Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Xiao Lin strode into the main hall of the bookstore, his black iron long blade clanging onto a table. The customers scattered like startled birds, and the shopkeeper, terrified, ducked behind the counter.

Ye Shuang closed her eyes for a moment before entering. As she passed Xiao Lin, she remarked, "As long as the Marquis is pleased."

She was too weary to deal with him. Xiao Lin, finding no satisfaction, would eventually leave on his own.

Xiao Yin called out twice, and the shopkeeper emerged from behind the counter, a distressed look on his face. Xiao Yin handed him a silver ingot, requesting a fine room for Xiao Lin.

The shopkeeper took the silver but hesitated to make the arrangements.

"Is there a problem? If there are no vacant rooms, our Lord Marquis can negotiate with the current occupant to purchase his room."

The shopkeeper replied cautiously, "Please forgive me, Lord Marquis. It's not that I'm unwilling to accommodate you, but this is a bookstore. We only offer book borrowing, tea, and storytelling services, not lodging."

Xiao Yin glanced at Xiao Lin, who sat with a thunderous expression, and asked, "Then how is the Marchioness able to stay here?"

The shopkeeper, momentarily confused, stared blankly at the two men.

Xiao Yin clarified, "The one who just went upstairs."

The shopkeeper looked blankly towards the upper floor, pondered for a moment, then a sudden realization dawned on him. "Oh, you mean that lady just now?"

"Precisely."

"That lady is different. She's a long-time patron of our bookstore, has donated many rare and unique books, and is acquainted with our owner. That's why we arranged accommodation for her upstairs."

"Who is your owner?"

"Well... I don't know."

"How can you not know your own owner? I suspect you're deliberately concealing information!"

Xiao Lin adjusted his sleeves and interjected, "Xiao Yin."

Xiao Yin understood, producing a stack of silver notes. "This is enough to buy ten of your bookstores. Now, arrange a guest room for the Lord Marquis."

The shopkeeper remained hesitant. "It's not that I refuse, but there truly are no additional rooms."

Xiao Yin, encountering such an unyielding shopkeeper for the first time, gestured with his weapon. "This is the Lord Marquis. Think carefully before you answer."

Trembling, the shopkeeper returned the silver ingot. "Please forgive me, Lord Marquis. There are many inns on this street. Perhaps you could inquire elsewhere."

"You! It's been a long time since I've met someone so inflexible." Xiao Yin couldn't bring himself to use force against a defenseless civilian and was momentarily at a loss.

"Enough, let's go!" Xiao Lin unexpectedly rose and departed.

As he reached the doorway, he cast a backward glance at the bookstore's signboard—Shijun Bookstore. His gaze lingered briefly before sweeping past the main hall to the closed door on the second floor. Finally, he left with Xiao Yin.

Xiao Lin entered his carriage.

Xiao Yin inquired from outside, "Lord Marquis, are we returning now?"

"What else can we do? I never realized she could be so stubborn." Xiao Lin lifted the curtain and looked out. "Let's return to the manor for now. We'll come back tomorrow."

Ye Shuang slightly parted the window lattice, watching from the gap as Xiao Lin's carriage departed. Under the lingering sunset, the carriage gradually vanished at the end of the long street.

She sighed, closed the window, and shut out the world's clamor.

She could sense that Xiao Lin's hardened exterior was beginning to soften, but she no longer wished to involve herself. Whether he was good or bad was no longer her concern.

She had returned about half a month ago but had not immediately made her presence known, not wanting to disturb too many people, nor did she intend to return to the Duke's residence. Her original plan was to quietly enter the palace, meet the Empress, and then leave. Unexpectedly, the Empress had kept her company for several days and even asked her to attend the Spring Banquet. Unable to decline, she had no choice but to comply.

Looking back now, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing. After all, she would have to show herself eventually. Rather than doing so secretly, it was better to appear publicly at the Spring Banquet, which would facilitate her plans.

