Chapter 446: Chapter 444: Not Given to Her by Him
The woman’s hands were warm and delicate, carrying the rich fragrance of flowers—a gesture laden with comfort.
Haitang, settled by this soothing touch, thought for a moment and said softly, "His Majesty said nothing, merely stood by the window, lost in thought. I suspect he might have been pondering where the lock opened by this key lies, perhaps even for your sake."
Shen Yinning silently slipped into the pool.
Slowly, she opened her eyes underwater; above her, petals swirled alongside the shimmering lights of candles.
She had searched throughout Shen Guogong Mansion, yet she truly couldn’t find the lock this key was meant to open.
If Lu Ying could find it, it would not be such a bad thing for her.
The pool was warm.
Yet Shen Yinning inexplicably felt a chill.
As if the lock opened by this key held something far from good.
...
The following day.
Shen Yinning only brought Haitang, boarding a small boat to depart Wu’an Lake, heading toward the banks of the Li River.
Along the Li River, the weeping willows and flowering trees had been freshly decorated with an array of lanterns and colored ribbons. Painted boats of various sizes docked in the waters, their canopies gathering like clouds. The guests milling about were all nobles and distinguished families; young masters and misses especially enjoyed the lively atmosphere, dressed extravagantly, playing and frolicking with their favored companions as if on a spring outing.
Shen Yinning, holding a small folding fan of agarwood and gold, had just crossed the flower-lined path when someone called her: "Zhaozhao!"
Xue Mianmian stepped forward, gently tugging on Shen Yinning’s sleeve. "I haven’t seen you for so long!"
"You’ve lost weight..." Shen Yinning furrowed her brows lightly. "Is Guan Songyuan treating you poorly?"
Xue Mianmian tightened her grip slightly and lowered her gaze halfway. "He’s a new top scorer of the imperial exam this year, just appointed to the court. Naturally, his responsibilities are numerous, and he has little time to tend to me."
Walking side by side, Xue Mianmian continued, "I know Zhaozhao resents me, but back then, you were already overwhelmed; I didn’t want to trouble you further. I wanted to decide my future path on my own. Zhaozhao, this was my choice—I chose to leave the Xue Family and Xue Ling. Even if life in the Guan Family is less than ideal, in truth, many women in this world live similarly unsatisfactory lives. They cannot choose who their husband will be, nor can they force their spouse to love them. I, at least, live with comfort and abundance as the nominal Young Madam of the Guan Family. Even if I suffer coldness behind closed doors, what does it matter? I’m already luckier than most women. Zhaozhao, with this, I am content."
For the first time, Xue Mianmian revealed her true thoughts to Shen Yinning.
Shen Yinning gripped the small fan tightly, glancing at her.
She knew Xue Mianmian was sensitive and timid, asking for little in life.
Having a roof to shield her from the elements, with enough food and clothing, living without constant fear of Xue Ling—this was enough for her.
But...
Shen Yinning couldn’t help but say, "If you can’t do what you love, if you can’t marry the one you love, then what’s the point of living? Isn’t it just an empty shell, forced to carry out someone else’s will, wasting time in vain?"
"I knew you’d say that." Xue Mianmian gave her a gentle smile. "Zhaozhao, you are the bravest young lady I’ve ever known. I can’t be as brave as you in this life, which is why I’ve always admired you!"
Brave?
Shen Yinning gazed far into the distance.
The newly appointed top scholars gathered in the pavilion. Among the group, aside from a few elderly men, most were youthful. Several were strikingly handsome and poised, yet the one who captured the most attention was the tall youth seated at the center, adorned with a golden crown and clad in dark robes.
The new emperor, Lu Ying, as radiant as the moon against the night sky, as pure as the snow upon the mountain.
Though surrounded by flattery and adulation, he remained aloof, dignified, and unapproachable.
This was the man who privately tangled himself with her.
Restraining her, cursing her, making her unable to part from him even for a day. At the height of passion, he seemed ready to devour her flesh, to burn together into ashes.
