"Because there is no reason to watch with folded arms." Shen Miao said.
Xie Jing Xing was silent.
Shen Miao was well aware that her reasoning was flawed. In the eyes of others, prior to cooperating with Pei Lang, she had no contact with him, despite the fact that he was a teacher and she was a student in Guang Wen Tang, and not a few words were exchanged between them on regular days. When one was unfamiliar with another but nevertheless delegated important tasks to him with no reservations, this was obviously quite unusual in the eyes of the other.
Xie Jing Xing, in particular, was not a reckless person and paid close attention to information that others overlooked, making one feel timid with his acute sense.
However, there were many things that remained a mystery. She was unable to talk about the events of her former life. Not only would no one believe her, but she couldn't even persuade herself.
Shen Miao expected Xie Jing Xing to continue probing, but he nodded and said, "Alright."
Shen Miao was taken aback and breathed a sigh of relief.
The most rewarding aspect of working with Xie Jing Xing was that before he became a friend, he would think of ways to learn all of another's secrets, but once friends, he would value others and not ask them to talk of things they did not want to.
Of course, he would be able to work it out using his own methods.
"However," Xie Jing Xing grumbled, "there are many guards in Ding Wáng's residence. It is not easy to save anyone in Fu Xiu Yi's presence."
"You want to directly take action?" Shen Miao's heart moved.
"Or else?" There was no rage or pleasure in his tone of voice, but there were some inexplicable emotions. "The person that you personally request to rescue, how could I dare to make a mistake?"
Shen Miao gave him a hesitant glance. Currently, Xie Jing Xing's identity was already a source of consternation due to Princess Rong Xin and Su Ming Feng, but luckily, these two people had a passing fondness for Xie Jing Xing but none for Fu Xiu Yi. If Fu Xiu Yi had known Xie Jing Xing's identity and had not used the chance to spice things up, Shen Miao would have wasted too many years of knowing him.
"You… Be more careful." Shen Miao said, "I do not want to become a guǎfù shortly after marriage." (寡妇 Guǎfù - Widow)
Xie Jing Xing said, "How could you curse yourself like this?" He then smiled, "Don't worry. You will not become a guǎfù."
Shen Miao, "..." Forget about it. When he said those words, he was clearly playing with her. Xie Jing Xing was a careful person who would not take action on his own. She had overthought it.
After another few minutes of conversation, the servant by Luo Xue Yan's side came over to tell them that it was time to eat. Shen Miao and Xie Jing Xing exited, and the entire meal was consumed in perfect harmony. Xie Jing Xing could even coax the then-Princess Rong Xin, who refused to be near to anybody until she was content, let alone the forthright and joyous Luo Xue Yan. He was so knowledgeable and eloquent that Luo Ling couldn't help but be drawn to some of his perspectives.
Even the most astute observer, Shen Xin, was speechless. Shen Qiu recalled what Shen Xin said to him in the afternoon about letting him trade blows with Prince Rui for learning purposes, so he threw out a sentence loudly in the midst of the meal, "Today one had eaten too much, so Mèifū, later accompany this Dàjiùzi and exchange blows. One cannot just sit in the house all day and our family males should always be active." (大舅子 Dàjiùzi - Wife's Elder Brother)
The chopsticks in Shen Miao's hands stopped and Luo Xue Yan scolded, "Shen Xiu, your skin is itchy is it? Do you want Mǔqīn to exchange some blows with you?"
"Mǔqīn." Shen Qiu said in a grievance, "You better not meddle in matters of us youths." He then looked at Prince Rui and suddenly remembered something, "Oh. Almost forgotten to ask. Mèifū, do you have martial arts skills?"
"Have slight knowledge of it." Xie Jing Xing looked at him and smiled.
Shen Qiu said seriously, "Then that is good. Since you are in the Imperial family, one thinks that the martial arts teacher would not be bad. Don't worry. Dàjiùzi will give in to you. However, this Dàjiùzi is one that worked in the army and would often exchange blows with soldiers without caring how heavy one's blows are. If one is careless…" He cupped his hands together, "One hope that Mèifū would forgive this one time."
