Shao Shang hesitated for exactly nine and three-quarter seconds before excusing herself to change clothes. With a composed smile, she withdrew from the side hall leaning on Lian Fang's arm. Unlike her pale-faced little maid, Shao Shang's fingertips didn't even tremble.
Madam Xiao had said that one truly reliable ally was enough—a sentiment Shao Shang found quite reasonable. She wasn't willing to lose a powerful supporter on her future path due to stubbornness. While she could certainly devise clever excuses to refuse, or even drag Lou Yao along, when dealing with someone as formidable as Ling Buyi, the best approach was utmost sincerity rather than resorting to so-called "clever" tricks.
Shao Shang had been pondering how to make the meeting when Ling Buyi proposed a simple yet effective solution—just two ordinary thin silk cloaks to cover their heads and faces as they walked openly through the gardens. With so many young ladies present today, passing servants wouldn't dare question them. After just a few steps, the pair arrived at a secluded path lined with flowering trees where a tall, brocade-robed young master stood quietly with his hands behind his back. Hearing footsteps, he turned around.
Sighing inwardly but maintaining a perfectly polite smile, Shao Shang bowed: "I wonder what Lord Ling—"
Before she could finish, Ling Buyi interrupted: "Did you come because you heard me summon you, or only after your maid relayed my third message?"
Her smile froze momentarily before she solemnly replied: "Lord Ling has not only saved my life but also assisted me repeatedly. Such kindness and generosity naturally—"
"Hmm, so it was the third message then," Ling Buyi said evenly.
Shao Shang: ...
"You keep professing gratitude, yet how do you act?" Though Ling Buyi's expression remained smiling, his tone cooled. "Evidently, appeals to sentiment are useless with you—only threats work. Is this how you treat your benefactor?"
Feeling her forehead grow warm with fluster, Shao Shang protested: "No no! I'm not ungrateful! If you were Uncle Wan's age and appearance, I'd have come running immediately! But you're so... so handsome and young—how could I casually approach? You didn't see how the young ladies in the hall went mad just seeing you stand across the way! If others saw me with you, I might not live to see tomorrow's sunrise!"
Ling Buyi remarked: "Do you normally see the sunrise in the mornings?"
Shao Shang again: ...
"Zhang Shan mentioned that during those mornings when you had to mobilize the caravan, you emerged looking more displeased than if you'd encountered ten bands of thieves. You don't often rise early, do you?" Amusement glinted in his eyes.
She considered blaming travel fatigue but realized their caravan had departed the Capital City over a month ago—the excuse was too flimsy. Sheepishly she said: "General Zhang seems the quiet type..." Why so talkative?!
"Young Lady also seems the grateful type," Ling Buyi observed mildly.
Now sweating with anxiety, Shao Shang insisted: "I am grateful! That life-saving grace remains vivid in my memory, I—" In desperation, she countered: "Lord Ling, truly heroic men give favors without expecting repayment!""Did I ask you to climb a mountain of swords or plunge into a sea of flames? Yet you couldn’t even deign to meet me. If I ever truly needed help in the future, I doubt I’d even be able to step through your door."
Ling Buyi possessed unparalleled beauty, but his words were sharp as blades, leaving no room for mercy.
Shao Shang was left speechless, finally meeting her match in a battle of wits. She bowed deeply and said, "Lord Ling, this humble girl was wrong, truly wrong! I should have rushed to your side the moment I heard your summons." This was truly a historic moment—from kindergarten through primary, middle, high school, and even university, she had never apologized so sincerely in her life.
"And if there’s a next time?" Ling Buyi asked.
Shao Shang raised her hands toward the sky and declared loudly, "Then may the villains boil and eat me alive!" To her, this was the most terrifying oath she could swear.
Ling Buyi gazed at the girl quietly for a moment, his smile tinged with melancholy. "Walk with me for a while."
Wiping her sweat, Shao Shang quickly nodded and stepped forward to follow.
Lian Fang trailed far behind. Though Lord Ling was undeniably handsome, he was also terrifyingly stern. Even when he smiled, there was an air of cold detachment. Her Young Lady certainly had courage—not only daring to argue and evade but even making such a foolish vow.
