The Heart Given to Brighten the Moon - Chapter 17

Song Mingyue, naturally, would never look twice at the heir of Duke Lu. However, as for the life-threatening matter of “repaying a debt with one’s body,” Shen Danxin didn’t dare speak a word.

When Duke Lu was sent to the Northern Frontier by a single decree years ago, Song Mingyue was only eight years old; she had been beaten black and blue by a group of robust kitchen assistants in the Imperial Kitchen for the sake of a single coarse steamed bun. Chu Yunheng, who followed Duke Lu far from home, was then but a green youth tasting the first bitterness of parting; compared to filling his belly, he was likely more grieved by the thought that he might never return to Longcheng in his lifetime.

“He is not worthy of your sister,” Shen Danxin said with a dark expression.

Song Mingjue was stunned for a moment, then nodded. “I know.”

“But if he marries your sister, he must return to Longcheng to complete the wedding, yes?” A layer of gloom suddenly masked Shen Danxin’s eyes.

Song Mingjue remained silent and nodded again.

Shen Danxin collapsed into the grass, resting her head on her hands. The setting sun painted the horizon in a red that felt less like warmth and more like a frozen wasteland. She gave a derisive snort and laughed. “Only a fool wouldn’t agree. If I were Duke Lu, I’d be desperate to hold the wedding tomorrow. Regardless of whether that ‘martial-maniac’ son agreed, Song Mingyue is notorious, marrying her back just to keep her as a decorative ‘vase’ would suffice. Hey, don’t be angry; I’m just stating facts. Then, I’d find a few concubines for that precious son. What could a main wife with no power or influence do? Once back in Longcheng, who wouldn’t be looking forward to a comfortable life?”

As Song Mingjue listened, his brow furrowed deeper, eventually twisting into a tight knot. Suddenly, in a burst of fury, he slammed his arm against the hard earth; the ground gave a muffled groan of pain. With a contorted expression, he hissed: “Even if it costs my life, I will not let my sister marry Chu Yunheng!”

Shen Danxin sat up, glancing at the boy who for the first time displayed such a hateful expression. She gave a faint smile. “How much is your life worth?”

Song Mingjue’s eyes flared with rage. Shen Danxin met his gaze fearlessly until his eyes finally softened. She patted his shoulder in comfort. “Don’t be anxious. Humans always find a way. You look after your sister; I’ll go find Old Man Cai and see if we can work something out. Go back now, don’t let her worry.”

Shen Danxin stood up, brushing the grass and dust from her robes. She spared a few glances at the calm, algae-covered lake before turning to leave. As she reached the end of the path, she looked back. Song Mingjue had only taken a few steps; the slender youth’s silhouette looked desolate and tragic.

Song Mingjue once said that Zhao Zongqian spared their lives not because he feared anything else, but because he feared someone might have “ulterior motives.” The proverbs of this world always seemed to favor the bad over the good; though Zhao Zongqian had won the world from the back of a horse, his imperial statecraft was as refined and sharp as the blade in his hand.

Shen Danxin grew increasingly curious about this man. She had already guessed roughly eighty or ninety percent of the truth behind Song Mingyue’s betrothal. Song Mingyue was merely a pawn used to “cast a brick to attract jade.” While dampening the arrogance of an aging, peerless general, the Emperor was also testing whether Chu Yancheng harbored any treacherous intentions. A single trace of reluctance would be a “crime of deceiving the monarch,” allowing Zhao Zongqian to eliminate the threat once and for all.

But Shen Danxin couldn’t voice this speculation. Though Song Mingjue was usually easy-going, once he got a stubborn idea into his head, he was harder to turn back than Song Mingyue.

Yet, a decree issued was like a nail driven into a board; pulling it out was difficult and would inevitably leave a hole. At the very least, she would have to resort to a “last-resort” tactic. Shen Danxin stood before the gates of the Qingmo Academy, looking up with a soft sigh.

A young attendant, wiping his mouth, walked out from the gates. Seeing Shen Danxin dazed at the foot of the steps, he asked curiously, “Master Shen, why have you only just returned? Are you not eating?”

Shen Danxin was startled, her face shifting. “Eating!?”

The growing youth laughed. “There’s a little bit left.”

Shen Danxin fumed. She stepped up and gave the boy a flick to the forehead before bolting inside, not forgetting to shout: “A bunch of little ungrateful wolves!”

After eating and drinking her fill, Shen Danxin wandered into the small courtyard with a toothpick in her mouth. Beneath the dim, flickering light of a lantern, she spotted a hunched figure crouching on the ground. It was Cai Xun, planting flowers.

Shen Danxin, feeling a guilty conscience, immediately stopped. Just as she turned to make a quiet escape, a raspy voice came from behind: “Why have you only just returned? Have you eaten?”

Shen Danxin suddenly felt that the leftovers she’d just eaten had not only filled her belly but also warmed her heart. She walked over, crouched beside the old man, took the tools from him, and said softly, “Master, you rest. I’ll do it.”

Cai Xun braced his hands on his knees and slowly stood up, rubbing his lower back with a groan of “Ayo!” “One must admit when they are old.” Hearing this, Shen Danxin hurriedly supported him as they walked slowly to the Feixie Pavilion to sit and rest.

“You old man, have no self-awareness at all. An old back like yours shouldn’t be out here in the middle of the night planting flowers. If you plant them tomorrow, will they grow legs and run off?” Shen Danxin couldn’t help herself; she was both angry and concerned.

Old Man Cai gave her a sidelong glance, rubbing his back. “When one gets old, there are always times when one grows more and more muddled. Are you, a young lad, not the same? You have no self-awareness at all, running to the Scholars’ Academy every day. Do you truly think your Master doesn’t know what you are doing?”

