Chapter 19: Viewing the Painting, Becoming Part of the Scene

A streak of celestial light cut through the vastness of the starry sky, casting a magnificent purple hue across the endless Milky Way. The late summer night was cooled by a gentle breeze, brushing past each face, stirring thoughts unique to every soul.

For Shen Yu, the breeze was refreshing, dissipating the traces of wine from his senses. With a beauty at his side, he felt invigorated beyond words. Han Chu, however, found the wind uncomfortably chill, especially as she pressed close to Shen Yu’s burning skin; the alternating sensations left her ill at ease.

Different hearts, different concerns. Han Chu did her best to steady herself, her gaze lowered in composure as she supported Shen Yu toward the Western Court. When they reached the entrance, she deliberately slowed her pace, intending to take her leave.

Shen Yu’s expression darkened; gripping her arm, he smiled, “What’s this? You’re planning to slip away before you’ve seen me safely to bed?”

Annoyed by his words but now familiar with his temperament, Han Chu gritted her teeth and continued to support him into the Western Court.

Seeing her no longer resist, Shen Yu relaxed his hold. Their summer garments were light; as his fingers lingered on her arm, inhaling her faint fragrance, his mind began to wander.

“Han Chu…” Shen Yu slipped an arm around her waist, murmuring softly at her ear, “I still prefer your original name—it’s far more pleasant than ‘Chuxiu’.”

Feeling the heat of his palm against her back, Han Chu’s nerves tingled as if a strange serpent were coiling up her waist, sending chills through her. She shuddered involuntarily, making her resistance clear. Shen Yu, noticing this, let go and did not press further.

“Is the wound from the hairpin on your arm any better?” Perceiving her displeasure, Shen Yu changed the subject.

Han Chu nodded.

“Let me see,” he said as he swiftly lifted her sleeve, catching her off guard.

In the blurred moonlight, a jade-like arm was revealed, luminous and flawless. Shen Yu gently traced the scar with his fingers, sighing with genuine distress, “That wretched woman Ming Ying!”

He leaned in, his gaze intent, “I’ll make a balm to remove the scar—you will not be left with a mark.”

Han Chu, indifferent to such wounds, merely smiled. When she looked up at Shen Yu, she found his eyes deep, his manner solemn, devoid of any jest.

This, in turn, made Han Chu awkward.

Fortunately, Shen Yu let the matter drop, gazing at her with a near-mesmerized intensity. “Han Chu…”

She waited quietly, not noticing the change in him. After a long silence, when Shen Yu still said nothing, she glanced up once more.

His eyes were like black obsidian, glimmering in the moonlight. No wonder the other girls could not resist his gentle charm; even a single lingering look from him could set any woman’s heart aflutter.

But not Han Chu’s.

Silence settled between them once more. She withdrew her gaze and calmed her thoughts. Only after some time did Shen Yu speak, hesitantly, “Never mind. Take me to Zhuxue.”

Han Chu nodded and continued to support him in silence through the Western Court.

When they reached Zhuxue’s quarters, Shen Yu asked, “Is your throat any better?”

Han Chu was momentarily startled, then shook her head.

Shen Yu frowned, then said after a pause, “Go back. Don’t forget to eat.”

Hearing this, Han Chu was slightly surprised, finding Shen Yu’s attitude toward her ever more perplexing. At times caring, at times reckless, at times cold, at times disdainful—she could not make sense of him. She lowered her gaze, smirking softly, and offered him a courteous bow in farewell.

“Shouldn’t you wait for your master to enter first?” Just as she was about to leave, Shen Yu’s voice sounded again, stripped of its earlier tenderness.

Indeed, Young Lord Shen was as unpredictable as ever. Han Chu had no choice but to apologize, their eyes meeting—his probing and cool, hers clear and direct.

In the end, it was Shen Yu who looked away first, his face set as he stepped inside. Han Chu took her leave and hurried back toward the Eastern Court.

She walked quickly, too preoccupied to notice that the notorious libertine, after she departed, stepped back outside, standing at the door to watch her retreating figure for a long, long time, never taking his eyes off her.

The night was alluring, moonlight like water, silver and bright across the Western Court, where only the dim lanterns whispered of the master’s loneliness.

She was gone, yet he lingered, watching her, as solitary as an unfinished painting. And that half-formed image did not go unseen.

Shen Yu, unaware of another’s presence nearby, stood before Zhuxue’s door for a long while before finally crossing the threshold and entering the courtyard.

“Young Lord…” Zhuxue awaited him with a candlestick in hand, her figure poised in the moonlit yard.

Catching sight of her elegant form, Shen Yu was swept by a sudden, inexplicable irritation. He merely grunted coldly and strode into her bedchamber.

“Young Lord…” Zhuxue followed, explaining with some embarrassment, “I’ve started my courses today—it would be improper for me to serve you tonight…”

Shen Yu halted at once, turning to bark out in frustration, “Nonsense! How unlucky!” Yet, he still stepped across the threshold into her bedchamber.

