Chapter 33 Appointment “The Marquis is ill.”

Chapter 33: Official Appointment — The Marquis Is Ill.

Mrs. Wei, her anger still simmering, turned to see Yue Rongrong standing pale and dazed at the doorway. Sensing something amiss, she softly called, "Rong Rong?"

Yue Rongrong snapped back to reality, forcing a smile as she stepped inside. "How is your injury? What did the doctor say?"

"It's nothing serious, just a sprain," Mrs. Wei replied, sighing. "The umbrella shop will have to stay closed for a few days."

Yue Rongrong smiled. "Isn’t that perfect? You can rest and recover properly, and Wei Hui won't have to worry."

Wei Hui, who had been distracted and guilt-ridden since Yue Rongrong's arrival, brightened at her words. "Rong Rong, I—" He wanted to apologize for his unintended offense last night.

Yue Rongrong cut him off. "Go help your mother prepare the medicine."

Her unbothered demeanor left Wei Hui in a quandary, torn between relief and sorrow. Part of him wished she would hold it against him, proving he wasn't insignificant to her. Yet another part hoped she would let it go, allowing them to remain as they were.

Finally, he offered a genuine smile. "Then please look after my mother while I go make the medicine."

Mrs. Wei playfully chided, "Silly child." She then turned to Yue Rongrong. "You left in such a rush earlier—where did you go?"

Yue Rongrong helped Mrs. Wei back to her room, concealing a flicker of sadness in her eyes. "It was nothing." She settled Mrs. Wei down and poured her some tea.

"Nothing? Your worries are written all over your face," Mrs. Wei sighed. "Did you go to see Marquis Shen? Did you think he was the one who smashed our shop?"

Yue Rongrong stared at her, the teacup halting mid-air. "How did you know…"

Mrs. Wei took the cup with her uninjured hand, a faint smile playing on her lips. "It wasn’t hard to guess. After what happened last night, our shop gets smashed this morning, and you storm off in a rage. I’m not blind."

The more she spoke, the more upset Yue Rongrong became. She lowered her head, fiddling with the tassel at her waist, her voice soft and muffled. "I misunderstood him…"

"Then apologize to him," Mrs. Wei said straightforwardly.

"...If only it were that simple."

"How complicated can it be?"

Yue Rongrong looked up. "Then why won’t you let Wei Hui report this to the authorities? It was his aunt who did this—why let it go?"

Mrs. Wei fell silent, then offered a bitter smile. "It’s not that simple." She gently stroked Yue Rongrong’s hair. "Don’t be too hard on yourself, and don't overwork yourself."

Yue Rongrong felt a stir in her heart, her eyes warming with a mix of sadness and comfort.

**

At the Ministry of Personnel, the newly appointed *jinshi* emerged from the hall with mixed emotions—some joyful, some worried—but all envied Wei Hui.

This *jinshi*, who hadn’t ranked particularly high in the second class, had been appointed to a vice-governor position, a fourth-rank official.

"Brother Wei, do you have connections at court?" A group surrounded Wei Hui, chattering eagerly. Most were young and unable to hold back their curiosity.

"Exactly! Among our group, aside from the top three, you got the best post. Do you have ties to the Ministry of Personnel?"

Wei Hui, the object of everyone’s envy, remained somber. "I’d rather not have this position if it means I can’t stay in the capital."

They laughed at him. "Are you foolish? That’s a fourth-rank post! You’ll be second only to the governor. Yuezhou may be far from the capital, but it’s a wealthy region in Jiangnan. We hear there’s flood control work happening there—if you make some achievements, you’ll rise rapidly!"

"True, true! Official Wei, we’ll be counting on your support in the future…"

Amid the laughter and chatter, Wei Hui glanced back into the hall. He knew exactly why he’d gotten this position, and frustration welled up inside him.

Shen Jichen bowed to the Minister of Personnel. "Thank you for your help, Uncle Qi."

Minister Qi steadied his hand and helped him up. "You’re too kind, Piao Yao. It was a small matter."

As Shen Jichen stepped out of the hall, Xue Yubai was waiting under the corridor. Noting Shen Jichen’s pale complexion, he frowned. "Are you unwell?"

Shen Jichen was about to speak but coughed lightly into his hand instead. "It’s nothing."

Knowing his stubborn nature, Xue Yubai insisted, "If you’re not feeling well, you should see a physician soon."

Shen Jichen responded with a faint sound of acknowledgment.

"Do you know that young Wei?" Xue Yubai glanced at Wei Hui, who was still waiting in the courtyard, clearly for Shen Jichen.

