Chapter 155: August Longing for an Old Friend (Part Two)

Shen Yu's letter... Chuxiu had no idea what her own feelings were upon hearing these words. Urgency? A fluttering heart? Apprehension? It was as if she were suddenly overcome with a sense of "timidity when nearing home," making her utterly afraid to accept the letter from Nie Peixiao's hands.

Chuxiu's momentary distraction did not escape Nie Peixiao's notice, causing a sharp pain to pierce his heart. If he had still harbored a sliver of hope prior to this—hoping that the connection between Shen Yu and Chuxiu was merely that of a former master and servant—Chuxiu's reaction at this moment thoroughly shattered that hope into oblivion.

Nie Peixiao's fingers holding the letter trembled slightly. Unwilling to lose his composure in front of Chuxiu, he lowered his hand and placed the letter on the desk, saying, "He reported to the Ministry of Punishments last month."

"The Ministry of Punishments?" Chuxiu asked, astonished. "Even if he is not leading troops, he should have gone to the Ministry of War instead. How could he..."

"It was the Seventh Brother's decision," Nie Peixiao replied. "The Seventh Brother is about to move against the Ming clan, and he wants Shen Yu to lead the vanguard. When the time comes to purge the remaining faction and confiscate their estate, the task will likely fall upon him."

The Prince of Mu's decision? Chuxiu felt a flutter of anxiety in her heart, accompanied by a vague, ominous premonition. The Ming clan was, after all, the family of the Empress, and Right Prime Minister Ming Cheng held immense power for a time. As the saying goes, "a starved camel is still bigger than a horse." Pushing Shen Yu out at a juncture like this was tantamount to using him as a spear! How could the Ming clan possibly let him go?

"You needn't worry about Zifeng; in truth, this is a lucrative assignment." Seeing Chuxiu's unconcealed concern, Nie Peixiao felt a pang of heartache alongside his own sorrow. "The current Minister of Punishments was promoted by the Right Prime Minister, and his son-in-law Helian Qi is the Junior Vice Minister of Punishments. It is equivalent to having the entire Ministry of Punishments under the Ming clan's control. Zifeng is working for the Seventh Brother at the Ministry of Punishments. If he handles this well, the Ming clan's influence will be uprooted completely."

Seeing that Chuxiu remained skeptical, Nie Peixiao continued, "If Zifeng can extract some inside information through interrogation, the Seventh Brother will only reward him; he will never silence him... Now that the Seventh Brother has just come to power, he is eager for talented individuals. As long as Zifeng works diligently, the Seventh Brother will not treat him unfairly."

"I can only hope so." Matters had reached this point, and it was too late to stop him. Chuxiu could only blame herself for being preoccupied with Zhuying's wedding lately and falling ill, which had led to her momentary carelessness regarding Shen Yu's affairs, allowing him to be sent into such a perilous vortex.

"The official career is simply like this. If one wishes to stay safe and follow the Golden Mean, one can never achieve anything in a lifetime. If Zifeng wants to restore his family's prestige, he is bound to take certain risks," Nie Peixiao comforted Chuxiu. "Rest assured, Madam, I will keep an eye on this matter."

A tight feeling gripped Chuxiu's heart, and she instinctively wanted to refuse: "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but there is no need to trouble yourself with my brother-in-law's affairs. This humble woman..."

"Zifeng is also my friend." Hearing this, Nie Peixiao understood her intent and immediately explained, "Even without the connection of Madam, I would not sit idly by and watch him come to harm."

Since the other party had put it this way, refusing further would make her seem overly self-conscious, yet Chuxiu still felt uneasy for Shen Yu: "His temperament is truly unsuited for an official career. If he were sent out to the frontiers to command troops, it would be far more reassuring. To go to the Ministry of Punishments now and meddle in court intrigues—especially against the Ming clan—truly makes one sweat for him."

Hearing this, Nie Peixiao smiled somewhat bitterly. "Madam underestimates him somewhat. After the confiscation of the Marquis of Wenchang's estate, do you still take him for a mere pampered young master who only knows how to eat and drink? What ought to be done and what ought to be said—he has long since figured it all out completely."

"In that case, I must ask Your Highness to guide and advise him more often," Chuxiu said with a forced smile.

Nie Peixiao uttered an "en," paused in thought, and added, "However, only three days after arriving at the Ministry of Punishments, he had a rather unpleasant falling-out with the Junior Vice Minister of Punishments..." He watched Chuxiu's expression as he spoke, and sure enough, he saw her countenance change instantly.

