Chapter 2

Chapter 2 : Murder Shen Shuyue sat before the rhombus-patterned lattice window, carefully examining the branch of Chinese hibiscus resting on her desk. The main stem of the flower branch slanted outward, branching into two more. The leaves and blossoms were lush yet orderly, and the buds were full and ready to burst open—harmoniously beautiful, as if it had been meticulously hand-picked and snipped off by someone. Yet Granny Hu had just said that while all the other gift boxes bore the names of their senders, this flower had none, nor had anyone seen who brought it. Shen Shuyue tilted her head to look at the flower branch for a moment, then glanced at the withered, aged pressed flower by her hand. "Xiao Shao, do you think this hibiscus could have been sent by that fellow surnamed Pei?" It certainly was a bit too coincidental: right on the heels of the fortune-teller predicting a reunion, a branch of hibiscus appeared. Moreover, it looked to be the exact same rare variety of hibiscus—known as the "Drunken Hibiscus"—that she had given him as a token of her feelings back then. However, Xiao Shao didn't dare jump to conclusions, fearing that her young miss would pin her hopes on it only to face disappointment and suffer another needless heartache. Xiao Shao ventured, "Quite a few young gentlemen have sent the Miss flowers lately. Does this really prove anything?" "Yet not a single person has ever sent hibiscus. Why do you suppose that is?" "Hmm... probably because a single hibiscus blossom only lasts for a day and fades quickly, and its color changes three times a day. Using it to express one's feelings might make people worry the giver is fickle. Before today, even I didn't know the Miss liked hibiscus, so those young men outside certainly couldn't know." Shen Shuyue slowly shifted her gaze toward the winding covered corridors in the distance outside the window. "Yet there is one person who does know..." Back when her heart was first stirred by romance, she always wanted to get closer to Pei Guangji at the academy, constantly paying attention to his preferences. Unfortunately, the eighteen-year-old top provincial scholar had eyes only for the sage's classics that she so disliked. If he had any favored possession at all, it was only a yellowed, ivory-carved jade ruler adorned with a hibiscus motif. One day back then, she had been summoned by her teacher to weed and work in the academy's garden, and the teacher asked her what kind of flower she liked. Truthfully, she loved all sorts of flora and was about to say she enjoyed admiring every kind of plant when she caught sight of Pei Guangji passing by. Suddenly remembering his ruler, she spoke up loudly: "I like the 'Drifting Hibiscus that gets drunk three times a day!'" She meant for Pei Guangji to hear it, but her teacher sneered and mocked her on the spot, saying his students all favored plum blossoms, orchids, bamboos, chrysanthemums, or lotuses, yet she alone liked something that was merely pretty on the surface, short-lived, and fickle—adding that it brought shame upon him as a teacher. Her teacher's words didn't hurt her feelings; she hadn't cared about bringing honor to her teacher anyway. But fearing that the passing Pei Guangji might overhear and feel saddened, she immediately retorted: "The teacher only sees the hibiscus opening at dawn and withering at dusk, but fails to see how a tree of hibiscus in late autumn loses one blossom only for another to bloom, day after day enduring the bitter cold without ceasing. You see only the exterior of its 'changing colors thrice a day,' but not the essence of its 'unwavering floral heart.' To my mind, this flower possesses both the fortitude to defy fate and the spirit to exhaust three lifetimes of blooming in a single day. Its character clearly surpasses its beauty!" "All the flowers and plants of this world have their own unique beauty and strengths, and are not inherently superior or inferior to one another. The teacher fancies himself a gentleman, yet holds such prejudiced scorn for what others love. As your student, I find that truly shameful!" This retort of hers had left the teacher on the verge of fainting; once he recovered, he punished her by making her copy the Book of Rites ten times. Yet the person whose favor she sought showed not the slightest reaction. After that, Pei Guangji treated her no differently than before. Later, when she sent her confession letter, she had wanted to gift him an un-withering hibiscus flower, only to have it rejected and returned just like that. Because of this, the flower ended up becoming a source of heartache, and naturally, she never mentioned it to anyone again. Hearing this, Xiao Shao was struck by a sudden realization: "So only two people knew the Miss liked hibiscus: one was the Miss's teacher, and the other was Lord Pei. Could it be the teacher..." Shen Shuyue put her hands on her hips. "You would rather believe that nearly seventy-year-old rigid traditionalist would send a student flowers than believe Pei Guangji came