His words of 'Dàjiùzi' sounded close but his words; were of shame, but his tone of voice and expression; was joyful and eager to try it out. One had the impression that if this meal had not been finished at this stage, he would have dragged Prince Rui to the field to exchange blows.
Luo Tan and Luo Ling stood on the sidelines, watching the fight. Luo Tan was curious as to the extent of Prince Rui's martial arts abilities. The common people knew very little about Prince Rui of Great Liang and had previously always known that everyone in the Imperial family of Great Liang was gorgeous, and Prince Rui was no exception. However, he was enigmatic in any other way. His martial arts were not clearly listed by anyone, so no one thought it was exceptional.
Luo Tan, on the other hand, trusted her instincts. She had the impression that Prince Rui was a strong person the last time she went to his residence to ask for his assistance.
What kind of situation would it be if Shen Qiu faced off against Prince Rui? Luo Tan had mastered the art of being a busybody, making her an ideal onlooker.
Luo Xue Yan was enraged and couldn't wait to go up and beat Shen Qiu up, but Prince Rui was present and she needed to preserve her air of being the household matriarch. She could only look at Shen Xin and say, threateningly, "Don't you care?"
Who knew that the supposedly obedient Shen Xin didn't even raise his eyelids and swallowed a mouthful of food before giving a look as if all this was inconsequential? "What is there to care about? Matters of the youth should be resolved by themselves."
Shen Miao grasped it in a moment. How could Shen Qiu muster such bravery and repeatedly test Luo Xue Yan's patience? It was clear that he had Shen Xin on his side. Shen Xin decided to put Xie Jing Xing's martial arts to the test.
Shen Miao raised her gaze at Xie Jing Xing, who was by her side. Xie Jing Xing's head turned to the side and his lips hooked up as if he had noticed her gaze.
How could this individual have those abilities? That gifting a wedding gown could inspire others to deliver a crushing defeat. Shen Miao admired it a great deal.
Luo Xue Yan did not block it this time with Shen Xin's approval so it would seem that she was unreasonable. So, after the meal, Shen Qiu couldn't wait any longer and drew Xie Jing Xing to the open space in the courtyard of the Shen Mansion.
Luo Xue Yan was afraid that anything might happen and could only move forward. Shen Xin naturally wanted to go, and since Luo Tan pulled Luo Ling along to watch the fun, even though Shen Miao didn't want to go, she had to. A circle of people enclosed the courtyard, giving the impression that one was watching a competition.
Luo Xue Yan had already told him in secret not to cause an incident and to be gentle because Prince Rui was a scholar and the children of the Imperial family did not suffer, and he could not scare him as he did those soldiers.
Those words came in through Shen Qiu's left ear and exited through his right ear. He dashed over to pick up a weapon roll and inquired, "Which one does Mèifū want? You can choose first."
He said it in an extremely magnanimous manner.
There were long spears, halberds, a crushing iron bar, daggers, knives, and a giant hammer among the weapons taken out. There were a few massive axes as well.
At first glance, it seemed to be a very powerful weapon that was difficult to wave around.
Luo Xue Yan was so enraged that she refused to look.
The look on Prince Rui's face was slightly surprised.
Shen Qiu said arrogantly, "Mèifū, these weapons are extremely balanced. Just pick any weapon you like, in anyways this Dàjiùzi will give in to you."
Shen Miao, "…"
One did not know why but, Shen Qiu was not one with many thoughts and he had the cold and iron blood of a military person should have on worldly matters. However, while competing against Xie Jing Xing, he became clumsy, almost childlike.
Shen Mao could almost imagine how amusing her own Eldest Brother was in Xie Jing Xing's eyes.
Xie Jing Xing examined the arms and chose a short dagger from among them.
