A Stolen Romance - Chapter 26

Chapter 26: A Problematic Pit

Inside the Cloud-Deep Pavilion of the Duke’s estate, Xie Zhaoran listened with a solemn expression as Qin Xiao reported on the day’s events at the Marquis of Cloud’s residence.

Xie Zhaoran had received news of the Lu mother and son as soon as they set foot in the Marquis’s home. Since they were old acquaintances and posed no immediate threat, she had put the matter aside to handle other business. Now, she had summoned Qin Xiao to get the full story.

Qin Xiao recounted the message sent back by the hidden guards, including the Lu family’s intention to propose marriage to the Shi family, Madam Shi’s agreement, and her arrangement for the two young people to have a private talk. The location was a clever choice, and since the hidden guards were unprepared, they couldn’t hear what was said. All they knew was that the mother and son stayed for a meal and left. Madam Shi personally saw them off, a gesture that suggested a very close relationship between the two families.

Xie Zhaoran propped her head on one hand, using the celadon tea lid to gently skim the floating tea leaves in her cup. She briefly closed her eyes, hiding the exhaustion in them. The last two days had been busy; she hadn’t slept for more than two hours a night, and she could see the faint dark circles under her eyes this morning.

With that thought, Xie Zhaoran’s eyes snapped open, a dark expression flashing across them. “Go and investigate everything about this man named Lu. His family background, his character, his connection to the Shi family. Leave no stone unturned.”

Just as Qin Xiao was about to leave, Xie Zhaoran called out to her again. “Send someone to check and see… if he is good-looking.”

Qin Xiao raised an eyebrow in surprise, then quickly regained her composure. “Yes.” Just as she was about to bow and leave, she was stopped one more time.

“Hand over these matters with the Shi family to Qiang Di. You, personally, go and monitor the situation at Crane’s Call Temple. The Empress Dowager will be taking the ladies from the noble families to pray the day after tomorrow. Ensure the Empress Dowager’s safety at all costs.”

Qin Xiao’s expression grew serious. She nodded in agreement and went to find Qiang Di, who was busy arranging carriages.

Qiang Di thought it was an urgent matter. After hearing the order, she covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing. “Our master is checking on her love rival. That’s truly something else.” She laughed and was about to arrange for someone to do it, but she noticed Qin Xiao seemed distracted, and didn’t find her words amusing.

“What’s wrong, Sister?”

Qin Xiao came back to herself and looked at Qiang Di with a complicated expression. Qiang Di and Qin Xiao had been adopted by the Xie family and raised together. Seeing Qin Xiao’s troubled look, Qiang Di grew a little worried.

“What happened? Is something wrong with Miss Shi?”

Xie Zhaoran was so concerned for Shi Yuning’s safety that she had entrusted all security matters to Qin Xiao. Qin Xiao was the most capable and meticulous person by Xie Zhaoran’s side, which showed just how much Xie Zhaoran cared about Shi Yuning.

“Don’t you think our master is too concerned about Miss Shi?” Qin Xiao said with a hesitant tone.

Qiang Di was surprised. She didn’t understand why Qin Xiao was bringing this up. For one, it wasn’t their place to question their master’s affairs, and for another, there was nothing wrong with their master caring for Miss Shi. “Why are you asking that, Sister? Did something happen?”

A flicker of worry crossed Qin Xiao’s eyes. “Our master has plans to travel the land with Miss Shi. You know about this. Don’t you think it’s inappropriate?” They had both lived with Xie Zhaoran since they were children and knew her better than anyone. They were also the first to know about Xie Zhaoran’s special preference for women. Xie Zhaoran hadn’t hidden it from them, and after she realized she liked women, she kept a certain distance from them. She had also said that she probably wouldn’t meet a woman she liked in this life, and so all her focus was on protecting those around her. But now, she wanted to abandon all that to travel the world with that simple girl. Qin Xiao had a strong opinion about it.