She had come to Lin'an to attend to a few matters: first, to visit Song Yun, the Empress, and others; second, to pay respects at her mother's grave; and third, to settle some affairs.

The first matter was complete. As for the second, it was already February, and with the Qingming Festival (Tomb-Sweeping Day) approaching, she decided to wait until then to visit her mother's grave. Since she would be staying in Lin'an for a while, there was no rush. That left only some miscellaneous tasks. Ye Shuang took out her writing case, intending to list all the matters she needed to attend to, hoping to organize her thoughts.

Just as she had arranged her ink and brush, a knock sounded at the door. Ye Shuang asked who it was, and the shopkeeper's voice replied from outside, "Miss, I've sent the Marquis away."

"Thank you for your trouble, Old Chen." Ye Shuang walked over and opened the door, indeed finding Old Chen waiting outside.

Old Chen's voice was slightly hoarse: "Please don't mention it, Miss. If it weren't for your help, this bookstore would have closed long ago, and I, Old Chen, would have lost my livelihood. My whole family depends on this income! Back then, thanks to your generous support in purchasing half of our collection, the bookstore survived its most difficult period, and you saved my entire family. Just give the word, and I, Old Chen, will go through fire and water for you."

"There's no need to say that. I didn't really help much. At the time, I was simply bored and passed the time reading novels. I just didn't want to lose a place to borrow books in the future." Ye Shuang did not step out, speaking to Old Chen through the half-open door.

Old Chen smiled and waved his hand, accepting Ye Shuang's explanation without excessive humility.

"As for the Marquis of Yongding, it's enough that you turned him away today. If he comes again in the future, just let him be! If we obstruct him too much, he might take his anger out on you."

Old Chen nodded: "Understood. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now. Please call for me anytime you need anything."

Ye Shuang nodded. After Old Chen left, she closed the door and returned to her seat at the table.

She took out a ledger from her writing case, opened it to a blank page, and began listing all the matters she needed to attend to—

Visit the Empress and attend the Spring Banquet;

Meet Song Yun;

Pay respects to mother Lin Wan;

...

After writing, she crossed off the first two items.

She drew a circle before the third line and added a vertical line to the left of one of the remaining tasks, arranging her schedule for the coming days by priority. At the end, she added another item—the princess intended to invite Shuang to serve as a tutor in the palace, which required careful deliberation.

She considered adding a few more notes but hesitated before putting pen to paper. After a moment, she laid down the brush and abandoned the idea.

There were no other urgent matters to record in the booklet.

After tidying her things and having a simple dinner, Ye Shuang spent some time reading a storybook before preparing to bathe and rest.

While undressing, something fluttered from her sleeve. Ye Shuang then remembered she had received two floral notes earlier that day. Picking them up, she reread them. One, she recognized at a glance as Xiao Lin's handwriting. She had only glimpsed it hastily before, but now, upon closer inspection, she clearly saw the character "Lin" signed at the bottom.

The calligraphy alone was bold and vigorous, with an air of pride despite its conciliatory tone. The use of gold-speckled cold gold paper further accentuated a sense of self-importance.

It read—

"I remember our first meeting, dressed in layered silk robes. On the pipa strings, spoken of longing. The same moon that shone then still illuminates the colorful clouds' return."

When she reached the line about "layered silk robes," Ye Shuang's eyes darkened with anger, and she flung the note aside in frustration.

The other note was on embossed ice-patterned paper, also bearing two lines of verse—

"Even if the world boasts a thousand enchanting reds, none can compare to the delicate charm of a single blossom by the cold pond."

The handwriting was delicate, in extremely neat, fine regular script, though it bore no signature, leaving its sender unknown.

Ye Shuang found it strange—why would someone send a poem card without signing it? What was their purpose?

Fortunately, since leaving Lin'an three years ago, Ye Shuang had resolved never to trouble herself again with speculating about others' intentions. She casually picked up a book, tucked both poem cards inside, and put the matter out of her mind for the time being.