"This?" Shen Qiu was startled as he did not expect Xie Jing Xing would pick a short dagger and said profoundly, "Mèifū have a good eye but a chun (1 Chun = 1 inch) shorter means a chun more risk. Not many people would dare to carry this dagger. Do not choose it because it is light. Why not choose this sword? Although it is a little rusty, it is not heavy and you will be able to wield it."
"Many thanks to Dàjiùzi." Xie Jing Xing smiled, "I want exactly this."
Shen Qiu snorted, "Then don't blame this Dàjiùzi for not giving you any face when dealing with you. The weapon you chose is really inferior."
The corners of Xie Jing Xing's lips were pulled.
Even though he was wearing a mask, the smile on his lips always seemed to carry a little laziness and ridicule, making it easy for one to be angry. Shen Qiu immediately picked up a long spear and pointed its head at Xie Jing Xing.
Luo Xue Yan hid her face.
"May Dàjiùzi please." Xie Jing Xing was very polite.
"Boast without shame." Shen Qiu attacked with the long spear first.
After so many years, the young Vice Shen General had matured into a veteran General Shen who was admired by a noteworthy number of people in his life. He had fought countless battles and was recognised as the God of War, revered and worshipped by all martial artists. But he could vividly recall this afternoon's warm sunshine. This has been a memory... and shame that he will never be able to eradicate for many years to come.
Everyone couldn't see what was going on, but Shen Qiu hurried forward, and both of them were bundled up. They quickly separated, and Shen Qiu's spear was on the floor, while Prince Rui's dagger was steadily locked on Shen Qiu's throat.
All in the Shen family, "..."
Prince Rui loosen his hand and turned the dagger around before looking at Shen Qiu with a smile but not a smile, "Many thanks to Dàjiùzi for letting one win."
Those words made Shen Qiu's face turn purple-red instantly.
Everyone in the Shen family looked at one another as they did not understand what it meant. Luo Tan muttered, "Dà biǎogē… Lost?"
Everyone was shocked.
If Shen Qiu's martial arts were second in the younger generation of Ming Qi, no one would dare to declare themselves first. To begin with, Shen Qiu was personally trained from a young age, and every generation of the Shen family had war experience, as well as many martial arts books kept in the house; as a result, Shen Qiu was considered to have acquired profound knowledge. Second, when Shen Qiu was young, Shen Xin had taken him to the battlefield by his side and recognized the swords and knives. With these two points, Shen Qiu's martial arts were all about substance, with no superfluous movements.
However, Prince Rui disarmed Shen Qiu's spear, and Prince Rui's dagger was on Shen Qiu's neck. Shen Qiu had no way out, no matter how one looked at it.
Shen Qiu clenched his teeth and, despite his heart's reluctance, could only say, "One accepts the lost."
Luo Tan had already taken the lead to clapping her hands, "Mèifūi is so powerful to be able to beat my Dà biǎogē. You are Ming Qi's number one…"
Luo Ling quickly covered Luo Tan's mouth. Luo Tan was after all Shen Qiu's Younger Biao Sister but for her to encourage outsiders, one feared that Shen Qiu would be more upset when hearing it. He then looked at Luo Xue Yan uneasily. Thinking of her son losing to outsiders, Luo Xue Yan's heart must not be comfortable but who knew that when one look back, they saw that Luo Xue Yan had quickly walked over to Prince Rui's side and said, "Jing Xing, your martial arts skill is this good?"
"One has been practising martial arts since childhood but it is all stylish moves." Prince Rui smiled, "It cannot be compared to Dàjiùzi strong blows. One is ashamed."
"Young people do not need not always be humble." Luo Xue Yan said, "If one has an ability to be proud of then one should be proud. Then it would be like a youth."