Shen Jichen looked over, his gaze cool. "Not exactly. Let’s just say we have history."

Xue Yubai raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Bad history? Otherwise, why send him away from the capital?"

Just then, Wei Hui walked toward them, fearless. He bowed to them both and said, "Marquis Shen, I’d like a word with you."

*Straightforward*, Xue Yubai thought, smiling faintly. "I’ll wait for you at the front courtyard."

Shen Jichen nodded.

Once Xue Yubai left, Wei Hui stepped onto the corridor, determined not to be looked down upon. But even standing there, he was half a head shorter than Shen Jichen. Just Shen Jichen’s presence alone—doing nothing, saying nothing—made him feel an overwhelming pressure to submit.

To stand his ground, he straightened his back and declared firmly, "I know it was you! You deliberately sent me away because you don’t want me near Rong Rong!"

Shen Jichen had no interest in listening. He descended the steps.

"Don’t think your power and influence mean you can have everything! You won’t get Rong Rong! She’s been in the capital for three years—my mother and I are the closest people to her. She’s never once mentioned you!"

Shen Jichen stopped and turned slowly, looking up at him with a gaze as sharp as a blade. Wei Hui shuddered, swallowed hard, and straightened his back again.

"You said she’s been in the capital for three years? When did she arrive?"

Wei Hui, unsuspecting and even somewhat proud, replied, "In the spring of the second year of Yongning. Doesn’t the Marquis know that? It seems Rong Rong isn’t completely open with you."

Shen Jichen’s expression froze, his gaze turning icy. He remembered asking her once—she had said she arrived in autumn. She had lied. She had come to the capital less than two months after leaving him. Why lie? Why come to the capital so urgently?

Wei Hui watched Shen Jichen’s face grow increasingly uneasy and felt a twinge of concern. He asked stiffly, "What’s wrong with you?"

Shen Jichen remained silent, turning away to leave.

Xue Yubai, waiting in the front courtyard, saw that Shen Jichen looked even paler when he emerged. He frowned. "What happened?"

Seeing him on the verge of breaking, Xue Yubai quickly supported his arm. Wen Song also hurried over to help.

"Return to the residence," Shen Jichen said in a low voice.

Xue Yubai helped him into the carriage and instructed Wen Song, "Call for a physician as soon as you return. He’s not well."

Wen Song acknowledged the order and had the coachman drive off. Once inside the carriage, he moved to pour tea for Shen Jichen but was interrupted by Shen Jichen’s cold voice. "Investigate what happened to Rong Rong after she left me back then. And find out where Qu Lieshan is now."

If she had wanted to escape and put distance between them, she should have stayed far from the capital. Yet she came straight here… And Qu Lieshan—she had said he fell for someone else and they parted. But now, thinking back, how could a man willing to die for her easily change his heart?

She had been lying. All along.

He felt rage and bitterness surging within him, his blood boiling. Struggling to suppress it, he snatched the teacup from Wen Song and gulped it down, trying to calm the fire in his heart. But he drank too hastily and choked, coughing violently until he doubled over.

"Marquis!"

**

Yue Rongrong was troubled. These past few days, one thing after another had happened, and she had forgotten that the ten-day deadline was approaching. Yet she still hadn't gathered enough worry-free silver—she was halfway short. To make matters worse, the shopkeeper, thinking she had clung to Shen Jichen as a powerful patron, refused to let her take embroidery work from other households, claiming that if Marquis Shen found out, he would be in serious trouble.

"How exaggerated," Yue Rongrong thought, speechless as she looked at him. No matter how much she tried to persuade him, it was useless. Furious, she turned and left. The shopkeeper kept chattering behind her: "Rong Rong, think long-term. Once you enter the Marquis's household, why would you worry about a little silver?"

Yue Rongrong angrily turned back to glare at him before returning to the embroidery studio.

Zhang Jing, unusually observant, asked, "Rong Rong, why are you so angry?"

Du Yan said smugly, "Some people think they've gotten the Marquis's attention, but these past few days, the Marquis hasn't shown up again. She must be anxious."

"After all, he is Marquis Shen. How could he bother with someone like us?"

Zhong Yu said coolly, "Du Yan, if you didn't speak, no one would think you're mute."

