Chapter 54

Chapter 54

“Aaaah!”

“Help! Glug… help me! G-g-glug…”

Sheng Zhaoyan was sinking in the water, screaming himself hoarse in despair. His face had gone blue-purple from the cold, and his hands thrashed wildly as he struggled, swallowing bellyful after bellyful of water.

Biyun was so frightened by the scene that she froze where she stood, unable to utter a single word.

Sheng Zhaoning stood on the bank and looked down at him from the corner of her eye, coldly watching him bob and sink in the water.

Only when Sheng Zhaoyan’s limbs grew stiffer and stiffer, and the top of his head sank lower and lower, just as he was about to drown in the pond, did a floating bamboo pole get tossed in front of him.

Sheng Zhaoyan used nearly the last of his strength to grab it.

Half-dead, he was dragged back onto the bank.

Sheng Zhaoning looked at the man sprawled on the ground, gasping for breath. She walked over at an unhurried pace, crouched down, and grabbed his hair, forcing Sheng Zhaoyan to lift his head. Curving her lips into a smile, she asked, “Was that fun?”

Sheng Zhaoyan stared at her, his entire body trembling violently.

The usually arrogant, good-for-nothing second young master of the Sheng Family was now so terrified he nearly burst into tears.

For the first time, he felt that Sheng Zhaoning was an out-and-out evil spirit. Gentle and refined? Noble and upright? It was all an act!

She had disguised herself so perfectly that she had fooled everyone. But that look she had given him in the rockery just now had been full of danger and overflowing with killing intent. How could that possibly be the gaze of some weak scholar who let others push him around?

She was more like the King of Hell come alive!

The suffocating feeling of nearly drowning was still fresh in his mind. Sheng Zhaoyan no longer dared to be stubborn. He immediately shook his head with all his might, his teeth chattering as he said, “I was wrong, Sheng Zhaoning… no, Elder Brother… I was wrong!”

Only then did Sheng Zhaoning let him go.

“Get up. Come with me to see Grandmother.” She kicked his clothes over to him.

Sheng Zhaoyan did not dare argue. Even if he might be beaten with the discipline rod again and locked in the ancestral hall, what did that amount to compared with Sheng Zhaoning?

The last time, when he had watched Sheng Zhaoning being beaten yet managed to keep silent, he had only felt a little wary of her.

This time, he was truly afraid of her.

Sheng Zhaoyan staggered to his feet and haphazardly put on his clothes. He did not dare say a single unnecessary word, terrified that he might offend her somehow and get kicked back into the water.

Once he had barely covered himself, Sheng Zhaoyan cautiously glanced at her. Seeing that she had already turned and was walking toward Qinghui Hall, he struggled inwardly for a moment before he had no choice but to grit his teeth and follow.

“First Young Master!”

Unexpectedly, Biyun suddenly dropped to her knees at Sheng Zhaoning’s feet, weeping.

She clutched the hem of Sheng Zhaoning’s robe and lifted her head. A clear tear slid from the corner of her eye as she said through blurred, tearful eyes, “You cannot go to the Old Madam!”

Sheng Zhaoning frowned and looked down at her, somewhat puzzled. “Why?”

Biyun sobbed, then said in a hoarse voice, “There are too many eyes and ears in this residence. If this matter is reported to the Old Madam, it will certainly become known to everyone. By then, even if Second Young Master is punished, this servant’s innocence will be impossible to preserve. From now on, I fear I will only be looked down upon and mocked.”

After hearing this, Sheng Zhaoning said nothing.

If the Sheng Zhaoning of the past had not quite understood the shackles society placed on women, then after two years of walking through the world and truly experiencing the mortal realm for herself, she could now somewhat comprehend the hardships of being a woman.

Chastity. Reputation. These invisible blades sometimes killed faster than sharpened swords.

A woman who had lost her innocence would rather die than endure contempt and infamy in order to live.

Whether or not they had truly been at fault.

They were the only ones who died.

This was a shackle that worldly prejudice placed solely upon women. No one could unlock it. Not even she could.

And so, Sheng Zhaoning could not bring herself to speak harshly.

She merely stared at Biyun for a long while before sighing. “If you do not wish to go, then we will not go. Only, do not regret it in the future.”