The path lined with flowering trees was secluded and winding. Though Ling Buyi was tall and long-legged, he deliberately slowed his pace so the girl could walk beside him. Shao Shang glanced up at him as they walked, noticing his broad shoulders and the strong line of his back, like a mountain ridge. His profile was sharp and strikingly handsome. He walked in silence, brows deeply furrowed, as if weighed down by heavy thoughts—like a silent Deity from an ancient oil painting.
Though he was the same age as Yuan Shen, Shao Shang always felt he seemed older than the rest. She dared to bicker with Yuan Shen but never dared to act recklessly in front of Ling Buyi. Perhaps it was because he was a truly 'mature' man in every sense.
No matter how slowly they walked, the path eventually ended. "Lord Ling, there’s no more road ahead," Shao Shang said, startled.
The flower-lined path turned out to be a dead end. A left turn led to its terminus, where a small stone table carved in the shape of a crouching tiger stood, accompanied by two stone stools.
Ling Buyi gave a soft hum. "Yes, we’ve reached the end." After a moment of silence, he lifted the hem of his robe and sat on one of the stools. "Sit with me for a while."
Shao Shang hurriedly took a seat on the other stool, glancing around. The place felt eerily cold, as if nestled deep within a sea of flowers—fragrant yet chilling.
They sat in silence for a short while before Ling Buyi suddenly spoke in a low voice. "Someone’s coming."
Shao Shang paled in alarm, scrambling to her feet. "Wh-what do we do?! What do we do?!" Were they here to catch them in some scandal? But this was a dead end—nowhere to run!
"Don’t be afraid. You and your maid hide over there." Ling Buyi pointed toward a flower-covered wall in the corner.
Shao Shang took a closer look and silently praised the hiding spot. She immediately grabbed Lian Fang, whose hands and feet had gone cold, and the two crouched low, slipping into the cover of the foliage.
Moments later, hurried footsteps approached. Peering through the dense leaves, Shao Shang saw two finely dressed young women running breathlessly hand in hand—Wang Ling and Lou Li.
"Eleventh Master, it really is you?!" Wang Ling exclaimed in delight, hastily smoothing her clothes and hair. "A Li’s maid said she saw you coming this way, but I didn’t believe her!"Lou Li ran over with flushed cheeks, her eyes fixed intently on Ling Buyi. "...Didn't they say you came here with two women? Where are they?"
Ling Buyi gave them a cold glance, his gaze sharp as a sword, causing Lou Li to shrink back in fear.
Wang Ling immediately tugged at Lou Li's sleeve, signaling her to be quiet, then turned with a smile. "The servants must have been mistaken. Eleventh Master is here alone seeking some peace."
Ling Buyi said, "Since you know I'm here for peace, you may leave now."
Wang Ling and Lou Li stood awkwardly, unsure how to respond. Fortunately, Wang Ling was quick-witted and laughed, "Auntie has been mentioning you often lately, saying another year has passed and you remain alone, which worries her greatly."
"Did the Empress say that?" Ling Buyi's voice was icy. "If those weren't her words, Lady Wang, do you know the consequences?"
Wang Ling froze in panic. "No, no! Though she hasn't said it outright, I know that's what she thinks! Both Her Majesty and Your Majesty wish for Eleventh Master to marry!" Surely her own aunt wouldn't throw her niece to the wolves.
"Marry whom? You, Lady Wang?" Ling Buyi didn't even shift his posture.
Wang Ling's face burned crimson. While she harbored such hopes, she couldn't bring herself to say it aloud. Unexpectedly, Lou Li beside her blurted out, "Why not? Sister A Ling is talented and beautiful—"
"I prefer beauty," Ling Buyi interrupted abruptly.
Wang Ling stiffened. Lou Li, speaking without thinking, retorted, "Is Sister A Ling not beautiful?"
Behind the flower wall, Shao Shang nearly choked on suppressed laughter—this was indeed Lou Yao's cousin, sharing his same dull-wittedness.
As expected, Ling Buyi turned directly to Wang Ling. "Do you consider yourself exceptionally beautiful?"
Wang Ling felt as if she'd been doused in ice water, humiliated beyond measure. While she believed herself attractive, she couldn't withstand such direct scrutiny.
Lou Li realized her blunder but refused to back down. "Eleventh Master, you misunderstand. When choosing a wife, virtue matters most—"
Ignoring the girl, Ling Buyi again addressed Wang Ling directly. "Do you consider yourself exceptionally virtuous?"
Wang Ling could endure no more. Overcome with shame, she stamped her foot and fled in tears. Lou Li shot Ling Buyi a furious glare before chasing after her.