Du Yan snorted coldly. Ren Hanzhen quietly glanced at Yue Rongrong a few times. Seeing she remained calm and unruffled, Ren Hanzhen went quiet. *So quickly, the Marquis had lost interest in her. I had overestimated Yue Rongrong.*

Just then, an apprentice embroiderer walked in and went straight to Yue Rongrong's embroidery frame. "Sister Rong Rong, there's a Mr. Xue outside here to see you."

*Xue?* Yue Rongrong frowned, as if trying to recall which Mr. Xue it might be. Suddenly, it hit her—could it be *that* Mr. Xue? She immediately stood up and left the studio.

The embroiderers in the room heard clearly and paused their work, whispering among themselves.

"Which Mr. Xue?"

"The noble Xue family in the capital—ah! Could it be the Xue family, that first-rank duke who served three dynasties?"

Ren Hanzhen's face turned cold. Du Yan sneered, "Enough! Do you really think Yue Rongrong is a princess? Nobles of all kinds come looking for her! Is the Xue family the only one with that surname in the capital? It could be some random Mr. Xue from who knows where."

Yue Rongrong's confusion vanished the moment she saw "Mr. Xue." She was both surprised and delighted. "It really is you." Only then did she remember to curtsy politely.

Xue Yubai was stunned for a moment. He knew she was beautiful, but seeing her again today, she seemed different. Though two years older, the worry between her brows had disappeared. Her smile was bright and delicate.

Back in Yangzhou, she had been as fragile as a delicate willow.

"How did you know I was here?" Yue Rongrong walked toward him.

Xue Yubai smiled. "Finding people isn't so hard."

"Looking for me?" Yue Rongrong asked in surprise. "Is there something you need?"

Xue Yubai paused before saying, "After we parted so hurriedly back then, I didn't know how you were doing, how your health was. You helped me restore the Thousand-Mile Landscape Painting, and then you left without a word. I never had the chance to thank you properly."

Yue Rongrong was surprised. Something that happened over two years ago, and he still remembered? What a kind person. She smiled warmly. "So that's it. There's no need to worry, sir. You left silver, which was thanks enough. As for my health..." She gestured with her hands. "I was just ill from the exhaustion of travel back then. I'm fine now."

Xue Yubai looked at her. She really was better, with a hint of playfulness in her eyes, making her even more charming. After a moment, he sighed softly. "That's good."

Yue Rongrong didn't catch it. "What did you say, sir?"

Xue Yubai snapped back to attention and smiled. "How is your brother?"

Yue Rongrong's smile faded slightly. She knew he was referring to Qu Lieshan. Back then, she had followed the guards escorting Qu Lieshan all the way to the capital. Exhausted, she collapsed on the street, and Xue Yubai had saved her. He knew she had a brother but not who he was or what crime he had committed. She didn't want others to know Qu Lieshan was a prisoner.

So she nodded. "Yes, he's fine." Then she looked up and added, "The people here don't know I have a brother. Please keep that to yourself."

Though Xue Yubai didn't understand why she wanted to hide her brother, he could see she cared deeply for him. He hesitated for a moment but still asked, "Is he important to you?"

Yue Rongrong gazed into the distance and said softly, "Very important. He is my most important family."

When he heard "very important," Xue Yubai's eyes dimmed for a moment, but upon hearing "family," he relaxed again. Seeing the sorrow in her eyes, his heart tightened. He said earnestly, "Alright, I won't mention it again. It'll be our little secret."

Yue Rongrong gave a relieved smile. Xue Yubai was stunned once more and quickly averted his gaze before looking back at her. "My family is from the capital, and we've lived here for generations. I have some connections. If you ever need anything, you can come to me." He chose his words carefully. "You can find me at *Rufeng*, at the southernmost end of South Market."

He looked at her, not offering empty courtesy but speaking sincerely.

Yue Rongrong was slightly surprised, but faced with such sincerity, she agreed. "Alright, thank you, sir."

Xue Yubai seemed to want to say more but held back, afraid that going further might scare her. Just as he hadn't directly stated his identity, he thought—*no rush, take it slowly.*

"I should go. Will you walk me out?" Xue Yubai asked with a smile.

Yue Rongrong nodded and walked with him.

"Actually, I came to see you this time because there's something I'd like to ask for your help with."

Hearing this, Yue Rongrong's surprise vanished. If he had a request, it would explain his sudden visit, and she relaxed. "Please go ahead, sir."

Seeing the instant relief in her eyes, Xue Yubai didn't know whether to laugh or sigh. He felt a twinge of disappointment, accompanied by faint relief—*good thing he had prepared an excuse.*

"In a few days, it will be my grandmother's birthday. There will be a banquet at home, and I would like to ask you to paint a Longevity Painting for me. I will certainly pay you well." Xue Yubai had actually noticed that despite Yue Rongrong's gentle appearance, she was thoughtful. An exchange would make it easier for her to accept.

