Chapter 90

This road is the necessary exit from the palace; lately many people come to pay respects to the Virtuous Noble Consort, and at this time of day many officials and their wives pass through, making it crowded and chaotic.

Therefore, the only person who has seen Xie Lin here is A Heng; Shen Shuangning has not appeared.

"Young Marquis!" A Heng called out happily.

Xiao Jingyuan's steps suddenly halted, and then he stopped.

Xie Lin, however, quickly stepped forward to meet her, recognizing her as Shen Shuangning's personal maid, named A Heng.

A Heng was acting on her young lady's orders, waiting here specially to return Xie Lin's jade pendant.

This jade pendant is a family heirloom of Xie Lin's, of great significance.

Initially he had entrusted Shen Shuangning to keep it, without saying when to take it back, even giving the impression that he would leave it with her forever, but Shen Shuangning could not calmly accept this precious sentiment.

Moreover, they are not yet formally engaged; if the marriage talks fall through and he takes another wife, what would it mean for her to hold this object?

Shen Shuangning, being a remarried woman, had more considerations; fearing Xie Lin might overthink, she specially had A Heng bring a message.

"The young lady learned that the Young Marquis had returned safely and was delighted, but her studies are heavy and she has not yet had time to come offer congratulations; therefore she specially ordered this servant to wait here and return the item to its rightful owner."

A Heng lifted the jade pendant with both hands, then added, "Young Marquis, do you have any words for me to convey to the young lady?"

When Xie Lin first saw the jade pendant in A Heng's hand, his heart gave a sudden jump, and inexplicably a trace of panic arose.

That jade pendant was something he had entrusted to Ningning before leaving the capital, saying he wanted her to keep it safe, but in fact he harbored a private motive; now seeing it returned intact, he momentarily feared that during this long time apart, someone else might have taken advantage.

The next moment, after hearing A Heng's words, the heart that had been lodged in his throat settled back into place, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously rose slightly.

Xie Lin felt as if he were holding a handful of sugar, sweet and tingling. He wondered what words he should bring to Ningning.

There were really too many things he wanted to say, and he even more wanted to take her hand and speak slowly in a world that belonged only to the two of them.

When the words reached his lips, Xie Lin only said softly, "Tell your young lady that I am all well; when she has free time, we will talk again another day, there is no rush."

A Heng stood to the side watching; she saw that Young Marquis Xie, though somewhat steadier than before, with shoulders straighter and a hint of wind and frost in his brow, but whenever his young lady was mentioned, the light in his eyes could not be concealed.

He was still exactly that callow youth whose love had just begun.

The servant has noted it down and will surely convey the original words to the young lady.

A Heng replied while holding back a smile, but her gaze unintentionally caught sight of Xiao Jingyuan behind Xie Ling, and she clearly saw the prince's face dark and grim, terrifying.

A Heng's heart suddenly shuddered, and her smile vanished instantly.

Good heavens, why is the prince here too?

A Heng bowed deeply to Xiao Jingyuan, who gave a slight nod and remained silent.

As A Heng was about to bid farewell to Xie Ling, he suddenly remembered something and quickly said, "Wait."

A Heng turned sideways, looking at him doubtfully: "Young Marquis, do you have any other orders?"

"This too is for your young lady." Xie Ling then carefully took out a wooden box from his bosom and handed it to her.

Though small, the wooden box was exquisitely crafted, and one could not tell what was inside.

A Heng thought to herself that the young marquis was truly thoughtful, even bringing a gift for the young lady, unlike that prince, who always wore a sullen face and only knew how to bully her young lady!

After A Heng put it away, she did not linger and hurried away.

As she walked, she patted her chest with lingering fear, not daring to look back, for the prince's expression was truly terrifying!

Xie Ling withdrew his gaze, turned to look at Xiao Jingyuan, as if recalling something, and lowered his voice: "By the way, in the imperial study just now, who was that Minister Pei the emperor summoned? He looks like a pale-faced scholar; I've never seen him before—could he be a political rival?"

Xie Ling this time eradicated the Black Wind Stronghold that had troubled the court for years, and relying on such conspicuous military merit, he finally achieved his wish of joining the Golden Wolf Guard, being appointed as a third-rank commander.

A third-rank office holds real power and places one close to the emperor; who would not say he is young and accomplished?

Shen Shuangning heard of this and sincerely rejoiced for him; her gaze fell once again onto the exquisite small wooden box on the desk.

Inside the box lay a coral bracelet, its color gorgeous and bright, striking to the eye.

Dan Zhou, being coastal, produces such coral items as a local specialty.

One can still see the traces of careful polishing on the bracelet; upon close inspection there are slight flaws.

Such quality would surely be heavily discounted on the market, but the young man's intentions are precious—how could they be measured in money?

She couldn't help but laugh, then returned the jade pendant, only to turn around and receive another gift.

One can imagine he carried this bracelet with him all the way, constantly thinking of delivering it to her hand.

Shen Shuangning gently took out the bracelet, put it on her wrist, walked to the window, and raised her hand to examine it.

Her skin was already fair, and the coral's vivid hue made her white wrist look even more lustrous; as light shifted, even her fingertips seemed tinged with warmth.

The gloom of recent days vanished completely, and her eyes gained a bit of luster.

Shen Shuangning couldn't help but think that once Xie Ling assumed his post as commander of the Golden Wolf Guard, he would also have to enter the palace; perhaps they would meet there soon.

A Heng saw her young lady so happy, and dared not mention that the prince had been there then, lest she spoil the young lady's joy.

The next day, the Virtuous Noble Consort was buried with great ceremony.

