Чистое сердце в нефритовом сосуде

Глава 55

I wiped away my tears and said, "Don't be surprised, I just suddenly realized that I can't beat you no matter what, and now I regret it."

Shen Tingxuan gave a half-smile and said, "I'll give you one more chance. If you can beat me, I'll let you go; if you lose, I'll have to imprison you until you reveal who's behind you."

I shook my head and said, “It shouldn’t be like this. If I lose, it means I pose no threat to you, and you have even more reason to let me go; if I win, you should lock me up so I won’t come back next time.”

What if you deliberately lose to me?

"Didn't you say last time that my skills were only mediocre?" I retorted, recalling his previous mockery of me.

Shen Tingxuan tapped his fingers lightly on the table, looking at me with a cold smile: "According to you, you are destined to lose?"

"Your Highness knows better than I do that you won't really let me go, so why bother with a martial arts contest? It'll only leave me all sweaty and exhausted."

Shen Tingxuan laughed and said, "It's good that you understand. I just wanted to find someone to practice with. Whether you compete or not is up to you."

I had no choice but to agree; what if I luckily win?

Shen Tingxuan led me and a group of guards to a small grove of trees, saying, "It's a bit shady here."

For the past eight years, Zi Nuo has taught me all sorts of martial arts skills. I didn't want the people of Prince Qing's mansion to suspect anything, so I didn't learn them seriously. Now, my skills are only barely passable. I can't even beat the guards of Qiufeng Garden. I'm only slightly better than those low-ranking guards.

Shen Tingxuan stood there, sword in hand, as elegant as a jade tree in the wind. I looked down at myself, covered in dust, a pitiful sight. I lost in appearance alone.

Shen Tingxuan didn't say much. He thrust his sword forward with great speed. I gritted my teeth and tried my best to defend myself. After only three or five moves, I gave up fighting and focused on using my lightness skill to dodge. When I found an opportunity, I fled outside.

I swear, I've never run so fast before. All I could hear was the whooshing wind in my ears, the scenery flashing past beneath my feet, and many sounds coming from behind—presumably the guards chasing me. The high wall was getting closer and closer when, out of nowhere, a gray shadow flashed by, and I felt a sharp pain in my chest, falling down again. Before losing consciousness, I vaguely heard myself curse, "Damn it, who attacked my chest!" My escape was ruined just like that, and my poor, underdeveloped chest had taken a solid blow.

In a daze, I was back in my childhood at the Marquis of Qiyun's mansion.

On a spring afternoon, Mu Shaoting sat under a pear tree, holding a copy of the *Classic of Poetry*, reciting it with a swaying head: "The ospreys cry 'guan guan' on the river's islet. A fair maiden, a gentleman's ideal. The watercress grows thick and thin, flowing left and right. A fair maiden, he seeks her waking and sleeping—"

"Brother Ting, do you know where the best place is for a gentleman to go on a date with a lady?" A little girl with pigtails jumped up to Mu Shaoting and asked, looking up at him.

Mu Shaoting pulled her onto his lap, blushing as he said, "I've never pursued a girl before, and no one has ever told me. How would I know?"

The little girl laughed happily, pointing at Mu Shaoting's nose and saying, "Brother Ting is so silly! Didn't you just teach that in the poem you recited?" As she spoke, she grabbed the vermilion brush on the table, took the book from Mu Shaoting's hand, drew a red circle around the three characters "River Isle," and handed it to Mu Shaoting to see, "Look, isn't this it?"

Then, with a serious expression and a furrowed brow, he said, "These books are really corrupting children. They tell people how to pursue girls right from the start. Who would want to study seriously and do great things?"

Mu Shaoting put down the book, reached out and tapped the little girl's head a few times, and said with a smile, "Nonsense!"

Sunlight falls on the two little figures, capturing these precious moments...

The scene suddenly changed, and a young man in white robes wielded a sharp sword, aiming directly at me. Every move was filled with murderous intent, and the sword's aura carried a chilling aura. I cried out in alarm, "Brother Ting!"

