Chapter 43
Chapter 43
Xing Shuwei awoke early the next morning.
She was alone on the bed. Pei Xianjing had left at some point without her knowing.
As Qiutong dressed her hair, she said, “The Eldest Young Master was in a poor mood yesterday.
“Luckily, you were clever, Miss. You pretended to be asleep and clung to him all night, calling out ‘Brother Jing.’
“He looked positively radiant when he left this morning.”
Xing Shuwei stared at her own weary face in the mirror. “I wasn’t pretending last night. I truly had nightmares all night.”
The two eunuchs had haunted her dreams as well.
Even now, the memory left her shaken with fear.
Gao Li had only just brought in a steaming breakfast when Xing Shuyan entered the courtyard behind her, calling, “Elder Sister.”
Xing Shuwei rose to greet him. “Today isn’t one of your rest days. Why did the instructors let you come back?”
She pulled Xing Shuyan down beside the Eight Immortals table and served him food.
Then she pushed the only bowl of bird’s nest soup in front of him. “You’re still growing. You need plenty of nourishment.”
Xing Shuyan shook his head and took her hand, examining it closely. “Lady Pei said you were hurt. I rushed back because I was worried about you.”
“Who is making trouble for you?”
Xing Shuwei smiled. “I’m fine. How many times have I told you? Unless I send you a letter myself,
“you must not believe anything anyone tells you about me.
“You mustn’t panic like this again. Whatever happens, you have to keep your composure.”
Xing Shuyan held the bird’s nest soup in one hand and a spoon in the other.
He scooped up a spoonful, gently blew on it, and brought it to her lips.
Xing Shuwei raised a hand to push it away. “You eat it.”
“Elder Sister.” Xing Shuyan insisted on feeding her. “The food at Zhenxi Hall is excellent.
“You’re the one who needs to build up your health.”
Xing Shuwei’s throat tightened. “When did Lady Pei tell you I was injured?”
“She sent someone to tell me first thing this morning. If she hadn’t, how long were you planning to keep it from me?” A trace of reproach entered Xing Shuyan’s voice.
For the past four years, Elder Sister had continually wronged herself for his sake.
Now that he was grown, it was his turn to protect her.
He said, “I won’t let anyone bully you again.
“Once I earn military merit in Qizhou, we’ll leave the Duke’s estate.”
Xing Shuwei’s brows knitted tightly. “That isn’t something you should be thinking about now.”
“I can’t leave all the planning to you. The instructors said Qizhou is in the midst of war and chaos, making it our best chance to distinguish ourselves. I was the only person chosen from all of Zhenxi Hall.”
They were plainly sending Yan’er to his death.
If it were truly a good opportunity to gain merit without risking one’s life, how could it possibly have fallen to Yan’er?
In her anxiety, Xing Shuwei took the bird’s nest soup from his hand and set it heavily on the table. “Yan’er, listen to me.
“I’ve already found a way to get you into the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
“Perhaps one day you may even serve as a guard at the Emperor’s side.
“Our circumstances won’t allow us to wait for you to earn military merit in Qizhou. We have to find another path.”
Xing Shuyan challenged her, “Who did you go beg this time, wronging yourself for my sake again?”
Xing Shuwei shook her head. “I’m not doing this only for you. I’m doing it for myself as well.”
“The Duke’s estate has become entangled in the struggle for imperial succession. If we don’t get away in time, there’s no telling what situation we’ll face in the future.
“Yan’er, half a month. In just half a month, we’ll have nothing more to do with the Duke’s estate.”
Xing Shuyan’s days at Zhenxi Hall had not been easy either.
He was always assigned as the others’ sparring partner. He did not dare fight the young masters in earnest, but they never held back when striking him.
He constantly remembered Elder Sister’s warning not to stand out too much.
So they called him stupid, mocked him as a fool, tore up his military manuals, and excluded him from their drills.
Recently, they had become even worse. It was no exaggeration to say he was beaten every day.
Xing Shuyan had already begun thinking of leaving Zhenxi Hall. Only the knowledge that Elder Sister placed great hopes in him had kept him enduring it all.