The strength in Biyun’s hands went slack. She released the hem of Sheng Zhaoning’s robe, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed deeply.

“Thank you, Young Master.”

Sheng Zhaoyan had been listening closely to the commotion on this side. When he learned he would not have to go to Qinghui Hall, he immediately relaxed and quietly let out a long breath.

Sheng Zhaoning turned back and swept him with a chilly glance.

“Get back where you belong. Keep that scrap of flesh between your legs under control. If there’s a next time, I’ll cut it off and feed it to the dogs.”

Sheng Zhaoyan: “…”

He shuddered violently, clapped a hand over himself, and fled with his tail between his legs.

Biyun watched Sheng Zhaoyan’s retreating figure, lightly biting her lower lip as she slowly rose to her feet.

The humiliation and resentment that had been hanging over her head had vanished the moment Sheng Zhaoning kicked him into the pond.

Once the fear faded, a softer, more romantic feeling could not help but creep into her heart.

Wrapped in Sheng Zhaoning’s cloak, her delicate face was flushed faintly red. Biyun lowered her head, her hair at her temples in disarray, her shy face tinged with a few traces of unease, making her look all the more pitiful and lovely.

“First Young Master, your cloak…”

Biyun left the sentence unfinished, waiting for Sheng Zhaoning’s response.

The First Young Master… surely had some feelings for her too, didn’t he?

Otherwise, why would he take such a risk to stand up for her, even going so far as to kick the Second Young Master into the water? Why would he be so considerate of her reputation and not force the Second Young Master to go before the old madam?

With a secret hope in her heart, Biyun quietly waited for Sheng Zhaoning’s reply.

A cold wind brushed past her ears, and Sheng Zhaoning’s calm, unhurried voice drifted over.

“Wash it, then throw it away.”

She did not want to wear clothes someone else had worn, nor did she want anything carrying her scent to be picked up by another person.

Biyun: “…”

—

A drizzling winter rain fell for two days straight.

With the weather poor outside, Sheng Zhaoning also grew languid and somewhat drowsy.

When Biyun entered the room, Sheng Zhaoning was resting in the study with her chin propped on one hand.

The dim light of the overcast day filtered through the window, casting her figure in a layer of shadow. For no reason at all, it added a touch of loneliness and distance to that clear, stunning beauty that so easily unsettled the heart.

Almost the instant footsteps sounded outside the door, Sheng Zhaoning opened her eyes.

“Young Master, it is already noon. Would you like to dine?” Biyun stepped forward quietly and reminded her.

Sheng Zhaoning had not had much appetite early that morning and had skipped breakfast. Now that the sun was high and noon had arrived, Biyun figured she ought to be hungry no matter what, so she had prepared the meal in advance.

Sheng Zhaoning gave a soft “mm” in assent.

Biyun hurried off to set out the dishes.

A small corner of the carved window had been propped open. The rain pattered lightly beneath the eaves. Sheng Zhaoning’s gaze drifted aimlessly back and forth, lacking some of its usual sharpness and any real light.

She thought of the black bird that had landed on the windowsill two days ago.

It had crossed Liangzhou’s bone-deep winter, flown over mountains, seas, and the Huaijiang, coming thousands of li to Xuzhou before landing at her window. Fastened discreetly to its ankle was a secret letter from Liangzhou.

The letter had been written in the script exclusive to the Shadow Pavilion. Apart from the Shadow Guard, no one could read it.

After two years, Prince Zhenbei had once again ordered her to act and kill someone.

Sheng Zhaoning recalled that name.

Xie Qiu, Censor of the Censorate.

At the emperor’s instruction, this man had repeatedly tripped up Wei Chengjun, finally giving the court an excuse to punish the Northern Border and causing Wei Chengjun to lose no small amount of power.

Wei Chengjun had finally developed the intent to kill.

As it happened, Xie Qiu, who was inspecting the Huainan region on behalf of the Emperor, would pass through Xuzhou. Tomorrow night, there would be a banquet on the Huaijiang River. Baoyue Tower was built overlooking the river, boasting the finest scenery and elegant beauties.

Tomorrow, Xie Qiu would arrive.

And so would the hour of his death.