Only after they'd gone did Ling Buyi speak. "Come out. No need to hold back."
Lian Fang stepped out first, supporting her Young Lady, whose face was red from stifled laughter and bore marks from tightly clasped hands over her mouth. Shao Shang was no saint, and given Wang Ling's past hostility toward her, she felt not an ounce of pity. After Lou Li's attempt to humiliate her that day, though Lou Yao had scolded his cousin, Shao Shang only now felt truly vindicated!
It took Shao Shang a long while to compose herself after laughing. Finally, she settled properly at the stone table.
"Tell me about your childhood," Ling Buyi said gently.
Shao Shang's expression cooled instantly. She hated recalling her past. "I was unlucky as a child. Nothing worth mentioning."
Ling Buyi quietly observed the cold sharpness in her eyes, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. "What a coincidence. I was unlucky too. Nothing worth saying either."
"Then perhaps Lord Ling could share amusing stories from his studies," Shao Shang suggested, grasping for conversation.
"Studying and martial training were both arduous. Relentless learning, relentless practice. Nothing amusing about it."Shao Shang silently thought to herself: What a coincidence, she also found studying to be extremely tedious and not the least bit interesting.
The two of them sat in silence for a long while, so long that Lian Fang on the side was nearly in tears—this kind of quiet was terrifying!
“What do you plan to do in the future?” Ling Buyi asked. “I mean, apart from getting married.”
Shao Shang’s eyes lit up—she had many plans for this. “I want to gather many physicians and compile their medical knowledge and insights into books, which might benefit the world. I also want to improve those cumbersome farming tools—not only to save labor but also to increase grain yields. You wouldn’t know, but farming purely by human labor is truly backbreaking. Many farmers are riddled with illnesses while still young, their backs bent before they even grow old. And also, I want to build a workshop—nothing too big—but I’ve drawn some interesting designs and want to see if they can be crafted…”
She stopped speaking because Ling Buyi was staring at her intently. Shao Shang felt a little embarrassed. “This young woman has been too presumptuous. Forgive my foolishness, Lord Ling.”
Ling Buyi shook his head, his handsome features like a jade mountain tilting slightly. “Go on.”
Realizing she had gotten carried away, Shao Shang quickly composed herself and added, “And of course, supporting my husband, raising children, and honoring my elders.”
Ling Buyi’s expression cooled, his fair right hand tapping lightly on the stone table. “How mundane!”
Shao Shang retorted, “Just earlier, you were scaring my maid by saying you’d marry me! Now you think I’m mundane?”
Ling Buyi said with perfect seriousness, “Marrying me wouldn’t be mundane. Marrying anyone else would be.”
Shao Shang covered her sleeve and laughed, her eyes crinkling until she resembled a cheerful little jade doll.
Ling Buyi raised an eyebrow, smiling as he asked, “And how do you know I was just scaring you? Perhaps I truly meant it.”
Shao Shang sighed helplessly. “Lord Ling, no matter how busy you are, surely before today, you would have found the opportunity to bring up marriage with His Majesty. Since you haven’t, it means you have no such intentions. Please don’t tease this young woman.”
“…You’re quite right.” Ling Buyi’s expression dimmed, but then he suddenly added, “Perhaps I only enjoy stealing kisses and jade.”
Shao Shang blinked. “Well… His Majesty might actually be pleased by that.” Preferably if the stolen kisses and jade yielded results.
Ling Buyi was momentarily stunned—a rare occurrence—before bursting into hearty laughter. After a moment, he chuckled, “You even dare to bring up His Majesty? I haven’t even settled accounts with you yet. You went off and got engaged, only for me to suffer His Majesty’s scolding—‘Other young men are so sensible, finding beloved maidens when they come of age, yet you remain so clueless!’ He even accused me of being unfilial!”
Imagining the scene, Shao Shang felt an inexplicable sense of vindication and smiled behind her sleeve.
Seeing her laugh so freely, Ling Buyi said slowly, word by word, “Shao Shang, you are the most passionate, the most courageous young woman I have ever met. No matter what hardships or obstacles lie ahead, you always charge forward, cutting through thorns.”
Noticing her doubtful expression, he continued, “I grew up in the palace and have seen many women—some passionate, some courageous. But their passion was for fame, their courage for power. Not like you, whose thoughts are all about these things…” He had always despised those who schemed for personal gain, yet listening to this girl’s eager calculations, he found he didn’t dislike it at all.