looking for me to mend our broken bond?" Xiao Shao patted her own mouth. "It's definitely Lord Pei! The Miss is the one who truly understands him, so please don't take my nonsense seriously." Hearing Xiao Shao say this, Shen Shuyue grew even more hesitant. What was the Pei Guangji she knew like? He was like the untainted snow on a mountain peak, the lonely moon hanging high in the sky—always walking alone, indifferent to human warmth, and never growing close to anyone. Would a person like that proactively send flowers to a young lady? Besides, more than six years ago, Pei Guangji passed the imperial examinations at every level, becoming the youngest top scorer in the history of the Da Zhao dynasty. With a boundless and glorious future, he ought right now to be holding a pivotal position in the grand secretariat in Bianjing, handling affairs of state. How could he possibly have the leisure to visit this distant Jiangnan town thousands of miles away? This flower was probably just a coincidence after all; heaven had simply made up its mind to play a trick on her today. Shen Shuyue pushed the flower branch on her desk firmly away. Xiao Shao asked, "Does the young miss not want this flower anymore?" Just as Shen Shuyue was about to reply, Granny Hu returned carrying a scroll of portraits. "Miss, I've got the news back!" Earlier, when trying to figure out who had sent the flowers, she had a sudden thought and dug out a portrait of Pei Guangji from an old painting box, sending Granny Hu to ask Gatekeeper Liu if he had ever seen this man. Shen Shuyue leaned forward eagerly. "What did Uncle Liu say?" Granny Hu walked inside as she answered, "Old Liu said he hasn't seen him..." Shen Shuyue nodded, a look of "just as I thought" crossing her face. "But figuring that the young miss was rarely in such high spirits, I went out to ask around a bit more," Granny Hu said, catching her breath and pointing outside. "The errand boy at the teahouse by the town entrance said he saw this man a couple of days ago!" Shen Shuyue abruptly stood up. The teahouse at the entrance of the town had always been the most well-informed place, and the portrait she gave Granny Hu was a realistic full-length depiction, so there shouldn't be any mistaking him. With that, the fortune-teller's prophecy, the hibiscus on the door knocker, and the teahouse boy's recognition had all lined up perfectly. Now that it was all verified, it felt almost surreal. Shen Shuyue paced back and forth in her room, thinking: Could Pei Guangji have traveled thousands of miles south this time because he heard the news of her public husband-recruitment and regretted his past actions? Someone who never made a single mistake in test scriptures, poetry compositions, or policy essays... could he actually have regrets in his own brushstrokes? Seeing that Shen Shuyue remained lost in thought, Granny Hu chimed in, "Miss, I've already instructed the boy to keep an eye out for this person's whereabouts. If there's any news, he'll report back immediately." Shen Shuyue suddenly stopped in her tracks. "Is it wise to make such a fuss?" "Rest assured, Miss. Seeing that this portrait was kept hidden at the bottom of your chest, I knew it had to be a private matter. I've already taken care of Old Liu and the boy, telling them to keep a quiet lookout and not mention it to a single soul." Shen Shuyue let out a breath of relief. Xiao Shao was puzzled. "If we mobilized all the estate's servants, we could turn Liuxia upside down in half a day. Why keep it so quiet? This is the sweetheart the young miss has waited for all these years..." "Who says I was waiting? I'm not getting married simply because I don't want to, not because I'm waiting for anyone." Shen Shuyue glanced outside. "He was only a sweetheart from back then; whether I still fancy him now remains to be seen. He was the one who rejected me first—are you telling me that just because he casually tossed a flower branch, I should make a grand public spectacle of searching the whole town and throw myself at him?" Granny Hu chuckled and tapped Xiao Shao lightly on the forehead. "You child, you're still young." "Fine, fine," Xiao Shao pouted, pointing at the desk. "Then what about this flower, Miss? It's been cut from the branch for a while now. If we don't give it water soon, I'm afraid it won't bloom." Shen Shuyue raised her gaze toward it. "The flower has done no wrong. Find a nice-looking spring vase and put it in water." A pretty porcelain vase paired with a pretty flower truly made a pleasing sight. Shen Shuyue stood before the pearwood table, admiring the celadon-glazed yuhuchun vase and the flower branch slanting out from it, and nodded with satisfaction. After nodding, she felt something was still lacking. She stepped back, observed it from a distance, and shifted the spring vase to a different spot. Even after moving it, it still didn't look quite right, so she took a few steps to the side, took another look, and turned the spring vase to a new angle. Granny Hu and Xiao Shao watched her flitting