Chapter 6: Same-boat Sword, a Love Token

The woman before him possessed a peerless beauty like 'Cold moon shining on fine jade', her eyebrows naturally dark, her lips naturally red, like a gorgeous peony and also like an elegant orchid; even the scenery behind her paled in comparison.

Xie Lin instinctively straightened up.

Shen Shuangning gestured for Ah Heng to present the thank-you gift.

"Many thanks, Young Marquis, for saving me from danger; this modest gift is merely a token of my gratitude."

Xie Lin took the heavy thank-you gift, his expression somewhat unnatural, and said nothing.

Shen Shuangning knew Xie Lin did not welcome her, so she did not linger.

Before leaving, she lowered her eyes and spoke softly: "Please, Young Marquis, keep what happened that night a secret; I am deeply grateful, and please rest assured, I will not pester you because of it. Farewell."

What happened that night?

A flicker of suspicion crossed Xie Lin's eyes; he had merely sent the unconscious young lady back to her residence.

He hadn't even given her a second glance.

Shen Shuangning had already walked away.

Under a nearby covered walkway, Xiao Jingyuan took in the whole scene; he glanced at the retreating graceful figure, wondering what he was thinking.

Xie Lin had already returned to his room, casually setting the thank-you gift aside without opening it.

After a moment, he slowly realized he had been slapped in the face.

He had said he wouldn't even glance at her...

Xie Lin unconsciously touched his face; it hurt a little.

It's no wonder his eyes stared; who could have imagined the other party was truly a celestial beauty?

Xie Lin thought it over; since they were so sincere, it was better to go meet them.

Thus he turned to open the door, only to find a great Buddha standing outside.

Xie Lin's brow twitched: "How did you come? What's the matter?"

"Can't I come if there's no matter?" Xiao Jingyuan brushed past him, lifted his foot and entered the door as casually as if entering his own home, his gaze falling on the exquisite box, as if asking casually.

"What is that?"

Xie Lin let out an "oh" and then told him about Shen Shuangning's visit just now.

"That should have been yours; you are the one who saved her, her benefactor."

Xiao Jingyuan said indifferently: "She gave it to you; just keep it."

He placed one hand behind his back and with the other opened the wooden box, somewhat surprised.

Inside was a precious sword, its blade snowy bright, its hilt set with a large red gemstone, clearly valuable at a glance.

Xie Lin also leaned in to look, astonished: "It's actually a sword?"

"This is no ordinary sword; it's a Same-boat Sword." Xiao Jingyuan was a connoisseur.

Xie Lin saw the sword was extraordinary but did not recognize it, so he asked: "What is the origin of this Same-boat Sword?"

Xiao Jingyuan took the sword in hand, examined it for a moment, and said: "When the former emperor was alive, the Mysterious Warrior Grand General went on a northern campaign and met the strategist Zhang Liang; they shared life-and-death hardships, a tale both moving and tragic. After peace prevailed, the Grand General forged this Same-boat Sword and presented it to the strategist, but the Zhang clan was exterminated overnight, and the Same-boat Sword vanished without a trace."

Xiao Jingyuan gazed at the precious sword; an inexplicable subtle discomfort rose in his heart, his brows slightly furrowed, but it passed in an instant.

"I never expected it would end up in the residence of the Duke of Rongguo." Xiao Jingyuan gave a meaningless laugh, "She gave you this sword; she really put thought into it."

After his explanation, Xie Lin finally understood the value of the Same-boat Sword.

This sword carries extraordinary significance; he resolved to cherish and protect it well.

Xie Lin retrieved the sword, put it back, and said: "You were afraid she would cling to you and affect your marriage prospects with Cousin Song, but I have no marriage discussions, so as your brother I took the worry off your shoulders. Earlier I gave you a chance, you refused; now it's too late to regret."

Xie Lin was a general and also liked to collect various rare treasures, so he naturally liked this sword.

Xiao Jingyuan said: "It's merely a Same-boat Sword; no matter how precious, it fails to catch my eye."

The Yan Prince's Manor never lacks rare weapons.

"I merely wanted to remind you: when a man gives a man a Same-boat Sword, it's camaraderie; when a woman gives a man one, it's worth deep thought." Xiao Jingyuan crossed his arms and reminded him.

Xie Lin closed the wooden box, indifferent: "What's there to ponder? I think you've been harassed by women too much, your guard is too high; the Fourth Miss certainly doesn't mean that."

Even if there were... Xie Lin's mind flashed to that face that outshone the frost, his expression paused.

It didn't seem so dislikeable either.