Shao Shang was puzzled—was this praise? She gave an awkward laugh. “There are also those in the palace who are indifferent to fame and fortune.”Ling Buyi smiled faintly, "Aside from those who cannot leave, what would truly indifferent people be doing in the palace?"
Shao Shang inexplicably understood his meaning and whispered, "Who doesn't love fame and fortune? But my nature isn’t likable, and some paths are inherently closed to me."
Ling Buyi smiled, "Who says so? You’ve already won the affection of many."
Shao Shang shook her head, "No. If others knew my true nature, few would like me." Since any lie she told would be exposed by him, she might as well speak the truth.
Ling Buyi's smile slowly faded, his gaze fixed intently on the girl, a hint of melancholy in his eyes, "What a coincidence. If others truly knew me, I fear few would like me as well."
"Lord Ling, you jest! Just ask the young maidens of the Capital City—they would never agree!" Shao Shang clapped her hands and laughed.
But Ling Buyi replied seriously, "It’s true. Even you, if you knew more about me in the future, might come to despise me."
Shao Shang was stunned.
She finally understood why this seemingly perfect man always felt so difficult to handle—because she couldn’t comprehend him.
She could read Old Man Cheng, she could read Yuan Shen, and Lou Yao was like an open book. But Ling Buyi had always been an enigma to her.
Since the conversation had reached this point, Shao Shang decided not to waste the opportunity. Clearing her throat, she stood up solemnly and said, "Lord Ling, this humble girl has something to say to you today. Your favor fills me with gratitude, but I, I..."
The next words were somewhat embarrassing, but to avoid future misunderstandings, she gritted her teeth and continued, "But I am a woman of loyalty and virtue. Though you are exceptional in every way, I am already betrothed to the Lou family. Naturally, I must remain steadfast and unwavering in my devotion... Don’t laugh! You, you..."
Her righteous declaration ended abruptly as Ling Buyi leaned against the stone table, chuckling softly.
Shao Shang was furious, "Lord Ling, you... you... you’re looking down on me too much!"
Ling Buyi straightened up, still trembling slightly from laughter, "I know, you are a woman of loyalty and virtue. Go on!"
Shao Shang turned away in a huff, sitting stubbornly on the stone stool, refusing to speak further.
"Don’t be afraid," Ling Buyi said, his laughter subsiding. He understood what was on her mind and spoke gently, "This will likely be the last time we meet alone."
Shao Shang quickly turned back, "Are you leaving again? Where will you go to fight this time? Is it dangerous?"
"Not that. You’re getting married soon. We’ll need to avoid impropriety."
Ah?!—Shao Shang thought to herself, So you do know about avoiding impropriety.
Ling Buyi gazed at the girl, his expression tender, "Haven’t you always wanted to go out with A Yao? Don’t rush. I’ll find a way to arrange a suitable place for you. Don’t agree to any desolate or harsh lands just to escape the constraints of home—you wouldn’t endure it."
Shao Shang lowered her head, her heart filled with indescribable emotions. So he had seen through everything.
Ling Buyi stood up, clasping his hands behind his back as he admired the lush flowering trees around them. "Earlier, while across from you, I faintly heard the sound of a flute. Thinking back, I’ve never truly listened to you play. Everyone says you play beautifully."
His tone was calm, but Shao Shang inexplicably felt a pang of sorrow. She hurriedly said, "If Lord Ling wishes to hear, I’ll play for you now."Ling Buyi seemed quite pleased, then shook his head and said, "Never mind, it's better not to hear it. If I listen once and want to hear it again, that would be troublesome. Well, we've spoken enough. You should go back now. I'll sit here a while longer."
Shao Shang parted her lips but stopped, unsure of what to say. She rose respectfully, bowed, and then led Lian Fang away. After a few steps, she glanced back—Ling Buyi was tilting his face upward, gazing at the flowering tree, lost in thought.
Petals of spring drifted down—pink, white, and deep Rouge color—landing on the stone table, his robes, and his ink-black hair. Through the gentle petals and breeze, the handsome man before her seemed almost unreal.
After that one glance, Shao Shang turned and walked away without looking back.
Author's Note:
No update tomorrow as the family is going out. The next update will be on New Year's Day at the usual time. Wishing everyone a happy New Year in advance!
OpenNovel