around the room like a butterfly, and couldn't help exchanging a smile. Ever since the master started pushing for marriage, the room hadn't felt this relaxed in a long time. Just as the two of them thought this, a robust male voice echoed from outside the courtyard: "This is completely turning things upside down!" The smiles on the faces of the three inside froze instantly. Looking out the window, they indeed saw Shen Fuhai puffing his beard and glaring, striding over in a rage. Shen Shuyue quickly flicked down the bamboo blind, blocking the flower from view. Only after blocking it did she suddenly freeze: she was acting like a mouse encountering a cat, completely foolish. Her father was hoping she'd find a desirable husband; seeing her accept a gift should make him happy. What on earth was there to hide? Before Shen Shuyue could finish her thought, the door was pushed open with a shove. Shen Fuhai barely crossed the threshold before pointing at her and starting a lecture: "I was only gone for half a day, and you dared to sneak away from home! For the matchmaking session arranged for you, the gentleman came in all sincerity, yet you left the guest hanging in the main hall—do you have any manners left?!" Abruptly hit with this full-frontal scolding, Shen Shuyue wanted to retort that those people were sincere about her family's wealth rather than her, but she swallowed the words back. Anyway, over the past half-year, she had argued and fussed, and none of it had done any good. Shen Fuhai continued: "Look at how many prospective matches we've gone through, and not a single one catches your eye! Tell me, what kind of person are you actually trying to pick? Your grandmother is advanced in years, and her only remaining wish is for you and your younger brother to each settle down and start families..." "Then why don't you go manage my younger brother? You let him roam and gallop about freely outside, yet you want to turn me into a bird in a cage..." Shen Shuyue finally couldn't hold back anymore. "Years ago, we clearly agreed that I would stay right here in our ancestral home in Liuxia to accompany Grandmother in her old age, and that I wouldn't marry!" "I'll deal with your brother when he gets back. As for your marriage, back then was back then, and now is now!" "Then what on earth is the difference between now and back then?" Shen Fuhai choked up. Shen Shuyue glanced sideways at him. "Father, our family business hasn't actually gone bankrupt, has it?" "Bah, bah, bah! What nonsense are you talking?" "Then in past years you only stayed in Liuxia during the first lunar month and spent the rest of the time busy with business in Yijiang, so why haven't you left at all this year after the new year?" Shen Shuyue muttered, "Even if we really went bankrupt, it wouldn't matter. I can live more frugally or think of ways to make money." "The family is doing fine; there's no need for you to worry." Shen Fuhai flicked his sleeve to dismiss her. "Alright, let's leave it at that for today. Tomorrow, stay honestly at home and continue with the matchmaking sessions!" "Father!" Shen Shuyue stamped her foot. "Didn't you see what kind of people those were?" Shen Fuhai softened his tone a bit. "Liuxia is a small temple, so indeed there hasn't been anyone decent. But tomorrow is different—today I went out specifically to vet them for you beforehand. There are several gentlemen who have come from afar, and I've looked at every single one of them. This time, they will definitely suit your liking." "Coming from afar?" Shen Shuyue turned her head sideways in suspicion. "Where from?" "From various prefectures, and there's especially one who came from Bianjing and holds an official post. He has looks, he has scholarly talent, and he carries himself with a proper, upright, and courteous demeanor. At twenty-six years old, he is a perfect match for you. Tomorrow, you'll meet this one first!" Shen Shuyue blinked, slowly retracting the foot she had just stamped, and placed both hands behind her back. "...Oh." On a quiet, deep autumn night, crystal-clear moonlight spilled all over the courtyard. In the bedchamber with its half-screened gauze curtains, multi-branched floor candleholders cast a warm, glowing light while a lingering fragrance drifted throughout the room. Having finished her bath, Shen Shuyue sat before the bronze mirror, leisurely applying perfumed cream while Xiao Shao combed her hair behind her. Her freshly dried, jet-black hair was smooth like silk, sliding so effortlessly that it barely held the comb. As she worked, Xiao Shao occasionally glanced at the bronze mirror. The figure in the mirror wore a plain white raw-silk dress. Without a speck of makeup, she already possessed snow-white skin with dark temples, eyebrows resembling kingfisher feathers, and lips like a dab of vermilion—looking even purer and more striking than the midsummer lotus blossoms facing the sun. Xiao Shao couldn't help a look of yearning. "The person coming tomorrow must surely be Lord Pei, Miss! I can already picture