Chapter 7: Repaying a Debt. If Only She Could Offer Herself in Marriage.

Shen Ji had been curious about this Miss Su.

The events of that night at the estate on the city’s outskirts had left a deep impression on him. Afterward, he had tried to subtly inquire about Miss Su’s identity and background.

However, the Gu family only said she was the daughter of an old friend, a distant relative. As for why she had been targeted for assassination, they were vague and evasive.

So, Shen Ji stopped asking.

—In any case, he was just a guest staying for a few months; other people’s affairs had little to do with him.

He just hadn’t expected this Miss Su to take the initiative to seek him out.

And while he was testing a new crossbow, no less.

“I do.” Su Zhenyue nodded emphatically, simultaneously raising the inkstone box toward him with both hands. “That day at the estate, Cousin saved me. I am so grateful, I don’t know how to repay you. I wish to gift this inkstone to you, Cousin, and I hope you pass the imperial examination with flying colors.”

The young woman’s voice was like a warbling oriole, delicate and pleasant. As she spoke, a faint blush spread across her jade-like cheeks.

After she finished, she slowly lifted her gaze, her clear, water-like eyes filled with a mix of anticipation and nervousness.

Shen Ji glanced over casually, and the corner of his eye caught sight of the pair of snow-white, slender hands holding the inkstone box.

Under the sunlight, the hands were so white they were almost dazzling, their smooth, lustrous nails painted with vibrant Kou Dan.

Shen Ji’s gaze flickered, and he impassively averted his eyes.

Seeing his silence, Su Zhenyue felt a pang of unease. She blinked and explained, a little embarrassed, “I should have come a few days ago, but I’ve been ill, so it was delayed until today.”

—That wasn’t a lie. After falling into the water, she had suffered from a recurring high fever and had only just stopped taking medicine today.

“This inkstone… it looks quite old,” Shen Ji said, his tone faint, betraying no emotion.

“Yes, it’s from the previous dynasty, a gift my mother left me. Cousin has a truly discerning eye.” Su Zhenyue’s eyes lit up. She opened the inkstone box, revealing the Longwei Inkstone she had treasured for so long.

“A She Inkstone from the previous dynasty. A fine item,” Shen Ji praised, then immediately changed the subject. “But since it’s an heirloom, you should treasure it properly. It would be a waste to give it to me. Please take it back.”

He knew many scholars enjoyed collecting inkstones, and She Inkstones were especially famous in their time. But he had little interest in such things and had no intention of taking what another cherished. Besides, helping her that night had been a simple matter of convenience for him.

“Ah…” Su Zhenyue let out a soft cry, her bright eyes filled with undisguised disappointment. “But, Cousin…”

Shen Ji cut her off. “I appreciate the sentiment, but as for the thank-you gift, let’s just forget it.”

This was within Su Zhenyue’s expectations.

She wasn’t surprised in the least, but her lashes still trembled lightly, as if in gratitude, or perhaps disappointment. “But, Cousin, you saved my life. I have no way to repay you, and my heart is truly ill at ease…”

Su Zhenyue was exceptionally beautiful, especially her eyes, which were dark and bright. After her butterfly-wing-like lashes fluttered a few times, her dark pupils slowly welled with a glimmer of tears, and the corners of her eyes were tinged with crimson.

A beauty on the verge of tears was a sight one couldn’t bear to look away from.

Shen Ji, however, felt a faint headache coming on.

He was not adept at interacting with women, but with one weeping before him, he could neither pretend not to see nor directly ask her to leave.

As his thoughts turned, Shen Ji had an idea. “You want to repay me?”

“Yes!” Su Zhenyue nodded without hesitation.

Shen Ji let out a soft “mm,” his speech extremely slow. “You’re willing to do anything?”

That sounded a little strange.

“What does Cousin want me to do?” A hint of hesitation appeared on Su Zhenyue’s face, but an outlandish thought flashed through her mind: If he says I should offer myself in marriage, that would be perfect. It would save me the trouble.

However, she saw Shen Ji raise a long eyebrow and point to the Hibiscus mutabilis branches on the ground. “See those branches?”

“Yes, I see them.”

“Pick them up, cut them into small sections half a chi long, go over there and dig a pit, and bury them upright.”

Su Zhenyue was a little stunned. “What?”

Had she misheard?

Shen Ji explained patiently, “I’ve heard that if you bury Hibiscus mutabilis branches in the soil for storage during autumn and winter, they can still grow when planted the following year. Go and try it.”

Su Zhenyue heard herself ask, “Me?”

He wanted her to dig a pit and bury tree branches?!

“Of course,” Shen Ji said with a straight face. “Didn’t you want to repay me? Do this, and you’ll have repaid me.”

“No, I…” Su Zhenyue was at a loss for words.

She did want to repay him, yes, but it wasn’t supposed to be like this. According to common sense, shouldn’t she insist on expressing her gratitude after he politely refused the inkstone, then tirelessly bring him some handmade pastries or handkerchiefs every day, and in doing so, deepen their bond?

Why was he making her plant flowers? Did she look like someone who knew how to plant flowers?

But she couldn’t very well say that. After all, she had made the offer first. If she objected, it would seem her desire to repay him was insincere, that she was unwilling to do even this small task.

Su Zhenyue muttered under her breath, just loud enough for him to hear, “How does this count as repayment?”

Shen Ji glanced at her but pretended not to hear.

In truth, when he had saved her at the Gu family’s estate that night, he had never expected any reward. But since she insisted on repaying him and was on the verge of tears after being refused, he might as well find something for her to do.

He had knocked these branches off just now while testing his newly modified crossbow.