Shen Miao said silently in her heart. Xie Jing Xing was already the first in terms of pride, if one let him be prouder of himself then he would have ascended to Heavens…
One might assume that both the guest and the host were happy with their meals. Luo Xue Yan and Luo Tan questioned Xie Jing Xing extensively about martial arts. Xie Jing Xing maintained a modest demeanour and seemed to know everything, which shocked Luo Xue Yan. After Xie Jing Xing left, everyone dispersed, except for Luo Xue Yan, who continued to murmur, "Rui Wáng, this child, looked not bad. Don't mention his identity, just based on character, courage and character, it is the world's best."
"Who can see what he looked like under the mask?" Shen Qiu said, "Mǔqīn is being too biased. What if there is a scar on his face and it looks very ugly? Then again, how could one be able to see one's character? I see that he is nothing much at all."
"What do you know?" Luo Xue Yan said, "One has a stomach full of scholarly literature. Even though I am unable to see the face of this child, his temperament is not bad. Even if one's face was not that good looking, one's temperament can make up for it. Besides, the bridges I have walked are more than the roads you have walked. The character can be seen in one's eyes and cannot be faked."
Shen Qiu snorted, "This is biasness."
"Shen Qiu. It is enough for today." Luo Xue Yan swept a look at him and remembering what had happened before, her anger burst out, "What kind of intention do you have of targeting others on everything? Have the time to be jealous of another's martial art, might as well practise your martial arts skills. Only exchange a few moves and the dagger is on your throat. Aren't you ashamed when this was spoken out?"
Shen Qiu quickly said, "I know. Mǔqīn, I will now look for Fùqīn to practice. Immediately. At this moment." As he said, he quickly fled away.
Luo Xue Yan stared at the wooden box on the table. Shen Miao's wedding dress is in it and thinking of how valuable it was, it was better to be locked so that she could rest assured. She then moved the box to the storeroom but saw that there was a double layer on the cover of the box.
Her heart became suspicious and she opened it up. A little booklet wrapped in red cloth suddenly fell out.
------------------
On the other side, Shen Qiu was talking to Shen Xin.
"Fùqīn, Rui Wáng's skills have definitely accumulated more than a few years. From the appearance, it should be accumulated since young. Otherwise, it would not be possible for him to win me within a few moves." Shen Qiu thought for a bit and continued, "In addition, his moves are all very vicious and could not be compared to those soldiers. It is reasonable to say that the Imperial family need not need to be like so." Finishing, he said hatefully, "This time I have taken it too lightly. The next time I must beat him up till he has a new respect for me."
Shen Xin waved his hands, "Alright, you are not his opponent."
"Fùqīn..." Shen Qiu turned pale with fright, "You did not mean that because of my one mistake you take me lightly? I really lowered my guard this time and who knew that even though he looked like a good looking white-face scholar, he hid his real talent. I…"
"These are the things he hid?" Shen Xin interrupted his words and a trace of complex expression appeared on his face.
"Fùqīn?" Shen Qiu did not understand, "What do you mean by that? Could it be that there are still things that he is hiding from us? Is he a good person or not?"
"Alright. You go out." Shen Xin said, "Don't indulge in flights of fancy and practice your martial arts well."
Shen Qiu, "…"
He only lost once. Why did it look like he had become a scholar who had no strength to truss a chicken?
Shen Qiu left angrily. He planned from this day forth to spar with others in the training field every day. But… When Shen Qiu left, he could not help but look back at Shen Xin.
Why did Father look like he was very worried?
Shen Xin was indeed very worried. This worry was gradually magnified in his heart that it had almost reached the point where it could not be concealed. He wanted to do something to divert his attention but the more he did that, the more he would think about this matter.
But he could not talk to anyone as he did not know how big the impact would be if he told someone.
He let Shen Qiu test out Prince Rui's martial arts skills and the intention behind was to see if Prince Rui was qualified to be a son-in-law of the Shen family. Before today, Prince Rui was only a name on the Imperial decree of Emperor Wen Hui, thus, the Shen family had no expectation of his abilities. They regarded Prince Rui as one who had malicious ambitions and that Shen Miao's marriage was not fair.