the scene of me dressing you up on your wedding day!" Shen Shuyue glanced sideways at the person behind her. "He comes, and I have to marry him just like that? Whether that day will even happen is still up in the air; your imagination runs quite far." She was only just trying to figure out what posture she should strike when she met Pei Guangji. Xiao Shao chuckled honestly. "That's because I just took a peek at Lord Pei's portrait earlier—he is drop-dead gorgeous, and he matches the Miss to absolute perfection." Shen Shuyue gave a low hmph. "That's only because I'm good at painting." "That painting was actually drawn by the Miss's own hand?" Xiao Shao widened her eyes in astonishment. "I heard Old Madam mention before that the Miss is skilled at painting, but I didn't know it could be this good! That painting looks just like a living person standing right in front of your eyes! Heavens, if the Miss kept painting today, you'd surely have become a renowned master..." Shen Shuyue's hand applying the cream paused abruptly. Xiao Shao immediately realized she had said the wrong thing. Around seven years ago, the young miss's hands suffered an accidental injury. Once healed, she could still handle everyday gripping objects without a problem, but she could no longer perform delicate tasks: she couldn't dress herself or tie her own garments, she couldn't use chopsticks to eat, and she could no longer hold a brush to write or paint. What was even harder to bear was every winter when the cold set in; the bones in all ten of her fingers would ache with a piercing, agonizing pain. Even though her father had spent a small fortune installing a floor-heating flues (dilong) in her bedchamber and equipped the partitions with mica-sheet translucent panes (mingwa) to ward off the cold, it was still of no use. With hands like hers, how could the young miss ever hope to paint anything? While Xiao Shao was still racking her brains to smooth things over, Shen Shuyue spoke up first: "Who in this world doesn't have minor ailments or pains? It's true what they say about blessings and misfortunes being intertwined. My hands may no longer be able to paint, but in exchange, I've lived a life of leisure and wealth. Nowadays, everything from eating to dressing is taken care of by others—even princesses in the capital might not have such a luxurious stroke of good fortune." Xiao Shao set her mind at ease and continued smiling as she brushed Shen Shuyue's hair. "The young miss is right. Then you should get to sleep early tonight, because tomorrow is a big day." That's right. The person her father described matched Pei Guangji in every single detail. With his flowers arriving today, he himself should be arriving tomorrow, right? She wanted to see what kind of attitude he would show when he finally saw her. With these thoughts, Shen Shuyue climbed into bed early, intending to rest up and build her energy. Yet the more she tried, the less she could fall asleep. Lying in bed with her eyes closed, plays began running through her head. Every single scene was about Pei Guangji lowering his pride, playing the humble servant, and doing everything he could to please her, while she put on airs with supreme swagger and satisfaction. In her amusement, she accidentally laughed out loud, feeling a bit carried away by her own imagination. But upon second thought, so what if she was getting a little carried away? Back then, he had genuinely and truly broken her heart. Seven years was not just seven days; if he couldn't offer a proper explanation tomorrow for why he rejected her back then, then even if it really was a match made in heaven, she wouldn't bother mending this broken mirror. With that thought, Shen Shuyue cheerfully continued directing her imaginary plays. By some unrecorded hour, a patter of rain began to fall outside the window. The deep autumn rain came accompanied by a chilly breeze. Before long, the wind grew fierce, driving the fine rain slantingly across the covered walkways and striking a crisp, ringing rhythm against the mica panes of the lattice windows. Just as Shen Shuyue had finally worn herself out from her mental play-acting, her newly rising drowsiness was thoroughly doused by the raging wind and rain. She rolled over and pulled her quilt higher, trying to coax herself back to sleep, when she suddenly heard a flurry of hurried footsteps approaching. Someone pushed open the chamber door with a loud bang. Startled awake, Shen Shuyue snapped her eyes open. By the dim, flickering candlelight beside the bed, she saw Xiao Shao walking in, clutching an umbrella that was dripping water onto the floor. "What's wrong?" Shen Shuyue asked, startled as she propped herself up from the bed and parted the gauze curtains before her. "M-Miss!" Xiao Shao stammered as she walked to the bedside. "The teahouse errand boy brought news about Lord Pei..." Shen Shuyue blinked. Seeing Xiao Shao's expression, she guessed, "Did he change his mind and leave?" "No... Lord Pei, he—he has met with misfortune and been murdered..."