I instinctively covered my mouth and opened my eyes. There were pale yellow curtains, and a young girl in a pinkish-green summer dress was fanning me, providing a cool breeze. I quickly sat up and looked down at myself. I realized I'd been dressed differently; I was only wearing a thin layer of chiffon, which felt very cool. Beneath me was a white jade mat, already warm from my lying down.

I asked the little girl, "Did I just say anything?"

Before the little girl could speak, Shen Tingxuan's pleasant voice came from outside: "You just called him 'Brother Ting'."

I had planned to escape like this, but he still managed to find me. I thought it was goodbye forever, I never thought we would meet again, let alone in this way.

I got up and got out of bed. The little maid quickly put down her fan and brought me an apricot-yellow dress to help me put it on. When I went to the outer room, Shen Tingxuan was still dressed in white and was sitting at the small round table in the room. The table was covered with a pink tablecloth, and there was a set of blue and white porcelain tea set, as well as the dagger he had given me.

I sat down opposite him, and he glanced at the dagger on the table and asked, "Where did you get this dagger?"

"It was a gift from my brother," I said honestly.

Shen Tingxuan stared intently at me: "Don't lie, I know the owner of this dagger."

"I'm not lying, it was a gift from my brother."

Shen Tingxuan's gaze never left my eyes as he asked, "What's his name?"

"Mu Shaoting." Perhaps also called Shen Tingxuan. Brother Ting, I didn't lie, but you did—a colossal lie that cost someone their life. But you're still alive, which makes me very happy.

Upon hearing the name "Mu Shaoting," Shen Tingxuan suddenly smiled and said, "You must be Huai En?"

I nodded.

"So, you didn't come here today to spy on me, but to see your sister, right?"

I nodded guiltily.

Shen Tingxuan confirmed his guess, and seemed very happy, his tone becoming much lighter: "When I was seeking medical treatment outside the palace, I went to Pingcheng and met your brother. Later, your brother wrote to me saying that a younger sister and brother had been driven out of their home and had arrived in the Holy City, asking me to help find and take care of them. I searched for several months without finding them, and then I heard that he..."

Later, news of Mu Shaoting's death arrived, and then the Second Prince, who had never appeared before, slowly came into the public eye.

Shen Tingxuan then said, "Now that we've found you, why don't you stay here and let me take care of you in his place? How about that?"

I shook my head. Brother Ting, since you are no longer Mu Shaoting, why dwell on past promises? I believe you've looked for me, but times have changed. If you weren't the Second Prince, I would still be happy to help. You want to take care of me, yet you don't want me to know you are Mu Shaoting. I'm afraid only the Marquis of Qiyun himself knows this secret among the old retainers of the Qiyun Marquis's mansion; even Mu Hanyan doesn't know. Getting too close to this secret means that sooner or later you'll find out I already know who you are. Then, will you spare my life or kill me? Brother Ting.

Shen Tingxuan showed some disappointment on his face, and then said, "How about I write to Marquis Qiyun and ask him to take you home? Mu Shaoting couldn't ask Marquis Qiyun to keep you before, but I'll try now."

I shook my head again and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. I was unwilling to stay before, and I am even less willing now."

Shen Tingxuan smiled wryly and said, "Your Highness? If you don't mind, you can call me 'Brother Ting'."

Brother Ting, even now, do you still think about the past? But is that a good thing or a bad thing? I remember that little wooden horse was very rough, but now it's shiny and black. You used to play with it often, didn't you? If you want to hear it, I'll call your name again.

I held back my tears and whispered, "Brother Ting."

Shen Tingxuan's body trembled slightly. His dark eyes held too many emotions for me to discern; I only felt a pang of heartache. Brother Ting, whoever you are, those caught in this vortex, have chosen some things and lost others. Those things can be cherished, but not clung to.

"Huai'en, can't you stay?" Shen Tingxuan asked me again, the expectation in his eyes making me afraid to look at him.

I lowered my head and said resolutely, "Brother Ting, if you had found me sooner, I would have been happy to stay. But now, don't you care who's behind me anymore? You probably can't imagine what I've done all these years on my own. So, it's better for both of us if I leave."