But looking at Luo Xue Yan's happy interaction with Prince Rui today, per Shen Xin's understanding of his wife, Luo Xue Yan was very satisfied with Prince Rui.
If Prince Rui already started to satisfy Luo Xue Yan then one could not treat Prince Rui as simply as a name on the Imperial decree. He must become the son-in-law of the Shen family and had to go through different types of critical and demanding tests.
Martial art was one of them. One did not request exceptional martial arts skills but had to be able to protect Shen Miao's safety. As a husband, if one's wife encountered danger, at least one must be able to protect her safety.
Shen Xin thought it like that but unexpectedly some other things came out in this test.
The few younger generations were unable to see clearly but Luo Xue Yan and himself could see clearly. It was especially so for Shen Xin that each move that both of them made could be seen clearly by him. Shen Xin had once seen someone using the move of locking the dagger to the throat that Prince Rui used.
Xie Ding.
The Shen family and the Xie family did not see eye to eye in court for generations as the Shen family paid attention to the rules and regulation with the troops while the Xie family focused on ambushes and did not follow common sense. Their ancestors had fought for so many years and upon reaching Shen Xin's generation, it was so natural that one did not know why the two big aristocratic families were at odds with one another.
The person who understood you the best was not a friend, but an enemy and this saying were very true. Shen Xin had been secretly comparing himself to Xie Ding since he was a youngster. The Shen family possessed the Shen family spear, which could destroy anything in its path. Others envied Xie Ding's dagger move of locking the dagger to the throat, which the Xie family possessed in addition to the Xie family spear. It would be ideal for assassinating the commanding General. Even while fighting on horseback with a spear in one's side, it was frightening to unexpectedly have a knife thrust into one's throat.
Xie Ding almost always won based solely on this move.
Xie Ding did not teach this step to anyone other than his only Di-son, Xie Jing Xing. He didn't even pass it on to his two Shu-sons. When Xie Jing Xing was young and trading blows with others, he used this move before, and Shen Xin happened to be nearby at the moment and was stunned that Xie Jing Xing could perform this move so ferociously at such a young age. He also made a minor modification to Xie Ding's original move, making it even more lethal.
This move was used during a sparring match between Prince Rui and Shen Qiu.
Or it could be said that the move was used after Xie Jing Xing slightly altered it and the angle remained the same. One couldn't tell whether it was done on purpose or not because it was much slower than it had been before, almost as if it was a deliberate effort to allow Shen Xin to see it clearly.
When he saw the instance, Shen Xin couldn't conceal his shock and horror. He didn't know what else to think but to cover it up with silence.
Xie Jing Xing was slain on the frontline in Northern Jiang two years ago. But how would Prince Rui of Great Liang be aware of the 'locking the dagger to the throat' manoeuvre? Especially when it was the exact same moves
Even if another individual performed the same action or performed the same tricks, there would be a minor difference, but Prince Rui's and Xie Jing Xing's figures had merged at that moment, and there was no difference in Shen Xin's eyes.
Then a crazy idea came to me. Is it possible that Prince Rui was Xie Jing Xing?
Xie Jing Xing had already passed away.
Shen Xin, on the one hand, thought his thought was absurd and a joke, but on the other hand, he couldn't stop thinking about it. He also had the impression that during the exchange between Shen Qiu, Prince Rui's movements were intentionally slow in order to enable him to see clearly.
Is it possible that Prince Rui wanted him to see this?
Shen Xin's heart was troubled, but he couldn't bring himself to tell anyone about it. After all, it was best to investigate first before getting a better look at a clearer picture.
After all, he didn't want to see Shen Miao suffer. If Prince Rui were Xie Jing Xing, the multiple entanglements would be more complicated.
*****
When the days passed, it became clear that only a few days remained until the end of the year. Ordinary people were happiest at the end of the year and it was always better to treat oneself better after an entire year. Every day, one could be content by eating, drinking, and playing well. Since the happier days were fleeting, one might feel a sense of loss.