Qiang Di didn’t understand why Qin Xiao was unhappy. She saw nothing wrong with it. Besides, it wasn’t their place to question what their master chose to do. “Sister, why are you worrying about this? Our master is not becoming the Crown Princess, nor the Empress. She’s free. Aren’t we free too?” If Xie Zhaoran was willing to take them with her on her travels, they would get to see the world. Even if she didn’t and found them to be in the way, they would be free to live their own lives. Wouldn’t that be a win-win situation? Both she and Qin Xiao were orphans who had lost their families in the border wars and were adopted by the Xie family. They were expected to repay the kindness with their lives, but if their master had a new goal, they could also be free.

Seeing Qiang Di’s cheerful and supportive expression, a bitter taste filled Qin Xiao’s mouth. She didn’t want freedom; that was never what she wanted… Qin Xiao sighed, forcing a difficult smile. “It’s nothing. I was just talking nonsense. I need to get back to work.”

…

Two days later, the rain stopped, and the day the late Emperor’s coffin was transported to the imperial mausoleum was clear. The court officials shed tears, saying this was the late Emperor’s spirit protecting his people and not wanting them to suffer the wind and rain on his behalf. The court censors spoke with absolute certainty, their words deeply moving. The Empress Dowager cried so hard she fainted.

The new Emperor, being of a weak constitution and also per the late Emperor’s will, remained in the palace. Prince Yu was appointed to escort the coffin in his place. According to the late Emperor’s decree, Prince Yu was to remain in the mausoleum to stand vigil for the rest of his life, forbidden to leave.

Before he left, Prince Yu paid his last respects to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager, seeing the child who had grown up with her, felt a pang of reluctance. She almost wanted to plead with the new Emperor on his behalf, but Xiao Liju stopped her. After Prince Yu departed, the Empress Dowager took the various titled ladies of the noble families and set off for Crane’s Call Temple to pray and chant scriptures.

After days of continuous rain, the mountain roads were still muddy and difficult to travel, despite the clear weather.

Shi Yuning lifted her carriage curtain and glanced at the treacherous road. The mud had splattered onto the skirts of the palace servants, so much so that their original color was no longer visible. Shi Yuning sighed and dropped the curtain, unable to watch any longer. Tu Chunhua was also there, her face full of sympathy and a bit of relief. “Luckily, we have a carriage. It was smart of you not to bring Xiaoliu and the others, otherwise, they would have to suffer this.”

Shi Yuning nodded. She had thought that since the Empress Dowager was present, the rules would be strict. If other noble families’ maids and servants had to walk alongside the carriages, and theirs were inside, it would only be another piece of gossip. She didn’t want to give those bored people more things to talk about. Her plan today was to be as inconspicuous as possible and, most importantly, to avoid Xie Zhaoran.

After clearly understanding her own feelings these past two days, Shi Yuning felt she couldn’t face Xie Zhaoran. She saw her as a friend and a sister, yet she harbored such feelings. It was so wrong of her. She would have to avoid her from now on. Shi Yuning thought that slowly, without seeing her, Xie Zhaoran would forget all about her. She was only worried about herself. Could she, Shi Yuning, forget about Xie Zhaoran?

“Are you worried about the gossip outside?” Tu Chunhua asked, noticing Shi Yuning’s listless expression since they left. She thought for a moment and then comforted her. “As for those ridiculous words, we should just treat them as farts. We can’t stop people from farting; we just need to stay far away from them.”

Shi Yuning nodded. She wasn’t bothered by the gossip, but she couldn’t tell Tu Chunhua the real reason, so she let her be mistaken. Just as she was about to agree, their carriage suddenly stopped. Shi Yuning was surprised and lifted the curtain to look outside. They hadn’t reached their destination yet.

“Miss, our carriage is stuck in a pit. It might take some effort to get it out.” The coachman came to report, looking nervous after checking the carriage.