Sure enough, she initially showed signs of refusal but hesitated when she heard about the reward. Yue Rongrong lowered her head for a moment before saying, "To be honest, I do need silver..."

Xue Yubai was thrilled. "That's perfect." He was almost tempted to invite Yue Rongrong to *Rufeng* to paint but held back. "Then I'll have someone bring the calligraphy supplies and paints later."

This silver couldn't have come at a better time. Yue Rongrong only thought for a moment before nodding in agreement. "Alright."

Xue Yubai said goodbye and left. A weight lifted from Yue Rongrong's heart, and she was about to return to the embroidery studio when, halfway there, she saw Zhong Yu approaching from afar with a grave expression. Zhong Yu pulled her aside and whispered, "Something's wrong. Someone is looking for you."

Seeing how cautious she was, Yue Rongrong frowned. "Who is it?"

Zhong Yu looked at her. "Miss Jin." Seeing Yue Rongrong's surprise, she added, "The shopkeeper asked me to notify you. Miss Jin is waiting for you at Caiyun Hall." Zhong Yu couldn't help but worry. "Has word about Marquis Shen reached her ears? Should I go with you?"

Yue Rongrong didn't want to drag Zhong Yu into it and said lightly, "Are you afraid she'll eat me?"

"You're still joking around!" Zhong Yu tugged her sleeve in frustration. "Marquis Shen protects you so much. If she's jealous, she might actually eat you alive!"

Yue Rongrong fell silent for a moment. "Don't worry. She is, after all, a noblewoman. She has to maintain the dignity of the Duke's estate in public. She won't go too far. Besides, her wedding is soon. She probably doesn't want any complications."

Zhong Yu thought she made sense but still warned, "Then be careful in everything."

Seeing Zhong Yu treat Jin Tangsong as if she were a ferocious beast, Yue Rongrong put on a smile, though her heart sank.

As she entered Caiyun Hall, she heard a maid call out, "Miss, she's here."

Yue Rongrong took a deep breath, lifted her skirt, and walked in.

Jin Tangsong was standing by the window, looking at an embroidered screen. She turned at the sound and offered a cool smile. "You're here."

Yue Rongrong was surprised and even more wary. Last time, she had also seemed harmless, only to humiliate her thoroughly.

"What can I do for you, Miss Jin?"

Jin Tangsong laughed and raised her small face. "You look quite compliant like this." She waved the servants away. "I came today to choose some intimate underwear for after the wedding. Help me take a look."

*She was definitely trying to provoke me!* Yue Rongrong's face darkened. As the esteemed cousin of the Duke's family, deeply favored by the Grand Princess and the Empress, such intimate items would surely be specially commissioned. Why would she come to their Jinxiu Pavilion to choose?

Jin Tangsong never tired of playing the same tricks.

"What do you think of this one? Will my husband like it?" She held up a piece of apricot-colored lightweight fabric, soft and translucent in her hand. She looked up at Yue Rongrong, looking very pleased with herself.

Yue Rongrong felt her chest tighten and turned her face away, her voice flat and hard: "How would I know if he'd like it?"

Jin Tangsong laughed softly. "Right, you haven’t met my future husband yet."

Yue Rongrong suddenly turned her face back, staring at her in a daze.

Jin Tangsong let out a laugh. "You look so silly like this. I really don’t know why my cousin was so taken with you."

"...Aren’t you going to marry Shen Jichen?"

"Who said that? Did I ever say that?" Jin Tangsong lifted her chin proudly. "My future husband is a young master from a good family who has eyes only for me, and much kinder than my cousin ever was."

Yue Rongrong recalled that day of their reunion when Shen Jichen held her hand and said, "tailor the wedding clothes." Didn't that make it obvious? Everyone thought so.

Seeing her cold expression, Jin Tangsong pouted. "That was just my cousin trying to upset you by making you misunderstand. Yue Rongrong, you really are quite heartless."

The shopkeeper, afraid they might cause a scene, stepped in just then with a strained smile. "Miss Jin, have you found anything you like?"

Jin Tangsong tossed the undergarment in her hand aside casually. "They’re all too vulgar. I don’t want any of them. Let’s go." With that, she led her maid away.

The shopkeeper’s concern for Yue Rongrong was genuine. "Rong Rong, was she difficult with you?" Then he added, "Should we tell Marquis Shen about this?"

