Chapter 5

A Serendipitous Connection, Unquenched by Fate

On the main road, a carriage hurried forward, its appearance somewhat neglected. The wheels grinding against the wide stone slabs produced a jarring noise, piercing through the quiet night.

Inside the carriage, Shimei gently parted the curtains, her anxious heart calming as she gazed upon the unfamiliar quiet of the imperial city at night.

"Sister Mei," Xiaohong couldn't help but ask, "Why are we rushing like we're fleeing?"

"Indeed, we are fleeing," Shimei nodded with a smile.

"Why are we running away?" Xiaohong asked, puzzled. "This time, it was Lord Qin's fault. You stopped him from doing something foolish; he should be grateful to you."

Shimei smiled helplessly, looking at Xiaohong, "What foolish thing did he do?"

"He was deceived by Mingfu and nearly killed Zhuanyue!" Xiaohong argued. "Zhuanyue has status too. If he had accidentally killed her..."

"He wouldn't have," Shimei dropped the curtain, smiling lightly. "He knows he can't kill her, and he was sure Zhuanyue wouldn't tell. He was just venting his anger and establishing his authority."

"Establishing authority?" Xiaohong sighed helplessly. "All this, just to show power? And to beat his own wife?"

"From what I see, Lord Qin doesn't really care much about any woman in the house," Shimei murmured softly.

"Huh?" Xiaohong shook her head. "He does seem to care about Zhuanyue and Mingfu."

Shimei chuckled. "They just happen to catch his eye, that's all. If he truly cared, he wouldn't tolerate anyone else."

Xiaohong nodded, half understanding, then asked, "Then why doesn't Zhuanyue complain to General Wang?"

"It's all about saving face," Shimei explained with a smile. "Zhuanyue is competitive; marrying into the Wang family was glorious in the eyes of others. Those who used to bully her are now envious. If word got out that she's unloved and abused in the Wang family, she'd be the laughing stock. She'd rather suffer in silence than be ridiculed."

"Sister Mei, how do you know all this?" Xiaohong seemed skeptical.

Shimei gently touched Xiaohong's hair but said nothing. She understood these matters all too well. Like when she was unloved, everyone in the family looked down on her. She always tried to appear happier than others because she knew showing her happiness was the best retaliation against those waiting for her downfall.

Reflecting on this, Shimei shook her head helplessly. It all seemed so pointless now. Yet, in adversity, one's mindset can be uncontrollable. Anyone in such a situation would feel aggrieved.

"Sister Mei?" Xiaohong, noticing Shimei's distraction, tugged at her sleeve and asked, "Now that you've informed General Wang, won't Zhuanyue lose face?"

"No," Shimei shook her head. "Telling him herself is different from being found out."

"True," Xiaohong mused, tapping her chin. "I don't have a father, so I don't know what it feels like to have one stand up for me."

Shimei thought for a moment, then said softly, "Being without parents is the hardest."

"Oh, Sister Mei," Xiaohong wiped her eyes. "Don't talk about that, I'll start crying."

Shimei laughed and gently rubbed her cheek. "How old are you now? Still so emotional?"

"Don't talk about parents!" Xiaohong protested. "I'm so envious of those with loving parents. Zhuanyue's father must be heartbroken to see her beaten. If I were beaten, just having a father glance at me, stand up for me, and feel sorry for me, would make it all bearable."

"That's how it is," Shimei nodded, patting Xiaohong. "Don't worry, Zhuanyue will be taken away. General Wang won't let her stay in the Wang family any longer."

"Why?" Xiaohong asked curiously. "Isn't General Wang afraid of offending Lord Wang by doing that?"

"If I were General Wang, I'd be full of suspicions," Shimei leaned against the carriage window. "A father knows his daughter best. He must wonder if Zhuanyue, being so stubborn, had never mentioned being beaten before. How could he allow her to stay in such a dangerous place?"

"Oh…" Xiaohong held her cheeks in her hands, looking at Shimei. "Sister Mei, are you fleeing because you're afraid Lord Wang will come after you for telling?"

"Yes," Shimei nodded. "A man as cunning as him, being fooled by his usually foolish wife, won't take it lightly! I guess after sending General Wang away, he'll come for me. Better to avoid trouble and leave, especially since I plan to part ways with him tomorrow."