The Junior Vice Minister of Punishments? Wasn't that Helian Qi? What was Shen Yu trying to do? Alerting the enemy before even making a move? Chuxiu felt somewhat annoyed with him, itching with frustration, yet desperately eager to know the inside story: "Does Your Highness know... why my brother-in-law had a falling-out with Lord Helian?"

"I heard it was over a woman." Nie Peixiao stared at Chuxiu, unwilling to miss the slightest reaction from her. "They were discussing matters alone in a room, and later came to blows... Because of this, both of them were reprimanded, and even the Seventh Brother learned of the incident."

At this point, Nie Peixiao deliberately paused. Seeing Chuxiu's face turn ashen, he elaborated, "Helian Qi is a civil official and cannot match Zifeng's martial arts skills. Madam need not worry."

They came to blows over a woman? Who else could it possibly be?! Chuxiu could roughly guess the truth of the matter. Helian Qi had always been refined and courteous; this incident must have been provoked by Shen Yu first. As for why Shen Yu had stirred up trouble, she had no need to ask further.

Chuxiu raised her eyes to look at Nie Peixiao. "What is Your Highness's intent in telling me this?"

What was his intent? Nie Peixiao laughed bitterly at himself; even he did not know what his intent was. Perhaps... he simply wanted to find a topic of conversation to speak with her a little longer? Or perhaps, he wanted to test her feelings for Shen Yu?

Nie Peixiao could not articulate it clearly. Faced with Chuxiu, he was like an inexperienced youth taking his first fumbling steps into romance, clumsy in his words and impulsive in his actions.

To Chuxiu's question, he offered no reply. At that moment, the sound of rain outside grew increasingly fierce, vaguely threatening to turn into a torrential downpour. Chuxiu glanced out the door once more and asked, "Has the Prince of Mu still not arrived?"

Seeing that he could no longer conceal the truth, Nie Peixiao had no choice but to admit honestly, "The Seventh Brother has not returned. I used a small trick simply to see Madam."

A small trick? He had even deceived the Yun family's secret guards? Chuxiu sighed coldly. "His Highness's actions are truly..."

"Childish." Before Chuxiu could finish, Nie Peixiao took the words from her mouth, followed by a wave of self-mockery. "I know, my method is hardly clever; it is very childish. But had I not used the Seventh Brother as a pretext, Madam, you would never have been willing to see me."

Chuxiu looked away from Nie Peixiao, casting her gaze calmly toward the window. "What does Your Highness wish to say?"

"I simply wish to apologize to Madam," Nie Peixiao said. "That night... I was far too abrupt."

"If it is for this matter, Your Highness need not bother. As I said just now, that matter has passed, and this humble woman has forgotten it entirely." Chuxiu's brows and eyes carried the trace of a faint smile, possessing a detachment that had seen through the mortal world. "Since Your Highness has come to deliver this decree, presumably you have also let it go."

Hearing this, Nie Peixiao pondered for a moment. "It is not that I have let it go; rather, having thought it through now, no matter whether that chastity arch exists or not, it cannot stop my feelings." He picked up Shen Yu's letter once more, walked over to Chuxiu, and handed it to her with firm determination. "Regardless of whom Madam holds in her heart—whether it is Helian Qi, Yun Ci, or Shen Yu—once I have made up my mind, I will not retreat."

"Your Highness should remember what this humble woman said." Chuxiu reached out to take Shen Yu's letter, clutching it tightly in her hand as she replied, "On New Year's Eve, we made ourselves quite clear."

"We were indeed very clear," Nie Peixiao naturally would not forget. "That night, Madam, you said that if I dared to marry you openly with proper matchmaker rites, I could come and express my feelings. Coming to Yanlan City this time, I want to tell Madam that as long as you nod your agreement, I am willing to treat you with the status of my primary princess consort."

"The position of primary princess consort?" Chuxiu finally turned her gaze to Nie Peixiao. Seeing his earnest expression, which bore no sign of falsehood, she found it even more hard to believe. "But Imperial Noble Consort Ye and the Prince of Mu..."

"None of these are problems." Nie Peixiao lowered his gaze to the scar on his left hand, a trace of softness crossing his eyes. "I have my own ways to make my mother and the Seventh Brother nod; as for Dowager Xie and the Yun family, I will handle them. As long as Madam is willing."