Yue Rongrong shot him a look, lost for words, waved her hand, and left. Even when Zhong Yu came up to ask, she just shook her head, her head spinning with Jin Tangsong’s words. *She said Shen Jichen did it to upset her, to upset her...* She went all the way back to her room, forgetting even to take off her shoes, climbed onto the bed, and sat hugging her knees, her knees pressed tightly against her heart.

Her heart ached. She freed a hand, pressed her fingers against her heart, and buried her face in her knees. She repeated that name in her mind, over and over, until her nose stung.

Zhong Yu’s voice came from outside: "Rong Rong, someone’s here to deliver the Four Treasures of the Study."

Yue Rongrong looked up toward the window, took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly. *No more wild thoughts. The most important thing now was to finish the painting and earn the silver.*

The shopkeeper had probably received instructions, and told her to focus on painting. He chuckled, "Rong Rong, you’re a lucky one."

Yue Rongrong didn’t understand. How was painting for someone else considered fortunate? She looked up and met Ren Hanzhen’s icy gaze, which flicked over her dismissively. Yue Rongrong paid no mind and focused on her painting.

That day, Yue Rongrong was about to find a quiet courtyard to paint when she saw the shopkeeper approaching from afar, looking pleased, waving her over. "Rong Rong, come here."

"Is something wrong, shopkeeper?" Yue Rongrong walked over and asked.

The shopkeeper said, "Today, someone from the Marquis of Wujing’s residence ordered a batch of cloud-pattern brocade. I need someone to deliver it. You go."

Yue Rongrong was taken aback and turned her face away. "I won't go."

The shopkeeper glared. "You can't refuse!"

"Embroidery girls don’t handle deliveries, do they?"

The shopkeeper was speechless for a moment but insisted sternly, "Just go when you’re told. Do you not want to work here anymore?"

Yue Rongrong gritted her teeth and glared at him. *How despicable!*

The shopkeeper softened his tone. "I’m doing this for your own good. How long has it been since Marquis Shen came to see you? The Marquis’s residence never buys cloud-pattern brocade from us. Why do you think they suddenly ordered so much this time?"

"..."

Without waiting for her response, he took the painting tools from her hands and urged, "Hurry up, don’t keep them waiting."

He looked triumphant, sure he'd figured out what his boss was thinking!

But Yue Rongrong thought the shopkeeper was overthinking it. Shen Jichen probably didn't want to see her at all now. So when she arrived at the Marquis’s residence, she stood at the gate and had the errand boy deliver the goods inside. She waited outside, but instead of the errand boy returning, Wen Song came out.

Wen Song breathed a huge sigh of relief upon seeing her and gave a respectful bow. "Miss, you’ve finally come."

Yue Rongrong was confused. "What’s wrong?"

Wen Song said, "I was at my wit's end. That’s why I had someone order a batch of cloud-pattern brocade from *Jinxiu Lou*. I was sure the shopkeeper would send you."

*So it was your idea...* She had thought Shen Jichen wouldn’t want to see her.

"The goods are delivered. Now pay up." Yue Rongrong demanded bluntly, holding out her hand.

Wen Song was taken aback and said awkwardly, "Don’t rush, miss. The silver is coming shortly. It’s just... just that the Marquis has fallen ill..." He glanced at Yue Rongrong.

Yue Rongrong’s expression shifted slightly but then calmed. "Oh, so he's ill again."

Seeing this, Wen Song continued, "This time, he’s very ill. He’s bedridden. These past few days, he has refused his medicine. We're at our wits' end and can't reason with him, so we were hoping you could give it a try."

Yue Rongrong grew anxious. "Bedridden?" She looked at him suspiciously. "Is it true?"

"It is!" Wen Song nodded emphatically, afraid she might still refuse. He added, "I think the Marquis is still upset. He was wrongly accused for no reason before..." He glanced at Yue Rongrong a few times, noticing her face flush, and quickly explained, "You really did misunderstand the Marquis that day, miss. The matter with the Wei family wasn’t his doing. He knew Mrs. Wei was your benefactor—why would he ever disrespect the Wei family?"

Yue Rongrong lowered her gaze. Of course, she knew she had misunderstood him. Since that was the case, perhaps she should take this opportunity to apologize to him...

After a long pause, she looked up and said to Wen Song, "Let’s go."

Wen Song's face lit up. "Excellent!"

-----------------------

Author's note: Wen Song: Give my Marquis a piece of candied fruit. [Let me see]