While they were talking, the curtain of the carriage was lifted, and Xiaoxi said, "Madam, someone is following us."

Shimei, startled, pulled back the curtain to look. Indeed, she could hear the sound of horse hooves approaching from behind.

"Could it be Lord Wang?" Xiaohong panicked.

Shimei frowned in silence.

"Madam," Xiaoxi suggested, "you and Xiaohong hide in the alley. I'll lead them away?"

"No," Shimei shook her head firmly. "That would be a death sentence for you. It's not worth it."

Xiaoxi paused, then Shimei instructed, "Just keep driving. Don't worry about them. Head to the palace. If they catch up, then stop."

"…Yes," Xiaoxi continued driving without another word.

"Sister Mei?" Xiaohong was getting anxious.

Shimei patted her reassuringly and peered out of the window. By now, they could see the horse following them, a solitary white horse...

Shimei breathed a sigh of relief; Lord Wang's horse was chestnut-colored, so it wasn't him.

Curiosity then struck her. Why would someone be galloping through the streets of the imperial city in the middle of the night, all alone?

As she pondered, the approaching figure became clearer and more distinct.

Shimei slightly furrowed her brow, feeling a sense of familiarity with the silhouette.

"Sister Mei, it's that handsome young man!" Xiaohong suddenly exclaimed with a face full of relief, "It's not Lord Wang!"

Shimei nodded in agreement.

The person galloping on horseback behind their carriage was the same white-clothed man she and Xiaohong had encountered at the ferry earlier in the afternoon.

He held a long, white cloth-wrapped package in one hand and grasped the horse's reins with the other, racing wildly.

Shimei peered out from the edge of the carriage, watching him.

In the pitch-black night, his white garments fluttered like snow, blending with the dark strands of his hair in the wind. The horse he rode seemed to be rejoicing, dashing explosively. Shimei suddenly smiled, recalling lines from operas about figures 'as swift as the wind, robed in white like snow' - was this what they meant?

The man had already spotted the carriage in the road. Initially, he frowned slightly, but his expression changed when he saw a woman poking her head out of the carriage, familiar from their afternoon encounter at the ferry.

He took a closer look at her. She wasn't the demure, fan-fluttering type nor extravagantly beautiful; instead, she possessed a dignified air, reminiscent of a poem about a lady leaning over a balustrade. Seeing something, the woman inexplicably began to smile.

The man in white noticed her smile, not overly concerned whether it outshone the night's stars, but frowned, thinking this carriage appeared at an unusual time...

"Sister Mei, Sister Mei," Xiaohong tugged at Shimei's sleeve and giggled, "You're spellbound, staring like that!"

Shimei, startled, turned to look at her.

"That young man is incredibly handsome!" Xiaohong cheerfully said, "He fits the line: 'His brilliance rivals the sun and moon in embrace; his elegance like the imminent collapse of a jade mountain.'"

"Haha," Shimei, initially uncomfortable, burst into laughter at Xiaohong's words, playfully pinching her cheek, "What are you saying? It's 'radiant as the sun and moon entering the heart, and magnificent as a jade mountain on the brink of collapse.'"

Her laughter was loud, and coincidentally, the white-clothed man's horse arrived right beside their carriage at that moment, hearing every word clearly.

Chen Shimei turned her head and caught the white-clothed man's gaze. She instantly blushed, mortified. Had she spoken out of turn with her earlier comment, potentially coming across as a frivolous girl?

Fortunately, the man's expression remained unreadable, giving away no emotion. Otherwise, even a hint of mockery or disdain from him would have left Shimei feeling utterly humiliated. She cast a reproachful glance at Xiaohong.

Xiaohong noticed the man suddenly looking up and calling out to the coachman, "Stop the carriage!"

The coachman, startled, saw a line of people materializing in the thin night fog ahead, blocking their path.

"Whoa!" The coachman immediately pulled back on the reins, causing the horse to neigh and rear up on its hind legs, abruptly stopping the carriage.

This jolted Chen Shimei and Xiaohong inside the carriage, sending them tumbling against the sides.

"Ouch," Xiaohong quickly embraced Shimei, concerned she might have hurt herself, asking, "Sister Mei, are you alright?"

