TSLSILMH Ch 22

Chapter 22

 

Xie Shu’s gaze narrowed slightly. What was this?

Although it would be discourteous to touch his lord’s belongings without permission, he still could not help taking a closer look.

On the sheet of paper, aside from a few lines of small characters, there was also a red handprint below.

Items requiring a handprint were usually receipts, contracts, and the like…

But what could this have to do with him…

Just then, a sound came from the doorway. Xie Shu turned toward it.

The one pushing open the door was Yu Chuxi. He seemed to have just run down from upstairs, breathing fast, a faint flush on his face.

Upon entering, Yu Chuxi quickly glanced at Xie Shu, then his gaze swept over the desk before he looked away.

Seeing that Xie Shu was merely standing before the desk, his expression unaltered, regarding him with gentle warmth, Yu Chuxi’s racing heartbeat slowly steadied.

When he had risen just now, Feng He had said that Xie Shu had come looking for him and was waiting in the downstairs study.

Before Yu Chuxi had time to be pleased, something struck him: in anger the previous day, he had taken out the divorce agreement he and Xie Shu had previously drafted, though in the end he had not had the heart to decide.

After seeing Xie Shu last night and a night’s calm reflection, he no longer meant to separate so vaguely; at the very least, he wanted to know the reasons behind it all.

But just now, he had reversed himself again. Why should he let Xie Shu go…

He was no saint to wrong himself for another’s sake. Since Xie Shu had entangled him, then he would never be allowed to leave in this lifetime!

Regaining his composure, Yu Chuxi walked to the desk as usual, arching his brow with a half-smile: “You said you had business with me. What is it?”

What did he want to say?

For Xie Shu to seek him out this morning, he must have guessed something…

What would he decide?

Would he feel guilty—and then deceive him?

Or choose to lay everything bare…

A thousand thoughts turned through Yu Chuxi’s mind as he reached the desk and, as if nothing had happened, slipped the thin paper from the tabletop into his sleeve.

Studying his lord’s expression, Xie Shu smiled lightly: “My lord, may I ask whether there is leisure these next few days? Would you be willing to go on an outing with me?”

He did not know how best to make his lord happy; traveling together was the idea he had come up with. The day at the Western Garden, he had seen how fine the countryside looked beyond the city.

It was late spring in the fourth month; in Jiangnan the grasses grew long, flowers bloomed among the trees, and orioles flitted in flurries.

Such gentle greens and rippling clear waters—would it not be a pity if his lord did not see them?

Besides, though he was devoted to study, if he shut himself in the study and ignored the world, how would he differ from those ancient bookish recluses who heard nothing beyond their window?

He did not wish to neglect the person before him, nor to anger him further.

If his lord consented, all would be much easier; perhaps they could resolve matters along the way.

If he refused, then… he would find another way to gain consent.

Yu Chuxi had not expected to hear such a question from Xie Shu—an invitation to travel together?

He could not name what he felt. Though he went out at times to inspect the family businesses, that was all.

As for outings with friends, he had known none. His mother had died when he was young, and his father had always been busy. He had neither the time nor the leisure.

Yet when Xie Shu spoke, his heart stirred. Should he agree?

By chance, those clear, gentle eyes were fixed on him at that very moment. Though they had quarreled the night before, Yu Chuxi found he had no wish to refuse.

His long lashes quivered; he did not answer at once.

Seeing his lord inclined, Xie Shu softly asked again: “My lord, shall we?”

Only then did Yu Chuxi avert his gaze and, with effort, nod: “Today will do.”

When he truly agreed, Xie Shu could not help smiling: “Then shall we dine first, my lord?”

By mealtime, the maids of Listening-Rain Court had already heard the news that Yu Chuxi and Master Xie would go out together.

They were surprised. That their lord would travel with Master Xie—who would have thought? Yet, since he had moved in, not one of them found him disagreeable anymore.

Though he spoke little, he was cool and courteous, wholly different from before.

Feng He, however, was flustered. How was she to know Master Xie had come for this?

With such a sudden plan to go out, there was so much to prepare…

But then again, their lord rarely went out for pleasure—this was rare indeed.

And he had been angry just now, yet now his face showed not a trace of displeasure. Clearly, Master Xie had real ability.

After dining, the maids of the Yu household finished their preparations, assembling several parcels filled with food, utensils, and a few newly made cloaks for their lord, and prepared a carriage with emerald curtains and brocade drapery.

The carriage was magnificent, seating eight. Aside from Feng He and Ximo riding in it, the other maids would take different carriages.

Moreover, more than ten guards followed to protect Yu Chuxi.

The display surprised Xie Shu a bit, yet considering it was for his lord, it seemed unsurprising.

He boarded first, then bent to extend his hand to Yu Chuxi.

Yu looked up at him, then lightly set his fingertips in Xie Shu’s palm.

Lowering his eyes with a faint smile, Xie Shu clasped his hand and steadied him into the carriage.

Activity at the Yu gates always drew attention.