As the coffin set out from Yi Kun Palace, white banners led the way, mournful music echoed, Zhai Ji and Jing Yu, dressed in heavy mourning, supported the coffin and proceeded.

The imperial clan and close officials, dressed in mourning attire, were placed in the funeral procession.

Shen Shuangning, as the princess's companion reader and having deep affection for Jing Yu, naturally ought to come see off this final journey.

She changed into the plainest white gauze dress, wore no silver hairpin, only pinned a small white velvet flower at her temples, and quietly followed the funeral procession at the rear of the civil and military officials.

The procession stretched from Gong Qiang all the way outside the city, a line several li long moving slowly under the overcast sky.

Today, as the consort's funeral proceeded, all feasting and music in Jingcheng ceased; along the funeral route, no one dared to raise their voice, and officials' mansions hung mourning banners, lending a solemn atmosphere.

The Virtuous Noble Consort was interred in the imperial mausoleum, posthumously titled "Shu Shen".

Shen Shuangning caught sight of Xiao Jingyuan's distant back.

He wore a dark black cloud-and-thunder patterned official robe, its hem fluttering slightly in the wind, a white sash around his waist like the other officials; his figure was slender and solitary, like a sturdy pine standing by a cold pool.

He stood alone slightly ahead, neither conversing with anyone nor turning to look around; his back revealed no emotion.

Shen Shuangning couldn't help but recall her previous life, wondering whether after her death Xiao Jingyuan felt rather relieved.

After all, he never loved her, and was still waiting to marry Song Xizhi; having her as his consort princess was rather inconvenient.

She died, he ought to be happy, right......

Shen Shuangning gazed at him silently for a long time, then slowly lowered her eyes, looking at the road beneath covered in paper money, pressing that untimely thought down completely.

Yet he failed to notice, another person was gazing at her intently.

After an unknown span of time, Pei Zhi withdrew his gaze, lifted his foot and walked toward Xiao Jingyuan, then stood beside him.

Xiao Jingyuan had seen him approach in his peripheral vision, but pretended not to have seen.

Speaking of political rivals, they actually aren't, after all Xiao Jingyuan only serves the person on the dragon throne; if the crown prince ascends in the future, the two will still have to work together.

But Xiao Jingyuan inexplicably takes a dislike to Pei Zhi, having found him displeasing from their first meeting.

I had thought Pei Zhi came over to say something, but this person seemed merely to have stopped here casually, his hands loosely clasped beneath his wide sleeves, gazing ahead, saying nothing.

This instead caught Xiao Jingyuan's attention a bit, and he involuntarily turned his head to glance at him.

One must know that officials of the previous dynasty, upon seeing Xiao Jingyuan, avoided him as if seeing Yama, not daring to approach at all; yet Pei Zhi, a newly appointed civil official, appearing frail, actually dared to stand beside this killing god——

Many people changed their expressions, casting covert scrutinizing glances.

Even Xiao Jingyuan found it puzzling; he did not consider his relationship with Pei Zhi to be good.

Pei Zhi noticed that his gaze had lingered on him for a moment, then he slightly turned his head, nodded and returned the salute, before shifting his gaze away.

His expression was gentle, no different from usual.

Yet Xiao Jingyuan keenly sensed a hostility, he twitched the corner of his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.

The white banners hung for seven days in the palace had been quietly taken down, the plain curtains replaced with blue-green gauze; although the former liveliness was still absent, the heavy gloom had at least lifted somewhat.

Jingyu still had some posthumous matters to attend to, so Shen Shuangning returned alone to Chang Le Gong.

After walking for a long while, her legs were indeed somewhat sore.

Previously she hadn't felt Chang Le Gong to be so far, but now she felt that even after walking a long while she hadn't reached the end, waves of soreness surging upward.

She was about to take advantage of the empty moment to rest, when not far off a consort's procession came slowly this way.

An eight‑bearer sedan carried by steady palace attendants, flanked front and rear by maidservants holding fans and handkerchiefs; at a glance this entourage was no ordinary consort's.

Shen Shuangning hastily dismissed the thought, stood with hands lowered at the roadside, respectfully bowing her head to wait for the sedan to pass.

Her plain white gauze dress would have been unremarkable in a crowd, but now, standing alone beneath the vermilion palace wall, that touch of white stood out strikingly.

Looking at her posture, her spine was straight as a rod; though she lowered her head and cast down her eyes, she showed no trace of fawning or timidity, resembling a lily standing by a stream, pure and lovely yet revealing a steadfastness that is neither humble nor arrogant.

Thus the woman on the phoenix palanquin lightly raised her hand, and the procession slowly came to a halt before Shen Shuangning.

Shen Shuangning caught sight of the retinue stopping in her peripheral vision, her eyelid inexplicably twitching, giving rise to a vague sense of foreboding.

With no one else around, it suddenly stopped—could it be for her?!

Immediately afterward, a deep voice sounded, carrying unquestionable majesty: "You see the Empress and still do not kneel?!"

The speaker was a eunuch; Shen Shuangning did not know him well, but she recognized him at once—the chief eunuch Kang Shouyi who had long served Empress Wang.

In her previous life, Emperor Xuanwen lay ill in bed, just as the Crown Prince was placed under house arrest; the Grand Internal Supervisor Hai Gonggong, who constantly attended the emperor's side, had vanished, and this Chief Eunuch Kang took his place.

At that time Kang Shouyi, though not yet holding the title of Grand Internal Supervisor, had already gripped the inner court's authority in his hands, his methods being extremely harsh.

Shen Shuangning's heart jolted; she dared not delay, hastily pulling her robe together and bending her knees, she knelt down respectfully.