Shimei, having bumped her shoulder against the carriage window, felt some pain, but after moving a bit, she realized there was no serious injury and shook her head.

"I'm fine!" she reassured, peeking through the carriage curtain to see outside, frowning at the sight of many people blocking the way.

"Sister Mei?" Xiaohong looked worriedly at Shimei, signaling with her eyes – were they from Wang's residence?

Shimei scrutinized the scene and shook her head slightly, "No, they're not!"

Xiaohong sighed in relief.

Letting the curtain fall, Shimei pulled Xiaohong close and focused her gaze on the white-clothed man outside the window.

He still wore a stoic, indifferent expression, but there was a slight hint of irritation in his eyes as he surveyed the people ahead.

Shimei realized that these individuals were likely blocking the white-clothed man, and they had inadvertently become involved in the situation.

"Bai She!"

At that moment, the leader of the horsemen shouted, "Mind your own business, Bai She, and hand over the item!"

Chen Shimei noticed Xiaohong tugging at her sleeve and looking at her with a smile. Xiaohong mouthed the words - his name is Bai She!

Shimei was at a loss with Xiaohong's thoughts but remembered the name, Bai She.

Bai She gazed coldly at the man before him, his voice calm and clear, "Step aside."

"The Jade Buddha is a treasured heirloom of the Duan family. Why did you steal it?" The leader's voice darkened, "Bai She, you may be well-known in the martial world, but the Duan family is not to be trifled with! Be careful!"

Bai She looked at him for a while, too lazy to retort, but smirked mockingly, seemingly unimpressed.

Shimei and Xiaohong exchanged glances, both surprised - he can actually smile! Although his smile was particularly attractive, his attitude was infuriating.

Xiaohong whispered to Shimei, "Sister Mei, arguing with this man must be infuriating. That big guy blabbers on and he just answers in monosyllables." Shimei had to cover her mouth as Bai She glanced their way.

"Leave the Jade Buddha here today and you can leave; otherwise, we won't let you off easily!" The leader interrupted, breaking Shimei's awkward moment.

Bai She, visibly impatient, retorted, "Do you think you can?"

Shimei looked at Xiaohong, who had hit the nail on the head - conversing with this man was truly exhausting, using just a few words at a time.

"Oh..."

Suddenly, a woman's voice from among the horsemen rang out, "Just like the rumors say! Infuriating yet captivating."

"Third Sister, did you see that pretty boy lose his composure?" another voice teased, "Don't talk nonsense, he's a living Asura, not interested in the likes of you."

"True, he's so handsome. Why doesn't he have a beauty by his side?" the woman said, glancing at Shimei's carriage curiously, "There seem to be ladies in this carriage."

"We're not with him," the coachman spoke up. "We just happened to pass by and are in a hurry to get on our way. Please let us through without involving us in your quarrel."

Chen Shimei nodded slightly in approval. The coachman showed good judgment and spoke sensibly.

"Oh?"

The rowdy man shouted again, "There seems to be a woman in that carriage. Wonder if she's pretty. What decent girl would be out at this hour? Must be a wild one, eh? Come on, let us have a look."

Xiaohong clung to Chen Shimei, indignantly saying, "How rude of him!"

Chen Shimei, realizing they had encountered rough characters, patted Xiaohong to stay calm.

"Hey, Bai She!" the man suddenly jeered. "Never heard you kept a woman with you. What, do you amuse yourself this way on the sly? Ha... Ouch!"

His words were cut short by a sharp slap that twisted his face with a stinging sensation.

Shimei and Xiaohong were startled as the man yelled, "Who hit me?"

"Enough!" The leader, fed up, glared fiercely at the man.

The man, nursing his sore cheek, fell silent, inwardly musing, 'That Bai She, the ghostly swordsman, lives up to his reputation. A slap from afar knocking out my teeth!'

The others exchanged glances and kept silent.

"Bai She, hand over the Jade Buddha and we'll call it even. Otherwise, don't blame us for being ruthless," the leader threatened again.

Bai She merely raised an eyebrow, "As you wish."

As he spoke, the sound of galloping hooves approached from behind, growing increasingly chaotic.

"We're in trouble!" Chen Shimei glanced outside and whispered to Xiaohong, "It's the prince!"