and had been observing Shen Mingzhu, who was traveling with her, for a long time. He had developed a strong liking for her and had even chatted with Si Yi in private, but it was still just admiration. However, when Jun and Xie had a conflict and Mo Yao kindly appeared to help her up, it inexplicably stirred his feelings. The image of Shen Mingzhu's rosy and pretty face kept lingering in his mind, and he knew something was wrong. Considering her special identity, he decided to stay away. Unexpectedly, he happened to witness the conflict while strolling around and saw Shen Mingzhu extremely embarrassed, her lips trembling as if she was about to cry. He couldn't help but help her on a whim.

Shen Mingzhu was taken aback upon hearing this, realizing that she had repeatedly caught the eye of men with her laughter and conversation, and had just been entangled in a disheveled state in front of everyone. She couldn't help but feel embarrassed and showed the shy demeanor of a young girl.

Mo Yao's heart skipped a beat, but he didn't show it at all. "Miss Shen is skilled in martial arts, why don't you just leave?"

"I..." Her pretty face flushed red, realizing her foolishness, and her voice became very soft. "The other party doesn't know martial arts, and besides, I was in the wrong at the beginning."

Jun Suiyu poured her a cup of tea. "Young lady, you are kind-hearted and able to restrain yourself from being unreasonable and showing off. This is truly commendable." Faced with the entanglement of an ordinary person, the young lady from a noble family was able to suppress her temper and endure it without losing her temper. One can imagine the good upbringing of the Shen family.

The more comforting words she heard, the more she felt incredibly stupid. Shen Mingzhu's ears turned red, and her head almost touched the table. The girl, as pure and innocent as a newborn bird, glanced at him a few times with a smile and wisely looked away to avoid making him too embarrassed.

After much effort, Hao Yi calmed down. "Thanks to your help, young master, please forgive my rudeness when we first met."

"Rude?" Jun Suiyu suddenly recalled a delicate shout and couldn't help but smile.

"Not at all, I was reckless that time, and the young lady's rebuke was quite right."

Shen Mingzhu cautiously glanced at the other person's expression. "Perhaps I, as an outsider, shouldn't interrupt, but the Third Young Master is truly exceptionally kind to Sister Jun." Forgetting her earlier embarrassment, her pretty face was innocent yet earnest. "At first, when I saw Sister Jun's radiant beauty, I felt ashamed of myself, unable to understand how such a beautiful person could exist, making even women's hearts flutter; later, after meeting the Third Young Master, I realized that there are indeed people in the world who are worthy of her, they are truly a match made in heaven."

"I wanted to visit Sister Jun but was afraid of disturbing her. The Third Young Master took the initiative to invite me to the garden to visit, wanting to know about my elder brother's past. Before I could ask, the Third Young Master told me everything he knew, leaving out no detail. He only asked me not to mention it in front of Sister Jun, saying that it was Sister Jun's eternal regret, a lifelong sorrow, and that she should not be forced to recall it. Every time he brewed a new recipe, the Third Young Master would privately taste and mix the honey. In his daily life, he always put Sister Jun first, being considerate and meticulous in everything he did. What man could be so affectionate? As a wife, she would surely be envied by all the women in the world..." The young girl's heart was as pure as a child's, and her focused advice moved Jun Suiyu slightly. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the complex expression on Mo Yao's face and understood perfectly.

"...Although I don't understand why he got angry that day, the Third Young Master would never have hurt Sister Jun in the slightest. Young Master Jun must have misunderstood something." Shen Mingzhu was so focused on speaking that she didn't notice the young man sitting next to her. She only noticed that Jun Suiyu's smile was becoming more and more gentle, and her face turned red again.

“Miss Shen is right, it was indeed a misunderstanding. I apologized to Yunshu afterwards.” But a lingering worry remained, and the thought remained unresolved. “I’m angry that Pianxian shouldn’t be pregnant.”

Shen Mingzhu looked bewildered when Mo Yao suddenly interjected, "The master is weak; forcing a child would be extremely dangerous."

Completely unprepared for this, Shen Mingzhu gasped, remaining silent for a long time before finally murmuring, "But... does that mean I'll be childless for the rest of my life..." Of the three unfilial acts, the greatest is to have no offspring. Even with the deepest love, what man could willingly accept being childless?

Jun Suiyu adjusted the lid of the bowl. "Before the wedding, I explained it to him, and he just smiled... He said that in the past, he and Pianxian had killed countless people and committed many sins. Although it was out of necessity, it was still against the natural order. He often worried that they could not stay together for life, and he was at peace with this regret." I couldn't help but admire him; how many people in this world have such a magnanimous heart? "If he had hesitated even slightly, I would not have let Pianxian marry into the family."

"This is very unfair to the Third Young Master," Shen Mingzhu protested indignantly. "He is deeply in love with Sister Jun, yet he has to sacrifice so much." Mo Yao looked at Shen Mingzhu without saying a word.

“There’s no such thing as absolute fairness in this world.” Jun Suiyu smiled faintly and took a sip of tea. “He can choose not to marry her, but if he does, he has to keep his promise. It’s not like he has to be the only one for him.”

"Sister Jun clearly likes the Third Young Master too, so why would she marry someone else?"

The quiet young man beside her smiled slightly, his heart fluttering for no reason, though he didn't understand why. He only knew that he had asked a silly question.

“Pianxian is very smart. No matter how much she likes someone, she won’t entrust herself to a man who can’t shoulder the responsibility,” Jun Suiyu said calmly, his brows revealing undisguised pride. “Even if she doesn’t marry, what does it matter? Can’t the Jun family afford to support her?”

Quite... biased.

Watching Jun Suiyu's departing figure, Shen Mingzhu gained a deeper understanding of the legendary young master of the Jun family.

"He's not right for you." The abrupt words pulled her back to reality, and Shen Mingzhu glared at the person beside her. Before leaving, Jun Suiyu had made an excuse that he had something to do and instructed Mo Yao to escort her back to the Xie family. His words were polite but not to be refused. This person had only silently agreed, as if he was in a great predicament. She was really... inexplicably embarrassed, and her tone became sharp.

"What do you mean."

"He's a good older brother, but not the right person for you," the young man advised with a half-smile.

"When did I ever mean that!" Her bright, round eyes flashed with anger. "What nonsense are you spouting!"

Her pretty face showed only anger, not the embarrassment of having her thoughts exposed, and Mo Yao suddenly felt relieved. "Not tempted? That's the richest man in the world, the dream husband of beauties in the north."

“…Indeed, it lives up to its reputation.” Shen Mingzhu admitted, yet still somewhat puzzled. “He looks a lot like the Third Young Master.”

"Where does it resemble?" He couldn't see it at all.

"Well... she's a very nice person, but also very unpredictable. It's like she knows exactly what everyone is thinking, which is a bit scary." She tried to find the right words, her long eyelashes blinking. "Sister Jun seems to be a bit like that too."

Shen Mingzhu herself didn't quite understand, but Mo Yao seemed to understand and chuckled softly.

"You do have good eyesight."

Was this a compliment? Shen Mingzhu pursed her lips, but then saw that the other person seemed to have made a decision, and their expression turned serious.

"Miss Shen."

"Well?"

"I can be a good husband like the Third Young Master."