The Yu residence stood at the center of North Zihua Street. The pair of great stone lions marked its door. Usually only the east and west side gates saw traffic, but today the great bronze doors were slowly swung open…

People crowded to look, quickly gathering. Soon, a resplendent carriage appeared with more than a dozen guards and maids in splendid dress.

Voices rose in discussion: “Those maids hardly look like maids—they’re like young ladies!”

“I recognize that carriage—it belongs to the young head of the Yu family. But why so many today?”

“Look, they seem bound for the city gates. I see—these days many go out to enjoy the spring. Still, the Yu family’s procession is rare!”

“Oh? Then it must be Yu Chuxi in the carriage. I wonder if his live-in spouse is with him…”

“How could he not be? Haven’t you heard Xie Shu’s poem? Their feelings are no ordinary thing.”

…

Among the crowd, one person’s expression differed. He stared fixedly at the carriage’s hanging curtain, straining to glimpse within.

Having resolved himself that day, Wei Qingtong had decided to find Xie Shu and make matters clear.

He knew he could not present himself at the Yu family’s main door. As before, he intended to ask someone to find Ximo and have him speak to Xie Shu.

This morning, as he set out to do so, he was told Ximo was busy and could not be disturbed.

What did that mean?

Had Xie Shu truly had a change of heart?

He refused to believe it. Then he saw the scene before him.

Yu Chuxi was going out; everyone said Xie Shu was going with him.

He even spotted Ximo, sitting outside the carriage.

Still, he did not wish to believe it. Without seeing for himself, he could not give up.

As the carriage drew near, Ximo lifted the curtain and stepped inside. This time, Wei Qingtong saw clearly.

Of the two sitting within, who else could one be but Xie Shu?

Ximo’s heart hammered. He had just done something behind his master’s back—but he did not regret it.

That morning, upon learning that Wei Qingtong had come seeking Xie Shu, Ximo had wavered—should he tell his master?

By rights, he should keep nothing from him. But this was about Wei Qingtong.

Since his recovery, his master had been wholly different—reliable, orderly, and no longer speaking of Wei Qingtong.

But Ximo feared the worst.

What if his master acted rashly over Wei again?

Now that his master and their lord were growing closer—indeed, that very day his master had invited their lord to travel—Ximo dreaded a misstep at such a critical moment.

So he had raised the curtain on purpose, to make Wei Qingtong see the truth: that between him and Xie Shu, nothing remained possible.

His master had shown him utmost kindness, giving so much to that family. If Wei had any sense of shame, he would never return!

Wei Qingtong watched the carriage recede, face drawn. The jeweled curtain never once lifted again before it vanished. Only then did he realize he had dug his nails into his palm, leaving a red mark.

The onlookers dispersed, and Wei Qingtong, filled with quiet resentment, returned home.

He failed to notice a drably dressed figure following at a measured distance.

Inside the carriage, Ximo slipped in and quietly wiped the cold sweat from his hands. Thankfully, no one noticed.

At that moment, Xie Shu was speaking to Yu Chuxi: “My lord, what book are you reading?”

The carriage was spacious, its floor made of sturdy nanmu. On the official road it rode smoothly, making reading easy.

Yet Xie Shu saw that soon after boarding, Yu had taken out a scroll, as if deliberately avoiding conversation.

In truth, throughout this time, Xie Shu had never seen his lord lose his temper. There was nothing disagreeable about him at all.

But now his lord seemed different—revealing small, private moods unknown to others. It was, in its way, charming.

He could feel Xie Shu’s candid gaze resting on him, and hear the gentle, smiling voice at his ear; it was hard to maintain the mask of cool indifference.

Agreeing to the outing had seemed trivial at first. But once inside the carriage—confined together, the other’s presence palpable at every moment—Yu Chuxi felt unsettled.

He tried to distract himself by taking out a book.

It did not help.

Not only had he failed to read a word, but when Xie Shu asked what he was reading, he found he could not even answer.

Snatching the book so hastily from the cabinet, he had not noted its title.

If he told the truth, would that not be ridiculous?

So he pretended not to hear and offered no reply.

By rights, having been rebuffed, Xie Shu should have stopped looking at him, no?

Yet in the next instant, Yu Chuxi felt the man beside him lean in.

This intimacy differed from the earlier hand-clasp into the carriage—it was closer, more personal.

His movement was so effortless, as if merely to glance at the book in his hands.

But when Xie Shu’s shoulder brushed his for a heartbeat, Yu Chuxi instinctively tensed, eyes wide upon him.

Noticing the unusual reaction, Xie Shu lifted his fragrant-scented head; at that moment, the two were very close, breath mingling.

Author’s note:

The rest will be added in the daytime.

—

FOOTNOTES

1. Divorce agreement (和离书) – A formal contract for mutual divorce in historical Chinese settings, often requiring written terms and seals or handprints to validate.

2. Red handprint – A common method of authenticating agreements and legal documents, functioning like a signature in premodern contexts.