The next day, Ye Shuang had breakfast downstairs at the bookstore and left early.

Since Song Yun had matters to attend to that day, she went out alone. She visited several places in the morning and, though she had hired a carriage, still felt exhausted and parched. As noon approached, she found herself near Qingxiang Tower and decided to stop for some tea and lunch.

Since it was not yet midday, the restaurant was still relatively quiet. Ye Shuang chose a pleasant seating area in the main hall, ordering a bowl of Seven Treasures Pounded Tea and a serving of candied fruit carvings.

When the waiter asked if she wanted anything else, Ye Shuang, thinking she couldn’t eat much alone, decided to wait until her tea arrived before ordering more. Unexpectedly, after finishing her tea, she felt somewhat full. She slowly ate the candied fruit carvings while observing the people coming and going.

As noon drew nearer, more people began arriving. Earlier, she had deliberately chosen a seat with a view of the entrance, allowing her to see everyone entering or leaving the restaurant, as well as passersby outside.

Qingxiang Tower enjoyed a prime location and employed a renowned chef who had once cooked for imperial banquets. Its dishes were first-rate, covering a variety of cuisines. Its proximity to government offices made it a popular spot for officials and yamen runners to gather after work. Noblewomen and ladies of status also frequented the place, though they usually reserved private rooms on the upper floor. Within just half a year of opening, Qingxiang Tower had become the largest restaurant in Lin'an. During festivals, securing a table was particularly difficult.

As the crowd grew, Ye Shuang decided not to linger. She planned to order a bowl of noodles, eat quickly, and leave.

Just as she summoned the waiter, three women entered, all wearing broad-rimmed hats with veils. Ye Shuang couldn’t help but glance twice—their attire was elegant, suggesting they were noblewomen or ladies of high status.

One of them glanced back at her. Ye Shuang’s heart sank. She quickly ordered a bowl of pan-fried noodles with salt and urged the waiter to hurry.

The three women paused at the entrance. Though Ye Shuang wasn’t sure if she knew them, she kept her head down to avoid recognition and potential trouble.

Yet, the three women began walking toward her.

Ye Shuang sensed danger—their demeanor suggested ill intentions.

As she hesitated between leaving or staying seated, the leader, holding a fan, approached her.

"Isn’t this the Marchioness of Yongding? Why are you sitting here in the main hall?"

Ye Shuang looked up and noticed the faint glimpse of a green jade double-fish waist pendant and a gilded openwork perfume ball hanging from the woman’s waist. She frowned slightly.

"And you are?"

"This is someone from the Commandery Prince's residence, County Princess Shuning," the woman on the left spoke for her, adding, "Your Highness, have you forgotten? She is no longer the Marchioness of Yongding."

"So it’s County Princess Shuning. Ye Shuang pays her respects." Ye Shuang quickly stood and bowed.

Shu Ning lifted her veil, revealing a beautiful face with undisguised arrogance in her eyes. "I’d forgotten—you’re no longer the Marchioness of Yongding. I thought after attending the Spring Banquet, you might regain your former glory. How did you end up in such a state?"

Another woman spoke up, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "After all, she’s a cast-off wife. No matter how much Her Majesty the Queen favors her, it’s useless."

Ye Shuang had no desire to engage in useless bickering. She bowed hastily and prepared to leave, but Shu Ning had no intention of letting her miss this perfect opportunity.

"What does County Princess Shuning mean by this? Ye Shuang has never offended you, has she?"

"Miss Liu Er, the second daughter of the Liu family, is my close childhood friend. What do you think?"

Ye Shuang understood instantly.

"That’s all in the past, Your Highness. Why harass me now?" Ye Shuang tried to move in another direction but was blocked by the other woman.

"In the past? Because of you, Yiyi has become the laughingstock throughout Lin’an. Besides, even if it weren’t for her, do I need a reason to trouble you?"

"You!" Ye Shuang glared at Shu Ning.

