Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 73: Delicate Thoughts

Shentu Zhuo's impression of Xu Guanbai was already very vague. He only remembered that he had seen him at a banquet at someone's house when he was a child.

After many years, such a pampered young lady appeared in his home far away in the border area, which made him a little confused and thought he was back in Andu.

Upon learning that she was the female historian sent by the Imperial Palace to fetch Princess Mo He, Shen Tu Zhuo's mind raced, but he remained expressionless. He only responded with a few bland remarks before apologizing to his mother and returning to his room. Seeing that her son seemed to know Xu Guanbai, the old lady had initially wanted him to accompany her to reminisce about the past, but then she changed her mind and didn't want him to be too involved in court affairs. Furthermore, the two families' current situations were so different that deliberately fostering closeness would be inappropriate, so she let him go.

Shentu Zhuo bowed to Xu Guanbai as a farewell gesture, and the latter returned the bow with his clothes lowered. The two looked at each other and then walked away indifferently.

Afterwards, the old lady took Xu Guanbai and Shentu Ji to continue chatting, and when Shentu Zhuo returned to his yard, he suddenly felt that it was empty everywhere, as if a lot of things were missing.

After a careful inspection, Shentu Zhuo was furious: "Where's my goose and fish bronze lamp? Where's my lacquered wooden screen? And where's the Yangma Kingdom incense burner on my shelf? How come they're all gone?"

Ah Shuo explained, "The Lady said that a young lady from Andu is looking for assistance, and we can't neglect her. She asked us to move all your exquisite items to the wing room. Second Young Master, don't be upset. Once the young lady finishes her errand and returns, we'll return them to you in their original condition."

"Why should I give her my things? She's the daughter of a noble, she's seen all sorts of rare things, why would she care about my little things? Let her buy whatever she needs with her own money, and return all my treasures to me!"

"Then, then shall we move the things back now?" Ah Shuo said as he was about to set off.

"Wait!" Shen Tu Zhuo calmed down and said, "Mother asked you to move out. If I ask you to move back, wouldn't that be an insult to her? Forget it, I'm not such a stingy person. I'll just lend it to her. I believe she won't bother to mess with my little things."

After venting his anger, Shentu Zhuo spread out the canal diversion map and slowly revised it stroke by stroke, making the annotations more detailed. As he continued to draw, the sky grew dimmer and dimmer, and the pattern on the silk could hardly be seen. Shentu Zhuo casually asked Ah Hui to light the lamp.

After a long while, Ah Hui brought two lonely bean lanterns.

Shen Tu Zhuo said dissatisfiedly: "Tsk, it's not bright enough, give me more lamps."

Ah Hui: “…”

"What are you standing there for? Didn't you hear it?" Shentu Zhuo looked up.

"The multi-branched lamps have also been moved to the wing rooms," Ah Hui relayed in a serious tone. "The lady said that since you, the Second Young Master, can't use them anyway, instead of just using them as decorations, it's better to use them for you to read poetry and do needlework."

"I..." Shentu Zhuo held his forehead helplessly, blaming himself for having an image of being unlearned and unskillful that was too deeply rooted in people's minds.

Never mind, there is no need to rush this picture, I’ll go back to Yuefu to revise it.

As he was packing, Ah Shuo called in from outside, saying that the young lady had returned to return some extra lanterns. Shen Tu Zhuo was taken aback, wondering if Xu Guanbai was truly such a thoughtful person. She had sent so many ornaments to him, yet she knew exactly what he needed and came to return them personally?

After they walked out, Shentu Zhuo didn't bother to be polite with her. He waved his hand and asked Ah Shuo and Ah Hui to move the multiple lamps into the house.

Xu Guanbai said, "I just talked to Madam Ji and learned that many of the items in my room were taken from Master Zhuo. I didn't mean to bother you like this, but I thought Master Zhuo would need these lamps for his studies and writing, so I hurried to return them. If there are other items you'd like to take back, please let me know and I'll have my maid bring them back."

