Chapter 30: The Woodshed

Shen He returned to Mu Qizhi with the bank notes provided by Xiao Jingren, laying the twenty thousand taels before him.

Mu Qizhi’s sword-like eyebrows arched slightly. He picked up the notes with an air of nonchalance, his fingertips grazing the paper as he inspected them. "You truly have a knack for this!"

With an elegant wave of his hand, he passed the notes to Wu Yong, who was standing at his side, and commanded with indisputable authority, "Go and retrieve Zuo Pengyun’s IOUs."

Wu Yong nodded and soon returned with a stack of papers, handing them to Shen He. "Check these over. If everything is in order, we shall sign a release, and the debt will be cleared."

Shen He glanced through them briefly. "I trust you, Brother Zhi."

She signed the settlement, each party keeping a copy. Shen He tucked hers away; this was the proof she needed for Cui Ya.

Mu Qizhi chuckled. "Little lady, you shouldn't trust people so easily here—myself included."

Shen He smiled back. "Brother Zhi kept your word and didn't harass Zuo Pengyun’s parents, didn't you also trust me? If I lacked the means to repay the debt and was merely stalling for time to spirit them away, you would have lost both the money and the people. Since you chose to trust me, I must reciprocate that trust so as not to be ungrateful."

"Ha!" Mu Qizhi let out a hearty laugh. He rose abruptly from his seat and strode toward Shen He. He wrapped a firm arm around her slender waist, his eyes glinting with intense light. "Little lady, why don't you come with me? That would be the true way to show your gratitude."

Shen He smiled, gently removing his hand from her waist. "Brother Zhi is unparalleled in heroism, and I am not worthy of such an honor. However, if you would not mind, would you consider acknowledging me as your younger sister?"

"Ha! Very well! I accept you as my sister! A-Yong, tell the men: from now on, whenever you see Lady Linglong, show her the utmost respect. She is my sister!"

"Thank you, Big Brother. Since you trust me, I have a favor to ask."

"Ah, now that you call me Big Brother, there is no need for such formalities. Speak, what is it?"

"Since Zuo Pengyun’s debt is cleared and my friend has done all they could for his parents, I hope never to see those two ingrates in the capital again."

As she spoke, Shen He took eight hundred taels from her sleeve and handed them to Mu Qizhi. "Of these eight hundred, two hundred are for the two of them. If they are frugal, it will be enough for them to live comfortably for the rest of their lives. The remainder, Big Brother, should be distributed among those who helped with the matter, so they do not labor in vain."

Mu Qizhi looked at the notes in his hand and did not refuse. "My sister is truly straightforward! I shall handle this for you! Come, I am in high spirits today; let us have a feast at Shiyun Tower, my treat!"

Shen He waved her hand hurriedly. "I shall pass on the meal, but thank you for your kindness, Big Brother!"

"Hey, what is this? Burning bridges after crossing? Do you look down on your big brother?"

Shen He sighed helplessly. "How could I?"

"Then let's go!"

Without further ado, he pulled Shen He along toward Shiyun Tower.

***

Mu Qizhi had a boisterous personality, and the two of them conversed quite enjoyably. They talked until dusk, when Mu Qizhi escorted Shen He back to the Shen estate.

Inside the carriage, Mu Qizhi leaned against the wall. Wu Yong asked, "Brother Zhi, did you really take that lady as your sister? What is so special about her?"

Mu Qizhi closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. "The white jade hairpin in her hair belonged to Master Yan."

"Master Yan Qingxiu?"

Mu Qizhi nodded. "That hairpin was a keepsake from Master Yan's mother. The fact that he gave it to this woman suggests she holds significant weight in his heart. I owe Master Yan too much. Now that he is gone, I shall protect those who belong to him."

***

At the Shen Estate, no sooner had Shen He entered than Guyu and Xiaoshu hurried toward her. "Miss, it is terrible! The Old Madam is furious."

"What has her anger to do with me?"

"It is because of you, Miss! The General and Miss Qin are not home, and there is no one to speak up for you. What are we to do?" Xiaoshu paced in circles, frantic.

Shen He sneered, "Let us see what she can do to me."

As she stepped into the main hall, a tea cup was hurled toward her. Shen He stepped back, and the cup shattered at her feet.

"Look at yourself! What kind of behavior is this?" the Old Madam’s rage erupted.

"Grandmother, please calm your anger. I do not know what I have done to provoke such fury," Shen He said calmly.

"Calm my anger? You have the nerve to ask me that?" The Old Madam pointed at Shen He’s nose, her voice sharp and grating. "Flaunting yourself in public, laughing and chatting with men—have you no sense of shame?"

Shen He glanced at the gloating Madam Dan and Shen Jiao, sneering, "Your sources are quite efficient."

"Do not look at A-Jiao! If she hadn't happened to pass by and see you, the reputation of the Shen family would have been utterly ruined by you!"

Shen He walked over to Shen Jiao and gently took her hand. "Then I must ask, what was Sister A-Jiao doing at Shiyun Tower?"

[Brother Jingren...]

"Me? I was hosting Princess Anning, and I happened to see you with another man. Don't be angry, Sister. I didn't intend to tell Grandmother, but when I was speaking with Mother, Grandmother happened to overhear."

"A-Jiao, that is not right of you," Shen He said, releasing her hand coldly. "In truth, I saw you too, but I trusted in your character and did not give it a second thought, nor did I ever intend to speak of it to anyone."

Shen Jiao’s hand trembled. She was terrified—how could this be? She and Xiao Jingren had entered Shiyun Tower through the back door and gone to a very private room that Xiao Jingren had reserved for years. They had arrived and left separately; it was impossible for anyone to have seen them.

"Sister, you were meeting the Third Prince today, weren't you?"

Shen Jiao bolted upright from her chair, her eyes filled with disbelief.

Shen He smiled. "Why is my sister so flustered? I only thought perhaps you were thanking the Third Prince for his help at the equestrian meet."

"Yes, yes... Princess Anning and I wanted to host the Third Prince to thank him for his assistance, it is just... the Princess arrived a bit late."

"Indeed. Grandmother, you see? My sister was also dining alone with a man. Why is it a disgrace to the Shen family when I do it, but not when she does?"

Madam Dan was at a loss for words, but the Old Madam shouted, "Eloquent and deceitful! That is the Third Prince; how can he be compared to others? You grew up together! But the person you were laughing with—what kind of riff-raff is he? You have no fear of tarnishing your father’s reputation!"

"Grandmother, since you have such double standards, I suppose you have no intention of letting me off today?"

Madam Dan stood up. "A-He, I do not mean to scold you, but if word gets out that you are meeting men in secret like this, how will you ever be married off?"

"Meeting in secret? Mother, mind your words! We were in a public place, merely sharing a meal. How does that constitute a secret meeting? If we are talking about secret meetings, my sister was in a private room with the Third Prince. According to the strict rules of propriety between men and women, is that not far more suspicious?"

"Mother! Look at her... I am innocent with the Third Prince... how can she slander me like this..." Shen Jiao began to weep feigned tears.

"Are you saying that only you are allowed to spread rumors, and I am not allowed to speak the truth?" Shen He demanded.

"Someone, take this unfilial daughter to the woodshed! Let her reflect on her behavior!" The Old Madam, unwilling to say more, gave the order. Several servants stepped forward.

Shen He laughed. "Grandmother, you spent the whole evening laying the groundwork just for this, didn't you? No need for you to drag me—I shall go myself! Can you not come up with something more original?"