Shu Ning was outraged. "How dare you!"

"How bold, Ye Shuang! How dare you offend the County Princess? Get on your knees and apologize immediately!"

Ye Shuang glanced around. The restaurant was nearly full, and many were watching them, though no one dared to intervene. Some even seemed to be waiting for a spectacle.

At the corner, a waiter who had just brought out a bowl of noodles turned around and took it back upon seeing the situation.

Ye Shuang gave a resigned, wry smile.

"Kneel! Do you still think you’re the Marchioness of Yongding? There’s no one to protect you now. Hold her down—she'll kneel today whether she likes it or not."

At Shu Ning’s command, the other two moved to restrain Ye Shuang.

Ye Shuang stepped back and shouted, "How dare you! In broad daylight, aren’t you afraid of creating a scene?"

Shu Ning seemed momentarily persuaded and raised her hand. "Wait... I think you have a point. Then let’s take her upstairs. I have a reserved private room there—perfect for entertaining sisters over tea."

Shu Ning signaled the other two to act. Cornered, Ye Shuang glanced at the table, grabbed a teacup, smashed it on the table, and picked up a shard of porcelain, holding it firmly.

Though County Princess Shuning was willful, she was still a sheltered young noblewoman, as were her companions. They were terrified by Ye Shuang’s action, screaming and retreating to huddle together.

Ye Shuang had controlled her strength, ensuring the shards landed on the seat without harming anyone. She had no intention of causing further trouble.

The women, seeing her hold the shard, were so frightened they could barely form words.

Shu Ning stammered, "Y-you... what do you think you’re doing?"

Ye Shuang replied calmly, "I only came here today for a simple meal. I hope Your Highness will not make things difficult for me."

Shu Ning was not ready to back down. Pointing at Ye Shuang, she stuttered, "If you have the guts... go ahead and do it. I warn you... if you dare harm me, my father will not spare you."

"Look at her—she’s just bluffing. She wouldn’t dare actually hurt anyone! Who would stand up for her now?" emboldened by Shu Ning’s words, the other woman spoke up.

Ye Shuang truly felt trapped. She had never intended to harm Shu Ning, but with Song Yun absent today, escaping would be difficult.

The commotion had drawn the attention of everyone in the main hall, who now gathered around. Shu Ning signaled with her eyes, and one of the noblewomen began proclaiming loudly, "Everyone, come see! This is the former Marchioness of Yongding. Three years ago, she was divorced by the Marquis and driven out of Lin’an. Now she’s back, showing her face in public. If I were a cast-off wife, I would have killed myself long ago."

Ye Shuang had not expected such remarks. The crowd buzzed with whispers, and many who didn’t know the truth began to believe the claims.

"Indeed, what can you achieve by returning? Could it be that you’ve set your cap for the Marquis of Yongding again, seeing he hasn’t remarried all these years? I advise you to stop dreaming. Lin’an is no place for someone like you. You should leave as soon as possible! Find some remote village, marry a country rustic, and be done with it. Why come back?"

Shu Ning clicked her tongue and shook her head. "To be frank, there’s a literary gathering at Qingxiang Tower this afternoon. Unfortunately, you weren’t invited. The noble ladies of Lin’an want nothing to do with you, your former in-laws won’t tolerate you, and now you’re forced to sit here in the main hall. I truly feel sorry for you."

Seeing Ye Shuang hesitate to act, the women grew bolder with their words.

Finally, Shu Ning said, "If I were you, I’d use that shard to end your life. Put yourself out of your misery."

Hearing this, Ye Shuang actually stared at the fragment in her hand, lost in contemplation, as if considering Shu Ning’s suggestion.

"End your life? Put myself out of my misery?"

Shu Ning pressed her advantage, urging her on. "Yes, what hope is there for the rest of your life, living with the label of a discarded woman? Better to die and be done with it."

As she spoke, a flicker of madness flashed in Shu Ning’s eyes.