Shen Yinning had failed repeatedly against him, her wings broken time and time again, leaving her too fearful to contemplate leaving him ever again.
She sneered at herself. "Brave? I don’t consider myself brave at all."
"How could that be?!" Xue Mianmian’s crisp voice protested. "You came all the way from Gan State step by step to where you are now, enduring the mocking gaze of the entire Capital, transforming from a criminal’s daughter to a Commandery Princess, manipulating everyone like pawns in your hands. Zhaozhao, you’re incredibly brave! If your family’s troubles had been mine, I wouldn’t have known what to do long ago! You’re bound to achieve even greater things in the future, surely!"
Under the dappled shadows of flowers, natural patterns painted themselves upon Shen Yinning’s silk skirt.
She couldn’t fathom why Xue Mianmian placed such faith in her.
To others, did she truly seem so resilient?
While the sisters spoke, back at the pavilion—
Huo Mingyan entered, dressed in a red robe embroidered with phoenixes and peonies, its narrow-sleeved and cinched-waist design accentuating her elegance. Surrounded by palace maids, she stepped inside.
She bowed gracefully and smiled. "With the border’s triumphant victory, several young generals injured on the battlefield are attending the feast. They’d like to compete in archery and request Your Majesty to officiate and determine the victor."
This spring banquet was both a celebration and an opportunity for the newly appointed scholars and battlefield heroes to select their future wives.
Huo Mingyan, uninterested in mingling with the noble young ladies of the Capital, instead warmed herself to the young generals, due to her upbringing on the frontier.
Guan Songyuan stepped forward and politely bowed. "Though the young generals are indeed skilled, I’ve heard that His Majesty and Her Ladyship possess excellent riding and archery skills. Might we be fortunate enough to witness Your Majesty and Her Ladyship’s prowess in archery today?"
Joy flickered in Huo Mingyan’s eyes as she spared Guan Songyuan an extra glance.
Unlike the others, this newly appointed scholar showed impressive discernment.
With playful yet dignified flair, she spoke, "Your Majesty, do you still remember when we rode and hunted together on the frontier as children? You once shot a deer and ordered the guards to make a pair of deerskin boots for me. Over the years, my archery skill has vastly improved—I must challenge Your Majesty today!"
Guan Songyuan immediately praised, "Your Majesty and Her Ladyship are truly a loving couple, the envy of us all."
Lu Ying said nothing, merely stepping out of the pavilion.
Turning a corner along the flower path, he encountered Shen Yinning and Xue Mianmian.
The two seemed to be passing by, though it was uncertain how much of the prior conversation they had overheard.
Shen Yinning, with a faint smile, lightly fanned herself and spoke to Xue Mianmian, "With an archery contest to watch, let’s join the fun. I’ve heard that among the returning generals, there is a certain Deputy General Tong, only in his early twenties, yet able to lift a cauldron and shoot an arrow precisely from one hundred paces. We must see such impressive skill for ourselves."
Together, she and Xue Mianmian walked straight over.
Lu Ying’s thin lips tightened.
He guessed Shen Yinning had overheard a substantial portion of the conversation within the pavilion.
Yet in this moment, he couldn’t offer any clarification, couldn’t tell her that the deer was something Huo Mingyan requested herself, not a gift from him.
At the water’s edge, the archery field had been set up.
Upon learning of the upcoming contest, the noble young men and women had early on claimed the best spots, abuzz with excitement awaiting its start.
Thanks to Shangguan Min’s arrangements, Shen Yinning and Xue Mianmian easily acquired the most ideal viewing position.
Xue Mianmian showed little interest in Lu Ying, but was intrigued by the rumored "cauldron-lifting" champion, pointing at a towering youth over nine feet tall in the distance. "Zhaozhao, is that Deputy General Tong?"
Shen Yinning looked over and nodded. "That’s him. Likely mixed with Hu blood, to grow so tall and brawny."
Tall and brawny...
At the edge of the field, Lu Ying donned his leather gloves, his face inscrutable.
Just a hulking brute with more muscle than brains—tall and brawny? Really?