Shen Danxin’s breath hitched in her throat, then dissipated. Like a frost-bitten flower, she collapsed dejectedly into the seat across from Cai Xun. After a long silence, she said distantly, “Master, don’t blame your disciple for being a disappointment. I do care a little about that girl Song Mingyue, but Zhao. His Majesty’s ‘random matching of couples’ is merely kicking someone while they’re down, taking advantage of a crisis… it’s… it’s…”

“It’s a load of farts!” Old Man Cai spat a cloud of spray right into Shen Danxin’s face.

Shen Danxin froze, then said with righteous indignation: “Exactly! A load of farts!”

Cai Xun sighed in irritation. Since ancient times, there had been countless heavenly talents, but those who could truly make a name for themselves and survive were few and far between. It wasn’t that there were few talented people, but that most of them lacked the “string” of worldliness and tact. To put it kindly, they “died young in their prime”; to put it bluntly, they “reaped what they sowed.” There were plenty of arrogant geniuses in the world; one more or less made no difference. At her age and with her temper, she was likely destined to die young, following in the footsteps of her predecessors.

Shen Danxin, having gained some self-awareness, softened her tone and offered a forced smile. “Master, don’t be angry. I was just speaking casually in front of you.”

Exhausted by his anger, Cai Xun lost the heart to lecture her. This fickle disciple always had a mountain of twisted logic anyway. He said calmly, “Your Master knows why you have come. It is true the girl Song Mingyue has a pitiable background, but there is no shortage of pitiable people in this world. If you insist on wading into this murky water, for the sake of our bond, I can point a clear path for you. But you must think it through: is it worth risking your life and your career for her?”

Shen Danxin gave a tranquil smile. “My life was saved by those two siblings. If I do not repay such a debt, I fear that even if I keep this life, you, Master, would no longer wish to acknowledge this disciple.”

Cai Xun looked at her, a sliver of a smile touching his face. With a hint of regret, he said, “If I could have taken you as a disciple years ago, I would have had nothing left to ask for in this life. Very well. I am tired. The ‘Portrait of Court Ladies’ requested by the Empress was completed a few days ago. Tomorrow, you shall deliver it on my behalf.”

With that, the hunched old man stood and walked out of the pavilion. After a few paces, he looked back and reminded her: “The painting is in the dragon-rune sandalwood box on the artist’s desk. Do not take the wrong one.”

Shen Danxin stared deeply at the old man’s vanishing back, then gave a deep, respectful bow. Afterward, she looked up at the vast expanse of stars in the night sky and sneaked out of the Qingmo Academy.

There was a curfew in the palace. Aside from New Year’s Eve and official business, everyone had to disperse twelve drumbeats before sunset. Even the Imperial children had to obey; violators were given fifty lashes. Shen Danxin walked with her heart in her mouth; she couldn’t be sure if the curfew had already passed, but she knew she had to see Song Mingyue tonight.

Fortunately, though the journey was terrifying, she reached the servants’ quarters safely. Looking at the dark “well-bottom” courtyard after half a month away, Shen Danxin felt an inexplicable sense of relief. She took a deep breath and walked straight in, just as Song Mingjue was stepping out of his room.

“You!?” Song Mingjue trembled in shock, nearly dropping the bowls and plates in his hands.

Shen Danxin’s eyes scanned the area, signaling that the walls had ears. She whispered, “Where is your sister?”

Song Mingjue jerked his chin toward the small wooden door behind Shen Danxin. “In the main hall.”

Shen Danxin had an idea. She snatched the dishes from Song Mingjue’s hands and shouted intentionally: “Brother Song! Since I’ve gone to the trouble of coming all this way, don’t be so polite. Leave these to me!”

In the hall, Song Mingyue heard the noise. She shook the water from her hands, wiped them naturally on her apron, and walked toward the door. Just as she was about to call out, the door was pushed open. Who else could it be but Shen Danxin, cradling a stack of dishes with a goofy grin on her face?

“Why are you here!?” Song Mingyue cried out.

Shen Danxin looked horrified. She hurriedly set down the items and clapped a hand over the girl’s mouth, hissing: “Keep it down! You’ll be the death of me one day!”

But the usually “vegetarian” [mild] beauty was anything but mild when it came to her temper. She didn’t need to ask to know why Shen Danxin had come. Her face darkened instantly; she pushed Shen Danxin’s hand away and said coldly, “Get out.”

“Wait!” Shen Danxin was stunned. “I risked my head to come see you; shouldn’t you at least let me finish what I have to say before kicking me out?”

Song Mingyue’s eyelashes trembled as she lowered her eyes. For once, she didn’t argue.

Shen Danxin dragged two small stools from the corner and patted them, saying softly, “Come, sit.”

Song Mingyue sat as ordered, her eyes fixed on her feet. Shen Danxin sighed, looking quite aggrieved. “The three of us are grasshoppers on the same string now; it’s wrong of you to be so distant. Your business is my business. Especially something this big, you didn’t even give me a peep. Old Man Cai just gave me a huge lecture about it.”

Song Mingyue looked up abruptly, her gaze sharp and serious. “This is my matter alone. If you think otherwise, then we shall part ways here.”

“What!?” Shen Danxin’s heart tightened, her breath hitching. “Are you truly so willing to be a puppet, marrying a soldier you’ve never even met?”

Song Mingyue looked at her from the corner of her eye, her gaze cold and piercing. “Even at his worst, Duke Lu is a First-Rank official of the court. Forget being a properly wed wife; even being a concubine in the Chu family is a hundred times better than being bullied in the servants’ quarters! Once Chu Yancheng returns to Longcheng and his son inherits the family estate, why should I worry about not being able to exact my revenge as the mistress of the house?”