This final sentence was a plea borne of love.

Seeing the other party's stubbornness, Chuxiu felt a throbbing headache coming on. She lowered her brow and massaged her temples, her eyelids drooping just in time to catch sight of the letter in her hand. The Wei-style calligraphy of Shen Yu's name on the envelope was vigorous and striking, burning against her palm like a ball of fierce fire. She was already incapable of repaying one man's infatuation; why should she go out of her way to entangle herself with another?

Biting her lower lip, Chuxiu hardened her heart. "I appreciate Your Highness's misplaced affection, but my mind is made up. If Your Highness persists, this humble woman will have no choice but to avoid you altogether, treating you as a stranger."

"Just as you treat Helian Qi?" Nie Peixiao retorted instantly.

"Even more so than that." Chuxiu's limpid, beautiful eyes were devoid of the slightest trace of emotion as she locked gazes with him deeply.

Their eyes met—one infatuated beyond redemption, the other resolute beyond measure. In the end, it was Nie Peixiao who conceded defeat. At the mere thought that Chuxiu might treat him like a stranger in the future—even more coldly than she treated Helian Qi—he felt as though his heart were being carved out.

It was he who had pressed too hard. Advancing step by step, at least there would still be a glimmer of a chance.

"I understand." Nie Peixiao's sharp facial contours seemed to have their cutting edges worn away, leaving only the traces of lingering cruelty. "I will not cause trouble for Madam again, but I only ask that Madam remember me, and that song, *The Broken Red-Silk Strings*..."

For a proud scion of nobility such as him, lowering himself to plead for love in such a humble manner was a rare occurrence indeed. Unable to bear looking or listening any longer, Chuxiu slipped Shen Yu's letter into her sleeve and lowered her gaze. "What ought to be remembered, this humble woman will naturally remember; what ought to be forgotten, I will no longer dwell upon. Farewell."

And yet, what ought to be remembered, and what ought to be forgotten? If one could truly follow the dictates of one's own heart, why would she be tormented to this extent? Even Chuxiu herself found this final sentence forced and unconvincing.

"The rain is too heavy; wait a moment before leaving," Nie Peixiao said, unable to conceal the bitterness of rejection, driven by a desperate urge to look at her for just a moment longer.

Chuxiu hesitated for a fleeting instant, her peripheral vision catching the scar on the back of Nie Peixiao's hand, causing a pang of discomfort in her chest. To say she felt not a shred of emotion would be false, especially since he had composed the song *The Broken Red-Silk Strings* for her years ago, sighing and lamenting on her behalf. Had this misplaced affection never existed, perhaps they truly could have become soulmates, chatting about affairs of state, discussing musical temperament, and playing the zither and flute together in their leisure time.

The hesitation in her eyes flashed and vanished. For the sake of that song, *The Broken Red-Silk Strings*, and for Nie Peixiao's humble plea, Chuxiu ultimately found herself unable to utter another harsh word. Furthermore, the rain outside was indeed pouring in torrents; she feared even an umbrella would soak her through, so why make the coachman and horses suffer needlessly?

After a long period of contemplation, Chuxiu said, "Then this humble woman will impose upon you for a little longer."

A sudden wave of joy surged in Nie Peixiao's heart. Only now did he realize how low he had humbled himself into the dust, experiencing such trepidation and making such fervent pleas for a single word from her. Yet who could predict matters of the heart? Whoever fell in first was the loser.

Brushing aside his stray thoughts, Nie Peixiao made a welcoming gesture. "Please be seated, Madam. Your tea has gone cold; I will have a servant bring you a fresh cup."

Chuxiu felt this gesture was superfluous, but before the words "there is no need" could pass her lips, she heard a greeting ring out from outside, sweet as the song of an oriole: "Your Highness, the rain is heavy and the weather is cold outside. I have brought you a cloak."

Chuxiu followed the voice with her eyes and saw a graceful young woman standing outside, carrying a cloak over her arm. The woman's brows and eyes were delicate yet gentle, her cheeks flushed with a tender red. Taking in her attire, while not extravagantly embroidered, it was certainly not that of an ordinary maidservant.

Chuxiu turned her head to look at Nie Peixiao, just in time to see his expression darken as he rebuked sharply, "Who told you to come here?"

With just that single expression and a single sentence, Chuxiu instantly understood the identity of the woman before her. She was undoubtedly a concubine whom Nie Peixiao had brought with him from the capital.