"Right." Xie Lin turned to look at him, "What exactly happened that night? She seems to care about it and asked me to keep it secret."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingyuan, not knowing what he had thought of, saw a ripple stir in his deep, tranquil phoenix eyes.

He spoke, yet said lightly: "Since she doesn't want others to know, I also cannot tell you."

Xie Lin nodded: "Indeed, then I won't ask."

After Xiao Jingyuan left, Xie Lin changed his clothes and went to the front hall, only to learn that the Shen family had already departed.

Only the Marchioness remained seated there.

She glanced at Xie Lin, sipped her tea, and drawled: "Everyone's gone; why are you still coming over?"

"A mother knows her child best," the Marchioness's eyes seemed able to see through Xie Lin.

Xie Lin turned his head slightly, evasive, and muttered: "Just passing by."

The Marchioness snorted: "It's not just about taking a liking to that Fourth Miss; your rude behavior today has already left a bad impression, making it hard to mend."

Xie Lin's face flushed as if his thoughts had been exposed: "Mother, what nonsense are you spouting? I haven't taken a liking to anyone; stop mentioning the Shen family."

He hurried away, looking in every way like he was fleeing in defeat.

The Marchioness set down her teacup: "You little brat, I still don't know you."

Yan Prince's Manor.

Xiao Jingyuan casually picked a sword from the armory and practiced swordplay in the courtyard.

A fierce sword wind swept past, instantly cleaving the wooden post standing in the courtyard into two halves.

Xiao Jingyuan stood holding the sword, gazing down at the nameless blade in his hand, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth, yet his eyes were extremely cold.

To him, a sword that can cut iron like mud and kill enemies on the battlefield is a true treasure sword, not an object locked away in a beautiful box, repeatedly collected and displayed for people to admire.

But that night, Xiao Jingyuan had a strange dream for the first time.

He dreamed of his wedding night, his newlywed bride, dressed in fine attire, coquettishly saying to him, "My lord, I have a gift to give you."

Upon hearing that address of "my lord," Xiao Jingyuan secretly felt something was wrong.

Immediately afterward, he saw her produce that very same Same-Boat Sword.

Her breath was right by his ear, so close it made his ears itch.

"This sword is named Same-Boat, gifted to you, my lord. From now on, I wish to share the same boat with you, weathering hardships together, never to part."

Xiao Jingyuan felt his heartbeat quicken, his blood pounding against his eardrums, yet he spoke coldly and stiffly: "You are the consort of the heir apparent of Prince Yan's Manor, enjoying endless riches and honor; you have no need for sharing hardships."

"My lord, could you please glance at me just once?"

Xiao Jingyuan had a bad premonition, yet uncontrollably turned his head, and then saw the Fourth Miss's face.

His heart had already been greatly shaken, yet he could not wake up.

The Fourth Miss's lovely little face drew near his, her charming eyes radiating strong affection, her speech exhaling like orchids mixed with wine fragrance; looking closely, her fair cheeks showed a faint flush.

She seemed a little embarrassed as she said, "I've waited for you too long, I'm thirsty, there's no tea in the room, so I drank the wedlock wine first—you won't blame me, will you?"

Her slender, soft hands crept up his neck like water snakes, but he ruthlessly pulled them away.

The Fourth Miss's eyes reddened again, she looked at him aggrieved; seeing him unmoved, she gathered courage and actively shed her layers of outer clothing.

"I know the heir apparent doesn't want to touch me, but tonight is our wedding night; I don't want others to look down on the Duke's Manor. After tonight, if the heir apparent wishes to let me guard an empty room alone, that's fine—I'll bear no grudge and won't press further......"

She always seemed so fragile, like a flower stem easily broken, unable to bear the slightest pain, leaning against her shoulder with tears welling up, her nails digging into the skin behind his back.

Before dawn, Xiao Jingyuan startled awake from the dream.

He sat up, involuntarily gasping heavily, and rubbed his forehead.

Though the night was cold, he felt hot and flustered.

Having had such an utterly absurd dream, he simply could not sleep any further.

In the courtyard there was a large vat for storing rainwater; he simply went and soaked in that water, finally suppressing the agitation in his belly, driving the woman from his mind......

Shen Shuangning's reason for sending away that Same-Boat Sword was to sever the past.

To her, that Same-Boat Sword held extraordinary significance; it was a love-token she intended to give her future husband, and in her previous life she had happily presented it to Xiao Jingyuan on their wedding night.

But he did not like it.

Finally, she happened to see that Same-Boat Sword in a corner of the storeroom, covered in dust, and her heart was as dead ashes.

After enduring a lifetime of suffering, Shen Shuangning is no longer so naive.

Nowadays, the Same-Boat Sword is merely a sword worth collecting, and signifies nothing.