Volume 1, Chapter 21: This Person, I Shall Buy

"A small favor?" Zhou Xunli wondered what kind of scheme she was brewing.

Xie Shu bowed deeply, her hands clasped in a formal salute. "When the Magistrate sends men to Guangling, I humbly request that you take a message to my second brother, Xie Yu."

Zhou Xunli then recalled the General of Zhenyuan’s wayward son—the one who lacked any scholarly inclination, had run away from home, and went about loudly proclaiming his intent to wander the world of martial arts.

"Do you have a token?" If such a significant event had occurred at the General’s estate, his brother really ought to return sooner rather than later.

Xie Shu pulled a wooden hairpin from her high-coiled bun. It was carved with a magnolia blossom. She laid it in her palm and said softly, "Please relay this message: 'Xiaoman longs for you; I hope for your return.'"

The hairpin did not look sophisticated, but it had been polished to a smooth, rounded finish, evidently out of fear that it might scratch the recipient. It was clear that whoever had crafted it by hand had done so with great care. Only now did Zhou Xunli notice that Xie Shu was wearing the hairstyle of a married woman.

His gaze flickered. "Xiaoman?"

"Xiaoman is my birth date, and also my childhood nickname," Xie Shu explained casually.

Zhou Xunli took the hairpin. As his fingertips brushed against the woman's palm, he felt a fleeting impulse to close his hand over hers, to wrap his fingers around that soft, jade-like hand once more—just as he had done with the colorful glazed cup moments before.

The Second Prince often said, "If you truly live as Zhou Xunli for your entire life, wouldn't that be a life wasted?"

Zhou Xunli had never taken those words to heart, yet the Second Prince always liked to gift him colorful items, laughing, "When we were in school, others loved to paint mountains and rivers, but you only ever liked painting flowers and grass. You can't fool me."

Was he a man who loved beauty? At this moment, Zhou Xunli actually began to doubt himself.

Only after she had left did Zhou Xunli loosen his grip on the hairpin, noticing a strand of long, fine hair caught on it. It was delicate and soft, as if it might vanish with a single breath of wind. Driven by a strange impulse, he tucked the hair into his sachet. Even with no one else in the room, the action made his heart drum against his ribs. What was he doing?

*Xiaoman, Xiaoman... Xiaoman implies fullness.*

Zhou Xunli repeated the name in his heart, and before he realized it, he had whispered it aloud. The soft murmur filled the room with a sudden, lingering intimacy.

***

The door creaked open. Green Willow, who had been waiting outside, turned to greet her. As she looked up, she couldn't help but ask, "Miss, how did you get ink on your sleeve? This new embroidered satin will never be clean again."

Xie Shu followed Green Willow's gaze. The ink had blossomed into a large stain on her cuff. It was glaringly obvious; she must have brushed against the inkstone while leaning on the table earlier. It was only meant to be a minor joke, yet she had ruined a new garment for nothing.

"Let’s go. I’ve been busy for two days, and I’m exhausted."

Xie Shu tucked her hands into her warm sleeves. After the heavy snow, the weather had turned even colder. Her constitution required a period of careful recuperation.

She had to hold on until her father and eldest sister returned to the capital. As for her dear second brother, Xie Yu, she could only hope that the beautiful scenery of Jiangnan would keep him there a little longer. In her past life, it was only after the news of her eldest sister's disappearance arrived that Xie Yu had rushed to the border alone, falling into a trap set by Northern Qi and ultimately dying with an arrow through his heart.

In this life, she would protect them all.

***

Outside the Metropolitan Prefecture, Uncle Li, who was responsible for driving the carriage, was wiping down the wheels and checking the hemp ropes that secured them. Uncle Li had once been a grain transport soldier at the border; he knew that a grain cart was crucial and must never be allowed to overturn. Although the weather was freezing, the rising sun and the heavy foot traffic had caused the snow on the road to melt, and one had to be careful not to let the carriage slide. Uncle Li was always meticulous.

"Third Miss, where are we heading?" Uncle Li asked, unsure if they were returning to the Zhenyuan General's mansion or the Marquis of Cheng'en's estate.

"From now on, just call me the Heir's Consort," Xie Shu said, stepping onto the carriage stool.

Uncle Li responded with an "Aye." Having followed Xie Shu for the past few days, he felt that the Second Miss had been working far too hard. If the General were to see this, his heart would surely ache!