“Yan’er, are you listening to me?” At some point, Xing Shuwei had risen and placed a hand lightly on his back.
“Hiss.” Xing Shuyan sucked in a sharp breath.
“What’s wrong?” Xing Shuwei asked in concern.
“Nothing.” He stood and made to leave.
“Stop right there.” Anger entered Xing Shuwei’s voice.
Xing Shuyan halted. She stepped forward and pulled open his outer robe.
The clothes beneath were soaked through with blood.
Xing Shuyan stood motionless, not daring to move. He could only turn his head toward her. “Injuries are common when learning martial arts.
“The instructors said that if we don’t get hurt during training, then once we reach the battlefield and fight with real blades and spears, we’ll have no fate but death.”
“You’re already in this state, yet you’re still saying such things to put my mind at ease.” Xing Shuwei’s eyes reddened.
“This is my fault. I should have realized long ago that they wouldn’t treat you kindly.”
Xing Shuwei blamed herself. Her own days in the Duke’s estate were filled with contempt and bullying.
How could Yan’er’s life at Zhenxi Hall have been easy?
She had presumed she had found Yan’er a good place and merely instructed him to keep his abilities hidden.
Yet she had never once asked whether that was the life he wanted.
“Go into the inner room and have Qiutong apply medicine.” Xing Shuwei lowered her eyes, concealing the tears about to spill from them.
Qiutong had already taken the wound salve Gao Li had delivered that morning from the dressing table. She led Xing Shuyan into the inner room.
From behind the folding screen, Xing Shuyan continued comforting Xing Shuwei, telling her not to be sad because they were merely insignificant flesh wounds.
Less than half an hour later, the steward personally came to Qianchen Pavilion to collect him.
“Young Master Xing must return to Zhenxi Hall. The young masters are all waiting to practice swordsmanship with him.”
Xing Shuwei personally escorted her brother out of the estate, saying nothing along the way.
Only after watching Xing Shuyan disappear into the distance did she return to the courtyard with Qiutong.
“Miss, we can’t simply let the Young Master be bullied for nothing. Why don’t we ask the Eldest Young Master to seek justice for him?” Qiutong said indignantly.
Xing Shuwei replied, “If he wanted to know what happens at Zhenxi Hall, who would dare hide it from him?
“He used Yan’er to threaten me before. If I go to him now and draw his attention to Yan’er, the plan to get Yan’er into the Embroidered Uniform Guard will fall through.”
“Lady Pei is sounding a warning. She’s telling me not to oppose her.”
“I’m going to Panlin Court. Go back and wait for me.” With that, Xing Shuwei set off for Panlin Court.
Lady Pei seemed to have anticipated her arrival. The moment she appeared, Matron Gao led her into the room with a cold expression.
As always, Xing Shuwei observed every rule of propriety. She bowed to Lady Pei. “Greetings, my lady.”
Seated in a chair, Lady Pei swept her with a cold glance. “That scoundrel from the Zhang clan killed the Princess’s men for your sake.
“Jing’er has also neglected me, his own mother, because of you. You’re quite capable.”
“My lady misunderstands.” Xing Shuwei stood perfectly still. “What virtue or ability does Weiwei possess to merit such praise from you?
“If you intend to use me to make Brother Jing unhappy, I’m afraid you’re exerting yourself in the wrong place.”
“But I can indeed help you obtain what you want. I simply don’t know whether your wish is what I suspect it to be.”
Lady Pei gave a cold laugh. “Those who think themselves clever rarely meet a good end.”
Looking at her, Xing Shuwei enunciated every word. “I can obtain an edict of the Empress Dowager allowing the Fifth Young Master to inherit the noble title.
“But I also have one small wish that I must ask you to grant.”
Her secret desire exposed, Lady Pei’s scornful smile gave way to anger. “What an outrageous claim! Have you forgotten your own status? What makes you dare boast like this?”
Xing Shuwei blinked her limpid eyes. “Didn’t you just say that Lord Zhang would kill the Princess’s men for me?”
The moment she finished speaking, Matron Gao’s voice came from outside the door. “My lady, a maid from Princess Jin’an’s residence has come to invite you there.”