Shi Yuning understood. Fortunately, this section of the road was still wide. She instructed the coachman, “Tell the carriages behind us to go ahead so they don’t delay the Empress Dowager’s procession.” The coachman agreed and quickly sent a guard to guide the other carriages forward.

Xie Zhaoran received the news about the Shi family’s carriage getting stuck right away. “I’m going to take a look,” Xie Zhaoran said to the person inside her carriage.

Lin Feiying, who was sitting in the main seat, was displeased. She had also heard Qiang Di’s report and couldn’t understand why Xie Zhaoran cared about that girl from the Shi family. Seeing that Xie Zhaoran wanted to go find her, she spoke up, her voice sharp. “What does the Shi family’s carriage breaking down have to do with you? Do you think the gossip isn’t bad enough?” She had endured a lot of anger recently, and Xie Zhaoran wouldn’t listen to her and beg the new Emperor to withdraw the decree. Now, she was even going to get involved with Shi Yuning, whose reputation was just as bad. Was she not done shaming the Xie family’s name?

Seeing that both her mother-in-law and her sister-in-law were in a foul mood and the atmosphere in the carriage was as cold as an ice cellar, Jiang Ming quickly intervened. “Mother, don’t be angry. Zhaoran is just worried that someone might delay the Empress Dowager’s business.” Jiang Ming winked at Xie Zhaoran. “Isn’t that right, Zhaoran? The Empress Dowager summoned you to the palace a few days ago, likely to discuss today’s matter.”

Xie Zhaoran knew that Jiang Ming didn’t want her relationship with Lin Feiying to be too strained. She nodded in agreement. Though Lin Feiying couldn’t stop her from doing what she wanted, it was good to avoid a quarrel. “My sister-in-law is right. The Empress Dowager ordered me to assist with this matter. I have to go see what happened.” With that, without waiting for Lin Feiying’s consent, she lifted the curtain and got out of the carriage.

“Look at her! I am her mother, but she doesn’t see me at all!” “Who is that girl from the Shi family to her? She hears news and rushes to her side. Hmph, I bet if I fell into a pit, she wouldn’t be so anxious.”

Lin Feiying said this angrily, and if you listened closely, you could hear the resentment in her voice. Jiang Ming sighed inwardly. Before she married into the family, she knew that the relationship between her mother-in-law and her sister-in-law, who had been left in the capital since she was a child, wasn’t very close. After she married, she realized the description was an understatement. Her sister-in-law didn’t seem to see her mother-in-law at all, and her mother-in-law was foolish enough to think she could mend their relationship while still putting on the airs of an elder, as if she expected Xie Zhaoran to bow her head and seek her mother’s love. But Xie Zhaoran was a grown woman.

“Please don’t be angry, Mother. I heard that Zhaoran and Miss Shi felt like old friends at first sight during the time we were away from the capital. It’s a good thing for Zhaoran to have another friend.”

Lin Feiying huffed. “What kind of status does the Shi family have? If she wants to make friends, she should be with a proper young lady like Miss Zheng from the Duke’s family. Why would she befriend a wild girl like that from the Shi family? And that wild girl’s mother was also born in the countryside. What kind of well-mannered child could she raise?”

Jiang Ming saw that her mother-in-law was not listening to reason and gave up trying to persuade her. She found it easy to understand why Xie Zhaoran was close to the Shi family. Although Madam Shi was from the countryside, she was a fierce and loving protector of her child. She had heard that when the late Emperor betrothed Miss Shi to Prince Yu, Madam Shi had openly defied the imperial decree in the main hall, risking beheading. It was a clear display of a mother’s profound love for her daughter. When she heard the story, she felt a little choked up. Compared to her, her own mother-in-law’s actions were hard to describe… No wonder Zhaoran would like the Shi family; she liked them too.

She really wanted a chance to meet the girl from the Shi family who had so captivated Zhaoran. She must be a delightful person.

Whether or not she was a delightful person, Shi Yuning didn’t know. All she knew was that things were about to get very interesting.

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