Only once inside did he address the aggrieved beauty standing outside, “Go sleep in the side room!”

His rebuke, heavy with anger, drifted over the wall into the ears of a woman dressed in red. Chacha, standing in the shadowy corner by the wall, recalled Shen Yu’s twice entering and leaving, a wave of envy and hatred surging in her heart…

*****

The next morning, after Shen Yu departed, Zhuxue sought out Chacha to vent her grievances.

“A few days ago, Sister Liuguang mentioned that the Young Lord bought home a mute orphan girl. I thought perhaps he still harbored some affection for us, but last night I was sorely disappointed.” Zhuxue pouted, playing the pitiful victim.

Chacha pretended ignorance of the prior night’s events, asking with a gentle smile, “How were you wronged, sister? Tell me.”

“Last night, the Young Lord drank in the Eastern Court, and that mute girl escorted him back. Who knows what tricks she played, for the Young Lord had already entered my courtyard, yet suddenly went out again in search of her…”

Zhuxue paused, visibly stung. “He must not have found her and so returned. Since I was indisposed, I invited him to rest in your room. Instead, he became furious and sent me to sleep in the side room.”

Chacha, having overheard everything from outside the previous night, easily discerned truth from falsehood in Zhuxue’s account, but she did not expose her. Instead, she warmed a pot of water, poured a cup for Zhuxue, and comforted her kindly, “Since you’ve your courses, don’t upset yourself. Here, have some hot tea to warm up.”

Zhuxue hugged the cup in her palms, grumbling, “It eases my heart to speak to you, sister.” After a moment’s hesitation, she asked, “I hear the mute girl is a beauty—I’ve yet to see her myself. Is it true?”

Chacha sipped her tea and replied obliquely, “She’s been serving in the Eastern Court for half a month, and the Young Lord’s attention still lingers on her. What do you think?”

Zhuxue believed her at once. “If the Young Lord favors her, why send her to serve in the Eastern Court?”

“Is it not because of her beauty?” Chacha laughed softly. “We don’t even know who lives in the Eastern Court, but to be hosted as the Young Lord’s honored guest, they must be of noble birth. If she weren’t beautiful, why would the Young Lord choose her to serve?”

Zhuxue sneered, envy and disdain mingling in her tone. “Let’s see how long her luck lasts! The Young Lord is hardly one for lasting affection!”

“Not necessarily,” Chacha replied in Han Chu’s defense. “I’ve heard the mute girl is faring well in the Eastern Court. If she had no skills, how could she win such favor?”

Zhuxue’s brows knitted in grievance, “Are we to let a mute girl lord it over us?”

She reached out, grasping Chacha’s fair wrist in a show of allegiance. “Sister, you’ve always been acknowledged for your talent and beauty here in the Western Court, and you’ve had the Young Lord’s trust. If this mute girl gains favor, are we three to bow to her?”

The more Zhuxue thought on it, the more indignant she became. “Is she truly so stunning?”

“She is indeed beautiful enough to make men forget she cannot speak.”

Zhuxue was even more incredulous. “Impossible! You know, sister, the Young Lord has never cared for silent women…” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Why, one morning I woke up hoarse from calling out…”

Chacha laughed, tapping Zhuxue’s forehead. “You! Always so blunt. Even such private matters you dare say aloud.”

Zhuxue grinned sheepishly, “I don’t see you as an outsider, sister!”

At this, Chacha felt she had laid the groundwork well enough and leaned in to whisper, “Do you know her secret to seducing men?”

Zhuxue’s eyes widened with curiosity, “What is it?”

“It’s the zither,” Chacha answered at once.

Zhuxue understood, growing more indignant. “So, we lost out by lacking a special skill!”

“Don’t belittle yourself,” Chacha said softly. “Do you know where this mute girl comes from?”

“Isn’t she an orphan who sold herself to bury her father?” Zhuxue arched a brow, deeply curious.

Chacha shook her head gently. “With looks like that and such skill with the zither, how could she be the daughter of a poor family?”

Though certain they were alone, Chacha glanced around theatrically before lowering her voice to a whisper, “It’s said she was once a maid of the Ming family, but was envied for her beauty, so they drugged her mute and cast her out.”

“Really?” Zhuxue was dubious.

“As the saying goes, a wife is less cherished than a concubine, a concubine less than a stolen woman. For someone like the Young Lord, if she weren’t stolen from another household, why would he treasure her so, hiding her away from you and Liuguang?”

“He must fear the Ming family finding out!” Zhuxue caught on, growing more animated. “He’s afraid of gossip, and of offending the Mings, so he hides her in Zhuihong Court, keeping it from everyone.”

Chacha nodded solemnly. “If you can’t stand the mute girl, either have her sent back to the Ming family, or let her be given to the honored guest in the Eastern Court. Which is quicker?”

“The first, of course!” Zhuxue exclaimed, genuinely pleased. “Thank you for the advice, sister.”

The last breath of summer wind scattered the laughter of the two women in the Western Court, stirring ripples of intrigue.

This Zhuihong Court was destined for a restless autumn.