Pei Lang, on the other hand, found each day to be painfully slow. Every day, his body was tossed about, and a tiny piece of flesh was ground, only to be repeated the next day. He often wished for a swift death rather than being tortured so painfully.
He had no idea how long he had been imprisoned in Prince Ding's secret dungeon. Fu Xiu Yi, aside from the guards who were torturing, did not come over. His legs were soaking wet with blood and sweat as a result of the daily increasing torture. He'd learned that the bones in his kneecap will be smashed after today.
Once one's kneecaps were smashed, the remainder of one's life was spent kneeling and waiting for others. It was undeniably a nightmare of a lifetime for those who were proud, such as Pei Lang. Fu Xiu Yi was well aware of human nature's flaws. For a young man who had a full and promising life ahead of him but had to kneel in the future to survive, even though one lived on for a day, one's life would be so absolutely lost that it was easier to die instead.
Pei Lang, strangely, did not want to sell out Shen Miao even at this juncture.
Despite the fact that he rationally convinced himself that speaking about it would be liberation. And if one had to die, it was preferable to going through this interminable repetition. He was not friends with Shen Miao, and it was only Shen Miao who threatened him with Liu Ying, leaving him with no choice but to work for Shen Miao. Despite the fact that Shen Miao was a fiery orator, she had never taken action against innocent people. Even if he really deceived her, Shen Miao will never implicate the blameless Liu Ying.
After all, such torment was excruciatingly painful.
Regardless of one's logic, he would hold his mouth shut at the end any time he was about to open it. It was as if he had committed an unpardonable sin by doing it. Pei Lang wondered if he had owed Shen Miao a substantial sum of debt in a previous life. Otherwise, how could he be willing to sacrifice so much for her?
It was just that... No one came to save him after such a long time. Pei Lang's heart was a little disappointed.
Shen Miao had most likely forgotten about him, or it was possible that in her game of chess, sacrificing a minor piece was insufficient to secure his place in her heart.
He was thinking about it when he heard piping up outside. He had no idea what was going on, just that there was a lot of yelling and chaos before the sound of broken objects could be heard.
He was almost attacked by the heatwave.
Someone shouted out, "There is a fire! A fire!"
Fire?
Pei Lang's heart was startled. This was Fu Xiu Yi's underground prison, and only Fu Xiu Yi's closest confidants and prison guards were allowed in. Nobody else was going to show up. There were no normal accidents made as a result of the strict surveillance. However, no one expected a fire, which would most likely be extinguished soon.
Pei Lang, on the other hand, had guessed incorrectly this time. Not only had the fire not been extinguished, but it had grown larger and some black smoke had entered. Those clogging footsteps outside became weaker as it got further and further away.
Pei Lang's jail cell was the farthest away, but on average days, no one could see it, and he seemed to be isolated from the others. There was no fire inside when the fire was lit, but as the fire in front grew larger, it separated the inside and outside, and the deeper it became, the more dangerous it became. Nobody will dare to join in general.
This was significantly less for Pei Lang. Nobody in this existence would put their lives in danger to save him.
Pei Lang seemed to have seen the rolling waves of heat before as if he had seen it somewhere, and a sense of relief arose in his heart.
Just like this then… This was also a nice way to end.
Just as he was about to shut his eyes, he heard an unfamiliar voice in front of him say, "Oh? "Are you really dead?"
Pei Lang opened his eyes in surprise to see a black-clad figure standing in front of him. The person's face was obscured by a piece of black fabric, rendering it impossible to see the person's features clearly. Just a pair of bright and lively eyes were uncovered, and they were unfazed by the vicious flames. When Pei Lang did not respond, he appeared irritated and opened the door with a key no one knew where he got it.
This individual genuinely came to his aid.
Pei Lang couldn't believe it, but this appearance and wardrobe couldn't be about anything else.
Pei Lang's spirit, on the other hand, was moved. Why did this person's eyes seem so familiar?