Inside the carriage, the wide couch was covered in two layers of soft cotton. Exhausted, Xie Shu only wanted to close her eyes and rest. She instructed Uncle Li outside, "Go to the Marquis of Cheng'en's estate."

Seeing Xie Shu lie down, Green Willow pulled out a storage cabinet and retrieved a thin blanket to cover her. She then exited the carriage to give her mistress more space to sleep peacefully.

"Drive slowly, don't startle the Heir's Consort," Green Willow said as she sat outside. Her heart turned sour at the thought of what had happened over the past few days. If the Young General were here, would her delicate Third Miss have to suffer so much? She wondered if Wenying had found the Young General yet. If only they could return to the capital soon!

As she thought, a few tears escaped. She didn't dare to cry, fearing Xie Shu would hear her and feel distressed. She wiped her eyes with her sleeve, and just as her vision cleared, the carriage jolted violently, and she nearly fell off!

"Oh!"

In a panic, Green Willow turned and gripped the pillar by the carriage door tightly. She managed to steady herself, but the skin on her palm was scraped raw, causing her to cry out in pain.

"Whoa!"

Uncle Li yanked the reins with all his might, finally subduing the startled horses.

*Bang.*

Xie Shu, just on the verge of drifting off, slammed her forehead against the carriage frame. Fortunately, it was only a slight bruise. She asked with some displeasure, "What happened?"

"Save me! Please... save me!"

Before Green Willow could recover, she saw a frail man in green robes collapse in front of the carriage. His collar was pulled wide, revealing several bloody whip marks.

"Heir's Consort, someone is blocking our carriage." Green Willow looked down and saw a person covered in wounds! He looked so pitiful! But when the man looked up, Green Willow’s heart softened—he was so incredibly handsome! He was even better-looking than her own mistress!

Her heart moved. Green Willow rubbed her palm, hopped off the carriage, and hurried to help the man up.

***

Xie Shu lifted the curtain and looked down. At one glance, she froze.

Wasn't this the male companion who had escaped from the Princess of Le'an’s mansion in her past life? He was called... Yu? In her previous life, portraits of him had been plastered all over the capital, and the Princess of Le'an had offered a reward of ten thousand taels to capture him.

In this life, she had actually run into him. Wait, the Princess of Le'an hadn't even been summoned to the capital yet! So, who was this man?

Xie Shu was momentarily stunned. She silently sighed that he lived up to his reputation as a male companion; his looks were a hundred times more refined than Zhou Xunli, who had once been the top scholar.

Beneath the wounds, his dark hair hung messily across his forehead. His eyes were tilted, shimmering with a watery light. His nose was high and straight, his lips thin like cherry blossoms. Even covered in filthy, melted snow and mud splattered across his pale face, he could not hide his soul-stirring, peerless beauty.

As she pondered, three or four burly men wielding sticks rushed over. They were cursing, and one of them shoved Green Willow aside. "We bought this man from the Yuexiang Brothel!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, a one-eared brute reached out and grabbed the man’s arm, dragging him along regardless of his bleeding wounds.

Xie Shu had originally intended to stay out of it; after all, this was someone else's karma. But when Green Willow was shoved, she fell to the ground, and her scraped palm pressed into the snow, causing bright red blood to seep out.

"Uncle Li, take them down!"

At her command, Uncle Li and the others kicked the men to the ground in a few swift movements. The thugs from the Yuexiang Brothel lay on the ground, exchanging glances—how could a mere coachman be a martial artist?

This was the capital, after all. Fearing they had offended a person of high status, they immediately changed their tune, kneeling on both knees and begging Xie Shu for mercy. "Noble lady, please show mercy. We were just anxious and hurt someone by mistake. But we bought this man with cold, hard cash. We have the slave contract and the receipts. We hope you will allow us to take him back."

Green Willow stood up. Although she pitied the man, she knew of the Yuexiang Brothel—it was a place of ill repute. Looking at him like this, she feared he was not "clean" either.

"Mistress, shall we go?" Green Willow walked to the carriage and reminded Xie Shu. It was better to stay away from trouble.

"If you are willing to save me, I will repay you with my life." Seeing Green Willow make to leave, the man knelt on the ground, his voice trembling, his eyes filled with a vulnerability that tugged at the heartstrings.

Xie Shu looked at him, realizing for the first time that the phrase "eyes like silk" could be so aptly applied to a man.

"I will buy this man."