The corridor was lit up, her reflection as bright as moonlight. These words were so thoughtful and considerate that even Ah Shuo and Ah Hui couldn't help but sigh, "This young lady is so smart, clever, and considerate. She is truly perfect in every way." However, Shen Tu Zhuo said, "Young lady, you don't know. I am a playboy. I don't read classics or write articles. I have these lamps here just for their beauty. If you want to use them, you can take them. You don't have to return them."

Ah Shuo and Ah Hui: “…” What a hard mouth.

"Really? I've been meddling." Xu Guanbai said with a leisurely smile, "I thought Master Zhuo was still as ambitious as he was back then, and that he was considered a prominent figure in the Imperial Academy..."

"It seems the return of the lanterns was fake, but the reminiscing about the past was real." Shen Tu Zhuo interrupted her and said, "Since I have nothing else to do, I will accompany you to relax in the courtyard. I hope you will not despise our poor and remote place."
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Although they said they were going out to relax, the two of them didn't go anywhere. They didn't even find a place to sit down and rest. They just stood facing each other and talked in the corridor. From a distance, they looked like a pair of self-disciplined and polite talented man and beautiful woman.

Ah Shuo, Ah Hui, and Xu Guanbai's maids were curious about what the two were talking about, but unfortunately, they were kept at a distance by their respective masters, so they could only see but not hear anything. In the presence of the lady, they didn't seem to have any special relationship between the two. Was they intentionally hiding something? Were they childhood sweethearts? Was there a romantic relationship between the man and the woman?
Shentu Zhuo and Xu Guanbai did hide something, but it was not what others thought.

"You said you were ordered by the Empress Dowager to come and fetch Princess Mo He?" Shen Tu Zhuo said straight to the point. "Why do I feel like there's something fishy going on?"

"Oh? What's so strange about that?"

"The strange thing is why you are the female historian?"

"Master Zhuo, do you think I'm not qualified?"

"Not really. In terms of appearance and talent, Lady Bai is quite famous in Andu. There's nothing wrong with you teaching Princess Mohe the etiquette, but that's not the problem." Shentu Zhuo said, "You and I were both in Andu when we were young, and we met each other. Back then, my father-in-law was only an interpreter, and your father was either the Shangfang or the Zhishi..."

"Shangfang Order, Master Zhuo has a good memory."

"Although I'm not familiar with you, and after my father-in-law was exiled and died, our Shentu family has been away from the court for a long time, but His Highness the Third Prince and I have had a long-standing friendship at the Imperial College, so I have heard some rumors about you."

"What rumor?" Xu Guanbai asked with a smile.

"If I remember correctly, before Mo He and Da Xuan decided to marry, the Third Prince was engaged to you, right?"

"Master Zhuo is mistaken." Xu Guanbai shook his head and said bluntly, "The Third Prince and I have never been engaged, but I have always been in love with him. My mother also met with the Queen to discuss my marriage with the Third Prince. This matter has long been spread among the nobles, and I thought it was a done deal. Who would have thought..."

"Who would have thought that His Majesty would eventually want the Third Prince to marry Princess Mohe?" Shentu Zhuo snorted and laughed. "That's why I was wondering why you were chosen as the female historian? Knowing you were unwilling to accept the position, the Queen still asked you to teach the etiquette of the princess' marriage. Isn't this just rubbing salt in your wounds?"

"I begged the Queen to give me this opportunity, and she agreed." Xu Guanbai said calmly.

"You came here on your own?" Shen Tuzhuo asked cautiously, "What do you want to do?"

"Master Zhuo is a smart man. Why don't you wait and see with me?" Xu Guanbai said meaningfully, "Let's see how this marriage ends."
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　Next chapter: Is she the widowed bride living in that locked side courtyard?

　　
　
(End of this chapter)