The weather in the north was harsh, and Hibiscus mutabilis didn’t survive easily. But if they could indeed be successfully cultivated, that wouldn’t be bad.

Seeing he had no intention of changing his mind, Su Zhenyue took a deep breath, set down the inkstone box, and prepared to dig.

She told herself: Look on the bright side, maybe this isn’t a bad thing? Perhaps it will give me more reasons to get close to him in the future.

But Su Zhenyue had lived in the Jing An Marquis Estate for eleven years, more or less pampered and privileged. When had she ever personally dug soil to plant flowers?

Moreover, to meet Shen Ji today, she had deliberately worn a goose-yellow dress to make herself look fresh and lively. Yet now, she had to lift her skirt to keep it from getting dirty.

Just as she was worrying about how to start, she suddenly heard Shen Ji’s voice. “There are scissors over there. You can cut the branches first.”

He stood not far away, pointing toward the stone table.

—Before Su Zhenyue’s arrival, Shen Ji had been modifying his crossbow and happened to be using scissors, so the tools were all ready.

“Alright.” Su Zhenyue nodded and walked quickly to the stone table, picking up the scissors to cut the branches.

She had learned flower arrangement, so she could manage cutting branches. Pushing aside all other thoughts, she focused on the task.

Shen Ji watched from the side, occasionally reminding her, “Half a chi long is enough. Remember to leave several buds on each.”

“I know.” Su Zhenyue didn’t look up, her eyes fixed on the branches before her, snipping forcefully with a “snip, snip.”

It was a bit clumsy at first, but it became much easier once she got the hang of it.

She had been a focused person since childhood. Whatever she decided to do, she would strive to do it well. When she heard footsteps, she pretended not to notice, continuing to cut diligently, ensuring each branch was the same length and had at least four buds.

After cutting about twenty branches, she suddenly heard Shen Ji say, “That’s enough. Put them in.”

Put them in? Su Zhenyue looked up in surprise, her almond eyes filled with astonishment. Haven’t I dug the pit yet? Put them where?

Turning her head, she saw that where she had been preparing to dig, a celadon flowerpot about a chi tall had appeared at some point.

Su Zhenyue let out a soft “eh?” and went closer for a look. The flowerpot was two chi square and filled with a layer of moist sandy soil, about half a chi deep—no more, no less.

It hadn’t been there just a moment ago.

She subconsciously turned her gaze to Shen Ji.

Shen Ji was wiping his hands with a handkerchief. Sensing her gaze, he didn’t speak, only lifting his chin to gesture for her to stick the branches in.

—He wanted to give her something to do to count as “repayment,” not to deliberately make things difficult for her. Since there was a suitable flowerpot, there was no need to make her go through the trouble of digging a pit.

Looking at her delicate appearance, he doubted she could even wield a shovel.

A flicker of joy rose in Su Zhenyue’s heart. Perfect, I was just worrying about how to dig the pit. This saved her a lot of trouble. Her steps unconsciously became lighter as she carefully began to insert the cuttings.

“Just stick them in halfway,” Shen Ji reminded her.

“Mm.”

Once the last cutting was in place, Shen Ji said directly, “Alright, the debt is repaid. From now on, you don’t owe me anything.”

He said this so casually, as if he hadn’t saved her life, but had merely done her a trivial favor.

“We’re even just like that?” Su Zhenyue found it a little hard to believe.

Other than cutting some branches, she had done practically nothing. How could that compare to the favor of saving her life? But he probably truly thought so.

Or perhaps, he wanted to draw a clear line between them.

“Yes.” Shen Ji nodded. “We’re even.”

After a pause, he added, “I still have some things to attend to. Remember to take the inkstone with you when you leave.”

With that, he paid Su Zhenyue no more mind and lowered his head to fiddle with the crossbow mechanism.

Su Zhenyue stood in place for a moment. Figuring that staying longer would lead to no further progress and might even provoke his dislike, she curtsied and said softly, “Cousin, please continue with your work. I won’t disturb you any longer.”

Then, she left, carrying the redwood inkstone box.

As soon as she was gone, Ping An darted in, his face alight with excitement. “Young Master, what did Miss Su come for just now? She stayed for so long!”

That night at the estate, he had formed an excellent impression of the Miss Su who, though frightened, had still spoken up for justice.

Shen Ji’s hands didn’t stop moving as he answered simply, “Repaying a debt.”

“Repaying a debt?” Ping An’s eyes lit up, and he grew even more excited. “Is she going to offer herself in marriage? That’s what they always sing in the operas.”

Shen Ji’s expression froze. “…Watch fewer operas.”

“What’s wrong? I think Miss Su is wonderful. She’s beautiful and refined, a match made in heaven for you, Young Master…”

He was cut off mid-sentence by a cold voice. “Did I have you follow me to the capital so you could ruin a young lady’s reputation?”

Ping An knew he had misspoken and immediately fell silent.

Shen Ji shot him a look. “If I hear you say anything like that again, you can go back to Qingzhou by yourself.”

“I was wrong. I’ll never speak carelessly again.” Ping An was talkative, but his attitude when admitting fault was excellent.

Shen Ji’s expression softened slightly. “Go tidy up the courtyard.”

“Right away.”

As Ping An bustled about cheerfully, Shen Ji’s gaze shifted, landing on the flowerpot with the newly planted cuttings. Unbidden, Ping An’s words echoed in his mind.

Offer herself in marriage?

He gently shook his head.

Mwah mwah mwah mwah, barring any surprises, I’ll update tomorrow at 9 PM. [blue heart][red heart][blue heart][orange heart][heart gesture][panda head][green heart]